Bring It On!!

Woo-Hoo! It finally feels like fall outside today. Unfortunately, it's only supposed to last through tomorrow and then it's back up to high's in the 80's, but you can bet I'm gonna savor every minute until then! By the way, it kind of makes you feel like camping, doesn't it?? See Brooke's blog for more details.

Even Mozart thinks its been too warm lately!

Getting attacked by a big brown owl is never fun!

Today has not been my day. My schoolwork has given me trouble and I'm stressing about the biology section of the PCAT. Also, I've noticed lately that I am losing an inordinate amount of hair. It's getting scary. My mom thinks it might be my thyroid (those disorders run in our family). Luckily I'm eligible for coverage under my family's insurance plan since I'm taking undergrad classes (at least until I turn 25 in February), so I'm trying to make a doctors appointment for a check up.

And then...when Blue and I were out in the woods taking a hike with the dog this afternoon, we all of a sudden see this large thing move above our heads and her a loud "whoosh." We look up and there is this huge brown owl swooping toward us. Apparently we had startled it and it wanted to express to us how unhappy it was about this. Looking back on it, it was pretty neat to actually see such a large owl up close out in the wild.

On a lighter note, in going along with Brooke's fun cookie find, I've also found a new fantabulous food item at the grocery store. It is Dickinson's Country Pumpkin Butter, and boy is it good. You can find it in the jam and jelly section, and at $1.79, it' a steal. It tastes like heaven. We've been eating it on bagels and toast. It's so good that I even eat a spoonful by itself every once in a while. Everyone should try it!
Wooh! I guess I'm feeling a little long-winded this evening. If you've managed to make it all the way down here, you're a trooper!

I'd rather be here! (enough with these 90 degree days!)

Sweet, sweet ice and cold. Don't keep your distance. I long for you. You complete me. I am lost without you. You must come back to me.

Beer, Top Model, Fries, and Phase 10

That is what my fun-filled Friday night consisted of when Kristen invited me over to hang out. We drank many beers, watched Top Model on dvr, ate fries from Wingstop, and played Phase 10 till like two in the morning. (See pics below.) Then on Saturday Blue and I hung out at home amongst the tornado sirens. Our back patio flooded and my car got completely covered in leaves since I neglected to pull it into the garage before the storm hit, but other than that we're still standing. Today I did some house cleaning and right now I'm watching Grey's Anatomy. So far it's been fabulous. Yea for season premiers!!







The lovely hostess.



















Yea!, Phase 10!













Me, multi-tasking as usual.














I was feeling pretty competitive!


















Woo-hoo! I won. (Well, actually we never really finished
the game, but when we quit I had the best score.) :)

Recipe of the Week

I tried this one a few weeks ago and loved it. It's great used in a wrap or pita and also good on its own.

Southwestern Chicken Salad

1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. coarse black pepper
3/4 tsp. dried thyme, divided
1 pkg. chicken tenderloins
3/4 tsp. paprika
1/3 c. light mayonnaise
1/4 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. coarse black pepper
1 1/2 c. corn, fresh, frozen or canned
2 tbp. chopped, fresh cilantro
3/4 c. diced orange bell pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

1. Fill a large skillet with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. Add lemon slices, bay leaf, peppercorns and 2/3 of the thyme, and bring to boiling over high heat. Add chicken, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-18 minutes, turning chicken once, until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink. Remove chicken from liquid and set aside to cool.

2. In a small skillet, stir together the paprika and remaining thyme over medium-low heat for 2 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together the toasted paprika mixture, mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, ground pepper and nutmeg until evenly blended.

3. Cube cooled chicken and transfer to a medium bowl. Add prepared dressing, corn, cilantro, orange pepper and jalapeno and toss until evenly coated. Serve warm, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Yield: 4 servings

Sweet Mother of God, I'm glad that's over!

Yeah, so, I just finished taking my first organic chemistry exam. I actually think that I did well, but the process necessary for a good score almost killed me. I had to be able to do things like give the molecular name for the following compounds:

That's right folks...no letters, no numbers, just sticks. I also had to be able to draw the structures when given names like:

1-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexane or

1-bromo-4-isopropyl-3-methylcyclopentane

And these are just the highlights. To make things even more exciting I also had two other tests today. Needless to say, I'm gonna need a stiff drink tonight. Anyone with me?

What the @#$%&*!

I am so steamed people. Today is the official begininning of Fall and it is 98 degrees outside. We've set all-time record highs the past three days. Why is this happening...global warming, the new hurricane? I need my cold weather. I don't think I can make it much longer without.

I'm melting, mellllllllting!

Canine Update

Well folks, I think I've decided to make the "responsible" decision and postpone becoming a dog owner. My instinct is telling me that it's just not the right time. This is mainly due to my current transient state and fluctuating financial situation. My heart is broken, but, in time, I'll recover.

So SAD!

Tug of War!

So, I've been thinking about adopting a dog orphaned by the hurricane. I decided to look at the humane society web site yesterday, and I fell in love with this guy. His name is boyd. He's one year old, and they say he is friendly and playful. He's only 30 pounds (not to big, not too small) and neutered. He's sooo cute!
After looking at him on the net, I sat down and really thought about whether or not it would be a good idea to adopt him, hence the tug of war that is now going on in my brain. My heart says yes because I love dogs, he and Mozart could become buddies, and he's a beautiful little guy who's just the size I am looking for. My intellect says no because I'm a poor college student, I may have to move into an apartment in Little Rock next year, and I travel a handfull of times each year and don't feel right having to board him (and my family would not be willing babysit).
Alas!

My Arch Nemesis...

I don't hate the cow per say, but I do hate that one of their bodily fluids has almost completely infiltrated American and European food all the way from haute cuisine down to fast food. That's right folks. I suffer from LACTOSE INTOLERANCE! It suuucks! It has especially put a damper on my weekend (seeing how I spent a good portion of it in the restroom).

Now some of you may be saying, "Why don't you just stop eating dairy?" Well, that would seem like an easy solution, but if you'd been eating dairy products your entire life (up until three years ago when the problem suddenly developed) it would be a difficult task to give them up, and it doesn't help that they are an integral part of many everyday foods.

There is also the social aspect that I have to deal with. When you're out with friends and they all want to order a pizza, I get to be the one to say "Sorry guys, I can't eat cheese" and then we all spend more time finding a compatable food choice. Also, when your a guest in someone's home, they often times offer hor d'oeuvres or snack foods, and frequently they include cheese or butter. First of all, it's rude not to try what is offered and secondly (at least with my friends) things usually look pretty tasty. So, let's say I try one. Within about 30 minutes I get to experience what feels like a nuclear explosion going off in my digestive tract. I am then faced with 3 choices. I can leave the party, sit and suffer through nausea and stomach cramps, or use the bathroom (and probably have the friends present not want to be friends with me anymore). What fun!

I know I'm on a rant and that it may not be completely coherent (I do apologize), but sometimes you just have to let the frustration out. For all of you who can tolerate dairy, pour a tall glass out for your homey.

(Side Note: In the search to find a solution, I've tried Lactaid and the like. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If anyone has any unique or interesting ideas to help cure me, feel free to pass them on. The quest continues!)

This may start a rivalry...

Yea! Bobby Jon is back! Now, don't get me wrong. I'm happy Stephenie is back too. She's amazing, but there is just something about Bobby Jon that gets me (his last name is drunkard for christ sake!). I know he can be a dufus sometimes and I also know that Stephenie kicks ass all the time, but there are certain times in life when you just gotta go with your gut.

Some "funny-ha,ha's" that made me smile today...

Why don't we call the number "eleven" onety-one?

How do blind people know when they are done wiping?

Do employees of Lipton tea get to take coffee breaks?

If doctors supposedly have our lives in their hands, why do we call what they do practice?

Recipe of the Week

Chandle, This one's for you...and anyone else who might enjoy a delicious fall-inspired dessert. (Unfortunately for all of us down South, even though its the middle of September, we have not yet experienced any signs of fall seeing how we live in the climatically-retarded state of Arkansas.)

Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Icing

2 eggs
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
4 c. peeled, diced apples (choose a variety)
Caramel Icing (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350F. Beat the eggs until light and fluffy. Add the sugar, oil, and vanilla and stir to combine. Sift together the remaining ingredients and add to the egg mixture. Fold in the diced apples. (It may seem like there isn't enough batter, but just keep stirring until all apples are coated.) Put in a greased 9x13-inch cake pan. Bake for 45 minutes. Completely cool cake before icing.

Caramel Icing

1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 c. brown sugar, packed
1/4 milk or cream
3 1/2 c. powdered sugar

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar. Cook and stir until bubbly; remove from heat. Add 1/4 cup milk; beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until smooth. Add the powdered sugar; beat by hand until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Immediately frost the cake.

Seamstress, Anyone?

So, I was insanely bored this afternoon and could not convince myself to do homework. I decided to photograph some dresses I made recently during a sewing binge, and then decided to throw them on the blog.
















This one hasn't been hemmed yet. That's why the bottom looks uneven

This one is based on a pattern from the 1960's. It's sort of Donna Reed-esque but still fun:)

My Big Fat Greek Dinner

Its been a pretty mellow weekend. Friday night Blue and I stayed in and rented Crash. It was good-definitely recommend it. On Saturday I got a lot of studying done and did some cleaning. That evening I made a giant Greek dinner. We had falafil with tzatziki, spanakopita and some hummus. It was good. Then I drove to the LR to hang out at Kristen and JR's with Elizabeth and Melissa. We drank a couple of beers, watched Big Brother (go Janelle!) and ate some really good ceviche-like dip with avocado, shrimp, and crab that JR made. I hit the books again this morning and am already ready for next Friday. (and the Survivor premier this week, Yahoo!)

Recipe of the week

I thought it would be fun to post some of my favorite recipes every once in a while for anyone needing some new food in their life. This one is a healthy, yet tasty snack that's easy too. No plans yet for this weekend, but I wish everyone a safe and funfilled one.

Toasted-Pecan Butter
1 cup unsalted pecans, toasted (put in 350F oven, toss occasionally until they become fragrant)
1/8 tsp. salt
2 1/2 tsp. canola oil
2 tsp. honey
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

Finely grind pecans with the salt in a food processor. Add oil, honey, and cinnamon. Puree, scraping down sides occasionally. Tastes great spread on apple slices (especially granny smith) or on cinnamon rices cakes. Also goes well with mini-pretzels. Refrigerate. Will keep for 1 week. Yield: 1/2 cup

Check This OUT!!!...(push the button)

Props to my Little Bro!

I have to brag about my little brother on the blog since I love him so much. He's just starting his freshman year at Washington University in St. Louis. Apparently it was rated in the top ten in the nation on that list of colleges that comes out every year. I got to visit him when I was up for Kat and Karl's wedding. He seems to be enjoying it so far. Congrats to Peter!

What have I gotten myself into??!!

I thought I'd give everyone a glimpse into what my daily routine has become since I started fall semester last week. These books are my life (some more than others, i.e. Organic Chemistry). Even though I only have class on M,W,F, this seems to be all that I do.
You'll notice the lovely book on the bottom of the pile. That is my study guide for the PCAT (which stand for a Pharmacy students way to Completely Achieve a Total nervous breakdown). Really though, I'm hoping it won't be that bad as far as standardized tests go. You can't use a calculator but I've heard that the most difficult math is long division involving decimals. Oh well, just remember to say a little prayer for me on October 22, at 8:30 AM.

Dogs Rule, Cats Drool!

Mozart refused to smile for the camera...you
could say we have a love/hate realtionship.

Abby, on the other hand, will smile for just about anyone.

So, Mozart cornered me and told me that if I didn't put him on the blog he was going to smother me in my sleep tonight, so I decided to add Abby too. Mozart belongs to Blue. Abby belongs to my family. I hope to have a puppy to call my own someday (when I no longer have to rent). Yea for dogs! Nothing compares.

The Inaugural Post

Well folks, I've taken the plunge into the world of blogging. I held out as long as I could, but the pressure became too much to bear, and I figured it would be a good way to keep up with all you Little Rockians (and those even further away) seeing as I am the only person I know left in Conway (9 more months to go). I've noticed in reading all of your blogs that everyone seems to have developed a blogging style in their posts, kind of like a personality. I'm not sure what to tell you to expect of mine, but hopefully you'll enjoy what I present none the less. Cheers to blogs!