Currently

HBO.com

Watching: Six Feet Under, my hands-down all-time favorite show.  I've been slowly re-watching the entire series (five seasons) over the past year, and it is still just as moving and overwhelming as the first go around.  Seriously... THE best show ever.  If you haven't watched it, I strongly suggest you do so as soon as humanly possible.  As naive and teenager-y as Claire is for most of the show, I can't get over how many remarkable ideas she comes up with.  I could quote her for ages.  To sum it up, the show is a beautifully written depiction of family dysfunction, birth, death, love, the ups and downs of relationships, the search for beauty and truth, self-actualization and growth, survival and impending finality.

Anticipating: the release of Catching Fire this coming weekend.  I probably won't be able to see it until sometime next week because I have to work Friday and Saturday.  I remember really liking the book, but I think Mockingjay is still my favorite, and I am really excited to see how it translates to film.  Also anticipating Thanksgiving and Christmas, of course.  Casseroles, pies and rolls, oh my!  I would like to get all of my Christmas shopping out of the way early this year.  I did pretty good last year, but I always leave a few things for the last minute, like those impossible-to-buy-for family members.

Eating: lots of rice.  I've never been a huge rice-eater, but lately I've been making a couple of different rice recipes as a starch for meals.  This Mexican rice recipe and this orzo-white rice blend are both really delicious components in any weeknight feast.  Last night I baked some chicken, spinach & feta sausages and served them with carrots, broccoli and the orzo-rice mix.  It was pretty delicious and very filling.  Tonight, I'm probably going to make chicken and dumplings in my Crock Pot!  It's a little chilly outside today, so why not whip up something that is sure to warm our bellies?

Wondering: if it's lame to give homemade Christmas gifts when you're an adult?  I've had the crafting bug as of late, and I have a few ideas that would make good gifts, but I'm not sure if that's something that people still do in their twenties?  I don't want anyone to think I'm being cheap and thoughtless!

Listening to: the new Arcade Fire album, Beck, Michale Graves, Warpaint, Interpol (always), Daughter, the Arctic Monkeys new album, Cults and Chris Isaak.  I'll post a playlist sometime this week with my favorite songs from these artists so you can check them out for yourself.

As always, many thanks to Danielle for providing the inspiration for these Currently posts.

xoxo

Dreaming Of Winter

I had a great time this past weekend playing host to Miss Emily.  Once again, she beat me to the punch

and posted a sweet little recap over on her blog.  You can read all about our shenanigans here.  

Well, I had a nice three-day break from work, but in approximately two hours, that break is over, and one of the most stressful work weeks of the year will be smothering me.  Buuuut, that hasn't happened yet, so I can still be happy and dreamy and floating around outside of my head.  This morning, as this cold front is blowing in at 30 mph, all I can seem to think about is how much I wish Texas experienced full blown seasons.  The summers are much too long and the winters are nearly nonexistent.  I know people that live in the northeast and other places that have long, treacherous winters despise the snow and want to wish it away at all cost, but I am not one of those people, and I really want some snow down here!  However, I am not a brainless human, so I know my dream will most likely not come true, but I will continue to dream my little beating heart to pieces because that is what I seem to be best at these days.  

Here are some pictures I have been drooling over this morning thanks to Pinterest:

25th Birthday Week

As I mentioned in my last post, October wasn't very good to us, but we're trying our best to stay positive and move forward with painful lessons learned.  I had to work the late afternoon/evening shift on my birthday, but Jason and I made plans to go out to lunch beforehand to celebrate.  I had been looking forward to a delicious birthday lunch at Roll On Sushi Diner, but when we got there we were informed they were closed in preparation for a large private event.  I was pretty disappointed, but they made up for it by giving us a couple of coupons for free rolls next time we make it out there.  Instead we ended up going to a place I'd been wanting to try after driving by it a few weeks ago - Clark's Oyster Bar.  Jason and I both love raw oysters, so this place was right up our alley.  We shared a few different selections of oysters from both the east and west coasts.  For our main entrees, I ordered the clam chowder and Jason chose the burger.  We were both happily full, but not before dessert - a cherry cake and a chocolate butterscotch cake with banana ice cream.  Mmm mmm mmm.  I'm sure we'll be back at some point in the future.

As for Halloween, I had to work again, but it was pretty fun getting to see everyone all dressed up headed to Sixth Street.  I'm glad I don't work the overnight shift because I'm sure last night was a challenge for those guys when all the guests returned inebriated.

Gifts-wise, I did pretty well.  Jason got me two of my favorite albums on vinyl - Tame Impala and FIDLAR.  My mom sent me a birthday "care package" with a really sweet card from her and one from my sister, lots of candy, Michael Kors Gold perfume I'd requested, a Target gift card from my mom's friend Randy and she even threw in a little beer flight glass for Jason, the "brew master", haha.  I felt really special opening everything she sent me.  When I got to work on my birthday, my coworkers surprised me with a birthday cake and a balloon!  It was the sweetest thing ever!  My boss even brought me some cupcakes from my favorite south Austin bakery, Sugar Mama's.

Tomorrow, my dad and my grandparents are coming up for a late birthday celebration lunch before I go to work.  I'm looking forward to spending some time with them!

Overall, it was a pretty decent birthday week.  I'm a lucky lady to have all of this love and support from friends and family!  Even the last minute Facebook birthday wishes meant a lot to me.  It's nice to know people are thinking of you, even if for a split second.