Something blue.

Is it terrible that I am not even engaged and I dream of getting married in these shoes? I love love love them. Thank you Mr. Christian Louboutin. A girl can dream, right? 

So x-nay on the enchilada recipe I blogged about a while ago. It was decent, but certainly not worth blogging about or recommending to others. Today, I am making a good old fashioned pot roast in the slow cooker. Stay tuned....

Oh and for all you design divas--- I am searching for a beautiful, antique, queen-size, cane-back bed. I found the perfect one in a cute little shop in Franklin, but of course it was sold to some damn country music singer AND it was one-of-a-kind. Any ideas of where one might find such a piece?

I need a snow day.

I need a snow day. Remember in elementary school when you would wake up to find your entire world covered in a beautiful, white, layer of snow? It only happened a handful of times in my Alabama childhood, but I sure do remember those precious  days. We would pull our ski clothes from the attic and suit up for a day of sledding, snow ball fights, and snow angels and forget about school for the whole day. Thats what I need about now. A whole day to play in the snow. Or an entire day at the beach....that would do the trick, too. 

25 random facts about me.

I read this somewhere and thought it was so fun to read random facts about people, so I decided to make my own list...

1. I am obsessed with rescuing dogs from the pound. In my experience, they are the most wonderful, grateful, loving rascals there are. I will never buy a purebred from a breeder.

2. My brother used to hold me down by my wrists and spit in my face.

3. I love a good Gray Goose dirty martini.

4. I met my boyfriend on a blind date, which I almost backed out on. I think he is pretty wonderful.

5. I am a warrior for my best friends. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them. And don't even think about trying to insult or criticize them in front of me...

6. I used to cry every time I left my grandmother's house.

7. I have been driving the same car since I was 16.

8. My back is shaped like an S. I used to wear a corrective back brace to sleep in middle school and tried to hide it from my friends at slumber parties.

9. My entire life I have saved every penny possible, but have no real plans of something to do with my savings.

10. My first tape was The Simpsons...."you're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't"

11. I hate when people have poor grammer and spell the word your/you're inappropriately and say "where you at". ugh.

12. My first job was working for the cookie company in the mall, where I ate all the cookies that were broken.

13. I hate cold weather.

14. I hate to put my clean laundry away. It usually will sit in the hamper until I wear it again.

15. I have never seen any of the Rocky movies.

16. I love Oxford, MS. Hotty Toddy.

17. I have an unnatural fear of chewing gum. If someone holds a piece of chewed gum over me or puts it on the side of their plate while they eat, I will cry and/or throw up.

18. The beach is my favorite place on earth.

19. I am a major food chain snob. I refuse to eat at TGIFridays, Chilis, Ruby Tuesday, Longhorns, Texas Roadhouse, etc. Gimme a little hole in the wall any day.

20. I try to pray everyday. I sin everyday too, a lot.

21. At least once a day, someone tells me I look like someone they know.

22. I studied abroad in Austria when I was in college. I have the most wonderful memories from that summer. I would give anything to do that again....

23. I eat cottage cheese, grapes, bananas, cereal, soy milk, and hummus everyday.

24. I love to try and decorate my friends homes. I basically have no idea what I am doing, but they still trust me to do it for some reason.

25. I am a very impatient person, but try to work on changing that everyday.

What are 25 random facts about you?

Don't you just love a good song? There is something about a really good song, the kind you turn way up and belt out at the top of your lungs when you are in the car alone, that just makes you feel good all over. Well lucky for me (and you too- all three of my readers....) I have found a really great ALBUM. Yep, thats right folks-- an entire CD of feel good songs. I bought it a few weeks ago and have listened to it religously since. James Morrison's CD will not let you down.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Why does it rain so much here in January? It seems that it either looks like it is about to rain, or rains everyday. I sometimes try to imagine I am actually living in London or Seattle or somewhere it is supposed to rain this much. The after-holiday slump has definitely sauntered in, without another vacation in sight. Maybe I will use this time to get super organized, hibernate until the sun comes out again. 

In the meantime, I am going to use my new all-clad slow cooker to whip up some tasty treats. I am not really sure how I survived without this thing before! Throw some ingredients in the pot before work, set on slow and low, and BAM! a delicious dinner waiting when you walk in the door. I am going to try this chicken enchilada recipe tomorrow: 

Enchilada casserole:

3 tbsp diced green chiles

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 can black beans, rinsed

1 can corn with green and red peppers, drained

1 can enchilada sauce

1/2 cup egg substitute

1 package corn muffin mix

2 tbsp chopped bottled roasted red peppers

1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

6 tbsp sour cream

Preparation: 

1. Place 2 tbsp green chiles and next 6 ingredients in a slow cooker, cover with lid, cook on low heat for 4 hours

2. Combine remaining 1 tbsp green chiles, egg, muffin mix, and bell peppers in a bowl. Spoon batter evenly over bean mixture in slow cooker and cook 1 hour or until corn bread is done

3. Sprinkle cheese over corn bread. Cover and cook until cheese melts. Top each serving with sour cream and cilantro. 

Now I am going to have some hot tea and crumpets. 

 

Hello there 2009 !

Happy 2009! My, how time flies! 2008 was by far the fastest year of my life. And it was a wonderful year at that. In reflection... travelled to Saint Maarten, Cabo San Lucas, Bluewater beach, Colorado, graduated from grad school, got a job, got another job (long story), married off a few best friends (and all the celebrations that accompany), adopted two pups.... I can only hope this year will be just as wonderful as the last. As for New Years resolutions, well, the usual. I hope to get healthier, cook more, learn how to use my new Nikon D60 with expertise, yadayadayada. However, I received this the other day and I think it is a wonderful, poignant, email that will help guide us through the new year, so I decided to share. I think I just might print it and tape it on my bathroom mirror and look at it everyday....Enjoy!

24 Tips for a Better Life- 2009

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk everyday. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. 

2. Sit in silence 10 minutes each day. 

3. When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement, "My purpose is to..........today."

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. 

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, and almonds.

6. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.  Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out credit card. 

9. Life isn't fair, but its still good.

10. LIfe is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 

12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil your present. 

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is about. 

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, "In five years, will this matter?"

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have everything you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements, " I am thankful for....... Today I accomplished......"

24. Remember you are too blessed to be stresssed.