what we think we need

A story (more like an extended list, really) I wrote in my writing group has the honor of being posted on Painted Parrot today! It looks all real and official-like. Yay, go read it, if you dare...

snow day

April 23 and Ithaca wakes up to three inches of snow covering all the signs of spring... it feels surprising and fresh (and like it should be a good metaphor for something, although I'm not exactly sure what). But I like it.

back from outer space

The truly lovely Natalie nominated me for this blog award -- a nomination I didn't earn, since this blog has been dusty and defunct for years, really. Thank you so much, Natalie. (Also, peer pressure no-guilt trip: Come back to Thursday night writing group, seriously! We miss you.)

Natalie wrote about what the Liebster did for her, so here's what it's just done for me: It made me want to start writing here again. New words, new template, new beginning.

For a while, I was putting in hard time on my "professional" blog, trying to post every day for a month in November, in the hopes of piquing an agent's interest. It didn't work on a bunch of levels, and I felt even more dejected than when I started. I pretty much thought blogging was over for me...

... even though, as a reader, blogging is FAR from over for me. People have been blah blahing about the death of blogs at Twitter's hand -- but my own obsessive Twitter use has led me to new blogs. I read them now more than ever, particularly after meeting a bunch of cool people in my writing group and at Weetacon who are all still writing online. Google Reader's new suckiness (WHY WHY WHY those evil changes) hasn't even slowed me down.

And between the amazing knitting bloggers I've met in the last few years, the droll and warm and funny Weetacon folk, Natalie's generosity, and a bunch of other life things, I wonder if the universe isn't sort of nudging me back to a time when I want to be in this space again. So, here I am. It might just be menu planning and videos of goats and too many parenthetical asides, but I'm coming back.

Part of the Liebster fun is that you tag five other people to get it, but god, I have always been SO BAD at this kind of singling-out thing. (See also: why we didn't have bridesmaids, why I would never wear one of those BFF lockets as a kid, why I don't have a favorite color (what, do I think the other colors will be offended? it doesn't even make sense. and yet.).)

How's this: If you're reading this and you have a blog, you are tagged. Yes, you. Thanks for your patience in sticking with me whether you're new or old here, and I am sure I read and love your blog. You are my liebsters.

If you receive the award, you should:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you. 
2. Reveal your top five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog. 
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
 4. Hope that the people you’ve sent the award to forward it to their five favourite bloggers and keep it going!

Igigi? yes, please.

Disclaimer: Can't believe I'm saying this, but this is a sponsored post! Igigi gave me this dress on the condition that I review it. Igigi doesn't tell us what to write, though, and we get to keep the clothes regardless.

Many magical things happen at Weetacon, but one of the most magical is the Igigi fashion show. Igigi sends amazing clothes; we put them on; we walk through a room while people clap; then we keep the -- spoiler alert -- beautiful dresses. I know, right? I couldn't believe it either.

(The walking through the room in the dress part was terrifying, for the record, but I managed not to face-plant.)

Here is my Nellie Colorblock dress:

You guys, I love this dress. Fire-of-a-thousand-burning-suns kind of love.

Unlike some plus-sized clothes (OLD NAVY I AM LOOKING AT YOU), this dress wasn't just sized up as an afterthought. It's clear that Igigi's designers understand larger women's bodies -- and isn't trying to hide them or cover them up, either.

Let's see, some questions...

• What did you like about the garment?
• Everything. It's well-constructed, lovely, and presents the illusion that I possess a waist.
• Was there anything you'd like to be different about the garment?
• Not a thing. No hemming required, no insane bra contraptions necessary, nothing.
• What was your impression of the value for the retail price?
• This dress looks -- and is -- expensive. It's fully lined and has that feel of well-made knit material that isn't going to pill or freak out after one or two wearings (OLD NAVY I AM... nevermind).
• Where do you envision yourself wearing this garment during your real life off of the Weetacon runway?
• I've already worn it for a work presentation -- which makes sense, because it's from the work-wear category. It's not fancy enough for a wedding and too nice for an average day at work for me, but a slightly dressy work thing is perfect.
• Bonus question: how many other Igigi garments do you currently have in your closet?
• Mm... four or five, I think? I wish I could afford many more -- in particular, the Odette dress and the lovely Suzanna Danna's Minelli skirt. And, it should be noted, I have never coveted a single sequin before in my life.

And check this out (I feel like a real blog reviewer person): Igigi is sponsoring $50 gift certificates! Take note:

Want a chance to shop at Igigi on us? Just go to the Igigi website, pick out the garment you'd love to have for your very own and leave a comment here on this post, telling me exactly how you'd accessorize your new Igigi fashion and where you plan to wear it. One lucky commenter will receive a free $50 gift certificate. But wait, that's not all. Each of our Weetacon Igigi reviewers will be giving away a $50 gift certificate to Igigi, so you can enter by leaving one comment on each of those reviews too. Yes, you read this right: Weetacon and Igigi are giving away over $1000 in Igigi by Yuliya Raquel gift certificates! The only catch is that you must enter by May 15 and you can only enter once per review. Winners will be announced on Weetacon Igigi review page by May 18th.

In conclusion: yes. Igigi. It is awesome and you should win something. Yay, do it! (And it's 100% OK if you do it and I don't even know you... I remember feeling weird about that last year, but I promise it's fine. Pinky swear!)

menu? what menu?

I am not so good at this menu-planning thing and hardly followed through on any of the last meals I planned. And I have been traveling and will be traveling soon again and need not to eat so much crap. Let's try again, shall we?

Friday: Out to dinner with C. and grocery shopping
Saturday: Lemony mushrooms and salmon
Sunday: Chicken gyros and brussels sprouts

Work breakfasts: Shannon's steel-cut oats with dried apples and cinnamon
Work lunches: Salad with leftover chicken, red onion, bell peppers, feta, and those crispy chickpeas I still haven't tried; yogurt; grapes; any Girl Scout cookies someone has been foolish enough to leave in the staff lounge

Monday: Vegetable moussaka with zucchini
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: White bean cassoulet from a cookbook

on the menu, late february edition

J is going to a conference today and isn't coming back for almost a whole week (sadness), and I tend to eat like a bachelor while he's away. So, in an effort NOT to do that this time...

Lunches: spinach salads with salmon patties, crispy chickpeas, bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots and feta

Breakfasts: peanut-butter banana muffins

Tonight: grocery shopping and work food prep, Wegmans sushi for dinner
Monday: pasta with sauteed brussels sprouts
Tuesday: out
Wednesday & Thursday: leftover pasta
Friday: breakfast for dinner, with banana chocolate chip pancakes and turkey bacon

freaky bloggy friday

God, this week felt long, didn't it? This week felt long. I started it out in Oklahoma, with the best trip ever and the most amazing friends ever, and I am tired.

Reading: I Think I Love You, by Allison Pearson.

Just finished reading: The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted, by Elizabeth Berg. I got it as an e-book from the library, so I wanted to write down my favorite quotes so they aren't lost to the ether...

"never sacrifice joy for fear if you can possibly help it, and you can probably help it more often than you think" (257)

"Do you know what drinking coffee with skim milk is like? It's like asking for a dress and being handed a slip." (100)

"nutmeg must always work undercover, where you taste it but you don't know what it is." (208)

"you are the best part" (238) -- that one needs context to make sense, so you should read the book.

Photographing: Lots of stuff, with my iPhone camera. I've mostly been using camera+, but I would be open to better apps if anyone has recommendations. Something that zooms well and easily without pixelating everything within in an inch of its life would be especially nice.

Knitting: A lot, for a good reason. :)

Playing: Supervillain or Newt, and it is way harder than it should be. I only got 5 out of 10 right. Terrifying.