Introducing : The Duchess

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

boys and girls...

I would like to introduce you to the newest piece of equipment

 in the category of "getting busy" hobbies.

The Duchess!  

Isn't she the most beautiful bicycle you ever did see?!

Now I have to admit, it was love at first sight, but first ride...

That is a different story.

I haven't ridden a bike for real since I was... maybe ten?

I don't even remember.

My first ride was stressful.

I feel worried about getting hit by a car 

and whether or not I'll make it up the very big hills around here.

(why did I not get a bike when I lived in Chicago where EVERYTHING is flat 

and Lake Shore Drive is the perfect place for cyclists?)

Plus my wrists hurt, and taking my hands off to signal...?

forget about it.

I swerve all over the place.

But today I rode her again and it was much better.

I even started to figure out how the gears worked...

Seriously, I couldn't remember.

I knew when I asked for a bike for Christmas

 it would either be a huge waste of money or...

it would change my way of life. 

I'm not trying to do a Tour de France anytime soon,

I just want to be able to use a bike for transportation.

I feel like it makes so much sense to bike.

No waiting for buses, no money spent on gas. 

Model-esque, cellulite free thighs and calves to kill for.

Plus it would save time - exercise while you commute - 

what a novel idea!

Someday I would like to be one of those people who doesn't go to the gym at all.

I want to just lead an active lifestyle.

Hiking and running with Heidi, biking for transportation. 

Yoga to relax and outdoor activities for "fun."  

I'm hopeful that I will get there, 

but I think it is a very long (hilly) road ahead!

ps.  The Duchess is a temporary name until I think of something a less obvious and perhaps a little more personal.  Any ideas?

pss. Please share advice more experienced cyclists!

psss.  Thanks for the bike, mom!

Diana in the Snow

In case you can't get enough of my new found lomo skillz, 

here are some from when it snowed.

So what do you think?

Edgy, hipster, neat?

....Or just pretty shit pictures.  

Be honest.

I promise you won't offend me.

I think there is too much faux niceness in the blogosphere anyways.  

Christmas in London With Diana

Hey Friends,

I just got my very first roll of film developed from my diana mini!

Here are a few our trip to London last month.  

Generic view of the English countryside from the train.

St. Pancras station in London.

Great train station with one big problem, it is always freezing.

Seriously, why did no one think to put doors on this station?

Also, I almost always mispronounce this place.  

St. Pancras is not = St. Pancreas.  

(In case you were wondering)

A double decker bus, blue street lights, 

and Debenham's department store lit up for Christmas.

A typical red phone booth over exposed with red Christmas lights.

A big lit up umbrella and Christmas present.

We had a really fantastic day in London.  That city sure does have an amazing energy.  And I like the fact that I can navigate the city now.  It was such a big daunting place at first, but now going back to London is like visiting an old friend - the kind of friend that you only like in small doses though.

Anyways back to Diana - while she is an absolute joy to hold, and so much fun to shoot with, I must admit that she is very temperamental.  I think I need to buy a flash because all the ones we took inside didn't turn out at all.  Any lomography lovers have any tips?

The Best Pancakes I Have Ever Tasted. Period.

I'm so sorry, friends.  

I know it is absolutely horrible of me to post this,

 what with your New Year's Resolutions still going strong and all.

But, I wonder if it would be just as horrible of me to NOT post this.  

Because seriously, these were the best. pancakes. of. my. life.  

Nick and I keep staying up late and sleeping in, since he is STILL off work.

(Is it bad that I want him to go back now?  

His priority for the past two weeks has been to do absolutely nothing) 

Anyways for some reason this schedule justifies making pancakes, no?  

Cottage Cheese (Yes, I know - weird... but trust me) and Nutmeg Pancakes 

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, seperated
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup flour
• Butter for the pan

Whisk 2 egg yolks and cup of buttermilk together in a bowl.  Add cottage cheese, melted butter, and vanilla.  Add the dry ingredients and whisk it all together.  Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks, and fold them into the batter.

Heat pan over medium high heat and melt a little butter into the pan.  These do have a slight tendency to stick, but pretty much function as regular pancakes for all other purposes.  So just take advantage of this as an excuse to add more butter to the pan between batches, and you should be A-Okay!  

Serve with a little cherry or raspberry jam and a dollop of sour cream.

You'll be sold.

I'm never making pancakes the old way again.

These were moister and more delicious than you could imagine.

I really am sorry for sharing, honestly...

 but this is a pancake recipe you need in your breakfast arsenal.  

I hope I didn't put you off your resolutions too much.  

Happy Friday!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all my blogging friends!  

I am so excited for 2011.  Mostly because 2010 sucked. 

But hey, so far, things are looking up, especially since I will end my year long stint of unemployment in two weeks!!!  So so excited for that.  

So I've been wondering what your resolutions are?  

Mine didn't go too well last year.

But this year, this year is going to be different!  

Right?  Right!

My overall goal is :  be more productive.

Problem with this is its largely unmeasurable, 

and I like goals that I can CROSS OFF a list.

Have you learned that about me yet?  ha!

So here are a few more of my goals for 2011....

• Ride bike enough to pay for itself - (more on this later, but I got that super cute bike from my mom for xmas!!)
• Volunteer
• Get back to my happy weight (not my skinniest ever, just the one I am at when I'm being healthy)
• Complete 30 tasks from my Day Zero list.
• Finish decorating our house.
• Do the dishes right after dinner.
• Make British friends
• Go on a honeymoon
• Get to bed by 11pm 
• Start our art collection
• Go on a cool date with Nick once a month (we are alternating months, he is planning this month... and I am planning next month - any ideas?)
• Annnnnnnnnnd, last but not least - Explore the Peak District (the national park which we basically live in ) once a month!  

All these pictures were taken in the Peak District over Christmas.  

It really is a pretty place.  

Good luck with your resolutions if you're making them!  

I'd love to know what they are!