Monday Madness

Monday's To Do List:

1. Get My Eyebrows Waxed (Lord knows they are scary)
2. Go to Verizon to buy look at an iPhone. My phone broke :(
3. Paint my finger nails & toes (I never find time to do this stuff for myself)
4. Fold the laundry sitting in the dryer (sorry Erin, classic Shalie :)
5. Do some Homework!
6. Tend to the needs of my sick, sweet boyfriend
7. Run 2 miles?.............................yea :)
8. Watch the BACHELOR!
9. Relax with my new ribbon wick candle from Wood Wick (I love candles)

-&-

Introducing: Spicy Macaroni and Cheese



This dish will change your life...and I am not being dramatic. Last time I made this dish I paired it with some grilled chicken. YUM. Pioneer Woman really has a way of displaying her food and has such a fun personality. Check out her website!

P.W.’s Spicy Macaroni & Cheese

4 cups cooked macaroni or cavatappi
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 to 1/2 finely diced red onion
Equal amount diced red bell pepper
1 finely diced jalapeno
1 4 oz can chopped green chilies
1 cup frozen corn
2 to 3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup cream
1 generous cup grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons butter
Salt
Pepper

Boil pasta until al dente. In a large skillet, add olive oil and saute garlic and vegetables over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add in canned chilies and stir around, then turn off heat. Drain pasta and add it to skillet. Pour on cream, add cheese, then add salt and pepper to taste and stir gently. At the end, add 2 tablespoons butter and stir again. Check seasonings and serve.

Serve with juicy steak, with grilled shrimp, chicken, or on its own. It’ll change your life for the better.

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful....Cough Drops?

Well now that I have taken a nice, unnecessary break from my Blog for the past week, I have decided to stop being lazy and update it.

 I have been batteling a minor cold the past few days, and have tried to smack it straight in the face! before it gets any worse.

Exibit A

*please don't mind "Papa Cisco" a.k.a Work Phone a.k.a super dusty because I never use it, in the background.

Work was obviously not my first choice when my alarm went off this morning. A million reasons why I should not go into work this morning entered my head, BUT Erin Murphy can't bring home the bacon every day (actually the bacon in the fridge is mine, I made an awesome corn chowder the other night. Try It!)

Random Fact: I cannot say "Corn Chowder" without a New York accent.  See Below.

So I made the mistake of reading the WARNINGS on the back of my Hall's Breezers package. Apparently, I may experience some swelling, nausea, fever and rashing...that's right friends...rashing. Oh Good! let me slap this cold in the face with a nice swollen, rash infested immune system. perfect.

Introducing: The Tony Voice

For some strange reason, I have been talking with a New York accent all day (I promise I am not a freak...no seriously). Like I own a pizzeria or something.  I do not know if the cold is getting to my head or I am just itching for a summer beach day.

It started with an email that I received from a student that read:

Ms. Burrows,

Can I catch up with you on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m?

Sent via Blackberry Text

First, I hate emails sent via text message. Second...catch up?

Que "Tony" Voice:

"What do you think this is, a hang out session?"

"Would you like to get coffee too?"

"Why dont you bring me some coffee and some hommade corn chowder"

"Catch up? like pizza sauce....?"


Have a Glorious Tuesday!

Please pray for me to get through this day :)

Monday Blue's

I'm being honest when I say enjoy Monday's. I am energized from the weekend, the week is new (with no mistakes in it), I am not sick of work yet and it's nice to get back into a normal routine. However, today was not just not one of those Monday's.

Monday Fails

• Ballet Flats and 34 degree weather (not smart)
• Not chipping the ice of your windshield and thinking you can actually see (not safe)
• Ordering the Blonde Roast instead of the Dark Italian Roast at Starbucks (not good)
• Filling up a water bottle at the fountain, only to find little "specs" in it (not sanitary)
• Taking a Multi-Vitamin on a 7 point (Weight Watchers shout out!) filled stomach and still feeling nauseous (not fun)
• Forgetting to zip up the zipper on your J. Crew Minnie Pants, on the SIDE of your leg (not cute)
• Poring Milk into a glass that has a huge crack in the bottom of it, only to find all of your kitchen counter (not convenient)

Okay fine...I wont be a negative Nancy...

Monday Perks

• My ballet flats looked cute even if my feet had to thaw out
• I am obviously alive and made it to work regardless of impaired vision
• Coffee is Coffee (Im just saying that to be positive but not really thinking that)
• When I was in Africa my water came out black sometimes. I will take "specs" any day of the week.
• There is nothing positive about taking big fat vitamins, especially when they upset your stomach
• At least it wasn't the front zipper ;)
• Even more of an excuse to buy new dinnerware

Monday's additional Perks

• Cauliflower and Tomato's were a dollar at KROGER (so budget friendly)
• Monday means Tuesday is tomorrow AND Valentines Day is tomorrow.
• Courtney is still on the Bachelor...I am really interested in seeing her crazy family and who doesn't love her facial expressions?
• Joshua sprayed my pillow with his cologne when I was making dinner (I know that is cheesy/creepy but I love the way he smells)

AND

Yes, I know what you are thinking...Digestive Wheat Biscuits? However, these cookies are British and I love anything and everything British AND they are healthy. Not sure I understand the whole "digestive" bit in the title but who cares right?......haha......right? okay its weird.

But they are good ;)

It's What's for Breakfast

Well, my new found "diet" was really put to the test this morning, with an early morning breakfast date with the lovely Allison.

Introducing...Cracker Barrel!

The land of the fattening but Oh So Good! pancakes, hashbrown casserole and butter biscuits...seriously...butter biscuits. I used this rendezvous as my first "challenge" for the week, because Lord knows there will be many more. I was able to research food items ahead of time and come up with a perfect combination of good/healthy options, which included the following (keep in mind that I have 26 points for the entire day):

Turkey Sausage (x2) = 3 points

Egg Beaters (x2) = 2 points

Wheat Sour Dough Bread (x1) = 2 points

Black Coffee = 0 Points

Grand Total = 7 Points

This breakfast combination was PERFECT! just the right amount of protein and carb's to jump start my day. I think I am really going to like this whole "Weight Watchers" thing. Okay, so I take back my previous comment about "not posting about my diet/recipes blah blah blah", I have to document it somewhere!

Now, for a couple of "Current's" for the day:

Currently Wearing








Currently Listening to



Current Ipod Game

"Chess With Friends"



Currently Thinking About

Let's be honest...what would you be thinking about if you just ate at Cracker Barrel and had egg beaters instead of these! :)

 

Someone to Watch Over You

When I think of that song, an online website that keeps track of your caloric intake, excercie activity and good/sometime's terrible food choices, is not normally the first thing that come's to mind. But Hey...accountability is accountability and something needs to happen with this here body of mine.

Yesterday I joined Weight Watchers!

I am very excited about this decision, and some of you may have noticed in my "Tidbit's" tab, included in my goals were: Lose 25 pounds and run a marathon...YIKES!

Although I do not plan on tracking my weight loss and food choices on this blog, I would like to give you a little taste of how my morning/afternoon has changed in the last day:

Yesterday:

Coffee with Cream 

 (1 point)

Today:

Black Coffee

(0 points)

Yesterday's Breakfast:

Everything Bagel

(7 points)

Today's Breakfast:

Oikos Greek Yogurt Vanilla

(3 Points)

Yesterdays After-work Activity:

Target :)...caught me

Today's After-work Activity:

Work out!

I am really excited to become best friends with Jennifer Hudson too, I tried texting her yesterday to tell her the good news and she never replied....weird.

                                                                                       

Weekends Are My Favorite

I took a break from the Blogger world over the weekend, because I found myself obsessing over every little detail. Yes, I can be a little OCD at times. BUT I"M BACK!

Saturday

Joshua picked me up around noon and we made our way to one of our favorite spots in town, The Farm Basket. Located right on the river, this quaint spot has amazing food, a relaxing ambiance, and a huge $700 hand-carved, wooden chess board available for our entertainment. What could be more relaxing?... Actually my blood preasure went up mid-game because I was getting spanked (whatever)...

Saturday Night

My friend Allie and I, met up with my old roommate, Ashleigh, who was visiting from Washington D.C. I miss her dearly. We were meeting at Starbucks and I thought it would be a good  friend points idea to order a drink for her, Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte to be exact.

She walked through the door and after our *squeals* and "oh my gosh! you look great girl" episode, she sat down. I sat there antisipating her sheer delite, at the site of her piping hot, espresso drink. When all of a sudden she said quite possibly the most terrifying, unrealistic, unimaginable,  thing ever...."I am fasting from coffee"

GASP!

I am pretty sure my face said it all in that moment and whatever drives someone to fast from coffee is beyond my comprehension. Needless to say, I presented my sap story to the Barista, who chuckled and made her a Earl Grey Tea Latte on the house. This is why I love Starbucks.

Super Bowl Sunday

Josh and I are not sport fans, I dont think I have ever watched an entire Super Bowl game. So while everyone else was downing chicken wings, laughing at the commercials, enjoying Madonna? and throwing stuff at the television, this is what we were doing :)

Yes. We went to the movies and saw The Grey, I bought a really cute, glass chess set from Walmart for $6 (we are obsessed now) and we made homemade Margarita pizza. YUM.

We did happen to turn the game on for the last five minutes to see the Giants win. In that moment we both realized something. Somewhere, at this very second, some poor soul was sitting next to Josh's roommate Kyle, a die hard Patriots fan, and immediatley regreted their decision.

I lost the chess game. :(

Peace in the Middle East

Happy Friday!

Plans for the weekend include:

1. Sleep!
2. Laundry (womp womp)
3. Sleep!
4. Homework (womp womp again)
5. Sleep!

 Lets be honest, who really cares what happens, as long as it's the weekend!...

 but Sleep will be involved.

Today, I was walking in the hallway, when I saw a table completely covered in bracelets (what girl wouldn't notice that?) Sitting behind this table was a girl holding a poster that read "Help send me to the Middle East!" I love missions, I love bracelets...I love mission bracelets.

So I bought one ;)

I recently took a trip to Algeria with a friend from work, to visit her parents Mission's organization (Operation Mobilization), where they started a church. One of the only churches in the entire Country. The people there are Muslim and their native language's are Arabic and French (this was quite difficult for me). Christianity is forbidden, but the Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn't he :) To God Be The Glory! Here are a few pictures from my trip this past Summer:

(sharing my testimony at a womens camp)

The people there, also loved the fact that I was an AMERICAN! (fireworks go off, crowd cheers). Yea, its that big of a deal of there. We are a very blessed Nation. We are free...

The women wanted to dress me up in their native dressings...every...where....I went.... :)

One of the most motivating, thrilling, scary, exciting experiences of my life.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Holy Moly Ravioli

As promised, dinner from last night and from, you guessed it, Pinterest! This delectible meal was to die for and super easy and cheap!

The Ingredients

Preparation

Setting the Mood

(Plates and Wine glasses: The Dollar Tree)

Finished Product

  

Ingredients

1 (20-oz.) package refrigerated four-cheese ravioli* $

• 1 (16-oz.) jar sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce $
• 2 tablespoons white wine $
• 2 medium-size fresh tomatoes, chopped** $
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese $
• Garnish: fresh basil strips

Preparation

1. 1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. 2. Meanwhile, pour Alfredo sauce into a medium saucepan. Pour wine into sauce jar; cover tightly, and shake well. Stir wine mixture into saucepan. Stir in chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup chopped basil, and cook over medium-low heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Toss with pasta, and top evenly with 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Garnish, if desired.
3. *1 (13-oz.) package three-cheese tortellini may be substituted.
4. **1 (14.5-oz.) can petite diced tomatoes, fully drained, may be substituted.
5. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Buitoni Four Cheese Ravioli and Classico Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo Pasta Sauce.

Paired with a nice bottle of Mascato and Sangria, dinner was a success!

Smarty Pants

 

J.Crew's Much Loved Little Black Pant

Minnie 



I am the new proud owner of these "life changing" pants (and I am not being dramatic), and can't wait to snag them in a different color. They are comfy and sophisticated. Having a J.Crew so close to home has its perks, but my bank account hates it!

Dramatic Story for the Day

I am a 23 year old, 5'2" shorty-porty. I can wear kid's shoes and my hands are half the size of my boyfriends. My feet dangle in every chair I sit in, at movie theatres, on the bus, in my desk chair and I like to sit on the end seat at Church, so I can look from the side. No worries. I am secure with my height and petite frame (thanks to momma Lisa).

But on this particular morning, my short, walking-strides got the better of me, and really put me in a fowl mood. I pulled into the parking lot at 8: 03 a.m. (I am always, always late for work, I have no idea how I even have a job), slammed the door of my blue, Honda Civic, flipped my freshly, curled hair behind my shoulder, coffee in hand (always), and charged for the door in my cute newly purchased, ballet flats.

While admiring the sun rising and the birds chirping (not really),  all I here is *click* *click* *click*...closer and closer and closer. Like the theme song from "JAWS"...louder and louder. She was gaining on me. A 5'9" blonde, bombshell in shoes that looked like this:

(slite exaggeration)

with strides that would allow her to run a mile faster than I could get to the door, and she was right behind me. So close, she could probably tell I used my Suave shampoo this morning instead of Dove (which I don't recommend). This was Serious. "You have got to be kidding me...alright Barbie...you want to play games?".  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a morning person, so imagine the irritation when someone is practically stepping on your heals in stiletto's at 8:03 in the morning.

Needless to say, I began a slight jog to the door, grabbed the polished, handle and flew the double door's open. Spilling little drips of coffee on my new ballet flats, I leaped up the stairs and made it through my office door. The clicking noise of her knock-off Louboutin's, where a distant memory and as I sat in my cubicle, sipping on my half-full coffee, all I could do was sigh and say "Sweet Victory :)".

Tonight

GIRLS NIGHT!

Lindsey is coming over and Erin and I are making Italian. I will share what we make tomorrow!

Happy Wednesday!