National Dancing Day

Today is/was National Dancing Day - unbeknown to us all!

So, even though we were late comers to accepting this holiday as our own, I chose to celebrate this great holiday with the viewing of an equally great movie! You may think you know what is coming...but I doubt it.

Here is what I am currently watching -

I love it! So fun! Makes me want to be on a beach, with a Spaniard teaching me how to Dirty Dance. Ha! Hope you all danced your hearts out today!

Cheesecake!!!

Yesterday was also National Cheesecake Day, as well as National Talk in an Elevator Day.

Can I just say that I am so proud of Anna and Myself for consistantly not celebrating the same holidays? It makes for much better blogging! :)

So, to celebrate, I did the smart choice - and purchase Ben and Jerry's Cheesecake Brownie Ice Cream. Ever had it? Then you know. If not, go buy some IMMEDIATELY. You will never regret that decision.

So, here is a craptastic picture of it - but, at least I thought enough of you, dear readers, and the blog itself, to even snap a picture, albeit, a terrible one...

Enjoy!

National Talk in an Elevator Day

In other news ... I boycotted National Cheesecake Day by not eating or making or buying any cheesecake. Boo ya!

If you have any good stories about times you've talked in an elevator please comment on the post and tell us your story!

Lasagna Day Part 2

"An Ode to Lasagna" by Sarah Carraway Schmidt:

Oh lasagna, you are such a delicious dish

Cheesy yet meaty, a meal on a plate

To change you I have but a single wish

When baking, must you always be late?!

Ricotta, mozzarella and a bit of parm

Tomatoes and basil with oregano

Meat or fresh veggies, just off the farm

And then comes the pasta that is oh so slow

Slow to grow tender and hot in the middle

Smelling so good as it takes its sweet time

When you just 'bout give up--put grilled cheese on the griddle

You give it one final test and oh how sublime!

The taste and aroma perfectly intermingle

Bring back memories of mama's Italian feasts

Such a perfect concoction causes taste buds to tingle

The beginning of many such dinners on Prospect Park east

Lasagna Day

Another delicious day! It's not hard to guess how I celebrated this holiday ... I cooked lasagna. I tried to spice things up, though, by not using a recipe. I was a little nervous that I'd end up having to order out for pizza tonight, but it turned out alright. Actually, it might have been one of the best lasagnas I've ever made! The spirit of Lasagna Day must've been in the air.

Here are pictures of the stages the lasagna went through and the soundtrack that was playing in the background.

Step 1: Cooking the meat

Soundtrack: "A Change is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke

Step 2: Mixing the cheese (ricotta and parmesan)

Soundtrack: "I've Got Dreams to Remember" - Otis Redding and "Hit the Road Jack" - Ray Charles

Step 3: Layering it in the pan

Soundtrack: "Stand by Me" - B.B. King; "Lean on Me" - Bill Withers; "Love & Happiness" - Al Green

Step 4: Clean-up

Soundtrack: "Unthinkable" - Alicia Keys; "Like You" - Bow Wow; "Shawty is Da Sh**" - The Dream

Step 5: The finished product

Soundtrack: Lots of Mariah Carey

And finnnnaaaaallllllyyyyy the most important step - eating the good stuff! It was such a huge moment that I couldn't just eat it at my house. I decided to eat at the park by my house. And of course, when I got there, there was a jazz band setting up to play ... because I live in New York and awesome stuff like that happens all the time.

Here's a picture of my lasagna in the park along with the lyrics to the best soundtrack of the entire process.

"Grateful" - Hezekiah Walker

I am grateful for the things that You have done.

I am grateful for the victories we've won.

I could go on and on about Your works.

Because I'm so grateful, grateful so grateful just to praise you Lord.

In other news, today was also rain day and it rained this morning! Woo!

See ya tomorrow for "Talk in an Elevator Day" and "Cheesecake Day". It's gonna be good.

National Milk Chocolate Day

Does it get better than Milk Chocolate Day? I don't think sooooo. At least not until International Beer Day gets here. Allie and I decided to create a joint post today since we both celebrated the same holiday.

I celebrated this delicious day by hand delivering milk chocolate to my roommates while they were at work. Here are some pictures from the day ...

Emma and Sarah at Levain Bakery:

Emma and her co-worker who was pretty happy to find out about milk chocolate day:

Jillian happily celebrating the day at the Jillery jewelry shop:

Allie showed true dedication today. Here is a picture of her breakfast that was eaten with a side of chocolate milk (she's an all-or-nothing kind of girl):

She also went so far as to say that she won't be celebrating this holiday yearly - it's going to be weekly for her! (Wow, Allie. That's all I can say).

After distributing my chocolate, I bought the ingredients for Lasagna Day which is coming up tomorrow. On the train ride home, a young man in my subway car announced that he was selling M&M's ... which are made out of milk chocolate ... to raise money for college. I happily forked over my dollar. What a great way to celebrate.

I hope you all had a delicious and happy milk chocolate day. See you tomorrow for Lasagna Day!

Barbie in a Blender Day

Well, this holiday can be quite gruesome.

Seriously.

So, instead of mutilating multiple barbies, in quite barbaric ways, I chose to rethink what this Holiday might mean to me... To me, barbie in a blender day could mean foregoing your feminine ways, and accepting the manliness within. (As I wrote that, I giggled...)

In my quest to unleash my inner man, I did two things:

1. Rode a Bike. While Wearing a Dress. Take THAT Feminism!

 (p.s. this is way manlier than I make it look. don't be deceived)

2. Made a Pizza. And Drank Beer. Manly Beer.

 (you see those knives. those are manly. also, see my pizza :)

I hope that while looking back upon your day, you were able to celebrate the manliness within - and in a sense, blend that barbie image to a pulp. Ouch....

- Als