• Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin

    bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin

    Do you guys remember those “Pork: The Other White Meat” commercials from the 80s? Apparently they worked pretty well, because every time I see the word “pork” — even in regard to wasteful spending in Washington — I think of that phrase. But I didn’t really eat a ton of pork as a child, I […]

  • Meteor Crater and the Desert View Watchtower

    desert view watchtower

    We had originally planned to go to the Petrified Forest on our second full day in northern Arizona, but we didn’t get to see everything on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon the first day, so we decided to check out Meteor Crater and then drive up a different road, through the Navajo reservation, […]

  • Grand Canyon colors

    grand canyon at dusk

    One of the main things we wanted to do when we drove from DC to California was stop and visit the Grand Canyon. Toby had never seen it, and I was in fourth grade the last time I saw it. But our moving truck arrived earlier than planned, so while we did get to drive […]

  • Your body isn’t the problem

    I don’t think I realized how disproportionate I am, by clothing standards, until my friends started getting married. I was pretty thin when I tried on my first bridesmaid dress, and I had to gather a fistful of satin in the back of the sample so it wouldn’t fall right off my body. But when […]

  • Pumpkin-gingerbread trifle

    pumpkin trifle

    Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures in southern California, it’s October and therefore pumpkin season. I do like a pumpkin spice latte on occasion, but I prefer pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and other things that actually contain pumpkin. So when Toby suggested I make a trifle, my mind immediately went to pumpkin. I thought about doing […]

  • Macaroni and cheese (no béchamel required)

    macaroni and cheese with cheez its

    I think we can all agree that homemade macaroni and cheese is awesome. But it can be a bit of a pain (and a mess) to make. This recipe gives you the deliciousness of homemade mac and cheese, with significantly less work, less mess and less stress than a version that involves making a huge […]

  • Tea at the Aubrey Rose Tea Room

    tea pots

    I’m sure you’ve noticed that I am a certified tea fanatic, and going somewhere for afternoon tea is my favorite. Thank goodness I have friends and family who will indulge my tea and scone addiction, or I would just be stuck drinking a pot of tea by myself in my house every day (like usual). […]