Friday, February 25, 2011

i in sin sing sting string staring starting startling

By Bay-area artist Tauba Auerbach, via Daily Serving

Startling: the only 9-letter word in the English language where you can remove a letter at a time and still spell a word.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Cooking

 
Delicious Greek Baked Fish (recipe from Rachael Ray)

"If you are careful,' Garp wrote, 'if you use good ingredients, and you don't take any shortcuts, then you can usually cook something very good. Sometimes it is the only worthwhile product you can salvage from a day; what you make to eat. With writing, I find, you can have all the right ingredients, give plenty of time and care, and still get nothing. Also true of love. Cooking, therefore, can keep a person who tries hard sane."

- John Irving (The World According to Garp)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

BF's New Site


Hey, internet! Charlie plays guitar in a talented and fun "dance rock" band named Blane Fonda, and they've got themselves a brand new website! Please do yourselves a favor and check it out here

Blane's currently in the studio recording their first full-length album.... in fact, Charlie is plucking the strings over at Gravity Studios as we speak. Go ahead and listen to their ep, Master of Stars and Broken Arms (through their website, Amazon or iTunes or, um, me), and get excited for their new stuff.

Sorry for the shameless plug, but REALLY, they're great.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Farewell, Earwax

via

I'm so sorry and disappointed to read today that Earwax Cafe is closing on Feb. 28th. Charlie and I have had a number of long byob date nights at this eclectic vegetarian spot, and their goat cheese quesadillas will be sincerely missed. Best wishes!

p.s. While flickr searching for an Earwax photo, I stumbled upon a pretty authentic mini (12 x 12 inch) diorama that MarthaLand made for a wedding present - apparently the bride and groom met there. Cute! Check it out for some interior shots.

UPDATE: March 11, 2011, Chicagoist has alerted us that Earwax has decided not to close after all. Apparently the menu is being revamped, and the restaurant will be reopened tomorrow at 11am. Yay!

Note to the Weather

Oh hi, Wintry Mix, I thought you had left already. As much as I enjoy not knowing whether to expect snow or hail or rain, I'm ready for sunshine and short sleeves. Please go away for real and tell your friends Freezing Cold and Blustery Wind to join you.

xo,
Lauren

Friday, February 18, 2011

Top Chef (spoiler)

We finally got around to watching this week's Top Chef All Stars, and all I have to say is.... ANGELO?!? NOOOOOoooo. No.

Lotus Flower


In case you haven't seen this yet... new Radiohead.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

DIY Doll Drawer Pulls

Uhhm.


Are you interested in a new look for your dresser or cabinets? This morning, Apartment Therapy posted a link about making your own doll drawer pulls. What a delightful addition to a bathroom renovation for a "somewhat atypical daughter!"

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Wednesday

Ahhh hump day. How is everyone's week going? Making it through?

For me, it's one of those days - gloomy, busy, meh. Here's a little cute overload to cheer me/you up:

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Feist on Sesame Street

:)

via meiko's blog

p.s. In case you haven't heard her music, meiko is also pretty amazing! Listen here.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Message from Lucy

Happy Valentine's Day!

Charlie and I are starting off our day appropriately with some Intelligentsia Eros coffee. We're thinking of celebrating tonight by making dinner together. Any good recipe ideas?

Also, check out photographer Lauren Fleishman's sweet love ever after project, a collection of photographs of and quotes from long-lasting loving couples.

Finally, Lucy had a couple of messages for you:

IMG_4784
Happy Valentine's Day!
IMG_4790
Love Stinks!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Saturday

Charlie, Lucy, and I are starting off our weekend lazily with coffee, the couch, reading, writing, and The Wedding Singer (how amazing is that movie?). We're thinking of the Chicago Auto Show this afternoon, even though it will only make me want to buy a new car when I know I can't...

Last night, we watched It's Kind of a Funny Story. Anyone else see it? I'd wanted to go when it was in theatres, but somehow missed it... anyhow, it was great! Strong recommend. Zach Galifianakis proves himself ever more likeable as a person and capable as both a serious and comedic actor, and I really liked Keir Gilchrist as the main character, Craig (he actually looks like a high school kid!).

Some things from around the interweb lately:

- Adele's new album "21" is streaming in its entirely here on npr. Listen; it's lovely.

- These Nanaimo Bars look aaaamazing.

- Nice new Threadless ad, taped in my hood!

- Every guy should probably read this. Cough cough.

- I want this bag!

- Shout out to Tom Thunder, a professor of mine, for consulting on this wsj article.





P.S. I took the photo above last year on Hilton Head Island, SC. Just reminding all of us midwesterners what warmth and green look like...

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Valentine's Dessert, anyone?


Melanie over at You Are My Fave just posted directions for these adorable "choco-bowls of love." They appear so easy that I might have to hunt down some heart-shaped baking dishes (or star shaped? or farm animal shaped? The options are endless!) and try it myself...

Check them out here.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Souls

         
From Brenda Gonzalez's lovely and well-done graphic design portfolio

Just something to think about this Wednesday morning...

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Lucy

I just realized that I haven't really introduced you to Lucy yet (...though pretty much anybody reading at this point already knows her... so here she is, again). 

Lucy, aka Peagle aka Peagletronix aka Adam, hamming it up
Lu relaxing, standard
Okay, enough. Check out my flickr if you want more.

Lollapalooza 2011

Photo courtesy of -EMR-

This afternoon, Greg Kot (Chicago Tribune) leaked that Eminem, Muse, and Foo Fighters will be amongst the headliners for Lollapalooza 2011. Other artists may include Lykke Li, Best Cost, Girl Talk, and Crystal Castles. The full - official - lineup for the August 5-7 event will be announced in April.

What do you think? To go, or not to go? After last years Charlie Foxtrot*, I'm pretty sure I'm voting no...

*Wikipedia notes that "Charlie Foxtrot" is a synonym for "clusterfuck." You may also find useful the terms fiasco, debacle, or SNAFU.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Creme-bru-log

Volcanic brûlée de miel on the creme-bru-log

Looks like I'm not the only one starting a blog.... M. Ward and Jim James (frontman of My Morning Jacket) have begun the creme-bru-log, "an online resource for critique and tastings of crème brûlée from around the world." Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Back in 1989, my elementary school PTO (Arnett C. Lines School, what what!) compiled a book of favorite recipes, and my mom had the foresight to buy extra copies and save them for when her children grew up. I mostly turn to said book for one thing: easy, tried and true, delicious desserts. My absolute favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe is from this book, and it's to die for.

Last Friday, I made a batch (or should I say, made the dough to eat by the spoonful, and then Charlie cooked them). I wanted to include a photo for this post, but..... they're gone already. Every one of them. So, case in point.

I've included the recipe below, altered slightly based on how I personally make them. Bake away!

Lines School Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies:

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups oatmeal
1 (12 oz) bag dark chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream together the butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda. Mix all ingredients together and fold in chocolate chips and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart on a parchment-covered cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Devour in 1-3 days (not really, but maybe).

Ghosts


Do you know about Laura Marling? You probably should, if you like folkyish/relaxing/thoughtful music like I do. Just listen here.... beauuutiful.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Hi there

Just wanted to say hi and welcome as I start off ten forty-eight, my new blog. I've been thinking of this for a long time now, and I'm very excited to get moving! I'm planning on including my favorite things from around the internets - funny, happy, delicious, appealing, interesting things - as well as periodic updates from my own life. We'll see.

A few things:
- Ten forty-eight is 1048, my address. Well, the number part, anyways.
- I have a rescued wire-haired Jack Russell terrier dog named Lucy. I'm a little bit obsessed with her, so she may be making some appearances. She likes realistic looking stuffed animals, 23-hour naps, and fish oil.
- I'm pretty thankful for you right now, just for visiting.

So, today, on Super Bowl Sunday... here's to spicy wings, half-time shows, pricey commercials, and my new blog!!!