Salt Lake Photo Diary, part 2...

Today was for sleeping in and going for walks with Tabitha. Today was for lazy time spent on the porch and watching Harry Potter. Today was for celebrations and being with family. Today was for sore feet (from too much dancing... who I am I kidding, there's no such thing!) and beautiful weddings in the evening sun. Congratulations Uncle Steve and Aunt Sandy, today was for you.

Salt Lake Photo Diary, part 1...

Photo descriptions, reading from left to right...

1. Layover in Chicago. Felt like the biggest airport in the world. It took me about 20 minutes to walk from one terminal to the next! 

2. Breakfast of champions. mmmm.

3. Best way to pass the time on the plane: Season 2 of Downton Abby.

4. My Aunt and Uncle's house in Salt Lake. Feels like home to me.

5. Brad in his "Hop Hut"... 7 different kinds of hops!

6. Me and Tabby :)

7. Mani/pedi's with Tab, Janet, Quentin and Tab. 

8. Sleeping Molly! (In Tabitha's violin case)

9. My sleeping quarters for the weekend. Now that's a sweet set up.

10. Making salmon burgers.

11. AWESOME thrift store in Sugarhouse. Wish Mel was with me to shop.
12. My adorable niece.


Loving my time in Utah. More picture to come... 


xoxx

Dear Friday...

I'm so happy that you're here!

In about 2 and half hours, I'm going to be hopping in a cab and heading the airport for a weekend with my Utah family, specifically to celebrate my uncle's wedding. About half way though my shift tonight, I decided to pull an all-nighter. I mean, it seems kind of pointless to go to bed when I have to be up in 3 hours, right? Sound logic. I'm relying on Mad Men to keep me awake. Although I expect to be slightly sleep deprived tomorrow, I have faith that excitement and lots of coffee will get me though the day (and a good nap on the plane). Happy weekend!

Daily life...

Currently, I'm in the middle of a very busy work week. Since I work at night and it's been absolutely incredible outside, I've been making a point to enjoy my mornings and afternoons to their fullest. Wanted to share a few snapshots I've taken over the last few days. 

One of my favorite spots, the Cambridge Public Library.

Blue Shoes!

Tom and my bike, Henry. Just got a new tubes, tires and chain. He rides like a dream! (talking about my bike)

Love.

One my all time favorite drinks: an extra spicy, extra delicious bloody mary. Yummmmmm.

Brunch @ 5 Horses in Davis.

Enjoy your weekend! xoxxo.

Daily Outfit.

A beautiful spring day calls for floral prints and bare legs!

Works cited: dress: thrifted on a trip to philly last summer, blouse: gap, belt: jcrew, shoes: dansko's, pin:vintage 

Apricot Square: A Success Story.

Woke up this morning, brushed myself off after last nights defeat and ventured out into the sunshine to buy more jam. A girl with a mission. I'm happy to say, victory was mine this morning. Plans for the rest of my day off? Drinking coffee in the kitchen with Mel, finishing my book, organizing, exploring Davis and being cooked for by my wonderful boyfriend this evening. Happy Thursday!

Apricot Squares

3/4 C butter

1 C sugar

1 egg

2 C flour

1/4 t baking powder

1/2 C finely chopped walnuts

1/2 t vanilla

1 jar (12 oz) apricot preserves/jam

In a large mixing bowl cream sugar and butter. Add egg and mix well.  Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl.  Gradually add to the butter/sugar/egg mixture. Add walnuts and vanilla; mix well.

Press 2/3 of dough into a greased 9" x13" pan. Spread with preserves. Press small pieces of remaining dough in random pattern over the preserves.

Bake at 350 for 30-40 mins or until just golden-brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares or any shape you like!

Nothing hurts more than a wasted jar of jam...

I’m not going to sugar coat it: Tonight was discouraging. I set out with a goal this evening to bake “Apricot Square”, a relatively uncomplicated dessert that’s a favorite of mine (when made by my mother). All I ended up with was a soupy, bubbly mixture, jam on my leg and a whole lot more dishes. I didn’t take an after picture, my trash can isn’t very photogenic. Twist ending to my failed baking attempt? I used powdered sugar INSTEAD of flour. Yup. Better luck next time.

Goals.

    Earlier this year I decided to dedicate a small portion of my bedroom wall to a visual list of all my current goals. I was inspired by a post on Elsie Larson's blog A Beautiful Mess (one of my favorite blogs). It's pretty simple. I took flash cards and wrote out some of the things I would like to accomplish in the upcoming year. From monetary goals, such as paying off some of my credit cards and saving money in my account dedicate to travel, to taking a wine class in the fall, to visiting a beer bar in Maine that I've been dying to go too. When I achieve something, I put a colorful sticker on the flash card. For me, it feels like checking something off a list. I also keep a stack of flash cards next to my bed so I can add to my wall as things come up in my life, as they so often do! Current accomplishments include visiting one of closest friends, Krista, at her new home in Florida, organizing my closet of DOOM and paying of my gapcard. What goals do you have?


xxo- Megan

Weekend Highlights: Top 5.

1. Seeing the The Avengers- On Saturday morning, went to see a matinee showing of The Avengers (9 bucks! What a steal!!). Superhero movies are one of my favorite genres. Clearly, I'm the only one that feels this way, that's why Marvel puts out billion dollar blockbusters. Maybe someday I'll have a job that requires a shiny skin tight suit or a cape. A girl can dream...

2. Brunch @ Deep Ellum with my mom and company- French toast, bloody mary's and mom time. Enough said.

3. Reading in the sunshine- Currently wrapped up in The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III and I can't put it down. Next up on the roster, In the Bedroom by Andre Dubus and Shucked by Erin Myers Murray.

4. A visit to The Salty Pig- On our bike ride back from South Boston on Sunday, Tom and I stopped into The Sally Pig for some late night eats. This was my first time going and I have to say, this place is awesome, from the thin crust pizza to the bathroom pasted with far side comics. Meats and cheeses and pizza, oh my!

5. Watching Game of Thrones- This show is so EPIC. If you haven't jumped on this HBO series's band wagon, I strongly advise that you do. Best end to any Sunday. 

xo-Megan.

Lazy Thursdays...

I made 2 rules for myself yesterday: (1) Stay within 1 mile of my apartment and (2) Avoid putting on real clothes. Lucky for me, I live in the heart of Inman Square and I own a plethora of stretchy pants, so my day off was extremely successful.

All Star Sandwich Bar, an Inman Square staple, just opened up a pizza shop across the street, All Star Pizza Bar. Since I’m less than skilled in the kitchen, we got take out and devoured it in front of the tv. They have tons of options to choose from... Tom and I went with the "Buffalo Duck Confit" (marinara sauce, house blend of cheese, duck confit tossed in all star buffalo sauce with Maytag blue cheese then finished with pickled celery).  Epically delicious. I could have eaten half the pie myself, no questions asked.

For most people, Friday is a welcomed release from their busy work week. For me, Friday is the start of my busy work week. For now, I'm savoring the morning stillness of my apartment. Tom is still passed out in my room, so it's just me and the glow of my computer screen. Happy weekend!

Introductions

Hello. My name is Megan. I love to eat, ride my bike, style outfits, lose myself in a book, and be around the people I love. My favorite movie is True Romance, my favorite book is The Book Thief. I love pie a little too much, I want to travel everywhere and someday have my own pug. I can't spell or cook (just ask my friends). Nice to meet you. I created this blog awhile ago. Got up the courage, with the help of my best friend and roommate, to make a user name, template, ect. All the tools for the successful makings of a blog. That was 6 months ago, and here I am composing my first post (hopefully of many) at 2:52 in the morning in the darkness of my bedroom. I got home from work a few hours ago to a quiet apartment, which is welcomed after having been surround by so many people all night. After browsing my normal list of favorite blogs, I turned off my light and climbed into my heavenly bed but all I could think about was how much I wanted to finally start my own blog. Having never been particularly good at expressing myself through the written word, I have to admit I feel somewhat self-conscious in this forum. Don't get me wrong, I'm more than capable at expressing myself. I'll talk your ear off and hug you till it hurts, but writing is different. Maybe soon it will feel natural, but right now it's pretty scary. In a good way.