A Few of my Favorite Things: 2012 in Hyperbole

Sometimes I speak in extremes. I can't help it. With that said, I have some utterly LIFE CHANGING favorites to share from 2012.

Life-changing gadget(s): the iPad mini
It's so little! And yet, after a few days, I've started to master typing on it. Yes, I'll most likely get a full-size Bluetooth keyboard to use, but I can easily see this becoming my primary device. I love it so much I'll probably name it. Shush your mouth.
Runner-up: Republic Wireless Motorola little, tiny Droid
Yeah, so I might have also received an iPhone 4S for Christmas, too, but this thing WORKS where I need it to and when I need it to. I'm not really exaggerating when I say this is the first cell phone I've owned that has done just that. Ever. In all my 30 years. I'm so happy with it, I don't want to stop using it.

Life-changing shoes: Steve Madden Saviour riding boots

(image source: http://www1.assets-gap.com/webcontent/0005/178/692/cn5178692.jpg)

Because BootSaga2012 was indeed a saga. I know people complain about finding boots to fit their big calves, but trust me -- it is just as difficult to find boots to fit skinny calves. These aren't perfect, but for the price, they work.

Life-changing Pottery Barn purchase: the tote bag

(image source: http://rk.pbimgs.com/pbimgs/rk/images/dp/wcm/201223/0002/img3b.jpg)

IT FITS AS A CARRY-ON. That's when I knew I loved it. It's super sturdy. And it's all girly and pretty.

Life-changing relaxation: Lush A French Kiss and Lush Dream Time (tie)

(image sources: http://demandware.edgesuite.net/sits_pod18/dw/image/v2/AAHL_PRD/on/demandware.static/Sites-Lush-Site/Sites-lushcosmetics-export/en_US/v1356858154930/images/product/02189.jpg?sw=350&sh=350 and http://demandware.edgesuite.net/sits_pod18/dw/image/v2/AAHL_PRD/on/demandware.static/Sites-Lush-Site/Sites-lushcosmetics-export/en_US/v1356858154930/images/product/00601.jpg?sw=350&sh=350)

My late evening baths become exponentially more enjoyable when I drop pieces of these in. And the smell lingers on my bath towels, which even makes getting ready for work more enjoyable. Remember that Friends episode where Ross and Rachel are breaking up and the other four are locked in Monica's bedroom eating leg wax? And Phoebe says how it actually doesn't taste bad? I imagine I'd have the same reaction if I were forced to eat one of these because they smell GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT.

Life-changing food: my vegetarian quesadillas
What you need: soft taco-sized tortillas, tomatoes (canned will work), mushrooms, chopped onions, chopped bell peppers, shredded cheese (cheddar, taco, Mexican blend -- whatever you like), black beans, and sour cream and fresh salsa for topping
What you do: spray a little olive oil in a pan, lay down the tortilla, fill half of it with above ingredients and fold the other half over. Let it brown nicely on both sides (be careful when flipping) and then top with as much sour cream and salsa as you want. As my father says, "It'll make your tongue want to slap your brains out!"
Runner-up: my charred fresh green beans
These happened by complete accident. I was simply trying to caramelize the onions when they got a little dark and crispy, leaving the pan on too high for too long. Turns out I couldn't have made a better mistake. Season with salt, onion salt, and a little garlic powder. PERFECTION.

Life-changing read: Running Away to Home, by Jennifer Wilson 
It reaffirmed the fact that I NEED to travel to eastern Europe and visit the lands from where my ancestors came. And also that maybe I need to not ignore my family so much (even if they are incredibly nebby and sometimes say rage-inducing comments).

Life-changing habit: Finding a local watering hole
Because Friday afternoons are going to kill my kidneys (therefore, life-changing).
[This is complete hyperbole. Don't drink and drive, kids.]

Life-changing weekend habit: City Market
PRODUCE! HAND-MADE CRAFTY GOODS! ALL THE STUFF YOU NEVER REALIZED YOU NEEDED UNTIL YOU SAW IT!
My only goal for 2013 regarding City Market is to get there every week and at an earlier time to really claim the good stuff. Every time I think of joining a CSA (and how amazeballs it would be), I think about how it would ruin my weekend routine.

Life-changing thing that will make me erupt with uncontrollable rage: 50 Shades of Horrible Crap Gray
Hey, all you who read it? Go home, you're drunk. Book snobbery FTW.

Life-changing dress: JCrew Origami Sheath Dress

(image source: http://cdnb.lystit.com/photos/2011/10/11/jcrew-decadent-red-origami-sheath-dress-in-wool-crepe-product-1-2189929-062658497_large_card.jpeg)

Nothing makes me feel as stylish and confident as Kate Middleton as this dress. It fits like a glove. And with nude pumps? I FEEL like a duchess.

And with that, 2012 is summarized. I can't wait to see what sorts of favorite things next year brings!

Random thoughts for a Friday

I know I haven't been around much. Life's been a little busy cleaning sand out from between my toes. I have a lot of random thoughts bouncing around my head I just need to get out:

• As I sit here watching the NHL Draft, I'm realizing how much I like watching the TSN coverage. Canada does a lot of things right, and TSN is definitely in that group.
• I love a good thunderstorm, and lord knows my grass and garden need it, but I don't love it so much when all I want to do is get in the pool.
• I don't even feel a bit guilty about the amount of fried zucchini I consumed tonight. Hell, I picked six GIANT zucchini this morning. I need to do something with them, right? With that said, in our attempts to be healthy, I will not fry all six. In fact, I already have plans for the other battering rams large ones sitting on my counter.
• Three days at the beach was perfection. Eating delicious crab each night was perfection. I need my seasons and I love winter, but there is something about the ocean that just makes me never want to get out of it.
• I have an incredible amount of love for UVa. This may seem odd since I never attended as an undergrad, but the honor I feel from graduating from there with my masters degree trumps anything I ever did in undergrad. To see the chaos surrounding the coup (yes, I said it) regarding President Sullivan's ouster goes against everything Jefferson stands for. I'm sure he's doing more than simply rolling in his grave at everything. The only way to make this right is to reinstate President Sullivan and for Rector Dragas to honorably step down from her post. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both early next week.
• I still don't deal well with illness, death, and funerals. Who does? But I think I'm dealing better than I have in the past, and that's a huge step. I still don't cry, though.
• But the post-funeral food in the basement of the church? Took me back to my elementary school days where the little old ladies prepared the food in the cafeteria kitchen. I gorged myself on the best homemade applesauce I've ever had. Don't tell my grandmother.
• I need to read like, four books at once and I don't even know which one to pick up first. Reread Mockingjay? Finish all the essays in The Hunger Games and Philosophy? Plow through At Home (which I want to enjoy more, but Bill Bryson, you are all over the map with this one)? Finish This I Believe essays? I don't know what I want!
• I know you could never, ever pay me all the money in the world to pick up the absolute trash that is Fifty Shades of Horseshit Grey. Grow up, ladies. Find something decent.
• I think before the weekend is over, I need to make this blackberry cheesecake. Because that just looks incredible. Who wants a slice?

A little guilty pleasure television never hurt anybody...

The school year is winding down to a close and I could NOT.BE.HAPPIER. The end of the year means no happy medium between having to grade a lot at once and then having nothing to do for days. So, when I have nothing to do for days (or, realistically, when I've mastered the art of not caring and realizing why I have a planning block), I start flipping channels and begin rediscovering what I haven't watched all year long.

During the school year, the only television I will watch religiously is living sporting events and ESPN. I don't have a sitcom I tune in weekly to see; the same goes for a drama (Downton Abbey became the exception this year). Sure, we'll turn on cable and watch Law & Order: SVU reruns like we get paid per episode, but I don't find myself watching the new episodes each week. Why do I watch so much sports in the fall and winter? Well, for one, I thoroughly enjoy it. It's not scripted and the outcome is truly never known. Two, if a game is boring, I can tune it out and get some work done that I usually put off. I enjoy the background noise, but if San Diego is crushing Denver, I don't really care.

But in the summer, I'm COMPLETELY invested in two guilty pleasure shows: So You Think You Can Dance and Food Network Star. Hardcore, DVR, must-not-miss-or-else invested. I love the competition of both shows and openly rooting for (and against) certain people. With SYTYCD, I love watching the performances that bring tears to your eyes, especially this one from Melanie and Neil last year when SHE FLEW.




And maybe I love SYTYCD so much because I've never been a dancer and always wished I could.

As for FNS, the competition is fierce, the food looks like you could eat it off your screen, and there is SO MUCH DRAMA (retract the claws, Season 7's Penny). Plus, I kind of love watching celebrity chefs get annoyed with those who think they already are celebrity chefs. I watched this season's first episode, and Alton already looks bored (I love it!). The show gives me a little inspiration to play in my own kitchen, which I love to do anyways, but I always feel like I can do more.

What else will I be Netflixing when it's raining outside or simply too damn hot to exist? New Girl, which I've been told is hilarious, and Friday Night Lights, which, if it is anything at all like the movie, I will love.

Alrighty dearies, what guilty pleasure television will you be watching this summer?

Not-so-freaky Friday the 13th

Why not-so-freaky? I'm not a superstitious person. If I was, then I probably would've decided to hide in bed all day after my black cat crossed my path about 40 times trying to wake me up this morning. Also, if I was superstitious, I'd change my hockey jersey, earrings, and beer choice for tonight. I may change the beer, but the Malkin jersey stays. Sorry, Crosby.

I apologize for my absence, as I haven't been feeling very inspired lately to write, but I finally came around. I have lots of post ideas that bubble underneath my little surface, but some of them I just don't know if they're worthy of clicking Publish Post. Maybe one day. I digress.

Here's a small list of what has inspired me or made me stupidly happy today, this week, lately, etc.

• Swimming, and even sharing a lane. Why? Because now when I'm forced to share a lane, I'm challenging myself against the other swimmer, whether he or she has blue hair or looks like a triathlete. It feels good.
• Taking classes. Last night, I signed up for a computer science course. What?! It's free. There are no textbooks. It's online. And it's taught by a UVa professor. Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Now, to sign up for those library media courses...
• This site, which has made me drool over my keyboard (HT to jcs for sharing, when I needed food inspiration so terribly badly).
• Knowing that I'm big enough of a dork to do this to a pan of brownies.
• Playoff hockey. I love having multiple heart attacks at 30. I love the yelling. I love the intensity, the hits, the goals, the saves, and the fans. Basically, I love everything about it (except the heartbreak of an overtime loss, but hopefully there will be no more of that anytime soon). Go Pens.
• This Vanity Fair article about juicy gossip from the filming of Cabaret.
• Reading The House at Tyneford. I'm only 60-some pages in, but I LOVE IT. Love it. If I didn't want to go out and enjoy the rest of this beautiful day, I would curl up in bed and just read it forever. Did I mention that I love it so far?
• The belief that one day, my house will be perfectly organized. It may not be any time soon, but one day.
• I'm such a bad person for laughing so hard at this, but the @FatBettyFrancis Twitter account cracks me up every single time. At least Hell will be full of fun people and Bugles, and it'll be warm.
• Knowing that I have seven measly weeks of work left, and that afterwards, I'm teaching the most awesome class on The Hunger Games. My excitement for this is almost scary.
• Trying new restaurants. Will tonight's dinner finally prove that C'ville isn't a black hole for Italian food? Please, dear God, be authentic.

So, my lieblings, what has inspired you lately, or what has made you stupidly happy? Do share!

Cook-Out vs. Five Guys

I usually try to make VERY healthy food choices. Soy milk, yogurt, and coffee creamer. I will only buy local eggs, bread, jams, produce, and honey from my favorite little market. I eat less meat. I devour books about the food industry like I devour Mission Home Bakery German chocolate cupcakes. But sometimes I'm bad. Really bad.

Truth? I kind of love an occasional trip to Five Guys. For all my preaching about industrialized beef and fast food and GOOD GOD ALL THE GREASE, about three times a year I need a giant styrofoam cup of fries. I feel like death afterwards, but for about 20 minutes, it's worth it.

And last night was one of those nights when a burger was a good idea, when the husband and I decided to see what all the fuss was about on Emmet Street. C'ville has plenty of Five Guys locations. But Cook-Out, the North Carolina chain, recently opened. The parking lot and drive-thru were so busy, they had a guy directing traffic. We were barely inside the door and the line kept growing. Thankfully, we were handed a menu and were able to make our choices before reaching the counter (though, if they had an automated way to place orders, we're sure things would go A LOT faster -- take note, owners). I pounced on a table vacated by some UVa undergrads (who populated the place) and patiently waited for my food.

Our order? A Cheddar Style burger (with cheddar, grilled onions, mayo, and bacon), a Cook-Out Style burger (chili, slaw, mustard, and onions), fries, a large Cheerwine, and a chocolate shake (my apologies for a lack of photos).

The verdict? Five Guys wins.

The fries were good and better than most fast food fries, but in no way compare to what Five Guys shovels into that brown paper bag. Ketchup was Heinz (WIN), but in packets which are difficult to open with greasy fingers. My burger was a little heavy on the onions and so hot I almost burned my mouth. I felt a little forced to order one of the speciality burgers, when I would've rather picked my own toppings. I don't know if this was because of the crowd or the reputation. The husband (who is about as anti-fast food as I am) even thought a Five Guys burger was better and he almost never goes there. With that said, the chocolate shake was smooth, thick, and just chocolaty enough, and I'd sit in a drive-thru line for another one.

I think we wanted to like it more than we did. Maybe once the mad rush dies down, we'll give it another shot. Yes, it's cheaper than Five Guys, but you get what you pay for, and honestly? I'd rather pay double at Five Guys.

Things I Love on a Saturday

I adore weekends. Treasure them, in fact. Good week or bad, it doesn't really matter. And this weekend has been full of good things, including:

• Awesome breakfast: Nothing beats a breakfast you take the time to make. Granted, I usually have eggs and toast a few times during the week, but I added some chicken and apple sausage this morning. Seriously, this stuff is what's keeping me from giving up meat completely.

• Picture Shows: Last night I saw The Iron Lady and tonight I rented The Help ONLY because it was nominated for so many awards. I haven't read the book because I had no desire to, but I'm keeping an open mind. As for last night's show, Meryl Streep was incredible as Margaret Thatcher. What could have been a boring bio pic was a very engaging, beautiful story.

• Feeling Pretty: Saturdays and Sundays are perfect for ungodly long showers and bath bomb-filled tubs (with a book, candle, and alcoholic beverage of choice). Saturdays are all about pampering and pretty things. Today? Lavanila vanilla and grapefruit body butter and Sephora by OPI in Teal We Meet Again. Part of closing in on 30 is the ability to confidently wear nail polish not in varying shades of red.

• Impromptu pit-stops: After my binge shopping at Sephora, I needed a Chick-fil-A chocolate milkshake. NEEDED IT. And it was delicious.

• Curling up with a good book: I am now reading four different books at once, which is something I don't normally do, and they're all so different. Joyce's Ulysses, Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow, This I Believe essays, and Delirium (YA lit). I also downloaded previews for about nine other books on my Nook. If I could get paid to read all day, I would.

• Wine: Do I really need to explain this?

Happy weekend, my pretties! Cheers!