Pure Bliss

If there were a bike made specially for me, I'm almost certain it would be the Pashley Sonnet Bliss (or the pure, I'm not sure yet).

Either way, it's utterly beautiful.  I haven't seen a more perfect color combination like this before.  Cream and claret they call it.  Heaven is another good name I came up with all on my own.

The Bliss model comes with 5 speeds and the Pure is 3 speeds.  Bliss has a few extra features (like a Dynamo headlight), but overall they're pretty similar.  Brooks leather sprun saddle, Gorgeous/big wicker basket, wonderful wine colored accents (or navy if you'd prefer).

I guess I just like classic English styling on bikes.  I like them heavy and pretty.  This bike is perfect for me.  I was looking at the Flying Pigeon bikes because they're cheaper (not that I"m buying a new bike) and because they had some fun colors like green, but nothing like this.  I can't shut up about it. I can't stop staring. And drooling....

I guess I'd like a mixte too.  A lighter frame that I could use on longer treks.  A Pashley, and a mixte and that's all.... And a tandem. A Pashley, a mixte and a tandem and that's it. And my Raleigh. A Pashley, a mixte, a tandem, and my Raleigh and that's it.

I want to go to there....again

I'm not sure if you know this, but I have a fairly addictive personality.

What I mean to say is that I get really into things and then I go all out with them.  It's why I refuse to smoke or do drugs.  Because I'd become addicted. Fast.

Well, about a week ago, mister and I went to Chicago. The windy city. And it was completely fantastic.

Thus, I'm addicted to the idea of leaving my life here and starting again there.  Buying new furniture. Selling the car. Riding my bike. Snuggling and eating chili by our new ficticious fireplace. Yep.

I've looked at apartments daily this week. For no real good reason since we can't move anytime soon, if at all.  I think I'm addicted to moving as well. I get settled somewhere and find something better.  I've lived in Grand Rapids for 9 months and already been in two different apartments.

I also fully imagine this life to have all of my friends and close family transplanted as well.  Yep, you're all moving to Chicago, deal? Deal. See you there. :)

Me Want Cookie

I'm not one to ignore an urge to bake. So when I noticed a certain hankering for chocolate chip cookies the other day I knew I had to work out a way to make some a.s.a.p.

By "work out a way to make some" I mean...buy some stinking eggs.

And that's just what I did on Monday evening. I went to the store, bought eggs, came home and baked some nom noms.

Looking to please both of us in this here apartment, I decided to use chocolate chips (John) and white chocolate chips (me), which was something I hadn't done before. I'm a baker, I'm precise, we don't stray from recipe cards. We like exact measurements.

Anywho, our oven stinks and takes forever to cook things thoroughly but I'm pretty happy with these. They ended up big and thin, but 2 days later they're still moist and soft so I'm happy. I think it's the large amount of vanilla that makes them so soft days later. I love vanilla.

John opened the tupperware they were in and said they smelled like dough...I take it as a compliment.

Chocolate Chip Cookies - Momma Style

Cream together:

• 1 cup butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbsp. vanilla

Mix together separately:

• 3 cup flour
• 1 Tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. baking soda

Combine to mixtures and fold in 2 cups chocolate chips (1 cup semisweet, 1 cup white. MMM.)

Preheat to 350. Cook 8-10 min on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Old is the new...new...

Lately, I've been completely fascinated by all things old timey.  (Yes, old timey is a phrase now).

I love my bike more than most other things I own.  It's classic and beautiful with it's black frame (that matches everything) and adorable wicker basket (for carrying flowers and food).   My recent obsession with old bikes has got me thinking  about my personal style.

Well, not my fashion sense persay.  Moreso my home decor.   My most recent life change of the moment to focus on is the idea of moving to Chicago and attending the French Pastry School.  Selling off the majority of our belongings and buying new old furniture from Craigslist and yard sales upon arrival.  Yes, I understand that this is a fantasy completely not based in my reality, but that's why it's there.  I dare to dream of a life full of baking and kitschy home decor.

I love things that look old. That are old.  I want club chairs in tweedy fabrics and couches that have simple lines and long lasting durability.  I want to buy fun kitchen stuff that isn't practical by any means but looks great on my shelf/table/etc.  Try looking on etsy in the vintage: housewares section and not falling in love with classic pieces. Go ahead.  I dare you.

In other news, I've decided I need to do more fun things like doodling (see above) and baking (see my grocery list).  I plan on baking some cookies tonight/tomorrow and having them be tasty.  Also, my mister and I will be traveling to Chicago at the end of the week for a long weekend.  This is ridiculously exciting since I've never been there.  But scary in the sense that I don't know where to do awesome things.  Any suggestions?

On the radio...ah oh

Every morning, during my 20 minute drive to work, I tune into a local radio station for some unknown reason.  I suppose the best reason I can supply is that I need to hear traffic reports and that's the only station that I know will give one right away when I get on the road.

Now, the reason I'm defending my reason for listening to this station is that it's an AWFUL station.  It's one of those stations that loves to play new music that sucks and mix it with old music that also sucks.  They claim to be an "American Idol Station", which doesn't sound like much of a selling point to me.   They talk about Paula Abdul constantly and rave on and on about people like David Cook and that kid from Kalamazoo.

Not only that, but they talk about God....a lot.  Which annoys me for some reason. Maybe it's that at 8am I don't particularly want to hear about how a celebrity is great because they're a Christian, not because they're actually a good person.

And they talk about celebrities all the time too.  But they claim to be better than a tabloid...which I don't understand since they get their info from tabloids, but whatever.   And they know nothing about the people they talk about. They mispronounced Stephen Colbert's name the other day....ugh.

So, I was talking about this awful radio station to my mister and explaining that I would argue with them about things they get wrong and he had to stop me.  Apparently, arguing with a radio at 8am is silly.  And I do it daily. I listen to these middle-age weirdos talking about American Idol, and I argue with them and tell them how stupid they're being. That's right. I'm really mature.

But I think that's the real reason why I listen to this god awful station.  I like talking to people while I drive. And as a Zechar, I absolutely love to argue!  So I recommend finding an awful radio station if you're bored in the car.  It's good to have a pick me up when you're feeling low and can listen to someone that makes you feel awesome in comparison. Yep.

105.7 blows.