Celebrating Easter and New England spring weather

I have not written in over 2 months, and I am elated to be writing a new post! Updates on my end: I have finished the traditional “busy season” of year-end audit work. I also finished my six-month job rotation and am back on my permanent assignment in the New York area. I still feel pretty “busy” with my new assignment, but it’s nice not having the expectation to be working at all waking hours. It feels like the work days are packed, but I still have time to log off for the day and work out and make a more than 3 ingredient dinner. Like today, Jake and I got to step out and go on a longer walk/jog at 5:45 pm. The time change has been great. So has the spring weather. It was a crisp 65 degrees up here this afternoon! I was able to wear shorts! It was crazy. Then we made this sheet pan chicken souvlaki recipe for dinner and mmm I recommend it. The best part is that it made leftovers.

With the warmer weather, it has been easier to meet up with friends and do Covid safe hangouts. One of my friends I met through work recently adopted a dog, and we got to do a little play date (I brought my imaginary dog). His name is Tumi and he has got the funniest photo poses! And long hair.

Anyways, I wanted to share what I was up to this weekend and all the foods I made for Easter! On Saturday, I had to go to the DMV for my third (but final!) attempt to transfer my Texas registration and license to Connecticut. It has been a saga that I will spare from sharing (complaining) about on here. Alas, I was victorious, and of course I hate my license photo. Does anyone like theirs?? After going to the DMV early on a Saturday, I came home to hear Jake had no weekend work! This was a first for both us of in a long time (much longer for Jake), and it was very much needed. We really seized the weekend and did a ton (more like ate, a ton). On Saturday morning we walked to a tapas place for brunch and nabbed one of the few outdoor tables. Apparently no one is out at 11:30 on a Saturday morning, which worked much to our benefit!

Afterwards, we wanted to get out in some nature, so we drove to a nearby town and went to a nature preserve we hadn’t been to before. It was fantastic! We saw a pileated woodpecker, which was super cool! It has the most distinct call and is pretty large. I wasn’t able to get a good picture – it’s just one of those things that’s way cooler to see in person.

The rest of Saturday was spent zooming family, grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, and introducing Jake to the show “Flight Attendant,” which I binged over winter break. On Sunday, I woke up and had to log into Animal Crossing to check on my island and enjoy all the “Bunny Day” festivities. I am totally addicted to this game! Then Jake and I made a brunch feast, as you will see with the following photos!

The above features Cookie + Kate’s cucumber salad recipe and creamy goat cheese scramble. I am very easily influenced by the cooking stories I see on Instagram, so when Half Baked Harvest shared a story of her making this chocolate peanut butter pie, I was super intrigued. Then she followed it up with the words “make it for Easter,” which basically was a command to me. I did in fact make it for Easter, and luckily Jake likes it so much I don’t think I’ll eat too much of it – because let’s face it, the above shows there was already enough indulgence this weekend!

A fun trick I did learn from all the mindless cooking video watching is that a good way to do the chocolate pieces is to use a vegetable peeler and a chocolate bar! It makes those cute little curly toppings.

I know it seems like all I do in my free time is eat, but I swear I do other things. Some things I have listened to/read/watched over the past couple months and recommend: Something Was Wrong podcast, The Dutch House book, and “Good Girls” on Netflix. I also have purchased an exorbitant amount of tank tops in anticipation of spring.

After my first failed DMV visit a couple weeks ago, I stopped at a local bird supply store on the way home and bought a thistle seed feeder for finches. The little guys had been visiting my balcony, and I had been interested in starting to feed them.

I’m hoping to put plants and make it pretty out there once we get away from any more potential freezing weather!

My first vaccine appointment is next week, and it feels unreal! Have you guys gotten your vaccine? Any fun plans/things you’re looking forward to? I know I’m excited to be able to travel with a little less anxiety. My parents come to visit next month, and Georgia comes next week! So exciting that it’s becoming more possible to have a couple visitors (of the human variety – the finches have been good enough visitors for now).

Thanks for reading. I hope you all have a lovely rest of your week! xx.