My Love of the Brownie Pan

Why do they call them Brownie pans anyway? That makes them so one-sided. Like hey, I'm a Brownie Pan. I only hold gooey, delicious brownies. Full of chocolate and slightly undone centers. Warm squares of chocolatey goodness.

I've had this so called Brownie pan for a while now, and I've pretty much only made brownies in it since I got it.

But recently I had this brilliant idea to bake some BBQ chicken in it. And that turned out delicious.

And you know what else?

It was the most perfect portion size for just little ole me.

So I did something crazy. I made lasagna in my "brownie pan."

Oh, the horror it must have felt when it was full of cheesy, saucy noodley goodness instead of danity chocolate squares.

And again. Perfect portion sizes. I didn't have to eat lasagna for 65 days.

This is huge, people. And please don't tell me one of you, who is smarter than me, figured this out long ago. Shame on you for not sharing with your fellow single people or two person homes.

Total casserole game changer.

So long to my "brownie pan." And hello to my new I'm-gonna-use-this-for-everything pan. I think my next creation will be poppy seed chicken.

Fun Day Friday

• My mom got this little running girl sticker for me when she went to St. Louis. I think she's precious, and her purple headband is the best. I love purple. I think running stick girl goes nicely with my run sticker I got in New Orleans.
• Speaking of stickers, I'm saving the other side of my back window for my 13.1 sticker. As of December 1, I will have one of those beauties on my car. And I get to check something off my bucket list.
• I've decided my only distractions I'll have from working from home will be unlimited access to my refrigerator and the ability to make endless cups of coffee.
• I am thinking it's time to break out my top 5 Christmas movies. Asher's been quoting Christmas Vacation for weeks now, and it's starting to get to me. I'm trying to hold out until Thanksgiving, but let's be honest....you and I both know I'll cave before then.
• Mark it down. October 26. The first time I mention Christmas on the blog this year. Two months away....I can't believe it didn't happen sooner.
• Boom Kinetic is playing two nights in a row here in Little Rock. I've waited years for such goodness to happen. There's rumors of a guest list for tomorrow night. Trying to figure out how to get on it. It would just add to the goodness.
• I'm in the market for some chunky sweaters and smoking loafers. Any suggestions on where I should go to get these items? I need something trendy in my wardrobe right now. Maybe a sweater with elbow patches. And definitely some leopard print smoking loafers.
• Once Upon a Time and Pretty Little Liars has taken over my free time. Netflix has been good to me recently. I think it's trying to make up for the time it took away The Biggest Loser without my knowledge. And don't judge me for Pretty Little Liars. It's a good show. I think I'm in love with Ezra Fitz. He's cute in that nerdy smart guy kinda way.
• I picked my 13-year-old cousin up from the junior high the other day. And then I kidnapped her and made her help me recycle some magazines. She tries to pretend like I'm not cool anymore, but deep down I know she loved it. Am I cool enough to make recycling fun? It's questions like that that keep me up at night.
• I need to get the new Mumford and Sons and the new Taylor Swift. My musical life is suffering. I am behind. I feel bad about it. And you can hate T. Swift all you want, but she means it when she sings. She means it. (My love of Mumford should help me keep some cool points, right?)
• Who says cool points? I need to be slapped.

Have a great Friday. Rock on!

One Week from Today

This sweet girl turned 4 on Monday. I can't really believe she is four....probably because she acts likes she's 24. Just a little old soul in a toddler's body. This is one of the only pictures of us. Susan snapped at Bit's birthday party this past weekend, and I cherish it. It's one of many moments I will never forget.

As of today, it's exactly one week until Asher's surgery on the tumor in her leg. I'm hoping after that we can start throwing around the term "cancer free" like it's our job. Justin got some awesome photos of Bit last night, and I wanted to share them with you because they are so beautiful.

Looking at these photos makes me so happy. I love how little kiddish she looks. I mean she is a little kid. A little kid dealing with very grown up problems. So I love any captured moment where she actually looks her age.

The last few weeks I've been super busy, and I started my new job this week so I haven't been able to hang out with her as much. The time I have gotten to spend with her is a full reminder of how much I love this kid.

She has been a constant in my unsteady life for the past five months. But if I were to bet, I'd say she's been a constant in more lives than just mine. And this is a beautiful thing.

This kid can evoke so much emotion out of so many people. And the fact that she has touched so many people who have never met her is just a testament to her story....and all the more reason to tell it.

But there are two people that should get a lot of praise for this child's success.

Her parents, Justin and Susan.

I've never really went into much detail about how amazing they are, but it's been on my heart lately. Anything I write won't hold a candle to how amazing they actually are, but that doesn't stop me from trying.

I am very blessed to have them in my life. They let me come into their lives during one of their most difficult challenges. They've fed me for five months while I was job hunting. And all they ever asked me for was my babysitting skills.

As I've spent more time with them, I'm just so grateful for both of them.

Susan and I have grown really close. She's taught me that green beans can be fried, angel food cake must be put on the lower rack of the oven and celebrity gossip makes the world go 'round. Justin and I talk running, he's sent my resume around to his contacts and he always provides vauable information about things I know nothing about...like 401Ks.

But more importantly, they've both given and accepted love for their child to any and everyone. They created a normal for Asher that only the two of them could have created, and they've created an indestructable bond that only two people can create when it comes to their child.

You both are exceptional parents. And I'm lucky to be a part of your life. Thank you for letting me in. Thank you for being open to sharing Asher's story. And thank you for being incredibly awesome people. Your kid is special to me,  but so are you guys. I be loving you.

Fun Day Friday: Quick List Edition

I've got about 20 minutes to write this since I'm going to a big networking meeting today! Still on the job hunting wagon, but I'm hoping not much longer. So I can't be late. But I wanted to write because...let's face it...I always want to write.

So here it goes: My random thoughts on this Friday.

• 5K tomorrow. There is a possibility I will have make-up on since I put my "full face" on today for this meeting. But let me clarify...It will be the slept in make-up that makes an appearance at the 5K. Slept in, not fresh faced.
• I'm in the Baggo Throwdown this weekend, too. The 5K will be a cake walk compared to the baggo tournament. It doesn't seem like throwing bean bags would be difficult. And in reality, it's very easy to throw one. But I find it terribly hard to get my bean bags where I want them to go. This comes from years of watching boys play, and said boys would not let us girls play because we are girls. Dumbest thing ever. My partner has never played before. And we don't really know the rules. We are going out in the first round. Whatev.
• Foam rolling hurts like a bitch. There is no other way to get around saying that word because that is the only way to explain it. I will dedicate a whole post to foam rolling in the near future. But just so we're clear...It hurts like a bitch. And I've almost cried several times while foam rolling my quads.
• Did I say we are practicing for the baggo tournament tonight? Because we are. Don't ask me why (see two bullets above for explanation.) we are practicing. But I feel good about it. Maybe we will get some beginners luck.
• I need a haircut. The horse tail is out of control. Out of control. I'm teetering on the line of hippy. Really on the edge.
• My favorite month starts on Monday. OCTOBER is almost here. I love October. That's when the leaves start changing colors, and running outside is the most enjoyable.
• #FlashbackFriday: College Edition

This was taken right at the end of us singing "I'm on a Boat" at the top of our lungs. You're welcome.

Happy Friday!!!

Fun Day Friday: Random Thoughts

First thing: Boulevard Bread Company has the best chocolate brioche, breakfast sandwiches and lattes on the planet. I was on breakfast duty this morning so I brought Susan a good spread of yummy treats.

When the Bit asked what I brought I told her chocolate brioche. She said, "Eewww, yuck. I don't want to eat chocolate britches."

I didn't even try to correct her. There is no sense in it. Plus it was funny. So I just went with it. Susan and I halved the chocolate britches.

Second thing: My oldest and dearest friend is coming to the Big City. I can't wait to see her and spend some quality time with her.

 



Good ole Shannon is coming to the city for a dental conference. And after that we are going to paint the town red. Or go out to eat somewhere. And maybe rent a movie. Because we're cool like that.

 

Third thing: I want tacos and guacamole again. These tacos and guacamole to be exact.



 

I dream about these tacos and guacamole all the time. I can't even describe how much I love them. Chipotle has figured it out. The winning combination. I would push someone down for this meal.

 

Fourth thing: The ole weather app on my phone has lightning bolts for the next three days. I have a five mile long run to do this weekend. And if it rains, I'm not sure I'll do a long run on a treadmill that only stays on for 20 minutes at a time. It just shuts off after 20 minutes. I will have to re-start it three to four times to get that long run finished. That will be interesting.

 

Fifth and final thing: Bit got a donor bone. And we are so thankful. There will be a post dedicated to this topic in the next few days. So hold your breath and wait patiently....I can't wait to tell you all about it. But the kid got a bone so we are totally kicking this cancer business. 



Fun Day Friday: Random Thoughts

• I heard once if you walk instead of run in the rain you get less wet. I practiced that theory yesterday during the steady pelting rain of Hurricane Issac. I maybe walked 50 feet (let's be honest...I have no sense to judge distances...so don't take that to heart.) from the door of the hospital across the parking lot to my car, and I was completely soaked. So here's a new theory: Really steady rain drops falling from the sky will make you resemble a wet dog regardless of walking or running. Point of this: It absolutely doesn't matter. Good. Glad we cleared that up. We can all sleep better tonight knowing it doesn't really matter.

• I baked these deep dark chocolate cookies for Susan's birthday. I'm still absolutely sure that this one recipe alone is enough reason for me to open a bakery. I'm serious. They are that good.

• I've been spending more and more time in Conway recently. For those of you who don't know, it's my old stomping ground. My college alma mater. Go Bears Go! I have a deep love for this city and this restaurant. We went the other night before Elevation. I didn't get to eat anything. Because I have to save my money. So I can pay the bills. Bummer. Big bummer.

• The newest issue of the Arkansas Times came out yesterday. I picked it up because why not. They always do an amazing job writing and/or promoting Arkansas history. And this issue talks about a new Roy Reed book coming out in October. My inner nerd swooned over this new book because it's going to be such an asset to my thesis.
• Speaking of the thesis, the frequency of my library visits is about to increase so much so that I should take a cot and set up camp. Must. Finish. The. Mammoth. Thesis. Must. Set. Myself. Free. Seriously, ask me everyday what I did to work on the thesis. Accountability is the key to my success and freedom from library sleepovers. Is there such a thing as library sleepovers? I feel like there should be...for us people who would be interested/desperate for that kind of thing. Don't judge me...



• Had a nice talk with a wonderful lady about my future job situation. Got some contacts. Made some progress. Someday I will have bylines again. I will. Even if it takes me two years of getting coffee and answering phones. I will write. I will be published. I will have bylines. I will.
• Tomorrow is September 1. As of tomorrow I am in training. I will be a machine. Run. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Run. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. I'm terrified. I think I've said that before, but now I'm about to start living the fear. Run. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
• I've recently realized I have an affinity for index cards. It use to be Post-It notes. Not anymore. Index cards everywhere. My desk is covered with them. This is not really relevant to your day, just wanted to share. Sharing is fun. Try it.

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

First thing first, I have a recipe to share with you. But not before I tell you some things I've learned this past week.

Gatorade comes in a can. And it will change your life. So cold. Where did I discover such greatness you might ask? Arkansas Children's Hospital has refrigerators full of this stuff. Like hospital gold. Since the mindblowing discovery, I have googled canned Gatorade upteen times with no luck as to how to get it. Any ideas? Please comment below if you know of how to get your hands on this.

Kind bars. Almond and coconut Kind bars. So freaking good. And there is only 10 grams of sugar per bar. A-mazing! There are lots of flavors. I will be trying them all. Not even kidding. Go. Get. Some. Today. I got mine at Kroger in the Natural Foods section.

The guy who wrote this book is a journalist. I am digging this book, even though it's from a guy's perspective. Not all things apply to me, but it's been very interesting. If I could go back in time and tell my 18-year-old self to double major in Journalism and Nutrition, I totally would. I could write a book like this. Maybe I will...Would you read it?

Now on to the main event. The recipe you've been waiting patiently for...or you skipped the beginning of this to get here. Whatever. Just make it. And love it.

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

What you will need:
1 lb (or package) of ground chicken (you can use beef or pork or whatever)
3 poblano peppers (also known as passilla peppers)
1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1/2 uncooked brown rice
1 15 oz. can of pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 package of taco seasoning (I made up my own taco seasoning to cut out some of the sodium.)

Put the rice in a pot with one cup of water, a sprinkle of salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Cook 35-40 minutes. Brown rice takes longer to cook, but you can get other stuff ready while it does its thing.

Cut the peppers in half, vertically. Scoop out the insides. Open the can of diced tomatoes and pour into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. You might not have to use the whole can, but if you like it more juicy go for it.

In a saute pan, brown the ground chicken with half the pouch of taco seasoning. By then, the rice should get close to done. Add the cooked rice, rinsed and drained pinto beans and half of the can of tomato sauce. Stir in the rest of the taco seasoning. Things should be smelling good.

Fill the pepper halves and place them in the pan with the diced tomatoes. Just put any remaining filling on top of the peppers. It doesn't have to look fancy.

I forgot to tell you to pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees....So do that before so you don't have to wait around for it. Put the peppers in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Make sure to cover the peppers with some foil.

At the 45 minute mark, remove the foil and cover the peppers with your favorite cheese. I used cheddar cheese. Bake for 15 minutes uncovered so the cheese will melt and the pepper will continue to soften.

Remove from oven. Put on a plate. Savor the smell. And try not to burn the roof of your mouth. These peppers are seriously delicious. And you can stuff them however you want.

Feel free to modify this recipe to make it your own. But promise me you will try the poblanos. There is something about them that just kick regular bell peppers to the curb.

Running and Learning

May 18, 2011.

The day I took my brand new, fresh out of the box Brooks Adrenaline 11s out for my very first serious run since high school.

I had no idea running would change my life. I had no idea I would learn so much. No idea I'd run so many races. No idea I'd be setting myself up for a half-marathon. Just no idea.

It's crazy how life works.

So today I'm going to share how much I've learned from running, serious and not-so-serious learning experiences.

• Shoes are the most import piece in your running gear. They protect your feet. Get. Some. Good. Shoes. I've had three pairs of Brooks Adrenaline...and I don't plan on trying anything new. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

My first Brooks...Now retired. That was a sad day.

Took Reds place. 

Pink are in rotation with Blue in my preparation for St. Jude

• Figuring out what to wear for a winter run is harder than it looks. I want to put on all the clothes in my closet, but don't do that. Always put on less than you think you need, otherwise your body will fell like an inferno. Not kidding. 
• Don't run when you have bronchitis...basically don't run when you are legitimately ill. Give your body time to heal. You won't lose what you've worked for.
• Don't make up bogus excuse to let yourself not run. I've done this, and I lost most of my mileage from being a lazy ass. 
• Set goals. Always be working toward something. I know myself well enough to say this: If I'm not training for something, I'm not running. End of story. 
• Run with friends. It's always better. Always.

• DRINK ALL THE WATER. 
• Save your race bibs. They make you remember good runs or how you overcame bad runs. Plus they make you feel like a bad ass... (This would also go with race medals...I don't have one yet so I can't really say that.)
• If you see another runner struggling, acknowledge them. Shout some encouraging words. Remind them of the feeling of having run. When the favor is repaid on a day you have a bad run, there is nothing really quite like it. 
• Watch out for bikers. They think the own the roads/trails because they have two wheels, use hand signals and get to yell "On your left." Stand your ground. Running is just as important as biking. 
• Watch out for lollygaggers. And by that I mean people who use the trails in the parks to walk around like they've never been outside a day in their lives. This group also includes: love birds, out-of-towners, nature enthusiasts, creepy bystanders, etc. They have a right to be there, just be aware that they are completely unaware of their surroundings and the fact that you even exist.
• A new pair of Nike running shorts can make your day. 
• Sweat can and will accumulate in weird, un-thought of places. Just keep that in mind. I won't go into detail.
• Treadmill running and outside running are ABSOLUTELY AND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. People who say it's the same lied to you...and they probably have never ran outside. Don't listen to that...it's complete BS.
• Running is a major mind game, especially in the beginning. A mile seems so far. It's all in your mind. Don't let it get you down. I use to think I'd never be able to run 3 miles at one time. But I did it. I use to think a 10K was ridiculous. But I did that, too. I use to think people who trained for half-marathons where insane. But I'm doing it. It's all in your mind. Attitude is everything. 
• Your body will change in a good way. I use to only have skin on my calves. Now I have some pretty defined muscles. (And it makes me feel like a bad ass...I shouldn't say that...but it's true.) The most definite changes I saw were in my leg muscles. I've gained a few pounds, but it's all muscle. And I know that by the way my clothes fit. All the same clothes, different fit. 
• Couch to 5K is a completely legit way to start running. I used it, and it totally works. The key is to keep running when the program is done. Get the app or print the plan and go do it. 
• Always remember why you started running. Sometimes you let yourself forget. Don't do that. Remember why you started running, and reflect on it. If your reason has changed, that's ok. Own it. It just means you, as a person, are changing. Run with it...literally. 

Thanks for coming on this journey with me. I'm sure I'll have a lovey-dovey post about running on my Running Anniversary...MAY 18...for those of you who didn't clue in at the beginning of this. 

Hooray for running! Be lovin' you.

Do you have anything you've learned from running or exercising that needs to be added to the list? Let me hear about it in the comments. :)

The Day I Murdered a Grapefruit

An e-mail was sent yesterday morning to the boyfriend.

Hey. 
Just wanted to drop you a line...and I thought e-mail would be appropriate since it would look more like "work." I'm so sneaky and smart. 


I had a grapefruit for breakfast. I had all the best intentions with it. I thought...Oh, I'll take a grapefruit...I mean it's in its own bowl basically...

But then I killed it. As you can see.


Anyway...Just wanted to lighten your day. TTYL.


***NOTE: If you are an extremely close friend of mine, or if you happen to be the boyfriend, you will receive e-mails like this at times throughout our relationship. Now who wouldn't want to be friends with me? (Clearly, this is a rhetorical question...please don't say you don't want to be my friend...I'm blue...and very fragile.)***

But on a serious note, grapefruits are delicious and an underused fruit. They get a bad rep because of their other citrus cousin, the orange.

Now let's discuss grapefruit eating tactics: Don't use a fork. It's doesn't work out like you think it will. Trust me. But a spoon...you'd think would work wonders, but I didn't have much luck there either...hence the massacre. I'm going to have to rework my tactics this morning...since I brought another grapefruit.

Now...Let's completely switch gears:

Why does Anthropologie send me e-mails dangling pretty dresses in my face and then blatantly snatch them away with their hefty price tags?

 I want this beautiful dress so bad. But I absolutely can't justify $148 on basically one piece of fabric. My new shoes would look fabulous with it, though.

Anyone have an obscene amount of money they don't want to spend on themselves who'd want to purchase me this lovely dress? Any takers? I'd wear it in your presence...No. Ok. Just thought I'd ask. You have not because you ask not.

Fruits you be lovin' right now?


Dresses you be coveting right now?

Something to Tide You Over

• The Boyfriend fell asleep while we were talking on the phone last night. One minute we were talking, the next he was out. Clearly we were having a scintillating conversation. It's actually pretty funny when I think about it...now.
• My guest post for Arkansas Women Bloggers' Foodie Friday comes out Friday. So exciting. I can't wait for everyone to have access to the Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Bake.
• I'm running 5 miles with my mom tomorrow. Pretty excited about getting to spend the day with her. There has been talk of a sushi lunch date, which sounds like the best idea ever. 
• This is just a reminder of what the roommate does sometimes. Let's all never forget this.  

• Still reading the Arkansas Politics and Government book....Still pretty close to the beginning. Yikes.
• Mad Men is the greatest show ever invented. I love the 60s. Yes, I'm a nerd. 
• I read yesterday that the Little Rock National Airport was renamed the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. I mean dang, I know Arkansas is proud and all, but did we really need to rename the airport? I'm sure I will never not call it the Little Rock National Airport. 
• I've. Got. To. Register. To. Vote.
• I'm going to a hot yoga class tonight. I'm pretty much thrilled about it. It's amazing how many poses you can do that you never thought you'd be able to do. It's the only time I ever feel a tad bit flexible.
• I'm going to make these stuffed mushrooms for dinner tonight. You should, too. 

What are you plans this weekend? (Yes, I know it's only Wednesday...but it's my Friday.)

Middle of March

Dudes, can you even believe it's the middle of March? What the crap have we been doing?

Let me fill you in on a few things.

• Breakfast this morning looked like this:

Whole wheat meets fruit and peanut bar. Absolutely delicious. The first time I had a Larabar I didn't know what to expect. It looked nothing like I thought it would, but it was so good. Naturally good. Not full of artificial sweeteners and crap that's bad for you. Just fruit and nuts. Peanut Butter Cookie is my favorite, but Key Lime Pie comes in a close second. 

• Still sickly. Coughing less, but not better yet. My head hurt so bad last night that I could feel my pulse on the left side of the bridge of my nose. It. Was. Awful. The worst headache I've had in a long time. 
• I'm running a 5K on Saturday morning. And I'm pretty excited about it. 
• My friend Logan (you remember Logan from the summer running stuff, right?) ran 4 miles yesterday without stopping. 4 miles in 43 minutes at a 10:50-ish pace. What a bad ass she is. 
• I've had my nose stuck in a Arkansas Politics and Government book since Tuesday. Clearly I'm the most interesting person to talk to right now. 
• I haven't watched TV at night for the past three days...See the above point as to why that is.
• My outfit today is reminiscent of the early 1960s. Makes me feel like I could be part of the cast of Mad Men. 

Now it's your turn to tell me something. Give me your best shot. Ready. Go. 

Running with a Cough

I seriously almost died yesterday while I was out running. And it wasn't from the psychical activity of running. It's because I have a cough.

I ran the first mile and coughed a little bit when I took my minute walk break. The second mile felt even better since it was 70 degrees and sunny. But the minute walk break had even more coughing, and this time it was serious. So I took an extra 30 seconds to get my breathing under control. Third mile was good. I felt good. Nothing too demanding of my body. But when I stopped and started to stretch, I absolutely could not breathe. Every breath I took in made me want to cough, but I couldn't because I had nothing to cough. So it was a lot like choking. Very scary stuff. But I did it.

Here are my stats:
Distance: 3.0 miles
Time: 36:29 (pretty good considering the coughing fits.)
Best Pace: 10:31
Average Pace: 12:10
Calories: 334

Once recovered from my near-death coughing fit, I took my sweaty, smelly self to the grocery store. (I'm sorry for those people who had to endure shopping in my general area.)

I decided to try a new recipe that I adapted from a few different recipes. I give you Butternut squash, kale and barley "risotto."

So so good. The squash was tender, the kale was wilted and the barley was slightly chewy. Just a good combination of textures and flavors. I'm not going to post an actual recipe because it took a lot longer than I wanted it to. So I'm going to experiment with the recipe a few times before I go give you the recipe to try at home.

In other news, grad school is kicking my booty pretty hardcore right about now. This having something huge due every single week is getting pretty old. I'm not a fan. I'm ready to not be judged on my knowledge of the subject.

In other more exciting news, I'm headed to New Orleans Friday morning. My mom and a few of her friends are running a half-marathon down there. I'm pretty excited. This will be my first time to experience the atmosphere of a big, legit race.

And I'm also thrilled to have authentic Cajun food, adult beverages and a latte and beignets from Cafe du Monde. So I should have some pretty exciting stories to tell from the weekend in Nola.

What did you do this weekend?

End of the Week Rants

1. Today's high is 77 degrees. In February. The month of the worst weather Arkansas ever gets.

Seriously. I don't understand it, but I love it.

2. I still feel like death. This dang cough won't go away. I'm pretty sure my chest is broken from coughing so much. I tried take a teaspoon of honey as a cough suppressant, and it worked pretty well. Good ole home remedies do the trick, although I fear nothing will get rid of this cough any time soon.

3. I went to bed at 9:30 last night. And I work up at midnight, 2 A.M. and 4 A.M. Then my alarm went off at 7 this morning, and I instantly wanted to pull the covers over my head and ignore it. All I wanted was a good night's sleep. Sigh. I'll try again tonight.

4. Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 11. Keep in mind that is three weeks away. Crazy how time flies. It seems like we were just falling back.

5. Grad school is stupid. And I'm trying really hard for it not to take over my whole life. These past few weeks has felt like I can't get caught up, even though everything gets done. Girl can't get ahead to save her life.

6. Easter candy is out. Dove dark chocolate eggs have won my heart. Need I say more.

7. I'm currently obsessing over these two songs by Ben Rector.

"White Dress"
I was actually there to hear this exact version.

"She Is"
And it's just piano. I swoon.

8. Reason 948279878797923429123 for why I love Needtobreathe.

And this.

And that's all I have to say about that.

I hope everyone has a safe and merry weekend. I'll be seeing you on the flip side. Now go outside and scream.

Blue - Orange

Happy Thursday (which is my Friday) Friends!!!

I have a few things to share with you this morning. And I'm going to try to practice brevity with my writing today since I've written two extremely long posts this week. So on we go...

Got my new shoes yesterday. They are beautiful and fit like a glove. I have a feeling they will play a vital role in my upcoming outfit selection. Yay for neutrals.

Today marks the second day of me using my redneck coffee travel mug. Still not ashamed.

My Valentine's Day flowers are starting to open up and become even more beautiful. I need to say yet again that the man who got them for did an amazing job.

Scored a free lunch today. Nuff said.

I took the True Colors Personality test this morning. And I'm mystified that my colors were completely right now. BLUE-ORANGE and proud of it. If you haven't taken the true colors test and want to, please let me know. I took some extra copies of all the materials, and I have access to a fancy copier at my office. I would be more than happy to give you the test.

I find the color test completely fascinating. I can't wait to get more people I know to take it and see what colors they are. The first lucky victim with more than likely be the roommate since she lives with me. I have my predictions about what colors she will be, but I'm not gonna say until she completes the test.

I hope you guys have a fabulous weekend. Big things are happening for me this weekend. I will regale you with said story on Tuesday...or sooner if it's that horrendous.

Have you taken the True Colors Test? If so, what colors are you?

What are you doing this weekend?

Never in a Million Years

First, I have a confession. I have only ran once this week, and I have done zero yoga. Sigh. In my defense (not that it really matters), I have been doing fridiculous amounts of homework in the evenings. With my birthday falling on a Monday and having something to do every night last weekend, homework took a serious backseat, which is not the norm. No worries. I'm caught up.

I'm unfortunately not caught up on grocery shopping, but I did find some good things to throw into a stir fry last night.

In this mix was short grain brown rice, steamed broccoli, corn, edamame and one egg. I threw the egg in on a whim (trying to be like my mom), and it was pretty tasty. And it gave me some added protein.

On a different note, I've been feeling pretty stressed this week. With the birthday, extreme amounts of homework and stressful projects at work, I feel like I've spread myself pretty thin the past few weeks. I'm finding myself with tense shoulders, a furrowed brow and more frequent break-outs. Why does the face always break out when stress sets in? Makes me more stressed, which fuels the vicious cycle of tension, forehead wrinkles and break-outs.

As I was perusing the World Wide Web, I came across this verse from the Message Bible.

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philippians 4:6-7

I'm thinking it should be my new mantra whenever I feel stressed, or just all the time.

Switching gears: We all know my least favorite Holiday is approaching *ahem Valentine's Day.* Even though I'll actually have a Valentine this year, I'm still not sure how I feel about the whole required-to-show-affection day. My heart is with the single people of the world, I guess.

I am going to make a little something special for my Valentine, and we will be seeing each other this weekend. But as a little treat, I thought we could all look back to last year's Valentine's Day post to see exactly what I think about it.

I'm still have no idea what to get a guy for Valentine's Day. And I still loathe conversation hearts and creepy stuffed animals. And I still really dislike the idea of feeling forced to conform to society's "love day." And I still think the actual story of St. Valentine is better than any modern day love story.

But maybe my Valentine can help sway my train of thought away from such pessimism. Like I said a year ago, I am a hopeless romantic, and I do like to be wooed. But wooing shouldn't take place on a designated day.

More on this Valentine's thing later. For all I know, I could be completely wooed and made to love Valentine's Day....We shall see. Whatever happens, I know this Valentine's Day will be different than all previous Valentine's Days, which I'm most excited about.

I am handcrafting a little something, and I may or may not be flexing my baking skills (which I never in a million years thought I would do around Valentine's Day..and by that I mean crafting something for a special someone.) Who am I?

Tell me about your Valentine's history. Good or bad, I want to know.

What does one get a boy for Valentine's Day?

What I've Learned in the Past 24 Hours

Christmas light-up pens are the bomb.com.

It snowed last night. And this morning.

I ran yesterday in the 30 degree weather. I basically put everything I had in my closet on my body.

My alma mater UCA was featured in Self magazine for its leading health experts.

Ginuwine's "Pony" was written in 1996. And it's still as crazy good as I remember it. A little old school hip hop for you to enjoy today.

And after I rediscovered my love for 1996 Ginuwine. I found this.

Now this takes me back to 10th grade in my silver Alero bumping up and down Main Street in the Sugtown. #straightgangsta #istillloveit

What songs take you back to the "Golden Years" of high school and/or college?

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Good morning! Sorry for all the silence. I've been sick. Sick and busy. Work has been crazy the past week, and all I can think about right now is Thanksgiving dinner, which is good because I didn't want to eat for five days due to the sickness.

Let's catch up, shall we?

• I was sick. And now I'm better. Not 100% yet, but I'm on the way.
• I haven't ran in over a week due to the sickness. When you have fever off and on for 4 days and it rains like it does in London, a girl can't run.
• I have not ran 5.5 miles.
• I got my official confirmation e-mail for my race on Saturday. Yikes. See above bullet for minor freak out.
• I found this awesome wreath on Pinterest.

• So I made one for my front door and one for my mom.

• My fingers are now bruised and have slight burns from my hot glue gun. Awesome.
• I made a 96% on my third section of my PR plan. Holla.
• I have not looked or thought about school stuff since I turned that part of the plan in last week.
• Today is my last day of work for the week. I'm going home this afternoon.
• Thanksgiving food happens in a mere two days. I can't wait to gorge on delicious eats and treats until it comes out my ears. Yes I plan to be that full.
• After the 10K on Saturday, I will have reached another running goal I set a little over a month ago. What's next? Ideas? Half-marathon?
• I just had a mini panic attack when I typed half-marathon. Oh look, there is goes again. Heart palpitations everywhere. Deep breaths. Ok. I'm good.

What's new with you?

What kind of Thanksgiving traditions does your family do each year?
 My mom and I put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. I also put up my cousin Ashley's Christmas tree. In case you didn't know, I have a true gift for decorating Christmas trees. Like seriously, it should be my profession. I could really make a lot of people very happy with my Christmas creations.



How To Do Things You Should Already Know Wednesday

What up everybody? Hope you have been having a fantastic day.

Today's Things You Should Know Lesson is:

How to Tie a Tie

Now it seems easy, but I feel like it will be tricky. But we ladies need to know how to tie a tie because 1.) our man candy of choice may need a neck tie tied before he starts his new desk job and 2.) it's just plain impressive.

So I'm gonna get to perfecting that little tidbit of information and file it back for future reference. And I'd think it'd be good for you to do the same.

For the other HTDTYSAKW, look here and here.

In other news:

I got my new tooth. (Sounds so depressing to be excited about that...YAY New Tooth Day! *cough cough...lame* but now I can eat my breakfast, lunch and dinner like a normal human instead of crazed horse...ok it wasn't that bad. But I can now use the left side of my mouth to consume cakes, cookies, pies, chips, Cheez-Itz, broccoli, pasta, etc. etc....You get it.)

I have yet to start the thesis proposal, but it will happen today. And by start I mean organizing the research would be a step up from where I am which is nothing. Hopefully writing the dang thing can start over the weekend.

***Content more relevant to your everyday lives will be coming your way in the near future...So you are welcome. You are welcome. (I'm not ashamed. Learning to tie a tie is important, as is my new tooth.)***

Go, Go, Go

You know those kind of days where you wake up and have no energy or motivation to do anything? Yeah, I had one of those yesterday. Work crawled by. I swear all the clocks were broken. But once I got out of there, things seemed to start looking up.

I met the roommate and Casondra at my favorite Starbucks. Thank you Starbucks for bringing back the Pumpkin Spice Latte. This little gesture means that my most favorite coffee treat, the Caramel Brulee Latte, will be re-introduced very soon. Ah, Starbucks Christmas coffee favorites. My heart's aflutter just thinking about that.

After the coffee stop, I went home to eat some dinner and read some chapters from my dreaded PR books. Dinner last night was leftovers from a meal I had when I went home to the Sugtown.

My mother made homemade beef tips and rice. Now for those of you who don't know my mother, eating at our house is a very special thing. That woman can cook like nobody's business. And this is one of my favorite things she makes. 

Roast beef cooked in a crockpot with red wine, beef broth, big chunks of onions and sliced mushrooms. It was delish when I ate it the other day, but the leftovers were yummy. I ate everything you see. Even the table runner, vase and parts of the table top. Just kidding. But I did eat the peach for dessert.

After dinner, I did some more reading and a little watching of The Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan. Why don't they ever play the classic verison of that movie? I mean it is just as good, if not better. But I'm partial to the classic version because I watched it a lot as a child.

Then the mother of this little lady came to stay the night at the house last night.

I'd post a picture of her momma, but they look just alike, although Jodi has hair and Aubrey has baby hair. Look how cute she is.

Jodi is in graduate school at my alma mater. She is trying to finish up. She has a night class on Tuesdays and an early morning class on Wednesdays. So it makes perfect sense for her to crash at the house so she doesn't have to drive three hours in a very short time span.

We stayed up way too late talking about everything we've been meaning to catch up on. And I didn't get to bed until midnight. But it was worth it. Quality friend time is important people. Very important.

The midnight bedtime made the morning come all too soon. Nobody wants to get up when it is still dark outside. WTF?

On a pleasant note, it feels wonderful outside today.

Running tonight should be cake after those heat runs we suffered through earlier in the summer. After my 5 mile run, the roommate is thinking of trying her hand at a 5-miler. I'll let you know how things go.

Have a fab Wednesday!