It's Friday, Love

{Tried to spend a lot of time with Miss A this week since I won't see her the entirety of next :( }

I have this recurring nightmare. The first iteration of which I can remember back as early as four. It takes different forms and involves different people, but the underlying theme is always the same. I have a short time frame in which to do something or get somewhere and I just can't. Something comes up. I can't find something. I need to be prepared for every eventuality when I get where I'm going, so I have to have everything I need with me and a thousand different scenarios are running around in my head prompting the need for new things (take a breath Kelly!). There's traffic. Who the heck knows, either way I never make it before I wake up. 

I think it will come as no surprise then that packing for a week in Seattle where I'll need about 8 different outfits, both work and casual, with a temperature swing of about 35 degrees is a little daunting for me. I've actually already done a pre-pack. Now I'm trying to remember the advice of Coco Chanel and take one thing off (or in my case out of my suitcase) before I leave the house. Wish me luck!

{ May have gone a little overboard with this week's fruit and veggie haul }

{ Seattle tunes for packing inspiration }

{ Definitely drinking too much coffee lately }

{ It was a dark and stormy night at the Jefferson Hotel }

Avocado Fudgesicles

I'm always on the lookout for recipes that are healthy, but taste real and leave me satisfied. Otherwise, I'm going to be hungry again in like 15 minutes and go foraging for whatever is the pantry. Food should also be a ridiculously pleasurable experience that engages all of your senses. Intrigued by a recipe I found for Avocado Fudgesicles that I hoped could do just that, I set out on today's quest.

Oh avocado....how I love you....let me count the ways! But in a desert? Will you taste like the dreamy fudgesicles I used to devour in the summer at the pool or will you taste like the health store carob my mother used to promise me was the "same thing"? I'm deliriously happy to report yum. Yum. YUM. These were super easy to make and delicious. The avocado gave it the creaminess I craved and the dates and maple syrup added a warmer, more mild sweetness that allowed the chocolate to shine instead of just tasting sugar. I also couldn't resist getting these adorable Popsicle molds that definitely made me feel like a kid again. You can find the recipe here. Enjoy!

Trippin at the River

Day trips make me very happy, and being at the River likewise so. Put them together and you get a perfect Saturday! Enjoy the pics!

It's Friday, Love

{ Wonderful audience and great brews at COTU }

Ok week, nothing crazy to report. The band had a great show at Center of the Universe Brewery in Ashland and I'm already looking forward to the next one. The plan is to relax as much as possible this weekend before the insane travel that will be August is upon me. August? How can it be that it's almost here? Also feeling quietly nostalgic about this weekend because when it rolls around, for the rest of my life I think, I'll always wonder what the weather is like in Pittsburgh. See ya Monday.....

{ Someone should stage an intervention, I can't stop eating watermelon }

{ Not normally a perfume girl, but this scent from my June Birchbox makes me feel amazing }

{ Love me some Buddy the Dog }

{ Art for a great cause = awesome }

The Heart of Buffalo

Last year at my Annual Halloween Party I remember walking into my conspicuously quite kitchen to find 8 people hunched over the table. What are they doing? Why is it so quite? Oh God! Is there a hair in chili? In fact, they were all inhaling my friend Katie's Buffalo Chicken Dip. In between bites they would make noises and look at each other with a deep understanding....this s%*& is good their eyes said. Never one to be left behind, I took a bite myself and immediately joined the fan club. 

When I was trying to figure out what to make for my friends Brad and Shaunna's recent baby shower this dip, or crack as I call it, immediately came to mind. I sent Katie, a Buffalo, NY native, a message asking for the recipe and received the pic above. LOVE. A written recipe card is soooo her. She's a great cook and I can already see her at 80 yelling down a long table for everyone to sit down and shut up, dinner is ready!:)

Happy Baby to Brad and Shaunna, thanks to Pammie for hosting a beautiful shower and thanks to Katie for introducing me to this awesomness!

Dreams Do Come True

So excited to share photos from our CD Release Party last week. It was a wonderful evening full of music, celebration and love. Creating 27th & Marshall with my band mates Jon, David and Mark was literally a dream come true and an experience that I will never forget. We're so proud of this album and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. If you're interested in a copy we'll be selling them at shows, you can find our upcoming dates here. You can also send us an email at churchhillmusicco@gmail.com and we'll be happy to ship you one. Can't wait for the next one!!!!