Friday Find: A Twofer!

I've got two things to share today, because they're both delightful in totally different ways, and I want you to hear about them right now. 

1. You've probably seen an episode or two of Between Two Ferns by now, yeah? The latest one with Brad Pitt and Louis C. K. had me laugh out loud a few times. If you've seen it linked to twelve times in your Facebook feed and you haven't clicked over yet, do. Does anyone know if Between Two Ferns is generally scripted, or ad-libbed? Both? Bradley Pitts is clearly trying to keep it together in a few places, but I doubt the scene with the gum was spur of the moment. Maybe I'm underestimated Bart Pit, though. 

I'm guessing this video embed thing isn't working. I'll figure it out. 

2. Serial. 

Photo from serialpodcast.org.

A new podcast from the people that brought us This American Life, which is a perennial favorite of mine. If you like TAL, Radiolab, mysteries, Law & Order, crime drama, or anything that generally explores humans and how they behave and lie and do terrible things to each other, then you must must must listen to this podcast. It grabs you from the beginning and you'll be hooked the whole way through. I can't wait to find out what the ending is but I also don't want it to end. 

A new epsiode is released weekly, and it's done in the style of This American Life, except it's one story told over twelve episodes. You know all those times that Ira says something like "And then a whole bunch of other stuff happened, but we don't have time to go into it, so just trust us: So-and-so probably wasn't there when he said he was."? This podcast basically goes into exploring exactly how they came to that conclusion, and a thousand other things they can't do in one hour or less. And it's fascinating.

All of my enthusiasm is presented without forgetting that this is about the murder of a teenager, and without the intent to detract from that. It's just riveting, and so well done. Not to oversell it, but I really recommend it.

Happy Friday!

PS - A few of you have mentioned to me that you're having trouble with comments going through. Thank you so much for the heads-up on this. It's a huge help to me. I'm working with Squarespace to get it fixed, and will keep you posted. Thank you thank you thank you for all the love & support! 

Things I'm enjoying lately

1. I love a breakfast smoothie, but also I love toasted things. These cranberry orange morning rounds, toasted with delicious Kerrygold butter, are delightful. The muesli ones are also delicious. I don't really like apple cinnamon flavored things, unless it's actual apples and cinnamon, or pie, or applesauce, so I can't speak to those.

Image from trndreport.com

2. Kids & babies in Halloween costumes. I can't get enough. Parents, please keep the photos coming.

3. Thanksgiving planning. At least thinking about Thanksgiving and talking about recipes and exchanging tips. I could do it year-round, honestly. This will be the first year since 2009 that we haven't hosted or been in our own home. Back in DC we hosted every year, except for one, since we bought our house. In 2012, I was a week off sinus surgery and it was one of the busiest times of Zach's career and we just couldn't do it. We stayed home, alone, and ordered dinner from a restaurant and man, it was just awful. It was so sad. I vividly remember lying in bed that Wednesday night and thinking how it was the first night before Thanksgiving that we'd ever not had a bunch of people sleeping under our roof, with a kitchen full of food waiting to be prepped and consumed. I probably cried. Anyway! Last year we made up for it by hosting 15 or 20 people with All The Food. I made five pies! It was glorious. You know what? I'm going to do a whole 'nother post with a bunch of recipes.

4. So: Halloween (check), Thanksgiving (check), CHRISTMAS.

Photo from hlntv.com.

I unabashedly love seeing Christmas stuff in stores already. I know, it's OCTOBER! JUDGE ME! It makes me happy. Autumn into the holidays is my favorite time of year. It's cozy and happy and encompasses basically all of my favorite things: food, family, nostalgia, coming up with the Perfect Gift, specifically scented candles, traditions, hauling out beloved ornaments and old things (nostalgia, again), etc. I love it. Zach is just happy that I haven't subjected him to Christmas music yet. (If my father is reading this right now, he probably wants to punch his computer. Hi Dad! Jingle bells!)

5. Searching for an Aztec print cardigan/sweatercoat type thing. I know they're a bit trendy right now but I prefer to think I'm just really letting my inner hippie flourish, what with living by the beach in San Diego and all.  

I like this, but the collar is weird and it didn't feel nice in the store. 

Image from Nordstrom.com. I really want to take a brush to this model's hair. 

I reeeallly like this and it felt well-made in person, but it's not very Aztec-y.

Image from Nordstrom.com.

This one is pretty and very Caitlin. Though not totally Aztec-y, I still want it. Santa, are you listening?

Image from ModCloth.com.

6. Sharing my all-time favorite fall recipe: Pumpkin Lasagna. I wrote about it over at FoodLush a few years ago, and my feelings on it have not changed. It's not healthy, and it's never going to photograph well, but it's by far the recipe people ask me for the most. I used to make it every year for a fall potluck, and it was always the first to go. The last time I made it I tripled the batch and it was still gone in about 15 minutes. My friend Kate made it recently, and added arugula. Smart move.

It would be lovely served with a salad on a Friday night, at a potluck, or on your Thanksgiving table, for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. It's so perfect. Oh darling pumpkin lasagna, is there anything you can't do?

Photo from realsimple.com.

I like new finds. Tell me what you're liking lately? 

Medicine

The french-fried, 

seaweed-soaked,

sunscreened,

salted air. 

Waves crashing, groups chatting. Gulls squawking over abandoned sandwich crusts, kids running recklessly, squealing, sand flying, arms and joy flung sky-high. 

Beach magic. 

Smile, clip my helmet back on, and keep pedaling.