friday favorites: things to look forward to

- A night to myself to be a dork and organize my wedding binder
- Dinner in Uptown with a dear old roommie
- Brunch at the Colossal Cafe with a friend about to start a new chapter in her life
- Checking out a new thrift store
- Thoughtfully spending $200 worth of gift cards at the store I can't afford
- Long runs
- Chick Lit

It will be a top-notch weekend indeed.

thirsty thursdays: this place is full of spies

A couple of months ago, as part of an elaborate ginger-themed 31st birthday dinner, I made a ginger version of the Sidecar -- the Royal Gingersnap Cocktail. But instead of Crown Royal I used Knob Creek bourbon whiskey (named after Abe Lincoln's boyhood home in Kentucky, in case you care) and I added some kick (as if it needed any) by rimming the glass with Chinese five-spice powder. It was dangerously delicious.

Apparently ginger is one of the latest trends in the world of cocktails. I think they're onto me.

wednesday what-have-yous: almost mill time, baby

Just ten (10!) days until the Mill City Farmer's Market makes its debut for the summer. And with visions of caramel crème brulée ice cream from Sonny's, crepes from Spoonriver, and potato and cabbage curry a cookin', my mouth is already watering. I can't wait to take a Saturday morning stroll along the river with Mr. S. and feed our faces while we people-watch, listen to the Brass Messengers and enjoy everything else the market's opening day has to offer. May 8th, please come soon.

tuesday tunes: do you really want to live forever

I have a new obsession with this song -- an obsession that was started while taking that big curve over the river on I-94, the Minneapolis skyline lit up in all its glory, windows down, belly still aching from a night filled with laughter, radio turned up so loud my speakers were crackling. I felt invincible, blissful, electric. It was one of those moments when you realize how incredible life is, how quickly time passes, how much there is in this world. You also realize that, at the moment, you're one big cliché, but you don't care. Because it just feels so damn good. To be driving. To be alive. To be young.

monday (un)mentionables: minneapolis is a very grassy city

Minneapolis, you bad.

friday favorites

Oh Friday Favorites, if it wasn't for you, I would probably never post. No, that's not completely true, but it's close. Maybe I need to establish Monday (Un)Mentionables, Tuesday Tunes, Wednesday Wisdom, Thursday Thrifts and Weekend Wonders. Then I wouldn't have to think as hard about what's Post-Worthy, because really, who likes to think?

Anyway, it's Friday, so here are some current Favorites:

- A clever little video.
- A new series to love.
- The fact that my job blurs the line between work and (potential) honeymoon research
- Laughing until I cry with old and new girl friends
- The Minneapolis skyline
- Some of the best meat I've ever had at Brasa
- Fruit pizza

friday favorites

This week my Friday Favorites are all birthday-related. I turned 25 yesterday, and had a magnificent day off of work, enjoying lots of little pleasures in life. And since today is Friday, it is officially My Birthday Weekend, which means there is much more fun to be had.

- Groggy renditions of "Happy Birthday to You"
- Birthday cards in the mailbox that make me laugh out loud
- Morning yoga
- Long, hot showers that are followed by bathrobes instead of work clothes
- Lunch at Cafe Latte with a friend I've had since I was 5 years old
- Bright yellow sunflowers and pink lilies
- Being treated to Birthday Cake ice cream at the Grand Ole Creamery, and receiving the employee discount as a "birthday special"
- Facials that include more massaging than facial-ing and result in a dazed pleasure stupor
- Morning thunder and afternoon sunshine
- Naps on the couch in the sun
- Sushi dinners at Origami with The One and Only Mr. S.
- Chocolate cupcakes with fudge frosting
- Endless streams of texts, email messages, posts and phone calls from so many wonderful people in my very rich life
- Being in bed by 9:30
- Anticipating hand-made presents and weekend cocktails

friday favorites

- Ripe avocados
- Bringing new people into my life, namely ones who inspire and encourage
- Babies
- This dress
- Teaching
- Road trips
- Spontaneous dinners at the 112 eatery with Mr. S.

nostalgia

Five months ago I was on an adventure with my friend Alie, traipsing around northern Patagonia. The first day we were there we hiked over ten miles, taking in our first views of the turquoise lakes and snow-peaked mountains surrounding us. That night we found the best local pizza place and sat at the carved wooden bar, eating an entire brick-oven pizza each and drinking local microbrews as the cool mountain air blew in the open window behind us, laughing and talking and recounting our day, knowing we had ten whole days ahead of us to do exactly what we were doing at that moment.

At the time, I knew how good I had it -- I recognized that my life wouldn't always be a long string of travels, eateries, mountains and adventures; that I wouldn't always be young and responsibility-free; that the moment was fleeting. I even recognized that a few months down the road I'd be longing for that moment... that I needed to drink in every taste of it that I could, because sooner than I wanted to admit, I'd feel an entire world away from that time in my life.

I knew too well. Five months seems like five years; Patagonia may as well be Pluto. Whenever I think of my time in Argentina I feel an odd mix of happiness, nostalgia, exhilaration, turmoil, and a soft, slow sadness. I wonder if that's how it will always be for me; if my memories will forever match the emotions I felt while I was there. Looks like it's debatable.

friday favorites

By popular demand...

- This gorgeous BeeGee handbag

- The atmosphere here downtown today, with the Twins playing in their new outdoor ballpark for the first time

- Trader Joe's Wasabi, Wow! mix of wasabi peas, almonds, peanuts, yellow raisins and cranberries

- No work today = getting paid to sleep in, go to yoga, run errands, grocery shop, and hang out on the couch next to the open windows, enjoying the smell of rain, the sound of traffic cop whistles, and the view of Target Field

- My loyal readers