Albums Of The Decade

2009:
Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career
Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest
How I Became The Bomb, Deadly Art
Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Regina Spektor, Far
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz!

2008:
Black Kids, Partie Traumatic
Coldplay, Viva La Vida
Kings of Leon, Only By The Night
MGMT, Oracular Spectacular
Of Montreal, Skeletal Lamping
Santogold, Santogold
Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend

2007:
Band of Horses, Cease To Begin
Chromeo, Fancy Footwork
How I Became The Bomb, Let's Go!
Interpol, Our Love To Admire
Juno soundtrack
Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
The National, Boxer
Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight
The Shins, Wincing The Night Away
Yeasayer, All Hour Cymbals

2006:
Aqueduct, Lying In The Bed I've Made
The Dears, Gang of Losers
The Features, Contrast
Killers, Sam's Town
The Knife, Deep Cuts
Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat
Nellie McKay, Pretty Little Head
Midlake, The Trials of Van Occupanther
Morrissey, Ringleader Of The Tormentors
Nouvelle Vague, Band A Part
Peter Bjorn And John, Writer's Block
Scissor Sisters, Ta-Dah!
The Sleepy Jackson, Personality (One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones

2005:
Aqueduct, I Sold Gold
Bloc Party, Silent Alarm
The Cardigans, Super Extra Gravity
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands!
Editors, The Back Room
Madonna, Confessions On A Dance Floor
The National, Alligator
Nouvelle Vague, Nouvelle Vague
Of Montreal, The Sunlandic Twins
The Rosebuds, Birds Make Good Neighbors

2004:
The Arcade Fire, Funeral
The Dears, No Cities Left
The Features, Exhibit A
Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand
Garden State soundtrack
Kanye West, The College Dropout
Killers, Hot Fuss
Le Tigre, This Island
Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose
Nellie McKay, Get Away From Me
Modest Mouse, Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Morrissey, You Are The Quarry
Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous
Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters
VHS or Beta, Night on Fire

2003:
Belle & Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Death Cab For Cute, Transatlanticism
Outkast, The Love Below & Speakerboxxx
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell
The White Stripes, Elephant

2002:
Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head
Eminem, The Eminem Show
Maroon 5, Songs About Jane
Pulp, Hits
The White Stripes, White Blood Cells

2001:
Destiny's Child, Survivor
Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor
John Mayor, Room For Squares
No Doubt, Rock Steady
Travis, The Invisible Band
Vanilla Sky soundtrack

2000:
Coldplay, Parachutes
De La Soul, Art Official Intelligence
Madonna, Music
Outkast, Stankonia
Jill Scott, Who Is Jill Scott?
Radiohead, Kid A

Christmas Decor

I've been meaning to do this for awhile now & I thought I better do it today before I take it all down.

My 4 yr old niece is in her first Christmas play today, so we're going to Smyrna this afternoon to see that. After the play, we'll go back to my parents' house to eat dinner & open presents. Tomorrow we'll go to my Aunt's house for lunch with the whole family. Then on Sat, we're leaving for Maryland, where we're possibly buying John a new car. Long story short, John needs an $11,000 new engine. Options: 1) pay $11,000 to put a new engine in a 7 yr old car; 2) find a cheaper junk yard engine & pay someone to put that in; 3) buy a new car. John loves his car & is freaking out a little bit over the fact that he may not only have to part with it, but that he'll inevitably end up with a much crappier car. The Awesome Mobile was free because his dad bought it & then decided he didn't want it, so he gave it to John. Undoubtedly, any car we can afford won't have "awesome" in its description.

Also, the computer that runs John's studio broke on the same day he found out about his car. After 2 days of taking said computer apart, he found out what's broken & has ordered new parts, but until he gets back into town & puts it all back together, no one can use the studio. So yeah, it's been a really good week for John.

Merry Christmas (Eve)!

Bacon Dip

I know it sounds gross, but it's soooooo good!

Bacon Dip

1 pkg center cut bacon
8 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
Green onions, chopped (I used 2)
1 sleeve Ritz crackers
Cracked black pepper
1 bag Ritz Toasted Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown bacon in nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Crumble into large chunks.

In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, mayo, Swiss cheese, & green onions. Transfer to a shallow, small casserole or baking dish & top with black pepper to taste. Top with crushed Ritz crackers & bacon.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Serve with Ritz Toasted Chips.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Fri Night:
MK & Marshall's holiday cocktail party. I've found my drink of the season, a poinsettia. It's like a mimosa, but instead of orange juice, you use pomegranate juice. So good! They had a boston creme pie cake from Puffy Muffin. OMG, so good. I had 2 (big) pieces.

Sat:
My friend Jaime recently moved from Bellevue to Sylvan Park, so I met up with her to see her new house, eat lunch, & do a little shopping. We had brunch @ Local Taco - very disappointing. I like their tacos, & the brunch taco I had on Sat was good, too, but it's just not enough food. They need to fill their tacos more & they need to serve more food during brunch. My "brunch" consisted of 1 taco & a side of grits. Seriously.

Sat Night:
John & I had dinner at this authentic Mexican place by our house. I love it, but John informed me on Sun morning that he can't eat there anymore. Apparently his body can't digest it. It doesn't bother me, but I have a stomach of steel. After dinner, we headed East for Dave & Alexis' tree-trimming party. Alexis, hostess extraordinaire, had all kinds of drinks & snacks. And don't think because we had just come from dinner that we didn't eat at the party. Katie made these insanely good sopaipilla cheesecake bars. O. M. G. I had 3 or 4. Seriously. I'm going to weigh 300 lbs by January.

Sun:
I thought it would nice to make food for our neighbors this year, so I made some Chex mix & put it into these cute, little Christmas treat bags. Our next door neighbors are Korean, I think, so I wasn't sure how "Merry Christmas, have some Chex mix" would go over. Not very well, it turns out. The man opened the door, looked at me like I was crazy, took the Chex mix, & shut the door in my face. Oh well, I was kind of expecting that. So we walk over one more yard to the only other neighbors we know. As we walk up to the front porch, the front door slams shut. Hmmm. Then the garage door opens & the lady, the one we've actually met, starts backing out of the driveway. I'm smiling & waving, but she's not buying it. I finally yell, "We're your neighbors. Merry Christmas!" & she stops & rolls down the window. She was really embarrassed. She saw us crossing the yard & thought we were selling something. In my parents' neighborhood, all the neighbors do this. I just thought it was something you do. Apparently not, at least not on our street.

After the Chex mix debacle, John & I finished up our Christmas shopping. Man, it's really dead this year. I mean, Target was busy, but everywhere else was dead. Maybe everyone is already done shopping???

Sun Night:
Initially we were supposed to pick up Tiff & Chris from the airport & then head East for Rob's 30th birthday celebration, but all three of them ended up stuck in NYC because of the snow. So John made some kind of Jamaican pork stir-fry (very good) & we watched Iron Man on DVD. I thought the movie was fine, but John thought it was a little ridiculous. There was a steady stream of, "Oh, come on" throughout the entire movie.

Sidenote: Tiff got a flight in today, so I'm picking her up around noon & we're going to lunch with Carolyn & Jessica, then Jessica is driving her home to Trenton. Hooray!

Hair Diaries

Last night I had my hair highlighted at Trim. OMG, I'm in love. For years, I've known that Trim is one of Nashville's better salons, if not the best, but I've stayed away mainly because of how much I assumed it cost, and, up until last year, I had a stylist. A little over a year ago, my longtime stylist abruptly went into early retirement. Not knowing where else to go, I stayed at the same salon, but changed stylists. I like him, he does good work, but I haven't been knocked out. Recently, I've been going to my friend Chrissi for trims. She's in school at Paul Mitchell & has been doing a great job. In fact, I'll probably follow her to whatever salon she ends up at when she graduates. But in the meantime.....

MK & I tend to use the same stylist because we have similar hair & similar expectations/standards. Recently, MK has been going to Trim. When I saw her last week, right after one of her appointments, I knew I had to go. Our hair is naturally about the same color & when I stood next to her, you couldn't tell. Her hair looked like something out of a magazine & mine so didn't. I immediately called & booked an appointment with Giovanni, colorist extraordinaire.

Like I said, my appointment was last night. I've been getting my hair highlighted for a million years & I really think last night was the best it's ever looked, and that's counting the 2 years I lived in NYC. And it wasn't expensive. It was $100, which is what I was paying at my regular salon. Giovanni is a color master. I'm sure, like every other stylist at Trim, he'll soon move on &/or dramatically raise his prices, but for now, I'm smitten.

Also, I was really impressed with the salon in general. They have a girls side & a guys side. The girls' side is pink & glittery, but in a cool way & the guys' side has wood paneling, a shoe shine station & big posters of pin-up girls from the fifties. It's hands-down, the nicest salon I've ever been to in Nashville. I so get why everyone goes there now.

Viva la Trim!

Book Review: The Help

I loved this book! Over the past few months, I've had pretty much everyone I know tell me to read The Help. Tiffany was able to snag me a copy & gave it to me in NYC. It's a pretty hefty book, weighing in at 464 pages, but I read it in a few days. I couldn't put it down. The book is set in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's & revolves around 3 main characters: Aibileen, Skeeter, & Minny. Aibileen & Minny are maids & Skeeter is a recent college grad who wants to be a journalist. Skeeter convinces Aibileen & Minny to tell her stories about what it's like to work in these white, Jackson homes under the promise that both the author, Skeeter, & the contributors will remain anonymous. There's so much more to it, but I don't want to give anything away. It's an incredible story. Highly, highly recommend this book.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Fri Night:
Went with MK to an Open House for The Wax Pot Studio. The owner, Lynette, has been our friend & esthetician for years. We've followed her from salon to salon, but now she's opened her own place & it's awesome. I highly recommend her for whatever you may need -brow wax, bikini wax, facials, etc. She's the best in town.

I also watched My Sister's Keeper on Fri night. It was really good. I definitely recommend reading the book before watching the movie because the endings are different & I think you'll handle it better if you've read the book first.

Sat:
I got up & went to 8:45am Spin. It makes me feel better about the poor food choices I inevitably make the rest of the weekend. I spent the rest of the day grocery shopping, wrapping presents, & making food for Carolyn & David's Christmas party that night. I made hot corn dip & chocolate chip bacon pecan cookies. I had a blast making the cookies. I had my 118 song Christmas Playlist going on the 'ole iPod. I danced, I sang, I made bacon cookies. It was a good day.

Sat Night:
We went to Carolyn & David's annual Christmas party. Their party is always a good time. Lots of friends, lots of food, lots of cocktails. Both of my food contributions were a hit. Everyone loved the hot corn dip. I didn't think anyone was eating my cookies, but when I went to get one, they were all gone, so I guess they were a hit, too. I oddly didn't take many pictures this year. I started off by taking some pics of the food & decor, but then put my camera down & never picked it back up. Pathetic attempt at a photostream here.

Sun:
I drove to Smyrna for my sister's baby shower. She's having twin girls. They're due in mid-March, but they expect her to deliver in early Feb. She already has 2 girls -a 4 yr old & a 9 month old, but with 2 more coming, she still needs A LOT of stuff, so we had a small shower for her. At the shower, she let us all in on the names they've chosen: Hannah & Hailey. I'm really pushing for Hannah's middle name to be Montana, but so far, she's not going for it. I've got a few more months to work on her though. Full baby shower photostream here.

I Am The Cookie Master!

I made them & they are DELICIOUS!

Viva la bacon!

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats

I saw this recipe on Smitten Kitchen & have been dying to try it. Tonight was my night. I needed a dessert for a friend's birthday tomorrow, so voila! They're still cooling, but I had a taste & they are delicious! I was confused by the browning process (it took a lot longer than I expected), but I think I got it right. I'll let you know how my test audience, aka co-workers, like them.

Recipe here.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Fri Night:
Left work early & did a little Christmas shopping, which dramatically improved my mood. Nothing like a little retail therapy. Drank some wine & watched Transsiberian. Okay movie, aside from Woody Harrelson's completely unwatchable character.

Sat:
Went to 8:45am Spin, then Dad brought over their elliptical for us to use during Christmas (they don't have room for it with their Christmas tree). Did a little more Christmas shopping, then met MK for lunch. We intended to go to Chipotle, but it was too crowded, so we walked next door to Which Wich. Commiserated over our shared lack of enthusiasm over our jobs, career paths, etc.

Sat Night:
Drove to Chattanooga for Rebecca & Jay's annual Christmas party. Got to meet their new addition, Maddie, for the first time -so cute! Pics here. After the party, we headed downtown to meet Katie & see The Features play. It was weird, & kind of awesome, seeing them play somewhere outside of Nashville. Huge Features fan base in Chattanooga. Who knew? Everyone around us knew all the words to their songs, even the new ones. Very cool.

Sun:
Slept in, due to not getting home until 2am, woke up & had Indian buffet for brunch. Then went to Best Buy to investigate Netbooks, per Alexis' suggestion. (Thanks, Alexis!) Not quite what I expected. I didn't know they were so small. Not sure I could read the screen. Plus, do they come with Windows? They are cheap though....

Also went to Apple store & looked at MacBooks. Two options: 1) Get white, plastic MacBook for $999 plus $50 off for being a student, or 2) Get silver, titanium 13" MacBook Pro for $1199 plus $100 off for being a student. Leaning towards the MacBook Pro because it's newer, has more features & won't be too old to update or add hard drive/RAM to in a few years (which is the problem with my 2004 Mac Mini). I feel like if I buy the cheaper MacBook, I'd need a newer computer in 2-3 years, which would not be the case with the MacBook Pro. Why did my computer have to die? Why???

Lastly, Christmas dog.

Chocolate Chip-Bacon-Pecan Cookies

Image via NPR

I'm totally making these. Bless you, NPR. Bless you....

Chocolate Chip-Bacon-Pecan Cookies

Makes about 18 thin-and-chewy cookies

5 strips bacon
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon, turning several times, until browned and done, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Chop finely.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla extract, and beat until just blended. Add the dry ingredients; beat until just incorporated and the flour is dissolved. Stir in the chocolate chips, pecans and bacon.

Drop one large tablespoon cookie dough 2 to 3 inches apart (as they will spread) on baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until firm and golden brown around the edges, and still slightly soft in the center. Transfer to a rack and cool for 15 minutes.

Can be stored on countertop for one to two days, then refrigerated in an airtight container.


Variation: If you like your chocolate chip cookies thicker, follow this recipe.

Makes about 18 thick-and-chewy cookies

5 strips bacon
1 cup, plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Follow the same steps from the thin version above.

Pork & Green Chiles Casserole

I tasked John with making our meal plan for the week while I was at New Moon on Sunday. He picked out pork & green chiles casserole from our Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book. I was hesitant since we just had enchilada lasagna, but I was pleasantly surprised. This casserole was really good. Really good. And, aside from the 1/2 cup cheese, fairly healthy. In a word: hearty.

Pork & Green Chiles Casserole

Prep: 15 minutes Bake: 30 minutes Oven: 375 degrees
Stand: 5 minutes Makes: 6 servings

1 lb ground pork
15-ounce can pinto or black beans, rinsed & drained
10.75-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups bottled salsa
4-ounce can diced green chile peppers, drained
1 cup quick-cooking brown rice
1/4 cup water
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers

1. In a large skillet cook pork until no pink remains; drain. Stir in beans, soup, salsa, chile peppers, rice, water, & cumin. Heat & stir just until bubbly. Pour into a 2-quart casserole.

2. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until edges are bubbly. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with cheese; let stand for 5 minutes until cheese melts.

No side notes on this one. It's perfect as is. Yum!

Book Review: Julie & Julia

John got me Julie & Julia for our 1-yr anniversary (paper gift). I loved the movie, so I knew I would like the book. But the book was pretty different than the movie. The book was darker, but in a good way. I identified with Julie a lot more in the book than I did in the movie. The Julie in the book is a lot more believable. There's a lot less of Julia in the book, but that didn't bother me, probably because I just read My Life in France. Also, the book does a better job of explaining the relationship between Julie & her husband. I liked Eric a lot more in the book than I did in the movie.

I loved this book! Highly recommend it, especially if you saw the movie.

Side note: Julie Powell has a new book out called Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession. Can't wait to read that one, as well!