Confession. My consistent attempts to “waste not, want not” often lead me to many an awkward morning, where I find myself sitting down to dinner before the sun has even had time to fully light up the sky. Dinner for breakfast is decidedly not a …
Milk & Cookies Trifle
While I fear it may give the impression that I am somewhat of a scrooge, in the name of transparency I will admit something to you … {takes deep breath … hovers fingers above keyboard}. Okay, here goes … My name is Lauren, I am 33 …
Apple Cardamom Fritters, A Bad Wrap, and the Presence of Presents
“Mom, I think I did a bad job wrapping this one.” Elle held the small box so close to her eyes that they almost crossed as she inspected her handy work. “No, no it’s beautiful!” I assured her. “Gifts are like people – it’s what’s on …
The Biggest Apple
I’ll begin at the very end. “Where you headed, ma’am?” He asks as he effortlessly weaves the cab up and down the busy streets of Brooklyn. “Indianapolis,” I reply, staring out the window. They call it “the concrete jungle,” and on this particularly gray, windy Wednesday morning in …
True North
They say love works in mysterious ways, and I know this to be true. The love of my life woke me from my sleep last night. The alarm clock I usually keep next to my bed hasn’t been unpacked from our recent move, and I …
london fog
It was foggy the day I left for London. A thick blanket of low-hanging clouds swallowed the Blue Ridge mountains that surround my small Appalachian hometown that day and I couldn’t decide if it was a good omen for my travels ahead, or a foreboding …
strawberry & rose meringues
I didn’t even really like strawberries before that day. But, there they were on the table right in front of me, sitting ever so fetchingly in a small plastic Tupperware container practically begging to be eaten. Alright fine, I thought. I’ll try you. Before I knew it, I’d eaten the …
The Economics of Home
He made fun of me for double-knotting my shoelaces. I was unaware, prior to that day, that adding a second, more protective knot to one’s tied laces was deemed wholly uncool and I suppose I have that boy to thank for educating me on the …
pray, tell
The hallway leading to the confessional seemed smaller that day. Stuffy, more narrow. There were a few glowing candles situated on a table at the end of the hall, as if they were intended to show us the way. I folded my fingers under the neckline of …
the cinnamon synonym
I drummed my fingertips on the kitchen counter as I waited. one-two-three-four. one-two-three-four. one-two-three-four. As the only light inside my otherwise dark kitchen, the hot coils inside the toaster slowly illuminated, morphing from a dull, matte black to the brightest of orange. I stood there and stared; …