the long weekend was HOT. normally this is where i would begin complaining but... the peonies in the back yard have begun to bloom so i will just think about how amazing they look/smell. i have spent a lot of time outside in the past few weeks and am most grateful for that. planting the garden, enjoying the sunshine and taking walks. dan and i also uprooted and replanted a tree in the back yard yesterday. that was an experience. hope you have a wonderful week!

<3

kbl.

yes, please.

avocados? goat cheese? yes, please!

i am pretty sure it took me about half of a second to decide i needed to make this recipe. i promptly added the ingredients to the weekly grocery list and sent matt on his way. best decision ever.

the three of us all helped make it last night and then gorged ourselves on it. i am actually surprised there was any left for my lunch today. (i am actually chewing as i am tying this.)

so here it is.... the best pasta salad i have ever had.

*also, side note.... i am NOT lactose intolerant. i will be celebrating later with an ice cream cake.

Pasta Salad with Avocados & Black Beans in a Goat Cheese Lime Vinaigrette

1/2 Box Barilla Piccolini Mini Zucchini & Spinach Wheels Pasta
2 Ripe Hass Avocado, pitted and chopped
1-15oz. Can Black Beans, rinsed
1 Large Plum Tomato, diced
2 Scallions, chopped
Prepared Goat Cheese Lime Vinaigrette

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and let cool, then add to a large bowl. Add the avocado, beans, tomatoes, scallions and prepared vinaigrette and mix well. Makes 8 cups

Goat Cheese Lime Vinaigrette
1/4 c. Crumbled Goat Cheese
1 tbsp. Fresh Cilantro, chopped
1 Lime, juice only
1/4 c. Distilled White Vinegar
1/4 c. Canola Oil
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt
1/4 tsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Whisk all ingredients together until they are well combined. 

hope you have an awesome weekend. i will spending mine at a wedding in PA!

<3

kbl.

a murder mystery.

it's september 1922
 chicago, il.
there is one dead body
twelve supects
and a detective with one question
"who done it?"

  

 





 *if you would like to see the characters or clues please message me as i would be happy to share this information with anyone wishing to host their own murder mystery! *for free!

<3
kbl.

it's a mystery.

matt and i wrote a murder mystery this week. i am super excited for the work day to be over and go home to get ready for it. it is set in the 1920's (my favorite time period) and i am going to attempt to put finger waves in my hair. i have never done this so it should be interesting. i have never written a murder mystery either..... hope it goes well.

this week was pretty low key other than that. just working during the days and writing or relaxing after work. i did however score a pair of red jeans that actually fit me! i am probably more excited about that than i should be but i am wearing them now and they are SO comfortable.

oh, and beans fell asleep on her cat scratcher after i put new cat nip in it. there was sunshine coming through the door and she took full advantage. i like to think she really loved me for that.

stay tuned for pictures from our murder mystery!

happy weekend!

<3

kbl.

giant and rocky peak ridge.

matt and i have crossed two more mountains off of our list.

on saturday we spent 10 hours hiking giant mountain and rocky peak ridge. matt forced me to wake up at 6:15 to get an early start (we stayed in lake placid the night before) and after stopping for some breakfast sandwiches and coffee we were on our way to the trail head. the morning was very foggy/cloudy and we couldn't see any mountains until we were about half way up the mountain when i spied some peaks breaking through the clouds.

we made it to the top of giant mountain and spent time enjoying the wonders of being above the clouds and relaxed briefly in the warm sunshine while we ate our lunch.

making the decision to climb over to rocky peak ridge was an obvious one though matt and i agree it was the toughest hike we have ever been on. the hike down from (and then back up) giant on the trail to rocky peak was very steep and rocky and slick. even though i am in quite a bit of pain (and am reminded each time i move a leg) i think matt and i agree that it was a very rewarding day.

<3

kbl.

peek at my week (or weeks) no. 4

i was just informed that there is going to be a whole foods near my house. to compete with the trader joes that is under construction. my day has been made.

tomorrow matt and i are leaving at 4:30am climb some mountains in the high peaks (weather permitting the hiking may be postponed until saturday).

in other news....

during the past few weeks i have been busy doing a lot of nothing and a bit of some other things.

matt and i attendied the wedding of one of my close friends (congrats again nicole and heather), i stopped procrastinating and made a gift for my special mother, who deserves way more than my novice sewing skills could hope to create (but i hope you like it anyways), have been absorbed into the world of battlestar galactica. i am almost done with the series. maybe then i will get to more things. my pickles are still turning out a lot of bacteria. i think i may try one tonight and check the progress.... and a very awesome board game was purchased and played last night with yours truly being the winner!

and in case that rambling wasn't enough...  

here are a few pictures from the past few weeks!

i now plan on spending the rest of my day hoping for no thunderstorms and watching battlestar!
hope you have a lovely weekend!

<3

kbl.