Happy Birthday R!

Today we toast R as she turns twenty-nine

But still looks eighteen from head to toes.

It’s a golden birthday that’s like her, divine

She’s also an expert at striking a pose.

So break out the cake and your finest champagne

And wave your arms to dance like silly R.

You can be like Lisa and Screech and do “The Sprain”

Just wish R a fab day, no matter near or far!

Dinner for Three

Because I heart food, I don't hate cooking. However, I don't have a ton of experience with it. I also get obsessive over what to cook for people, how to make things pseudo-healthy, and how do make do if I don't have the correct fancy gadgets. Ms. M and Ms. K were brave enough to be guinea pigs the first time I made a 3-course meal from scratch last week.

Drink

prosecco with muddled fresh pineapple

Appetizers

whole grain bread (store-bought) with herbed dipping sauce

zucchini bites, minus the cheese and sun-dried tomatoes and plus kalamata olives

Entree

spinach ricotta gnocchi with sun-dried tomatoes and basil pesto

Desserts (yes, plural)

individual pumpkin tiramisu with sponge cake instead of ladyfingers

apple blueberry cardamom bread pudding with fresh whipped cream

The zucchini bites were probably my fave since they were basically like bruschetta but in little zucchini bowls. And using a melon baller is fun! The gnocchi was tricky and ended up looking more like little dumplings than the traditional pasta. I had to trash the first sponge cake I made for the tiramisu because it wasn't to my liking, but the second was nice and fluffy. I will totally make the bread pudding again because it was not too rich, customizable, and can be relatively healthy.

Random Laughs

Woman leaving CVS, with a Southern accent: "Bye Mr. Patel!"

Fellow Customer: "Haha, she called you Mr. Potato, like Mr. Potato Head."

Little, bald, brown-skinned Indian cashier man: "No, she said Mr. Patel. I certainly look nothing like a potato, so there's no reason why she would say that."

Fellow Customer: "Ooops. Sorry."

Ah, denial. It's a wonderful thing.

Hair Stuff

Some recently discovered hair products that are now my staples:

Redken Outshine 01 Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk: for touchups or easy hair days

Rusk Wired: for use before heat treating or in frizz-inducing weather

Redken Wool Shake: for curly/wavy hair days to get texture without stickiness