Time for another round of “Currently” – because life is more than meatballs and sunshine in a bowl!
Time and place: 11:31am, sitting in my office listening to a random bird chirping (!!!!) out my window which is getting me crazy excited for the upper 50s coming our way this week.
Cooking: Spring Rolls. I ordered gluten-free rice paper wrappers on Amazon Prime to make my own spring rolls at home (it’s been ages,) and am overwhelmed with the possibilities! What are your favorite combos to stuff inside spring roll wrappers? Think I’m going to start with a Thai-inspired combo of shrimp, rice noodles, carrots, and mint served with gobs of sesame-peanut dipping sauce.
Anticipating: Besties Bachelorette in NOLA. One of my best girls, Lindsey (center below,) is getting married this spring and her NOLA-based bachelorette party is coming up in just a few weeks. I’m so excited for girl time and to revisit one of my favorite cities in the US. Here we are in our prime – 23, tan, and livin’ it up in Chicago!
Seeking: party dress. I can’t tell you the last time I went anywhere more exciting than the wine bar down the street aka I have nothing to wear in NOLA. Where are your favorite places to find party dresses? I kind of like this one, though I’m 7″ shorter and shades paler than the beauty wearing it! ?
Discovering: tragic old photos. I’ve been going through old Snapfish folders looking for pictures of me and the bride to be and am finding the most hilarious/tragic photos from college and my 20s. Folders titled “Finals are Done!” and “KU Weekend!” are making me laugh out loud while simultaneously die a little inside regarding the amount of eye makeup I used to wear. Note to old self: LESS is MORE!!! ? If you need a good laugh, look at old photos of yourself. Trust me!
Avoiding: my taxes. UGH! I have an accountant who actually “does”/files them, but rounding up all my receipts from the year (keep track of them in real time like an adult, you say? Pssht!) is something I dread more than anything.
Craving: PF Chang’s Singapore Street Noodles. I know it’s probably as inauthentic as you can get, but PF Chang’s has the best Singapore Street Noodles on their gluten-free menu. We don’t love eating at chain restaurants but it’s hard to resist consistent, safe, and delicious gluten-free eats like this dish, which is thin rice noodles tossed with shrimp, chicken and a ridiculous curry sauce. I’m dying to recreate it at home, but curry is something I’ve never tackled before and don’t even know where to start!
Experiencing: snow day fun. Honestly I’m kind of a grinch when it comes to playing in the snow, but this past weekend there was no wind and I committed to getting out there with Lincoln. As always, I never, ever regret getting down on the ground – or in this case, the snow – and playing with my little man. We had so much fun shoveling, sledding, and kicking the powdery stuff – definitely made me feel like a kid again.
Hating: our stove. The main burner on our stove stopped working last month and it’s really cramping my style. Who do you even call to come repair a flat top stove? Sears? This is a serious question.
Loving: Target $1 aisle. Lincoln and I went to Target yesterday to pick up a few odds and ends that I couldn’t bring myself to order on Amazon prime (almond milk and face lotion, to be specific) and their $1 aisle is on POINT right now! Tons of cute crafty stuff, fresh spring decorations, and fun blog props.
Reading: For the Love. You guys, I gave up on The Nightingale. :( I just couldn’t get into it but I’ll try again when I’m on a plane or something and can devote a couple hours to digging in without interruption (I did the same with Elizabeth Street and it ended up being one of my favorite books ever.) In the meantime, I’m just starting For the Love, which a friend recently gave me. Have you read it?
Watching: Vanderpump Rules. I held off watching this show for years before finally caving this winter, and it might be my favorite guilty pleasure show of all time – right up there with Laguna Beach. I can’t tear my eyes away!!
Crushing: Zac Brown Band. My Margaritaville Pandora station has been serving up a ton of Zac Brown alongside my main squeeze Jimmy B and I’m loving it! They’re on the verge of being too country for my tastes (not Kenny Chesney-country, thankfully,) but I can’t get Chicken Fried out of my head (which I realize sounds as country as Kenny’s smash hit “She Thinks My Tractor’s $exy.) ?
Pick a few “Currently” categories and share below!
Currently: March 2016 | Peanut Butter Fingers 03.09.2016
[…] to keep things fresh on the ol’ blog and share something with you today though, so I must thank Kristin for bringing the fun Currently survey that’s been floating around the blog world for years to the […]
Leesa 03.04.2016
For super simple curry – Mae Ploy curry paste (tons of different flavors on Amazon). That and coconut milk is all you really need to make a sauce. Weeknight dinner = done.
annie 02.29.2016
Yes, I loved “For the Love!” I laughed OUT LOUD several times. Her thoughts on leggings are hilar. And I also LOVED the Nightengale, so I hope you give it another chance. As for dresses… Von Maur! Their sales rack is the best.
Jenn 02.21.2016
omg the singapore street noodles from pf chang’s are my absolute favorite so if you can make a good copycat version, you will be my hero!
Rachel 02.20.2016
I just read The Nightingale and it took me a really long time to get into it but I ended up liking it a lot by the time I was done. It starts really slow, but is definitely worth a read if you can power through! One person in my book club gave up on it but the others loved it.
Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats 02.19.2016
Oh girl, so much to say! #1 taxes being a food blogger is DUMB. I hate it too. #2 so jealous of that girl trip to NOLA #3 you have to finish The Nightengale…..you just have too, I realize there is one slow section and that is probably the section that you quit on….but please finish it. #4 For the Love – great read!
Erin@WellPlated 02.18.2016
SO MANY THOUGHTS: 1) Our flat top broke…completely. I have had no stove for three weeks. Don’t even get me started. And yes, Sears sent someone, lol. 2) “Chicken Fried” was on the “must play” list at my wedding. 3) I can’t believe how big Lincoln is getting! What a darling little man. Glad he’s not afraid of a little snow!
Evie 02.18.2016
Loved For the Love! Resonated with me on a million levels!! Hopefully you found a local repairman! Ask your neighbors and friends!
Yay for our Iowa weather! Come on 60’s!!!!!!
Nicole 02.18.2016
I JUST started For the Love today! I’m so excited as I LOVED her book 7! Nice to hear someone else doesn’t love playing in the snow as much as they did at age 7 either!! p.s. my college makeup routine can only be described as “mimi” from Drew Carey. So there’s that.
Angela 02.18.2016
Love Jen Hatmaker! Hilarious author and totally real about every day life. I read this one after reading 7. Can’t wait to read more of her books–would love to go to one of her speaking engagements. Plus that she’s a Friday Night Lights fan!
Becca 02.18.2016
For The Love is such a fun, refreshing read!!
Ashley 02.18.2016
I just finished reading For the Love and loved it. No pun intended :). We read it for a women’s group I am involved in and it was perfect to reflect on how we try and spread our selves to thin. My favorite section was about Leggins not being Pants, and Tights not being Leggins. Enjoy it!
AmberLynn Pappas 02.18.2016
Currently reading Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson (the Bloggess). It’s her second book and I’m finishing it today. It only took me a few days to read and couldn’t put it down!
Tara 02.18.2016
Currently gearing up to leave for a month-long freelance gig in New Orleans! Maybe we’ll run into each other, hah! I actually just went back and reread your posts from your first trip there for ideas, and I’m getting so excited.
Brittany 02.18.2016
I usually stuff whatever leftover vegetables I have into spring rolls. Also, make sure to make a peanut sauce to go alongside it!
Jamie 02.17.2016
Call Westside Appliance in DSM for the repairs. We’ve used them several times and have been happy with them. Good luck!!!
Kristin 02.18.2016
THANK YOU!!
Kayla 02.17.2016
the same thing happened to my stepmoms stove and she thought it would be a spendy repair so she just cooked with one less burner for quite some time… When she finally called it was a cheap and easy fix, hopefully yours will be the same!
Emily 02.17.2016
I ADORE For the Love. Rarely has a book ever made me feel so good about myself – through grace! And it also has me in stitches – Jen is HILARIOUS.
Jill 02.17.2016
An easy and delicious way to try cooking with curry for the first time: Pioneer Woman’s Coconut Shrimp Curry over rice. Very easy. Then you can experiment after getting over your fear. One tip: make sure you have your windows open… Or better yet, cook it outside on a grill. That way you would be able to beat most of the lingering smell.