i am...

awfully proud of myself for several reasons, which i will list below in a bulleted points:

• i spent a day scrapping in seattle with some friends and it was wonderful and relaxing and just what i needed to rejuvinate myself


• i went to the gym ON THE WEEKEND (gasp!!) and worked my tushie off


• i made brussel sprouts (for the very first time) and liked them (gasp again!!)


• i went bowling and we "color-bowled" (if you get colored pins in certain places and get a strike on your turn, you win money) and i won a whole dollar!

this weekend was just relaxing and wonderful and i loved every second of it... if only it could have been longer. my friend tenaya invited me to a girl's crafty day @ her friend vic's house. vic made us the most amazing sourdough french toast with orange zest, fresh strawberries, and powdered sugar to start our day of creating. it was so good, i nearly evaporated into a food coma. also, she brews her coffee with cinnamon and sugar and it is untouchably wonderful. i give it two thumbs up, and if i could make my big toe be like a thumb, it would be four. seriously. wow. the house she lives in is so cool. everywhere you turn there is creativity, color, excitement. just her room alone, i could have spent all day looking around, peeking in corners, its full of inspiration. giant leafy plants, antique typewriters, bold colors, patterns, vintage items, and a spread of food that kept us going all day... magnificent doesn't even begin to describe.

brussel sprouts... seriously. i've never been a fan. yes, it is true. she who eats everything does not eat brussel sprouts. i figured it was time to giver-another go. why not? your tastebuds change ever seven years... why not add another power-veggie to my arsenal of superfoods? i was surprised. i liked them! here's what I did

brussel sprouts a-la-aimee

3 strips turkey bacon
1 cup chicken stock
1 shallot
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 lbs brussel sprouts

pan fry bacon till crispy, chop, set aside
add olive oil to pan and saute chopped shallot for 1-2 minutes
add brussel sprouts, coat in oil, saute for 2-3 minutes
add chicken stock, bring to boil
reduce heat to med-low and cover for 10-15 minutes or until brussel sprouts are cooked to your liking. scoop out with slotted spoon & top with bacon crumbles.

i wish i could have brought my camera to color bowl, because believe me peeps, you would have liked to have seen my bowling shoes. they were HOTT (yes, two t's). alas... no flash photography allowed. i will leave you with a card i made this weekend. most of them are using new purple onion goodies so i can't post them yet... but soon!

xoxo,

aimee

**edit: last night hubby and i were laying in bed reading our twilight books... he's on book two, i'm on book four... and he giggles. like...this girly little giggle. and i look over at him, brows furrowed and i'm like, 'what was that, yo'. he's like...this book it said "sheepish". i'm like, yeah... so... , whatever? and he says, "well, i've never met anyone who says sheepish except for you, its hilarious. i didn't think it was a real word." thanks for the faith honey... you think i make up my own vocab... HA!**