The Lobster Roll Diet, and Other Things That Happened to Me in March

It’s me! Remember? The girl who used to write on this website?

Sorry, I know I’ve been terrible about updating this blog ‘o mine recently but I have the world’s greatest excuse. I’ve been writing something much bigger, much more substantial for you… my next book! And I spent the last two weeks literally at the same desk working on a very intense editing phase, pretty much around the clock. While all the folks on the streets of Austin were out partying and jamming on a Saturday night, I was the nerd indoors at midnight getting tan from the glow of her computer screen.

But I thought I’d catch you up on some of the things I did in March that weren’t related to being a nerd at my desk. Notice the “at my desk” part, because I will always be a nerd. I hope you’ll continue to love me even with that knowledge.

I live in a new neighborhood in Austin and one of my local eateries serves buttered radishes. This is particularly fitting since my spy name is actually Buttered Radish.

Bet you didn’t know that about me.

Also, at this eatery, they serve a lobster roll. On a very soft crispy bun. With a small pot of melted butter that you can pour over if you’re feeling extravagant.

I’ve been feeling extravagant.

And I’ve been eating lobster rolls as a reward to myself for all of my hard, nerdy work.

On one particular day, I also ate this. After the lobster roll. Because I was still hungry and I deserved it.

And I have also been doing things to get out of myself. Since my 99 problems ain’t nothing compared to what some people face. So I did a community service project with this great organization called Austin Involved, of which I am a member. Every month you donate money and decide where that money is going to go and where you are going to contribute your time. It is rewarding and important for us humans to get out of ourselves and do good for others.

Speaking of doing good things for others, I got this pair of shoes from a new company called Bucketfeet. They commission unknown artists from around the world and put their designs on a pair of shoes. Then, every time a pair is sold with their design the artist gets paid. And the shoes are very comfy! There are all kinds of designs so I suggest you check ’em out.

I also saw a plaid car in March. It was parked outside my office and I decided that it was the coolest car I’d seen in a while. I’ve written to Ford Motors and told them it is time to spice things up.

I also taped a crazy cooking segment with a prime time news show which will air in May. More details on that soon but we had a blast!

And I saw the smallest turtle there ever was. This picture makes it look bigger than it is, but look at the blades of grass in comparison, it’s tiny! It was during SXSW in Austin when small turtles amused me more than the oceans of tattoo clad people filling the streets with their music.

Round Top antique market is also going on right now and I went down for a visit. I’ll do a separate post on that soon, but to see how cool it is and get inspired to visit yourself see: this post and this post and this post.

I stayed with my friends who are renting an old German farmhouse while they’re there. That is the door to my attic bedroom. It was romantic and cozy and I felt like a pilgrim.

I also have been trying on pants. And shirts. I needed some more clothing. What do you think of my new navy blue AG ankle pants? And my blue denim shirt?

I’m trying to decide about some black ones and whether I want an ankle version or ones that are full length. What do you think? Sometimes I fill my mind with these trivial decisions so I don’t nerd out on work. Or I eat a lobster roll.

Speaking of Easter, a girl’s gotta have her jelly beans. There is a very cool store in Austin called the Flag Store and it looks like it is just another gas station convenience store, but OH NO my friends, it has everything that you can’t find anywhere else. Plus jelly belly available in the bulk section.

They have a huge selection of the revered Jenni’s Ice Cream, and I have to say it was all that it is cracked up to be…. except that it is about $5 million for a pint. So it just depends on if you feel that you deserve it in that moment. Kind of like me and the lobster rolls.

I thought I wasn’t going to have the Easter Egg dying experience this year but I did at the last minute and it was very fun.

I achieved this technique with a rubber band.

This was a ninja egg that another person did. How on earth would we ever find it we wondered? We never did.

And then there was this. Part of our paper towel scraps as we were cleaning up. Do you see what I see my friends? It was an Easter miracle.

I hope you had a blessed Easter and a wonderful March. I’m going to be much more active around here now that my big book edits are behind me, there are lots of exciting things in store. Get ready!