June 2011 Archives

If one more person asks me "what my colors" are for this wedding, I might just explode.

Things are changing by the minute. New venue, new theme, totally new idea for the wedding dress (yep, I found one) and now that changes what I was thinking for colors, lengths and styles of bridesmaids' dresses.

Who knew picking out two or three colors could be so darn stressful? It's like the peace of the Middle East relies on this decision, and if I fail innocent lives could be cast in horrible colors in pictures that will live on coffee tables for the rest of our lives.

AGHHHHHH

Here's what I know: I want orange, a deep, beautiful blood orange. I also don't want "fall" colors (I'd rather not make my gals look like "falling leaves," thank you) and it needs to be classy with a vintage appeal. So I need a complimentary color. Oh, and I don't want brown. Ideas? Please?

You spoke, and I have listened.

Thanks to the best-woman-to-be and her crafty googling skills, I'll be stopping by our local Hardware store on the way home to get me some Slug Magic.

I'll let you know if it is really magic, but anything that promises to get rid of these little lettuce-eating critters while keeping my plants safe enough to eat is a winner in my book.

Here's to hoping it works better than the beer trick my mother recommended. After putting out tiny cups of "cheap beer" (as per my mother's strict instructions) all that we were left with after the serious Saturday downpour was almost empty, watery-beer filled cups and five 16 oz. cans of PBR.

Gross.

I had these three nasty looking bananas and I hated the thought of wasting them.

(Please, I don't want to be accused of being a food hoarder again...)

So I decided to do what any housewife-in-training would, bake a banana bread.

Two problems: I had no sure-proof recipe, and I don't bake. Period.

These roses have been driving me nuts.

Well, really, my neighbor's lawn has been driving me nuts.

My poor little garden is fighting for every inch it can against the unruly, bush-like red roses that are creeping over the white picket fence that separates our kept yard from the over-grown jungle that is the next door lawn.

So, I did what any blossoming gardener would do, I helped myself to some roses and put them in my prettiest vase to enjoy. Of course, the guy accused me of "stealing" their roses but clearly if they wanted some blooms they would have trimmed the darn thing by now. Anyways, these flowers were on our side of the fence, blocking the sun from my tomato plants. But they look pretty nice, no?

By the way, we ate our first pieces of lettuce from the garden today. Mmmmhmmmm ...

Happy Anniversary to me!

Can you believe this Thursday is my one-year anniversary at the Eagle?

It seems like just yesterday I was wandering around the newsroom with no idea what I was doing, ha.

My column this week was an ode to the last year and what I've learned from my first "big girl" job. Check it out here.

(And many thanks to my Aunt Alice for these beautiful flowers from Garden Blossoms Florist on First Street.)

It was Mexican Monday last night at the Baby E's house because she has a cilantro plant taking over her tiny herb garden. (I seriously heard the chives fighting for space.)

So, I made this great, easy chicken enchilada recipe I found in an old copy of Taste of Home I had laying around.

I've always wanted to make my favorite Tex-Mex meal at home but have usually been intimidated by the multiple steps and crazy ingredients, but this one caught my eye in its simplicity.

Not only was it super tasty, but it looked great (see for yourself!) and gave the whole house this great cilantro-salsa smell.

Mmmmhmmm...

I'm here, no really.

I've just been a little busy with the day job, covering a little thing the twittersphere is calling #matornado.

Seriously, the tornado that touched down in Springfield Mass. last night, with four confirmed dead, is scary, scary stuff.

Especially for a girl who can't go to sleep at night if she hears the slightest rumble of thunder.

Luckily, the Berkshires went unharmed with just some seriously gusty winds and freaky cloud formations that had us all looking up to the sky last night with worry. I actually debated taking down my wind chimes because the clashing noise they were making was freaking me out.

Right now, Massachusetts Gov. Patrick is asking all of those who are looking for ways to help the victims to visit the state's American Red Cross chapter for a list of ways to help.