I been bakin'

For a dinner with two girl friends (and your men!) you used to see much more of.  And then again to bring to work because they were just that good.
Smitten Kitchen's cranberry bars.  From her cookbook!

For your lovely co-workers.  Because you like test new recipes on them.  Shutterbean's cookies and cream peppermint bark and snickerdoodle blondies because they're your fave.

For Christmas Eve dinner with your parents.  Because your mom will think it's special.  And, Ina!
Vanilla semi-fredo with raspberry sauce.  From Make it Ahead.

To take to Hillie's because you and Lauren used to have dinner together every month before L moved to Colorado. Smitten's raspberry buttermilk cake.

As gifts for your father's family because your mom commissioned them from you.
Marshmallows! The recipe is perfect and impressive.

Salted caramels wrapped in pieces of parchment to look like candy.

A special chocolate bark.

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Birthday, Charlotte!!

That little minx turned 1 year old!
I remember when she was brand new.
We celebrated at Molly and Ryan's!
It's been an awesome year watching her grow up.
Watching my sister as a mom has been pretty cool, too.
Happy Birthday, bebe!  You are my favorite!

Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving... success!  Now just counting down until Christmas.  But first, a recap.  Kind of like a timeline!

Thanksgiving Eve
Mr. Louisville and Squirt come for a visit!
We walk to Bar Louie for a drink and a snack then across the bridge for a Cyclones game at US Bank with 40 of my friends.
After the game (and a few dollar beers) we walk back to Newport and head to the Southgate House Revival for a little live music.
We were home by 11am for an early morning.

Thanksgiving
We wake up early for the Thanksgiving Day Race in Cincinnati.  It was a chilly morning but we finish the 10k (6.2 miles) in an hour and 5 minutes.  Not too shabby!
After the race we tidy up for my family's annual Thanksgiving lunch at Orchid's.
Oysters!  Crab!  Prime rib!  Cheese!  Desserts!
Naps.

Friday after Thanksgiving
I head to Louisville!
We meet up with Betas at the Beer Depot for drinks and dinner.  Special visitors Sean and Ellie are in town! Yay!

Saturday
Mr. L and I have another early morning.
We bike to Check's Cafe for chili and grilled cheese.
After our nosh we bike to the Stadium for the Louisville vs. Kentucky football game.

Good grief, the game was back and forth but Louisville pulled out the win.  Fine with me as we'll be seeing them on the basketball court later this month.
Finally, it's a holiday weekend get together at Shenanigan's in lieu of Mr. Louisville's annual cocktail party.
Shew, what a weekend!

Thanksgiving down, Christmas to go!

Double Feature

At Swanksgiving we were playing Truth and Dare.  TRUTH! "When was the last time you stole?"  Everyone kind of scoffed and the guy whose turn it was blew it off saying something about stealing someone's heart.  Lame.

I stole last month!

For the third time in my life, I bought a ticket to see a movie.  Then, thanks to my iPhone, I was able to find a moving playing right after that I wanted to see.  I moseyed in nonchalantly in time to catch the last preview before the second movie started.  It made for a long, lazy day at the theater but I'm not complaining!  This was my favorite double feature to date because the theater recently moved its soda machines so they are self serve.  So, after I left the first flick, Birdman, I filled up my ICEE and headed to the second, Interstellar!

The first time I ever did the Double Feature ditty was in high school.  I was 15... My friend, Mara, and I went to the movies often!  We paid to see Miss Congeniality. Cute movie!  After that we discussed quickly that we wanted to see another and bought tickets for What Women Want.  We weren't bad enough to sneak in!

My second Double Feature was in 2012.  First up, Perks of Being a Wallflower followed by Fruitvale Station. 

Have you ever attempted a Double Feature?  I highly recommend it!

Swanksgiving

On Saturday my friends, Katie and Lyle, hosted Swanksgiving!  A spin on a Friendsgiving where a bunch of friends get dressed up and eat and drink! 

Gimme dat turkey!

I offered to bring a few appetizers since the Thanksgiving staples were taken care of.  They included a turkey (of course!), mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, mac & cheese (with avocado and basil), crescent rolls, brussels sprouts salad and sweet potatoes.  A feast!  I've already emailed Katie to rave about her brussels sprouts salad and beg for the recipe.

Anyway, for appetizers I made a jalapeno-cranberry cream cheese dip which I thought was good, not great.  But the real show stopper was the amazing artichoke-olive spread I made.  It was a huge hit and I'll definitely be making it again.  I've said it before but Smitten Kitchen never lets me down!

To wash everything down I brought a few bottles of wine.  I also made a big batch of Cranberry-Ginger Cosmos to share.

3 parts vodka
2 parts cranberry juice
1 part lime juice
1 part Cointreau (or triple sec)
4 large pieces of ginger

I muddled the ginger a bit and poured the rest of the ingredients in my carafe, then viola! 

The evening was a huge success!

Happy Birthday, Eli!!

My little brother turns 28 today.  We've joked about getting past our 27th years which were both wild for us and he's finally made it.  He moved to California earlier this year and I miss him!  

Happy birthday, Eli! 28 will be your best year yet!!

At Sidebar a few years back.

Christmas 2013

Molly's wedding in 2012.

Grandparents

These photos of my parents with their first grandchild melt my heart.

Read, Watch, Eat: Volume 2

Read
I pre-ordered Lena Dunham's book, Not That Kind of Girl, and I'm liking it.  Like, not love.  I haven't devoured it like I thought I would but her essays are interesting.  Very much like her tv show, GIRLS, I can't stop but it's nothing I'd re-watch or re-read.

Watch
I don't subscribe to any cable service, I'm a Netflix and Hulu gal.  So, I'm throwing things back to one of my favorite tv shows of all time. Gilmore Girls!  I'm currently on a casual binge of the entire series.  It is so witty and fun!  The best part about watching it for the second time through (aside from no commercials!) is discovering some guest stars.

Like Jon Hamm.  Helllloooo, Mad Men!  Another series that I've watched twice.

And Nick Offerman aka RON SWANSON of Parks and Rec fame.

Eat
I hit up Kenwood with my sister and her bebe today and we stopped by Maggiano's for lunch.  This was the first time going somewhere nice to eat with Charlotte.  It was... different. Bebe was great but it was a tiny bit hectic. Related: I tipped 30%.

Gratuitous pic of Bebe and me!

Anyway, we restrained ourselves today but we love love love their fried zucchini.  It's so good! I make a version for myself in the summer when fresh zucchini is aplenty so yeah, it's a favorite.  So, I was excited to try Trader Joe's Zucchini Fries.  Verdict: I was impressed!  I kept them in the oven a bit longer to ensure optimal crisp and ate them with my favorite go-to marinara. I'll be adding it to my TJ list!

Halloween Weekend

I never look forward to falling back for daylight savings but I do love this time of year.  Halloween! Fall! Football!  And, randomly, my parent's 33rd Anniversary!!  Here's to 33 more, Mom and Dad!!  :)

Last Thursday I traveled to Louisville for the Florida State University vs. Louisville football game.  This game was a big deal!  And although UofL didn't pull off a win it was still fun.  Maybe a little too fun!

All the Betas before the game.

Friday I was back in Newport!  That evening was Halloween and I went out for my friend Nate's birthday! Last year we went to Below Zero and I've been looking forward to it again all year.  Mr Louisville dressed up as a nerd (um, not really a stretch for him ;) and I pulled out an old favorite, California Mountain Snake from Kill Bill!  The dance party was so much fun!  I could have closed it down but Thursday night's shenanigans caught up to me eventually so Mr L and I headed home around 1am.

Leyla finally met Mr. Louisville!

Becky creeping, Leyla, Hillie (who KILLED it as Red from Orange is the new Black, Kelly as My Little Pony and me.

Saturday, it was more Halloween fun!  But first, another birthday.  We met up with Mike and Abbey to celebrate Ab's birthday at Dewey's Pizza.  One of my favorites!  Then, it was off to Brett's for a party.  Mr. Louisville has quite the 'stache and after some contemplating we decided to go as a little girl and pedophile! I think we pulled it off!  The lollipops were a nice touch.

Finally, I don't think I can complete a Halloween post with out a picture of my niece on her first Halloween dressed as a little ladybug. I love her!

Podcast love

I spend a lot of time on the road;  for work, Louisville for the weekends, roadtrips...
I love music but I don't have an insert for my iPod in my car, I'm not fond of trying to find radio stations and I get tired of the few CDs I have.  So, in the past year I've been getting into podcasts.  I suppose my love of talk radio started with Terry Gross and Fresh Air but here are a few of my other favorites.

Savage Lovecast

This was the first podcast I started listening to and now I'm a regular.  It's basically an advice column.  People call in with questions about love, sex, relationships, etc. and Dan Savage answers.  He's funny, articulate, thoughtful and open-minded.  He's changed my life, honestly.  My perceptions about relationships, monogamy, bi-sexuality, transgenders and more have been challenged and I've learned so much.  I really think that everyone should listen to this.

Dan Savage (on the right) with his husband, Terry.

Serial
This is a new podcast and I'm obsessed.  A true story unfolds week by week.  The first season is about a murder that took place in Baltimore, back in 1999.  A high school senior was strangled and her ex-boyfriend was found guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.  The way it unfolds reminds me of the documentary, Staircase. I flip back and forth.  He did it!  He's definitely innocent.  He's guilty!  There's no way!  It's riveting, well told and juicy.  I've listened to each episode twice through already.  It's so good.

The Dinner Party Download
This is a nice, fluffy podcast that I tend to listen to on long walks.  The podcast is played out like so.
Icebreaker - joke
History Lesson - something that happened around that date is history
Cocktails - a drink to accompany the history lesson
Playlists - music for the dinner party
Guest of Honor - special guest celebrity, writer, actor, etc.
Etiquette - questions answered usually by said guest of honor
Dinner time - some food related content like an emerging food trend
Anyway, I enjoy the tidbits of unconventional news and culture which provide excellent (you guessed it!) dinner party conversation starters.

Kevin Spacey was a guest on the show.

And a few more that I listen to:
The Moth
Death, Sex & Money

What are your favorites?  I'd love a recommendation!

What about me?!

I swiped this from mi amiga! I do love a good survey.
1. What’s a nickname only your family calls you? My dad calls me Rosie-Os.  The Rose.  Or simply, Laura Rose.

2. What’s a weird habit of yours? I swish drinks in my mouth before I swallow.

3. Do you have any weird phobias? My phobia of crickets and mice is often debilitating.  Otherwise, I'm quite fearless!

4. What’s a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you’re alone? Right now, It's all about the bass.  Florence and the Machine.  Or some old favorites from high school, like Blink182.

5. What’s one of your biggest pet peeves? I'm an aggressive driver so all other drives generally annoy me.  And noisy eaters.

6. What’s one of your nervous habits? When I'm nervous or anxious I can't sleep.

7. What side of the bed do you sleep on? Whatever side I want!  When I'm alone, I sleep in the middle.

8. What was your first stuffed animal & its name? I don't remember being big on stuffed animals.  I had a stuffed soccer ball I slept with for a long time but I didn't personify it.

9. What’s the drink you ALWAYS order at Starbucks? Grande non-fat chai tea latte.  Sometimes extra hot.

10. What’s the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice? I'm bad about moisturizing.

11. Which way do you face in the shower? Away from the water.  But if I'm feeling sick or cold I'll face the water and crank the temperature to super hot.
*Edited to note that I actually face towards the water!  After I answered this I thought about it every time I showered and was shocked to discover that I actually don't face away from the shower most of the time.  I learned something about myself!!

12. Do you have any ‘weird’ body ‘skills’? My elbows are double-jointed.  It's hard to explain but people often comment on it.

13. What’s your favorite ‘comfort food’/food that’s ‘bad’ but you love to eat it anyways? Pizza.  

14. What’s a phrase or exclamation you always say? Coolio.

15. Time to sleep- what are you ACTUALLY wearing? Normally just underwear but I'll add sweats as it gets colder.

Cheers!

Milwaukee, a timeline!

Perhaps not as exotic as Mexico but another trip warrants another timeline!

Friday
10am - Depart Louisville and head to Milwaukee!

4:30pm 3:30pm - After 6.5 hours we arrive in MKE.  Learn that they are actually an hour behind.

6pm - Off to Lakefront Brewery with our hosts, Ryan and Ann!

7pm - Take a tour of the Brewery where I am crowned Queen of the Bung Hole.  Such an honor!

8:30pm - Stayed at Lakefront for their fried fish dinner and eat my very fist cheese curd.  I'm in love!

10pm - Drive by Mr. Louisville's former apartment and stop by Wonderbar for a night cap.  A total dive with a little charm.

Saturday
10:30am - Brunch at BelAir Cantina followed by a drive around to see the sites.

1pm - I break off from the group to go shopping while the rest watch football, take runs and naps and laze around.

7pm - Head to dinner at Pizza Man.  Have some more cheese curds and probably the best pizza I've had.  Cracker thin crust with delicious toppings.

10pm - After dinner we go to Leff's to meet up with more friends! 

Sunday
10:30am - Diner breakfast at Ted's before hitting the road home.

2pm - Quick detour to Mars Cheese Castle for curds to bring home.

What I learned in Milwaukee: I love cheese curds!!

Read, Watch, Eat: Volume 1

A new blog series.  Read, Watch, Eat!

Read
Although my Bitchin' Book Club is still alive (Divergent, The Book Theif, Someone Knows My Name and The Rosie Project were the latest reads) I definitely read more on my own.  Recently, I picked up Where'd You Go, Bernadette and I was so pleased!  I'd snagged it in the airport on my way home from Portland and nearly finished the whole thing save for the last few chapters. I couldn't put it down.  Light, funny, smart, cheeky. I highly recommend it!

Watch
I gave up cable a little over a year ago so I'm always looking for something good on Hulu, Netflix or Amazon Prime.  I'd heard a glowing review on NPR last week about a new show streaming on Amazon Prime.  Transparent. The show is about a 70 year old father of 3 grown children (with messy lives of their own) who comes out as trans. It was just so good.  I devoured all 10 episodes (only about 30 minutes a pop) in a few days. 

Eat
It's the season for all things pumpkin.  Personally, I'm a big fan!  I've made pumpkin muffins 3 times already.
1. A triple batch for co-workers.
2. A batch and a half for brunch at a friend's during MPMF weekend.
3. A batch to take to my favorite new moms(and see baby Shep!!) with a few leftover for Mr. Louisville.
You know it's a Smitten Kitchen recipe.  My favorite food blog, like, ever.
BAKING NOTE:  My bake time is more like 20-25 minutes. If they go too long, they'll dry out so I suggest checking them sooner rather than later.

Mid Point Music Festival

This past weekend was Mid Point Music Festival in Cincinnati!!  Easily one of my most favorite weekends of the year.

I actually kicked things off early by biking down to the Christian Moerlein beer hall downtown for the pre MPMF kick off party!  The Pass and Machines Are People Too played and it was fun to check out that venue since I didn't make it there for any shows during the actual festival.

Thursday night I was off on my bike and headed to Hillie's for a Chromeo pre-party.  She lives around the corner from Washington Park so it was perfect to hang out and drink before the show.

Then it was off to see Chromeo who put on a super fun and dancey show!  Afterwards, I had my only snafu of the weekend.  I got in a bike accident!  My front tire got caught on the street car track in the middle of the street and I bit it. Hard!  Luckily, my friend was right behind me to help me out!

Other bands I saw Thursday night:
River Whyless @ Arnold's 
Fathers @ the Know
Violent Mae @ the Know
The Almighty Get Down @ Mainstay

The Almighty Get Down... my MPMF favorite!!

Friday, I was back at it!  I biked again and had so much fun just bopping around.

Friday bands:
Real Estate @ Midway
Holy Ghost Tent Revival @ Arnold's
The Locals @ MOTR
Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery @ MOTR
Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands @ Pitifuls

Real Estate.

Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands.

I actually had every intention of making it out for night 3 but Josh and Ashley's wedding was too much fun!  Dancing all night long to the Turkeys made it worth missing a night.

Overall, so much fun wandering around and discovering new bands.  Can't wait until next year!