Stay tuned to Katie's Pirate Booty - which will soon become Pieces of Cake!
New URL: www.piecesofcakeblog.blogspot.com
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
My Favorite Things: Fall Recipes Edition
I am not a fan of fall and winter, or cold weather, but I am a fan of soups. I love making and eating soup. Lots and lots of soup. It is hard to make lots and lots of soup in the summer time (it is hot in NC!) So I try and take full advantage of the cooler weather. I tend to be a bit overzealous with my fall cooking in the beginning of the season... the lucky people who live and work near me get to benefit from this enthusiasm. Soup recipes make a lot of food, and I love handing out portions of my creations!
Butternut Squash Soup
My preferred serving style: topped with reduced-fat sour cream, sunflower seeds, and served with a side of cornbread. 5 P+ per serving (plain), 11 P+ when served as suggested.
Crock Pot Turkey and White Bean Pumpkin Chili
My preferred serving style: 2 servings poured over 1/2 cup of brown rice and topped with reduced-fat sour cream. 3 P+ per serving, 10 P+ when served as suggested.
Low Fat Creamy Potato Soup
My preferred serving style: topped with scallions, cheese, and bacon bits. Sour cream would be good too, but this soup is pretty creamy by itself! 5 P+ when served as suggested.
Thyme and Vegetable Lamb Stew
My preferred serving style: as-is! This soup is delicious as-prepared. 6 P+ as-prepared.
Of course, making soup requires some very sophisticated kitchen tools. Not really, but here are some of my kitchen must-have's for these recipes.
- Immersion Blender (I got mine at Wal-Mart)
- Slow-Cooker
- Good cutting boards in a variety of sizes
- Calphalon Contemporary Knives
Now go, make these Fall recipes and let me know how they turn out! What are some of your favorite Fall recipes?
My preferred serving style: topped with reduced-fat sour cream, sunflower seeds, and served with a side of cornbread. 5 P+ per serving (plain), 11 P+ when served as suggested.
My preferred serving style: 2 servings poured over 1/2 cup of brown rice and topped with reduced-fat sour cream. 3 P+ per serving, 10 P+ when served as suggested.
My preferred serving style: topped with scallions, cheese, and bacon bits. Sour cream would be good too, but this soup is pretty creamy by itself! 5 P+ when served as suggested.
My preferred serving style: as-is! This soup is delicious as-prepared. 6 P+ as-prepared.
Of course, making soup requires some very sophisticated kitchen tools. Not really, but here are some of my kitchen must-have's for these recipes.
- Slow-Cooker
- Good cutting boards in a variety of sizes
- Calphalon Contemporary Knives
Now go, make these Fall recipes and let me know how they turn out! What are some of your favorite Fall recipes?
Saturday, October 22, 2011
The ABC's of Katie
A: Age. 24 in exactly one month!
B: Bed size. Double. I'm ready for a 2 bedroom apartment, so I can upgrade to a king sized bed!
C: Chores you dislike. Loading and unloading the dishwasher. It's so annoying.
D: Dogs. Don't have one. Would love one, but I don't think I have enough time (or money, or a yard...)
E: Essential start to your day. Hitting snooze at least 2 times. A water and a green tea once I get to work.
F: Favorite color. Pink.
G: Gold or silver. I really like gold jewelry - I mix and match though. I used to exclusively wear silver, but my Michael Kors watch has inspired me to wear a lot more gold.
H: Height. 5'3" and still growing! Kind of, I am working on my posture with my chiropractor.
I: Instruments you play(ed). Ha. Yeah right. At one point in time I tried to play the guitar, but my fingers are too short.
J: Job title. Indirect Sourcing Specialist.
K: Kids. Not yet.
L: Live. Charlotte, NC.
M: Mom's name. Susan Elizabeth. I got her middle name!
N: Nicknames. Since my real name is Kathryn, I guess Katie would be a nickname? My dad calls me Katootah and Cake.
O: Overnight hospital stays. Not since birth, thank goodness.
P: Pet peeves. Gum smacking. Fingernail clipping in public places. Lack of personal hygiene. People who can't drive.
Q: Quote: Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. -Theodore Roosevelt
R: Righty or lefty. Righty.
S: Siblings. One younger (but taller) brother, Jonathan.
T: Time you wake up. Around 6 AM during the week. Usually around 8 AM on the weekends.
U: Underwear. Why yes, I wear it.
V: Vegetables you don't like. Brussel sprouts, celery. I like most veggies!
W: What makes you run late. Traffic, waiting on other people. I hate being late.
X: X-rays you've had. Lots on my teeth, my spine.
Y: Yummy food you make. Some of my favorite culinary creations.
Z: Zoo animal favorites. Pigs are my favorite animal, but they are a farm animal. Counts in my book.
B: Bed size. Double. I'm ready for a 2 bedroom apartment, so I can upgrade to a king sized bed!
C: Chores you dislike. Loading and unloading the dishwasher. It's so annoying.
D: Dogs. Don't have one. Would love one, but I don't think I have enough time (or money, or a yard...)
E: Essential start to your day. Hitting snooze at least 2 times. A water and a green tea once I get to work.
F: Favorite color. Pink.
G: Gold or silver. I really like gold jewelry - I mix and match though. I used to exclusively wear silver, but my Michael Kors watch has inspired me to wear a lot more gold.
H: Height. 5'3" and still growing! Kind of, I am working on my posture with my chiropractor.
I: Instruments you play(ed). Ha. Yeah right. At one point in time I tried to play the guitar, but my fingers are too short.
J: Job title. Indirect Sourcing Specialist.
K: Kids. Not yet.
L: Live. Charlotte, NC.
M: Mom's name. Susan Elizabeth. I got her middle name!
N: Nicknames. Since my real name is Kathryn, I guess Katie would be a nickname? My dad calls me Katootah and Cake.
O: Overnight hospital stays. Not since birth, thank goodness.
P: Pet peeves. Gum smacking. Fingernail clipping in public places. Lack of personal hygiene. People who can't drive.
Q: Quote: Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. -Theodore Roosevelt
R: Righty or lefty. Righty.
S: Siblings. One younger (but taller) brother, Jonathan.
T: Time you wake up. Around 6 AM during the week. Usually around 8 AM on the weekends.
U: Underwear. Why yes, I wear it.
V: Vegetables you don't like. Brussel sprouts, celery. I like most veggies!
W: What makes you run late. Traffic, waiting on other people. I hate being late.
X: X-rays you've had. Lots on my teeth, my spine.
Y: Yummy food you make. Some of my favorite culinary creations.
Z: Zoo animal favorites. Pigs are my favorite animal, but they are a farm animal. Counts in my book.
Friday, October 21, 2011
My Favorite Things: Workout Edition
My inspiration for this post came from my friend Christine (who does not have a blog but needs one. She has funny stories). Example: she told me she was going to take a 'big girl shower.' What is a 'big girl shower?' Apparently its hair washing AND leg shaving at the same time! Why would one not wash their hair in the shower? Christine swears by Victoria's Secret dry shampoo. I am not a conneseuir of dry shampoos because of some scalp issues and have to wash my hair every day (thank you dermatologist for slowin' me down!). This one comes highly (HIGHLY!) recommended. It would be great to use after a work out when you don't want (or don't have time) to full-on shower!!! Anyway, she asked me for an economical sports bra recommendation. And this post was born.
Here are some of my favorite workout things:
C9 by Champion Compression Bra
I recently came across this sports bra thanks to a sale at Target. I am pretty loyal to the C9 by Champion brand for my workout gear, but they really do make quality sports bras. I bought this bra because it was on sale (and cheaper than my 'normal' sports bra). It works very well for those of us that... for lack of a better word... bounce a lot during our workouts. I am so thankful I found this bra! It keeps me in place during my jogs and is very comfortable. Priced at around $15, you really can't find a better deal!
Ipod Shuffle
Best. Investment. Ever. Instead of jogging around with my old Ipod Video clunker, I now clip this on to the waistband of my pants and go. It is very easy to use and allows me to choose my playlist or song as I jog. The Ipod will talk to you, and tell you what song or playlist you are on. It's pretty cool! For $49, it is definitely a good supplementary MP3 player, and minimizes those cumbersome moments when trying to find a song with a display screen.
Danskin Now Yoga Pants and Jacket
I mentioned loving the C9 by Champion brand; but their workout pants are expensive. I bought a pair not realizing it was $30. Those went back the very next day. My mom got a nice light black workout jacket at Wal-Mart. I got one too ($12), and some black pants to match ($14)! These will be perfect as the weather starts to get cooler. I needed something to wear over my short sleeved shirts and tanks. And I know I won't be able to wear jogging shorts without leggings for long. A great brand for workout clothes on a budget!
While I have my opinions on certain aspects of workout gear, one of the things I need major help with is choosing running shoes. I currently own a pair of 2-year-old, beat up, Nike running shoes. While they are relatively comfortable, I think I can do better for my feet.
Does anyone have running shoe suggestions? How do you go about finding the right pair for your feet?
Here are some of my favorite workout things:
C9 by Champion Compression Bra
I recently came across this sports bra thanks to a sale at Target. I am pretty loyal to the C9 by Champion brand for my workout gear, but they really do make quality sports bras. I bought this bra because it was on sale (and cheaper than my 'normal' sports bra). It works very well for those of us that... for lack of a better word... bounce a lot during our workouts. I am so thankful I found this bra! It keeps me in place during my jogs and is very comfortable. Priced at around $15, you really can't find a better deal!
Ipod Shuffle
Best. Investment. Ever. Instead of jogging around with my old Ipod Video clunker, I now clip this on to the waistband of my pants and go. It is very easy to use and allows me to choose my playlist or song as I jog. The Ipod will talk to you, and tell you what song or playlist you are on. It's pretty cool! For $49, it is definitely a good supplementary MP3 player, and minimizes those cumbersome moments when trying to find a song with a display screen.
Danskin Now Yoga Pants and Jacket
I mentioned loving the C9 by Champion brand; but their workout pants are expensive. I bought a pair not realizing it was $30. Those went back the very next day. My mom got a nice light black workout jacket at Wal-Mart. I got one too ($12), and some black pants to match ($14)! These will be perfect as the weather starts to get cooler. I needed something to wear over my short sleeved shirts and tanks. And I know I won't be able to wear jogging shorts without leggings for long. A great brand for workout clothes on a budget!
While I have my opinions on certain aspects of workout gear, one of the things I need major help with is choosing running shoes. I currently own a pair of 2-year-old, beat up, Nike running shoes. While they are relatively comfortable, I think I can do better for my feet.
Does anyone have running shoe suggestions? How do you go about finding the right pair for your feet?
10 Personal Questions
Here goes a few personal questions, borrowed from Caitlin over at Healthy Tipping Point.
What do you have on your bedside table?
A lamp, a coaster, candles, cell phones, a basket full of medicine like Excedrin PM, Melatonin, and my vitamins, remotes for the TV and DVR, my kindle, chap stick, hand cream and gloves.
Do you have a tattoo?
No, but I want one. John Mayer/Jimi Hendrix song lyrics. It is just a reminder to be 'Bold as Love' which I think is a powerful statement that can be interpreted in many ways. I want the tattoo on my foot, or my right hip. I would love to have it on my wrist, but it would be too hard to cover up in work situations. I have 10 more lbs to lose, and it might just be my weight loss reward! I have wanted this tattoo for years now, so I know it is not something that I would regret.
What is your worst habit?
Picking my cuticles. Recently, I have been to the dermatologist and found out I have a type of dermatitis on my hands - went on a topical steroid and my hands healed right up! I haven't 'picked' in about a month... I used to be a nail biter, but I now get gel polish manicures so my natural nails stay long and look pretty.
I think my worst habit right now would be talking with my mouth full - sometimes I just get so excited to talk, I forget that I am eating!!! Super rude, I know. Oh, and I eat wayyy too fast. I am actively working on this one. Must. Eat. Slower.
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Funny story: when I was little, I wanted to change my name to Madonna and I seriously asked my mom how to do it. I think that made her sad... I also get mistaken for a 'Jessica' a lot. I would definitely not change my name - I considered going by 'Kate' once I started in my professional career, but 'Katie' just suits me, and I can't imagine going by anything else.
Where do you want to go on your next vacation?
I want to go to some sort of epic island vacation once I graduate... I think I want to take a Caribbean cruise, because you get all-you-can-eat food and your hotel room floats with you from island to island!
Tell us something embarrassing about yourself.
I am super duper clumsy. I've had to stop bringing coffee to work in the morning because somehow it ends up all over me and my car. I've tripped over my own feet more times than I can count. And I bruise like a peach, with my clumsiness I have at least 4 bruises on my body at any given time... Most of the time I have no idea where they came from. I am just very uncoordinated. The sheer fact that I have been jogging for over 2 months and not fallen is a complete miracle. I have tripped, but caught myself. Not really embarrassing, but I am just a klutz.
What are you really good at? What are you really bad at?
I am really good at cooking (I think..), picking good restaurants, solving other people's problems, being a hostess, driving, maintaining friendships. I believe my biggest strength is my ability to read people and seeing through their b/s - most of the time I am dead on (however, I am better when I am one step removed from the person I am reading, and when the situation is not directly related to me).
I am really bad at being coordinated (see above) and with that comes participating in any athletic event. I am bad at being flexible too. Not having control over schedules and situations is difficult for me, and I don't tend to react well when things do not go my way.
Why did you attend your college?
It was close to home, they had a good business program, and I look really good in red. Go Wolfpack.
Describe your morning routine today.
This morning was not normal. I woke up, hit snooze at least 3 times (OK, that is normal). Got dressed and semi-presentable (TGIF and Jeans Day). Put the fixin's for my Turkey Pumpkin White Bean Chili in the crock pot and turned it on. Rushed out the door to leave for work. Realized I needed gas. Got gas. Finally made it to work.
Do people think you are younger or older than you actually are?
Everyone thinks I am younger than I actually am. I can't really help that I look like I am 16... apparently this will be good as I get older?! I am sure that it will be, but at the age of 23, it is really annoying when people think you are in high school.
There you go! Now maybe you know a little more about me... I challenge you to answer all (or some) of these personal questions in your blogs!
What do you have on your bedside table?
A lamp, a coaster, candles, cell phones, a basket full of medicine like Excedrin PM, Melatonin, and my vitamins, remotes for the TV and DVR, my kindle, chap stick, hand cream and gloves.
Do you have a tattoo?
No, but I want one. John Mayer/Jimi Hendrix song lyrics. It is just a reminder to be 'Bold as Love' which I think is a powerful statement that can be interpreted in many ways. I want the tattoo on my foot, or my right hip. I would love to have it on my wrist, but it would be too hard to cover up in work situations. I have 10 more lbs to lose, and it might just be my weight loss reward! I have wanted this tattoo for years now, so I know it is not something that I would regret.
What is your worst habit?
Picking my cuticles. Recently, I have been to the dermatologist and found out I have a type of dermatitis on my hands - went on a topical steroid and my hands healed right up! I haven't 'picked' in about a month... I used to be a nail biter, but I now get gel polish manicures so my natural nails stay long and look pretty.
I think my worst habit right now would be talking with my mouth full - sometimes I just get so excited to talk, I forget that I am eating!!! Super rude, I know. Oh, and I eat wayyy too fast. I am actively working on this one. Must. Eat. Slower.
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Funny story: when I was little, I wanted to change my name to Madonna and I seriously asked my mom how to do it. I think that made her sad... I also get mistaken for a 'Jessica' a lot. I would definitely not change my name - I considered going by 'Kate' once I started in my professional career, but 'Katie' just suits me, and I can't imagine going by anything else.
Where do you want to go on your next vacation?
I want to go to some sort of epic island vacation once I graduate... I think I want to take a Caribbean cruise, because you get all-you-can-eat food and your hotel room floats with you from island to island!
Tell us something embarrassing about yourself.
I am super duper clumsy. I've had to stop bringing coffee to work in the morning because somehow it ends up all over me and my car. I've tripped over my own feet more times than I can count. And I bruise like a peach, with my clumsiness I have at least 4 bruises on my body at any given time... Most of the time I have no idea where they came from. I am just very uncoordinated. The sheer fact that I have been jogging for over 2 months and not fallen is a complete miracle. I have tripped, but caught myself. Not really embarrassing, but I am just a klutz.
What are you really good at? What are you really bad at?
I am really good at cooking (I think..), picking good restaurants, solving other people's problems, being a hostess, driving, maintaining friendships. I believe my biggest strength is my ability to read people and seeing through their b/s - most of the time I am dead on (however, I am better when I am one step removed from the person I am reading, and when the situation is not directly related to me).
I am really bad at being coordinated (see above) and with that comes participating in any athletic event. I am bad at being flexible too. Not having control over schedules and situations is difficult for me, and I don't tend to react well when things do not go my way.
Why did you attend your college?
It was close to home, they had a good business program, and I look really good in red. Go Wolfpack.
Describe your morning routine today.
This morning was not normal. I woke up, hit snooze at least 3 times (OK, that is normal). Got dressed and semi-presentable (TGIF and Jeans Day). Put the fixin's for my Turkey Pumpkin White Bean Chili in the crock pot and turned it on. Rushed out the door to leave for work. Realized I needed gas. Got gas. Finally made it to work.
Do people think you are younger or older than you actually are?
Everyone thinks I am younger than I actually am. I can't really help that I look like I am 16... apparently this will be good as I get older?! I am sure that it will be, but at the age of 23, it is really annoying when people think you are in high school.
There you go! Now maybe you know a little more about me... I challenge you to answer all (or some) of these personal questions in your blogs!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Hopin' for Raleigh
While I live in Charlotte (and I love it), Raleigh will always be my favorite city. North Carolina is my favorite state, so life is pretty good that I at least live in the state again!
Downtown Raleigh at night
I just wrapped up a visit to my favorite city and got to see (almost) all of my favorite people. Only a few friends were missing, and that is just because they live out of town (note to self: need to plan a trip to Washington DC and Nashville after graduation).
Some highlights of the trip...
Delicious dinners at Sushi Blues, Shiki Sushi, Buku, and Jimmy V's
Dynamite appetizer at Sushi Blues
Big Red (aka my car) got her oil changed, tires rotated, a bath, and a vacuuming. She is so happy and clean but tired of driving. She told me she needed a rest for a few days...
Scott's Mill Oktoberfest and family fun
Oktoberfest fun
One-on-one time with some of my best friends that I have not spent time with in far too long.
Obligatory pre-going out pic - not in a mirror, courtesy of Mom!
Recruiting at my alma mater NCSU with another one of my best friends.
Betsy and I outside of the College of Management
And enjoyed a delicious post-recruiting dinner with another good friend (ref. above one-on-one time)...
Pretty centerpiece and Michael's to-go short ribs
Look how cute and professional I am!
Butternut Squash and Chicken Pierogis
Creme Brulee Sampler - Vanilla, Chocolate, Ginger (l to r)
Meatloaf sandwiches - multiple times (at least once for breakfast, don't judge me til you've tried it). Thanks for fixing the meatloaf, Dad!
Nom nom nom.
A new camera! Hopefully I will continue to have more pictures in my blog (not taken with my HTC EVO...)
Sometimes, there is just no place like home. This was one of my more enjoyable trips to Raleigh because I got to see everyone that I love! Not that my trips are not typically enjoyable - this one was just particularly fun. Since my old room has been taken over by my brother's crap, I sleep on the pull-out bed in the bonus room. Look at what my sweet mom did my first night of recruiting!!
Yes, that is a Kit-Kat on my pillow...
It is sad that my next trip home is not until Christmas, but I hope it is another fun-filled trip. I have a lot to keep me busy (and to look forward to) from now until then, but I certainly cannot wait to get back! And hopefully more often after I am done with school.
I just wrapped up a visit to my favorite city and got to see (almost) all of my favorite people. Only a few friends were missing, and that is just because they live out of town (note to self: need to plan a trip to Washington DC and Nashville after graduation).
Some highlights of the trip...
Delicious dinners at Sushi Blues, Shiki Sushi, Buku, and Jimmy V's
Big Red (aka my car) got her oil changed, tires rotated, a bath, and a vacuuming. She is so happy and clean but tired of driving. She told me she needed a rest for a few days...
Scott's Mill Oktoberfest and family fun
One-on-one time with some of my best friends that I have not spent time with in far too long.
Recruiting at my alma mater NCSU with another one of my best friends.
And enjoyed a delicious post-recruiting dinner with another good friend (ref. above one-on-one time)...
Meatloaf sandwiches - multiple times (at least once for breakfast, don't judge me til you've tried it). Thanks for fixing the meatloaf, Dad!
A new camera! Hopefully I will continue to have more pictures in my blog (not taken with my HTC EVO...)
Sometimes, there is just no place like home. This was one of my more enjoyable trips to Raleigh because I got to see everyone that I love! Not that my trips are not typically enjoyable - this one was just particularly fun. Since my old room has been taken over by my brother's crap, I sleep on the pull-out bed in the bonus room. Look at what my sweet mom did my first night of recruiting!!
It is sad that my next trip home is not until Christmas, but I hope it is another fun-filled trip. I have a lot to keep me busy (and to look forward to) from now until then, but I certainly cannot wait to get back! And hopefully more often after I am done with school.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Hoarders: Canned Goods Edition
Apparently, I am auditioning for an unannounced show called Hoarders: Canned Goods Edition. Credits belong to Food Lion, Aldi, and my father.
My Rubbermaid handy-cart post-Aldi trip filled with some of the goods
It is funny the habits children pick up from their parents without even realizing it. I make fun of my dad for having a pantry full of canned goods and making chicken noodle soup. I now have a pantry full of canned goods and made chicken noodle soup with said canned goods last week.
Exhibit A
A few weeks ago, I got some fun pantry organization supplies from Rubbermaid! A can organizer as well as a helper shelf. They have tons and tons of organizational tips and tricks on their website as well as their blog. Check it out!
I feel fully stocked for the winter (canned goods, peanut butter, pasta sauce, and toilet paper have all been purchased in bulk). Speaking of peanut butter, prices are going up! Stock up while you can. I got two jars of reduced fat Jif at Food Lion today.
In other news, with my newly built stockpile, I plan on making and eating a lot of soups! Healthy, nutritious, and filling. On tap for the next week or two:
- Beef stew (beef, orzo, diced tomato, green beans, potato, onion)
- Turkey white bean pumpkin chili from Gina's Skinny Taste
- Butternut squash soup is in the freezer - best served with sunflower seeds and sour cream on top, with a side of cornbread
- North African Meatball Stew over couscous will be next week (I use turkey meatballs instead of making my own).
I really enjoy making soup because it is easy and portable. And it is also basically foolproof. While I have not really messed anything up in the kitchen before (minus my recent kale incident - which I don't like to talk about)... soups are incredibly easy. Chop some meat up, open a few cans, toss in pot, add some seasonings, and heat until the flavors have melted. Or even easier, throw all that stuff in a crockpot and come home to a yummy smelling dinner!!
It is funny the habits children pick up from their parents without even realizing it. I make fun of my dad for having a pantry full of canned goods and making chicken noodle soup. I now have a pantry full of canned goods and made chicken noodle soup with said canned goods last week.
A few weeks ago, I got some fun pantry organization supplies from Rubbermaid! A can organizer as well as a helper shelf. They have tons and tons of organizational tips and tricks on their website as well as their blog. Check it out!
I feel fully stocked for the winter (canned goods, peanut butter, pasta sauce, and toilet paper have all been purchased in bulk). Speaking of peanut butter, prices are going up! Stock up while you can. I got two jars of reduced fat Jif at Food Lion today.
In other news, with my newly built stockpile, I plan on making and eating a lot of soups! Healthy, nutritious, and filling. On tap for the next week or two:
- Beef stew (beef, orzo, diced tomato, green beans, potato, onion)
- Turkey white bean pumpkin chili from Gina's Skinny Taste
- Butternut squash soup is in the freezer - best served with sunflower seeds and sour cream on top, with a side of cornbread
- North African Meatball Stew over couscous will be next week (I use turkey meatballs instead of making my own).
I really enjoy making soup because it is easy and portable. And it is also basically foolproof. While I have not really messed anything up in the kitchen before (minus my recent kale incident - which I don't like to talk about)... soups are incredibly easy. Chop some meat up, open a few cans, toss in pot, add some seasonings, and heat until the flavors have melted. Or even easier, throw all that stuff in a crockpot and come home to a yummy smelling dinner!!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Scott's Mill Oktoberfest
This weekend I was able to go home, and had some good quality family time at a neighborhood Oktoberfest with my parents, brother, and neighbors (who really might as well be family...) Oh, and some ahhhh-mazing hot wings with homemade sauce. Nom nom.
Chatting with the neighbor kids
Oktoberfest fun
Ridin' home
Bonfire time! Perfect weather, perfect company.
Neighbor Mike, Brother Jonathan, Mom Susan
Dad Jim and Neighbor Shelly
And then came the wings!
I love spending time with my Crazy Maple Court family! That's what we call the street my parents live on... I couldn't ask for a better way to spend my Saturday night. Stay tuned for more stories about my trip to Raleigh.
Has anyone been to any fun Fall festivals yet this season? What is your favorite Fall tradition?
I love spending time with my Crazy Maple Court family! That's what we call the street my parents live on... I couldn't ask for a better way to spend my Saturday night. Stay tuned for more stories about my trip to Raleigh.
Has anyone been to any fun Fall festivals yet this season? What is your favorite Fall tradition?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
My favorite blogs!
While of course my #1 favorite blog is Katie's Pirate Booty... I am a huge fan of reading blogs for entertainment. So, here goes my list of favorite blogs in no particular order (except for the first one - it really is my favorite blog).
This is hands down one of the funniest blogs I have ever read. Some creative genius writes from the POV of Suri Cruise (Tom and Katie's daughter). While posting is not always constant (which I would love), the posts are always quality and completely hillarous. As you could imagine, Suri Cruise is probably a snotty child, and this blog completely embodies what you would imagine as her personality. She pokes fun at other celeb children in completely ridiculous manners. If you are in to pop culture, and want a good laugh, I highly recommend checking out Suri's Burn Book.
Healthy Tipping Point is a healthy living blog - Caitlin is a really good writer, and has varied columns that keep me interested with topics ranging from recipes to running to restaurants. She is also a local Charlotte blogger! I enjoy hearing the things she checks out in the city.. maybe one day we will run in to each other! It is weird, but by reading other people's blogs (people who post often and/or write a lot of detail about their life), I feel like I really know them.
I discovered Reality Steve about 2 years ago. He posts spoilers of The Bachelor(ette) franchise, and I love it. He also writes incredibly humorous reviews of the shows, as well as other reality shows such as DWTS. He has recently started featuring other bloggers on his site to cover shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians and the Real Housewives franchise. Keep in mind, Reality Steve has a lot of 'inside' info that may ruin the allure of the show for some of you. For me, I love the cynicism of Reality Steve's posts and the fact that he always points out the ridiculousness of the concept that is the Bachelor(ette). Of course, I still watch the shows and feed in to the hype... Reality Steve has made my viewing experiences that much better.
I came across Faye's Book during one of my Bachelor(or maybe -ette?) phases in which I was obsessed with reading any and all blogs about the show. While Faye does blog about the Bachelor(ette), she tells some pretty funny stories about her life. We are in the approximate same age group/place in life, and I find I can identify with her blog (read: life) pretty well.
Gina. Is. Awesome. This is my go-to website for any recipe. I get so excited to see her new posts! She is Weight Watchers friendly, and if you have not been to this site - GO, NOW, CLICK FAST! While her recipes are healthy, she does a fantastic job of disguising that fact. None of her recipes that I have tried taste overly healthy. She uses normal, fresh ingredients to make simple dishes. Also, her photography skills make her dishes look particularly delectable
Check out some of these blogs and let the writers know what you think! What are some of your favorite blogs?
Suri's Burn Book
Suri's Burn Book
This is hands down one of the funniest blogs I have ever read. Some creative genius writes from the POV of Suri Cruise (Tom and Katie's daughter). While posting is not always constant (which I would love), the posts are always quality and completely hillarous. As you could imagine, Suri Cruise is probably a snotty child, and this blog completely embodies what you would imagine as her personality. She pokes fun at other celeb children in completely ridiculous manners. If you are in to pop culture, and want a good laugh, I highly recommend checking out Suri's Burn Book.
Healthy Tipping Point
Healthy Tipping Point is a healthy living blog - Caitlin is a really good writer, and has varied columns that keep me interested with topics ranging from recipes to running to restaurants. She is also a local Charlotte blogger! I enjoy hearing the things she checks out in the city.. maybe one day we will run in to each other! It is weird, but by reading other people's blogs (people who post often and/or write a lot of detail about their life), I feel like I really know them.
Reality Steve
I discovered Reality Steve about 2 years ago. He posts spoilers of The Bachelor(ette) franchise, and I love it. He also writes incredibly humorous reviews of the shows, as well as other reality shows such as DWTS. He has recently started featuring other bloggers on his site to cover shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians and the Real Housewives franchise. Keep in mind, Reality Steve has a lot of 'inside' info that may ruin the allure of the show for some of you. For me, I love the cynicism of Reality Steve's posts and the fact that he always points out the ridiculousness of the concept that is the Bachelor(ette). Of course, I still watch the shows and feed in to the hype... Reality Steve has made my viewing experiences that much better.
Faye's Book
I came across Faye's Book during one of my Bachelor(or maybe -ette?) phases in which I was obsessed with reading any and all blogs about the show. While Faye does blog about the Bachelor(ette), she tells some pretty funny stories about her life. We are in the approximate same age group/place in life, and I find I can identify with her blog (read: life) pretty well.
Gina's Skinny Recipes
Gina. Is. Awesome. This is my go-to website for any recipe. I get so excited to see her new posts! She is Weight Watchers friendly, and if you have not been to this site - GO, NOW, CLICK FAST! While her recipes are healthy, she does a fantastic job of disguising that fact. None of her recipes that I have tried taste overly healthy. She uses normal, fresh ingredients to make simple dishes. Also, her photography skills make her dishes look particularly delectable
Check out some of these blogs and let the writers know what you think! What are some of your favorite blogs?
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Looking Forward
One thing I am very good at is having a pity party for myself... Currently in one now - I feel like I have been good diet and exercise-wise this week and I am getting no results. As I discussed in my weight loss journey, I need to redirect my thoughts and remember that I am healthy - and sometimes the scale does not always reflect 'health.' I jogged two miles today!
So in a public attempt to redirect my thoughts, I am going to list out a few (non-scale) things that I am looking forward to during the rest of 2011! A central theme: lots of good family time!
Disclaimer: this pic is from November 2007 - holy cow I am getting old!
This weekend/part of next week in Raleigh. Two words: State Fair. Ok, I am excited about more than that! I get to see almost all of my friends, my family, and my little brother (see above: not so little) turns 21! Hopefully he will let me celebrate with him.
I am going to Raleigh for work (a recruiting trip at NCSU), which is one of my favorite things to do (work-wise). I really should be a recruiter... I am good at it! My family happens to live in the Raleigh area - very convenient!
Also, this Friday I am taking a vacation day! Sometimes I think I forget what 'vacation' is, and while I will be doing some schoolwork... I am looking forward to a three day weekend.
I miss you, NC State!
Las Vegas. Somehow, I convinced my parents to take us to Vegas for Thanksgiving this year. I gently suggested it (read: started brainwashing) around Christmas last year, so there was plenty of time to plan and process. I am BEYOND excited. This will be my first trip to Las Vegas, and my brother will finally be 21, and something tells me my parents will be having just as much fun as he and I will be ;-)
My 24th birthday happens to be on Thanksgiving this year (24 on the 24th! This is gonna be an awesome birthday), and my goal is to not spend a single dollar on drinks (and hopefully get free dessert everywhere we go). For the cherry on top of this alcohol infused sundae, by the time I get there, I will have taken my last final (ever) and completed my last presentation (ever).
Which brings me to...
Graduation. On December 16th (65 days), I will officially have my MBA and this long journey will finally be over! I am very grateful though that my final semester I only have to take one class, and it has not been excruciatingly painful (like other classes *ahem* management science). I chose my professor wisely; the other sections have a 140 page paper to write. No thank you. Mom, Dad, start planning my baller graduation party!!! Yes, I am having one because Dad did, and mine had better be epic!
While my life is completely different than when I started this blog, I am glad things turned out the way that they did. And in 65 days I will be able to say I survived grad school while working a full time job. Never thought I would say that! It is hard for me to believe that it is mid-October. Where has the time gone?!
Thanks for letting me share some things that I am looking forward to this year. How about my readers? What plans are you looking forward to the most for the rest of this year?
So in a public attempt to redirect my thoughts, I am going to list out a few (non-scale) things that I am looking forward to during the rest of 2011! A central theme: lots of good family time!
This weekend/part of next week in Raleigh. Two words: State Fair. Ok, I am excited about more than that! I get to see almost all of my friends, my family, and my little brother (see above: not so little) turns 21! Hopefully he will let me celebrate with him.
I am going to Raleigh for work (a recruiting trip at NCSU), which is one of my favorite things to do (work-wise). I really should be a recruiter... I am good at it! My family happens to live in the Raleigh area - very convenient!
Also, this Friday I am taking a vacation day! Sometimes I think I forget what 'vacation' is, and while I will be doing some schoolwork... I am looking forward to a three day weekend.
Las Vegas. Somehow, I convinced my parents to take us to Vegas for Thanksgiving this year. I gently suggested it (read: started brainwashing) around Christmas last year, so there was plenty of time to plan and process. I am BEYOND excited. This will be my first trip to Las Vegas, and my brother will finally be 21, and something tells me my parents will be having just as much fun as he and I will be ;-)
My 24th birthday happens to be on Thanksgiving this year (24 on the 24th! This is gonna be an awesome birthday), and my goal is to not spend a single dollar on drinks (and hopefully get free dessert everywhere we go). For the cherry on top of this alcohol infused sundae, by the time I get there, I will have taken my last final (ever) and completed my last presentation (ever).
Which brings me to...
Graduation. On December 16th (65 days), I will officially have my MBA and this long journey will finally be over! I am very grateful though that my final semester I only have to take one class, and it has not been excruciatingly painful (like other classes *ahem* management science). I chose my professor wisely; the other sections have a 140 page paper to write. No thank you. Mom, Dad, start planning my baller graduation party!!! Yes, I am having one because Dad did, and mine had better be epic!
While my life is completely different than when I started this blog, I am glad things turned out the way that they did. And in 65 days I will be able to say I survived grad school while working a full time job. Never thought I would say that! It is hard for me to believe that it is mid-October. Where has the time gone?!
Thanks for letting me share some things that I am looking forward to this year. How about my readers? What plans are you looking forward to the most for the rest of this year?
Sunday, October 9, 2011
OATrageous Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Courtesy of Hungry Girl, I made some delicious chocolate chip pancakes this morning. Gasp! I followed a recipe?!
Ok so, they didn't turn out incredibly gorgeous, but they did taste very good. Note: these are very dense pancakes. If you are looking for a light and fluffy recipe, this is not the best choice. Also, I only had regular sized chocolate chips which probably upped the Points Plus values a bit, but I wanted the chocolat-y flavor.
You can find the recipe here! The newsletter recipe differs slightly from what I made (out of the 200 recipes under 200 cookbook). The only major difference is I swapped fat free milk for fat free vanilla yogurt.
I have made these pancakes before... which turned out a little prettier. I made one large pancake instead of several mini ones. And at 4 points plus, this recipe is a breakfast steal! And they definitely taste 'bad.'
Because they are so dense, you could whip these up the night before and re-heat in the morning for a delicious at-work breakfast, and I don't think you would know the difference! They definitely kept me full until lunch as well.. which is always a feat! Let me know if you end up trying these pancakes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Ok so, they didn't turn out incredibly gorgeous, but they did taste very good. Note: these are very dense pancakes. If you are looking for a light and fluffy recipe, this is not the best choice. Also, I only had regular sized chocolate chips which probably upped the Points Plus values a bit, but I wanted the chocolat-y flavor.
You can find the recipe here! The newsletter recipe differs slightly from what I made (out of the 200 recipes under 200 cookbook). The only major difference is I swapped fat free milk for fat free vanilla yogurt.
I have made these pancakes before... which turned out a little prettier. I made one large pancake instead of several mini ones. And at 4 points plus, this recipe is a breakfast steal! And they definitely taste 'bad.'
Because they are so dense, you could whip these up the night before and re-heat in the morning for a delicious at-work breakfast, and I don't think you would know the difference! They definitely kept me full until lunch as well.. which is always a feat! Let me know if you end up trying these pancakes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Mushroom Mac and Cheese - Lightened Up
I really enjoy cooking simple, healthy recipes... and I have quite a few in my repertoire.
One of my favorite (unhealthy) things to make is homemade macaroni and cheese, and I do admit I am pretty good at it... I think the lightened up version is good as well! I was craving some comfort food tonight and had all the fixin's, so I decided to make a mushroom version of lightened up mac and cheese. I must admit, this is one of the best recipes I have made - ever. While I fly by the seat of my pants in the kitchen and don't usually follow recipes, I will try and recreate this so you can try it at home!
This recipe is for one large serving... This recipe would also make a good sized portion as a side dish for two. I cooked everything in 'stages' in one medium sized pot.
1.5 Servings - Ronzoni Smart Taste Elbows
2 cloves garlic, minced
Fresh Mushrooms, diced
Dash of olive oil
1 tbsp light butter
1 tbsp whole wheat flour
1 c. skim milk
Pinch of red pepper
Pinch of dry mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
2 oz. low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
Stage 1:
Cook pasta and drain. Set aside.
Stage 2:
Saute garlic and diced mushrooms in a small amount of olive oil on medium heat until cooked through. About 5 minutes. Set aside.
Stage 3:
Melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and combine. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
Add skim milk. Cook over medium heat until it comes to a low boil, stirring constantly. Sauce will begin to thicken. If it doesn't, add more flour as needed. If it is too thick, add more milk as needed.
Add cooked mushrooms and garlic, stirring well. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add salt, pepper, red pepper, and dry mustard to taste.
Put cooked pasta in to sauce and combine until pasta is completely coated.
Stage 4:
Serve immediately and enjoy!
This is a really easy and filling recipe. I calculated 13 Weight Watchers Points Plus - you definitely get your 'bang for your buck' with this macaroni and cheese. It tastes really bad, but you are using lightened up ingredients!!
Let me know if you end up recreating and how you like it! There is enough sauce that comes out of this recipe, you could add additional veggies such as broccoli or asparagus, or add more pasta.
One of my favorite (unhealthy) things to make is homemade macaroni and cheese, and I do admit I am pretty good at it... I think the lightened up version is good as well! I was craving some comfort food tonight and had all the fixin's, so I decided to make a mushroom version of lightened up mac and cheese. I must admit, this is one of the best recipes I have made - ever. While I fly by the seat of my pants in the kitchen and don't usually follow recipes, I will try and recreate this so you can try it at home!
This recipe is for one large serving... This recipe would also make a good sized portion as a side dish for two. I cooked everything in 'stages' in one medium sized pot.
2 cloves garlic, minced
Fresh Mushrooms, diced
Dash of olive oil
1 tbsp light butter
1 tbsp whole wheat flour
1 c. skim milk
Pinch of red pepper
Pinch of dry mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
2 oz. low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
Stage 1:
Cook pasta and drain. Set aside.
Stage 2:
Saute garlic and diced mushrooms in a small amount of olive oil on medium heat until cooked through. About 5 minutes. Set aside.
Stage 3:
Melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and combine. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
Add skim milk. Cook over medium heat until it comes to a low boil, stirring constantly. Sauce will begin to thicken. If it doesn't, add more flour as needed. If it is too thick, add more milk as needed.
Add cooked mushrooms and garlic, stirring well. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add salt, pepper, red pepper, and dry mustard to taste.
Put cooked pasta in to sauce and combine until pasta is completely coated.
Stage 4:
Serve immediately and enjoy!
This is a really easy and filling recipe. I calculated 13 Weight Watchers Points Plus - you definitely get your 'bang for your buck' with this macaroni and cheese. It tastes really bad, but you are using lightened up ingredients!!
Let me know if you end up recreating and how you like it! There is enough sauce that comes out of this recipe, you could add additional veggies such as broccoli or asparagus, or add more pasta.
Friday, October 7, 2011
A Concert Pictorial: Taylor Swift
Ok, so the highlight of my life so far is the Taylor Swift concert in Atlanta. I am so grateful Taylor got sick and rescheduled so that I could attend as a VIP.
Here is our concert story through pictures. All photo credits belong to Betsy (and Sehar, the waiter at Taco Mac, and random concert people for taking them). This is basically the next-best-thing to being there and actually hanging out with yours truly.
We were a little hungover from the night before, but we managed to pull ourselves together and get beautiful for Taylor. I decided to go with the full on cowgirl look. Betsy went with the partial cowgirl (see the boots!).
We rode the MARTA to get to Taylor. We tweeted at her in our last ditch effort to get her to meet us at Taco Mac. Hey. I tried.
We made it!!!
We hung out with Taylor pre-show. She got dressed up for us too. I didn't want to embarrass her by telling her she forgot her hat...
We went to Taco Mac and waited for Taylor to join us again... she failed to show up and she completely forgot to let us know!!!
She must have been busy getting ready for this or something... So, we forgave her and still managed to make it (read: stumble) our way in to the suite
This is our 'OMG TAYLOR IS ON' face. See how excited we are?!?
We love Taylor!!!
Our suite was a little boring. Not as lively as we would have liked. Betsy, myself, and another girl were the only people dancing and having actual fun... soo Betsy made us new friends and we went to their suite.
Come to find out - our new friends were married to executives at AT&T. We only roll with other VIP's. They had food in their suite... I had a hot dog and got in trouble by the suite 'bouncer' even though the President of AT&T International told me I could have one (so did his wife...) I still ate it...
We remained in the AT&T suite for the rest of the concert. They had a way better view of Taylor. I just kept my hands off of the hot dogs... We (I) managed not to get kicked out. TI made a surprise appearance for us and they sang 'Live Your Life.' He knows how much I love rap and wanted to celebrate being out of jail with me!!! I thought that was pretty cool of him.
While Betsy and I did go all out for this concert and sometimes acted ridiculous (read: awesome), it was 100% worth it. I have been to many concerts in my day, and this was by far the best one I have ever been to. Taylor put on a great show, and I can't wait to see her again! I plan on reliving the concert again and again via CD in my car. I may or may not have a voice after my next road trip. Deal with it.
Here is our concert story through pictures. All photo credits belong to Betsy (and Sehar, the waiter at Taco Mac, and random concert people for taking them). This is basically the next-best-thing to being there and actually hanging out with yours truly.
We were a little hungover from the night before, but we managed to pull ourselves together and get beautiful for Taylor. I decided to go with the full on cowgirl look. Betsy went with the partial cowgirl (see the boots!).
We rode the MARTA to get to Taylor. We tweeted at her in our last ditch effort to get her to meet us at Taco Mac. Hey. I tried.
We made it!!!
We hung out with Taylor pre-show. She got dressed up for us too. I didn't want to embarrass her by telling her she forgot her hat...
We went to Taco Mac and waited for Taylor to join us again... she failed to show up and she completely forgot to let us know!!!
She must have been busy getting ready for this or something... So, we forgave her and still managed to make it (read: stumble) our way in to the suite
This is our 'OMG TAYLOR IS ON' face. See how excited we are?!?
We love Taylor!!!
Our suite was a little boring. Not as lively as we would have liked. Betsy, myself, and another girl were the only people dancing and having actual fun... soo Betsy made us new friends and we went to their suite.
Come to find out - our new friends were married to executives at AT&T. We only roll with other VIP's. They had food in their suite... I had a hot dog and got in trouble by the suite 'bouncer' even though the President of AT&T International told me I could have one (so did his wife...) I still ate it...
We remained in the AT&T suite for the rest of the concert. They had a way better view of Taylor. I just kept my hands off of the hot dogs... We (I) managed not to get kicked out. TI made a surprise appearance for us and they sang 'Live Your Life.' He knows how much I love rap and wanted to celebrate being out of jail with me!!! I thought that was pretty cool of him.
While Betsy and I did go all out for this concert and sometimes acted ridiculous (read: awesome), it was 100% worth it. I have been to many concerts in my day, and this was by far the best one I have ever been to. Taylor put on a great show, and I can't wait to see her again! I plan on reliving the concert again and again via CD in my car. I may or may not have a voice after my next road trip. Deal with it.
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