LMAD!

Once when I was in Vegas, I appeared on little show called Let's Make a Deal.

I didn't win any money but I won a lot of respect from the Strip.

Meow!

Faaa Laaaa Laaaa

For the first time in my life I am going to the Operaaaaah! Not Oprah, OPERA LA LA LA LA....
Next week my boy T and I are going to see La Bohème. I've heard wonderful things about it and I so am excited to go. The Opera always sounds like such a romantic thing. Some of my favorite scenes in movies are of the Opera.

The scene in the 1994 version of Little Women when Jo March and Professor Baehr are at the Opera and he is telling her what they are singing about...


"My soul is an opening, love is a fatal power. Your heart understood mine in the depth of the fragrant night. I listened to your ravished soul; to your beloved voice. Your heart understood mine."

I love the Opera scene in Life is Beautiful...



And of course who doesn't love the scene where the Marriage of Figaro is played over the loud speaker in Shawshank Redemption?



"I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free."

I am very over the moon for my Opera experience. I'll let you know how it goes!

If you have been did you enjoy it? Would you go again?

For Today...

I borrowed this idea from my friend Laurie over at Thru My Cottage Door.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... blue skies, sunshine and melting snow!

I am thinking... My trip to Florida is going to be wonderful and relaxing!

I am thankful for... So much! I am beyond blessed.

From the kitchen... I am going to attempt to make Pumpkin Butter for someone special.

I am wearing... Dark jeans, black cami, black cardigan, bright yellow scarf, big white flower cut-out earrings, yellow flats.

I am creating... felt, fabric and ribbon pins.

I am going... to dinner tonight and enjoying lots of Mexican goodness & margaritas.

I am reading... Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jaime Ford

I am hoping... That it works out to take a road trip this summer to visit my friends in Michigan and then on to New England!

I am hearing... Pandora Radio, Swoon by Imogen Heap.

Around the house... Easter\Spring decorations waiting to be put up.

One of my favorite things... Fresh flowers on my desk at work. It makes the day so much better.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Spending time with T, hanging with my brother and a birthday party!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

TWD ~ Toasted-Coconut Custard Tart

I'm not a huge fan of coconut, but since I didn't bake very much last month, I wanted to make sure to try this one. I kinda fudged a little bit and didn't make the sweet tart crust, but used a puffed pastry dough.

I have never toasted coconut before, so I wasn't sure when to take it out of the oven. Some of the flakes were turning really brown while others were still white. I just eventually took it out of the oven and said, to heck with it.

I had no problem making the custard, but I didn't have any coriander, nor did I have dark rum. So I just added more vanilla. Everything was going smoothly until I realized i forgot to add the butter pieces. I honestly didn't feel like this recipe needed butter, so I was fine leaving it out. And you know what? It tasted just fine. I also didn't make the whip cream topping. I didn't want to buy the heavy whipping cream. It was torture enough buying whole milk (since I do not drink dairy products), so I just skipped the topping.

This recipe was so simple and easy to make and I actually really liked it with the puff pastry, very light and flaky. I am on a health kick (or trying at least, darn Easter candy!) So I just had a bite, and I am bringing the whole thing to work tomorrow for my wonderful colleagues.

Toasted-Coconut Custard Tart

Fleeting Weekend

Noir, giving me the weather report. Spring is coming! Meow!

k & e & s

Cousin dinner... please come back soon Erin! It's such a treat having you here. (thanks for the pic Kelly! it's my new fav!)

Spending lots of time with this guy...

Five Questions - Five Answers

I borrowed this post idea from my blog pal Michelle over at A'etonu Family Adventures. She is full of fun ideas! Thanks Michelle!

So here are 5 questions with 5 answers.

Question 1: Where were you five years ago?

1. I just celebrated my 1 year anniversary working at a place called Choice Inc, where I worked with adults with developmental disabilities as a Case Manager. Never a dull day!

2. Officially started dating a guy named Josh. We stayed together 2 years after that. meh.

3. I was contemplating quiting my job to go to school full time for jewelry making. Which I later did!

4. I lived in a crappy little apartment in the heart of Uptown Minneapolis on Lake and Lyndale. But I really liked living there so it was worth it. Not even being mugged and having my car broken into numerous times would detour me!

5. I was 28 and I thought that was old!! Geesh.

Question 2: What is (was) on your to-do list today?

1. Tally up my points for my US Weekly draft club.

2. Go to a Baby Shower right after work

3. Dinner with my Cousins and T at Salut!

4. Try to catch An Education at the movies.

5. Eat as many Cadbury Eggs that magically appear in my hands today!

Question 3: What five snacks do you enjoy?

1. Cadbury Creme Eggs!

2. Chips, any kind really. I'm really into Garden Salsa Sunchips right now! mmmm!

3. Does a Chipotle Burrito Bowl count as a snack?

4. Gummy bears

5. Raspberries\strawberries\blueberries\blackberries

Question 4: What five places have you lived?

1. Watertown, MN. a small country town where i grew up.

2. Hillsboro, New Hampshire. I lived there for a year working at a crisis care facility

3. Beijing, China. I spent a summer teaching English there.

4. St. Paul, MN. The better Twin of the Twin Cities.

5. Minneapolis, several parts of the city including Linden Hills. The cutest part of the city!

Question 5: What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

1. Take my whole family on a really fun trip somewhere warm!

2. Purchase an apartment in Paris

3. Buy a slightly larger home with a deluxe kitchen and a swimming pool

4. Take sailing lessons.

5. Give secret donations to special people out there

Have a beautiful weekend!

Stumble Upon

I think I just stumbled upon the best website ever. It's called Stumble Upon, and actually T told me about it. I don't know if this is or a good or bad thing. As it is, I am addicted to the Internet. I could spend all day looking at websites, blogs, DIY project sites and emailing. I am not proud of this, but I will not be ashamed either.
Random fact about me: My favorite saying is Should=Shame=Puke

Anyway back to Stumble Upon... Basically you go to this website, pick categories that interest you and VIOLA! Hit the "Stumble" button and you are transported to a random website that you might enjoy. Hit the "stumble" button again, and there is another website. The possibilities are endless. This is so bad for me. So so so very bad.


I have found the Dullest Blog in the World.
It's called, The Dullest Blog in the World.
Who knew that really dull things could be so amusing?