we made it!

Pippin, already feeling quite at home

Soooo... Jason and I are now living in Ireland! It doesn't quite feel real yet - especially since our super-temporary housing situation (as in, until tomorrow afternoon) is a hotel, and we're not working or in school yet. The next stage of our housing is the apartment we'll be staying in for about a month, which isn't very long, but will at least be enough time to warrant unpacking our suitcases. Jason will start work on Monday, and I have orientation events and a meeting with my advisor next week! (I also get to attend the Memory and Trauma conference and graduate student workshop hosted by UCD the week after that... so excited!!) I am, of course, slightly worried about being / appearing stupid, but I think I've been so worried over the past week that I no longer have the energy for it. :P I'll review some of my research before going to meet with my advisor, and I think I'll be fine.

The travel process was actually much easier than anticipated, for several reasons: (1) Pippin is an excellent traveler. Jason and I already knew this - Pippin often gets into his crate voluntarily, and typically enjoys car trips - but we weren't sure how he'd handle the airports, the strange people at security, Pet Express (the company that handles international pet flights), and customs. Apparently, he's just the best cat in the world. When we picked him up almost 24 hours after we began our journey, he didn't even whine on the cab ride back to our hotel. (2) Our super-long layover in Boston was made more enjoyable by the fact that we took a taxi to our friends George and Rachel's apartment! Rachel was nice enough to make us lasagna (which was delicious!), and we played a couple games of Dominion. (3) The rest of our layover was spent at the airport Starbucks, playing games. I normally hate airports, but I actually enjoyed myself. (4) Immigration, while it took forever, was hassle-free. Jason and I both had our paperwork in order, but even so, it was nerve-wracking just in case something went wrong. (I worry about everything, yeah?) But my worry was, as per usual, without cause. We're here, and legally so! :)

Since we've gotten here, we actually haven't been very busy. Jason's work is taking care of so much for us, so we really don't have much to do until he starts on Monday. We've basically just been enjoying ourselves (which means lots of good food, to be honest), and catching up on sleep. So far, we've eaten at Neon (Asian street food), the Mespil Street Lunch Market (I got lamb fajitas!), Paulie's Pizza, and our favorite - the Queen of Tarts! Jason and I became obsessed with this café during our last visit to Dublin back in May. We met my friend Ashley there for breakfast (she was in Dublin for a few days following a study abroad trip to Belfast), and we went every subsequent day of our week-long trip. It was just as good as we remembered. I had an entire apple crumble tart for lunch, and I have no regrets. :P Other than going out to eat, we've been grocery shopping and to several bookstores - so, you know, the essentials. :)

So, how's that for an update? Haha, I haven't actually done anything remotely interesting yet. Next week should be full of little adventures, though - I get to meet people at UCD, explore the campus, and get my student travel card so I can actually go somewhere that's not within walking distance! Jason, however, is already venturing out a little more than I am - he's out right now playing Friday Night Magic at our local game store. I'm staying at the hotel watching Come Dine With Me (basically, a dinner party competition for people who [mostly] have no clue what they're doing - hilarious!), reading, and skyping my parents. What, you didn't think I would suddenly become interesting, did you? ;)

it's happening!

Tomorrow. TOMORROW is the day Jason and I fly to Ireland without knowing when we'll be coming back.  It's overwhelming and my stomach does some strange acrobatics every time I think about it. In a good way, though. My counselor once told me that nervousness and excitement physically feel the same; the difference is in how you think about it. I'm not a very emotional person so it's hard for me to gauge exactly what I am feeling, but the only specific thing I'm worried about is traveling with our cat. I don't know how people handle children; I'm already a worried mother, lol.

Jason and I are SO lucky that his company is providing so much assistance with our move. Among other things, they've arranged temporary housing, hired a relocation assistant to help us with finding permanent lodgings, provided transportation from the airport, assistance in opening a bank account, etc. So many things that would be stressful are no longer major concerns, which is such a blessing.

Speaking of which, I cannot thank my parents and in-laws enough for helping us move out of our apartment last week! We are so lucky that they were all able to assist - and are ALL stronger than I am, haha. I really wasn't much help at all during the entire process. Also, we have a lot of stuff, even after giving away and selling a good portion of it.

So... we've packed our suitcases, and after hours of rearranging, have gotten all of them under the weight limit. We have our paperwork, and Pippin's, in order. I sold my car (and got enough money for my first tuition payment...! This whole "paying tuition" thing feels so wrong...). We made a list of errands to take care of after we arrive. Besides a few last minute errands to run today, we're ready to leave. It's a bit ironic that something we've been planning for and looking forward to for years can feel this stressful. In a determined effort that Jason and I not forget to have fun amidst everything we need to do in the next week, I found a nice open air market within walking distance of our temporary apartment where we can have lunch on Thursday: the Mespil Road Lunchtime Market, located on the banks of the canal. Every vendor I've read about sounds great, but I'm particularly excited about one called Wilde Irish Chocolates. One guess why. ;)

Mespil Road Lunchtime Market

I'm not sure what our internet situation will be after we arrive, but be on the lookout for more frequent updates in the upcoming weeks!

blackberry pie bars

So, guess what was on sale at the grocery this week? ALL the berries! Of course that meant that Jason and I bought basically all the berries... to be used in the four weeks we have left in this country. So many baking projects!

The best part of this recipe is... the shortbread crust? The creamy filling? The sheer versatility: these bars would be equally amazing with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries - in short, all the fruit in my refrigerator. I wanted to try as many new recipes with them as possible, but... :)

Blackberry Pie Bars
adapted from Erica's Sweet Tooth

Makes 24 squares

Prep time: ~30 minutes
Bake time: ~1 hour

Ingredients
For the crust:

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup margarine, cold and cut into small cubes

For the filling:
2 large eggs OR 4 oz. egg substitute
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
14 oz fresh blackberries

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray an 7x11" or 9x9" pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter, mixing until the mixture is crumbly. Put 3/4 cup of the mixture in a small bowl and set aside.
3. Dump the remainder of the mixture into the prepared pan and press evenly to form the crust. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Transfer pan to a wire rack and cool for at least 10 minutes.
4. To make the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, sour cream, flour, salt, lemon juice, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until well combined. Add the blackberries and gently fold with a rubber spatula. Spread the filling over the crust evenly. Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over the berries.
5. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the bars are set. Transfer to a wire rack and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. The bars are easiest to cut if you refrigerate them first; keep refrigerated. 

packing, OCD style

Pippin trying to help me pack

Guess who moves to Ireland in roughly eight weeks...?! This (slightly terrified) girl! However, in the past few days, we've gotten more specifics about Jason's job offer and my education, so we've finally been able to make actual plans. I generally handle nervousness by staying as busy as possible, so even though our to-do list is quite staggering, I'm simply thankful that we now have a list so that I have something to do besides sit around and worry. ^.^

The first order of business is packing. As you can see, my cat is being as helpful as possible, haha. (Other "first order" of business - make travel plans for the cat. More complicated than you might think... it warrants its own blog post). This was the first box that I assembled, and before I could place one book inside, Pippin had to investigate!

When we move in late August, we will be staying in temporary accommodations (part of Jason's job offer!) while we look for a house or apartment. Obviously, we won't be bringing very much with us - two suitcases a piece plus carry-ons. At first I was concerned, but now that I'm making decisions about "what I need," I'm realizing that the answer is "not very much." Items that I've mindlessly brought along in our past several moves, I'm now scratching my head going, "Why did I ever think I would look at this again?" Or even remember that I own it, to be perfectly frank. We're packing up the rest of our belongings that don't fit into said suitcases in two piles: to be shipped once we have a place, and to give away. I'm guessing that our "giveaway" pile will be much bigger than previously imagined.

Lest you're under the impression that I'm renouncing all worldly possessions, these are the books that I will be carrying in my suitcase because I *cannot be without them.* In all fairness, though, they are all marked for potential use in my doctoral thesis, so it's not just me being quirky and bookish.

What I'm working on now is packing the items in the first category: to be shipped when we have permanent accommodations. Of course, we won't need everything at once, but figuring out what items we'll need by what date requires more foresight than even I can muster. This is where the OCD comes in: I'm cataloguing each of our boxes. I'm numbering each box I pack, and on my master list, I'm writing down each item that goes in the box. This way, when Jason or I need a particular item, we can ask Jason's parents (who will keep our items / put them in storage for us) to ship us box 17, for example. It's... a lot of extra work, but will be worth it in the end, I think.

I've got a long way to go!

moving to Ireland!

Howth cliff walk

I haven't updated recently because I've been rather busy - not only did I find out that I've been accepted to do my PhD in Irish literature at University College Dublin (yay!), but my husband and I also spent a week in Dublin looking at houses to buy!

I won't bore you with too many details, as this trip was all business: appointment and open house viewings, meetings with estate agents and our solicitor and Jason's employer... We did, however, take a little time out to enjoy the spectacular beauty of basically everywhere we went. You can also tell from these pictures that we got an inordinate amount of sun, which started out pleasant and ended in extreme sunburn. :P

Beach in Howth

another shot on the Howth cliff walk - before the sunburn!

walking along the wooden bridge to Bull Island

Park in Rathfarnham

on the beach looking up at Bray Head

looking down on the strand from the Bray Head cliff walk

seaview in Shankill

Bottom line: We found a couple of houses at different price points that we really like, and we're waiting to hear back from our financial advisor about what we can realistically afford to buy. From there, we either make an offer on one of those houses, or we go back to Dublin again and bring Jason's parents in tow this time for advice. If we still don't find anything we like, then we opt for an apartment - which we may very well do in the interim even if we buy, since apparently the property buying process takes much longer in Ireland than in the US. It seems crazy that Jason and I will be living in Dublin in just a few short months!

italian macaroni and cheese

Who doesn't love macaroni and cheese? I used to eat it all the time until I realized that good old mac 'n cheese was probably 80% of the reason I had a weight problem (the other part being complete inactivity). I cut it out of my diet altogether while I was losing weight, but that just made me sad. This recipe is a decent way to reintroduce macaroni and cheese into my not-entirely-unhealthy diet. The healthy part is just portion control - I eat about half of what the original recipe says is a serving, and add half a head of broccoli to make it more filling. (As I made it, this recipe is 500 calories and 25 grams of fat) Plus, steamed broccoli with olive oil, garlic, and salt is my favorite way to eat vegetables! 

Italian Macaroni and Cheese
adapted from Panera's Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese

Makes 8 servings

Cook time: ~45 minutes

Ingredients
For the pasta:

1 (16-ounce) package of pasta (any type you like!)
¼ cup butter or margarine
½ cup all-purpose flour
2½ cups milk (we use skim)
6 slices sharp Provolone, chopped
8 oz. Mozzarella, chopped
2 links hot Italian sausage
1 teaspoon salt

For one serving of broccoli to serve with macaroni:
½ head of broccoli
½ tbsp olive oil
½ tsp garlic
salt

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions. 
2. Melt butter over low heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. 
3. Gradually whisk in milk; cook over medium heat, whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles. (Basically, you're making a roux / white sauce) Remove from heat. 
4. Remove sausage from casings; break into small pieces and brown (on stovetop or in microwave).
5. Add cheeses, sausage, and salt, stirring until cheese melts and sauce is smooth. 
6. Stir in pasta and cook over medium heat for 1 minute (or until thoroughly heated).
7. Chop broccoli into bite-sized pieces; mix broccoli, olive oil, garlic, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl with lid. Microwave for 1 minute. Serve on top of macaroni and cheese!

going baroque

I love dressing for summer. As much as I love layering, there's something so appealing about putting on one single piece and being done with it. Unfortunately, this attitude doesn't lend itself so well to fashion blogging: I might love my dresses, but my outfits are kind of boring. This one isn't really any more interesting than anything else I've worn lately, but I just received this dress in the mail from Target and couldn't wait to show it off. Since I'm really trying not to leave the apartment unless I have to ("outings" almost always mean shopping trips - there is nothing else to do in this town - and I'm without a paycheck at the moment. Kindly ignore the fact that I just referenced buying this dress online recently... :P), that meant posting here! This dress, by the way, is poised to become one of my favorites this summer - in addition to the fun bold print, I love the cut and the lightness of the fabric!

I've also been making progress on a conference proposal I'm currently writing. The conference is on Memory and Trauma in Irish culture, and will be held in Dublin this September (thank heavens for an extended proposal deadline!). Of course, I'm still waiting to see if I will actually be working on my PhD next fall or not, but as the proposal deadline is so soon, I just have to continue with my work in blind optimism for the next few days.

dress: Target - currently on clearance, available in XS - L! / earrings: gift

potato pizza bites

It's been a while since my last update, but exciting things have been happening over here! My husband had a successful phone interview with the Dublin branch of his company (yay!) and I will find out this week whether or not I'm going to University College Dublin for my PhD! Yeah, no pressure... My nerves have been out of control!

In any case, I've got another versatile dinner-or-appetizer recipe for you: potato pizza bites. In this household, we love potatoes. I mean, we love potatoes. We often buy an entire 5-pound bag and make some kind of potato recipe every night for a week - and we never get sick of it! That probably also has something to do with our love of routines. Well. Hopefully these potato pizza bites will help you understand, if you don't already, just how amazing and versatile potatoes can be. 

Potato Pizza Bites

Makes 40-50 bites

Prep time: ~25 minutes

Cook time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

2 medium/large potatoes
2 oz. fresh mozzarella
~1/4 cup tomato sauce (or whatever sauce you prefer on pizzas! Pesto would also be great.)

~1 tbsp olive oil
salt

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
2. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
3. Slice potatoes as thin as possible, and place them side by side on the prepared baking sheet. 
4. Brush potato slices with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
5. Bake for roughly 40 minutes (you can bake for more or less time depending on how crispy you want your potatoes).
6. Cut the fresh mozzarella into cubes, roughly equal to the number of potato slices.
7. Top potato slices with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella. Bake for 10 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately!*

*Since the potatoes are sliced so thin, they cool pretty quickly, so you really should eat them right away. Which shouldn't be a problem. ^.^

ginger chicken pot stickers

These ginger chicken pot stickers are so light and perfect for summer - though they're a year-round favorite at our house. Since the pot stickers have to chill for an hour before cooking, my husband and I plan on making these more often than we actually do make them - we forget how much time they require, don't think about cooking dinner until the last minute, and then decide to make something else (or go out). But they're not difficult, and well worth the time invested. They make a perfect appetizer for summer get-togethers; you can also do like my husband and I and eat the entire batch for dinner. :P 

Ginger Chicken Pot Stickers

Makes 24 pot stickers

Prep time: ~1 hour 30 minutes

Cook time: ~5 minutes

Ingredients

For the pot stickers:

~1/2 small red cabbage, finely shredded

1 egg white, lightly beaten

1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp ground ginger

1/4 lb ground chicken breast, cooked and drained

Onion flakes to taste

24 wonton wrappers

1 tbsp peanut oil

For the sauce:

1/2 cup water

1 tbsp oyster sauce

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp honey

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

1. Steam cabbage in microwave for 5 minutes, then cool to room temperature and squeeze out excess moisture with a paper towel.
2. To prepare filling, combine egg white, soy sauce, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, ginger, and onion flakes in a large bowl, and blend well. Stir in cabbage and chicken. 
3. To prepare pot stickers, place 1 tbsp filling in the center of one wonton wrapper. Gather edges around filling, pressing firmly and lightly coating with water to seal. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
4. Place pot stickers on large baking sheet, and refrigerate for ~1 hour or until cold. 
5. To prepare the sauce, combine water, oyster sauce, lemon juice, honey, and 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes in a small bowl, and mix well. Set aside.
6. When pot stickers are chilled, heat peanut oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add pot stickers and cook until bottoms are golden brown. Pour sauce over pot stickers, cover the pan and cook for 3 minutes. Uncover and cook until liquid is gone. Serve warm with plum sauce!

I got this recipe from my mother-in-law; a very similar recipe is posted here. 

work-appropriate pleather?

Possibly as a throwback to my weirder teenage years, I love slightly "edgy" pieces, but my favorite way to wear them now is to pair them with something incongruously "sweet." For one thing, it's visually interesting, but I also feel that it captures disparate sides of myself that are otherwise hard to express. 

I was thrilled to find this skirt at Target last fall because, at least in my limited experience, faux-leather skirts that are work-appropriate? Rare. Not that it matters at the moment: not only am I not working (grades submitted = summer!), but I'm not leaving the apartment today after I injured myself running yesterday... just a sore foot, but walking to the mailbox was enough activity for today. :P

cardigan: Kohl's / floral cami: Target / faux leather skirt: Kirna Zabête for Target, old / earrings: Kohl's / necklace: Kohl's / belt: old