She Said Yes

Most of our readers also read Jessica Mae's other blog. But in case you don't, Pete and Jess are going to get married!!!!! Mozel Tov to you two, huge hugs from across the country. We can't wait for the big day to watch Rach show off all of the moves she's been practicing at DDPP.

Dance Dance Party Party!!

DDPP is pretty much the best thing ever on a Sunday afternoon (besides brunch of course). DDPP allows me to not feel guilty for laying on the couch watching PBS cooking shows from 11am-3pm. Cause when 4:00 rolls around, I know it’s time to step into my stretch pants, strap on my sports bra and slip on some sneaks. DDPP or Dance Dance Party Party was brought to Philadelphia by my roomie, whose friends friends started it up in New York City. The concept is genius, it’s an all ladies, booze free, judgment free space to let loose and dance your ass off for an hour and a half to incredible cheesy/hip/crazy dance music. It’s an awesome workout and you do it with a smile on your face. DDPP has allowed me to feel free when I dance (sans booze, what a concept!). Don’t get me wrong it took me a few Sunday afternoons to get to this point but I no longer care or am even conscious of what people may think of my moves. I laugh at the memory of my 13 year old self being so self conscious on various Bar/Bat Mitzvah dance floors. I truly believe that it doesn’t matter what or how you move but more importantly you are truly enjoying yourself and having fun. People respect and are drawn to fun. I now welcome and can’t wait for the dance floors, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah party of our generation…the wedding reception. Oh hells yes, keep the engagements coming people!!

So ladies if you are in the Philly area, please join me and my roomie on Sundays, 5-6:30pm at the Arts Parlor, 1170 S. Broad (Ellsworth-Federal Stop on the Broad St. line) $5. We welcome and encourage new DJ’s, now’s your chance to show that DJ at L’etage, 700 Club or whatever dance spot you enjoy, what’s up. But if you happen to live in another city, find your local chapter and shake that fine ass of yours!! I promise you won’t regret it, ok maybe for the first five minutes you will, but you’ll get over it. Moving your body = happiness. Who doesn’t like happiness?! Hope to see you Sunday!!

homemade pasta experiment

Since Ab had to go and get all confessional on us, I guess I too should confess to my addiction. Kitchen gadgets. I have to have them, need them, in fact, it’s like an illness. In my defense, very few of the gadgets I possess have actually been purchased by me, most of them were hand me downs, gifts, or purchased from the thrift store, so I think I am still on the safe side of the addiction.

A week or so ago, a coworker enabled my addiction by gifting me with a pasta roller. I have been coveting the pasta attachment for my mixer for a while now, so this was a welcome gift. Last weekend, inspired by Ab’s plan to actually put her multitudes of dresses to use, and prevent the roller from sitting in my pantry for months, gathering dust, I decided to bust it out and attempt my first homemade pasta.

apparently to be the real deal, you're supposed to do this on the counter and with your fingers, not with a fork.

gotta let those glutens rest!

Pete chose this shape, apparently it's his fave.

I turned to my homegirl Alice Waters for advice and a recipe and she really pulled through. In her book The Art of Simple Food (which was a gift from Pete and fast becoming one of my all time faves) she devotes three pages to pasta making, and that’s even before she gets to the recipe, so I felt pretty confident that I could pull it off. I had a few bumps along the road (it took me a while to figure out how to attach the roller to the counter without it coming loose, and the dough was really dry and wouldn’t come together as easily as I’d hoped) but I’d say my first foray into pasta making was a success.

pasta with sun dried tomatoes in a lemon parmesan cream sauce. delish but not the most photogenic.

Projects

I meant to post this earlier today. I also meant to post earlier in the week. Sorry. I am still in a post-monster truck rally dream state.

I have a few big projects up my sleeves. Involving these:





On a related note, last week, dh and I took a class at Spool and I made this:




i love it...

27 Dresses

Hi, my name is Abby and I am addicted to buying dresses. I don't know when it started, but I realize I have a problem. The problem isn't actually buying the dresses. It's not wearing them.
Last week, dh and I went to the Vagabond sale. I bought 3 dresses (and I love each so very very much). When I put them in my closet (which is really Jed's closet), I was taken aback by how many other dresses were waiting to welcome the newest additions. So many, that I had to move some to a different closet. Folks, it's bad.

I have a few theories/excuses for my behavior. 1) my body has changed a lot over the past few years and I think dresses were a good way of hiding what needed to be hidden and allowing me to feel feminine during a time when I needed all of the help I could get.
1a.) Retail therapy is awesome.
2) Even though I am almost 30, I think I am just now coming into my own style (see #1). I so wish I could find a photo to support my point, but Shelly Long circa the Money Pit is my new style icon. Man, her dresses were amazing. I know lots of girls who swoon over the vintage 60s/70s styles, but they never worked for me. I've realized that I am true blue vintage 80s girl, through and through.

However, none of my theories supports the fact that I don't wear dresses regularly. They aren't a part of my professional or casual wardrobe. That is until now. I made a promise to myself that before I can buy another dress, I have to wear at least 1 a week until spring. I can buy new tights, but no more dresses. Since making this decision, I've worn a dress twice this week and I have plans to wear one Saturday and a different one Sunday. It's a new me.

be still my beating heart.

     

While the Bronsteins were gracing us with their presence, we did a little shopping at the farmers market that is near our house. While we strolled from stand to stand, stuffing our face with as many free samples as we could get away with, Ab contemplated buying a 10 lb bag of navel oranges to take home with them. While they ended up opting out of it, the thought was stuck in my head for the whole next week. I love oranges, but I don't eat them nearly enough, especially for a girl who lives in the land of citrus. By the time Sunday rolled around, I was a woman obsessed and made a beeline straight for the stand. But seriously, a girl can only eat so many oranges, and do you know how many oranges are in 10 lbs? Like a million. So, needless to say, after a few days of fresh squeezed orange juice and 2 oranges a day, I began the search for a recipe to use up a few. Enter a recipe I have had bookmarked for over 2 years: Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake. 

     

Ina Garten has never failed me and I will continue to be a loyal devotee, because this cake? This cake is in the running for my favorite cake. Ever. I've never really been a fan of the orange/chocolate combo, it's just not something that has ever interested me. But now? Oh I am a huge fan. Huge. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I hear it calling my name and I'd hate for it to feel ignored.