Neurotic As Hell

February 19, 2016

Chiang Mai & the eternal question: can you go home again?

If you walk about a block and then turn right and walk another two blocks, past the woman selling fried chicken and meat on a stick from a cart, you'll find the closest 7-Eleven. If you turn left at the sleeping dog, right at the temple, walk a few blocks, turn left again, walk another block or two more, you'll find my favorite spot to get khao soi for lunch. Before you get there, across the street and a few doors down, there's a good place for a massage and a couple of funky boutiques. If they're open on that particular day,...

February 15, 2016

in Apartment, Dining Room

My dining room and my buy-once philosophy.

I have a buy-once philosophy: I don't like spending my money on things that I know will only be temporary, that I know I'll want to replace eventually or upgrade. Sure, things wear out, things break, things go terribly out of style, not much lasts forever. Things, sometimes, have to be replaced. But the key phrase there is "have to." There's a difference between replacing something because it no longer functions and replacing something because it wasn't what you really wanted in the first place. Replacing a placeholder. I try only to buy things with the intent that I'll have...

February 12, 2016

in relationships, travel

On love and travel.

I'm single. Very very single. Truth is, I've been single for a long time: I broke up with my last actual boyfriend in 2003. No, I didn't misplace a one there. I said 2003. He's now married and lives in the suburbs with a kid and I'm totally happy for him and all that crap. And yes, if you've been reading for a while, I have had my share of "relationships." But those have been mostly men I've met while traveling, temporary things, the longest being two weeks and the shortest probably a few hours. They weren't boyfriends, they weren't actual relationship...

Me and the boys. They were pretty much the reason I went to Thailand.

February 9, 2016

in Asia, Bangkok, TBEX, Thailand, travel

Same Same, But Different: Returning to Bangkok.

There's a smell to Asia. A mix of lemongrass and coriander and durian and mango. A mix of incense and sweat and fermented meat. Something like that. It's a scent that's enhanced with the sticky humidity. Intensified. It's a scent that's just there, saturating the air. It was a comforting, familiar, smell when I arrived in Bangkok last October. I could breathe in and know I was back in Asia. I was back. If only for a two-week vacation. It was odd returning to a city I hadn't been in for three years, returning to a country that meant a lot to...

Valentine's Day Cards you should probably give me.

February 4, 2016

in shopping, Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day Cards you should probably give me.

Valentine's Day is next week. So there's still time to profess your love for me and make reservations at White Castle. Not that I even like White Castle. But it would still be one of the most romantic dates I've ever had. I'm low maintenance. And I'd probably put out. Just sayin....

February 1, 2016

in Chicago Life

Oh January, Oh.

What I did in January What did I do in January? Not a whole lot. I've been trying to save money so I haven't been going out much. Plus I still have a huge to-do list full of things I didn't accomplish on my Christmas break. But, I have been blogging! I'm really proud that in January I consistently posted two posts a week. I now just have to keep that up...

Miniature metal souvenir buildings from around the world.

January 28, 2016

in Apartment, Living Room, Travel Souvenirs

Collected: Miniature Metal Souvenir Buildings

It was my first time in Europe. My first time out of the country. I'd tagged along on my friends' three-week backpacking trip - eight cities in six countries- a pace that now has my quivering. Paris was our last stop. And, like many American girls who had never traveled before, Paris was my dream. The Eiffel Tower was my dream. Seeing the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of romance and beauty and all things European, up close and in person, was my dream....

Alcoholic pudding shot recipes. Horchata, Mudslide, and Buttery Nipple (Slippery Nipple) pudding shots in my fridge.

January 25, 2016

in alcohol, food, pudding shots, Recipes

Pudding shot recipes you need in your life.

I first "invented" these alcoholic pudding shot recipes five years ago for my thirtieth birthday. I believe the conversation, in my head, at the time, probably went something like this: Val 1: "What should we have at my birthday party?" Val 2: "Jello shots?" Val 1: "But we don't like Jello." Val 2: "We like Jello pudding." Val 1: "So...

Buttery Nipple (Slippery Nipple) pudding shot recipe with butterscotch pudding, butterscotch schnapps, and Baileys Irish Cream.

January 23, 2016

in alcohol, pudding shots, Pudding Shots, Recipes

Buttery Nipple Pudding Shots Recipe with Butterscotch Pudding

The taste of butterscotch pudding reminds me of my childhood. While I preferred the chocolate varieties it wasn't unheard of to have a creamy, buttery, bowl of butterscotch now and again. The taste of butterscotch flavored shots, namely, the buttery nipple, reminds me of my college days. Those days before I could quite handle my alcohol (OK, still can't) where any shot I took was masked by a layer of ungodly sweetness. (OK, I still prefer my alcohol masked with sweetness). And butterscotch flavored buttery nipple pudding shots remind me of being an adult. Which I am currently. Because everyone...

Mudslide pudding shot recipe with chocolate pudding, Baileys Irish Cream, and Kahlúa.

January 23, 2016

in alcohol, pudding shots, Pudding Shots, Recipes

Mudslide Pudding Shots Recipe

You've heard of mudslides, right? Those creamy cocktails you've probably only ever had as a nightcap to a meal at TGIFidays. And, certainly, you've heard of Jello shots? Those slimy frat and/or bachelorette party essentials of slime cubes pumped full of vodka. But, have you heard of pudding shots? They're just like jellow shots but made with Jello pudding instead of Jello jello. And they are delicious. Especially these chocolatey, creamy, mudslide pudding shots. Mudslides are a "trio" cocktail, a cocktail that consists of a spirit, a liqueur, and something creamy, be it cream itself or an Irish cream. Technically, maybe...

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