unruly things

here’s the vegetarian cookbook that I bought last week. it’s proven to be a good one. so far I’ve dog earred a lot of recipes, only made 3, but I’ve got plans to make much much more. here’s the details:
1,001 low-fat vegetarian recipes, fourth edition
by sue spitler
isbn-13: 978-1-57284-083-6
happy cooking!

we got back yesterday from a wonderful trip to the Oregon Coast. dlb, Moose cat, and I drove out to the Coast Thursday afternoon. it was gorgeous. breathtaking. quite blue. and chilly. dlb’s whole family was there. yep, all four brothers and sisters, mom & dad, and three dogs, which Moose got along with pretty well… surprisingly. the Pacific Ocean is incredibly amazing. I’d seen it a few times before, but not to where it made an impact on me. we were in a little vacation town called Netarts. the home we stayed in was what I would call, beachy modern. the perfect combination of comfortability and style. and now that I’m back home, I’m missing the sand, waves, and the sound of the ocean.
whales spraying. seals diving.
waves rolling in and surfers surfing.
jellyfish at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
the Rogue Brewery.
Chamomellow, Brewer, and Menage-a-Frog.
the devil’s punch bowl and the octopus tree.
lots of salt water taffy.
catching and cleaning my own dungeness and red rock crabs.
actually holding a creepy crawly squirmy crab.
smelling the salty air from the Pacific.
camp fires and banana s’mores.

seriously? I’m think I’m in love with all the adorable fall imagery.
{image from j. crew}

I’m loving these images from the Banana Republic Fall Collection. pops of turquoise, black and white patterns, polka dots, and more.
and how fabulous is this dress?
{images from banana republic}

in light blue, gray, and navy.
{images from anthropologie}

I was tagged by Anne, of Annechovie, weeks ago, to participate in the 8 random things tag, to list 8 facts or habits about myself, and then to tag more people to join in.
so here are my 8 random things:
08: before last week, I had never been on a hike before. before last week, I had never picked berries in the wild. and before last week, I had never breathed in mountain air and closed my eyes to hear nothing but silence and wilderness.
07: I just bought, the best vegetarian cookbook ever. at least I can’t keep my hands off of it and my mouth from watering just by looking at it. so far I’ve dog-eared a bunch of recipes I’m dying to cook, and even baked my own pizza and crust from scratch.
06: right now I’m wearing ripped up cropped jeans, a gray shirt with navy blue doves and flowers on it, and brown flip flops. and I’m patiently waiting for the oven to heat up so I can broil my sesame ginger salmon.
05: I’ve seen more of the country in these past three weeks that I ever have in my whole life.
04: blogging is therapeutic. sometimes I just enjoy typing. there is something about the sound of the keys clicking that I love so dearly.
03: apparently, blogging is also “unproductive”, as dlb is ringing in my ears. I am currently jobless, and should be job hunting. anyone in need of a graphic designer in Portland?
02: my favorite fruits are pears, peaches, grapes, and blueberries. my favorite veggies are green onions, spinach, mushrooms, and avocados.
01: I simply can not live without chapstick. in fact, I have three sticks of chapstick in my purse right now. I simply can’t stand when my lips are dry, therefore, my chapstick addiction.

now. for all of you wanting to participate, please do. if you read this, you’ve officially been tagged.

on my trip across country:
I hate traffic in Atlanta.
audiobooks are lifesavers, especially when it includes Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
driving through mountains can be a little scary.
conquering a backflip on the trampoline is so satisfying.
omaha is a lot cooler than I thought, with candy shops, antiques, and modern furnishings.
I could never live in Greeley, CO. too many cows.
Wyoming. the never ending state.
suspension bridges aren’t that scary.
picking huckleberries: purple fingers reward you with amazing pancakes.
cliff diving. scary, but exciting.
walkie talkies are essential.
just when you think you have more money than you’ll need, it turns out to be just enough.
finding a hotel with a comfortable bed can make all the difference.
take lots of pictures.
but mostly, I began to learn a little more about myself. I stress too much. I let little things upset me. I worry. and it’s not always necessary. so…I’m working on that.

to view my pictures, click here. I’m off tomorrow for a week on the Oregon Coast. a much deserved vacation after the semi-vacay filled with longs days of driving.

hiking shoes that is.

bring it on, rocks.