Tales of Me and the Husband

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 17.

Converse, chucks… whatever you call em, they’re a great shoe.  When a pop of color is necessary (like today– I’m in blah gray pants and a blah black sweater, and VOILA, my red converse!) these do the trick.  They are not warm and they have no arch support, but if those things aren’t a problem, get yourself a pair of these.  They’re fun.  And they’re $45.

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 16.

Need I say more?  To all those last minute men who still aren’t sure what to get their ladies… A MASSAGE (not by you.  That’s sweet and all but you suck compared to the pros.)!!  Massages are all that and more and while you don’t get to take them with you and reuse them like you do a sweater or skirt, the relaxation they bring is total bliss.  So, get to your nearest spa and pick up a gift card for your loved one today.  At $60 to $80 depending on the place, they’re worth every penny (in my opinion).  Don’t get anything less than an hour (it’s just stress: “This is heaven.  Wait, 15 minutes are already up?  No.  It can’t be.  Tell me that’s not true.  Ohhh, heaven.  That’s the spot.  What?  5 minutes left?  How did that happen?  I just got here.”)  
Seriously.  One hour, nothing less.
(image)

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 15.

This one is so boring I can hardly stand myself.  It’s a salad spinner.  It’s kind of like when Wayne and Garth (Wayne’s World reference here guys, I’m going way back!) are playing that game where they’re travelling to different states and then they get to Delaware.  “We’re in Delaware…  woo… Delaware.”  So, yeah… a salad spinner.  I couldn’t really think of one today.  I scoured the files of my brain.  “Think Bridget, think!”  I do use this a lot and it saves me from watery salads and loads of papertowels.  So I guess it is a favorite thing.  But no doubt about it, it’s the most boring favorite thing ever.  Sorry guys.  I’ll do better next time.
But to save you from this being the only post of mine today, a terribly boring one, I posted below.  About how not boring my life is.

Life’s been really busy……

…I mean really.  What with all these holiday parties we’re being invited to, Christmas cards to open (my fingers are just full of paper cuts.  Where’s the letter opener?), and cookie swaps (ten, just this week!), I can’t keep up.  Gosh.  It’s hard to be me.  I mean really.  What’s next?  Paparrazi knocking down my door??  In reality, we were invited to two Christmas parties (were you invited to way more?  Don’t tell me.).  On Friday and Saturday night and I wore this dress to both of them (which by the way, I picked out in Boston and Ahnika was all like “Oh, it’s your birthday.  Allow me,” and she whipped out her credit card.  You should all befriend her.  Friends that whip out their credit cards on your birthday are the best kind… thanks, Ahn!).  Where was I?  Wearing this dress to both parties.  Whatevs.  It was a different group of people at each party.  Totally acceptable.  Only Steve knew.  And now all of you.
And what?  The second picture?  My necklace?  YES.  It arrived in the mail making me pretty much the happiest girl ever and Lisa the coolest twitter-turned-real-life-friend in the whole, wide world (we exchanged notes through snail mail, thus, real life.  That’s all it takes.  My expectations aren’t high.  Anyone else looking for a penpal?  J/K Lisa.  What we have is special.).  Finally, the cookies look kinda fancy but are soooooo easy.  Score!  When the ladies at the cookie swap were exclaiming how easy their cookies were to make I was all like, “Mine were sooo hard.  I stayed up all night.  I plucked the cacao bean from the tree myself to make the cookie.”  (Is it a cacao bean?  Did that even make sense?).  So make them.  You can even use my cacao-bean-plucking story.

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 14.

What’s Christmas without a little giving?  I cannot (cannot, cannot, cannot) say enough good things about this next favorite thing.  Kiva is the coolest organization of all time, people.  I’m serious.  I think a lot of organizations have administrative costs, delays, and other things that keep the money you’re donating from actually getting to where you think it’s getting (that sentence is for you, Amanda!) but not so with Kiva.  Kiva is a micro-lending organization where you log-in, check out various profiles of men and women all over the globe, see what their business plan/purpose is, and decide whether you want to lend to them.  You can also see how close they are to their goal.  Then, they eventually begin to make money as their business gets off the ground, and pay you back.  At that point, you can withdraw the money or, better still, relend it!  By using Kiva, I’ve been a small part of a bunch of businesses getting their start from Tanzania to Guatemala.  Is that not the coolest?  Finally, when you check out, you can choose to donate a small amount to the actual people making Kiva work behind the scenes.  But, if you don’t, it’s ALL going to the people (though, the people who make the whole thing work deserve something, right?).
It’s the best. 
Here’s a little video in case anything I was saying didn’t make sense.

this soup’s a winner.

makes about 5 cups, serving 4 as a small first-course
2 lbs. leeks (white and pale green parts only; about 2 bunches)
3 T unsalted butter
1 1/4 t sugar
1/4 c vermouth
3 1/2 c chicken broth
Optional garnish: 4 t finely sliced fresh chives & Raclette cheese toasts
Halve leeks lengthwise and thinly slice crosswise. In a large bowl of cold water wash leeks well and lift from water into a large sieve to drain. In a 6-quart heavy kettle cook leeks in butter over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until some begin to turn golden, about 40 minutes. Stir in sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Stir in vermouth and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is evaporated and most leeks are golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Deglaze kettle with 1/2 cup broth and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes more, until liquid is evaporated and leeks are deep golden. Add remaining 3 cups broth and bring soup just to a boil. Season soup with salt and pepper.
Tip from my kitchen to yours: 
I’ve made this twice now.  First time, I stirred it too often which messes up the carmelization process.  It was still delicious, but the second time, I forced myself to stop stirring so much, which browned them more (see third picture) and created the burnt bits at the bottom of the pot which you then deglaze.  I think it was better the second time!
recipe from Gourmet Magazine.
& for some Hunt attempted-Christmas-traditions, go here.

a free jacket.

this jacket that i won on lil bee
and a whole lot more at apart style (like this and this).
my favorite part is the pleated skirt part at the bottom
and at the end of the sleeves
annnnd the black buttons.
it’s in the little things, right?
jacket also seen here.
thanks apart!!!

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 13.

I like lingerie.  My husband likes lingerie (on me).  He has been a promoter of lingerie-in-the-bedroom right from the start (…of our marriage, I dare you to find a problem with that) and I have been happy, most of the time, to oblige.  It can make a woman feel sexy and, while men can heat up like a microwave, women are more like a crock pot.  Slow and steady wins the race.  So, when we feel sexy, the bedroom is more fun.  Right?  Right.  Now, there is lots of different lingerie out there.  Trashy (you know, the crotchless sort), cute, fun, classy, sophisticated, and downright uggg.  Each has its place (except maybe uggg).  But, I think Anthropologie (this is officially the 30 billionth time their name has been uttered in the blogosphere.) gets it right.  With the perfect blend of feminine, sexy, and classy, theirs is some of the prettiest.  Check it out here.  Prices vary in the $30s-$60s (per piece unfortunately).  And I think it can actually qualify as a present for your husband, not for you (score, those are the best kind!)

And here’s some music to coincide with the aforementioned negligee.

Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

Is it getting hot in here?

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 12.

Poufs are in.  You probably already knew this.  I love these ones.  Crocheted, colorful poufs?!  Let me dive into a tub of them, please!  I love them.  I love the pillows here too.  I think the blue pouf would look great in front of the leather chair, yes husband?  Anyway, get yours here.  They’re in the $50s.
And, a side-note, thank you all so much for your comments on yesterday’s post.  I think you’re all just about the coolest group of people I know.  Whether you’re in my boat or in another entirely, your comments were nice and respectful.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but whatever the expectations were, they were far exceeded.  Let’s all meet for coffee?
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