Mixtape Exchange 2011 (the sequel)

Dear 28,
Time to get mixtaping! See full details HERE and read more below.

Here are the rules (in list form of course):

1- Email me at xo.lp.blog@gmail.com your name + mailing address by January 6th if you'd like to participate.

2- You will receive an email with the name + mailing address of your mixtape buddy byJanuary 10th.

3- Pull together your favorite tracks of 2011 and make your playlist.

    3a- One song per artist please (Yes. I listened to Watch the Throne for about three weeks, but one track from the gods of hip hop is plenty.)

    3b- Try to compile a list that's about 60 minutes long. (Check out here, here and herefor inspiration)

    3c- All songs should be from 2011. (I know you just discovered the power of Bieber'ssmash single, Baby, but it wasn't put out in 2011, so keep it off the list.)

4- Burn your mixtape on a CD. 

5- Send out your carefully packaged best-of-2011 mixtape to your buddy by January 30th. (I know last year some folks didn't receive their hotly anticipated mix. So be sure to send it this year. It makes people happy.) 

GO.

xo-LP

May your days be merry.

Dear 28,
Wishing you the happiest of holidays.

xo-LP

Is there a trick to putting your car in reverse?

Dear 28,
It happened. Likely the most adult experience of my 28 years of life (or something like that).

It really was time. I mean the Focus (RIP) sat at Drake Garage more in the last three weeks than it did behind the stoop. We picked up my darling car (hindsight makes everything seem sweeter. I'm choosing to only remember the good times in that gold Ford), and drove off to Smart Honda, where she'd be laid to rest.

You see, the Focus decided that once parked, she would just refuse to go in reverse. One final malfunction, but she carried me safely to the next ride in my life.

Finally crossed off #21. 

xo-LP

I want to be a shining czar.

Dear 28,

I'm running for Social Czar* of Des Moines. How bizarre.

The Des Moines Social Club [DMSC] is holding their first "Faux Caucus" and they've asked me to join the race. In addition to achieving my lifelong dream of being cool, (True. See photo below. While those glasses may now be considered hipster, in '89- uncool) I'll have the chance to make a donation to my favorite place in all of Des Moines, The Des Moines Art Center [DMAC]. In order to give the big gift, I need some big votes-- here's where you can help!

Want to support the DMAC and the DMSC?

(Very similar acronyms. Both are awesome art-promoting organizations that make DSM a super place)

Oh and make me cool (see photo again. think Sally Jessy Raphael)

Check out this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DHMJQ5H

Vote. There's 13 nominees. Again, only the final five will have the chance to campaign for their charity. Many of my competitors have campaign videos and cool slogans or sell tshirts. (I've even been called a candyass.)

See you at the BASH. (Buy tickets for that HERE. The final five also speak at the event. So that should be interesting.)

If you're an out-of-towner, Vote anyway. I need you.

Thanks for your help!

xo-

LP

*Social Czar | social zär; (t)sär | (noun):
1. a title for a fancy person who wins the Des Moines Social Club's Faux Caucus. 
2. a person with great authority or power, or at least someone who gets a bathroom named for them.
3. most importantly a way to get a bunch of donations for the Des Moines Art Center.

Mixtape Exchange 2011

Dear 28,
Remember this?

It's coming back. And soon. The xo-LP mixtape exchange returns. More details coming right after the holidays. Start preppin your playlist.
xo-LP

#21

Dear 28,
It's time. #21. It's time.

 xo-LP

A real live rock show.

Dear 28,
No vacation is complete without a rock show. After feasting on Nick's famous "tacos*" and sharing a moment of tequila, we took a cab through the ghettos of Uptown to the Aragon.

(Thank you for all the photos Tim.)

So the tickets said 7pm. And they meant it. It was about 7:38pm when we made it to the ballroom, which looked an awful lot like a Dario Robleto piece, and the Local Natives were already ON STAGE. (gasp. noooo. gasp. watch checking. twitter search. gasp.) We missed the opening opener, Wye Oak, which was an unfortunate surprise, especially after reading what the AV Club has to say about their album. They must have played a short little set but heard that they "rocked quite hard." 

I have a thing for the Local Natives. We've bonded on many Muscatine road trips. So seeing them was the highlight of the evening for me. Especially hearing this one. We witnessed about 8 songs (I think we may have missed one or two) and then waited for The National to emerge.

Pointing at something and accidentally making a mustache.

A man was crazy body dancing next to us. So that was awesome. It was a little like a sauna in the star-covered Aragon.

(my blackberry took this picture. which is not good.)

I wasn't completely sold on the National pre-show (Like I said- I came to see the Local Natives) but damn they put on a real live rock show. The stage video stuff was pretty awesome. The lead singer carried himself like a bigtimer. I was enjoying the light show, the vests, the inaudible banter.

And then-- oh then there came the encore. I should first admit I don't really care for encores. It's become so standard that there's no "ok-we'll-play-just-one-more-song-because-you-love-us-that-much" magic. But then the National encored. and WHOA.

Overall- impressive. And I added another outta state concert to the list. Thanks JEN for coming with me. And the Paluchs, my new vacation buddies, that book run from the bus was so exciting.
xo-LP

Marine Drive Getaway.

Dear 28,
These digs are unbuster. So are Jen and Nick.

yes. we are all wearing the same outfit.

Megabus-ed to Chicago for an extended stay. Kicked the celebration of a vacation off with what Jen calls the "best pizza ever" and although a near fistfight broke out over delivery time, Pizza Rustica was quite tasty.

Hitting the lanes at the Diversey River Bowl with some Muskies. Then there was the Dose Market and meeting the Buckshot Sonny boys. A visit to giant Marilyn. (Seriously dudes. Why stand under her skirt? It's not that funny. Stop it. This article agrees.)

Then we went all-in holiday: Christkindlmarket. Mulled wine. Lots of glass ornaments. And German accents. And the commemorative boot mug.

Then there was brunch at Orange, shopping on Michigan Avenue, accidentally free whiskey and KATIE TIME (jenga. jenga. jenga.)

Then the tour de fancy places. Hancock. Trump. Hub 51. Great views of the chilly city. A ginger drink with flowers. An amazing (and recreate-able) brussels sprout salad.

Then there was the National+Local Natives show (more on that later). And breakfast with Jake. Whew. What a perfect trip to the Windy City. Thanks Jen and Nick-- you're terrific hosts.

xo-LP

Yesvember recap.

Dear 28,

Yesvember has come to a close, and as expected, the month dazzled me. A couple bits to note- there are indeed only 30 days in November. Good thing I picked up on that in the original November post "28 challenges. 31 days. One month of Yes (and a wee bit of stress) because I can't keep saying no to the blog."

Mid-27 I wrote what might have been my favorite post of the year about what I've learned in the process of writing my little love letter. And a little over a year later, I'm writing admittedly less. (Currently I’m writing on a moving bus. With Tim and Gretchen and Garrett's popcorn. And it’s two weeks after I should have posted this. Because a mid-year post should actually be posted mid year.)

The thing about this year: I’ve still been doing really cool things. And I’m not just writing that so I sound really cool.

There was that great show in Omaha (where we slept at the classiest casino this side of the Missouri), and the time I hosted scotch club (and purchased $250+ worth of scotch with my 15% discount), and when we watched zombies takeover the East Village (and ate burgers named for them), oh and I printed my postcards (but we all know that by now), and once I was in a band for a night (this is worth repeating. a true riot of rhythm), I saw three couples wed (aw), I skipped out on a camping trip (for a good reason. I promise), there was that front row dance party with Mayer Hawthorne ($6 tickets and sweet soul beats), and for about six weeks I was workin out at 5:15am (the most shocking fact of them all.)

All that cool stuff was never really written about. Maybe I’m too busy enjoying the year to thank her. Or maybe I’m just lazy. Or maybe having the internet at home really doesn’t encourage me to write more. But the truth is I'm having a super cool 28th year. 

1. Try a new bourbon.
2. Make a pie for Thanksgiving.
3. See the Hawkeyes play live. (It's #13.)
4. Stir up something out of the "Cook with Jamie" book you couldn't live without.
5. Peek inside the Basilica of St. John.
6. Renew my passport.
7. Create a line of XO-LP Holiday cards.
8. Eat at Cafe di Scala.
9. Decorate the Stoop for Christmas.
10. Build a human pyramid.
11. Read a book. (This just can't seem to happen)
12. Go to the Des Moines Symphony.
13. Master the art of winter layers. And fearlessly wear tights.
14. Cheer on the Bulldogs at a basketball game.
15. See a play.
16. See Des Moines' Bass Pro Shop. (If it's cool in Springfield...)
17. Walk across that Center Street Bridge.
18. Take more photobooth photos.
19. Celebrate the onset of the holidays (and sell a bunch of cards) at the East Village Holiday Promenade.
20. Walk through that Woodland Cemetery.
21. Coq au Vin.
22. Go to a movie.
23. Take a yoga class. Maybe more than once.
24. Go see the ArtVend machine up in Ames.
25. Play cards.
26. Perform with Our Kelly.
27. Light the sparklers. Even thought they are out of season.
28. Retry baking a cake.


Yesvember.
xo-LP

Game face.

Dear 28,
Thursday. 2:36pm.
From Muskie. To Des Moines. To Marysville. 12:14am. ish.
(Jessica you're a terrific driver and big thank you to the Searcey family*.)
Friday. 6:08am.
Bus must leave by 7:00am- right. 

Friday. 7:26am.
Onto Lincoln.

Friday. 11:00am.
Game time. (After walking a maze of sidewalks and bridges and through throngs of fans that matched the crowds at the WalMarts we passed. Game time.)
Friday. 9:21pm.
Leave Lincoln.
Saturday. 1:34am.
Back to DSM. Lots of sleeping.
xo-LP

*Thank you again Searceys! So hospitable.

Just so damn thankful.

Dear 28,

What a year. It has been oh-so-spectacular. And the last two months have been the very best. I can't wait to celebrate the final act of 2011 all December long. 

Thank you so much for reading. For being awesome. Never have I felt more grateful.
Gobble. Gobble.
xo-LP

CoqAuVinture.

Dear 28,
I don't know how to say "Coq Au Vin" out loud. I bet you are trying to right now. Qu'il est difficile de dire. And even though Tom has repeated it about 16 times to me, I still sound ridiculous. Co uh wha? Coke oh van? Really? 4 years of high school French class paid off big time. I can sing a song about strawberries (J'aime les fraises) and understand a little bit of French movies without reading the subtitles. Thank you Miss Sorden.

Photo credit goes to Fawn + Sara. 

Tom tells me French food takes time, the finest ingredients, and patience. Ina Garten tells me it's just like Beef something or another, but with chicken. Local foodie, and cookbook author, and friend of Tom's, Miss Moranville writes a whole book about French cooking and gave us her blessing on the shortened Coq recipe. But Sarah tells me I'm cheating by both using le poulet (instead of coq) and cooking up the impossible-to-pronounce-naturally recipe in one night rather than the French Master Julia's way-- over two frickin days, deux jours. I decided to use the Barefoot Contessa's recipe for several reasons. 1. This recipe is doable in one night. 2. Barefoot Contessa's book has really pretty pictures. 3. Tom said it was a good idea.

CoqAuVinture night was a lot of work (and there was beaucoup de vin). Les carottes, les oignons, beaucoup de vin, lard de fantaisie. That's basically coq au vin in French. There's a lot of browning of chicken (like a lot of it). And the bacon-- don't be all skimpy on that. Tom says to go for REALLY fancy bacon. And the wonderful Abbe picked out a special bottle of vin for the recipe. (While you're looking at the Gateway site, click on the "meat/seafood" tab. You'll recognize a meat buyer.) You don't really want to skimp on that either. She picked out one that had a stamp on it-- HOW APPROPRIATE!

After the bacon cooking, the chicken browning (go for the golden+tan-ish color), and being super patient (obviously this was the hardest part of the whole recipe for me), you add the veggies and wine and herbs and chicken stock and probably other ingredients I forgot about. Then there's the time you get to light the pot of delicious food on fire. That was fun.

oh. that smells delicious. especially after adding booze and lighting it on fire.

Overall the dish turned out to be flavorful, oh-so French and far simpler than I thought, but it does take a while. The final meal earned a highfive. (as pictured below) 

Someday I'll try it Sarah's way (only if she does the first day of cooking. read that Sarah. And let's make that happen. coq au vin- off can still occur) And I would definitely make the Contessa's recipe again. Thanks Tom and Sara and Fawn for sharing the French feast with me (and putting it all together). Vous êtes la plus grande compagnie.
Also. This post taught me how to type accents. SO much learning in French cooking!
What a CoqAuVinture.
xo-LP

Now. Usually we don't do this but...

Dear 28,

It happened.

xo-LP

Front paged.

Dear 28,
This was an unexpected start to my day.

What I thought was a little story a friend needed a quote/photo from a renter for turned out to be front page news. Lots of Yesvember items crossed off the list this week. Many a bloggable moment in week 3.

xo- LP

Hustle.

Dear 28,
My midmonth Tuesday was quite the success. In fact this whole week, while a bit crazed, was a success. (And I did end up on the cover of the Register. That was weird.)
But. First. Let's pause for a super cute baby.

Emily, you are also cute in your own tall and blonde and charming way, but your kid is awesome. So back to the church trip. Emily offered to peek inside the Basilica with me. We forded the ghetto and tried the doors. (FYI- if you venture east of MLK to St. John's, head to the back doors, the majestic front ones are locked.) 

One more baby interruption.

We wandered around to the back doors in time for the noon mass crowd and, when we finally made it to the back of the church: whoa. How I have never been inside this breathtaking church that sits mere blocks from my office is beyond me. The gilded ceiling. The distinguished columns. Damn. (I didn't say damn in church. Don't worry Sister Jean Margaret.) Well worth the trip. Next time I'll actually stay for Mass and be a good Catholic.

From the basilica to the Knapp. After several years of season ticket holding, it had been far-too-long since my last visit (I feel like I'm repenting to the Knapp.) No better time to go back than for the instate rivalry, the battle on I35 (does anyone call it that?): Drake v ISU.

As you can see there was lots of hustle from the Bulldogs. That's what that blackberry photo was attempting to capture: hustle. With the Mayor at the helm, Iowa State was the favorite, especially considering the Dennis Rodman wannabe out-weighs our point guards, combined, by about 36 lbs. My basketball buddy was cheering for the wrong team, but thankfully wore neutral colors (who really looks good in red and gold anyway? Am I right?) Oh and then my team won. So that was awesome.
So much more to write about. Week 3 had many an adventure.
xo-LP

ps- You can now like (only if you really mean it) XO-LP on the facebook.

Yesvember update.

Dear 28,

1. Try a new bourbon.

2. Make a pie for Thanksgiving.

3. See the Hawkeyes play live. (It's #13.)

4. Stir up something out of the "Cook with Jamie" book you couldn't live without.

5. Peek inside the Basilica of St. John.

6. Renew my passport.

7. Create a line of XO-LP Holiday cards.

8. Eat at Cafe di Scala.

9. Decorate the Stoop for Christmas.

10. Build a human pyramid.

11. Read a book. (This just can't seem to happen)

12. Go to the Des Moines Symphony.

13. Master the art of winter layers. And fearlessly wear tights.

14. Cheer on the Bulldogs at a basketball game.

15. See a play.

16. See Des Moines' Bass Pro Shop. (If it's cool in Springfield...)

17. Walk across that Center Street Bridge.

18. Take more photobooth photos.

19. Celebrate the onset of the holidays (and sell a bunch of cards) at the East Village Holiday Promenade.

20. Walk through that Woodland Cemetery.

21. Coq au Vin.

22. Go to a movie.

23. Take a yoga class. Maybe more than once.

24. Go see the ArtVend machine up in Ames.

25. Play cards.

26. Perform with Our Kelly.

27. Light the sparklers. Even though they are out of season.

28. Retry baking a cake.

xo-LP

Paul Donato and his Nielsen Survey.

Dear 28,
Sorry, Paul Donato, for using your name in the blog title. I didn't have any idea what to call tonight's post, and your Nielsen survey you sent me to fill out is sitting here, staring at me, reminding me that while I completed it and documented a whole week of TV watching, I have yet to send you my "television diary." (I apparently watch less that 4 hours of TV a week. Two of which were devoted to the Sing Off. Yep- I admit it. See this explanation.) Thank you, Paul Donato, for choosing me to participate in this survey and the $35 you've sent me for doing so. You bought a round of drinks at the Alpine last weekend.
Yesvember week 2 was not as productive, but I had an unexpected trip to Beverly Hills midweek that took me away from list cross-off-ing. While out in fancytown, California, my intolerable blackberry decided to die, thus there are no charming photos to share. I did get to come back and see the fam in Muskietown, then hurry home for a delightful evening of unexpectedly awesome music. The weekend closed with a Thanksgiving feast (Thanks Ashley!)

Week 3 looks to be a busy one according to my outlook. Should cross off at least 6 items (ambitious I know.) It's already November 13th. Can you believe that?

Thanks Paul Donato. You made this post less boring.

xo-LP

Week one is done.

Dear 28,
Let's talk progress. Firstly, I've blogged three times in November, that's a new 28 record. Secondly, the list has already started serving it's wonderful purpose again: I'm getting excited about little things, writing about them, and enjoying each day of the month of Yes.
In the first short 6 days of the month I've managed to cross off 4 items (now if only November would be 7 weeks long...) Here's where the the scoop, and I've included some commentary. Because that's what I do.

4. Stir up something out of the "Cook with Jamie" book you couldn't live without.
Good news: I picked out a recipe. Bad news: I wimped out and had delicious pizza at J. Benjamins instead.

7. Create a line of XO-LP Holiday cards.

This one. In progress. So holiday-ish.

12. Go to the Des Moines Symphony.

Will and I spent the afternoon at the symphony today enjoying "Beyond the Score" and learning a whole bunch about Mr. Muggorgsky (he was called "Modest." Who names their child that? A lot to live up to if you ask me) and Russian folk songs and witnessed a stage full of brilliant musicians. Afternoons like that remind me how much Des Moines has that I don't appreciate daily. Read what Michael had to say about his visit to the symphony. And while reading it, know I beat Michael in euchre.

13. Master the art of winter layers. And fearlessly wear tights.

I'm doing my research and cataloging my inspiration.

22. Go to a movie.
Movie not terrific, but my companion was a delight. It was a slow moving story that didn't impress me as much as the one preview I saw did. Although it did make me want to be in Puerto Rico in the 60s. And dress like this. 

25. Play cards.

26. Perform with Our Kelly.
We did a practice run at Carl's on Friday. I've decided we'd be more effective in R.Kelly themed outfits.


Going to LA for a short trip this week. But that won't get in the way of list progress. Back to trying to draw a sheep. (I mean last week I drew an Elvis. And I did a mariachi band of trees. But this damn sheep. Every time I sketch it turns out baaaaa-d.)
xo-LP

Winner. Winner. Turkey Dinner.

Dear 28,
Spoiler alert: We won.
Gretchen  put together a tournament, I signed up partnerless and ready to re-learn* my Euchre "skills." She kindly sent out a Euchre how-to and I, of course, researched the origins of the game. Six tables. 12 teams. And one super cute baby. We took to the tables and battled it out to see which team would trump the others.

Photos thanks to Tim. (Thanks Tim)

Lindsay and I took home the coveted trophy and the turkey, winning the first Euchre Night. (In an admittedly controversial, but still completely legitimate way.)

Here are a few things I learned in the Euchredome (which is what I'm now calling the Paluch's home, formally known as #scotchclubplace):
1- I'm a teacher's pet. Still. I read the rules Gretchen sent out. But at least I knew Brianne did too. Oh and I did additional research.(I tried to put an interesting Euchre fact out there--"did you know Euchre is thought to be a German card game that gained popularity in Michigan?" It wasn't exactly well received. I think there were audible groans. That was the end of interesting Euchre facts. Obviously.)
2- I have really competitive friends. Like really competitive. Like ultra competitive.
3- Hook references are lost on most people. Come on. It was 1991. Rufio grew on you throughout the movie and you know you cried when he was stabbed by the Hook. "Bangarang Peter!"
4- Scoring systems upset people and Boise State. Scoring systems just can't please everyone. Sorry Steve.
5- Clubs and Spades actually look quite different. I can't seem to tell the difference. (Sort of like how I don't know right from left.) But because Lindsay is kind, she didn't make fun of me for it and allowed me to call them "shovels" and "clovers" (much better descriptions of their shapes)
6- "Picking up tricks" is rarely unfunny to say outloud.
7- Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins, according to the tournament director, "taste like dirt feels."

In the end, three rounds were played, three teams were left undefeated and the Tournament Director took it to the individual game scores. So we "won." And I held my winnings over the heads of the Harders. Sorry Steve.

I crossed off #25 for Yesvember. I reconciled with Lily (shown above looking studious) and I think she's pretty much over the beanbag incident (although I'm not sure I'll ever be). Winner.

xo- LP

*Anne, Katie and Jeans taught me euchre in college. Thanks friends. Sorry I never won games on the 710 E. Jefferson porch. But last night, oh last night I was a winner.

Yesvember makes a comeback. (And so does the blog).

Dear 28,
It's time to be ambitious again. According to some fancy horoscope Liz sent me, my November is going to be packed to the gunwalls (brought that back too) with yeses. Last year I blogged a whole bunch more. Yes. I know this. So I've decided to do the midyear list of 28.

Yesvember makes a comeback. Some of the items not completed from last year made this year's list, and I've included some exciting and terribly mundane bits I'm hoping to complete in 11/2011 as well.

28 challenges. 31 days. One month of Yes (and a wee bit of stress) because I can't keep saying no to the blog.
1. Try a new bourbon.
2. Make a pie for Thanksgiving.
3. See the Hawkeyes play live. (It's #13.)
4. Stir up something out of the "Cook with Jamie" book you couldn't live without.
5. Peek inside the Basilica of St. John.
6. Renew my passport.
7. Create a line of XO-LP Holiday cards.
8. Eat at Cafe di Scala.
9. Decorate the Stoop for Christmas.
10. Build a human pyramid.
11. Read a book. (This just can't seem to happen)
12. Go to the Des Moines Symphony.
13. Master the art of winter layers. And fearlessly wear tights.
14. Cheer on the Bulldogs at a basketball game.
15. See a play.
16. See Des Moines' Bass Pro Shop. (If it's cool in Springfield...)
17. Walk across that Center Street Bridge.
18. Take more photobooth photos.
19. Celebrate the onset of the holidays (and sell a bunch of cards) at the East Village Holiday Promenade.
20. Walk through that Woodland Cemetery.
21. Coq au Vin.
22. Go to a movie.
23. Take a yoga class. Maybe more than once.
24. Go see the ArtVend machine up in Ames.
25. Play cards.
26. Perform with Our Kelly.
27. Light the sparklers. Even thought they are out of season.
28. Retry baking a cake.

Sounds like a lot. So who's with me?
xo-LP

Spooktacular!

Dear 28,
This blog hasn't died yet. Internet at the stoop now. And LOOK, several items newly crossed off the list. Unlike the last six months, the next six will be full of poorly-written-about fun. Including a post about the greatest show I've seen in the last two years, a night of scotchclub at the stoop and the many other undocumented adventures.

Happy Halloween!

xo-LP

SuperFancy Cooking on a Sunday takes a long time.

Dear 28,
Writing about cooking? This blog is getting really diverse in content. I keep all my Martha Stewart Living magazines. Semi-obsessively. But I've never cooked a recipe out of any of them. So after scanning the pages of old October issues, I settled on crafting a feast. I could locate and operate an immersion blender. I could figure out how to peel a squash. I would conquer this meal plan provided by the queen of craftiness. (This is how I talk myself up when tackling a difficult task. Or when planning to host another stoop dinner that requires a hefty grocery list. Positive vibes.)

The menu included:
Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Cheese Flautas with Cilantro Pesto
Apple Cranberry Crumble

Martha was even kind enough in the article to tell me the order in which to cook things (1. Roast veggies and make pesto. 2. Prepare black eyed peas, salad dressing. 3. Blend soup and prepare flautas. 4. Fry stuff.)

So with my sous chef (Liz you were excellent company) and all the ingredients scattered on the counter, I started peeling 2.75lbs of butternut squash. "Butternut squash?" you say. Yes. Apparently a "sugar pumpkin" doesn't exist at Dahl's and even the produce guy is unsure if a "pie pumpkin" and a "sugar pumpkin" are the same thing. (Note: apparently the two are the same. Sometimes called "sugar pie pumpkins.") While darling Martha did not tell me how to peel or cut up a butternut squash, I was able to cross reference Real Simple, and managed to not slice off my fingers with the sharpest, largest serrated knife ever. Then there was the use of an immersion blender. That was fun.

There were those cilantro+pepitas pesto troubles (the mini-food-processor had some problems). If you decide to make that pesto-- be sure to add extra lime juice and to know that you really only have to buy one bunch of cilantro, that's plenty. Martha asks for you to use baby red mustard greens in the salad, psh. Using a spring mix pre-packaged salad worked just fine. The crumble used the prettiest shiny red frozen cranberries, but would have benefited from some bonus sugar (I used granny smith apples, maybe a sweeter baking apple would have helped too.) 

In the end the meal took about 3.5 hours to prepare, fed about 8 people and was polished off in about 20 minutes. The food was complimented. My sleeveless blue angels shirt I wore while cooking was not.

xo- LP

I just can't get enough.

Dear 28,
I just can't get enough makes its triumphant return. (and covers some topics you're all dying to know about).

1- The Meaning of Flowers.
I'm serious. I spent nearly 1.5 hours looking at this. After lots of research (and realizing this is why some people may think I'm weird) I had two (other) thoughts.
A) Who determined all of this? Was there a flower panel? Maybe a florist who wanted to peddle more Red Tulips (those mean "declaration of love" and a symbol of a perfect lover. sending tulips make a bold statement)? Maybe it's just a bunch of whooie? and B) Why don't florists tell me these things before I send Gardenias to my boss. There's lots of sites that say many different things, but my favorites included:

Yellow Carnations = Rejection 

(Who sends rejection flowers? Maybe the Bachelor should start handing yellow carnations out to the chicks he doesn't like. That'd shake up a rose ceremony.)

Purple Hyacinth = I'm sorry

Begonias = "Beware I am fanciful"
(Who says that? I think I will start.)

2- Recipes, Reading Cookbooks KarenBrady-Style, and all things Martha Stewart.

The new digs have turned me into a kitchen dweller, again. Maybe its the early morning cardio (I don't believe it most mornings either) and the quest to eat a wee bit better, or the fact that I have a dishwasher (that's more likely), but whatever it is, I'm using the hell out of this new kitchen. I've also spent a bunch of time asking questions about food at the farmers market. (Did you know: kohlrabi is to be peeled and eaten raw. Chicken mushrooms actually have the texture of chicken, seems obvious though, but they also stand up well to grilling. There are itty bitty tomatoes at the Butcher Crick Farms stand that you could eat like grapes.)

Here's a few I think you should try: non-cole-slaw-coleslaw, Ratatouille (without the poached eggs), and you should get Chase+Sara to help you make a shrimp boil too. 

3- Shows on which they sing.

It's a well known fact that I'd prefer life to be a musical.

 (I should also note that all I want to do most of the time is be on a stage, in a band, a backup dancer, etc. #19 was crossed off on the epic Jake+Sahar weekend where I was in a band. Like on the stage. In a band of men with Irish brogues. I played a fancy tambourine. People now call me the "Rhythm Riot." And by people, I mean me.) 

A photo from the epic weekend. (after I was in a band)

 So sign me up for SingOffs, and XFactors and Glee. I'll gladly sing into a wooden spoon during commercials while I whip up cilantro pesto flautas and pumpkin soup. That's not at all embarrassing.

4- Books that teach creatives how to write a business plan.

I've checked out all I can find at the Des Moines Public Library. I've tried to piece together notes of them all.
Here's what I've flipped through:
The Handmade Marketplace
Craft, Inc
How to Make Money Using Etsy (Sorry dude-who-wrote-this, I didn't find you terribly helpful)
Start Your Own Arts and Crafts Business
What else should I be reading?

(So much knowledge in one post.)
xo-LP