31 October 2011
Happy Halloween!
I love Halloween - costumes, candy, and excited kids. I live on the third floor of an apartment complex though so I'm not anticipating many trick or treaters. I have some candy just in case. The rest will end up in the office tomorrow so they can give it away at the front counter. Every year I watch the original Halloween. AMC usually runs a Halloween marathon. Yes, I live alone and end up scaring myself silly and not sleeping well afterwards, but it's fun and it's one night a year. I started this tradition back when I was a senior in college. I was on duty in the townhouses. My roommates had all gone out to a party so while I was waiting to do rounds I started watching Halloween. I thought it was a pretty great idea until it was time to do rounds, alone, in the dark, through one of the remote parts of campus. Genius.
30 October 2011
Sunday Day Book
I am thinking … about potential possibilities and it's making me crazy
I am thankful for ... feeling better. I haven't had a stomach bug in years. Still not a fan.
I am reading … Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (in my opinion one of her best)
I am hoping …that whatever the right thing is, happens
On my mind ...a lot on my plate at work this week, then it's off to San Antonio for TACRAO
I'm learning ... about the cyclical nature of education
Noticing that ... the beeping of the dying smoke detector is incredibly annoying, I hope the maintenance guy makes an appearance today
From the kitchen …crock pot Sunday - cheesy chicken
Around the house … it's a little chilly, but I refuse to turn on the heat, time to break out the sweatshirt and slipper socks
One of my favorite things … when Jack decides he's going to snuggle up against me to sleep, he can be stand offish unless it's on his terms; he's such a loner kitty sometimes
29 October 2011
Finest Hour
28 October 2011
27 October 2011
Thursday Recipe
Ingredients
For the infused vodka:
- 1/2 cup candy corn
- 1 1/2 cups vodka
For the cordials:
Directions
Infuse the vodka: Combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container; set aside for at least 3 hours, then strain.
Make the cordials: Add 4 ounces of the candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish with candy corn.
26 October 2011
It's Halloween
25 October 2011
24 October 2011
Creature Stole My Twinkie
22 October 2011
Saturday Day Book
I am thinking … about a wonderful Saturday - the fair, good friends, good food
I am thankful for ...the chance to take this trip to visit NC
I am reading … Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman)
I am hoping …that things turn out the way I want them to
On my mind ...that I have to head back to Texas tomorrow
I'm learning ...about Teaching and Learning this semester
Noticing that ... my throat is a little scratchy, I think I'm getting a cold
From the kitchen …nothing, but the hotel I'm staying in is gorgeous
Around the house …hoping the cats haven't torn the place apart while I've been gone
One of my favorite things …North Carolina (in case y'all haven't been paying attention...)
21 October 2011
Duke
20 October 2011
A Dangerous Method
Viggo Mortensen + Michael Fassbender + David Cronenberg = Must See
19 October 2011
Back in the RDU
The hotel I'm staying at for this conference is the one I stayed at for my interview with Duke 4 years ago. It's kind of eerie. In a good way. I still remember what I wore to dinner the night before my interview. I remember what I wore to my interview. I remember being sunburned as all get out because I had spent a few days before the interview in Charlotte visiting and went to a tennis tournament and got burned bad. It was a great icebreaker for all my interview sessions. Truly, I looked like a lobster, ha ha.
I am going to enjoy these next four days.
16 October 2011
Sunday Day Book
I am thinking … about my trip to North Carolina, I can't wait!
I am thankful for ...the opportunity to continue my education, even when I'm buried under work
I am reading … Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie
I am hoping …that things turn out the way I want them to.
On my mind ...school, work, travel, work, school...
I'm learning ...that I need to just let it go
Noticing that ... the cleaning lady really does a good job cleaning my apartment. Best decision ever.
From the kitchen …chicken and apple salad with cranberries and walnuts for lunches this week
Around the house …bought a pumpkin for the dining room and orange lilies for the mantel. It may not feel like autumn outside, but it looks like it in my apartment.
One of my favorite things …Pottermore. JKR really did a great job with that one.
15 October 2011
My Favorite Times of the Week
My other favorite part of the week is Saturday morning. I don't sleep in, I don't lounge around. I am out of my bed and out the door in time to get to my Weight Watchers meeting by 8:30. I have an awesome, amazing, inspiring leader. She really energizes me and inspires me to make good food choices throughout the week. The other people in the meeting are great. It's only 45 minutes out of my Saturday but I look forward to it every week. I enjoy it so much it almost makes me want to stay in Texas.
14 October 2011
13 October 2011
Thursday Recipe
Ingredients
2 chicken breast halves
2 small apples
1/2 medium red onion (I'm including this in the recipe but since I don't like raw onion, will omit when I make it)
1/4 dried cranberries
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
1/3 cup fat free plain yogurt
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
salt & pepper to taste
Directions
1. Cook the chicken breast - however you want, in a Foreman grill, in the oven, on the stove. Cook all the way through. Allow to cool.
2. Wash and dice the apple and onion.
3. Dice the chicken and place in a bowl with apple, onion, and cranberries.
4. In a separate bowl combine mayonnaise, mustard, yogurt, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir, taste, add more salt & pepper if necessary. Stir dressing into bowl with chicken, apple, onion, and cranberries. Enjoy!
12 October 2011
Sweet Escape
It's not like I kept a lot of it in the house. I don't, but if I was out to dinner or passing by a Sonic, then there was definitely soda involved. But I quit. I pretty much stick to water and maybe a glass of crystal light iced tea with dinner. 99% of the time though, it's water. The third day was the hardest. I really really wanted a soda from Sonic. I held on though and now I don't even think about it really. I just automatically go for the water. I feel better. I don't know that I've noticed anything else different, other than that I use the restroom ALL THE TIME. I feel good about my decision and I feel good and that my friends is what it's all about.
11 October 2011
Single Ladies
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10 October 2011
Kate on the Mend
Jack has also stopped hissing at Kate which probably helps her feel a little better too. It can't feel good to be hissed at every time you come within 10 feet of another cat.
09 October 2011
It Feels Like Fall
08 October 2011
Sick Kitty
07 October 2011
06 October 2011
Thursday Recipe
Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes
makes 2 shakes
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cream or half and half
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup pureed pumpkin
1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
2-3 ounces of bourbon
frosting + sprinkles (or cinnamon sugar) for glasses
Add all ingredients to a blender and mix until combined. Rim glasses with a light coating of frosting then dip in sprinkles. Pour in shake and sprinkle cinnamon on top. Top with whipped cream if desired. Serve!
05 October 2011
Harper
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04 October 2011
Halfway Through
03 October 2011
That Magic Moment
So what am I looking for, you may ask? I've only felt it one other time. I'm not going to quantify it with time, so those of you following along won't be able to pinpoint who it was. But talking with him, being with him, just seeing his name on paper gave my heart a thrill. You know, that pulse racing, catch in your breath moment. That's what I want. If I can't have that, I'd rather be single. And single isn't default for me. I love being on my own. I have friends, I travel, I like my life. So if I do find that magic moment, life will just be sweeter than it already is.
02 October 2011
Discovering Dallas...and Fort Worth
I mention all of this because I've been in Texas over a year and there are still so many things to see and do and my goal is to try them all at least once before I leave the state someday. No use planning for where I'm going to end up next if I don't know when that's going to happen. In the meantime I'll miss out on all the fun things around me. I've been to a few Rangers games, ostensibly to cheer on the Red Sox, but I like the Ballpark at Arlington. I want to go to a Mavericks game and see the Dallas Stars play. There's theatre and music - too many venues to count from as small as House of Blues to the big ones like Cowboy Stadium. And that's just in Dallas. Fort Worth has lots to do as well. I like Texas, so I don't want to have regrets when I leave some day that I didn't make the most of my time here.