By the numbers

Thanks to Brianne at My Life As...for this post idea.

4- Number of fingers I'm holding up in that photo. Just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page.

106 -  Bottles of nail polish I own, not including base or top coats. It's one of my things. I make no apologies for the excess. I am in the middle of using them one by one without repeating as we speak. Life is so exciting, no? 

58,324 - Miles on my car

11 - Minimum hours per day I'm out of the house Monday through Friday

9 - Number of grandparents I've known (one great great, four great, four grand). Hashtag lucky hashtag blessed. 

20 - As of June, the number of years I've been out of high school.

Sorry for the beat up photo. It's old. Also sorry I didn't wax my eyebrows in high school but that's something else entirely.
NOT sorry about the Kelly Taylor brownish lip color. It's a sign of the times. 

32 - Books I've read so far in 2015. I'm on number 33 as we speak.

63 - Books I read in 2014

51 - Books I read in 2013

17 - Years between me and my youngest brother

25 - The day of the month that I got married

52 - Days until my next week-long vacation. It's our first week long relax/no going and doing vacation in a while. 

6 - The number of days it took me to watch the final 46 episodes of The Sopranos a while back. Only one of those days was a weekend day.

100 - Ounces of water I drink per day following a similar model to the one Kristin shared in this post at Kristin's kNook last week. I use these one of these 20 ounce glass water bottles from Target per day, stuff some lemons in it, and refill until I get it done.

7 - Hours of sleep I get most nights

0 - Broken bones 

2611 - Photos on Instagram, mostly of coffee, my dogs, food, quotes I like, Philadelphia...it's my favorite form of social media by far. 

3 - Post-college jobs I've had

1 - Number of books I read at a time 

Care to share some of yourself by the numbers?

 Linking up with Shanna for Random Wednesday

Cucumber Salsa

As we approach the season of easy, cold, fresh foods and farmers markets, I give you cucumber salsa. It's perfect to munch on for the week, to use atop grilled or baked chicken, or to bathe in. Just kidding. Or, you know, to enjoy on a fine Cinco de Mayo like today.

Ingredients
2 cups english cucumber, peeled and chopped fine
1/3 cup red onion, chopped fine
1 cup tomato, seeded and diced
1 jalapeno chopped fine, seeds removed
3 TBS chopped fresh cilantro
1 TBS minced garlic
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 TBS cumin
1/2 TBS white pepper
11/2 TBS kosher salt
Juice of one lime
Juice of half a lemon

Directions
Mix well. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving. Makes enough for a four cup Pyrex. Double/triple if necessary for a crowd. 

After it sits, it will be a little watery, so I typically drain before serving.  

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Haikuesday

My mind is a blank.
John Locke. Philosophy, yo...
Tabula rasa.

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What are some of your favorite warm weather apps?

TWTW - the one where May started

Friday night usual: weights, laundry, grocery delivery. Then I listened to Big Parade by The Lumineers more than 10 times in a row and made some amazing zucchini brownies with frosting that we proceeded to eat like a pack of wild dogs.

Saturday was not a happy day for the pug boys - they got brushed a zillion times and got a bath. The dogs got this FURminator dual brush free from Chewy.com and it is awesome. Mae has awful skin allergies and it got all of  her dander off. Gus actually stood still to be brushed. The boys shed like total loons and I have a hard time getting all the hair off. This worked really well. The reason I love Chewy.com is because their prices are fair and seriously? Last week I ordered dog food and it was delivered the next day. They guarantee two day shipping but I typically get my stuff in one. I also like them because it's one less errand to run and I never have to go to the pet store again which is fine by me because it smells in there.

Then the bastards laid down in the dirt.

I also worked more on reorganizing my clothes including putting pants on top of the closet and purging some. I just need to go through my sweaters and my biannual purge will be complete.

We didn't do anything for the Derby, in fact MFD left before it started for mummery, but he indulged me for hat photos probably because it's easier than telling me no. I do love to wear a hat. Even just sitting on the couch.

After talking about Beautiful Girls this week, I decided to watch it. And tweeted about it. And freaking Michael Rapaport liked my tweet which left me squealing like a teenage fangirl. I also watched two episodes of Bloodline and thoroughly enjoyed not having anywhere to go or anything pressing to do.

Weekly food prep: breakfast burritos with egg, spinach, ground sausage, cheese, and salsa for the freezer; egg muffins with spinach, salsa, ground sausage, and cheese (I like to double pop ingredients when possible) for breakfast; Saturday dinner and lunch for the week - sweet potato mac and cheese with jalapeno and bacon from Life With Lolo; cucumber salsa (recipe coming tomorrow); carrots, granny smith apples, and bananas for snacks; and dinners are roasted chicken with yellow rice and steamed broccoli and chicken tacos using taco meat from the freezer.

Sunday was pretty lazy aside from some food prep and the usual changing of sheets and washing of sheets and towels. I put the summer quilt on our bed, read outside, and painted my nails. The color is Julep Neha and I love it. It's a sassy dark pink with shine and depth.

The dogs were quite pleased that I was home both days (bath time not included). They were passed out hard by the afternoon on Sunday. It's hard work staring at your people all weekend.

Other weekend things:
-Sunday night dinner with MFD's 80 year old clients. They had some good stories! I love listening to older people.
-First Dairy Delight trip of the season for soft serve.
-Spotted someone doing landscaping next to Sev/Dairy Delight who very closely resembled David Wooderson. Go out of the house for the first time all weekend on a Sunday night and hit the jackpot in food and sights.
-Whenever I don't leave the house for more than a day, I sort of stare around the world in a daze like it's the first time I'm seeing it when I finally do leave the house. Anyone else? Bueller?
-Wore no real leave the house clothes or makeup all weekend. It was tops.
-Did you catch this post about red, red wine? Make you feel so fine.

For those of you playing along, the Choose Your Own Adventure Linkup is this Thursday, May 6 on April's theme of finances and if you want, to share your May goals for the theme read. The Show Us Your Books Linkup is a week from tomorrow: Tuesday, May 12.

What did you do this weekend?

May the Fourth be with you.

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

How many shades of red are there?

Happy Saturday pals. 

Today I'm sharing a sponsored post written by Jesse Hughes for your reading pleasure. 

Red red wine fans, this is for you.

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When most people think of wine, the choices are simple: white or red? However, in reality the world of winemaking is much more complex, with each of the two most popular varieties of wine having a number of subcategories into which wines with differences often imperceptible to the untrained palate are categorized.

In fact, there are 8 major varieties of red wine alone: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Barbera, each of which corresponds to a specific region of production and tradition of winemaking. Each of these wines has a distinct flavor and body profile, and understanding their signature characteristics can help anyone become a more seasoned and confident wine enthusiast. Click here for more in-depth information on the nuances of red wine. 

Types of Grape 

One of the most important aspects of a wine’s flavor profile is the type of grape used in its production, and there are three types of red grape that are most often used in winemaking: Syrah, cabernet, and zinfandel. Wines are typically made using a blend of these three winemaking staple grapes, but vintages that use only one of these are named directly after the grape in use (rendered with a capital initial by vintners). 

Bold Red Wines

The red wines with the strongest flavor profiles are commonly made with Syrah or cabernet grapes heavily features, and their deep, rich notes of dark berries and oaky flavors make for excellent pairings with red meat and spice and outstanding longevity with proper storage.

Examples of bold red wines include Syrah (also called Shiraz) varietals, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, known the world over for its esteemed tradition and intensely rewarding character. These red wines are known for their high levels of polyphenols and antioxidants, which have well-documented health benefits when enjoyed in moderation.

Soft Red Wines

Softer red wines are typically made with a higher concentration of zinfandel grapes, giving them a lighter flavor ideal for sampling alone or paired with hors d’oeuvres like charcuterie. Common examples of softer red wines include Merlot, Zinfandel and Sangiovese, and these wines are prized for their versatility in food pairings thanks to their less intense profiles.

Their lighter body, sweeter flavors and typically lower alcohol content of softer red wines makes for easier drinking, and their more refreshing nature makes them a popular choice with newer wine drinkers acclimating themselves to the more exotic flavors characteristic of the world’s finest wines.

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What about you? What type of red do you prefer?

As always, if you drink, don't drive and if you drive, don't drink.

Friday Five: Types of Assholes at the Park & Ride

Although the title might tell you differently, I do love that my train station is a park and ride. I've taken the train from other stations and finding a spot in a small lot or looking for street parking can be really stressful in the morning. That being said, the park and ride is not without its assholes...I mean, is any situation? Here are some types of assholes I encounter at the park and ride. 

1. The people who stop at the nonexistent stop sign. Sometimes the difference between making the train and not making the train is someone stopping at this nonexistent stop sign on the way into the station, yet they still do it every day. Rage spikes into the stratosphere on days when multiple people stop for no reason. I hate to start my day off laying on the horn but sometimes it must be done. 

2. Artful parkers in the morning. Again, we’re on a train time table. Chop chop. If you can’t park your car in one shot, you fail. No one has time to wait for you to finesse a perfect park job, backing in and out and in and out. It makes the people waiting to get past you feel like playing demolition derby with your vehicle. Are you in the lines? Good. Stop moving.

3. People who do not observe the exiting etiquette. Leaving the station is a complicated system but one you are introduced to quite quickly when you are a regular rider. There are three exits from the main parking lot and decorum calls for taking turns and letting people out. When you don’t do this, people let you know with horns, hand gestures, and yelling what an asshole you are yet some people speed their oblivious asses off acting like they see no one else waiting to leave. We recognize you as regular passengers, you dicks. We’re supposed to take turns letting each other out and you know it. 

4. People who block cars in. This seems like a no brainer, right? Do not sit in the lane with your car in park, making out like your life depends on it, then act butt hurt when people beep at you to move. Park your car in a spot and make out if you need to relive your teenage years. Or maybe make out not in public like other adults. 

5. Little bitches. When I wave you across the lane and inch up when you’re ¾ of the way through, still quite far from you, do not shake your head at me. Because I will roll down my window and say, “I’m sorry, did you have a problem with me waving you across?” and you will be left stuttering, "No."

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All of the sudden, it was May. Right? That came up like a rocket. I'm excited to have lunch with my friend Tara from high school today. Other than that, I have no commitments this weekend. This rarely happens and I really love that the weekend is stretched out before me, waiting to be meandered through. And it looks like it's going to be beautiful. Enjoy, friends!