ORRRRCCCAAA.

Dear 27,
In Denver. So far I'd say the city and I are getting along quite well. I'm having a whale of a good time. Does this count as a picture with a mountain?

xo-LP

The Play(list) Maker.

Dear 27,
In the big year of the blog and the list I've been thinking a lot about the lifetime bucket list, not just in this one year of 27. "What do I want to be when I grow up?" is an ever-reoccuring question (in addition to, "how will I ever be able to muster up the guts to give blood this year?" and "I wonder if I'll actually buy a new car before the Focus quits on me?" and "Wow. I really should be reading more." I realize the third isn't really a question, but I know we're all thinking it. 27 books.)
Yesterday I stumbled upon this article on the (most wonderful) NY Times music site. What an awesome job Mr. Jones has-- putting together the playlists for Starbucks. 
Here's the playlist he compiled for the Times feature. These are the songs Mr. Jones picked to be "...sipped and savored in the chill and brilliant heart of fall."

Feeling inspired by Mr. Jones and Starbucks music and the jobs no one has ever thought of. Now. For my picks. Because while I'm not the music picker (seriously, what an awesome job) for Starbucks, I do live my days to an internal playlist.

What would be on your coffee house playlist? 
xo-LP

It was a BreAdventure.

Dear 27,
I am not a baker. It's debatable if I could call myself a cook, but a baker I certainly am not. I don't follow recipes well, in the kitchen or in life. So as I set out to complete the Yesvember list, seeing the 2 flour fueled tasks (both bread and a cake) made me shake in my apron. But spoon in hand, disposable bread pans at my side I tackled the challenge.

Sunday, November 7th isn't officially homemade bread day, but for me it was bake five loaves of bread day. I used four different recipes: Banana Bread, Buttermilk Bread, Raisin Bread, and a Cinnamon Swirl Bread. (Overkill, yes. I guess I just decided I needed to use all the buttermilk today.) Only one of the recipes used yeast, the raisin bread, and it was the most difficult with the resting and the rising and the need for a mixer and me not having one. But wow. I impressed myself with that Raisin bread. Hands down the best bread of the four. Probably all the resting and rising and no mixer.

One more thing-- It was World Run Day today-- and awesomely beautiful outside. Before the baking began I made the most of this November hotness and participated with a short jog. (Let's be real, I messed up running the 5k, a "short jog" is really as good as it gets in LPland.)

Week 2 of Yesvember is off and running.
xo-LP

Thankfully I get two turkeys.

Dear 27,
I love Thanksgiving. It's probably my favorite holiday. Family getting together to eat a bunch and sit around the table for hours. 23 lbs of turkey, 8 of my favorite people, a full table and lots of jokes-- Des Moines thanksgiving was a success.

 It was a like a dress rehearsal for the main event in a few weeks. Thanks for hosting, Ashley!

Many Yesvember items left to complete this weekend. Good thing I have an extra hour.
xo-LP

Puck Yes.

Dear 27,
Hockey time. The group-sales Mike helped me put together a great group of friends (nearly 25 people) for last night's Bucs (with one c) game. There was even a welcome message on the ticket window. "Palmer Party" signs always indicate a good time. That and $2 20oz beers. Wildcat Den would have been proud.

Ran into the mascot. Wouldn't you know it, we wore the same outfit. Guess I was a Bucs fan all along.

Too bad I didn't throw the eye patch I have in with my bag of popcorn, pop-tarts and camera before leaving the house. We were welcomed on the video board (or at least I'm going to guess it was our Palmer Group and not The Palmer Group of West Des Moines.) We did get a shout out from the announcer though, who thanked the "Laura Palmer Group" for attending.

There were no serious fights, there was a lot of rowdy hollers from our group as the Bucs continued to score. There were no "flying pucks" in our section, thankfully. I'd say my first trip to Bucs arena was a (buc)wild success. Although there were much bigger hockey fans than I in the crowd, I had a super time and might even see another game before the season ends.

Thanks to the Palmer Party for joining me. We were easily the best looking people there.

xo-LP

ps- Read my friend Brianne's recap of Buc Night (complete with a much more wonderful pic of the Buc mascot and her newly crocheted scarf.) 

Garam Masala.

Dear 27,
Although we're only three days into our relationship, November and I have done quite a lot together. There was the voting we did on Tuesday. I was #310 at the little elementary school where I filled in my circles. While I was pretty disappointed in my fellow Iowans after the results came in, I do love voting. I just wish more people voted with an informed opinion. And that there were I voted stickers and the little red-white-blue curtains around the booths.

Then there is the Indian Food making + eating night with the KarenBrady. Having never eaten Indian Food, I didn't know what to expect, but KarenBrady and I conquered a whole heap of somosas. Our instructor was soft spoken (so we missed a few directions along the way) but we managed to put together about 75 somosas during the 3 hour class. The blend of spices our instructor put together for her garam masala was fragrant (like all over your clothes and hair fragrant, into your living room fragrant, woke up still smelling it fragrant) and seasoned the lamb stuffing mixture perfectly.    

We also were able to taste several savory dishes: (and smell) chicken wings, fried vegetable patties (it was like a crab cake but with peas and carrots and mushy bread fried golden brown, my description sounds sick, but it was really quite good, and our instructor's favorite dish), bell pepper and potato fritters (I'm blaming the cooks for this debacle). Then there were the sweet treats, most of which were puddings: rice, carrot and something else. KarenBrady and I adored, however, the rose balls (we laughed too): Gulab Jamun. 

Please note how serious I am about frying somosas.

November is full of adventures-- more to report soon. 

xo-LP

Every good list needs a soundtrack.

Dear 27,

And while this one doesn't include the best songs, it's themed. And really that's all that matters.
xo-LP

Return of the Yesvember.

Dear 27,
Six months through my 27th year and it's time for another challenge.
I'm apparently obsessed with lists.
27 challenges. 31 days. One month of Yes. (Because NOvember needs an antidote.)

Here's the list:
1-  Send 27 postcards.
2-  Create my font.
3-  Bake a cake from scratch to celebrate 27.5.
4-  Vote.
5-  Enjoy Mary Poppins.
6-  Celebrate Homemade Bread Day on November 17th (or sometime this month-- make bread).
7-  Rock out to live music.
8-  Read DRIVE.
9-  Take my picture with a mountain.
10- Finally see that movie alone.
11- Peek inside the Basilica of St. John.
12- Host a themed dinner party.
13- Try Indian Food.
14- Walk across the Center Street Bridge.
15- Visit Topped Doughnuts.
16- Participate in a human pyramid.
17- Go to a Bucs game.
18- Make a dazzling dish for Family Thanksgiving.
19- Find Templeton Rye. Order a manhattan.
20- Hike.
21- Read another book.
22- See Da Vinci @ SCI.
23- World Run Day.
24- Gray's Lake.
25- Eat at the Flying Mango.
26- Try a day of plan-free rest.
27- Annual LP handmade holiday cards.

Follow along this month to see just how much I can cross off.
If you want to be part of the adventure-- let me know!
xo-LP

Wait. Let me put my arms down.

Dear 27,
Family in town always makes a weekend more fun.

Drake football (big win, much to my guests' dismay), wowing the Palmers with the Farmer's Market and many toasts to my city. Thanks for making the trip fam.
xo-LP

Most of what was said was simply unfit for print.

Dear 27,

I'm not sure I'm a scotch fan. I love butterscotch sundaes from Dairy Queen. I have played hopscotch (a truly pointless game). But this week I sample the real stuff. Scotch that cost more than most of the shoes I own. And wore plaid.

Thanks to Tim, about 10 of us gathered for a what seemed to be a semi-formal scotch tasting. There was a circle of people in jackets, some tweed, there were glass tumblers, there were Anchorman references and a map of Scotland. It was certainly the best, and only, scotch tasting I've even been to.

Here's the details on the spirits:

 *   Auchenstoshan "three wood" - $57.49. From the Lowlands region. 

 *   Craggenmore 12-year "distiller's edition" - $80. From Speyside.
 *   Highland Park 18 year - $95. Highlands region. 

There was lots of talk of the "finish," the "nose" of the scotch, what water does to open up the flavor and whether or not the scotch was chewy. I definitely learned a lot. And made a few new friends-- in part due to my homemade breadsticks.

My favorite scotch of the night was the Auchentoshan. It had more of a bourbon flavor (with something like toffee notes, a caramel color and a long finish...or however the official tasters would describe it.)

Great Scotch-- it was a fun night.

Looking forward to the second ISLAY club night. This time I'll drink more water.

xo-LP