The Scone Story

When I re-released Hungry Heart in March, I made a crack on Instagram that if you had the old version of the book, you should not make the scones. I was not kidding. Here's how I found the most embarrassing error of my writing career (so far): Before I published a book, I used to think that book signings would be the worst part of being an author. What if no one buys a book? What if no one even shows up? What if they do show up and I have to talk to them? I’m an introvert, FFS. I…

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Tacos, Gardens, Sci Fi

Here I go again, bitching about eating healthy. Three of my four kids claim they are vegetarian (even though the youngest hates all vegetables and indeed, most food) so by default we are eating mostly vegetarian food these days. I only prefer to cook meat because it's easy and I don't have to think about recipes, but obviously I want to be like every other red-blooded American in January and eat more vegetables. How is it going for you? I'm not sure these Beer Battered Avocado Tacos really count as health food, but they were delicious and technically vegetarian, so let's call it a…

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Good Riddance 2017

The week between Christmas and New Year is weird, right? Everything feels off kilter. I stay up too late, sleep too late, am still eating cookies for breakfast and living in my house bra. Husband and the kids are off school and work so there are SO many people around all the time. I'm doing my best to stay off of social media because a) mental health and b) no, I can't actually think of another reason. It's entirely for mental health. So I'll keep this quick so you can get right back into your carb-fueled haze. We can worry about…

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The Definitive Christmas Movie Roundup

In which Julie gets tipsy on red wine with her best friends and teaches you all about Christmas movies and cookies. How do you know you have the best tribe of friends? When one of them suggests a potluck to watch Love, Actually together and ALL THREE OF YOU bring the same thing: a bottle of red wine and a box of Trader Joe’s Chocolate-Covered Peppermint Joe-Joe’s. Best cookie, best drink, best movie, best gals. THAT, my friends, is a perfect night. There are moments in Love, Actually that rip my heart out. Like when Emma Thomson goes into the…

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Secrets of In & Out

Ugh I've been eating healthy for like a month now and it's ANNOYING. I want to go out for burgers - who's with me? In case you don't have an In N Out Burger near you, or you don't know what they are, I am here to educate you. In N Out makes the only decent fast food in America. They have a famously simple, unchanging menu. (Burgers, fries, shake. The end. Go away, chicken nuggets.) They put Bible verses on their wrappers. Each location has a pair of crossed palm trees out front, in case you don't recognize the iconic red and white…

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Dinner, Summer Books, Double Draw

A rabbi, a priest, and a cowboy walk into a bar. And the bartender says, “What is this, a joke?” That's my all time favorite joke. Try to beat it. No, seriously, please try. I think we all need as many laughs as we can get these days. While we are waiting for more humor, I have some fun links for your Saturday: Dinner Party: Have you thrown one lately? I'm due to have some friends over for a bottle and a gossip. I actually think this menu for a $40 Dinner Party looks really good. Well, it looks mostly…

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Sweet and Spicy

Hooray and Hallelujah! It sure took you long enough, weekend. We are... Celebrating: Back in the day, Mother's Day was a Capital-E Event with brunches, nice dresses, and presents. But now I'm tired of those shenanigans. I work so much and my kids are running around all the time, so on Sunday I don't want to go anywhere or do anything or wear nice clothes. I'm going to sleep in late, and then stay in my pajamas and read all day. My kids and husband can visit me bring me hot coffee and we can talk about happy things tell stupid…

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Pray the Vegan Away

First Born Son likes to hang out with his gang of rebels and go rock climbing, body building, and go to vegan restaurants. They are living the thug life. And yes, it makes me laugh that the way he rebels against me is to be an athlete and eat vegetables. He went completely vegan for the month of April. My main goal was not to eat any of that fake meat garbage that is sold as health food, so I agreed to cook for him. It really was not all that hard. I had to plan ahead a little more than…

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Squash. A Haircut. A Hotel.

Happy Saturday, and for those of you in the United States, Happy President's Weekend. Are you taking care of yourself? We have rain predicted all weekend, so I am staying close to home. I owe the Husband a night on the town (and a cheesecake) since the flu ruined our Valentine's Dinner. Other than that, here is what I'm up to: Reading this book, and am nervous because my expectations are very, very high. I need a good read - I've been striking out with books lately – abandoning far more than I am finishing. Need some recommendations. What are…

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Can I See Your Lunch?

In case you are worried that you are not living up to your Instagram potential, here is a collection of the 12 Most Cliché Instagram photos. I have committed 5 of these crimes against creativity. #underachiever. Isn't it weird how we take pictures of our food? Who can we blame for that? Millenials? Sometimes I'm shocked when I'm served a beautiful meal and my first thought is not get that in mah belly but I need the world to see this. Why? No one, and I do mean no one, cares what I had for lunch. Even if we actually sat…

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