Today: Cribs, never-heard-of-this-person-before edition.
[tweetmeme source=”elizabethev” only_single=false] Humans are nosy creatures. I’m pretty sure we were just born that way. Either that, or MTV’s Cribs made us that way. We could debate nature vs. nurture, or I could just let you peek inside my fridge and call it a day.
48 hours ago, our refrigerator housed nothing but a jar of pickles, a bruised tomato and a few bottles of Nick’s home brewed beer. Perhaps that’s why I mysteriously lost two pounds. I scaled back our grocery shopping knowing we’d be away over the holidays and for the marathon. What I didn’t anticipate was a full blown blizzard coinciding with a full blown post-marathon hunger rage. Whoopsies. We made do with one or two quick trips to the store, plus a gigantic Peapod order once the snow had cleared and the truck could safely make it down our driveway. Now we have three jars of pickles. And some other stuff, too. Grocery delivery has changed my life for the better. And the lazier.
A few tips if you’re considering a similar service:
- I still do most of my shopping in person, like most non-celebrities, but Peapod and similar services are great for large orders and stocking up, or for when you don’t want to carry economy-sized packs of toilet paper through your building lobby.
- Ordering online is convenient, helps with meal planning, and helps to eliminate impulse purchases… like Star Magazine, for example. Or chocolate-covered… chocolate. The downside being, obviously, that you never find out if that baby really is an alien, and you miss out on the chocolate.
- Coupons, online specials, and the odd discount code or two help to offset the delivery fee– many services will give you free delivery on your first order. Once you get a taste, you’ll probably get addicted. You’ve been warned.
- Our driver always takes our plastic bags from previous orders, so I don’t feel quite as bad about blowing up the Earth by not using re-usable bags. This may not be true for every service, but it’s worth looking into.
I took Bridget‘s lead and supplemented my usual groceries with a trip to the Wayland Winter Market at Russell’s Garden Center. One of my favorite things about living in the city is having access to multiple farmers’ markets during the spring, summer and fall, but it wasn’t until I read Bridget’s recent post about winter markets that I realized how much I missed the local, farm-fresh produce and goodies during the cold months. Yesterday marked my first Saturday in nearly five months with no early morning long run On Tap, so I hopped in the car and enjoyed a gorgeous, snowy ride west of the city to Russell’s.
In addition to the fromage blanc (from a farm in my hometown) and Pam’s Salstina, I also picked up a bag of loose black citrus tea, two salt bagels the size of my head, and a big bunch of fresh basil from the Cape. There was a great variety of vendors at tables scattered throughout the garden center. It was a lovely way to spend the morning and add a few fun ingredients to ye old fridge.
Curious about the rest of the kitchen?
I think Nick’s favorite thing about the kitchen (besides the fact that food magically appears in there), is the under-counter lighting. Those lights make no sense to me, so we spent 5-12 hours a week, following one another to the light switch turning them on and off. I figure we’re saving time by having someone else grocery shop for us, so we may as well waste that saved time, by wasting energy.
Our kitchen is rather small, but I think it’s just plain perfect. There’s plenty of room for everything we might need, and no room for the things we don’t need.
Yes, that is a Sandra Lee cookbook. Don’t judge. She makes a mean tablescape, and an even meaner cocktail.
In case you need proof that art imitates life, I give you a newly acquired piece of art, which cost about the same as two bunches of basil. And it hasn’t wilted. Yet.
The two hardest working things in the kitchen (besides the dishwasher, obvi) help me to reach things that are way up, or way down.
And last but not least, my absolute favorite, functional item in the kitchen: my BC Grandpa mug. I sort of stole it (with my mom’s permission) from my grandparents’ house when my Grandma was moving into assisted living. As much as I like everything to match, I think there’s something sort of sentimental about tea mugs.
My grandpa was one of the kindest, sweetest men, and though he didn’t live to see me or my siblings graduate from BC (or Merrimack… hello, big little brother), I think he’d get a kick out of me walking around with his mug. And he’d probably like our kitchen. I would’ve loved to show him around. 🙂
Welp, it’s almost time for grown men to get paid millions to jump on one another the Patriots v. Jets, so off I go. Perhaps I’ll take you on a tour of the living room if the game gets boring.
Also On Tap for Today:
- Look for indoor soccer shoes, first game’s tomorrow
- Whole wheat pizza with artichokes for dinner
- Watch this video 60,000 more times with Clark
What your favorite thing in the kitchen? What do you always keep stocked in your fridge?
Comments (10)
Katherine
January 16, 2011 at 5:00 pm
I’m a big fan of Sandra lee and the everyday food books! Yum! Loved the tour.
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty
January 16, 2011 at 5:30 pm
mmm that’s a good looking fridge, mine is looking empty!!!
I love that my kitchen is big!! Lots of room to make messes!!
BTW. I seriously love Clark, we keep talking Pug or Clark… hard decision..
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One Is The Magic Number
January 17, 2011 at 12:32 am
First of all, I love your kitchen. Before grad school, my old roommate and I shared a kitchen about that size and even though I cursed it at the time, I loved that space. Now my kitchen is double the size, but I do wish it had a little of the decorative finesse that your kitchen exhibits.
Second, I may or may not own a Rachael Ray cookbook. Well, technically, I stole it during a drunken free for all at my friend’s apartment. Either way, your embarrassment about keeping Sandra Lee close by should start dissipating right..about…now.
betsy
January 17, 2011 at 11:11 am
LOVE that print, it would be a great gift! Thanks for giving us a inside peak of your home. You’re more ballin than Redman (anyone remember that Cribs episode???)!
Michelle
January 17, 2011 at 11:55 am
I agree about the mug… my Holy Cross mug definitely gets the most use! And I think the shape of the mug is just as important as what’s on it.
Love your kitchen and your furry vacuum cleaner 😉
Mandy
January 17, 2011 at 12:06 pm
I ALWAYS have light vanilla soy milk, Greek or fat free plain yogurt and cheese! Lots of dairy I guess! My kitchen is the one place that we need to update BADLY! So I really hate it right now! Why do kitchens have to be sooo expensive to redo-ugh!
Down Comforter
January 17, 2011 at 12:22 pm
my favorite thing in the kitchen would have to be our kitchen table that seats 12…yes 12! and my fridge always always has either french vanilla or hazelnut coffee creamer…both of which were the inspiration for two of my girls names….Frenchie and Hazel.
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