Greetings from Savannah, y'all!

So. I haven't updated this thing in about 80 bajillion years. And now I finally am! And a lot of things have happened since my last post.

1. I moved out of my apartment in Boston.

No more Boston. Insert sad face. :(

2. I photographed a wedding for one of my friends.

Insert huge happy face! :-D Congrats, you two.

3. And I moved to Savannah for graduate school.

Woohoo! Insert another huge happy face. Times TWO! :-D :-D

And now...bed! Goodnight, everyone.

Apologies for the long hiatus

Between going to the Cape, getting really sick (arrghh and still getting over it) and getting ready for the move to Savannah, my poor little blog here has been neglected! But never fear -- once I get my act together, I promise more posts in the future!

In the meantime, here's a picture of a giraffe from when I went to the London Zoo.

Hope y'all are having a great summer!

Banana Blueberry Bread

In an attempt to clear our freezer of frozen bananas, I made some banana blueberry bread this morning. I created somewhat of a hybrid recipe: I used a recipe from my Babycakes book and my 100 Best Gluten Free Recipes that my brother's girlfriend gave me as a Christmas present (thanks Val!) and added in some twists of my own. Daring, eh?

So, if you're in need of some tasty banana bread (because everyone needs tasty banana bread), here's the recipe.

You'll need:

2 cups of garbanzo fava bean flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp xantham gum

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp group cardamom (totally optional)

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (also totally optional)

1/2 cup coconut oil (or canola oil if you can't get your hands on some coconut oil)

2/3 cup milk of choice

2/3 cup agave nectar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 3 medium-sized bananas)

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen. I used frozen wild Maine blueberries)

Some cinnamon sugar for sprinkling on top!

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 7 x 4 x 3-inch loaf pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, xantham gum, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. Add 1/2 cup oil and agave nectar, milk and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Stir until the batter is smooth. Using a spatula, gently fold in the bananas and blueberries until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Fill the prepared pan with the batter. Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top for some extra-goodness. Bake the banana bread on the center rack for 45 - 50 minutes. Test to see if bread is done with a toothpick. Let the bread cool for 10 - 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Music Video: Muse - I Belong To You (Mon Coeur S'ouvre À Ta Voix)

Sigh.

Yet another cloudy, gray, rainy day. Seriously, what ever happened to summer? It came for a few days, then was all like, "You know, I don't really like New England. I'm peacing out. See ya!" And now we're back to April. Or March. Or something. Definitely not summer.

I'd like to have at least 4 days of nice weather in a row.

Seriously.

I know it's asking a lot, O Mother Nature.

But, please! It's almost July!

Anyhow.

I love this song.

I love Muse.

Unlike this weather.

Please listen to this song if you've never heard it.

And even if you have, listen to it again. It is fantabulous. Stupendamazing.

Book Review: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

The summary

It's 1931. Jacob Jankowski has lost everything near and dear to him. During the middle of a lecture at Cornell, Jacob is called out of the room and informed that his parents have been killed in a car crash. No longer able to join his father in his veterinary practice and overcome with grief, Jacob runs away from Cornell and hops a train. He discovers that it wasn't any old train that he jumped, but the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Jacob becomes the circus's vet and cares for the menagerie. August, a paranoid schizophrenic and trainer of the animals, takes Jacob under his wing.

Jacob endures the squalid, filthy, and generally horrible conditions with traveling with the circus. Jacob is forced to sleep on an old, moldy horse blanket. The animals aren't cared for properly and are often abused by August. Uncle Al, the boss, doesn't pay his workmen and redlights them seemingly at random. August beats his wife, Marlena, the star performer and equestrian for the Benizi Brothers.

And Jacob falls in love with Marlena.

Jacob decides to take a stand and protect those who have been treated badly. He hides one of the sickly workmen in his room so that they won't get redlighted by Uncle Al. He stands up for the animals and for Marlena. One animal he stands up for in particular is Rosie, a bull elephant acquired by Uncle Al. August mercilessly beats Rosie when she doesn't obey him. Jacob discovers how to communicate with Rosie and forms a bond with the elephant.

Of course, because of Jacob's moral compass and his need to protect those who can't protect themselves, he just gets beaten up by August.

The book goes back and forth in time, between a 23 year old Jacob at the circus and a 93 year old Jacob in a nursing home. Living out his days in the home is frustrating to Jacob as his mind is still sharp but his body is decrepit. Jacob ruminates on the pains and frustrations of old age. A circus is coming to the nursing home, which prompts Jacob's memories of working for the Benizi Brothers.

The verdict

Water for Elephants is a beautiful book. It's emotionally heart-wrenching, but humorous at the same time. The juxtaposition of Jacob's colorful, action-filled past and mundane, dull present is brilliant. At first, I was taken aback with the chapters with Jacob in the nursing home. You get into a groove, a state of mind, when reading about Jacob and the circus, and then to suddenly be brought back to a nursing home is jarring. However, it creates such a rich and deep narrative, past versus present. Questions become more prevalent as you read since you know Jacob survived the whole circus, so you wonder, what happened? It moves the story forward, having these two, almost separate, narratives.

You can tell that Sara Gruen did lots of research before writing the book. The book is such a detailed account of circus life during the Great Depression. Gruen did a spot-on job of utilizing circus terminology and creating the atmosphere of the Depression. The story feels so real, as if it isn't fiction. You become so invested in the characters and feel as though you're in the book.

It is a little graphic in some parts, and I thought, oh I really didn't need to know that. But, I can really only think of two instances and it really doesn't detract from the book as a whole at all. I suppose the whole circus life was graphic. That's just how it is.

The ending is so strange, yet so satisfying (I don't want to give anything away!) You think as you read along, "Oh there's no way this can end well," but then...

Well.

You'll just have to read it and find out!

Grade: A

I ♥ Art: Shawn Huckins

These are really cool.

I discovered these paintings over at the Jealous Curator.

Like the Jealous Curator, I assumed these were simply little paintings. I was still thoroughly impressed with them. I thought they were really neat, very cool.

However.

They're not simply little paintings.

They're huge!



So freaking awesome. I love this so much; paintings of everyday life on something so ordinary and everday and blown up, larger than life.

So. Cool.

PS - Happy Friday, everyone!

Chalk One Up

So, as I was walking my regular route during lunch today, I came across a bunch of people drawing with chalk behind the InterContinental Hotel. I thought to myself, "Why, what is this? Drawing with chalk on the sidewalk! I'm in!" Turns out it was Sidewalk Sam's Chalk One Up For The Arts. According to their website, Chalk One Up for the Arts is a lunch hour festival for companies, non-profit groups and agencies. Each group designs a sidewalk chalk design to show off their Company Spirit. Passers-by (or is it passer-bys?) get stickers and vote for their favorite sidewalk chalk art piece.

I apologize for the the quality of these photos.

I only had my cell phone with me.

And it was incredibly bright out, so I couldn't see a thing on my phone.

And then, my phone ran out of memory.

:(

There were so many cool chalk designs, I wish I could've taken pictures of all of them!

Lael Cakes

So I just found this website and I felt that I must share. Emily Lael Aumiller just launched her new website, Lael Cakes. Lael Cakes is a bakery dedicated to baking vegan and gluten-free cakes.

Not only are they vegan and gluten-free, but they're beautiful cakes to boot.

I love that more places are becoming aware that there are people can't eat gluten and wheat, and lots of people are turning to veganism. Gluten-free products have certainly come a long, long way since I started eating gluten-free around 3 years ago. Just look at these gorgeous cakes! I don't think very many gluten-free cakes look liked this 3 years ago.

Yay for vegan and gluten-free!

Yay for Lael Cakes!

A Little Something Blue

Okay. Now these are the shoes I need to get married in. They. Are. Fantastic.

From Style Me Pretty.

These cupcakes are adorable. I know I already featured cupcakes like this before, but they're just so cute! And I love the blue frosting. Pretty!

From Country Living.

Um. I need this dress.

From Shabby Apple.

And this dress too. 

I know it's not really blue, but it's like a blue-green-seafoam color. There's some blue in there.

Plus it's so pretty.

Also from Shabby Apple.

I love this dinnerware set from Anthropologie. The octopus is such a neat and fresh nautical design. And I love that the handle on the teacup is an octopus tentacle. Kind of weird, but also pretty awesome.

I can just picture some kind of whimsical nautical wedding theme involving these plates. I love nautical-themed things, and they more crazy and out there they are, the better! 

Music Video: Josh Groban - Voce Existe Em Mim

Okay, so this is just a lyric video. And yes, it is Josh Groban again. But, you can never have enough Josh Groban. It just isn't possible. And don't you want a little more Josh Groban to brighten up your day? Especially a gray, cloudy, overcast, icky, damp, raw day like we're having today? Yes, today definitely calls for some Josh Groban.

And I love, love, love this song. I think it's one of my all-time favorites.

Enjoy! :) 

PS - For those who are wondering, "Voce Existe Em Mim" is in Portuguese.

That Josh Groban. So darn talented.

Book Review: The Host by Stephanie Meyer

The facts
The Host by Stephanie Meyer
Published by: Little, Brown and Company
First published: May 6, 2008

The summary
In The Host, Earth has been taken over by an alien species called "souls." These souls are a parasitic planet-hopping species, taking over civilizations in order to better them. On Earth, they have eradicated war, sickness, murder -- basically everything bad. The souls are kind, truthful and altruistic.

Though Earth may be a paradise, the humans want their planet back. Their kind is disappearing quickly, human bodies being taken over by souls. A small group of humans still remain, years after the souls have taken over the planet.

The books begins with Wanderer, a soul, waking up in her new host body. Wanderer finds though that her host refuses to fade away. Melanie Stryder, the human who Wanderer now occupies, is still very much alive and kicking in her mind. Melanie's thoughts and memories are strong, and though Wanderer tries to quiet her human host, she can't. Through Melanie's memories, Wanderer discovers two more surviving humans, Jared, Melanie's love, and Jamie, Melanie's younger brother. Wanderer alerts her Seeker, the one who captures humans to insert the souls, about this discovery. However, after doing so, Wanderer is sick to her stomach. Melanie's feelings are strong, and Wanderer feels the same love and longing for Jared and Jamie, just as Melanie does. With some persuasion from Melanie and their combined hatred of the Seeker, Wanderer leaves her soul community in order to go find Jared and Jamie and make sure they are safe.

The pair create a strong bond during their perilous journey through the Arizona desert. They help each other survive -- Melanie gives Wanderer mental strength in order to survive the desert, and thus, Melanie doesn't disappear. When they are near-death in the desert, they are found by Melanie's crazy uncle Jeb. Jeb has created a hidden rebel cell in the middle of the desert. Among the surviving humans are Jared and Jamie, safe and sound. At first, Wanderer is hated by the humans. They believe her to be an evil, conniving parasite. The only ones who trust Wanderer are crazy uncle Jeb and Jamie. Eventually the rebels come to accept Wanderer, or Wanda, as Jeb dubs her. Living in the caves with the humans completely changes Wanda's view on humanity. Souls believe humans to be an evil, violent, irrational, distrustful species. However, Wanda finds that humans are also capable of so much love and compassion, more than the souls could ever give. Wanda refuses to believe that people like her Jamie could ever be evil.

Wanderer also experiences the intricacies complications of human emotion, made even more complicated by the fact that Wanderer is also sharing the emotions of Melanie. Melanie's body and her mind loves Jared. However, another human, Ian, finds his way into Wanderer's heart. Wanderer finds herself trapped in a complicated triangle -- her body yearns for Jared, yet Wanderer herself is falling for Ian. How can Melanie and Wanderer be happy? How can Jared and Ian be happy?

Through her experiences in the caves, Wanderer realizes that the souls were wrong to take over Earth, but she has fallen in love with the planet. Life on other planets fall short of life on Earth.

Can there be a future where souls and humans can live together?

The verdict
I've read The Host before, and upon reading it again, I found the book to have so much more depth than I thought the first time. I have to say I enjoy The Host much more than Meyer's Twilight series. It features a strong, smart female character -- or two female characters, I should say. Both Wanderer and Melanie are fearless and won't back down from what they believe in. The books deals with important subjects, like tolerance and humanity. Wanderer could be a symbol for so many things -- religious intolerance, sexism, homophobia, a general intolerance for anyone who is different. (Okay, so I might be taking that a little far, but, well, that's I do when analyzing!) Altruism is another theme throughout the book; the souls with their misguided but altruistic ways, and Wanderer with her true selflessness. In one instance, Kyle, one of the human rebels who still harbors a hatred for her, tries to kill Wanderer. In his attempt, he almost falls into running lava under the cave, but Wanderer saves Kyle and refuses to admit that he was trying to kill her. Wanderer will do anything for those she loves, including saving her own love's murderous brother (Ian and Kyle are brothers).  

I won't give away the end of the book, but it does show some hope for humans and souls to co-exist peacefully. (There's some statement there about the world we live in today.)

Meyers spent a lot of time developing her characters in The Host. The books is very well-written and thought-provoking with a solid storyline created by complex and complicated emotions. If you didn't care for Twilight, I would urge to to try out The Host. And, even if you do like Twilight, read The Host. It's very different and so much stronger, more compelling and just better, in my opinion, than Twilight. Though it is sci-fi, the story very much deals with humanity. It just sucks you in and you get so invested in the characters. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It is truly a good read.

Grade: A

(Sidenote - I read that The Host is being made into a movie. Should be...interesting. I'm curious to see how they pull it off.)

Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes

So I found a recipe for lemon raspberry cupcakes on Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen like weeks ago and finally got around to making them last weekend! Of course I adapted them to be gluten-free. I was a little worried at first, but they came out delicious!

Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes
Adapted from Tina (My Life as a Mrs) from Tasty Kitchen

1 box (18.25 Oz. Box) Yellow Cake Mix (I used Gefen's Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix instead)
1 box (small 4-serving Box) Instant Lemon Pudding (I used fat free lemon yogurt instead)
3 whole Eggs (I used 2 eggs since that's what it said on my cake mix box)
1 cup Water (My box said 1/4 cups water)
⅓ cups Vegetable Oil
⅛ cups Lemon Juice (I think I used about ⅓ cups lemon juice -- I wanted these cupcakes to be lemony!)
2 cups Raspberries (fresh or frozen)

I also added about 3/4 cups garbanzo and fava bean flour (I didn't have any more all-purpose gluten free baking flour left) because the batter seemed especially watery. (This is where I started to worry -- a) the batter was watery, b) garbanzo and fava flour can have a different taste.)

Anyway. Back to the recipe!

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line muffin tins with cupcake paper. Mix together the cupcake ingredients (except raspberries) until combined well. Then gently fold in the raspberries.

Fill lined muffin tins with batter, about 2/3 full. Bake according to box mix instructions (I think I left mine in a few minutes longer than the directions on my box). Remove from the oven then remove cupcakes from the tin and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.

The original recipe also had a recipe for the frosting. I just used regular old store bought vanilla frosting for my cupcakes (and I even think they would've been quite tasty without the frosting). But, if you feel ambitious enough to make your own frosting, here's the recipe:

2 blocks (8 Oz. Block) Cream Cheese
1 stick Butter
1 cup Powdered Sugar
4 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Mix together frosting ingredients. Pour into a pastry bag with the pastry tip of choice (or you can use a Ziploc bag with the corner cut off) and pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Top with a fresh raspberry (because they look so darn pretty!).

These cupcakes were absolutely delicious! I had nothing to worry about with the garbanzo flour -- they were quite yummy! Garbanzo flour is actually really good and healthy to boot -- it has lots of protein and even fiber!

So, I guess these cupcakes were actually semi-healthy...before I slathered vanilla frosting all over them.

Oh well.

I love frosting.

And sugar.

Mmmm.

Music Video: Josh Groban - Higher Window



Because he's my favorite.

Because I'm seeing him in July with my best friend in the entire world.

Because he's amazing.

Enjoy.

It's Hot Out

And kitty kitty is doing her fat-cat-it's-too-hot-sprawl.

What a goofball.

Fireplace Mantels

I love old fireplace mantels. And I love fireplaces. I really hope to have a working fireplace whenever I buy a house. Or install one of those electric fireplaces. And add a really cool, old mantel. Like on the Antonio Treatment. You know, that one where that guy had a really small, bland living room that was being taken over by large ugly furniture?

Anyway.

I also really love mantels being using for other things besides fireplaces. I found this really cool mantel makeover on Design Sponge:

I love this makeover! Such a creative idea to turn a mantelpiece into a bookcase! And I love the bright yellow. So much fun!

Seeing this makeover inspired me to find more mantel projects. Within the same post on Design Sponge about the bookcase mantel was a link to another mantel project:

I love this idea of having a mantel around your TV.

And then, of course, are the mantel headboards.

From House of Turquoise.

From Apartment Therapy.

From Sunset.

And lastly, a living room makeover from Design Sponge with a fireplace transformation!

I love this living room re-do. And that fireplace looks so much better! Just goes to show how a little paint can go a long way.

Love that fireplace. The white paint makes the tiled (I think it's tile) detail on the inside really stand out. And looks so much better.

I love painting things white. They just make things look nice and crisp and clean.

I love fireplaces.

And mantels.

The end.

Tuesday's Music Video: Civil Twilight - Letters from the Sky

Absolutely beautiful song. I downloaded it from iTunes months and months ago on a whim when it was a freebie.

If you haven't heard this song, definitely listen to it now!

And the Wedding Themed Posts Continue

I really love the bouquet from this Florida wedding. The peacock feathers add a nice burst of color and different textural element. Love all the green too -- green is such a vibrant, fresh and lush color. So unique -- love it.

Photo collage from Style Me Pretty.

Nostalgia

A ferris wheel from the Vienna Prater

I found some photos from Vienna while cleaning up my memory cards (yeah, finally! It's only been like three years since Vienna).

Holy moly.

Three years.

Anyway.

I miss Vienna.

The end.

Saturday in Pictures

Kitty Kitty loves sleeping on my bed.

Like, she refuses to get off of it.

I guess if I were a cat, I would refuse too.

Beautiful Boston.

This is hilarious. Love it.

Swans nesting in the Public Garden!

Such a gorgeous day.

Weekends need to be longer! I petition that weekends should be AT LEAST three days long.

Think that'll work?

Happy Weekending, everyone!

It's Friday! And I Have Weddings on the Brain

...again.

I just can't help it.

I really think that I'm going to have a difficult time choosing themes/colors/everything for my wedding, whenever I get married. I just like too many things! But lately, I'm really into the whole glitzy-glam-uber-chic-city wedding. I fell in love with this spread from the 2010 February issue of Marie Claire (yes, it's been over a year and I'm still thinking about it!).

A little inspiration.

(Sidenote - I really want to go back to NYC.)

Love, love, love the dress (by Marchesa. Oh la la.)

Gorgeous. Lovely.

I really want to have some uber-funky and fancy shoes, like these Louboutins. Love. Them. (On the left, custom-made by Christian Louboutin with "something blue" insteps. On the right $875, Christian Louboutin)

A little bling-bling. ($155, Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz)

Some more bling.

Can never have enough bling.

(On the left, $180 deco beaded clutch from BHLDN. On the right, $249 Moyna clutch)

How cute are these thank you cards and coasters?

Black and white is just so classic.

(His & Her Silhouette Thank You Cards, $48 and Well Suited Coasters, Top Hat, $34. Both from BHLDN.) 

I love this cake. Definitely classic, glitzy and glam approved. Perfect for an NYC wedding.

(Photograph from Duncan Reyes.)

But I really love the idea of having cupcakes. How cute are these??

(Cupcakes on the left from Sugarbloom Cupcakes and Macaroons and cupcakes on the right are from Cupcakes with Tiaras.)

But, what would be even better -- GELATO.

Mmmmm.

Yes, I love dessert. You gotta problem with that? Didn't think so. :)

(Image from Crate and Barrel's Gelato Book.)

I really want a photo booth at my wedding.
They're just awesome.

(Image from The Cupcake List)

I love, love, LOVE this bridesmaid dress.

Dresses with pockets ROCK.

(I cannot remember where I found this image. Will update when I finally remember.)

And finally, a little bling for your up-do.

(Airfoil Comb, $65 from BHLDN.)

Well, I think that pretty much wraps it up for my glitzy, classy, blinged-out city wedding.

I definitely want to have a city wedding. The glamour, the drama, the glitz and of course the glam. I love it.

But, I also definitely want to have a wedding on a beach. Or by a beach. Or near a beach.

Good thing I'm not going to be getting married anytime soon!

TGIF, everyone!