Pretty Little Empire at Forest Park

Pretty Little Empire - The One (A Show Me Show) from Jarred Gastreich on Vimeo.

Birthday Brunch

This year, I'm going to Fast Eddie's for (the day before) my birthday, but maybe next year I'll have a birthday brunch like this one.

Except with more bacon.

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Cleansing

My diet over the last week has been mostly coffee and candy with a few late breakfasts, Thai food and enormous family dinners thrown in. And my diet over the next two weeks is going to consist mainly of cous cous, gelato, pasta, pizza, wine, beer and coffee (Thanks Rome and Morocco!). So, yes, I'm going to need to do this Bon Appetit cleanse when I get back.

I'm actually looking forward to it.

 Chocolate with Sesame Seed Bark

 Black Cod, Kale Salad With Pine Nuts, Roasted Sweet Potatoes

 Cider-Glazed Chicken, Fennel-Lemon Relish, Broccoli Rabe with Black Bean Oil

 Mushroom-Sherry Soup, Chicken with Citrus Sauce, Roasted Squash

 Broccoli Rabe

Steaks, Sweet Potatoes, Beet Salad 

 Pear Slices with Yogurt

 Spelt Pancakes, Maple Applesauce

Low-fat Greek-style yogurt with hazelnuts and pomegranate seeds

For the full list of meals, shopping lists and recipes, check out Bon Appetit's 2012 Food Lovers' Cleanse. 

2011.

I find myself reading very few 'Best Of' lists this year. I don't know why. Maybe I'm feeling nostalgic for last year when I got to put 'I was on MTV' on my own 'best of' list. Ah, 2010. The glory days.

For real though, 2011 was a weird, roller coaster year. Call it growing pains. Being 24 is not easy. I struggled with my living situation, my relationships, and keeping the balance between work and life.

That being said, I'm trying to look on the bright side. Diablo Cody once wrote that the year was like a Sham-Wow - prone to occasional suckage, but mostly bright. 2011 was kinda like that.

• I watched the Cards win a World Series, and getting my picture taken with a few of the players
• I went on an amazing trip to Colorado
• I found Pinterest
• I started to do outfit photos
• My mom got a new puppy
• I watched some great friends walk down the aisle
• I saw my Dad fly a helicopter
• I spent many a weekend at the lake
• I had an amazing summer in St. Louis
• I went on my first grown-up fishing and camping trips
• I joined the board of directors of the Lindbergh Schools Foundation
• I visited with my best friends when they came in town to visit (now I just need to repay the favor!)
• We moved in to a new office. However, I have a feeling that no matter where I was working from, coming to work at Atomicdust everyday would be an amazing privilege. 
• I went on a 'work' trip to Baltimore
• The boy and I enjoyed planty of impromptu winery trips, movie dates and fancy dinners. 

I'm ready for 2012. Bring it. 

Holiday Hangover

Sorry I've been MIA. We're off all week and my big plans of reading, writing and 2012 planning turned int me laying in bed, watching The Wire. All. Day. Long. Oops.

If you must know (I must! I must!), I had a very happy holiday. My whole family was in town, plus the boy's whole family, so it was a crazy week of family gatherings and lots of lunch/dinner dates. And presents, lots of presents. I got boots, a winter coat, loads of new socks, a blender, a couple books and so much more.... I'm pretty sure it was everything I asked for and more.

Now, I'm in Rome/Morocco planning/packing/freak out mode. Eeks.

Twas the Week Before Christmas...

{shuffleboard rules at my work office party]

{red and green swirl cupcakes}

{that moment when you realize you won't be able to tell any of your presents apart}

{a 'to do' list for my 'break'}

{running on doubles this week}

I Must Learn...

"I must learn: There doesn’t have to be a word for everything, you don’t have to talk so much, think so much, carry so much, care so much, reveal so much. I must learn: Take small bites, pause, breathe, savor."

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