my saturday morning

musings on living alone

I like it. For now. But after having a visitor for three nights-- someone to wake up to and fall asleep with-- I'm reminded how nice that is. Especially if that person makes you laugh and washes your breakfast dishes for you. Having the bed made by someone else is also a bonus. Some things are better when they are shared. 


For now I'll drink tea and do my homework in my pajamas late into the night. I'll run to the bus in the morning with my backpack on and wet hair blowing behind me. I'm cool with that. 


I'm also happy knowing each day I can love where I am because I am one day closer to another life. One where maybe I am putting littles to bed in feetie pjs and helping them with their coloring. I'll pack them lunches of peanut butter and jelly and help them put their tiny backpacks on as they scurry to the bus. My husband can wash the dinner dishes. I think that part will be fun too. Eventually. 


pic

girl talk

Girlfriend #1: I love my bed. It is sooo comfortable. 


Me: I'm neutral on mine. It does have flannel sheets on it right now, so it's pretty cozy at least. 


Girlfriend #2: I don't really like mine that much. Mostly because its just me in it. 

mmm tostada

Over the weekend I made this tostada recipe twice that I came up with and was overjoyed each time, so I figured I should share it with you. I am not one to cook really with measurements, but perhaps you can follow?


Ingredients: (this is cooking for one, but you could replicate it however many times you need.)


2 whole wheat tortillas 
Shredded cheddar cheese
Trader Joes Roasted Tomato salsa (Or Salsa verde) 
Refried black beans 
Sliced avocado or guacamole
Sautéed peppers and onions


Cooking:
1. Heat oven to 450 degrees F
2. On a cookie sheet place one tortilla. Sprinkle shredded cheese on tortilla and top it with second tortilla. 
3. Spread refried black beans on top of the second tortilla. Place tray into the oven for about 5 minutes until cheese is melty between and beans are hot. 
4. While the tortilla is heating in a frying pan sauté diced peppers and onions in a bit of olive oil.
5. Take tortillas out of the oven and top with peppers and onions, salsa, and avocado or guacamole. Slice in quarters. Bon appetite! 


The whole process takes about 10-15 minutes. It is a quick and delicious dinner! 

home sweet home

Prior to moving to North Carolina I spent an obsessive amount of time picking out stuff for my new apartment. My mother and I got into a long discussion about the best way to hang a shower curtain (clearly, with a liner on the inside). I was at HomeGoods, Bed Bath and Beyond, or on Etsy and design blogs non-stop. This was one tangible thing that I could control as far as the move was concerned. I never saw my apartment before I got the keys, and luckily I loved it! I'm still tweaking a few things, but here are some sneak peeks:

 Outdoor patio

 Living Room

 Curtains (World Market)

 Bathroom

 Foyer 

victory!

That ugly bug reared its antennae again tonight. However, I was prepared! I actually had a big cup with me and I threw it over him, slid a Kohls advertisement under the cup, ran to the bathroom screaming "EW! EW! EW!" the whole way and flushed that nasty sucker down the toilet. I'm shaking from the adrenaline rush but I will sleep much easier knowing he's been flushed down into the sewers....three times...just for good measure. 

invader

I have been surprised at how genuinely happy I have been here-- even though it has only been two weeks. After a long relationship I feel like I am learning myself again and what I like and enjoying my own company after being part of an "US" for so long. A dear friend of mine once told me that after her break-up she had cheetos and chocolate cake for dinner and it made her happy. I think of that when I eat things like spaghetti... and then a nutella sandwich... and some ice cream for dinner. Part of recovering from a broken heart and enduring change is listening to your intuition and your needs as you move forward. 

However, I have found that there is a dark underbelly to living alone. Something that I didn't realize until last night at 11:30pm....

THERE WAS A GIANT BUG IN MY BATHROOM. I HATE BUGS! Seriously, this thing was 2 inches long. ICK! 

Immediate thought: OMG. I am the sole bug killer in this residence. I can no longer ask my super roommate to take them down. 

At first I just locked the door. Hoping maybe it would go back from where it came. Then I got into bed and put a towel under the door to block it from sneaking in. I couldn't sleep. 

Back out of bed. I grabbed a spray can of Lysol and tried to poison it as it hung on for dear life to my shower curtain. Then it fell and I screamed. I was sweating. I ran back to the kitchen to try and throw some tupperware over it but when I came back it moved too fast. I slammed the door again and ran back into bed and burrowed all the way down in my bed. 

This morning it was gone. 

And after an email exchange with my building management I found out it was a "wood roach that is common in North Carolina and wooded areas." YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME. Apparently they don't do much harm and there is little chance that they are breeding in my walls, but more likely that one snuck in at one point when a door was open. 

Someone is coming to spray poison in my apartment on Friday. Because I am the kind of girl who can hang curtains, assemble vacuum cleaners and make a mean frittata, but I am not the kind of girl who can deal with bugs in my living space.