a lovely library.

I went around yesterday taking some photos of our library's gorgeous outdoor space. The above are my personal favorites. Every time I pull in, I feel so lucky to work in such an amazing place! Not only is the outside beautiful, but the inside is filled to the brim with books and wonderful people. :) I couldn't be happier!

foodie friday.

burrito works taco shop: saint augustine beach

YUM. Our second-ever foodie friday finds us at one of our favorite local spots on the beach: Burrito Works Taco Shop. We've tried all four locations, including the original spot in Flagler Beach, but this one is by far our favorite.


This location is small, and there's no indoor seating, but the ambience and food more than make up for it. To the left of this photo, there's a lovely little outdoor seating area. Picnic tables, adirondack chairs, and huge umbrellas coupled with the strong salty air remind you that the beach is only a block away.


Thankfully, the weather was still warm on this day. We even took a trip down to the beach afterward. Hard to believe it was just a few days ago now! I spent all of today shivering!


So, what makes Burrito Works different from the rest of Florida's taco shops? Take a look at the menu to find out! Everything is made with fresh ingredients in a SoCal style. Above, we shared an order of nachos "baja style"--with onion, cilantro, lime, cabbage, and spicy white sauce.



Paul got a huge veggie burrito, while DV went with a steak quesadilla to hold him over on his drive back to Georgia. We've each tried so many things on the menu, and not one item has disappointed. I'm especially fond of their veggie burrito bowls!


Plus, this view is only a two-minute walk away. You just can't beat it!

Do you have a favorite taco shop in your area?

beach weather.

Did I confuse you with that title? It's snowing in many parts of the world, and this girl is talking about going to the beach?! Believe me, I'm crazy grateful to be able to say that. I'm a Florida girl through and through, and I don't think I could ever move away from this nearly tropical climate. I've never even seen snow!


Anyway, back to our day. Our friend DV came to visit this weekend. It's always a treat when we get visitors, since we love to show them around our little town. We decided to finish up the weekend by eating at one of our local favorites, but we'll talk about that later on this week's foodie friday. Afterward, we walked the short distance to the beach.


It was gorgeous! The weather was in the sixties, and that ocean breeze just gets me every time. I saw a quote on Pinterest earlier that summed up my feelings exactly:

Ah, the smell of the salt and sand. There is no elixir on this blessed earth like it.
(A quick search told me the quote is from a book I read in college and greatly enjoyed... The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine.)


I also discovered this little gem in two spots on our walk! Since I'm a little ampersand-crazy, I was excited to find them! I wonder if there are more all over Saint Augustine?

I hope you all had a lovely long weekend! What was your favorite part?

Touches of Christmas.

Though the weather outside is decidedly un-frightful, it's still pretty delightful down here in Florida around Christmas. I've been loving all the little touches of Christmas I've been sighting around town and at work. The above photo is from the lighting of downtown St. Augustine, when they turned on all of those wonderful white lights. It was incredible! We make it a point to drive through downtown whenever we get a chance now just to soak it up.

That same night also included a walk over to Flagler College to see their (epic) Christmas tree. It's massive, and it fits the glamor of that beautiful former-hotel perfectly.

I've also been helping out with the Christmas decor around the library. We've got several trees, a ton of wreaths, and too many cute little details to count.
I'm planning a special trip downtown soon to get some nicer photos of the lights, so stay tuned!

December in Florida.

All over the internet, people are posting photos of their little winter wonderlands. Freezing temperatures, snow-covered lawns, scarves & mittens... Meanwhile, in Florida:



That's right, shorts. It's been in the 80s most days, and our windows have been open in hopes of ocean breezes to cool us down. I'm thankful for the mild weather, but part of me wishes for sweater-wearing days as Christmas approaches. I want to wear the new coat I just bought!



It was even nice enough on Thursday for us to hold a picnic outside on our lunch break. Actually, scratch that, it was a bit too warm in that sweater and jeans I was wearing. At least the sky was a gorgeous blue. Despite the unseasonal weather, though, we've been loving our little drives to see the Christmas lights, smelling the trees, and decorating like crazy people.

What's December like in your part of the world?

Veteran's Day & Inside the Castillo.

On Veteran's Day, we grabbed our favorite veteran and went out to explore. Our friend D.V. came to visit for the weekend, and this was his last day here. In trying to pack in as much as possible before he had to leave, we got his oil changed, then ran down to our local bar (Ann O'Malley's!) for beer (them) and coffee (me).




Then, we made our way across the street to explore the interior of the Castillo de San Marcos. It was free for the weekend in honor of Veteran's Day! You can see our last visit to the Castillo, though it was only the exterior at that point. Paul and D.V. had never been inside, and I think I was a kid when I last visited, so it was new to everyone. We checked out the rooms first, where there was a lot of carving on the walls and history blurbs to read. It was so neat walking around the very same rooms that soldiers and prisoners stayed in so long ago. I only wish they'd been easier to photograph!





We ventured up top for some awesome views after a while. The first bridge pictured is the Vilano Bridge, and the second is the Bridge of Lions, which connects downtown with Anastasia Island, where we live.





While exploring, we realized a cannon firing demonstration was about to take place! I planted my behind as close to the front as possible, while Paul and D.V. stuck to the back. (I think this probably reflects our choice of seats from school, too.) I got the actual firing on video, so click below to watch!










It was such a fun, local adventure. I definitely recommend everybody experience it, at least once, during your visit!

Currently.

Thinking...

About all of the opportunities we've been offered this year. Change seems to have been the theme of this year--for good and for bad, though mostly good. Paul and I became husband and wife, we moved to St. Augustine, Paul went back to school, my family moved away (the bad), two new babies joined the family, and we went on our first real vacations to Disney World and Gatlinburg. The changes (and opportunities) still aren't over. I'm hoping that this fall and winter lead to some happy news on the job front, though I'm certainly not counting my chickens before they hatch. Fingers crossed!

Reading...

I spent quite a lot of time reading Dearie by Bob Spitz. It's a wonderful (and long!) biography of Julia Child. I've read quite a few other books about and by Julia Child, but I never felt I really knew very much about her life. Dearie certainly solved that. She was an amazing woman, and I've found myself telling Paul random Julia-isms throughout the week.

I'd been meaning to read The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty for months, but had to wait because of the long wait list at the library. The wait was worth it--I loved it! One of the main characters happens to find a letter addressed to her by her husband, which the explicit instructions that she not open it until he dies. Can she control herself? The book's title may sound flippant, but it delves into some dark subjects and secrets between friends and families. I don't want to give anything away, so please read it!

My favorite read as of late was Rainbow Rowell's newest book, Fangirl! The main character, Cath, is a huge Simon Snow (think Harry Potter) fan. She also writes Simon Snow fanfiction that gets thousands of views a day. She's just left for college with her twin sister Wren, but Wren has decided that they need some space to grow separately. Cath is left with a surly roommate and struggles to find her place on campus. There's so much heart and soul in this book. It felt almost just like when I left for college, and addresses so many issues that are hardly ever addressed. Highly recommended!

Finally, I just started Allegiant by Veronica Roth. It's the latest in the super-popular Divergent series. It took me a little while to get into the book, but I reached a certain point and couldn't seem to stop myself reading last night. I foresee quite a few late nights spent reading in my future.

Listening to...

Lots of good music lately, since I finally put music on my iPhone! Same as my last "Currently", I still haven't tired of Mumford & Sons' live album, which seems to come up quite a bit on my shuffle setting. I also added a new artist's album to my phone... Lorde's song Royals caught both Paul and I off-guard when we heard it on the radio. It's so different! I love the beat. The rest of her album is just as good. Can you believe she's only 16?! We listened to her NPR interview a few weeks ago, and were floored at how mature she seems to be, despite how her fame has blown up recently.

Working on...

Making our house feel more like our home. We've lived here for about six months now, and there was still hardly anything on the walls until recently. I'm finally getting photos framed and put up, and we've finally figured out how to best arrange our furniture to make the space feel cozy, yet open. The biggest project lately was putting shelves up on the wall in our dining area. It opened up the area so much by getting everything off the ground, and allowed me to display some more art and books. I love how they turned out!

Paul's been spending most of his time on schoolwork. His first semester back has been very successful! Lots of As, and quite a few perfect scores as well! I'm so proud of my smart husband. ♥

Eating...

More soups and stews recently. Due to Paul's schoolwork, I've been spending a little more time in the kitchen. My cooking cannot compare to Paul's, and so I'm relying heavily on hearty soups and using the crockpot for yummy stews. Most of them have turned out pretty well, and we've discovered some favorite recipes as a result. Honestly, though, I can't wait for winter break so that Paul has some time to get back to the kitchen! ;)

In addition, I've been making up lots of yummy pumpkin-themed treats. Pumpkin pie smoothies, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin brownies, pumpkin syrup... All vegan and relatively healthy! Many of my favorite recipes have come from the Oh She Glows blog. It's one of my favorites.

Enjoying...

Most of all, the cooler weather! It's been mostly in the seventies lately, but it's a wonderful break from the nineties we had just a few weeks ago. We've been spending hours outside in our hammocks and leaving our windows open constantly. I'm especially grateful for the ocean breeze right now, and the break on our electric bill is a wonderful side effect.

I'm so very thankful for our mini-adventures to Jacksonville and other nearby spots. Sometimes Paul and I will just decide to hop in the car, not sure where we're headed. We kind of wander around from place to place, normally focused on good food and quality time together. We've been doing this since we first began dating, and it's one of my favorite parts about our relationship.

We're also anticipating visits from family and friends this weekend! Cannot wait.

Happy Halloween!

Day in the Life of a Library Assistant.

Sometimes I like to document my days. It's a fun way to look back and see what my life was like at different times. I think I first began this in 2009, which doesn't seem too long ago, but a lot has certainly changed since then. I realized that I'd never done a documented day at the library, so here it is!



Good morning. I feel blurry, and so my photos seem to follow.


It takes me longer than normal to pick something out. Our theme in storytime today is the color orange, and so I need something to match!



Pack up, make coffee, and grab a light breakfast. I slept in longer than normal, and so I've got to eat on the way to work today. But that's okay, because these are the first honeycrisp apples of the season, hurrah!



I rush out of the house, closing the windows on my way. My poor car needs a wash pretty badly.


I pass over the bridge, admiring the clouds. It's very overcast today, but still gorgeous. I love my little commute to the library.


Hello! I arrive at work and uncover our guinea pigs' cage. Everyone says our branch is turning into a zoo now that we have six ducks and two guinea pigs. It's nice, though, because it made me realize that I never want guinea pigs of my own... so much cleaning... At least at the library, the responsibilities are shared.

Quickly, I write up a to-do list and upload some photos.




I set up everything for storytime: background for family storytime (we have a park ranger coming!), parachute for little ones storytime, and carpet squares all around.

Little ones storytime goes well! We had about thirty kids though, which is a LOT for what is supposed to be a more low-key storytime. We decide that since attendance has ballooned, we're going to split it up into two groups next week.

Family storytime follows, and is awesome thanks to a special visit from our local park ranger. She reads some stories and helps us as we lead the kids in songs, dances, and other activities.


Afterward, I interview a local artist who donated some work (pictured above) when our library first opened ten years ago. We're putting together a video for the birthday celebration next week. It's going to be so fun!


Finally, it's lunchtime. I'm having leftover pasta salad and another honeycrisp apple, with a side of Dearie, a biography of Julia Child. I also text husband about storytime today. You can see the ridiculous Doctor Who knock-knock joke from the night before.

Looking a little frazzled, but feeling good about work so far.



Back to work! I add and cross off some items on my to-do list, write some e-mails, and put together a blog post with the photos I uploaded earlier. I wrote the post all in rhyme!


At this point, I go to work on the circulation desk, keeping an eye on the kids with the guinea pigs. It's so busy today!


I spend the last two hours working on the birthday video with a co-worker, then we close up the library. This is our children's section, with some kites we made for International Peace Day on Saturday.

And because I'm proud of it, here's my display for Banned Books Week. I decided to focus on the controversy surrounding Eleanor & Park right now. It's such a good book! I definitely recommend it.


Shut down the computer and pack everything up...


I feel lucky to work in such a beautiful spot. Oh, and there are our library ducks!



I drive over the bridge again on the way home, and make sure to get a photo of my little car cat, who has been in all of my documented days.

Arrive home, and notice someone is watching me... This is one of our kitties, named Socks.



I got a package!! It's an advance reader copy that I won online. Sounds interesting.


Change from work garb to ultra-casual shorts and wrinkled concert shirt. I am so short. Also, the shirt is from the Gentlemen of the Road festival that came to town two weeks ago. It was awesome!


We run into a neighbor cat on our way outside. This one is named Taz, and he is very vocal about wanting to be pet.




Walk down to check the mail, hand in hand. It's just junk, but the little walk outside is nice.

Socks is waiting on the stairs for us when we come back. Meow!


Mix the last of the leftover pasta salad with some spinach and get comfy on the couch to read.


I spend several hours reading, while Paul does homework. I'm quite proud of him--it's his first semester back after a loooong break from school, and he's doing so well!


He takes a break to cuddle our other cat, Lily. I get him some chips and salsa for a snack.



Spend some time on the phone with my mom, during which Lily comes over and makes herself comfortable.



More reading. I like to read. Finally, I realize I'm starving and look for something to make. This sounds good!

I set up the ipad in a cabinet to begin cooking, but first...

Time to feed the beasts, and...


Paul takes another break by doing the dishes. Yay! It's my least favorite chore.
I gather up the ingredients. Rather than used canned tomatoes, I use some of our fresh ones. They'll just have to cook longer.

First, I sweat the garlic and red onions in some olive oil with red pepper flakes. This makes the house smell amazing!

Add the tomatoes... I end up throwing in an additional one just because.


After the tomatoes have cooked for a while and begin to break down, I add some green onions and fresh parsley.

While that cooks, I get a text from my little brother. He's a dork.


Toss in the chickpeas and mix them up...

And a few minutes later, pour in three cups of vegetable broth.

While that cooks, I read through my blog list via Feedly and find out what a euphonium is. Apparently, it's a mini-tuba and plays just like a trombone? My brother wants to play it for concert band.


The soup looks good, so I pour it into a large measuring bowl and blend it up. Smells so good!

Ta-da! Dress it up with fresh spinach, parsley, green onions, a bit of hot sauce, and some freshly-cracked pepper. I don't cook very often, but I do soups pretty well.

We eat while watching Adult Swim, since there's nothing on Food Network. Those are the two channels we watch, out of hundreds.

After dinner, it's more blogs... I really want to make these cinnamon buns!
More book-nerd stuff! This is a great newsletter about the book industry.


Take out contacts, brush teeth, wash face, and finish up with some (diluted) tea tree oil for my blemishes.



I read some more until I am distracted by husband and Lily. She promptly sits on my book (favorite spot), so I take that as a sign to get to sleep. Good night!