Throwback Thursday: Teddy Ruxpin

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In the 80s, there were stuffed animals and then there was Teddy Ruxpin. When all you wanted was for your toys to talk back to you, he asked if you wanted to be his friend, read you endless bedtime stories, and instead of just staring at your toys, Teddy allowed you to interact.

I loved Teddy Ruxpin.

My parents tell me they would walk by my room as a toddler to find me sitting in bed staring at Teddy Ruxpin, bobbing my head, talking along with his stories. He was my favorite.

The creator of Teddy Ruxpin died yesterday and reminded me of those childhood staple of the 80s. I should probably track this down before I have a child- Teddy Ruxpin over an iPad all day.

T-Minus

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Ryan and I were grabbing a drink (and mussels, ohmygod the mussels) at Nico Osteria on Friday night when we realized it was exactly 3 months until our wedding. Cue a dash across the street to our standby favorite, the snagging of a table the perfect distance between the piano player and window and the ordering of bubbly and a Manhattan, respectively.

Not that we needed an excuse but saying I Do in t-minus 3 months seemed as good of an excuse as any for a little celebration.

Smitten Kitchen’s Red Wine Chocolate Cake

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I have been feeling really under the weather this weekend. Blame it on the on and off snow we are still getting or the hot tolerable/cold temps, it’s been stuffy nose, copious amounts of tea, napping central over here. After digging into takeout lasagna from Rose Angelis, a leftover bottle of wine was staring me in the eye. I was feeling so badly that drinking it sounded terrible (tough times, I know) but I could cook with it.

10pm sounds like as good a time as any to bake a chocolate cake, right?

Smitten Kitchen can do no wrong and this red wine chocolate cake is no different. I hate red velvet cake, a ton of food coloring isn’t my jam, but the red wine gave it a red color and flavor that was a perfect balance of bitter (from the wine) and sweet (the chocolate) so it was basically what red velvet cake wants to be when it grows up. And given the late hour in which the cake was baked, the easiness of the recipe was a big plus.

Also a plus? Cake with coffee for breakfast.

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TGIF: WTF Vogue Edition

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Kim Kardashian is on the cover of Vogue.

No, I am not kidding you.

I imagine the press release went out this morning and Anna Wintour immediately started chain smoking and crying into her dirty martini. The sacrilege of it all.

The good news is that I have a shot at being president AND flying without wings AND having an affair with Ryan Gosling. Because, apparently, anything is possible.

I should have known something in the fashion world was awry when I saw that mules were back.

Oy.

Hump Day Treat- Spring

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Today in important news, it’s the last (technical) day of winter. So that means there is seasonal hope that we will be seeing the above photo in real life soon. Spring is on the horizon!

Sand. Not covered by snow sand. Nothing covered by snow, for that matter.

And that is a hump day treat in and of itself!

High Note

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Our standards aren’t exactly high at this point of the season but over 35 degrees at 9am and sunny? I’ll take it.

Ryan and I were out the door by 7 this morning to get some exercise and spend some rare midweek time together. Between that, coffee and this beautiful harbor view, my work day is starting on a very high note.

Monday Musings

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There is nothing better than an apple fritter on a Sunday morning while reading the paper, digital or otherwise.

I went to buy a baby gift today and was really annoyed about gender assumptions and “baby girl” and “baby boy” labels on each item. Girls can’t wear navy, Gap? Boys shun yellow? My goodness. Give infants freedom of color choice!!!

WHERE IS THAT PLANE?!?

A family asked me for help/opinion to fill out their voter ballot at Pequod’s on Saturday night. We were of the same political party but still- weird, right? People bring ballots to get pizza?

I am obsessed with David’s Tea and because I wore green today, I got a free tea. Holiday win!

My mom informed me today that cake knives, like for your wedding, are a thing. Like a knife you buy specifically to cut your wedding cake with. Huh.

WHERE IS THAT PLANE?!? Seriously???

I used to love to bake and want to get back into it by taking a class, learning something new. Any suggestions for a baking class in Chicago?

The consequences of my gluten-filled weekend (aforementioned pizza, donut, etc) is killing me today. Not okay. Must stop.

Really- where is that plane?