The Cutest Animal on Planet Earth

I have a confession to make (and I don't think I'm alone in this) -- I have a deep love, bordering on obsession, with sloths.  I think they might be the most fantastic animal in the world, and they are certainly the cutest.

Cuter than my little doggy?  Well, it just so happens that I think he looks like a sloth, and that only adds to his charm and handsomeness.

I created a treasury on Etsy today in honor of my two- or three-toed friends.

You can see it here: I Love Sloths

I'm thinking today might be a nice day to go visit this little honey at the

Lincoln Park Zoo: Hoffman's Two-Toed Sloth

I'm also just losing my mind over this incredible place

in Costa Rica: Tree House Hotel

where you can actually sleep in a tree house (which sounds awesome by itself) surrounded by sloths and other wildlife!  Amazing, right??

Whether or not it involves a sloth, I hope you're all having a lovely weekend.  It's supposed to be 60-degrees in Chicago today, fabulous!

One of Those Days

Saturday was one of those days...  those days that are wonderful, relaxing, and entirely too few and far between.  Dave was out of the house, so I spend the morning continuing to photograph items for my Etsy shop.

When I was done with that, I sat down on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate + butterscotch schnapps (highly recommended), and watched Hoarders on Netflix.  You know what Hoarders does to me?  It makes me want to clean!  So, I cleaned up the kitchen, dining room, and kitchen, tried to reorganize the books (we still haven't bought or built a sufficient bookcase) and settled into the couch again, this time for silly old shows on MeTV.

Late in the afternoon, my CSA arrived (it was my first delivery, and I was so excited!), and I made a simple salad from some of the ingredients.

I know this doesn't sound like a very captivating day, but let me tell you it was.  Simple things like that -- drinking a yummy warm drink while the snow falls outside, being able to put my feet up on the couch and cuddle with the pups, having the apartment to myself for a day -- it was delightful.

Sunday could hardly live up to it.

Next Sunday, I will be getting ready to go back to work.  This upcoming week is my chance at a last hurrah of sorts, but I can't really imagine what I want to do with myself.  I think I should have brunch, at least once.  Linger lazily in a coffee shop, perhaps.  All of those things I won't be able to do during the week, anymore.  I hope you're all enjoying your weekend mini-hurrahs.  :)

If anyone in Chicago is in search of a CSA, I'm getting mine through Newleaf Natural Grocery.  I pay $15 for a small box of mixed veggies and fruits, + $5 for shipping to my door!  In the box this week I got 2 oranges, 2 bananas, 4 apples, 3 red pears, romaine lettuce, greens, celery, 8 carrots, and 1 pint cherry tomatoes -- all organic, and all very tasty!

What I Ate... Fifth Week of April

A week or so ago, my 'fella and I finally visited Trader Joe's to pick up easy frozen things that I don't feel tremendously guilty about eating.  Somehow, a frozen quiche from TJ's feels much better than a frozen pizza, or, goodness no, a Hungry Man dinner!

Trader Joe's broccoli & cheddar quiche

Of course, I have the worst time resisting the urge to order in (I'm so tired, and consequently lazy, after work), so we had at least one night of outstanding Vietnamese food from Hai Yen.

Spring rolls with grilled beef

Lime sauce (with spring rolls)

Salt & pepper shrimp, scallops and squid

I often visit Wrigleyville Dogs for lunch, but for the first time, I tried their gyros sandwich.  I couldn't believe how good it was!  Kind of embarrassing trying to eat it nicely with my co-workers looking on, though.  :)

Gyros with everything; fries

On game nights, when its nice enough to eat outside, I still don't think anything beats Bernie's grilled cheese (add bacon and pickles).  Its even better with tater-tots, but sometimes they forget, and give me fries instead.  It's okay, the fact that they'll grill pickles on my sandwich without making a deal about it, and then give me extra pickles on the side, keeps me happy!

Bernie's grilled cheese with bacon and pickles; fries

I was craving seafood (again!) the other night, so while my 'fella baked some chicken, I beheaded shrimp, and fried them up with butter, garlic, lemon juice, fleur de sel, and parsley.

Shrimp in butter, lemon juice, garlic, fleur de sel, and parsley; egg noodles

I did most of my Royal Wedding celebration by myself, but we did enjoy some version of fish and chips for dinner Thursday night.

Battered fish, fried potatoes with salt

And, because I'm so happy about my new ring (there's a long story, there, about me being engaged to myself, but I'll save it for now) -- this arrived Friday afternoon!

Yay!

It's a rough diamond, conflict-free, set in gold, with a hammered and oxidized silver band.  Yes, I'm quite in love... with myself.  ;)

Lady Olivia is lording over my computer time... I think she wants some attention!

Cutest kitty ever...

Everyone, have a nice weekend!!  So far its a little windy here, but I hear its supposed to hit 70-degrees?? Well, if it doesn't, there's always Jellies at the Shedd Aquarium.

What I'm Eating... Sunshine in the Window

I've heard it called "sunshine in the window", "Italian omelet", and "egg in a basket" -- this wonderful little one-stop of breakfast, an egg fried inside of a buttered piece of bread, has always been one of my favorites.

You can make it with a regular slice of sandwich bread, or even in a piece of Italian or French bread.

Ingredients:

Bread slice(s), butter, egg(s), salt & pepper

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

Use a small juice glass to cut out the hole for the egg, just place it on top of the bread, in the center, press down and twist.  Butter the hole-y bread, as well as the cut-out, on both sides, and put them in your frying pan.  Once the pan heats up, break your egg into the hole, and allow it to fry, then flip and fry on the other side.

The cut-out bread acts as a piece of toast, just fry on both sides.

Sprinkle salt & pepper (and hot sauce, if that's your thing) over the top, and enjoy!

This recipe is especially helpful for people who have a difficult time flipping fried eggs without breaking the yolk.  It seems like such a simple thing, but I'm definitely one of those who can't do it more than 45% of the time!

Enjoy some breakfast, and have a great weekend!  :)

Decorate, Eat & Repeat