BBQ
That's right! It's staying light later and later and the last week or so there have been several days (weekends included!) with no rain. That's right folks, spring may finally have come to Seattle! I have tested out several recipes including:
grilled salad - stack slices of grilled eggplant and tomatoes (drizzled in olive oil, salt and pepper before grilling), throw in some fresh basil, perhaps your favorite cheese (mozzarella slices, feta, chevre) et voila!
chicken wings - too much lemon juice and not enough hot sauce but the recipe is totally tweakable so I'm not worried - awesome!
grilled dessert - I have learned that you can't go wrong with grilling half a peach and then while the rounded side is grilling (grill the cut side first then flip) add a dollop of goat cheese to the hole where the pit resided until nice and melty. Fabulous with a sprinkling of pepper - yes, pepper - or granulated sugar. Or get crazy and try a flambé with your favorite liquor. There are a million variations for grilled fruit with some sort of topping and they are all amazing.
I'm making myself hungry, or at least salivate.
Started playing with drinks too. Tried an interesting recipe for mojitos but I don't think the prosecco was for me. Or the darker rum. Will make again with silver rum and club soda. The infused simple syrup was to die for though - could drink that straight up (almost).
Have become mildly obsessed with ginger beer. Want to make dark & stormy drinks with it but I might like it outright. I'm a big fan of ginger ale and think this might be fabulous like root beer. Want to go the unfermented route so I'm not sure if it will still qualify as beer when I'm done. Considering a juicer purchase and seltzer thingy to aid in the process. Will update later.
Am obsessed with sold shampoo/conditioner/cleanser bars. Initially was interested for the trip so I could minimize liquids and allow for copious sunscreen carry-on. Have, in addition, opened the floodgates to super fun and fabulous smells for less chemically products. Playing with Lush samples at the moment and awaiting eagerly some Arcadia Aromatics coconut shampoo and conditioner. What I love so far about Lush:
Trichomania solid shampoo - smells fabulous (coconut) and actually works. Super lather.
Aromarant solid and Coconut powder deodorants - work almost as good as Secret and Degree and all that but smell way better and don't stain clothes or leave white marks everywhere.
Aqua Marina face cleanser - a paste so it still counts as a travel liquid but it cleans up my face and leaves it silky smooth.
Catastrophe Cosmetic (UK site, can't find it on the US one) face mask. Again with the silky fabulousness. Not going to use for travel as it is a paste and needs to be stored in the fridge. Both this and the face cleanser are nice to my sensitive skin. I get beet red with the slightest rub on my face but these just don't cause that to happen. Fabulous.
Buffy - shower bar that exfoliates. The scent is strong for me (sensitive nose) but it isn't enough to stop me from using it. The exfoliation feels like a nice back scratch and the oils moisturize so well that I don't have to put on lotion when I get out of the shower. This is a big deal for me. Awesome.
Alkmaar soap. It's soap. Works well and has a nice, mild smell. Will get more of that.
I could take or leave their one solid conditioner. It doesn't lather well; I end up rubbing it straight onto my hair. It does work though when you get around to applying it all over. The smell is not my favorite but it isn't bad. Smells more like a guys's shampoo to me. I want the fruity/flowery stuff!
Have decided to steer clear of their liquid products for the time being. I'm happy with my moisturizers and toner (homemade by moi).
Jazz.
Always thought I hated it. Never knew I liked it until I saw Ken Burn's Jazz on tv years ago. I totally had a light bulb moment where I said to myself, "Oh, that's why people like jazz." Decided to revisit and did so via itunes. Listening to it now and love love love it! Perfect Sunday morning music too. Sunny day, me doing laundry. Can't really say why but it made the morning! And now the evening too...
Have laid out almost all of my trip clothes and accessories. Should fit in the bag so that is good. Trying to find a second travel shoe in case the weather makes a turn for the worst. I love the shoes I found but they do, afterall, have holes in the sides. And I need some shower shoes/flip flops. Mine are dead dead dead. All in all, if I had to leave tomorrow I could. :)
Was very disappointed to find that my kindle cover does NOT fit the book light that was co-advertised with it on Amazon. In discussions with the company to get a different jacket but I doubt I'll be able to receive anything by the time I leave. Not really keen on taking the kindle on a trip unprotected. Will have to see what happens.
Ye olde brain is taxed so I'll call it a day. On-wards to work tomorrow. Blech.
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