From the Bookshelf: Recently Read - February 2015 Edition

It's once again time for the Show Us Your Books! link-up (yes, I know the link-up started on Tuesday, but I really wanted to finish another book before posting), and I'm happy to say that I've been keeping a pretty consistent pace with my reading this year.  It took me a little longer than I thought it would to finish a couple of these books (especially The Pilo Family Circus), but I still think I'm on track to finish 50 books in 2015.



The Contortionist's Handbook by Craig Clevenger - 199 pages

Completed on 01/20/2015 - Read more reviews on Goodreads

I first read this book about 8 years ago.  I thought I remembered a lot of the story, but as I began reading, I realized that I actually remembered very little.  So while this was a reread, it was almost as though I was reading it for the first time ... And that was kind of nice.

The main character in this novel is John Dolan Vincent, though he goes by a variety of names throughout the book.  He's a master of forgery, constantly reinventing himself in order to escape mental institutions, legal authorities, and, most recently, some pretty hardcore criminals who hired him for his talents.

The novel rapidly flips between the past and the present, giving readers insight into John's past and his need to remain on the run as well as his intelligence as he tries to convince the psychiatrist currently interviewing him that he is not suicidal and does not require further evaluation in a mental institution.  Unfortunately for John, this psychiatrist is a little better at his job than some of the others he's fooled in the past.

One of the best things about The Contortionist's Handbook is that it allows the reader a true escape.  What if you could just completely start over without leaving a trace of your old self behind?  Would you do it?  And how many times could you do it before you started to crack?  Before your new reality and the truth began to run together?  Before someone figured you out?  These are just a few of the questions that might arise as you're reading, and they're all (at least in my opinion) interesting things to consider.

I loved this book the first time I read it, and I was happy to find that I still loved it the second time around.  It's one of those books that starts strong and doesn't let up until the very end (and even then you want just a little more).



Deranged by Harold Schechter - 303 pages

Completed on 02/01/2015 - Read more reviews on Goodreads

Like The Contortionist's Handbook, this was a reread.  I read Deranged for the first time during my senior year of college (sometime between the fall of 2005 and the spring of 2006) while I was researching serial killers for my Honors thesis.

Deranged is the only nonfiction book I read during January.  It tells the story of Albert Fish, a harmless looking elderly man who was guilty of some of the most shocking and brutal crimes against children in the 1920s and 1930s.  While he's not the most famous American serial killer, he's certainly one of the most terrifying.

There are things that I really appreciated about this book, such as the obvious effort the author put into researching Albert Fish and his crimes and his ability to paint a vivid picture of the era in which these crimes took place.  On the other hand, I had a love/hate relationship with the way he presented the story.

The author attempted to make the book read like a work of fiction.  This isn't a terrible thing, since I wouldn't want to just read a book full of dry facts.  Schechter was obviously trying to keep the story fresh and interesting, and I could definitely appreciate that.  Unfortunately, there were times when it felt like he was trying too hard to make it seem like a novel.  I don't know if it was an effort to gloss over the horror (I mean, you almost want it to be fiction) or if he just thought it would spice things up to write it this way, but it kind of annoyed me at times.

This is one of those books that you'll probably appreciate if you're a fan of true crime and/or you're interested in learning more about serial killers.  If you're not into either of those things, Deranged is definitely not the book for you.



The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott - 300 pages

Completed on 02/14/2015 - Read more reviews on Goodreads

This book has been sitting on my shelves for at least 2 or 3 years.  I was actually really excited about it when I bought it, but, for whatever reason, I never got around to reading it.  Since I'm really trying to get through 50 books in 2015, I knew I'd pick it up at some point this year.

The Pilo Family Circus is, in a word, bizarre.  I'd venture to say this book would fall under the "bizarro fiction" category (the only thing I could even remotely compare it to is Satan Burger by Carlton Mellick III, which, despite the strange title and odd premise, is actually very good), though it's also been described as "horror."  I'm terrified of clowns, so when I originally picked this book up, I thought I might be in for some nightmares.  (If you're curious, the only novel that has ever given me nightmares was A Good and Happy Child by Justin Evans.  It's scary as fuck, but I loved it and would definitely read it again in the future.)

The Pilo Family Circus wasn't nightmare fuel for me, though.  While there were definitely some creepy scenes (and a lot of death!), it was also full of dark humor and interesting characters.  On the surface the book seems like it's just a weird work of fiction, but the underlying themes are much deeper than they appear.

The novel follows Jamie, a young Australian man in his 20s just trying to get by.  He lives in squalor with a few roommates (mostly drug dealers and/or addicts), and goes to a boring job he hates every evening.  One night as he's heading home from work, he sees something very strange: 3 clowns in his neighborhood.  He hides in order to watch them, unseen, and subsequently picks up a small velvet pouch filled with some kind of powder after one of the clowns tosses it into the night.  This later proves to be a very stupid move, as the powder is much more valuable than he ever could have imagined.

After toying with him for a while, the clowns eventually capture Jamie, taking him to The Pilo Family Circus to work with them.  This isn't a typical circus, though ... It's in a strange area of space that's essentially a borderline between Hell and Earth.  It's a dark place filled with violence and insanity, and, as Jamie is initiated into the group of clowns, he realizes it is also a place filled with magic.  When he applies his white face paint, he not only looks like a clown ... He becomes someone else entirely, a wild, dangerous clown named JJ.

I don't want to share much more about the plot than that, mostly because I hope that at least a few people who read this will want to pick up the book themselves.  I hate when books (or movies!) are spoiled for me in a review, so I really try to avoid doing that.  I will say, though, that The Pilo Family Circus takes many common themes (good vs. evil, power and corruption, etc.) and twists them into something fresh and interesting.  Although it took me a while to finish it, it wasn't because it was boring.  (It wasn't at all.)  I just got kind of busy this month (and, if I'm being totally honest, a little obsessed with watching a bunch of shit on Netflix), and reading got pushed down on my list of priorities.

Anyway, I really enjoyed The Pilo Family Circus overall.  I kind of wished it had more horror elements (but I'm weird and actually like to be scared shitless by books, movies, and TV shows) and a better editor (I found multiple typos, which really annoyed me), but I'd read it again in the future.

Tasty Tuesday: Stir Fry Spaghetti

Today's recipe is something I threw together after searching Pinterest for meal ideas featuring ground beef.  I couldn't find anything that sounded good, but I did see a recipe for an Asian style beef and noodle dish (even though it didn't use ground beef).  After looking over the recipe, I decided I could easily change it to fit our tastes (and what we had on hand) ... And "Stir Fry Spaghetti" was born.

It may not look like much, but this meal is packed with flavor.

I decided to call this meal "Stir Fry Spaghetti" because it's not a traditional stir fry, lo mein, or spaghetti.  It combines elements of all three types of dishes (along with flavors similar to those found in this Spicy Thai Beef Rice Bowl), to make a delicious, slightly spicy meal.

This is a great all-in-one meal, and, as an added bonus, it's super quick and easy to prepare.  If you're looking for a great dinner for a busy weeknight, give this a try!

It's really hard for me to plate long noodles, but at least the colors make it look a little nicer.

Stir Fry Spaghetti

Adapted from a recipe on KitchMe.


Ingredient List:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 16 oz. box linguine noodles
• 1 medium white onion, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 12 oz. package frozen sugar snap peas
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp Sriracha
• 1 tbsp chili garlic paste

Instructions:

1.  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2.  Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.

3.  While the meat is cooking, add the linguine to the boiling water.  Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente and drain.

4.  Stir the garlic salt, curry powder, black pepper, Sriracha, and chili garlic paste into the meat.

5.  Add the sliced white onion, sliced red bell pepper, and sugar snap peas.  Cook with the meat until just tender.

6.  Mix in the drained linguine and soy sauce, stirring several times to combine everything thoroughly.

7.  Allow everything to cook together for about 2-3 more minutes, stirring occasionally.

Since this dish includes meat, vegetables, and starch, I didn't make any sides to go along with it.  It doesn't really need anything else, but you could always serve it with a side of steamed broccoli (or another steamed vegetable if broccoli isn't your thing) if you think you'll need something else for a more filling dinner.

And Where Was I Before The Day That I First Saw Your Lovely Face?

I mentioned in last week's Tasty Tuesday post that I'd be featuring several posts that fall under the "Love and Relationships" category this month.  When I was trying to decide what I wanted to focus on in today's post, I decided I'd start with something happy and positive (and probably a little mushy).  It's Monday, after all, and most of us probably need a little boost for the start of the work week.  (I know I usually do!)

As anyone who reads this blog on an even somewhat regular basis probably knows, I love music.  When Eric and I were planning our wedding, this was the one aspect I was most excited about (and probably also the most controlling/Bridezilla about).  That being said, it may come as a surprise to many of you that Eric and I don't really have a song.

Since we didn't have a special song, it probably should have been difficult to choose a song for the first dance at our wedding ... But it wasn't.

When we first started planning our wedding, there were very few things I was certain I wanted.  Of those few things, the two I felt most strongly about were related to music (which probably isn't surprising).  I knew that I wanted to walk down the aisle to the VSQ version of Elliott Smith's "Say Yes" and I knew that I wanted our first dance song to be "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds.

Listen to "The Luckiest" here:



I was in college the first time I heard "The Luckiest."  I remember very clearly listening to it, really listening to the lyrics, and thinking, "I want a love like this."

"The Luckiest" is, in my opinion, the perfect love song.  The music is lovely and the lyrics are sweet without being cheesy.  The last verse is actually really sad, but it's also romantic in that "love that will never die" kind of way.  (If you're not familiar with the song, that verse tells the story of a couple in their 90s.  The man dies, and his wife dies only a couple of days later because she can't bear to live without him.  As I said, it's sad ... But that's honestly the kind of "depths of my soul" kind of love I always wanted.  And now I feel so lucky because I've found it.)

I like a lot of songs by Ben Folds, but "The Luckiest" is by far my favorite.  And now it will forever be one of my favorite songs because it will always remind me of my wedding day and how happy I was in that moment, dancing with my new husband.

This was my favorite wedding photo.  It was taken during our first dance, and we didn't even realize our photographer was taking pictures at the time ... We were just lost in the moment.  We ordered a large print of it, and one day we'll actually frame it and hang it up!

The Worst Enemy To Creativity Is Self-Doubt: My February Goals

I keep saying that I really don't like posting on the weekend, but I've been doing it a lot lately.  I guess sometimes it just works better with my schedule (especially if I haven't been able to plan ahead and schedule posts throughout the week, which is definitely my preferred method of blogging).  I don't have the kind of job that allows me time to blog, so I have to use whatever free time I have to write.  While I admittedly have quite a bit of free time right now, I've been using large chunks of it to go to the gym, cook slightly more time consuming meals, read, and spend time with Eric or friends.  And, if I'm being honest, I've also been using large chunks of my free time for less productive things, like watching Netflix and playing Trivia Crack.  This obviously doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging (or writing creatively, for that matter).  When I started considering how I was using (or, in some cases, wasting) my time, I was able to decide what I wanted to focus on for this month's "create" personal challenge.

I'm proud to say that I took this photo back in 2012 when I went to Seattle with a couple of my friends.  (And, believe it or not, this is an iPhone photo!)  I didn't even have to edit it in any way (other than to add the incredibly appropriate quote and my blog's name),  I don't often take such great pictures, so I had to brag a little!

My February 2015 Goals:

1.  Create a blogging schedule for at least the next 2 months.  I'm listing this goal first because I think it's a really important one to stick with.  (It helps that this was also one of my New Year's resolutions, so it's definitely something I want to work on!)  As is probably obvious from my frequent weekend posting (and my introduction paragraph in this post!), I haven't been planning ahead very well.  I've basically just been posting whenever I have some quiet time to myself to put something together and, unfortunately, that hasn't been happening that often lately.  I know everyone doesn't work this way, but I can't write if I'm around other people.  (The only exception is taking my laptop with me to a coffeeshop or Panera, but even then I sometimes find it difficult to concentrate.)  Since this is the case, I really need to start figuring out the best times to work on my blog, which days I want to post, and keep more detailed lists of post ideas to help me when I'm feeling uninspired.

2.  Make an effort to write creatively at least once a week.  This was also one of my New Year's resolutions, and I'm sad to say that I haven't been sticking with this at all.  It shouldn't be that difficult to find at least an hour of time each week to sit down and work on a creative writing project (even if I only manage to get a few plot points organized or work on character development), but for some reason it has been.  I'm still not sure if I want to continue working on a novel I started a couple of years ago, or if I want to start something completely new ... But I really need to start writing something.

3.  Come up with a new way to list out the week's meal plan.  While we don't always stick with a meal plan 100% each week, I always try to have some dinner ideas listed in a note on my computer in an effort to stay organized and avoid eating out multiple times because we can't come up with something to make at home.  While it's not a bad way to make a list, it's kind of boring.  I'm not great with graphics, but I'd like to make something a little more fun using PicMonkey (my go-to site for photo editing and graphics for my blog).  If it looks nice enough, I may even start sharing our weekly meal plans.

4.  Create an original recipe.  This is yet another one of my New Year's resolutions (well, I want to create at least 3 original recipes over the course of the year), and since this month's personal challenge theme is "create," it seemed like the perfect time to start chipping away at this goal.  I actually already have something in mind, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it actually turns out the way I want it to!

5.  My last goal for this month is something I can't share right now because it's a surprise for Eric and he reads my blog.  I'll just say that it definitely fits with the "create" theme, and it's a (very!) long overdue wedding anniversary gift.  (Yes, I know that's sad ... Our anniversary was November 9th and I still haven't finished his gift.  I suck.)

I consider myself to be a pretty creative person, but it was kind of hard to come up with some goals for this month.  As I mentioned in Thursday's post, I'm not a crafty, DIY kind of girl.  I think if I were, it might have been a little easier to come up with some projects for February.  I could have decided to paint a room or knit a scarf or work on a scrapbook (though scrapbooking is actually something I would like to eventually get into, especially after Eric and I start a family) ... But, since most of my creativity is related to writing and cooking, I decided my best bet was to just incorporate those passions/talents into my goals.

Hopefully I'll be able to make better use of my free time and accomplish all of these goals this month!

Monthly Personal Challenge Link-up: January Results

I know that everyone says things like this, but I seriously can't believe that January is already over.  The month just sort of flew by for me, and I think that will become very obvious as I share my monthly personal challenge results.

It's ironic, really ... The theme for January's personal challenge was complete, yet I managed to only complete about 50% of my goals.  I'm kind of embarrassed that I did such a shitty job sticking with my goals last month.  And, honestly, I'm not sure why I couldn't bring myself to complete everything (other than the fact that I sometimes have difficulty following through on personal projects, of course).  It wasn't a particularly hectic month, and I feel like I had plenty of free time to finish these projects.  I just ... Didn't.

To recap, my original goals were as follows:

1.  Finish the 4 books on my January "to read" list in an effort to get a good start on completing my 50 book challenge this year.

2.  Write a review for each book I read and feature it on this blog.  Additionally, I wanted to start participating in at least one book-related link-up.

3.  Organize my blog's Pinterest account.

4.  Update my "About Me" page on Divulge and Indulge.

I already mentioned that I only managed to cross about 50% of these things off my "to do" list, but I'll discuss my results in a little more detail here:

1.  I'm happy to report that I actually finished 4 books in January and am currently working through book 5 of the year!  I've attempted the 50 book challenge numerous times in the past, but I've always failed.  I usually fall behind early on and really struggle to catch up, so this was actually very encouraging.

2.  I'll call this goal complete even though it's more like 50% complete.  I shared my thoughts on The End of Everything and The Dinner in this post, and also managed to finish part 2 of this goal by sharing my post in the Show Us Your Books! link-up.  I'll be posting reviews for the other 2 books I read in January (as well as the book I'm reading now if I manage to finish it in the next few days) next week when the next Show Us Your Books! link-up rolls around.  Although I didn't share a review for each book yet, I feel confident that I can mark this goal as "completed" since I have a deadline for finishing the rest of my January book reviews.

These were the books I read last month.

3.  The Pinterest account organization was a big fat failure.  I logged into the account I created specifically for this blog exactly 1 time, stared blankly at the screen as I tried to determine exactly how I wanted it to look/what I wanted to share, and then promptly logged out, logged back into my personal Pinterest account, and started searching for recipes and cute outfits.  Clearly not my best effort.  This is something I'd really like to accomplish at some point this year, but I just wasn't in the mood to work on it at all last month.

4.  When I posted my January goals, I kind of knew I wouldn't be able to rewrite my "About Me" page.  It was by far the least time consuming goal on this list, but when I couldn't immediately come up with at least a few things I wanted to share about myself and my blog, I knew it wasn't going to happen.  It's funny because I post random shit about myself and my life on this blog all the time, yet I find an actual introduction strangely difficult to write.  What do I want people to know about me if they're checking out my blog for the first time?  What was my inspiration for creating this blog?  Why did I choose the name?  Why do I blog at all?  These are all great questions that I should probably be answering on my "About Me" page ... But for some reason every time I try to rewrite it, everything comes out in a jumbled mess and I'm like, "Fuck it, I'm done."  (And yes, I know that's a winning attitude.)  This is also something that really needs to be done at some point this year (preferably within the next month or so), so hopefully I can figure out what I want to say soon.

As I said earlier, I'm kind of embarrassed that I wasn't able to complete more of my goals last month.  I guess that just means I'll have to work harder this month on my new goals!

Speaking of my February goals, I'll be sharing those in a post either tomorrow or Saturday.  Since I started participating in this link-up, I've been writing separate posts for my results and my new goals.  I started doing this simply because it was more convenient (I didn't have new goals in mind when I sat down to review the previous month, I didn't have time to write a really long post, etc.), but I think I prefer to keep them separate.  (And, if I'm being honest, I don't have my new goals completely figured out yet anyway.)

This month's theme is "create."  While I consider myself a pretty creative person in some aspects, I'm definitely not a DIY kind of girl.  (Sorry ... There won't be any amazing craft tutorials or anything like that.)  I really need to figure out what I should focus on, though, because I don't want to set so many goals that I'll never realistically be able to stick with them all.  I don't want a repeat of this month, after all!

Tasty Tuesday: Grilled Steaks with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce and Red Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Eric and I really aren't Valentine's Day people, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the fact that for many couples, the month of February is associated with love and romance.  (Or, if not the entire month, at least February 14th is associated with those things.)

Because of this, I'm going to be writing more posts that fall under the "Love and Relationships" category this month.  Not all of my posts will be related to this topic (I mean, yesterday's post obviously wasn't), but there will probably be a few more posts than usual on those subjects.

Today's post is no different.  While I'm sticking with my usual "Tasty Tuesday" post, I'm going to be sharing a couple of recipes that are ideal for a romantic night in.  (Assuming, of course, that you want to avoid the crowds and the inflated Valentine's Day menu prices.)

Eric and I made this meal together a couple of weeks ago, though it wasn't for a special occasion.  After eating it, though, we were both impressed with ourselves and agreed that it was almost like we were eating at a nice restaurant at a fraction of the cost.

At that moment, I decided I'd save it to post around Valentine's Day.  It's perfect because while it seems fancy, it's really easy to make.  It also comes together fairly quickly, so you won't find yourself slaving away in the kitchen for hours.

I wish the lighting had been better when I took these pictures, but you can at least get the idea.

I don't think I've ever shared two recipes in one Tasty Tuesday post before, but since both of these are so simple and they pair so well, I figured what the hell.  It seemed like a good idea, and hopefully it will help at least a few people who are struggling with ideas for a home cooked Valentine's Day dinner.  (Or, if you're like us, maybe it will just inspire you to do something a little different with the usual "steak and potatoes" dinner.)

Grilled Steaks with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce

Adapted ever so slightly from a recipe on Tasty Kitchen.


Ingredient List:

• 2-4 steaks (We only used 2, but this recipe will definitely make enough sauce to cover 4 steaks.  We used sirloin steaks, but you can use whatever type of steak you like for this recipe.)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 4 oz. crumbled gorgonzola cheese
• 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions:

1.  Grill the steaks to your desired level of doneness.  I won't detail how to grill a steak in this post because it's one of those things that most people already know how to do (and everyone has their preferred method).  We simply used our little George Foreman grill and they turned out beautifully.  I will say, though, that Eric lightly rubbed our steaks with a little garlic salt and black pepper before throwing them on the grill.  Please note that gorgonzola cheese is very salty, so make sure you don't use too much salt in your rub!

2.  Add the heavy cream, gorgonzola cheese, Parmesan cheese, dried parsley, and ground nutmeg to a small saucepan.

3.  Allow the ingredients to simmer over medium heat, whisking continuously until the cheeses are mostly melted.  (It took about 5 minutes for the cheese to melt in my sauce, and, as you can see from my pictures, there were still a few lumps of gorgonzola.  I was worried about that at first, but the picture from the original recipe I used showed sauce with a few lumps as well, so it's obviously normal.)

4.  Spoon the sauce over the steaks and serve warm.

I mixed some of the sauce into my potatoes after I took these pictures, and it was a fantastic combination!

Red Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Adapted ever so slightly from a recipe on Allrecipes.


Ingredient List:

• 8-10 medium red potatoes, cubed
• 2 garlic cloves (or, if you're lazy like me, the equivalent of jarred, pre-minced garlic)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• Garlic salt to taste (I used quite a bit, but I didn't measure it out.  I basically just added some, tasted, added more, tasted, and so on until it was to my liking.)
• Black pepper to taste (Again, I used quite a bit, but I didn't measure it out.  I also just added/tasted until the potatoes had the flavor I wanted.)

Instructions:

1.  Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot and fill the pot with enough water to completely cover all of the potatoes.  Bring the water to a boil and allow the potatoes to cook until fork tender (about 10 minutes).

2.  Drain the potatoes, then place them in a large bowl.  You can use a hand mixer if you like, but I used my KitchenAid Stand Mixer (I used the flat beater attachment.)

3.  Add the butter, then gently beat to combine.

4.  Stir in the minced garlic and gently beat to combine.

5.  Pour in the heavy cream, gently beating to combine.  (As you can see, you'll want to mix the ingredients with each addition.)

6.  Add garlic salt and black pepper to taste.  (I beat the potatoes gently after each addition here as well to ensure everything was well blended.  Again, make sure you taste after adding the spices to determine how much you need.)

Pair these two things with a salad or vegetable (I made steamed broccoli, as you can see from the pictures) and a glass of wine, and you've got a delicious, flavorful, restaurant quality meal.  This was seriously one of the best things I've ever made at home, and, as I said earlier, it would be perfect for Valentine's Day (or any other day when you want to wow your significant other with an amazing dinner)!

New Restaurant 1/12 in 2015: Asian Dragon House

I don't always do the whole weekend recap thing (mostly because the majority of my weekends are pretty low key), but this week I wanted to talk about the dinner Eric and I had out since it was a new (to us) restaurant and the first of 12 for the year.  (If you haven't read my New Year's resolutions post, I talk about that in a little more detail there.)

Clearly not the best picture, but I'm posting it anyway.

On Saturday we went to Asian Dragon House, which serves sushi, Korean, and Chinese food.  I would describe it as a small restaurant with a casual atmosphere ... It's a good place to go if you want some delicious food and a relaxed evening out, but not if you're looking for a romantic or "special occasion" sort of ambience.  I also wouldn't recommend it if you're in a hurry because it did take a little while to get our food (and our check).  They seemed to be understaffed (one woman was in charge of seating, taking orders, serving patrons, taking care of the checks, and cleaning the tables), and though there weren't a ton of people there when we went, there were definitely enough to keep her pretty busy.  I thought she did a great job handling everything and the food was worth the wait, but, like I said, we won't be going there if we're planning to catch a movie afterward at a specific time.

Asian Dragon House has been on my list of restaurants to try for a quite a while, so I was really excited to finally get to try it out.  I definitely wasn't disappointed!  Even though it took a little while to get our food, everything we ordered was delicious and we left with our bellies full and happy.

I ordered hot tea (which was only $1.00 for this pot!), and it was perfect for a cold, snowy evening.

Eric tried sake for the first time.  (I'd never had it either, so I had a few sips as well.  It wasn't bad, but it was definitely strong ... Not something I'd ever order for myself.)

Instead of an appetizer, we ordered a sushi roll to share.  This was the Yam Yam Crunch Roll, and it was delicious!  It was crispy, fresh, and a little spicy, and I'd definitely order it again.

A view of the side dishes that came with Eric's meal.  He was nice enough to share.

Eric's hot stone bibimbap.  I had a bite and it was really good!

My kimchi fried rice.  It was spicy and flavorful and everything I'd hoped it would be!

This weekend we also got our first big snow of the season.  We've had insanely awesome weather this winter (it was between 50-60+ degrees most days during the last couple of weeks!), but I guess it had to end sometime.

It was snowing when we left for dinner, and it was still snowing when we got home.  I decided to take advantage of the fact that we were already out, and asked Eric to take a couple of pictures for me.  I edited the first one, but I thought the lighting was so cool in the second one that I didn't do anything to it (besides add the words "Divulge and Indulge," of course):

My "wannabe fashion blogger" pose.  When I look at pictures like this, I remember why I'm not a fashion blogger.

Once again, my coat appears to have swallowed my hand.  I also just realized that my hand looks deformed since 2 of my fingers are pressed together making it look as though I have 3 fingers and a thumb.  (I actually have 4 fingers and a thumb on both hands, in case you were wondering.)  Try to ignore that, though, and instead focus on how awesome the lighting is!

On Sunday we stayed in all day since it was still a snowy mess outside.  Eric watched the Super Bowl in our guest bedroom since I had no interest in that whatsoever, and I worked on blog posts, binge watched Netflix (I'm on a Law & Order: SVU kick right now), played Trivia Crack (I'm so fucking addicted to this game that it's not even funny), did some laundry, made a crockpot meal (I'll share it soon!), and basically just enjoyed a fairly lazy end to the weekend.