Grace in Small Things - 10/365

1. Creative writing. The piece I'm writing is silly, peppered with profanity and will probably never see the light of day. But it's mine and I love it.

2. Skype. Not only does it allow me to actually see my parents when I speak to them, but it also enables me to stay in touch with my best friend in London. We had an hour-long discussion the other night that touched on politics, weddings, the hypersexualization of children, racism and how cute our respective significant others are. It was fantastic and I can't wait to do it again.

3. The prospect of getting together with my best friends in December and drinking gin gimlets.

4. The prospect of getting together with my sister in December and just hanging out.

5. Library book sales! They happen twice a year and because I'm a nerd of epic proportions, I look forward to them a little more than I look forward to both my birthday and Christmas. Dan and I picked up 43 books for $25. So cool.

6. Roasted carrots and rutabaga. This has become my favorite new dinnertime side. Chop up the veggies, toss with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and bake for 30 minutes at 350. I'm amazed by how something this delicious could be so easy.

7. Gap Individuals: The Artist. It smells clean yet woodsy and it's long-lasting. I love catching random whiffs of it throughout the day. It makes me smile.

8. Wawa coffee runs on cold weekend mornings. Yes, my toes freeze into little caramel icicles and the sensation of freezing rain running down my neck is horrible, but the first sip of vanilla coffee makes it all worthwhile.

Grace In Small Things - 9/365

1. 'Ask Hadley' in the Guardian's style section.

2. Hot, buttered bagels. Never really been much of a schmear kinda girl (cue the death threats from New Yorkers), but there's something really comforting and delicious about a perfectly toasted bagel with butter.

3. Cardigans. I need to own more. They're both pretty and cozy.

4. The fact that dogs get treats at the Chik-Fil-A drive thru. Last time I was there, I saw a chocolate lab leaning out of the window to get a dog biscuit while his owner picked up some human food (sidebar: waffle fries with ranch dressing and a big lemonade is truly a perfect combination). It was adorable and I strongly urge all dog owners to hit up their local Chik-Fil-A to grab some tasty treats for themselves and their pooches!

5. The fact that I've started writing again. It's this silly little fiction piece I've been batting around in my head for a while. Hardly The Great Gatsby or The Life of Pi, but fun. One of the things I love most about this is how excited I am. I'm really interested in seeing how things turn out for these characters....and then, I realize I'm the only pulling the strings. I haven't felt like this in a while.

Grace in Small Things - 8/365

1. My sister's graduation present. Dan and I are taking her to the Magic Kingdom. I can't wait!

2. Sam Trammell who plays Sam Merlotte on True Blood. I really, really want to smooch him. Really.



I have dreams about it and everything. He tastes like Jack and Coke. My dreams are Vivid (and yes, that's intentional capitalization because I'm cheeky).

3.New drinks at Starbucks. I'm pretty straightforward when it comes to my drink order - nonfat, no whip vanilla latte, but this weekend, I tried both the Pumpkin Spice chai and the espresso truffle and now, I am in love. So good.

4. Ploughman's Pickle sandwiches. English, totally delicious (despite that face Dan made when he opened the jar for me and took a whiff of the pickley goodness within) and available for me to munch on at all times since I bought a jar of the stuff at Wegman's. Mmmm...English food.

5. Cinnamon-Struesel candles burning in a clean apartment.

6. Supernatural. Dan picked up the first season on DVD yesterday and we blew through three episodes by bedtime. It's like a younger X-Files that focuses less on little green men and more on things that go bump in the night. Smart, well-written and legitimately creepy. I'm a fan.

Grace in Small Things - 7/365

1. Finding $20 in a library book!
2. My So-Called Life on Hulu. Watching this show makes me wish I had attended a Northeastern high school in the early 90s.
3. Rainbow cookies....which are actually more like mini cakes than cookies. I especially like the kind make with raspberry preserves. Fabulous!



4. Kings of Leon.
5. The return of Top Chef and Season Five pool - Pick your favorite cheftestant and if they make it all the way -- you go out to Happy Hour and everyone buys you drinks! Best. Game. Ever. Although, if I win -- everyone gets off easy. I'm a featherweight.
6. The Goonies. Dan and I saw a midnight screening in Philly a few weeks ago and it was incredible! Definitely in my top ten of all time.

Grace In Small Things - 6/365

1. Finding a cute birthday present for my sister. I just hope she finds it as adorable as I do.

2. Stirrings Lemon Drop Mixer + tonic water + passion fruit flavored vodka on the rocks. I'm calling it a Sunsplash and suggesting everyone try one.

3. December 16-29 in Florida. I'm stoked!

4. The B.S. Report with Bill Simmons. Perfect for the treadmill because before you know it, you've listened to the entire podcast, laughed your ass off and managed to sneak in a pretty good work-out. Thanks, Sports Guy!

5. Sweet-Spicy-Salty Oyster Crackers -- my favorite new snack. Here's the recipe. I don't have pictures because they're never around long enough for me to actually take them.

Ingredients

1 cup oyster crackers
1 tablespoon canola oil
Pinch of cumin seeds
Pinch of salt (to taste but be careful because oyster crackers are kinda salty to begin with)
Pinch of sugar (to taste but be careful because if you add too much, the sugar will burn, stick to the bottom of the pan and you'll end up with an inedible mess instead of a tasty snack)
Pinch of hot cayenne pepper (to taste but again be careful because you know what's awesome? Not searing off all of the taste receptors in your mouth)

Directions

Heat oil in saucepan.
Once hot, add cumin seeds and let sizzle (this takes a few minutes).
Add cayenne pepper and let sizzle.
Add salt and sugar and shake mixture.
Add oyster crackers and fold until crackers are covered in spice mixture.
Turn off heat and let sit for two or three minutes.
Enjoy!

Serve with a cold drink and good movie/television show.

Grace In Small Things - 5/365

Today has been a rough one and since I'm all emotional disheveled, I figure I should take stock of the good things.

1. Homemade pizza. I've found that it tastes so much better than take-out.

2. My cute new scarf from Forever 21.



3. 500 Days of Summer. Honest, funny, sharp and well-written with an incredible soundtrack, it's the best movie I've seen this year and it makes me want to move to Los Angeles so, so badly...



4. Boots Mint, Melon and Sugar Body Scrub - It smells like candy and results in smooth, seriously moisturized skin. Best of all, it's available at Target! God, I love that store.

5. Why Georgia by John Mayer feat. Brad Paisley -- Love the original, but love the cover even more.

John Mayer and Brad Paisley - Why Georgia (Live)


It makes me feel safe, if that makes any sense at all.

Grace in Small Things - 4/365

1. Cute new green and silver flip flops
2. Making anniversary plans -- Turkish food, the Art Museum....
3. The public library. I cannot stress how much I love the public library. I was there for two hours yesterday and picked up two Bourdain books (No Reservations and The Nasty Bits), The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Don't You Forget About Me by Jancee Dunn (I have a crush on pretty much every Rolling Stone writer), The Best Food Writing - 2007, Not Remotely Controlled by Lee Siegel and The Sharper The Knife, The Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn. I've already finished the last one. Good times.
4. Momiji Dolls



They're ridiculously cute.
5. Lunch for one -- sitting in the sunshine, reading and munching on Cosi's flatbread hummus sandwiches. I need to do this more often.
6. Watching Goodfellas with Dan and talking about the mob and its culture of violence.

Grace in Small Things - 3/365

1. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on DVD
2. Jordan McDeere as a style icon.



3. Breakfast and a movie -- More fun and less trite than dinner and a movie. Also, way more recession-friendly.
4. Justin Bartha and Bradley Cooper all suited-up in The Hangover. Yes please!
5. New episodes of No Reservations on the Travel Channel starting tonight.

Grace in Small Things - 2/365

1. Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship

Cobra Starship - New Music - More Music Videos

2. Food blogs -- especially Lottie + Doof and Homesick Texan
3. The prospect of making mini quiches for dinner
4. Goodreads.com -- have an account? Let me know about it!
5. Seedless green grapes straight out of the fridge

Grace In Small Things - 1/365

1. Making travel plans with my sister -- Seattle, Chicago, New York....

2. Open windows and warm summer breezes.

3. Crusty bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar

4. Organix Soft and Silky Vanilla Silk Serum

5. True Blood on HBO