And the prize for most-updated blog goes to.... 

[drum roll, please, monsieur]

ME!

I'm stellar at this, no?

Well guess what! Being locked up during an Ice-Pocalypse does some crazy shiz to a gal's brain. Unlimited amounts of dairy, coffee, and chips wields a perfect storm of cabin fever-induced mania (that in no way can be channeled into something productive, like, for example, work). So here I am. Blogging. Whoodathunk. 

Let's see. The last time I was here was in April. Since then, I've:

+ started work at a local print shop, where I've been honing my skillz and earning the dolla-dolla billz

+ expanded Scout + Lilly to several new stockists, including BRIKA

+ been to Paris (for more, see my seester's blog, since I haven't done squat with my photos yet)

+ driven all over the great state of Texas in search of friends, food, and family

+ read, like, nothing at all

+ listened to Harry Potter, like, a million times

+ eaten my weight in cheese (probably)

+ drunk many beers (definitely)

+ generally avoided this space

So I'll try and pop into this space more frequently (here, and over at the bizniss blog, too, I suppose). But until then, HULLO! 

So a while back, Jamie posted on Twitter (I think) that she was going to be trying this soup for dinner that night. And then, coincidentally, THIS soup popped up in my reader. And from then on, I had garlicky, starchy, green, bean-y, tomato-y soup on my brain and it WOULDN'T LET GO. But when I scavenged my pantry, I had a handful of ingredients from each recipe. So what's a good improviser to do? 

HYBRID SOUP. 

Since I made it, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. It's so effing garlicky and rosemary-y and delicious. So I made it again. And now I'm going to share it. Because it's awesome. 

Here's the recipe:

Hybrid Soup

(adapted from My New Roots and Food 52)

For the soup:

1 large white onion, sliced thinly into half moons
5-6 cloves garlic, minced (I use my microplane zester because it yields smoother results and it's a LOT faster)

2-3 bigger white potatoes, diced (or one large baking potato)
1 can diced tomatoes (either plain or fire roasted - no other funny flavors)
32 oz. (1 box) veggie stock (or chicken stock)

2 cans water
1 tomato boullion cube
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed (you can use butter beans, cannelini, navy beans... whatever you have on hand)
4 bay leaves
1 teaspoon paprika (the smokier the better)
1 large sprig rosemary (about 6 inches), washed and tossed in whole 

Hefty glug of balsamic (about 4 tablespoons)

Garnishes:

Baby kale (or other greens of choice)

Cheese (grated Parmesan or Gruyere is killer, but in a pinch, mozzarella will do) (optional)

Bread (we originally served it with super garlicky bread - as in, whole cloves in the loaf. Slice it thin, butter it, and toast it for a killer crouton-type situation.)

In a soup pot or Dutch oven, saute onions and minced garlic together until soft.

Add potatoes. Let cook a few minutes. Add canned tomatoes. Stir and cook until heated through.

Add stock, water, bouillon, sliced garlic, beans, bay leaves, and paprika. Let simmer slowly until potatoes are cooked through (about 30 minutes).

Remove bay leaves.

Add rosemary and balsamic. Let simmer slowly for 20 minutes. 

Remove rosemary and serve.

Add kale/greens to the bottom of each bowl. Top with soup. Sprinkle with cheese (if desired). Serve with toast/croutons.

Eat with other people, because you'll be deliciously stinky.

images via here and here

Oy, you guys.... shiz has been cray-zay around here! I'm so sorry for the absence! We had a big family visit, where my mom, dad, aunt, sister, and brother-in-law all came for a long weekend. It was super great... and super exhausting. We did the State Fair, ate TONS of amazing food, and had a wonderful time. It was just what I needed. 

1. A genetic predisposition for ridiculousness (the pictured auntie shall remain nameless).
2. On our way to the Fried Food Fiesta (aka, Texas State Fair).
3. Fried cookie dough. Otherwise known as the best damn cookie I've ever eaten. SO GOOEY. 
4. Boyfriend, Tex, and me.  

5. Sister (!!), Tex, and me. Tex gets around. Also: sister visits are the best. Seriously.
6. Emo Alpaca in the petting zoo. 
7. The Texas Star. It was too freakishly cold and the line was ridonk, so we didn't ride it. But they released birds from it, which was pretty cool. 
8. Jazz hands photo bomb on the train, courtesy of above auntie. 

Highlights: 
1. Hibiscus. Holy yum, you guys. We shared a bunch of appetizers (grilled figs + burrata, anyone?), had amazing drinks, and were probably the most obnoxious table in the entire restaurant. 
2. Thrifting with my sister and close friend. Some great deals were had. 
3. Village Burger Bar. There were 9 of us, so we sat outside in 40 degree weather, pulling the heaters closer to the table. The restaurant people yelled at us. It was still cold, but delicious. We then peaced out to a bar and had a great time with lots of family and lots of friends (ain't it great when they blend so well?). 
4. The State Fair. It was all of our first times out there, and it was crazy cold, but a lot of fun. However, it was A LOT bigger than any of us planned, so about halfway through, we felt like we were pretty much done. 
Whew. 

In addition, I've been working on the shop. I've hit a couple of road blocks, but other than that, things are chugging along steadily. I've added some amazing new vintage items (including my favorite item so far: a vintage woven leather Cole Haan bag... it has a strap that's the perfect length for both cross-body and shoulder wearing, and is the perfect size. sigh). I'm also working on some new baby items! They should be up later this week. Get excited!

So anywho, that's what's up. I'll try to keep posting more regularly, particularly with stuff other than the shop. I know it can get a bit wearing to hear about that kind of stuff all the time! 

xo

Hullo, peoples of the world! 
I know I've been quite absent from this blog, but things are happening. Big things. We've moved into our own apartment (YAY), are settling in, and getting into the groove. 
ALSO, I've opened an Etsy shop! I'm still making and adding things, but it's open! So head on over here to take a look-see and see if anything tickles your fancy!
xo

an update.
So things over here have been cooking away. We're finally settled in to our temporary digs, have schedules, new habits. As such, my brain has been able to proceed with brewing a new business venture that involves creativity in ways I've never used. For the most part, it's been badass. To be able to use my hands again, push my brain to explore long-neglected chasms, and generate (what I would consider original) content is rewarding in the extreme.
But at the same time, I'm pushing myself in ways that are completely foreign to me. This whole venture is an exercise in self-education. And it's effing arduous: I spent the majority of today on one item and prepping for more. It was the most frustrating day I've had in a long time. I'm so slow and so green that I have to stop myself from giving up an hour in. But if there's anything that I've learned about myself in my 28 years on this planet it's that if I care about something enough, I'll learn it and do my best to kick ass at it. Frustration can (AND WILL BE) be channeled into productivity (DAMMIT). So I'll be doing this again tomorrow. And the next day.
So that's where I am: in my cave, toiling away. Just wanted to pop in and say hello to all you chums and chumettes. Hope all is swell in your corners of the world.
Pip pip!
xo

N and I recently drove west for some family stuff. On the way back, we stopped in Merkel, where my mother's family has some land. 

Everything was so green - it was incredible. Far from my memories of red, dusty earth dotted with dying scrub. I haven't been out there in over ten years and when we got there, I couldn't remember where the gate was, so we just drove around and took pictures of West Texas in spring. 

So... we made it! We're now residents of the Dallas area. N is working and applying for more jobs; I'm watching a pretty damn cute kid. It's awesome. So awesome that I haven't really checked... well... anything in about a week (also: watching endless episodes of Futurama while babysitting will suck your attention like nobody's business. In the best possible way.) My twitter and reader are neglected, I have about 10 open windows for posts I would like to comment on, and I have probably 8 posts drafted in here to be published at a later date. So yeah. But I just wanted to check in and say a quick hello. I need to reply to a couple of comments you guys left, which I will do soon! Today in fact! (Now I'm committed - hold me to that.) 

Catch you on the flip side.

I owe you all an apology. I've been a mopey git.
For a while now I've been complaining about the hitch in my giddy-up. It's time for me to stop. Shit happens. What matters is how you cope with it.
So.N and I have decided to do something Big and Scary.No, not the other Big and Scary - that didn't work out. For all our efforts, Austin is just not going to happen right now. I'm taking it as a sign from the universe to try again another time.
But some incredibly lovely and beyond amazing bestest people in the world have offered us a haven for a time, until we get back into the swing of things. 
And best of all? It's not in our small town. It's in a rather large town, a METROPLEX even. 
And we'll have the flexibility and the option to pursue our dreams and our desires among friends. 

All we have to do is jump....and not fall flat on our faces.no big deal.


image by Olly Moss, via woolgathering & miscellany's tumblr

so, as far as weekends go, this one kind of.... sucked.
somehow (ahem. N.) I caught some sort of godawful epizooty madness that kept me confined to either the couch or the bed, wishing I could have someone drill a hole in my forehead to eliminate the demons setting up shop. 
luckily, Lola had nothing else to do and so she hung out with me all weekend. 

I may or may not have watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy. extended versions. 
don't judge. 

not gonna lie, this autumn's skies have been EPIC. and I generally HATE to use that word.
am I right??

giving thanks.
at times, it can be difficult, no? it's easy to complain, to have something to worry about. but this is the time of year when we are reminded just how lucky we truly are. 
I'm thankful for so much. while this past year has been emotionally arduous, I'm reminded on a daily basis of how bad things could *actually* be.
we have food in the refrigerator.our bills are paid.(well, with the exception of student loans, but who counts those?)our gas tanks are full.both of us are employed.we both have families who support us almost blindly, even when we seem to least deserve it.we have friends who care.we have clothes on our backs. we have basic necessities that are often taken for granted - clean water, trash removal, and access to services many around the globe cannot even dream of. 
incredibly lucky. incredibly blessed.
today was spent with both of our families - a rare occurrence. we started with my family: a late lunch of epic proportions. sweet & yukon potatoes au gratin, turkey, roasted cauliflower & broccoli in a garlic cream sauce, rolls, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole (by yours truly), avocado & pomegranate salad, gravy, dressing, the works. followed by ricotta cake with macerated berries, coffee, truffles, and chocolate mint brownies. 
I nearly died of food ecstasy. 
two hours later, we arrived at N's grandparents' farm for Operation Fat Pants: Round Two. an avalanche of appetizers, more turkey, SO.MUCH.dressing, more sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, gravy, buttered rolls. everything was finished with amazing Czech cream cheese & poppy seed bread (made from kolache dough). SO GOOD. 
post-feasting included watching football on cell phones, impromptu surgery to remove glass from N's 10-year-old cousin's foot, a couple of hair cuts, and lots of jabbering. in summary: perfect. 
I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving.

I hope all was well with you and yours, and that your pants no longer fit (ahem, like me). I also hope that you were smart enough to not forget your other pair of jeans in case of such an emergency - like this smart chick did.

It's fall, y'all.
...well, as much as fall can be in Texas.
A few things I've been digging:butternut squashsoups & stewscrazy-long walks with audio booksthese cookiespumpkin EVERYTHINGthis craft paper



Now if the weather would only turn a bit cooler. While I appreciate the consistently 70* temperatures, I could handle something colder. For serious.

I'm a little bit late in posting this, so I'm sorry! Things have been nutty (per usual). Here's what we did last weekend: 
Apartment Hunting

Tacos, tacos, tacos (and Huevos Divorciados. YUM.)

Doggies.

Halloween Par-taaaay. 

This weekend we went to Austin.The trip was pretty spur-of-the-moment (N was suddenly able to get crazy cheap tickets to see The Naked & Famous and we figured why the hell not?). 
Surprisingly enough, it ended up being crazy productive and amazing. 
We went to the show on Friday night. Honestly, we knew like one song, but for 10 bucks a piece, it was a pretty ballin evening.

Saturday we got a late start. Coffee and whatnot in the morning, tacos and driving around in the afternoon. We spent most of the day combing Austin neighborhoods for "For Rent" signs in the hopes that something completely epic and cheap would fall into our laps. No such luck. At least there was El Chilito and more coffee to make us un-grumpy.

Sunday was more driving. And more tacos. This time: Torchy's. Verdict: meh. I went for the potato taco and a migas taco, both of which were just fine. Their queso, however, was AMAZEBALLS.

Also eaten: P.Terry's Burgers, home of the most amazing veggie burger known to man (until I find the next one). SO GOOD. Didn't get a picture, as I scarfed it pretty damn quick.

Random scenes:

When we got home Sunday night, we were crazy exhausted. Luckily, we left Austin armed with tons of info about apartments and a list of places to visit this coming weekend when we head back for a bitchin Halloween party.
How was your weekend? 

All photos by me.

this weekend was a whole mess of stuff. the weather was gorgeous on Saturday, when Mumsy came for a visit. we went downtown for a street festival, where N happened to find a booth that sold only handmade cream sodas, sasparillas, and root beers. in a nutshell, his heaven. 

on Sunday, we went to see N's parents and help out on the farm. it rained Saturday night and all day Sunday. gorgeous light. I may have taken a hiatus to lurk about and take photos.

how was your weekend? anything fun?