All the pretty lights

Ross arrived in New York late monday night the week of thanksgiving. As soon as he arrived I got him settled and went to bed... because I had 4 hours of dancing the next morning.  After my classes ending I got home we got some food and then walked to school so I could show him around. 

It was really cool to be able to share my life in New York with him. 

After touring around Yonkers and Bronxville for the afternoon we came back to my house to make "Thanksgiving" dinner. I roasted a chicken, made homemade mashed potatoes, stove top, and biscuits. 

My first ever roast chicken!

Wednesday morning we went into the city to stay for the rest of his trip. We stayed at the doubletree manhattan on 53 and Lexington.

Ross is the most amazing man in the whole world ever...

it's true... This morning he surprised me big time. It seems he has made a liar of me in the best way, this will not be my first Thanksgiving alone... But instead, my first Thanksgiving with Ross.

I'm so excited and happy, every time I think about it I get pterodactyls in my stomach, smily like dopey (seven dwarf style) and begin to cry. I feel bad because Ross asked me if I was happy this morning but I was crying, so that when I said yes I sounded sad... in reality I was so in shock and unbelievably happy I burst into tears.

So I now have new plans and a new menu for my thanksgiving:

Monday night Ross arrives

Tuesday I have classes till 1pm, make cinnamon rolls, then explore Bronxville and make a fancy thanksgiving dinner of: Roast turkey breast and veggies, garlic smashed potatoes, stove top (don't judge, I love it), and a dessert TBD.

Wednesday we will head into NYC and hang out, we will be staying in the city wednesday and thursday. We will possibly go to the parade (If I can get Ross up that early hahaha).

Then Friday morning he will fly home and I will return to my research paper due the following monday.

Ross is the most amazing man in the whole world and I cannot wait till monday night...

Who doesn't love a surprise of all your favorite baked goods?

I'm hoping Ross loves it... because that was the main portion of my anniversary gift to him (makes sense, since it was cooking that started this whole thing)

Saturday morning for 3 hours my hands worked non-stop to bake 3 of his favorites, all of which I have never made before and was slightly nervous (especially the toffee since that is easily ruined)

However! it all came out well and I really hope he likes it because I enjoyed making all of it

So... first I made everything but the kitchen sink cookies (these were literally bookmarked in my recipe section as "Ross Cookies."

companion cubes make the best assistant bakers

my new companion courtesy of Ross...

and my halloween decoration...

and my new coffee maker...

I spent 3 hours yesterday morning working on Ross's anniversary package and once he receives it I will post the details on here... be excited because I tried new and scary things (keep you mind out of the gutter!)

This week's baking project!!!!

Feta, Red Pepper and Onion Scones (Lauren’s adaptation)

▪                2 cups all-purpose flour (I like using whole wheat flour)

▪                1 tbs baking powder

▪                ½  tsp salt

▪                2 tbs granulated sugar

▪                8 tbs unsalted butter, chilled (in freezer for like 5-10 mins before adding to mixture)

▪                4 tbs Grade B Maple Syrup (if you leave this out, add 1 more tbs of sugar)

▪                3/4 cup heavy cream, chilled or 2%milk for less fatty version (Usually 1 cup milk)

▪                2 red peppers and 1 small onion chopped and sauteed and cooled

▪           4 ounces of crumbled feta cheese

A weekend in Pleasantville...

My weekend in SLO was EXACTLY what I needed. Even though there was some stress and drama just to get there.  I was an hour and a half delayed getting out of La Guardia, however I was being told by the flight attendants that we should make it and they are going to hold the flight in Denver for us. 

Once I get to Denver I RACE to the gate for Santa Barbara and luckily they were still boarding. I get in my seat call everyone and let them know I made it and buckled up. Then the pilot walked out... it was too foggy in SB to land and now LA was too fogged in as well. No flight was landing on the west coast that night... so I get my stuff and walk to the customer service line. 

They rebooked the flight for the next morning at 8 am and gave us hotel vouchers. I go to the embassy suits and realize I haven't eaten that day except some cereal, yogurt and a carrot muffin that morning and I'm STARVING. I call room service... and they are closed for the night. Luckily the hotel had a small "market" with a lot of candy and a couple types of crappy chicken soup. so I bought some soup and popcorn and went back to my room. The good part of it was that it allowed Ross and I to really talk for the first time in a long time completely unrestrained by time or anything. I loved being able to really talk for an hour or so about everything and nothing. 

The next morning I woke up at 5am MT (4am PT 7am ET) and got some food and coffee then collected my stuff and went downstairs to catch the shuttle to the airport. 

I wish I could explain how excited I was... pretty sure everyone on the flight thought I was crazy since I couldn't stop smiling like a fool. 

When I landed in SB Ross and I took the pass back to SLO and stopped at the AG In&Out for burgers and fries. Once we got back to his house it was around noon so we finished eating and took a nap since we were both up late and got up early. 

That afternoon was BEAUTIFUL and warm and sunny and the perfect SLO. we walked to Granada Bistro and had "the Lauren plate" which is goat cheese, nutella, salt, and fruit on crostini bread. Ross had his Spaten optimator beer and I enjoyed Chimay. It was the perfect afternoon

That night I got to catch up with Jude for 20 mins before she and Caren went to go see Axis Dance perform at the Cal Poly PAC. Then the boys and I went to Giuseppe's. 

I really do miss being one of the boys... A meal with Ross, Kiel and Wes will always equal extreme laughing and inappropriate jokes. After dinner we headed to McCarthy's so I could see Vanessa who was working that night and Caren could join us for a drink. It was awesome to catch up with her and hear what's up in her life right now. We were going to go to sheep but we all decided to call it a night instead. 

Sunday morning the 3 boys and I went for brunch before going to Bravo SLO to see Variable Perform. I ordered the stuffed French toast with strawberries... and proceeded to eat the whole thing... then finish Kiel's pumpkin pancakes.