Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air and I'm starting to get restless in my apartment.  I've been walking around trying to declutter some of my things and it feels great to get rid of old things/junk that I no longer need or use.  I am trying not to feel guilty for throwing out or donating things that "I may use in the future."  I've held onto things for years without having a use for them, and it really is time to just get rid of it and make space for new things...or just to make space.  I live in a studio, so space is a precious commodity here.  Clearing the clutter and seeing more free space really does make me feel more relaxed, mentally and physically.

Here's to creating more space this spring!

Quote of the Day

"I see that the ABA Journal has made it into the bathroom rotation." -Blake

Jamaican Chicken at B&E's

I had dinner at B&E's Kitchen tonight and it was delicious! B&E's being Blake & Erica's Kitchen...which is really just Blake's kitchen...but I digress. After dinner at Erwin's last night, Blake and I decided we should stay in tonight and cook dinner. Blake pulled out my recipe books and chose to take on a big dinner project. Forget about tacos, or grilled chicken breast and pasta, or Lipton Rice. We wanted something more challenging! He picked Jamaican Roast Chicken. A whole chicken, not just a piece of chicken breast but real food. The chicken tasted great and it was surprisingly simple.

B&E's step by step instructions to Jamaican Roast Chicken:

First I poured us each a glass of Ephemere. We usually drink straight from the bottle but I wanted to try out the pilsner glasses Blake had.

Then I started the prep work. Peeling carrots and chopping them in 1 inch pieces and quartering three onions. Very simple and fast!

Blake brushing the marinade on with his new sauce brush.

Here's Blake cooking!

The finished product

My dinner! It was very yummy.

Here's a quick price comparison of our dinner from last night and our dinner from tonight:

Erwins:
Wine & Beer - about $12 each (2)
Appetizers - $8 each (2)
Entrees - $25 each (2)
Dessert - $8 (1)
Total: $98 - $25 off Coupon + Tip
Grand Total = $91

B&E's Kitchen:
4 pack of Ephemere beer - $10
Appetizer (pre-packaged salad from Whole Foods) - $7
Entree (whole chicken plus ingredients) - $13
Dessert - nothing (...but the night is still young) - $0
Total = $30 divide that by 2 (because there are beers and leftovers enough for a second meal)
Grand Total = $15


I love going out, but our successful project tonight inspires me to take on another one real soon. :)

Random Ramblings About Food and Wine and Jazz

Tonight I went to Erwin Cafe for dinner. Right after my blog post about being poor, I'm blogging about going out to dinner. What can I say? Sometimes a girl's got to give into temptation...and even more than just dinner temptation, it was also a glass of a malbec/syrah blend AND an apple crisp and vanilla ice cream dessert temptation. A temptation of all temptations for a girl to which a restaurant is like a drug.

As usual, dinner was good and company was great. But what stood out to me was the music Erwin had. Jazz. Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, old school jazz standards that I used to listen to when I was thirteen and starving for something besides the Cranberries and Nirvana. Loved both bands, but as an insecure, pimple-faced, flannel wearing teenager, I was in need of a break from sad/angry grunge bands and jazz was my oasis in the desert. Listening to jazz at Erwin made me want to go home and pull out my jazz collection. So that's what I did.

I am currently listening to an Ella Fitzgerald CD, Ella & Friends. Ella's crisp, clear voice and the background instrumentals make me long for an era I have never lived through. Though realistically I wouldn't know what I'd do without the Internet, the upbeat tempo and hopeful lyrics evokes a strong sense of nostalgia. I imagine girls with gorgeous Veronica Lake curls slow dancing with brave Army boys in dimly lit bars.

My favorite song in the Ella & Friends album is "I'm Making Believe." Check it out here. The lyrics aren't explicit and the beat is slow, but it's very sexy and smooth.

Being Poor

I am poor now. Not destitute or food stamps poor. But get books from the library, staying in for dinner, bringing a pb&j lunch to work, saying no thanks to happy hour and shopping poor. Not that I was making millions when I worked as a legal assistant, so one can only imagine how tight my money is now that I am working (only) part time as a law clerk while racking up the student loans.

In my non-poor days, I'd spend my free time shopping, meeting friends for drinks at upscale bars, and eating out at the trendiest new restaurants. I have a closet full of clothes, shoes, purses, and jewelry to show from my days of excess. I do not mean to paint a portrait of myself as a shopaholic party girl, but just to make the point that I had a bit more freedom and flexibility with my credit card than I do now.

In the past, stress from law school and work took its toll, but nothing a little self-medicating with a glass of wine and a few friends didn't fix. Nowadays, when my friends invite me out, I hesitate to say yes. Instead I offer alternatives: let's meet at my place (a bottle of wine from Target is cheaper than a glass of wine from the Gage), or let's go for a walk (great for my waist line), or let's go to the free day at the museum (great way to instill some culture)! But sometimes, there's something to be said about a dimly lit bar and a glass of (Insert: Cab, Malbec, Shiraz) in front of me and I succumb to the temptation.

I'm not a girl who lives a life of restrictions, but a life of excess does require a bit of limitation. So I'm going to try to balance my old lifestyle with my new one. That means eating out less and cooking in more, buying less new clothes and wearing more old clothes. Generally spending less money and being grateful for what I do have. It won't be easy but I am ready to start making a change. Wish me luck!

My Uncle Phil is such a nerd! :P

Uncle Phil: How is our sweet Erica doing? Do have any time left from your active dating life? :)

Me: At the moment my boyfriend's name is Civil Procedure and he's taking up all of my time. But if you come visit, I'll make time for you! :D

Uncle Phil: Erica - Since it's deep winter in IL, I'd just keep that "minimum contact" with your state. Say hi to Mr. Int'l Shoe. Hope 2 c u in the Summer!

My Favorite Email of the Day

In response to my post:

"My favorite part of today is reading this :)

Nice jab with "uber nerdiness."

-Blake"