Happy.

I've been feeling quite happy and content lately. You guys never told me what I was missing- it's perty great. The last few days I've spent in my hometown with my family. My older sissy is visiting and it's great to spend time with her ass. Like my younger sister, she cracks me the hell up. It's good to laugh and so rejuvenating to have family time, especially if you actually like your family.. which I do. My mom got a new puppy pug named Gretel Belle, who, although adorable, is a terror. 

Thanksgiving was full of both thanks and giving. And eating. Oh! the eating. If you were to ask me if I ate pumpkin pie and bacon for breakfast this morning, I'd deny it. But yes, most mornings I do "wake & bacon" when I'm home, as my younger sister says (clever). Why is it that my mom's bacon tastes better than what I make at home? She knows things.

My Milo Sun took his first adventure road trip with me this time so I didn't have to worry about him at home lonely, probably annihilating the whole joint. So far he's been good and he only got mauled by another cat once. Most of the time his sweet little self hides under the covers in the room I'm staying in. At this point I think he just likes it under there. Personally, I'd like to spend most of my time hiding under the covers, too. Good idea.

Today I went to the farmers' market with big sister and Momma. After moseying around downtown, we came home with asparagus, tomatoes and an enormous boule of sourdough. I have two painting ideas in my head that I really need to get out but it seems like I never have the time, or more aptly put, the focus. I intend to get it together (how many times have I said that?) and start posting regularly again. The last thing I want to do is disappoint all of my two fans (and that's just an arbitrary number. I'm not even sure who those two would be. Dammit.) Until then, eat some pie and bust out the Christmas movies. That shit is rapidly approaching.


best,
jayteewo.

Birthday Wishlist.

Yes, I'm doing this. With the big 2-6 rapidly approaching (wah), I find myself wanting to go to one of two extremes: childhood or a more sophisticated version of the big girl I am. This sucks so I'm just gonna start talking about things the birthday girl wants.*

I want some pricey dishware. It's by no means within my means. If you know me (you don't) you know I like color. I'm the kind of person who doesn't really worry about coordinating her possessions in any way but more trusts that it will "work" together. Everything is colorful. EVERYthing has a pattern. EveryTHING is a standout item. But, in the effort to step it up in the "more sophisticated version of  the big girl I am" category, I am going white. Whaaa, white? What's happening? That's right: white. I don't know if it's the passing of our leader, Mr. Steve Jobs, or the desire for maybe something to look slightly less random.. but I want white dishware. My mother has a combination of these dishes in warm tones. Very home-y. Very high quality.

I like it because the color is white but the shapes are relaxed and the glaze is less around the rims so you can see through to the terracotta underneath. I think food would look beautiful on them. Look, I don't want to be greedy so let's start with four each of dinner plates, salad plates, cereal bowls, and condiment bowls. 

This fabulous ring and my philosophy on life.

I've had a hankering for jade, bug motifs, and brooches. All in one. 

This Lulu Frost for JCrew bangle is retro and chic. It goes with everything!

These shoes haven't left my wishlist. I need them.

Last but certainly not least.

*subject to personal interpretation or if you see something awesome that you know I'd totally want..

best,

jayteewo.

It's ya birthday.

Today is my big sissie's birthday. She recently found me a Texan brother-in-law (or she got married) and is looking happier than ever!

(^hot)

A few words about Wowie (names have been changed): she is a bite-sized Barbie doll, she's married to Ken, she has a black son named Pierre (clarification: it's a pug), she has a lovely singing voice (compared to Pierre), she makes homemade ranch dressing and a mean blackberry cobbler. She's Little Miss Suzy Homemaker these days and doing a great job of it. I just love my big sissie and I'm getting anxious for some mini-hers..

Happy Birthday, Wowie. I love you mucho and age really is just a number; I know a lot of people your age who look much worse. Just kidding, you are getting better with time so start looking forward to those birthdays cuz you're just gonna evolve. Think how fantastic you'll look in ten years! Meeeyow!

love,

jayteewo.

Independence day weekend.

I went out of town. Did you notice? I thought not. I would've let you know ahead of time if anyone read this damn thing.

ANYway, I live in the south and I went (drove) up north for five days (not enough) to cook homemade eggrolls and bask in the calm and quiet. It was nice to have a relief from the humidity and I got to read a bunch of vintage magazines, which I love. A lot of my family lives in Hillsdale, MI and I like it there. My gramma (dad's mom) is an artist in the kitchen. Each meal is a production. My other gramma (mom's mom) doesn't play with the delicious homemade white bread. I like to soak it with a little (lottle) too much butter. Mmm. GB toast, represent.

turtle pie (sooo so good)

Rosalie's Roadhouse

pb cookies sandwiching chocolate ganache

GB's toast

this I've admired on my gramma's dresser since I was little

magazines from 1942 & 1943

watercolors by a local artist & professor

what my aunt looks like in chair form

June seemed to fly by, didn't it?


byebye,
jayteewo.

Happy Father's day.

I call my dad "Daddy" and you can expect me to do that until I check out. I hate it when people say "I'm SUCH a Daddy's girl" so I guess that means I hate myself because that's what I say (but not in mixed company).

My dad has three daughters, poor bastard. Each of us different, each of us difficult (rarely). Despite being overrun by estrogen at times, he remains an emotionally involved role model, father and friend. He cooks me delicious food and has always played an equal parental role with my mom. He validates me daily (thank. Goodness.). He loves me endlessly (this has been tested so I know it's true). He has seen my ugliest and still wants to be around me (and I mean ugly. I am SUCH a jerk sometimes). To this day my mother says she would choose him again to be the father of her children, isn't that nice?

I hope one day I can do something that makes me worthy of all he's done for me. I might need to become the president or something, though. Don't hold your breath, Daddy. I love you. Happy Fantastic, Wonderful Man Day (aka: Father's Day). I think you're a freakin angel.


I love you always forever (not you! I don't even know you!),
jayteewo.

Smoooothie.

I'm officially my father. I just made the below smoothie. I added carrots and seriously considered the spinach and broccoli in the fridge. This is my dad's MO. Save me from myself.


He's on a "green smoothie" kick where he drinks smoothies made from things that end up looking a lot like baby poo. Mine, thank GOD, turned out a lovely shade of pink. Incidentally, I made this smoothie using the blender we had when I was growing up. My dad saved it all this time and recently gave it to me with some new parts, which is muy cute. Smoothies are a good way to trick myself into eating fruit and especially yogurt. Fruit I like, but forget to eat sometimes (I know) and yogurt I do not like but know I should eat it cuz it's good for me. I do that a lot, trick myself. Another example being that I always choose to live on the top floor in a walkup, to obviously trick myself into exercising. That is neither here nor there. Check out the recipe.

-1/3 (~5 oz) of a Naked juice.. another way to cheat. I used Protein Zone Double Berry this time. Usually I use orange juice.
-4 frozen strawberries
-small handful of frozen raspberries
-4 frozen baby carrots (don't go crazy on the carrots)
-1/2 C of fat-free Greek yogurt
-2 T honey
-I just love to blend.

I'm kidding. I love being like my dad and if that means making #2-colored smoothies and drinking them in lieu of food for the balance of my life, then so be it. But let's hope it doesn't come to that.


enjoy,
jayteewo.

Simple fare, improved upon.

So my momma, we'll call her momma here, is a great cook. She makes what we've come to call "simple fare, improved upon." It's comfort food with a spin. She uses excellent ingredients (key) and it pretty much always turns out great. She's a firm believer in feeding as a comfort/nurturing mechanism, which I'm way on board with. When I come home, I can be sure to have a meal waiting for me and breakfast made from scratch in the morning. My momma is, in a word, awesome. Here is a recipe (and I use that term loosely, as she doesn't really follow a recipe) for apple blueberry pancakes. And do not f around with anything but pure maple syrup- it makes a universe of difference. Momma says this yields about six, face-sized pancakes. This is usually accompanied by fresh fruit or a smoothie and center cut bacon. Hell yes.

1 free-range egg
3/4 C milk (we used unsweetened organic soy milk)
1/4 C apple juice (unfiltered)
2 T melted butter
1 C flour
1 T sugar
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
dash cinnamon
1 apple, thinly sliced
~1 C blueberries

-combine dry ingredients & drop in blueberries
-sautee apple slices gently in butter
-beat egg & add remaining ingredients
-add about 1/4 C batter to preheated pan (preferably the same pan used for butter & apples, mmm..)
-wait for sign of bubbles & flip
-slather with butter & warmed up maple syrup & get after it.


later alligator,
jayteewo.

Things I'm into right now.

Full refrigerator. i.e. directly after thorough grocery shopping trip.

Painting. Acrylic. Whatever I feel like painting. I didn't say I was good.

Rising early. Trying to get a routine going.

Sweet tea. Just learned how to make it. Very easy. Here's how. (credit to HVC on this one)

1) boil about 4 cups of water.
2) remove from heat.
3) add desired amount of sugar: stir and let dissolve. (I add 1.25C for a gallon of tea)
4) add 3 Family Size Lipton Iced Tea bags
5) let the tea bags steep until water is room temp. (usually a couple hours)
6) squeeze out all liquid in bags, disgard.
7) poor liquid into gallon pitcher. fill with water.


kind regards,
jayteewo.