march wishlist

1. royal tea for two dress from modcloth
2. sleeping cat brooch from kerriana
3. laser cut faux leather skirt from dahlia
4. I'm in lourve top from modcloth
5. dance instead of walking heel from modcloth
6. bestie date skirt from modcloth
7. tandem bicycle necklace from asos
8. perforated heart belt from forever 21
9. tan scalloped flats from urban outfitters
10. floral stud earrings from forever 21
11. coral crochet lace dress from topshop

Meet Arrietty!

A few days after I lost Hypatia, my dad suggested that I look at cats on petfinder to see if there were any that I'd want to meet. I wasn't sure if I was ready to adopt again, but then I saw Ghost. She was an 8 month old maine coon mix about an hour away, and she had the same lost, helpless look that Hypatia did when I met her in 2007. I could tell she really needed a home and, after returning to her adoption page countless times, I made an appointment to go see her the next day.

I had a really hard time at the shelter. Every time my mom mentioned our "two cats" at home -- only a few days beforehand we had been a three cat household -- I had to try really hard to hold back my tears. But when I met Ghost I just knew she had to come home with me. I smiled for the first time in days. I needed her just as much as she needed me.

My adoption papers were approved the next day, and then the day after that I picked her up and changed her name to Arrietty (from The Borrowers.) She is incredibly playful and so sweet. She likes to sleep on my back while I read at night and then gets cozy near my feet when it's time to go to bed. She has a cute little meow and likes to roll around on my bed like those weasel toys at Cracker Barrel!

Adopting another cat so soon after losing one is not for everyone, but I think it was definitely the right choice for me. My dad saw how much I needed this, and how desolate I'd be for a long, long time if I didn't have an affectionate little kitten to shower with love. 

I know that no cat will ever fill the Hypatia void in my life, and that's okay. I wouldn't want that. Adopting an animal is not a cure for sorrow, either, and I don't mean it to be. I'm still deeply sad, my heart still physically aches constantly. But there is room in my heart for both sadness and love. I will never stop missing Hypatia or grieving her loss, but I'm also optimistic about the years that me and Arrietty have ahead of us.

She is a super sweet, adorable, lovable kitty and I am so happy to have her in my life. I can't wait to share lots of pictures and videos with you (and you know she'll be the subject of 90% of my instagram pictures!)

pakistani dhal recipe [guest post]

Hey everyone! My name is Ashlee and I blog over at My Sweet Nomsa. I thought that I would share with you today one of my favorite comfort food recipes. It's warm, with a lot of spices and easy to make. It's my version of Pakistani Dhal.



INGREDIENTS:

3 cups of water
1 cup of red split lentils
1 can of diced tomatoes (14 oz)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 bag of frozen cauliflower (equivalent to 12 oz or 4 servings)
1 vegetarian bouillon cube
1 tablespoon of chopped ginger or 1/8 tablespoon powdered ginger
2-3 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
chopped cilantro
salt



one/ Heat water and a bouillon cube in a pot until boiling. Add lentils, can of tomatoes, frozen cauliflower, curry, coriander, cumin & cayenne. Bring back up to a boil. Once boiling again, reduce heat to a low boil. Cook until the water is reduced and the mixture becomes a thick paste (about 20 minutes). Stir frequently because the lentils can easily stick to the bottom.

two/ While lentils are cooking, heat olive oil in frying pan. Add onion, ginger, and garlic; fry until soft.

three/ After the lentils thicken up and become soft, add the onions, ginger and garlic to the pot and mix together. Cook for another minute or two for the flavors to blend.

four/ Makes 4-6 servings. Add chopped cilantro and a little bit of salt to top before serving. I like eating this by itself, but you can serve it over rice or another favorite grain.



This is one of those meals where the leftovers are even better because the flavors really settle into each other. Feel free to experiment with the vegetables in this. Add mushrooms to your onion/garlic/ginger blend. Instead of cauliflower, dice up a few red potatoes or zucchini.

Also, if you use whole red lentils (not the split version as specified), it is going to take a little longer to soften the lentils and you will need to add more water to the recipe. Just keep taste testing it and if the water is all reduced down, but the lentils are still too hard, add a cup of water and continue cooking until they get mushy.

I hope you enjoy!

by the sea [guest post]

Hi! I'm Emma Wallace and I am a crazy-fan of Kate's delightful drawings (she did my album cover here!) and whimsical bloggings.

I am a singer/songwriter and I get most of my musical inspiration from classic (and brilliant, of course) songwriters like Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and my beloved Cole Porter. And my beloved George Gershwin. And my beloved Hoagy Carmichael. And... (please don't make me pick a favorite!) As you see, I can go on and on.

This song, however, I know from a dvd I used to watch when I was a kid called Disney Sing-Along-Songs where they had clips from Disney movies and a bouncing Mickey head cheerfully guiding you through the lyrics.

You are welcome to download the song for free, if you like, and maybe it'll make you think of the breezy summer days ahead!