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