these are a few of my favorite things:

i had a relaxing weekend. didn't do much (luckily h didn't mind), but it made me realize a few of my favorite things i should slow down to enjoy.

1. breakfast in bed. french toast to be exact (made with secret ingredients, obvi). i can't remember the last time i had breakfast in bed... maybe when i was 8?
   
2. lazy football sundays. nachos+doggie jerseys+cooley's amazing passes=a perfect sunday.
3. relaxing and lunching with the girls. we had some super greasy burgers & fries and went to be crafty in carytown. it made my day.
   
4. dogs. i love everything about them. i love that all they want to do is love on you. all the time. i love watching little kids interact with them & the way they play with each other. i even love getting pulled.
   
5. the smell of laundry. i let my own laundry pile up, but i'm more than excited to do all yours. ( : climbing into warm, laundry-scented sheets on a cool evening is one of life's simple pleasures.
   
6. baking. when things get stressful, i bake. if i could be a stay-at-home girlfriend and bake & cook all day, i'd be the happiest person alive! not only does it smell delightful (although i wouldn't go as far to bake just for the smell like my coworker, l), but people, mainly boys, loveeee them! tonight's pick: chocolate chip banana bread. the easiest ever--see recipe below.
   
7. good beer with good friends. good friends are most important, good beer just makes it sweeter.
   
8. anything flavored pumpkin. pumpkin ice cream from klines (i'll pay you beau coup dinero if you bring me some back), blue moon pumpkin beer, pecan pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin candy corn, you name it, i love it.
9. this amazing weather. it thrills me to be able to sleep with the windows open and have to wear a sweater. i hope fall lasts forever.
   
10. "the box." aka washington's green grocer. i'm excited i'll be home for a bit to get a csa (community-supported agriculture) box & enjoy it all week!

easiest banana bread recipe ever:

ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• some salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs (i used egg beaters)
• about 2 cups mashed bananas
• semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup?)

instructions:

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees f. grease loaf pan with some canola oil spray.
2. in a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
   
3. in a separate bowl, cream butter & brown sugar. stir in eggs, vanilla, and bananas.
4. stir in banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. fold in chocolate chips.
5. pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
   
6. bake in preheated oven about 1 hour (you know, when the toothpick comes out clean). let bread cool in pan for at least 10 minutes.
7. enjoy.