A bright spot in this boring day

Awhile back, I talked about baking Jewel Heart Cookies a la The Jewels of NY. Here's how they turned out.
The jam was delish but not gorgeous. Also, I decided that I would not use the same colors because I didn't want to mix colors or buy sanding sugar. Instead, I used Wilton's Sparkle Gel. I love this stuff. I had used it for Thanksgiving too.

I also made some chicken lettuce wraps in my attempt to get healthier. :) Chicken, green peppers, green onions, and mushrooms.

Today Kris and I woke up and went to Johnson City, an hour drive, to get Indian food at Sahib. We gorged on their lunch buffet. I love Indian food but had to account for the eating later. So, I worked out a little more (15 minutes of my workout video, 25 vigorous minutes on the elliptical, more weights, 50 dance moves (from Self magazine), and about 10 sit-ups haha). I'll need to work on doing more sit-ups for sure. I also did this to account for this smoothie from Keva Juice. Also, had some chips and a razzarita instead of dinner.

Tonight was pretty crappy though. Tucker, Liz, and Kris came over and we went over to Tucker's. He had a set of chairs from a bowling alley/laundromat (love them!) and this mid-century modern buffet his bro got from an estate sale. Then, without Tucker, we went to Usuals for a drink. It was rather boring and everyone fell asleep. :/ Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Kris, Liz, and I are going to lunch, hike, swim, gym, and picnic somewhere in there.

Oh yeah, no Atlanta/Athens because Stephen is training for his new job as a youth counselor for the Dept of Juvenile Justice... :/ Well, maybe sometime soon.

No job so getting in shape

Since I have no job, I'm determined to get in shape this summer.

Saturday - 30 minute video
(1 slice jerk chicken/avocado pizza [Mellow Mushroom], 10 boneless garlic parm wings, some fries [Hooters], 1 Dos Equis)

Sunday - 30 minute video
(Yogurt [150], Lean Cuisine [300], salmon and avocado salad with lemon poppy seed dressing)

Monday - 30 minute video, 30 minute walk/jog (half and half), 50 sit-ups
(Yogurt [150], Lean Cuisine [350], salmon/avocado/lettuce in whole wheat tortilla, 1/2 cup ice cream [130], grapes)

Tuesday - 30 minute video, 25+ sit-ups
(8 pieces salmon/cream cheese and spicy tuna sushi, salad with ginger dressing [Mikado's], 1 slice pineapple and chicken pizza on whole wheat, 2 garlic parm breadsticks [Papa John's], 1 Dos Equis, 1 Lambic Framboise)

Wednesday - 30 minute elliptical, 10 sit-ups
(1/2 burger with pimento cheese and lettuce, fries [Ophelia's], 2 breadsticks, 1 slice pineapple and chicken pizza on whole wheat [Papa John's], 1/2 cup ice cream [130], 1 Dos Equis, 2 chugs of boxed wine, Sprite/rum)

Thursday - 20 minute elliptical, 20 leg presses, 30 tricep arm pulls
(1 slice pineapple and chicken pizza [Papa John's], apple, Lean Cuisine [260], cookie)

Yancey's birthday + baking

Yancey's birthday at Hooters for fight night - we didn't take too many pictures

Yeah, I have no idea why I'm so hunched over... hunching over is not good.



Cinnamon pull aparts aren't quite right when the 2 parts of the recipe were mixed together (by accident cause the recipe screwed up by not splitting up the brown cinnamon sugar and the flour/dough) and when not baked in a muffin pan. I still need one.

Memorial Day weekend baking

I can't eat it because I'm trying to be healthy, but I'm baking and cooking for fun and hopefully, giving them to my friends.

For dinner, I made myself a salad of romaine lettuce, salmon, avocado, and lemon poppyseed dressing.

Now, I'm baking cinnamon raisin pull-apart muffins. Since I have yet to purchase a muffin pan, they will be made in a big Pyrex container.

When I made tres leches cake, I was left with some heavy cream and because I wanted strawberries and haven't eaten them all, my strawberries are in the fridge dying so I found this darling recipe for strawberry scones. I'll have to exclude the sour cream...

I'm going to plan my meals this summer since I have time. I bought some frozen Lean Cuisines and Lean Pockets for my lazy days.

Just in case

After tonight, I'm going back to yogurt breakfasts, salad lunches, and Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice steamer dinners as well as daily walks/jogs.

Drinking... a little less maybe.

Jordan turned me onto this video of guidos. I love jagerbombs.

Let's pick another career!

Next 3 images via 4designerd:

As I am baking and have nothing to do this summer (except study for the GREs and prep for teaching next semester), I might do some more baking:

• RecipeGirl: Margarita Cupcakes; Hostess with the Mostess: Margarita Cupcakes
  
• Cathie Cooks Food: Lemon Custard Cakes
• If I could ever decorate cupcakes like Hello Naomi! (Official web site here.)
• Since I've made Twinkies, I thought I'd make some churros too.
  

...and some fun crafts:

• American Crafts: Button and felt bouquet
  

I'm considering dropping student teaching. Not really. By the way, I'm not even signed up for school right now. I have to do this by June 1st. In any case, I'd rather become some type of designer:

• 4designerd: Valentines - I could make these.
  
• Lettergirl stamps
  
  
• KenzieKate invitations
  
  
• Finch Metal
  

Zebra print zebra cake

Yes, I wrote "zebra twice" because not only is the cake within a zebra cake because of its zebra pattern, the outside is decorated (even if poorly) with fondant to look like a zebra! It was my FIRST TIME making/using real fondant! :) Hopefully, it will be good. I know the cake and fondant individually are acceptable. I'm taking it to the banquet tomorrow along with some fruit.

The fondant doesn't taste terrible either! Here's some help for your own:

Fondant ingredients:

• 16 oz. mini marshmallows
• 2-5 tbsp water
• 2 lbs powdered sugar
  
• Crisco for greasing (necessary)

Fondant recipe:

• In a large bowl, melt marshmallows and 2 tbsp water using microwave. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stir, and continue microwaving. It will take about 2.5 minutes.
• Put 3/4 of the powdered sugar in the bowl and mix.
• Using a greased wooden spoon, mix for a long time (like 10 minutes) until it gets stiff.
• Add a tablespoon of water to make less sticky.
• Grease plastic wrap (double up with two sheets of plastic wrap) and grease exterior of fondant.
• Place in fridge for at least 2 hours. Apparently, it keeps for up to a week.
• Take out of fridge.
• Use cornstarch and grease on counter.
• Use cornstarch on your rolling pin and roll fondant.
• This part sucks cause it gets really sticky! Roll it out to about 1/8 inch or rather thin but not tearing or see through.
• This part also sucks. Make sure to sprinkle on some cornstarch before trying to apply to cake.
• Roll the fondant onto your rolling pin. :(
• Unroll the fondant onto the cake.
• Good luck! :)
  

The zebra cake is much easier and tastier. Thanks to Oven Haven!

Zebra cake ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 4-5 tbsp cocoa powder

Zebra cake recipe:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  
• In a bowl, mix eggs and sugar completely.
• Add milk and oil. Mix well.
• Add vanilla extract. Stir in.
• Gradually add flour, little by little. Stir in between...
• Divide mix into two equal portions.
• One portion will be left as is. The other portion will need the cocoa powder. Mix well.
• Time to place into the pan! Using a spoon, scoop white batter and drop 3 tbsps of the mix into the middle.
• Next, get the chocolate batter and drop 3 tbsps into the middle of the previous vanilla batter.
• Continue alternating vanilla and chocolate till you have no more batter.
  
• DO NOT STIR OR TIP. The batter will spread by itself as you add more and more!
• Place in oven for 40 minutes.

I used black icing to mix in with the fondant. Painting it or spraying it on might be easier. :/ I put on a very thin layer of fondant. It was all good until I had to put the fondant on. First of all, I need to learn to put the fondant on better and also, I need a better knife...


The "C" is for one of my students, Courtney!

Watching playoff basketball. Enjoying Anderson Varejao. Guess I'll root for the Cavs?

Another reason why I love Austin, Texas: the Hotel San Jose showcased by More Ways to Waste Time. I realized that along with Atlanta as my other favorite city and living in Asheville, I like cities that start with an A.

It doesn't start with an A, but I love retro and beachy. Case in point: I want to get some old bottle and repurpose them.

(via Design Crush)

I'm giving Design Crush a spot in "dailies" on the sidebar. ->
It it just that amazing.

I also bought a new dress today that I will wear Monday to the banquet. My life has been so much emptier without school and tutoring... :(

I want some strawberries right now and seedless green grapes. Fresh fruit must mean it's summertime... and I love sweet potato fries all year round.

Brazil is on my mind in the form of Anderson Varejao, the Brazilian power forward on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yes, I'm watching playoff basketball, the only really worthwhile time of the year to watch except for All-Star weekend, which by the way is the first I've missed in years! :(

• Anderson built a home for St. Jude's.
• Weird picture, but it's cute anyways
  
  
• Seriously though, I knew Ray Allen tried to fight someone, but was it really Varejao? Funny... and I totally agree with Dime Magazine's comment - I love Ray Allen too.
  
• Anderson Varejao night in Cleveland
  
• Lastly, I stumbled upon a video of another foreigner, Boris Diaw of France. What a hottie.
  
  

Stuck at home crafts

I scrapbooked endlessly last night to the point where my eyes hurt and I needed to close them. I wasn't even very sleepy. I need some white/black letters. I have too much color on them right now.

The thunderstorms are clearing away and I was supposed to get my car inspection/brakes fixed today. I'm still going to do this, but I need to shower and stop being so lazy. :( I also have to sell my books back... maybe Monday. I have tons of them and maybe this year they will take some of the old ones back.

In a few hours, I will be busy working on some decoration. I don't know where my phone is, but I'm sure it's imperative to communicate with the people.

I was going to take mom somewhere this weekend... like Atlanta, but I'm pushing it back until Tuesday/Wednesday because 1) my car is not yet right and 2) I have to bake a cake for Monday. Why would it take me long to make a cake?

First off, I have to make fondant. Last time I did this, it was gross. Then, I am making the actual cake, a zebra cake.

Lastly, I have to use the fondant to decorate it to look like a zebra print cake like this one except less elaborate.

I love tornado drills... only in the RIGHT place though

4 hours of bad scrapbooking ensued today. I remember I used to be much better. I know this because I have a kick ass one from high school that I looked at and realized, I put way too much work into high school which I didn't particularly enjoy. I didn't hate it, but I love college.

Anyhow, I had purchased an amazing photo album from Ross! Yeah, I know right?! It's by Angela Adams, it's on her web site for $35, and I bought it for $5!

She's on Design Within Reach!

I also must admit I love TJ Maxx for their kitchen stuff. They had Cuisinart Retro things and I've bought some cool plates (Red Vanilla and Kate Spade) from there.

I need a new planner. Help me find one I can deal with. My old one is the best one ever. It's by SCAD/Working Class Studio for Barnes and Noble, and perfect for me. I never found a better one. I almost got a Mead one today from Staples. I'll find some to share...

Besides design-y things today, I realized I enjoy tornado warnings... only at the high school though, and I mean the 'right' high school. I came back to see my kids who had been on a field trip on Monday. Well, one minute into class, we had a tornado drill, sat in the hallway facing the lockers, and waited for an hour. I sat next to my two fave sophomores... kind of. I love the sophomores overall so that's hard... I bought the ones I missed on Monday cupcakes thanks to the Cupcake Corner/Sisters McMullen who individually bagged 11 cupcakes/cookies/cinnamon rolls. The kids who were absent had their goodies given to another student.

Afterwards, I bought some stickers to decorate my album and met to pick new tutors. We met for two hours. An hour mostly of talking about tutors/students in general. We got some crazy ones and by crazy I mean that they are smart and worldly.

Tomorrow involves eating. First, lunch with my boss and former students. They're okay, and we're eating at school. Then, dinner at Tomato Cocina Latina with the staff. I need to make them cards... maybe by Monday though.

Freedom Friday!

I didn't sleep at all last night. I wrote a 10-pager for 6 pages. For the first time in high school and college, I turned work in late. Well, an hour late isn't a big deal is it? Especially since my prof was in Chicago till tonight. :) After turning my paper in, I napped for awhile. I didn't get much of it. I woke up and decided to get some dinner at Sunny Point with Yance and Kris. Well, I ate my sweet potato fries and had a slice of peanut butter and jelly cake rather than eating my chicken sandwich. I was nicely full after the fries, but I had my heart set on the peanut butter and jelly cake. So, my sandwich left uneaten because fries are more perishable. I never take home salads because I know it'll go bad.

Yancey asked to have people over tomorrow for his film project. The house is a mess. We need to clean badly especially since my mom is coming on Sunday. All of tomorrow will be spent cleaning. Sunday will be spent doing my sociology paper unless I can fit it in sometime tomorrow. Yance and I have been watching "Dexter" for the last three or four hours instead of doing work or cleaning or sleeping. Wow, we're lazy.

I had discussed some travels this summer. Maybe to Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina or even Austin, Texas if I can make it over there. sfgirlbybay recently posted some pictures of her trip to Savannah and I'm stoked. As a history major, I love the historical architecture. Moss on trees, however, sounds creepy. The pictures also reminded me of the books I read by Rebecca Wells, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, and Ya-Yas in Bloom. The books are set in Louisianna. Sometimes I want to live further South till I realize the little life I dream of in the 1950s would have lots of limitations on minorities.

Instead, I fit better in a modern world, but I can still decorate with mid-century modern decor. MadeByGirl showcased this gorgeous home. A little too floral for me, but I still enjoy the home and many of the furnishings, like the table with flowers in the living room.

Oh, revelation as I was looking at the Rebecca Wells web site just now, I found that she has a new book, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder.

Day 3 of healthy eating

I left my night class yesterday for 30 minutes to get my award from the Education Department for Leadership and Service. Darn right.

I probably did not mention this, but I've been attempting to eat healthy for the past week. I forget what I did on Sunday. I think I ate well, but I won't count it. Everyday, I have eaten yogurt for breakfast (except a Lean Cuisine on one day), an apple, salad from Greenlife, and a Lean Cuisine for dinner. I had pita bread with hummus also today. I'm also working out in yoga and aerobics. So far, I've lost 5+ pounds. I just need to continue. What helps? Tutoring. Spring. I love tutoring and feel like I'm there. It makes me happy and not so stressed. Spring is here too! The weather is gorgeous and warm and sunny. I love it. I realized I prefer spring/summer over fall/winter.

I have to figure out how to schedule my mom and dad in when they come. Mom will be here on Sunday and dad will be here on the 13th at night. Great... I have to clean this weekend.

P.S. My British history paper is sad... :( I have maybe 2 pages of half writing, half notes. I hope I can get 6 pages. It seems much harder than I had thought this morning. My meeting with my prof allowed me to think of my thesis though. :) I also finished watching "Samoan Wedding" and now I want to go to New Zealand. It took me a long time to finish it, but I'm glad I did and actually paid attention to it. The background was beautiful and fit the nice weather here.

Healthy eating & exercise has gotten me nowhere.

I was supposed to have lost weight. But no, somefuckinghow, I gained back almost half of my weight I lost. Though, it doesn't seem like it and I have done nothing to have gained it back. I've been working out. WTF. isaf(R_DSfp]90cpvl I hate what my body does. What the fuck is wrong with it? I work hard and I'm still not getting anything done... :/

No more eating and drinking. Okay, as in no more eating, I'm having soup/salad/Healthy Choice frozen entrees and yogurt. That is all... and only when hungry. Eating cannot be part of my life anymore. I'm so pissed off about this. I don't even know what happened. I refuse to gain back any weight. ANY.

P.F. Chang's & Baggie Goose?

Alex and I had dinner at P.F. Chang's tonight. We had the "Chang's For Two," which included, for me, hot and sour soup, chicken lettuce wraps, sweet and sour pork, and tiramisu mini dessert. Being a Chinese food connoisseur, I was wary of the food, but actually I was surprised by the good food. Cantonese shrimp wasn't as flavorful or it just wasn't for me.

We talked about becoming interior designers and wedding planners. She told me about the Baggie Goose. Weird name, but they have a big selection.

Garden


Together Menu Card


Moroccan Design


Riveria


Mod


Candy Coated Chocolate


A Pattern Worth Presenting


Pocket Blossom


Whimsy

Notebook: Magazine.au

"Gossip Girl" season 1 done. I watched the last two episodes of the season online. Now I'm watching "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" because it's genius. Go watch it!

Okay, so InStyle had this piece on the "Gossip Girl" set. I love the style from "Gossip Girl," very trendy, but I'm not a fancy girl. This is simple enough (the table).


I have a Blackberry, but I want Blair's EnV2.


Notebook Magazine is an Aussie mag that I fell in love with. They have some great decorating tips, food, and fashion ideas.
Perfect Poached Eggs [notebook]


I got a manicure today for $13, but I might try a DIY. [notebook] I'll take a picture of my mani later. :)

While I'm at it, I might as well give myself a pedi. [notebook]

Clean and classic kitchen [notebook]


Chocolate roulade [notebook]


Did I tell you Alex and I are joining Weight Watchers together after seeing this girl's pictures? We are impressed. We're starting this summer. :) Let's do this.

Friday: books, shower, chocolate milk, and rugs

I have a problem finding good rugs, but here are a couple.

Baroque Shearling Area Rug in Mango or Merlot from $789-3675



They look so plush! Speaking of plush, I just took a super cold shower. I know that doesn't appear to be "plush," but the after shower was nice. I take warm/hot showers normally though cold showers are apparently better for my hair and I always feel good coming out of a cold shower.

I can relax now that it's Friday - well somewhat cause I still have a paper! I'm mostly excited because I bought a new book, I'm A Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson, from the used book store, Mr. K's and light chocolate Silk milk. :) Yes yes, I bought the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn last weekend and didn't read it. I even borrowed two books from the library. I'm reading Cliff May but not The Endless City. I want to read it all but I don't really have the time. I'm also supposed to read a book for yoga and write a 1-page summary (that should be easy but I have to do it).

I love Silk milk! To top off all that healthiness, I had a relatively healthy lunch at 12 Bones. It's only open from 11-4 P.M. Mondays-Fridays and the line is always out the door. I had a pulled pork sandwich with corn pudding (darn good!) and mac and cheese. Seriously, I consider that relatively healthy. Oh yeah, will someone buy me the book Skinny Bitch so I can eat healthier?

I had a meeting this morning at 9:30 A.M. for an hour with my advisor. I love him! He asked me what I want to do after I'm done with this whole program. I said the usual, I don't know. Where do I want to live? I don't know. I don't want too many choices! It's freaking me out! He said grad school sounded good but he wants me in the classroom. He's afraid I'll get sucked into a PhD and college teaching. I said, NEVER! My concern is that I'll teach and never go back to school or I'll have to go to night school, which limits my options. I'm young and my brain can still recall information; I think more school might be good. Any suggestions?

While you think, I'll sit down (in that yellow chair I picked up and love so much - best deal ever), read, and drink chocolate milk.

Lock the door.

After last night, I'm pretty sure I need out of here soon. It's not that I don't like it here but there are many places I still need to visit and to enjoy including Atlanta and Austin. Of course I need to visit Austin first, but it seems like a nice place to live. I can't wait for the summer. I'm going to visit Andizzle this summer in NYC and so I'm going to go everywhere I can with the train: Boston, Philly, etc. As I told Andrew, "Everything is so convenient with the train!" Haha.

Friday I went to do some shopping with Liz. We saw Joe and then Jennie so we went with her to her place for beers on her porch. :) Then Stephen and Jess joined us. The ladies walked downtown for dinner at Doc Chey's. Mmmm. It was a lot of food and I have trouble eating leftovers with any veggies because they get soggy. :( Anyways, we went down to Dirty Jack's/Greenman to meet up with my drinking buddy. It was getting late, but thankfull they took us back so we wouldn't have to walk. Jess, Liz, and I went home, speed cleaned (amazingly), and had them come over after. We just watched "Dead Like Me," the movie, which was a litle disappointing and "Role Models." However, we all definitely fell asleep. In the morning, we sat on the porch eating our leftovers... Basically, the weather is gorgeous as of late.

Saturday runs into today at this point. Liz, Yance, and I sat in my room for awhile even though it's the dirtiest room in the house to decide where to go. We might have gone to Spartanburg/Greenville or Haywood Rd/West Asheville, but we picked up Bonnie and Sarah and ate at Jack in the Box. It was the first time for Bonnie! I had these taco nachos that were just okay. Very much like the tacos.

After dropping Bonnie off, we went back to the house and were planning on baking cookies and watching Dexter. The latter happened but we didn't have butter. People came over slowly: CeCe, Kris, Conor and Adam, and Stephen and his friend Joel (who looks like Ryan Lochte and I totally kept playing off that). Liz left though. :( Lame right? She didn't get to help me and Sarah bake cookies once Conor brought us strawberry daquiri mix and butter. :)

Black and white cookies (recipe via Joy the Baker)

When Conor and Adam came back at 3am, we all got a bit trashed until I fell asleep around 5:30-6am. :/ Yikes. I woke up for lunch with Stephen and Joel at Five Guys. Not shabby but not better than In N Out. Maybe because I was hungover and still am. I'm feeling a little better though. Then I followed them to the shooting range. I know very little but I really had a good time learning. :) I shot him in the face and crouch and Kris shot him in the stomach.

Well, all in all, yesterday and today especially made me realize I made the right choice last night and I'm ready to learn and do new things and go to new places.

I love this picture that Kyle developed for me. He's a photography minor and I think he did a fantastic job. :)

I'm going to finish watching "Dexter" and maybe cook some food. It's tough for me to get started on work though despite the fact I have so much! :/