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.