Foreign Language Movie Friday: "Après Vous"

Because we are somewhat boring people, Matt and I have recently instituted a little ritual here in our home. It's called Foreign Language Movie Friday, and it's exactly like it sounds: every Friday night (or most every Friday night), after we've gotten our groceries (which is obviously what twenty-somethings do on a Friday night), we'll...

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Chocolate Hugs: Betsey's Best Brownie Recipe

So. It's been a while, hasn't it? A lot has happened in the last month. I'm still settling into my new job and trying to find out where I fit in my new hometown. I can tell you that all these changes have necessitated a lot of things: a lot of self-pep talks, a lot of phone calls to Mom, and a lot of cuddles with my dogs. But perhaps...

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Does Instagramming Food Make it Less Appealing?

You finally have a reason to tell your incessantly-Instagramming friend, family member, or colleague to put their smart phone down and step way from their trendy dish. Finally, the proof we've all been waiting for. Cue the rejoicing. The Rise of Sensory Boredom A recent study published by Brigham Young University researchers involved...

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Povitica: Croatian Sweet Bread

When I say "Croatian food," what do you think of? Come on, give it your best shot. Seriously, just think of something. Still nothing? No? Same here, until I stumbled upon this lovely little recipe from The Daring Kitchen. Povitica (pronounced "po-va-teet-sa") is a delicious Croatian/Eastern European sweet bread that, after being...

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Tuesday Soul Searching: What's on Your Bucket List?

My mind wandered a bit this past Sunday, as I sat there in church, to all of the things I needed to do. I need to write a letter back to Grandma Anthony, I thought, jotting it down on my mental list. And the kitchen is dirty, and I need to catch up on my reading... And then, as so often happens in the solitude of a church, my thoughts went...

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Foodie: The New Four-Letter Word

I was reminded upon reading this article the other day on Buzzfeed, of an incident that occurred this past May as I was sitting in one of the very last classes of my graduate career. The professor was discussing the importance of having a blog for promoting oneself after graduation, and asked if there were any bloggers in the class....

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Say "Ahhhhhhh": Vietnamese Iced Coffee

I don't care what time of day it is, I will want coffee. Yep. I'm one of those. So, it seemed that, at the end of a long, warm, summer day, the only thing that could calm my mind and set my soul at ease was a soothing cup of iced coffee. And thanks to this recipe idea from fellow blogger Kitchen Confidante, I had a new iced coffee recipe...

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How to Pack Like a Pro

  So. It's time to pack for your big vaycay. Congrats! You've booked your flights, your room, your excursions...you are ready to go! You now face the toughest decision any girl ever has to make when traveling: WHAT DO I WEAR?! Fear not, ladies (all right, and fashionable gents). I have compiled a few tips and tricks for you to...

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Pad Thai Party

I hosted a party in my kitchen tonight. It was a total rager, and everyone was invited. There was no cake, unfortunately. I have been put on a mandatory diet and exercise regimen following a gluttony-fueled week-long birthday celebration that culminated in a very sad incident with a bridesmaid dress. Long story short, a dress that fit four...

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Family Ties

Family is awesome, don't you think? Well, sometimes. After typing that phrase I was reminded of sharing a room with my older sister, being called "Buttsey" by my older brother, and years of sitting in the back middle car seat on long family road trips. But let's just say that this past weekend family more than made up for all those horrendous...

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The Rise of Margarita Night

I was reminded, as Matt and I perused the streets of downtown Springfield this past Friday evening during the Taste of Downtown event, how much I love margaritas. Like anyone ever really needs a reminder. Taste of Downtown is an annual event where Springfield celebrates the best eats in downtown, and believe me, we sampled them all. And...

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15 Tips for Exploring a New City

Well, I have been neglectful, haven't I? Sorry about the delay in posting; I have been absolutely obsessed with the TV series Mad Men, a show that I hadn't even considered watching until about a week and a half ago. I feel like being a Mad Men junkie is sort of a requirement when you come from an advertising program. I didn't really have...

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What Are Your Weird Food Quirks?

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I hope that you're all with family at the lake or pool, hot dog and sparkler in hand. Matt and I might venture to the pool later, but I think for now it's a walk with the dogs before the firecrackers start cracking and perhaps a run to the mall to hit some sales (that one might be a solo effort). We'll be...

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I survived the Springfield, IL horse shoe

This shirt should exist. We did it today, folks. Matt and I officially became Springfieldians. You might be wondering how we accomplished this life milestone. Did we take a citizenship test? No. Did we argue our case before the mayor? Nope. Did we get a library card? No. Well, at least not yet. Did we watch a marathon of The Simpsons?...

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The Agony of [Pierogi] Defeat and the Ecstasy of [Bibimbap] Victory

We certainly have run the culinary gamut this week. On Sunday, I decided to try my hand at Polish cooking by trying out this Potato and Cheese Pierogi recipe from My Gourmet Connection. The result of this adventure, unfortunately, was neither very gourmet nor very connected to what a pierogi is actually supposed to look like. After about...

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