spring cleaning

I just scrubbed my microwave. With a dish scrubby. I'm not sure you're supposed to do that. But I did. And it worked very well. I think cleaning the microwave is my absolutely least favorite cleaning project. Ick. And my cleaner makes me sneeze. Or maybe it's just spring time.

I made a sweet 90s playlist for my boyfriend. It's all music I was listening to in high school. I'm listening to it right now while I am cleaning. I like it.

Tonight I'm making lasagna for dinner. Yum! It always takes so long but it's totally worth it.

I got a new zip up fleece at Cabela's yesterday. I was so excited. It was exactly what I wanted and the price I wanted to pay. Okay, I wanted the grey one from the women's department but the black one from men's was half as much so I got it but, it was a bargain so I was okay with the compromise. Of course, I find this as the weather warms up. But I'm sure spring is not here for good yet. Even still, it will be good for cool spring mornings. Yay!


I was all excited, I was going to start making the grey scarf I promised to make one of my friends. I went to Wal-Mart (I should've known better) to buy yarn. Absolutely no grey yarn that did not feel super scratchy. Arg. I'm going to have to make a Michael's or Hobby Lobby run soon. I need to start being crafty again.

being awesome

So sometimes I feel like I am stuck in the 90s. Is it still cool to say "awesome"? I kind of don't think so. But I do it anyway. Quite proudly in fact. I frequently reaffirm my awesomeness. I have some fun domesticness this week. I keep forgetting to buy grey yarn for Meera's scarf. Would somebody please remind me.

I'm making BBQ chicken pizza. That means I need to defrost the chicken so I can cook it. I should be doing that right now. I think that's for tonight.

I'm also making lasagna. It's my mom's best friend's recipe. She (my mom's best friend) died when I was a freshman in high school. She was an amazing person. She was my third grade math teacher. I remember singing along with records to learn our multiplication tables... I also remember a lesson involving Pop Tarts, I don't remember what the lesson was, just the mention of Pop Tarts. I loved Pop Tarts (truth be told, I still do -- the brown sugar & cinnamon ones). It always makes me smile to make the lasagna. It's just warm and comforting. My mom quit making it for a long time after she died because it made her sad. If we had lasagna it was that pre-made kind from Sam's Club. My mom makes the lasagna again now and it makes my heart smile to see her remembering her friend as she stirs the ingredients and cooks the noodles.

We made blueberry muffins in home ec the day she died. I was pulling muffins out of the oven when I heard my sister and another boy get called to the office and I just knew. I knew what had happened. I knew she was gone. I have not eaten a blueberry muffin since that day. They turn my stomach -- the smell, the taste. It was a long time before I could eat any muffins at all.

She was definitely an awesome lady though. Her neice has a very cool tattoo in honor of her aunt. I love it.

So, this week the cooking high lights are the lasagna and this ridiculous pizza. I ate some Stromboli earlier. It appeared magically in my fridge. Mmmm! Thanks BF's mom. It was delicious.

Ooh, I also bought new wine over the weekend. I can't wait to drink it! Not because I'm an alcoholic but because it will be so good! Blackberry and a spiced wine that is to be drank warm. Yum! I'm most excited about the spiced. We bought some about this time last year but I was really sick when we drank it. So I wasn't sure if it was really good or just good because I was sick. I tasted it again when I bought it this time -- yup, definitely that good. You should definitely be jealous.

butterscotch brownies

I just had to pull on the first pair of socks for the fall, my toes were cold. I wish I were drinking a mug of hot cider. Ooh, or some mulled wine. I discovered that last winter, my boyfriends parents bought us some. It was absolutely delicious.

I really love fall. I love pulling out sweaters and boots to wear. And scarves. Scarves are the best. A lot of the scarves I have I've crocheted. Colors to match just about every outfit. Some with fringe, some a little more serious. But all definitely cozy. And fall means the beginning of the baking season. I think holiday baking is my favorite. All the candies, cookies, breads. I don't even necessarily want to eat them but just fix them for other people.

Yesterday I made one of my favorites, butterscotch brownies. They're usually especially for my dad. Their his favorite. My mom had a recipe for them in the late 60s when they lived in California. Somehow when they moved the recipe disappeared. In high school I went on a quest to find a recipe to replace his old favorite. And I found it. Now whenever I require car maintenance or am just feeling especially nice I make the butterscotch brownies. They're also the choice dessert among most of my friends. Whenever we plan dinners that's always their request from me.

Right now I'm woring on the greatest baby blanket ever. My boyfriends sister is expecting a little boy in December. Her husband is rather outdoorsy (as is my boyfriend) so I'm making them a camo baby blanket. Well, actually it's striped. Green, brown and camo. Surprisingly it's really cute. I keep telling the bf that I'm going to make one for him as well so I can cuddle up under it at his house. He doesn't seem too thrilled.

Fall is also a good craft time. In the summer it's always way too hot to crochet. I'm lookig forward to lots of crocheting on these cooler nights. Well and curling up on the couch with a blanket, a mug of something warm to drink, and a new episode of The Office.