Category: Thursday Things

Thursday Things

Amanda4 Comments
Banana Walnut Quick Bread
  1. Whipped up this crazy good banana bread in an hour last Sunday. I’m thinking of sharing the recipe. Who’s interested?
  2. I made that bread right before seeing Charlie Berens. Which happened right before I met him! And got to give him some strawberry jam and cherry bounce!
  3. Yesterday someone parked this close to my driver’s side door at the grocery store – forcing me to climb in through the passenger side. It was totally ridiculous, but totally reminiscent of when I was in high school and I had an old Woody Caravan whose driver’s side door was held on with bungee cords. I only ever used the passenger door then.
  4. Tuesday night I caught Seth singing the New Girl theme song to Edgar, but he changed the words to “Who’s that dog? It’s Edgar!” I’ve never heard anything cuter.
  5. I made a super fun gif/stop motion of some stuffed shells I made earlier this week. Check it in my highlights! (And give me a follow on IG while you’re at it!)
  6. Ya girl got an InstantPot! And promptly got the most terrifying “FOOD BURN” warning the first time I used it. But! I poured a can of beer into the pot and the pork turned out beautifully!
  7. Seth has figured out a new way to make potatoes and they are unbelievable! Like a cross between a potato chip and mashed potatoes. I’m going to wrangle him into letting me shoot them soon so I can share!

Thursday Things

AmandaLeave a comment
Cheeseboard Charcuterie Board Meat and Cheeseboard
  1. I got the photos back from my last cheeseboard class and I am in LOVE! Gosh, I know some talented folks! (If you’re in the area – be sure to check out Whitney for all your photography needs!)
  2. Finally! She’s here! The range of my dreams! It’s been a week since it was installed (and a week since I answered the door in a towel – those poor delivery men) and I am just in heaven. The quality, power, and style are just unmatched! I can’t wait to really dig into everything this baby can do! It’s got a proofing setting for goodness sake!
  3. Speaking of babies – I had to order a bag of babies for my King Cake-ing needs. How does one review that transaction on Amazon?
  4. My little sister and I are going to see Charlie Berens this weekend and I’m going to have a few words for him about what it means to be Midwest Nice!
  5. I found this dress at Goodwill for $6! And an amazing kaftan for the first day of our cruise. We’re under 45 days until Golden Girls at Sea!
  6. Earlier this week I washed, folded, and put away all my laundry ON THE SAME DAY. Killin’ it in 2020!
  7. In Bed with Nick and Megan is my new podcast listen, obviously! And The Dream – Seth and I dug into that the other day running errands. And, and! Sick. This one. Oooh hoo. It’s all about “what goes wrong in the place meant to keep us healthy.” The first season is about a fertility doctor that was doing some truly terrible things. I blew through six episodes last night!
  8. This was really exciting – TJ Maxx featured one of my photos in their feed! How stinking cool is that?! Go over and give it a like, wontcha?

Thursday Things

AmandaLeave a comment
A food photographer enjoying her job!
  1. My friend/client (and successful restauranteur! And AirBnb owner! And boutique runner!) Matt snapped this pic of me while we were doing some work last year (still so weird to say!) and I high key love it.
  2. Made some mushroom and wild rice soup this week and figured out a secret! Pan roast the ‘shrooms before adding them! They get all roasty and toasty and full of flavor. Then, when the soup is nearly done, you just dump all the roasty bits and flavorful juices into the pot! Life changing.
  3. I’ve been listening to more personal growth and entrepreneurial podcasts as of late. Two new faves? She Makes Money Moves and Goal Digger. What inspirational/informational podcasts do you listen to?
  4. Very into lettuce wraps, atm. Yesterday I made chicken Caesar salad lettuce wraps (and shared the process on my stories – if you’re interested!) and later this week I’ll be make my spicy shrimp lettuce wraps! That bang bang sauce is good good!
  5. THE NANNY IS BECOMING A BROADWAY MUSICAL. I repeat: THE NANNY IS BECOMING A BROADWAY MUSICAL!!! Fran Drescher is partnering with Rachel Bloom on the project and it’s two of my favorite women from two of my favorite shows working in one of my favorite mediums and omg!!!!!!! Booking my trip to NYC right now!
  6. Speaking of trip – in six short weeks I’ll finally be setting sail with Kristen on the Golden Girls Cruise! Gotta start making cheesecakes now so I’m ready!
  7. A friend of mine told me I should be Mona Lisa from Parks and Rec for Halloween this year and after rewatching some of her episodes…I’m kind of into the idea?!
  8. I’m here to tell you to just send the dang email, ok? The one that we all have sitting in our draft folder, the one that we have a reminder set to send. Just, send it. Ok? Thanks.
  9. I’ve been doing sudoku puzzles every morning for about three months or so and yesterday I had a personal triumph wherein I completed a “hard” level puzzle. Felt good.

Thursday Things

AmandaLeave a comment
  1. My Christmas bouquet from Seth is still hanging in there.
  2. Much like the rest of our decorations. Yes, they’re all still up. And likely will be for at least a few more days. I’m (still) practicing patience in 2020 so I’m not letting it bother me.
  3. I got a doggie DNA kit for Christmas and cannot wait to find out what my mega mutt is made out of!
  4. I also got some really fun Golden Girls swag for my impending cruise, personalized coffee mug, and a gift card for a mani/pedi at my favorite nail place. Can you say spoilt?
  5. Seth and I did a 2019 recap together and I realized it was easily one of the best years I have ever had. So much happened. Like, so, so much. I don’t think I’ve ever been sad to see a year go, but I truly am going to miss 2019. Here’s hoping 2020 is even better!
  6. We surprised my grandma for her 85th birthday on Saturday and I made a version of this cake, this cake, and a batch of these cookies to help celebrate. I also gave her a jar of Duke’s.
  7. Did you make any resolutions this year? I didn’t. I have goals, for sure. Especially regarding my business. But, no resolutions. Instead of subtracting things from my life, I’m looking to add to it in any way that I can. More books, more clients, more rest.

Thursday Things

Amanda2 Comments
  1. Frying the turkey was a rousing success. Thankyouverymuch.
  2. Garage Oven is now House Oven! This has been a huge undertaking for us and our household (let’s be honest, mostly Seth). We will use Garage Oven until Holy Grail Oven is delivered.
  3. I got to have coffee with a very talented, very sweet fellow-photographer friend of mine (who also took some bomb ass photos of my cheeseboard class!). Having real-life personal connections are paramount to success as a freelancer/entrepreneur. I’m finally learning that.
  4. Let’s talk about how cute these cheeseboard trees are! And how mad I am that I didn’t think of them first.
  5. I have followed Humans of New York for years now and it never ceases to make me feel everything.
  6. I’ve never actually gotten a facial before, but I’m making it a goal to do so in 2020. In the meantime, I have found that watching videos like this one on YouTube have a very calming effect on me that may be almost as good as getting an actual facial. What are some of your goals for 2020? Do tell!
  7. Searching for a great Christmas morning breakfast option? Might I suggest these Classic Cinnamon Rolls? Or the flakiest Apple Danish? Or Peppermint Hot Cocoa Scones?

Thursday Things

Amanda2 Comments
  1. Working on a pecan and brown sugar lacey cookie. It’s almost there, just another batch or two and they’ll be perfect! Stay tuned!
  2. I am now the (very) proud owner of a butter ornament. Finally, our tree is complete! My friend Meredith (who I saw last month) bestowed it upon me because she just gets me. I’m a very lucky girl with very good friends.
  3. Seth got the family a Firestick for Christmas and holy moly has it changed our TV game! We had been using an ancient blu-ray player for way too long. There are so many fun features on this thing and every time Seth tells me another one he laughs at my, “Wha?! Really?!” response. Welcome to the future!
  4. On the topic of TV – I binged a show for the first time since our honeymoon (yeah, we binge watched a show on our romantic weekend away and it was perfection, don’t @ me). Dirty John! One of my favorite podcasts became a TV show. It was brilliant! Absolutely marvelous! Connie Britton is a treasure and Eric Bana was terrifying.
  5. Speaking of podcasts – which I do virtually all of the time that I’m not actually listening to them – I started listening to Scam Goddess and I’m hooked! It’s funny and current and true crime-y without being about murder.
  6. It’s usually a guarantee that this time of year I’m bound to get a cold. And a dang nasty one at that. I’m not sure if working from home is helping or hindering this happening. On the one hand, I’m not exposed to so many germs buuuuuut, on the other hand, I’m not exposed to so many germs! Less risk of coming into contact with sickly people but, also, less chance to build up immunities. I’m taking lots of elderberry and vitamin c supplements to be safe, either way.
  7. May we all have an Aunt Jackie in our lives.
  8. Going to attempt my first Bûche de Nöel this week/weekend. I haven’t successfully made a Swiss roll cake in two year (then again, I haven’t tried in two years). If you have any tips or tricks for the love of all that is good in this world please share!