Halloween on Hamilton Ave!

Boo! Scary, Huh?

Happy Halloween Everyone! We've finally settled in to the new house (more pics on that later) and welcomed some local kids over for Halloween Trick or Treating. They arrived between 5pm-9pm- adorned in everyday clothing with a smidge of makeup on their cheeks, wings, or a mask. And they carried Superfresh plastic bags. Only in Baltimore.

I recently painted our door red- I think it looks great! More Hamilton House before and afters to come!

We scored these great footie PJ's at Target for $24.99 each. They're made by Nick and Nora Designs. I absolutely love them! At first it was just something silly to wear around the house- but as the weather got colder, I really began to appreciate how WARM they are! I had to twist Josh's arm to get him to don a pair- but he loves them now (even though they are itchy to him!). Not to mention we haven't had to turn on our heat once this winter (even when it hit 35 degrees at night!) we've just been using space heaters in our family room and bedroom- and wearing our onesies (and, of course, they doubled as Halloween costumes!). Best purchase this winter!

I think this was Josh's scary face? For the kids? In a onesie?

*Recession friendly tip*

My neighbor, Vanessa, hosted a Halloween themed 'Candy Hunt' in her backyard for her children. Vanessa has 4 kids- and it was significantly more cost-effective (and safer!) for her to purchase candy and set the kids loose to find it. She said she saved $100 bucks in costumes- not to mention saved time from walking the kids around the neighborhood in 40 degree weather! Post backyard hunting, the kids came in for scary movies and popcorn. I think this may be a plan we'll use when we have little ones of our own.

*end of Recession Friendly tip*

Josh and I got into the Halloween spirit and decked out the house in webs and ghouls- and I even carved a classic Jack o' Lantern! We threw on our footie pajamas (not entirely costumes- we wear them around the house to reduce our heating bills!) - and ate candy in between visitors! It was a blast!

So eerie at night, huh? I'm super scared!

Just a small note to our readers: We haven't been good about posting (sorry all...) But that's about to change since we've been nominated for a MOBBIE!!! (The Baltimore Sun's Award for Best Maryland Blogs!) See the post below to vote for us!

The challenge is on- and we're going to give you what you've been asking for! Read below for a 'Year in Review' posting by Josh, and soon to come; more local restaurant and bar reviews (Hamilton-Lauraville is the BEST place to live in Baltimore) and of course, Our Hamilton House 'before and afters' (lots of inexpensive re-do and decor options!) 

Thanks for reading everybody, and stay tuned!

-n+j

Recession + New Home = Entertainment and Dining Innovation

This is the first post on the new blog, and I figured I'd just jump right into it- and skip the whole 'we're an interracial/interfaith yuppie-tastic couple', living in the inner city, and starting a cliche blog' schpiel...IT'S A RECESSION, Y'ALL!!!

And with the recession, comes innovation. As someone who's always been a 'spendthrift' and 'deal enthusiast,' it's surprising to me that it takes our country being in dire straits before we start seeing penny pinching News Reports, and Money Wise articles printed daily. I'm thrilled that the world is finally coming around (and that I don't seem so cheap anymore)- but I also believe that the new frugality that people are being forced to experience is something to be embraced as a way of life, long after this recession has faded into distant memory.

Joshua and I (Joshua being the lighter and righter half to my chocolatey goodness)- comes from a background where there has always been a decent bit of financial support- and rarely wanted for much, growing up. Fortunately, he still possesses a keen fiscal sense- and can never pass up a good deal (more on why 'passing up a good deal' is important sometimes- later). This has aided in our compatibility, with Joshua often saying to me, "This is why I love you," after I tell him I would never accept flowers as a gift- because they're too expensive and just die (we have a 'special' relationship). With our personalities combined, we've been able to develop a sense of self-sufficiency that can weather any economic storm.

We had become accustomed, as is part of dating ritual, to going out to dinner as frequently as 4 times a week. Never would our stingy personalities let us have a $100/plate meal- but $5-$10 bucks a person- can really add up! We've taken to figuring out how to replicated our favorite dinners out- at home. That's right...We're using the kitchen, the stove, going to farmers markets, and the Asian market. It's crazy, it's yup-tastic (def; to behave in the manner stereotypically reserved for Young Urban Professionals or Yuppies), and it's delicious. I've decided to use this post- and maybe some others for our better finds (entertainment, cheap eats, and recipes).

Last evening Joshua and I had Sushi for dinner. And no- we didn't spend $60 bucks eating out at our favorite restaurant in Baltimore- we made it ourselves, at home!

I know, I know, daunting task, right? Should I risk seafood poisoning, just to quell my burning desire for wasabi laced yellowtail? The answer is simply...Yes. It's just isn't as difficult as it seems- not to mention, that there are many good reasons why sushi is a great dish to replicate for yourself at home...

1. Sushi rarely, if ever, requires special spices- so if you are one of those people who has attempted chinese food at home- and was frustrated that your "Fried Rice," didn't taste quite right- Sushi may be for you.

2. It's fast. As long as you've prepared your Sushi rice in advance (it only takes an additional 20 minutes if you haven't)- you're looking at a 30 minutes or less to the table. You can't even get your sushi that quickly if you drive to the restaurant and order it.

3. You can try all the flavors you never had the guts (or funds) to order before. Never had eel? Give it a go. Crazy for Conch? Wrap it up. There are countless options- even Thai-Style Sticky Coconut Rice and Mango Rolls- that you can create.


So now that you're convinced that this is the way to go- here is where to start:

1. A quick trip to your local Asian Market or Trader Joes for ingredients- see this website for a basic list of things you'll need (I estimate about $20 bucks- east coast, mid-atlantic dollars- for equipment and ingredients- this doesn't include the cost of the fish or the bagged Edemame-Soybeans- that you can get for $2 bucks).

Sushi Equipment List: http://www.imakesushi.com/sushi-equipment.html

It may seem like $20 bucks is a bit much to spend on a 'fooding adventure' (I know some of you are thiftier than I)- but considering that you'll get over 10 rolls (at 8 pieces per roll) out of your purchases- you'll more than quadtruple your cost.

2. Next it's important to educate yourself on how to make sushi correctly- read this short step-by-step (WITH PHOTOS) and watch this short YouTube clip. It makes it ten times easier to get started.

Step-By-Step Instructions: http://www.imakesushi.com/howto/sushi-roll.html
Sushi 'How To' Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz9EAqTBrNw&feature=channel

3. Get Rolling.



As cheesy as it sounds, it's wonderful to know that you don't have to go out to get a great meal. We've been thrilled with the way our dishes (particularly; crepes, italian, sushi, and even an at home Chipotle Burrito!) have turned out- and our bellies (and pockets) feel even happier.