I can explain, I swear

Meet Hidalgo, the newest member of our bike family.

Now, I know what you're thinking, how many bikes do they need? Well, I need one. And John needs one. And our guests could use at least one.

That's where this little feller comes in.  I'm not sure why, but I got it in my head that a folding bike is the perfect guest bike.  I mean, it FOLDS up!  It's not going to be in the way or anything. And if I want to bring a bike home or something, I have this little guy.

He fits in my trunk.  He's surprisingly well kept, hardly used by his former owners (who also had a twin of his for sale).  And he has 3 speeds with an internally geared hub.  And a coaster brake that I need to practice on.

Did I mention his inaugural ride was to go pick up a pizza? That's right, Hidalgo is capable of great feats.

So now you all can come to my apartment and ride my bikes. It'll be grand.

Oh, etsy.

When I was younger, my mom had this ugly brown bowl.  I mean....I hated it. Why would you want to eat out of something brown? That was my logic as a kid.

Well, as it turns out, my mom was onto something with that brown bowl.  It was Pyrex and it was classic and I would love to have it now. But not brown.

Thanks to the internet and garage sales, my dream can become a reality!  Lately I've been obsessed with vintage housewares and things that are Danish Modern and very 1960s. Or 50s. Or 70s.  I'm not sure which decade it is that I like.

A few weekends ago I stumbled across a fantastic butter yellow Pyrex dish with a warming tray at a garage sale.  I have no real use for it, but I had to have it.  It fits the mental image I have of my ideal home.

One great place to find a hidden treasure is Etsy.  My advice is to be careful though.  Always message a seller before making a purchase if you're at all uneasy about something.

Don't just assume something is junk based on the quality of the picture or the low price.  Sometimes people who take bad pictures don't know how great the item is that they have on their hands and you can get a great deal!  And sometimes the pictures in a store can really draw you in even though the item isn't actually as great as the photography makes it seem.

So if you're in the market for a casserole dish or serving tray and you haven't come across it at your local garage sales, check Etsy.  But if you find anything Avocado Green...send me a link. I just love that stinking color.

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.