Songs for the Weekend

Pin It now! by: Jaleh.

Just a few songs I've been listening to recently that I thought I'd pass along. Enjoy - and happy weekend. :)


Museum of Flight - Damien Jurado

Haruka (feat. Marcus Whale) - Namine

Adorn - Miguel

Shyness - Thieves Like Us

The Jezebels - Endless Summer

Banana Bread

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Last week, we both got pinned on facebook as a loaf of banana bread by our mom.  She'd whipped it up and decided to gloat on her success by showing us the loaf in all its crusty, banana'y glory.  It worked.  We made the recipe and it's great!  I added 1/2 cup of old fashioned oats and a handful of dried cranberries.  Chocolate chips would also be great in this... enjoy!

Banana Bread

Makes one loaf or 10-12 muffins

INGREDIENTS
3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

optional : 1/2 cup oats, 1/4 cup dried cranberries or chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

The Thing about Boy Bands

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by: Jaleh.

Isn't this the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen?

Boy bands are the weirdest. It seems unnatural for 5 guys to get together in matching outfits and sing and do dance moves, but for some reason, we eat it up. Whether you were into New Kids on the Block, N'SYNC, Backstreet Boys, or 98 degrees, we have all lived through a boy band craze of some kind. The most recent popular, make-you-swoon boy band that's made an appearance is One Direction.

Let down your defenses and admit that you secretly enjoy listening to this boy band fresh from the UK. Oh, what's that? You haven't heard of One Direction? Shame on you. Girls across the nation are freaking out about these guys and you probably should be too.

I'm here to help you. Now, the next time you hear a few 13 year-old girls squealing about Harry and Niall, you'll be able to chime in and say, "Ladies, settle down. I've always had a thing for Liam myself." BOOM - you just made best friends with a group of tween girls. 

Here are 5 things you can feel confident in knowing about One Direction

1. First things first, let's all agree that Zayn is the cute one.

If someone asks you who your favorite member of the group is, quickly respond with "Zayn, duh." Look at that face.

2. Every girl thinks that their song "Little Things" was written about them.

And actually, it was written by Ed Sheeran, another great (better) thing to come out of England. If you're talking to girls, this would be a good song to reference to make them think you're with it.

Listen to 'Little Things' here and tell me you don't like it.

3. They dig tight formalwear.

Sing it, boys. Could your outfits be more fitted? Let's not sacrifice circulation for style.

4. You can get their picture on a duvet cover.

This is non-essential but fabulous information. THERE IS A LINE. It's been crossed.

5. One Direction doesn't discriminate against anyone.

Regardless of your race, gender, religion, or social status, One Direction wants to be your friend. I'm serious. They're like the disclaimer at the end of a job application that says they ain't discriminatory  Their song C'mon C'mon pretty much sums it up. Come on! Come on! Dance with me, baby! 

Now, go talk to someone about One Direction, you little expert! 

The World Beneath Our Feet

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Jaleh, "reading for class."

Look at these boots that I bought. They were a purchase made during Hurricane Sandy, and they showed up on my doorstep about two weeks ago - much to my delight - just in time for Winter Storm Nemo to arrive. (I'm liking this new 'let's name our winter storm' thing.) Some people think it's not right to purchase things and say, "I work really hard. I deserve this." I think it's right - and that's coming from someone who works for free. You do deserve those boots! You do deserve that overpriced lotion that just smells really good! I think we all need a little reward every now and then. Mine usually look like either shoes or cake.

Bre, coffee before lunch

This week I was able to grab a nice lunch with my dude of 15 years... Dr. V.  That guy- what a champ.  I spent the morning at a coffee shop working on some projects, and then he picked me up and took me to a yummy thai place near his work.  We spent an hour eating pad thai (my first real carbs since we got back from NY... so they tasted especially yum) and chitchatting about little things.  Sometimes, it's nice to see my guy out of the context of our 5:15-11pm schedule.  I strongly recommend it.

Simple Topping Recipes

Pin It now! We are straight up hibernating while Superstorm Nemo shows us what's up.  The wind is blowing, the people are popsicles, the T is down, and there's a traffic ban in effect.  

Anyway, it occured to me today after making some banana bread (will feature next week- thanks mom) - and making some honey butter to top it... people buy this stuff.  People buy honey butter.  Why?  You have honey.  You have butter.  Mix it!

Here are other condiments you can make...

Honey Mustard
1 part honey, 1 part mustard, a squeeze of lemon, mix

Cinnamon Sugar
3 parts sugar, 1 part cinnamon, mix

Honey Butter
2 parts softened butter, 1 part honey, mix

Italian Seasoning
2 tbsp each dried basil and oregano, 1 tbsp each garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, 1/2 tbsp black pepper, red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp salt ... mix

Chili Seasoning
1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp each garlic powder, dried oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, black pepper ... mix

Buttercream Frosting
3 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup softened butter, 2 tbsp vanilla, milk as necessary
> mix together sugar and butter until fluffy, add vanilla and 1 tbsp of milk at a time until spreadable.

Chocolate Syrup
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, 3/4 cup cream, 1 tsp vanilla
> heat chocolate and cream in a pan until chocolate is melted, mix in vanilla.

others to try...
Basil pesto
Marinara
Lemon Yogurt Salad Dressing

Top 10

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A handpicked bucket of goodness for all y'all...

xo

The Superettes

Herschel computer sleeve to replace my really sketchy (torn!) number

$27

Blingy little kitty clips 

$12

A cute little Paris vs. New York postcard set

$20

Um... have you EVER seen soap this pretty?

$12

I don't know a kid that wouldn't think these are awesome!

Lego crayon dudes

$8

A gourmet s'more kit!

Yum-o.

$18

SUCH a cute book - I Like You

$6.95

Isn't this too sweet?  What a perfect little gift for a lucky kid.

$18.75

Vintage gold chain necklace- so wearable!

$38

A Linen and Vegan Leather (WHAT!?) :) clutch

$36

What I've Learned Since Having a Minivan

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So, Belle and I have been together for nearly a week now.  Oh, I'm sorry- did I not introduce my new friend, Belle?  She's large, voluptuous and has an enviable trunk.  She's Bali Blue Pearl... which not to be confused with navy blue.  She and I are getting pretty tight.

Last week, Dave, Leo and our dad set out to find a minivan.  Hunter-gatherer style, I stayed at home and made lunch while they prowled the market for a minivan that fit the family's needs.  They came home triumphant, waving the papers to Belle.

We named her Belle (Jaleh technically named her Belle) because one- she's beautiful.  And two, she's a beast.  Get it.

Here are a few things I've learned during my 6-day long minivan career... 

1. Parking is harder in a minivan
I just got so good at parallel parking in our little Corolla.  Now it's back to square one, trying to maneuver the beast into tiny little city parking spots.  I haven't ventured to some of the more stressful streets yet, and fortunately know most of the convenient and roomy spots around the area to check first.  But, I need to work on it.  I'm sure pretty soon I'll be zooming in and out of those parallel spots like a boss.

2. People are nicer to minivan drivers
I was trying to merge the other day and it was impossible- I was at a dead stop... usually the guys behind me would totally be honking, talking to themselves, putting their hands up in the air in a fit of rage.  Didn't happen.  Turns out people are nicer to minivan drivers.  I'm a mom.  I could be YOUR mom.  Don't honk at me.

3. A minivan sure feels safe
The Odyssey is pretty renowned for their safety ratings and you do feel it.  The thing feels heavy and secure in a good way, a way that our little car definitely does not.  Since my babies are my cargo, this feels really good.  It's like in 3rd grade when you wrap an egg in 2 boxes worth of kleenexes and drop it off the roof of the school building.  Secure.

4. You can jam pretty hard in a minivan
The first day, on the way to school, we jammed to THIS and it was pretty incredible.  The sound system was really doing it's job.  Since our family basically operates a discotheque on wheels- this works for us.

5. A minivan isn't surrender
I'm certainly one of those moms who wanted to avoid the minivan persona.  Soccer mom?  As if.  A minivan isn't surrender... it's a statement.  A mom statement.  Something along the lines of... 

Yeah, I'm a mommy, yo.

Still- I have my limits... and I won't be decking out the back windshield with vinyl stick figures representing each family member - have you seen those?  ......

Long live, Belle!  

No really- LONG live Belle... that dime cost a mint.