Saturday Brunch

This morning I woke up to freezing rain and a text from Liz: "come eat homemade buckwheat and berry pancakes with me!"  Aside from making me wish I could hop on a plane to mild DC (where I hear there are flowers in bloom!  Not fair!), Liz's text also reminded me of the multigrain waffles I made with my sister last weekend.  We found them over at 101 Cookbooks, and they were crunchy, hearty and delicious.  I'd love to have a stack right now, topped with some warm maple syrup, or maybe a dollop of this ginger grapefruit curd. 

Have a fun weekend!  I'll be here, dreaming about warmer weather.

The Friday Find

Remember two weeks ago when Anna said it was hot, hot, hot in Maine? I have her beat. This is today's forecast for DC:

Via weather.com

Feels like 121 degrees? Are you kidding me? This week's Friday Find will include popsicles, renting DVDs, air-conditioned happy hours, and begging to get a spot by friends' rooftop pools.

Here is our hot, hot, heat guide on a budget:

1) While I would love a Zoku Quick Pop Maker (which makes popsicles in less than 10 minutes), I would rather spend $50 on new shoes. So I will settle for these lemon, lime, and mint slush cups that fit so nicely in the lemon rinds themselves.

2) A Redbox DVD: use the promo code DVDONME and it's free, free, free!

3) If you're in DC, be sure to check out Masa 14 or Mandu before 7 PM for $4 drinks like gin and tonics and mojitos. Or stop by Loriol Plaza for a $6 frozen margarita. Mmmmm.

4) If you don't have friends who can offer you their rooftop pools, you should check out the public pools in your area. In DC there are a whole bunch and they're not gross at all! In fact, they're quite nice! My favorite one is the Foggy Bottom pool at 25th and N NW. Check it out!

I hope you're staying cool. Have a lovely, lovely weekend!

Rainy Day Color

This week is one of those weeks when you say: How is it only Wednesday?! Maybe it's all the gloomy weather. When it is raining cats and dogs like it is today, it's nice to have some cheery, colorful, and comfy go-to items to keep you dry. This is our go-to rain gear. What's yours?

Classic wellies from llbean.com

Marimekko umbrella from amazon.com

Funnel neck trench from gap.com

The Friday Find

Ahhhh, Friday.  If the weather where you are is anywhere near as bad as it is here (read: snow, sleet, ice, cold, wind...the usual) you, like me, may be looking forward to curling up with a good glass of wine tonight and watching the white stuff pile up from the warmth of your couch.  That's where this week's Friday Find comes in:

This Carmenere was discovered recently by my dad (a wine lover) and he has been raving about it.  The best part - it retails for just $6.99 a bottle (or $5.99 per bottle if you buy a case of 24). Keep an eye out for it in your local market!

Massachusetts Snow Update

Do you remember this? Well I wanted to give you a New England snow update. (Sadly, no snow in DC this week. I am living vicariously through my parents and friends in Massachusetts.)

Deck and table, central Massachusetts

Happy Wednesday :) Half way through the week! xo

Looking towards spring...

Even though it's dumping snow like crazy outside, I found myself browsing the rainboot selection at Zappos while I was eating lunch. 

I love winter, but all of a sudden I can't wait for spring and the puddles that come with it (and with all this snow, there are gonna be a LOT of puddles). 

Hope you're staying safe and warm!

(from top to bottom, left to right: crocs, tretorn, hunter, bogs, bogs, hunter)

Snow in New England, One Flurry in DC

Happy Friday!

While Anna is trudging through the snow in Maine, I wanted to share with you a few pictures that my mom sent me from the snow storm in Massachusetts. I am so jealous! I only saw one stray snow flake in DC on my way to work this morning.

This is the view from my cozy house in Massachusetts looking out onto the back deck:

And another shot, this time from my mom's work. She works at a veterinary school. The small black cages in the background on the left side of the photo are for recovering birds and mammals!

Snow Day!

It's blizzarding like crazy in Portland this morning!  I am happily cozied up on my couch, watching it come down.  I love this guy's idea for a snow storm time lapse, start to finish.  The umbrella is practically buried by the end!

Stay warm...

Under the Weather

Some people are prone to sinus infections. Others get migraines. I get bronchitis. Every year when winter rolls around, so does bronchitis. Hopefully it won't last too long this year. For now, I will make the best of getting into bed early, reading my book, and watching bad t.v.

Sweet dreams :)

Blizzard!

Rumor is, we're about to get hammered with snow here in Maine!  All is calm outside for now, but the wind's picking up and the sky is looking ominous.  

Fisher, my dog-in-law

Don't worry--we aren't leaving Fisher out in the snow.  He's inside lazing by the fire, as we all will be soon, hopefully with a glass of eggnog and a game of Scattergories.   

Stay warm!  xoxo anna

(picture via Diary of a Locavore)