Quinoa Pasta, Ma Favorite

I've been updating this blog regularly, right? Every two months or so I hop back on, briefly acknowledge my absence, jump right into the present state of affairs because we all know nothing I do is ever exciting enough to hark back to, and then I realize nothing I am doing currently is quite noteworthy either.

Lounged around all summer, "interned" at a physical therapy outpatient clinic, applied to jobs, decided against it, and worked out some days.

And currently: started escuela - pardon,  j'ai retourné à l'université - and am still finishing my language requirements. I blogged on the food blog today, also returning from a quick hiatus on that blog. And that's what I will be sharing ce jour. 

A recipe ma souer shared avec moi last year that I was intensely craving Monday night. Note: I spent all my grocery money paying off my credit card bill this month, so this is what I will be eating for the next trois semaines. 

Enjoying my Franglish, non?

Ingredients:

• 1 box quinoa pasta
• brussels sprouts
• carrots
• 1 sweet tomato
• olive oil
• parmesan
• oregano
• salt & pepper to taste

Dice brussels sprouts into quarters, slice carrots, and dice the tomato. Toss in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and bake in the oven at 325 for 15 minutes. Incorporate with cooked pasta, toss with a little more olive oil, oregano, and top with parmesan.

credit where credit is due! 

Vacationing

It's been, what? Only about three months since I posted last? Not much to catch up on, so I'll dive right in to the here and now. Right here is the couch and right now is summer vacation between the end of classes and before the start of anything else productive. I've had plenty of leisurely mornings, quiet afternoons, and relaxing evenings to last me a lifetime.

Last Saturday I had a small job photographing a 5-year-old's birthday party. So that kept me entertained for about three hours.

1. The great egg-on-spoon race. The eggs were cars and the spoons were found unnecessary
2. Improvisation when the wind blew out the poor kid's candles
3. The Announcing of Opening of the Presents
more photos on my photography blog

Basically what's keeping me going is knowing I'll get to visit home in five days and the promise of going to Central Market for groceries when I get back.

Weekend Recap

My friends and I went to go see Mary Walker live in Dallas - if you haven't heard her music yet, you're missing out. That night, we managed to not pay for valet, forget all three of our cards at the bar, and decorate the blackboard at City Tavern.

and then I danced with a robot and had a man rap to me about food 

Saturday was my best friend Monica's birthday, so we threw a fiesta - complete with ponchos, sombreros, mustaches, and a piñata. And Coronas and tequila and spiked horchata. And Andrew's famous guacamole.

Cutie Tuesday

I would be writing my first post in weeks in a Starbucks... 

Winner of Cutie Tuesday

Maddie

for being the best cat squirrel bat dog a girl could ask for

I'm starting to regret my choice to drive myself to Starbucks to "get work done." I read my pre-lab, and then got distracted by the three people on their phones, the four people having a family reunion two tables away from me, the Andrea Bocelli playing not quite loud enough to hear, but not quiet enough for me to ignore...

And a man just walked in that kind of looks like a thug version of Ben from Parks and Rec. 

#latergram

clockwise from top left:
1. Hot Chocolate 5k/15k (I drank coffee and ate donuts and handed out water)*
2. Took a picture to look like I have productive mornings
3. ...life story
4. gravity
5. Girl's night featuring Hurricanes, Anthro coasters, and Table Topics from John and Katie :)
6. Enjoying our Shiner keg for my birthday (thank you Mary and Jake!)

*Has anyone run this? It looked really fun except I'd rather not 9 miles to get hot chocolate. But I totally admire anyone who DID

Cutie Tuesday and a Quick Birthday Recap

 February 1 was my 21st birthday. Friday February 1. Saturday February second was the 50th anniversary of the Groundhog Party in the Park at my school (second largest Groundhog celebration in the world). And Thursday was Groundhog TGIT (I know you can figure what that stands for). The whole school goes to the school's "restaurant"/patio and listens to live music and drinks $1 beers and show up to class hungover the next day.

For a clearer picture:

        

top: getting wild at TGIT (not short, just mid-lunge)
bottom left: came home Thursday night after midnight to find balloons everywhere (thank you, Monica!)
bottom right: the band sang me happy birthday at midnight (thank you, Blake!)

Friday night... started at Taco Diner with many Mambo Taxis and a cougar sitting next to our table taking pictures of us. Followed by the Katy Ice House and seeing all the alumns I missed so so much (back for to celebrate Groundhog). Then to the Den and from there... dislocated my kneecap while I was literally standing.

Saturday: Groundhog
(school photographers get an all-access pass aka only ones allowed on stage)

plus many bonfires, kegs, burgers, s'mores, beer, beer, beer....

and now...

for the moment you've all been waiting for...

Winner of Cutie Tuesday: Gramps Picador

for keeping watch over his home and walking around with a cigar hanging out of his mouth

how cute are my pajama pants, though

Recovery Week

 Also known as... my 21st birthday was Friday. 

I will most definitely do a small recap of the blur that was this past weekend, but as of right now, I'm just trying to recover, both mentally and physically. Not only was this past weekend my 21st birthday, on Saturday my school hosted its 50th anniversary Groundhog Party in the Park -- if it doesn't seem like a big deal, wait until you see the pictures.


As far as physical recovery goes... I am pretty sure I fractured my foot three weeks ago and I dislocated my kneecap on Friday (I was standing and it gave out, no amazing drunken stories here, sorry). But really, what's a birthday without some bumps and bruises?

Some things that have helped with my recovery:

S'mores slippers/foot warmers! From my dear friends the Ballards

for those of you who are unaware, I have a not normal obsession with s'mores...

I literally cried when I saw these 

I don't mean "literally" how some people say it and mean "figuratively"

I LITERALLY CRIED

Diptyque candle from my sister and brother-in-law that smells like heaven
I saw my sister briefly when I was at home last week and asked her about diptyque candles...

And then she sent me one for my birthday among many other gifts

She is amazing. So is Jake (didn't forget you). Oh and so is Luke, but that's a given.

Many other gifts were received by a very thankful birthday girl, but it would be tacky to post every single thing. Plus, it would spoil my thank-you notes. (They are coming!)

but first, coffee

p.s. I think the best part of my day is that first sip of coffee

&

my last sip of coffee is for sure the most stressful

The Spa Diet

Disclaimer: this is amateur hour - I'm not a nutritionist, dietitian, trainer, etc. 
just a food blogger with time on her hands 

Although this isn't my health and food blog, and this is an idea that is still in the very beginning stages of development,  I have been taking mental notes for a while know on what I've come to think of as "The Spa Diet".

It's more a lifestyle than a diet, focusing on eating clean and exercising regularly - all with the mindset that you are treating yourself. 

When I think of a spa, I think of "me time" and everything being fresh and clean and relaxing while giving a sense of renewal and energy. In practical, everyday application, this would translate into eating healthy, fresh food, exercising everyday without feeling like you're dying, and pampering yourself in little ways. To take it one step further...

 imagine waking up in a clean bedroom with the morning light pouring in through the window. You make a big breakfast for yourself while Alexi Murdoch and Damien Rice plays in the background. Egg white omelette with all the fixings, whole wheat toast, steaming coffee or tea, fresh fruit...

...Get ready for the day, sip on a refreshing glass of water. Get things done, be productive. Make a healthy lunch - a big yummy salad, something full of energy before you go to the gym. Pack your gym bag, throw a clementine in there for an extra boost, load your favorite songs onto your ipod, run a couple miles, work your abs and your arms with those non-initimidating five-pound weights. Get home, shower, light your favorite candle, feel clean and refreshed, make yourself a smoothie....

and, of course, give yourself a little bit of time in your day to sit down and blog your heart out

It could go on and on... and honestly, that sounds like the life to me. 

Cutie Tuesday

A day late, but yesterday I  actually happened to be at home and got new pictures of ze dogs 

(because I don't have 100+ on my computer already). 

Winner of Cutie Tuesday: Maddie 

for keeping me warm on an unusually cold morning in Los Angeles

. . . 

a scorned Pico

Without going into details, I got to go home for less than a day - got in Monday night and left Tuesday around 6pm. Quick trip, but it was nice to see my family and sleep in my bed for a night.

ManCrush Monday

Another Monday. I woke up in Dallas, and now I am sitting at home on my couch watching the Bachelor (roller derby? really?) in Los Angeles. Only to leave tomorrow afternoon to head back to school. 

Pictured above: new coffee table tray | Target

Not really a ManCrush*, just an excuse to talk about the Bachelor:

Des: Soulmate

Ashley: Wife

Tierra: Really? And stop snorting

Leslie H: At least she got the shopping spree

*My boyfriend is the only one I have a crush on :)

A Statement of Confusion

For many moons now, I have been in dismay at my inability to pinpoint exactly how other bloggers do it. By "it" I mean all of it. Photo collages, words on pictures, new sources, new topics. Does everyone walk around being followed by a DSLR? Does everyone have amazing photo editors?

I mean, I know how I do it - through agonizingly slow and old photoshop programs... and I get the desired results... but there must be a better way.

A few guesses I've come up with:
1. People on PCs have better photo editors than a Mac's sorry iPhoto
2. Picasa? I'm not sure exactly what they do on Picasa but I'm guessing it's involved.
3. Polyvore. I know I'm on to to something here

Am I close?

Don't get me wrong. I am thoroughly content with my own words-on-pictures art. I just can't imagine everyone in the blogosphere/pinterestland uses photoshop. Or maybe they do. 

back when I was slaving over Adobe Illustrator to make these

 Is Adobe ever involved in the process? Paint? Preview?
The suspense is killing me.

lacing up my Nikes at this very moment

I'll Pencil You In

It's the start of a new semester and I have that same excitement that I'm sure most people experience when getting a fresh start. That same one that quickly dwindles and turns into a constant and dull dread of the 1 hour and 20 minute class and of staying up until 3 am doing the homework that was assigned a week prior. Can't wait :)

For now, though, the excitement is still present and in full force. I ordered my books online (thank you, parents), got a brand spankin' new planner (I don't know why it wouldn't be new...), and a new set of fine-liner pens. Really and truly, few things excite me more than new school supplies.

Rearing to go, I woke up early to copy my syllabi into my planner... and got to see that with only two classes written down, I have all my assignments and tests on the same days. Spring semester 2013, you are too good to me.

Paper Source | 2013 Large Saffian Robin's Egg Blue Datebook

My life, my joy, my pride.

And in the spirit of snapping pictures of inanimate objects in my living room, these are my all-time favorite coasters (that keep my white coffee table looking beautiful). My roommate brought them back one day, and they have been part of the family ever since.

Anthropologie | Celestial Coaster Set

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

But I was in Kansas last week - visiting my boyfriend and his family after being apart for the dreariest four weeks of my entire life. Okay, I exaggerate - being abroad for four months was a little bit more difficult. The point is that I missed my Andrew dearly and was overjoyed to be reunited with him.

he'd look at me like this

and i'd look back like this

and then he'd sip his drink to calm his excited nerves

and then I'd do something to get his attention again

and back and forth and back and forth

Besides gazing into each others eyes for hours on end...

- we went to the Exploratarium (Andrew insists on calling it by it's given name: The Exploration Place)

- we took lil Frankie for a walk

- and witnessed the miracle that is Andrew's famous chili

In addition to those three momentous occasions, I got to visit with his family a ton (which I always love) and eat my weight in the most delicious food Wichita had to offer. 

and thennn we packed up and readied ourselves for the long trek down to Dallas to start school

and thennnnnnnn we drove down to Dallas

and then and then and then we got back and went out to celebrate my best friend's 21st

AND THEN

I fell down the stairs while sitting on my foot and now it looks like it took a trip through a paper shredder

Happy Monday!

Did Someone Say "Coffee"?

1 shot of espresso

1 cup of vanilla almond milk microwaved for 1 minute 40 seconds 

1 dash of cinnamon

whisk milk until frothy

pour over espresso

That's how I take my morning coffee. It's the same every single day, but somehow it always tastes better when I'm at home in California.

can you tell I got my camera back from the shop?

It's my last morning at home and I'm savoring every last minute. Major plans? Walking my dogs chihuahuas, doing all my laundry, packing, cleaning my room, and other productive things...

I really do love the box of an apartment that I live in in Texas, but nothing beats being at home. Especially home in California, where 'cold' means anything slightly below 60 and I wake up to a bright and sunny (and fully furnished) kitchen every morning.