Swap Meet

Recently, I was lucky to be part of a very big night in Cleveland- a clothing swap. And not just any clothing swap-- an opportunity to swap with some of the brightest, fun, and creative girls I've met (not to mention, most of us are the same size). 

busily swapping

This is the second swap meet I've helped organize. The first one was smaller- 5 of us sat around, drank wine, and told a story about every article of clothing that was swapped. This one was larger, and in my friends studio. We drank spicy beer (Tecate, rimmed with lime, sprinkled with salt and cayenne pepper) and ate Chinese buns. 

Like last time, the choice of items was amazing. More like a curated boutique (that happens to be free) than closet cast-offs. I scored a J. Crew blouse that I have COVETED for 3 years. Everyone put thought into what they brought- nothing was unloved. I write, and think, a lot about community, friends, relationships. Our clothing swap perfectly exemplifies the beauty of being part of a like-minded group of friends, of being part of a community. These girls inspire me. I have lived many different places (in the last 9 years, alone- Tallahassee, Miami, Brooklyn, Cleveland- don't get me started on where I moved growing up as a retail brat) but it's Cleveland where I've been most inspired to be part of the community. Maybe it's getting older, maybe it's craving roots, maybe a little of each- either way, it's a great thing. 

* a note- I didn't take these pictures, my friend Deanna did and they are lovely.

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Via The Citrus Report
Cyndi Lauper sings while waiting for a delayed flight in Buenos Aires. If this doesn't make you smile, I can't help you....

I'm also loving the yellow top/scarf combo to her right. Is she a flight attendant? Either way, I love the combination of nude/yellow.

With apologies to Debbie Gimbel

My mom is an amazing cook, but as a child I hated, hated, hated meatloaf. Maybe it's because I hate ketchup? Since the days of childhood meatloaf night, however, I've had some amazing meatloaf- notably at a Brooklyn Heights cafe where it was wrapped in bacon, and once on a cold night when I first moved to Cleveland. Friends called and said "we're coming over to have dinner with you, and we are bringing meatloaf!" I cringed, but THAT meatloaf had prosciutto in it! A bacon-y surprise! If that's not community, I don't know what is.

All that is neither here nor there tonight, though. Tonight I made Fennel and Apple Meatloaf - a revelation in meatloaf. Here's the recipe via one of my very favorite blogs, Pink of Perfection

Movie tonight is Paris, Texas. Happy Sunday!

Fennel and Apple Meatloaf, from Everyday Food

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced medium (3/4 cup)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small fennel bulb, diced medium (1 1/3 cups)
1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced medium (1/2 cup)
1 3/4 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 1/2 pounds ground pork or turkey
1 cup grated Gruyere or sharp cheddar (1 3/4 ounces)
1 to 2 slices white sandwich bread, diced medium (1 cup)
1 large egg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion, garlic, fennel, and apple and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and vegetables begin to brown, 5 minutes. Add lemon zest and coriander, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
In a large bowl, combine pork, cheese, bread, and egg. Add vegetable mixture and season with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using your hands, mix until ingredients are combined. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet; form into a 4-by-10-inch loaf. Bake until meatloaf is cooked through, 40 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing.

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Listening to Neutral Milk Hotel "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" on Grado headphones. Listening to any great album on headphones, really.

Amateur Film Critic

Every so often I'll come home to a package outside my door from Matt. They've contained a book, and a skull, but mostly movies. This is great, because while I trust my own taste in books, music, and clothes, I don't really make a hobby of film. So it's wonderful to get a long distance film education. So far I've seen Vivre Sa Vie, Summer Hours, and tonight's movie Wings of Desire. Wings of Desire is my favorite so far- so romantic, so beautiful, such great music. I highly recommend it.

Lovely Saturday- walking around in Miami

I went home to Florida over the weekend. Winter always get to a point this time in February when I feel like on of those children in "Flowers in the Attic"-- so deprived of light and air.

On Saturday, my parents and I hung out in South Beach. Out of all the cities I've lived, I would most love to return to Miami. It's an insanely livable place in what feels, much of the time, like a foreign country.

Oh, how I want a Smeg. Especially a Smeg devoted to storing the Veuve.

My favorite restaurant in Miami

perfect meal

best color combination

Pilgrimage to New World Symphony Frank Gehry building

amazing vintage shop- I've bought some of my favorite things here

It's cold outside...

I didn't have a snow day today, but I came home from work a little early and had a snow evening: my dads chili recipe and a Jean-Luc Godard film that's new to me- Vivre Sa Vie. Nothing says cozy like cheap wine, spicy food, and a good movie.