Not Yo' Mama's PB&J

Recreate the peanut butter sandwich so you can fall in love with it all over again. 

The peanut butter sandwich is a quintessential American food. The sandwich belongs on a shelf in a nostalgia shop, between the Betty Boop lunch box and the Slinky. 

You don't suddenly lose a taste for PB&J once you turn a certain age (unless you become allergic), but you may want to revamp the old favorite.

Sometimes I play with my food, and that's OK. Sometimes, my experimentation results in unique peanut butter combinations that commemorate the legendary staple. But you can be the judge of that. 

Here are a few for you to try:

1. Elvis was a pretty cool guy, and among other achievements, he was famous for his grilled peanut butter sandwich, stuffed with bananas and honey (maple syrup is also fantastic). Try it with bacon; you will be saying "thank ya, thank ya very much."

2. Combine fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, apples or pears with peanut butter and cream cheese.

3. Make "ants on a log," i.e., celery slathered with peanut butter and sprinkled with raisins, and sandwich it between slices of bread.

4. Of course you can pair jam with peanut butter, but you could also use the leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving dinner (Yay, Thanksgiving is coming up). Yum!

5. Drizzle your peanut butter sandwich with maple syrup and add granola.

6. Balance out the peanut butter with something salty, like roasted peanuts or crispy chips.

7. Make a peanut butter sandwich for dessert! A hazelnut-chocolate spread complements peanut butter sweetly.

8. A Fluffernutter is a trademark sandwich made up of gobs of Marshmallow Fluff spread and peanut butter.

9. More eccentric variations include the peanut butter sandwich stuffed with dill pickles. I tried it for the sake of the blog, and it surprisingly worked.

10. A Thai twist is a chilled grilled chicken sandwich with peanut butter and pineapple jam.

Some of my classic PB&Js:

* I melt dark chocolate chips with butterscotch chips, and spread this warm mess all over my peanut butter sandwich. (This description is Liz Lemon-esque)

* I also love to add figs and honey to my peanut butter sandwich for a little something, something extra.

Interesting Tid-Bits:

• Peanut butter was invented in 1880 when St. Louis physician Dr. Ambrose Straub crushed peanuts into a paste for his geriatric patients with bad teeth. 
• A 2002 survey showed the average American will eat 1,500 PB&Js before graduating from high school. 
• Grand Saline, Texas holds the title for the world's largest PB&J, weighing in at 1,342 pounds. 
• Peanuts have more protein than any other nut. They have a higher antioxidant capacity than grapes and green tea, and they are naturally cholesterol-free. 
• Peanut butter was the secret to making the horse "talk" in the beloved 1960s television show, "Mr. Ed."

  xo, 

 LA

What I am doing right now: Editing video for class deadline...

My Favorite Nail Trends for Autumn (NaBloPoMo Day 3)

I think this is the most exciting one. Partially because I was actually capable of growing my nails long enough to do this, a significant feat in my world. It's easier than it looks. All you do is press a strip of clear tape horizontally over each nail, making sure the edge closest to the tip is pressed down all the way so no nail polish will get underneath it. Then, you paint the end and allow it to dry a little bit but not all the way and then carefully remove the tape. I used Blue My Mind by OPI.

It's also fun to use two colors, especially when one is glittery. Glitter makes almost everything better. But not pudding. NOT pudding. I'm serious. For this one, I used You Don't Know Jaques by OPI and Disco Dolls by Nicole by OPI.

My favorite autumn nail trend is dark red. This one is Lincoln Center by NYC. It chips fairly easily, but it's only a dollar I think. Also, chipped dark nail polish is so totally art school so I'll fit right in.

I got this gel manicure right before school started. It lasted for about a week and a half. I think they're normally supposed to last longer, but my nails break really easily. It was in the color Lincoln Park After Dark from OPI. Dark colors are a good idea for longer lasting manicures like this one because chips show up more with darker nail polish than light. Also I just really like dark nail polish for fall. And always.

And finally, I jumped on this nail polish trend bandwagon. Why not, right? Also, I think brown nail polish is fun for fall. No one ever thinks brown is a fun color. Whatever. This is Little Brown Dress from Essie and Disco Dolls by Nicole by OPI. And the blue pen mark on my finger is by PaperMate. So in for fall.

Which one is your favorite? You should leave a comment. We love comments here at The Lauren/Spencer Project!

Happy Saturday!

Sincerely, 

Spencer Feds

What I'm listening to right now: The Joy the Baker Podcast (And you should too!)

Reasons I'm Excited About Fall (NaBloPoMo Day 2)

pumpkin spice lattes and walks in the rain and cheetah print rain boots

changing leaves and lines of trees

pumpkins on tables in local cafés

sitting outside and charcoal on hands (always)

seasonal scents at Bath & Bodyworks (but I can't burn candles in my dorm eek!)

Thanksgiving displays!

I hope your autumn days have been filled with all the best orange-colored smells and windy weather that's rainy but not too rainy.

Your friend,

Spencer

What I'm watching right now: Ruby Sparks

Happy Halloween!

Like most things on the blog these days...it is belated, but there it is.

I was last minute with my costume as well, so I went as a three-hole punched piece of paper like Jim from The Office.

Yet, it did not much matter what I was anyway because I was quickly wrapped in toilet paper.

It was a really toasty time. No, really, it gets warm under all of those layers.

 

Tot volgende tijd!

(I am currently taking Dutch. I actually have an exam tomorrow. Yikes! Oops..I mean, Yummer!

xo,

LA

The Possibility of a Plan? (NaBloPoMo, primarily autumn-themed)

Every year for the past four years or so, I've gotten inspired in late October to succeed in completing
NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, a program that encourages its participants to complete a 50,000 word novel over the course of the month of November.  That's 1,666 words per day. You can say "yikes" again. Yeah, you totally said it.

As you may or may not know, I'm not the greatest when it comes to sticking to plans. I routinely break routines.

In conclusion, I have never completed NaNoWriMo (or even come close).

But over the years, some of my favorite bloggers (Smitten Kitchen, etc.) have done an alternate version of NaNoWriMo called NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month; try saying that 10 times quickly) in which you put up a blog post every day of November.

What do you guys think? I'm going to give it a go. This whole art school deal is a serious business and I don't have very much free time, but what a nice way to spend the free time that I do have.

Also, I thought I'd try to have an autumn theme for most of the posts because you must know how much I love this time of year.


Check back soon!

xo,

SF

What I'm watching right now: Leap Year

Spencer's September-October 2012 Videoblog

College Life So Far

At the end of the summer, I packed everything up to move it across the country.  It was weird to create a tangible representation of my whole life.  This is it.  Don't you feel like you know me better now?  (That was a joke.)  Note: poster rolled up created by The Lauren/Spencer Project's own Lauren Adamson for my birthday (I carried it with me through multiple airports and I think hit a bunch of strangers with it accidentally, but it was totally worth it. It's on my wall now.)

There was already a bulletin board in my room at the foot of my bed, so I covered it with pictures to try to make it feel like home.  I have this really unique tip that you should put up pictures to make a place feel like home. 

I usually eat breakfast alone in the dining hall, but not really alone because I'm almost always with Joy the Baker and Tracy Shutterbean of the Joy the Baker Podcast which is totally awesome.

The first weekend I was here, I got to hang out with my little cousin who had a lot of trouble choosing only one bear. 

For me, however, one bear is enough. He studies so I don't have to.

I spend most of my time here either like this

or like this.

Also, it is comically hilly here. Quick challenge: think of 3 more things that are comically hilly.

There's a panini press here

and I have crayons

and my English teacher brings his dog to class

and the view is just beautiful.

xo,

SF

What I'm listening to right now: If I Go I'm Goin' by Gregory Alan Isakov

Leftover Birthday Memories

I turned 19 right before I left for college, so it was sort of a hectic time, but I had a really nice day with my family. That was more than two months ago, but the thing about starting college is that you don't have any time to blog about things.

I've finally started videoblogging again which is good, because how else are people who may or may not know me going to know what I do every day??

The day after my birthday, I had my wisdom teeth removed and really bonded with this guy:

He followed me to college, and he's offered me a lot of moral support. More on college later, though.

Things are okay, but there's a hurricane coming today (yikes) so no class (not yikes). Maybe I'll do some blogging (??). This blog has become a series of posts that say "Maybe I'll start blogging more" that are one month apart from each other. That can be our thing on The Lauren/Spencer Project. 

I hope your life is going great and you're not caught in the middle of a hurricane.

xo,

SF

What I'm listening to right now: Feel Again by OneRepublic

Spencer's Gap Year!

I made a video of my whole gap year! In real time! (Joke)

Watch it! And then decide to take a gap year! (?)

Now both parts of The Lauren/Spencer Project are in college, but here's to many more gap years in the future (or something). Or to at least two graduations. Or to waking up at seven o'clock on Sundays because that's just the kind of girl you are. Plus, no one is using the laundry room. Oh, that reminds me, my clothes are done in the dryer.

I'll let you know how post-gap year life goes.

xo,

SF

What I'm watching right now: Revenge (ahh!)

How I Spent My 19th Birthday

xo,

SF

August 2012 Mix CD

1. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift
2. Cheers Darlin' by Damien Rice
3. Up All Night by Alex Clare
4. Heaven by Brett Dennen
5. It's OK by Eric James & The New Century
6. Yellow (acoustic) by Coldplay
7. All Love by Ingrid Michaelson
8. A Beautiful Mess by Jason Mraz
9. Wide Awake by Katy Perry
10. Rootless Tree by Damien Rice
11. Street Lights by Kanye West
12. Skinny Love by Ed Sheeran
13. Still by Matt Nathanson
14. Disappear by The Gabe Dixon Band
15. Winter Winds by Mumford & Sons
16. Wedding Ring by The Hard Lessons
17. Lost in My Mind by The Head and the Heart
18. The A Team by Ed Sheeran
19. Barefoot Blue Jean Night by Jake Owen
20. Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey by John Mayer

xo,

SF

Some Things That Have Happened (Summer 2012)

The Feder girls dressed in red, white, and blue and attended a special July 4th dinner at Bob Evans. It turns out they don't have fireworks there.

Lauren matched her eye makeup to her outfit.

There was a lot of crafting at Starbucks.

What is The Lauren/Spencer Project?

In honor of The Lauren/Spencer Project's one year anniversary, I made a promotional video to tell you a little bit about us.

xo,

SF

What I'm watching right now: Grey's Anatomy

Spencer's May-June 2012 Videoblog

This is what I've been up to lately.

xo,

SF

What I'm listening to right now: Damn Your Eyes by Alex Clare

One Week of: Breakfasts (Seven Breakfast Ideas for a Working Girl)

One Week of: Eye Makeup Looks

Sunday: MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study as base, a lavender shade from the Coastal Scents 88 Color Eye Shadow Palette all over the lid, a darker purple shade from the same palette in the crease and under my bottom eyelashes, Sephora brand Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner in silver in the inner corner, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Rockstar (dark shimmery purple) along top lash line, Maybelline XXL Pro mascara, Benefit Eye Bright as highlight under eyebrow

Monday: light tan shade from the Too Faced Natural Eye palette all over the lid, MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack in a wing, Benefit Eye Bright in inner corner, L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara

Tuesday: MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study as base, shimmery light pink shade from the Too Faced Natural Eye palette all over the lid and under my bottom eyelashes, medium brown shimmery shade from the same palette in the crease, pink sparkly shade from the same palette in the inner corner, MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack along the top lash line, Benefit Eye Bright as highlight under eyebrow, L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara

Wednesday: MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study as base, NARS Isolde eyeshadow duo (bronzy orange and lighter gold) darker shade all over the lid and under the bottom lashes and the lighter shade in the inner corner, NARS Night Clubbing eyeshadow (dark dark brownish green with sparkles) in the crease, L'Oreal Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner in black on the top lash line and the bottom waterline, Maybelline XXL Pro mascara

Thursday: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Electric (bright turquoisey blue) along top and bottom lash line, L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara

Friday: MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study as base, lighter shade from NARS Isolde eyeshadow duo all over the lid, in the inner corner, and under the bottom lashes,  L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara, Benefit Eye Bright as highlight under eyebrow

Saturday: all from the Maybelline EyeStudio Color Explosion Palette (that doesn't have a name, but it's the one with all the pink shades): the medium pink shade all over the lid and under the bottom lashes, the bright purply shade in the crease, the lightest pink shade in the inner corner and under the eyebrow as a highlight, not from that palette: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack in a little wing, just on the outer half of the top eyelid, Maybelline XXL Pro mascara


These would all be great with any other makeup products that are similar colors. I hope you give some of these a try! Comment below with which one is your favorite!

xo,

SF

What I'm listening to right now: Summer is Over by Jon McLaughlin

B- College Poetry

Death and Human Stupidity

Each time we evade death,

we're made ignorant fools.

We smile at strangers

and find the moon profound.

But soon change is garbage,

coffee is black,  and walking the streets

at night is miserable and outrageous.

Escaping death is too convenient.

We forget

our colors are not perpetually fast;

they fade from exposure, and our engraved

epitaphs fade from erosion. Sunday words are lost

on the dead, eulogies like the work of Ovid.

I see Lucille Ball arriving on the shore

of the River Styx

and blinding Charon with a frying pan

with Three Stooges audacity.

The Big 1-9

Spencer's April-May Videoblog

I made another one! This one's from April 8th to May 13th. It's been a month (ish) filled with guitar and reading and tea and my cat, Josephine, and not that much else, and what else is new?

Anyway, I hope you had a really great month (ish), filled with things you love as much as I love guitar and reading and tea and my cat, Josephine.

xo,

SF

What I'm reading right now: The Truth by Terry Pratchett

May 2012 Mix CD

1) Romeo and Juliet by The Killers
2) Never Going Back Again by Fleetwood Mac
3) Radio by Lana Del Rey
4) I Can Barely Say by The Fray
5) For You by Angus & Julia Stone
6) Creature Fear by Bon Iver
7) Superstar by Taylor Swift
8) First in Line by Matthew Mayfield
9) Million Dollar Man by Lana Del Rey
10) Sympathy by the Goo Goo Dolls
11) About a Girl by Nirvana
12) Fall to Pieces by Matt Nathanson
13) Blindsided by Bon Iver

xo,

SF

What I'm reading right now: The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler