best. snack. ever.

best snack ever. super healthy (even a little bit of PB is good for ya!) and SO filling and delish. protein-packed and super yum.

i highly recommend. highly.

ingreds:

one apple, whatever kind you prefer
a medium box of raisins
a few big ol' globs of peanut butter, I used reduced fat crunchy jif so i had less guilt
a handful of walnuts, i crunched them up in my hand to spread them out a bit.
a few drizzles of honey

chop up apple, mix all that shiz together, and get ready for your life to change. i swears. the pb makes it hard to get an even ratio b/c it's sticky, but it's great when you get a chunk of it. it tasted EXACTLY like a caramel apple, the kind with the chopped peanuts on the side!! OMG! but much easier to eat :)

best part, you find rogue raisins in the bottom and they totally make your day. :)

enjoy!!!

remember these toys??

I do!! Well, mostly the ones from the early 80's!!

Top Selling Christmas Gifts

i prefer..

i prefer to eat asparagus quite crispy. i prefer to eat asparagus with my hands.

just sayin'.

grape-fruit?

why? why is a grapefruit called such?

poor grapefruit. it's such a poser. there is already a fruit named grape. why can't grapefruit have it's own unique name?

poor grapefruit. at least you're my favorite tasting fruit.

i love your tangy little ass.

grey and black

i wear a lot of it. grey and back, that is.

i'm wearing grey (time out - I like to spell it "grey", so that's how i'm going to spell it, dang it!) and black today. "gray" just doesn't feel right to me.

anyway. i don't know why i'm on this grey/black streak right now, but it might be the fact that the winter is upon us and i'm preparing for dismal weather, thus dismal emotions? don't get me wrong, i'm totally excited about the holidays, i just hate tennessee winters. if you're gonna be 38 degrees and rain, just be effing 30 degrees and snow, please!

luckily, i'm going to be back in MD for two whole weeks! i couldn't be happier. I haven't seen my family in forever, and with as close as we are, it's killing me. thank god i have my sister here in TN with me. we've been hanging out a lot lately. i think it's because we're both very homesick and we also are best friends and have a darn tootin' good time!

cord flies out to MD on the 29th dec, and we're gonna to NYE in DC - hopefully with my bestest friend, Heidi, who I dearly miss. I'm super pumped! He hasn't been to MD in years, so it's about time. maybe he'll finally get to meet some of my family...i don't know how he's evaded that all these years!

i just told someone i was a blanket-wearing sonofabitch. ha. it's true.

hair's a bit darker, just in time for dismal weather. i like it, i was ready for a bit of a change.

i'm making a turkey next week. a turkey, along with an entire thanksgiving dinner. I'M FREAKING OUT! but whatever, if it sucks, we'll go to taco bell. :) really bummed about not going home. this will be my first t-giving i haven't been home for. but i guess we all have to grow up sometime. sister and boyfriend will be here with me, so it will be great. just hoping that i don't drop the turkey on my foot. or a small animal. wish me luck. :-)

really?

love/hate.

I hate you Ross. Why must you make me enter your doors, looking for one stinkin' pair of shoes for this evening's festivities, and make me leave your doors spending $65 after having purchased the following:

The shoes for this evening (at least I got what I came for. that usually doesn't happen).
Grey Boots. Love them.
A Yellow Pitcher.
A cookie sheet.
A serving platter.
A sweater.

Why?

I also, love you, Ross. I love you for having all of these things at such affordable prices all under one roof, even if you make me feel like I'm a criminal the moment I walk in the door, with the beacon-equipped shopping cart and all.

love/hate.

i love you.

If you say that to your server at mellow mushroom, they will give you a 10% discount off your food purchase.

I think this is the best promotion to ever happen!! I just went and picked up a to go order (I know you're curious.... I ordered (and am currently inhaling) the house calzone (spinach, tomatoes, shrooms, and mozz cheese - and I added onions and garlic - it's freaking delicious!)

So anyway, I went to pick up my to-go order, and I said to the person checking me out: "I hear that if I tell you I love you, I get a little discount." He looked at me with a funny little "i know what you're wanting" smile, and then turned back around to give me the discount, thinking that was all I was going to say. I then continued "Well, I love you, and I think you're the greatest thing ever, really." He got a huge smile, and then turned back around and said "I love you, too." It was such an amazing moment!! Telling a perfect stranger that you loved them, and having them tell you they loved you too!! I understand that he expected this, but still, it was a sweet experience, nonetheless.

Call me a cheeseball, but I swear, it put me in the best mood EVER. Maybe it's because I just started a new pack of my b.c. and I'm hormonal, but I swear, it was different. We go through our lives and pass hundreds of perfect strangers every day. Who knows, maybe one of them could be a really great person who would make your life a little better!? Maybe one of them actually does (or someday will) love you and you don't even know it?

My challenge to you, blog buddies, is to tell a perfect stranger that you love them, or at least say something nice if you don't want to sound like a creep-o. It will make their day, and yours.

:) love!! love to all!

disGUSTING.

don't worry, it's just a map. but a sickening map. no wonder our country is effing fat.

mcdonald's. yes, they really are everywhere.

enjoy.

makes me want to get the diana out.

what's been up?

so, what's been up with me, you ask?

Lots of TV.  

New (and some not so new) Shows I'm Into:  (thank YOU DVR!)

• Eastwick - guilty pleasure. i really want to be a witch. 
• Greys, of course.  I don't care if you think I suck.
• Flash Forward.  Some cheesy moments, but I dig.
• The office. duh.
• Community.  Eeeh, but I still watch it.  Dude's hot.
• CURB. If you don't know what I'm talking about, we're no longer friends.
• Bored to Death. Totally my kind of humor.
• Cougar Town.  It's only a half an hour, and that's all I want.
• Project Runway - just because.
• Private Practice (only because last season's finale left me HANGING!)
• HOUSE. Is it me, or is Hugh Laurie SEXY?  No?  Well, I think so.  I think I'm becoming him sometimes!!  I love his attitude.  He says what I wish I could say to people.
• Lie To Me. Just love it.  

So yeah, I'm obviously home every night after either going to the gym, or not going to the gym, and I'm often home alone.....so I am really enjoying having lots to watch.  I'm still pissed that they canceled this show that I was really into, The Listener.   It was GOOD and the guy was CUTE!   I'm kind of in a crushy mood tonight, huh?

Ok, so what else is up? Lots of alone time (no, I have not ended my amazing relationship).  He's just working like mad and I am really trying to not run up a ridiculous credit card bill, so I'm not going out on the weeknights.  At all.  I really don't even miss it.   I enjoy home.  My apartment kicks ass.  It's perfect.  I'm in love.   In love - with my absent boyfriend and in love with my very present apartment.  Apartment, you never fail me!  You are always there! ha.

So.....a little bit of weekend socializing....mostly, unfortunately, due to eight thousand weddings that are happening this fall.  I've literally gone into a bit of debt buying 7000000 wedding gifts this fall.  and i have more to buy yet.....urgh.   I really hope all of these people return the favor when it's my turn.  It's not at all why I go to all of these things, but it makes you wonder if all of these people who you are there for now will be there for you later.  I think I'm a better friend to a lot of people than they are to me, so the verdict is out on that one. 

Let's see....not much else happening! Lots of photo shit happening, which is nice.  No traveling, minimal (very minimal) shopping, but very ready for the holidays.   I am thinking that I will be able to be with my fabulous, insane family for about two weeks!   I can't wait to get away from here for a while.  Even though the weather has been gorgeous these past few days, I'm feeling a bit irritated with the daily grind.  I am ready for a break.   I don't take enough vacation days.  I think that's the issue.  

Other things: the hair is rockin'.  courtney krampf is a GODDESS.  it's blonde, short, choppy, and effortless. just figured i'd give her props because she is the JAM. :)

another thing: cloudy with a chance of meatballs = BEST. MOVIE. EVER.  i laughed my effing ass off!! i don't know what the deal was with it, but it cracked me up.  SEE IT!  in 3D! or real-d, or big-d, or whatever it's called.....

I'm tired. Going to back to my big, indulgent TV.  And my cuddle blanket that my super sweet and absent boyfriend got me because he's never here to give me cuddles in person.....cry.

new

www.meghannlangfordphotography.blogspot.com

visit? tell? 

oui, sil vous plait!

NO MORE BEANS!!

Ok, not really. I freaking love beans!!

However, Emo Mul recently (within the last 60 seconds) finally let me have it. She's sick of my always seeing my bean post from July. She's going to leave me if I don't post something and post something SOON.

I didn't realize that I hadn't posted anything since July. Where the EFF has the time gone!!? I also realized, if I hadn't posted anything since July - have I even read anything since July? Oh my. I can see my Sunday unfolding!!! :)

So yeah, more to come. Soon.

Happy Fall, everyone! CRISP! My favorite word EVER to describe fall. I'm ready for crisp. No more muggy. Even though, I am often called Muggy (a nickname of my nickname?). But no more muggy weather, how bout that?

I had a dream last night that my mom bought me a brand new BMW. It was identical to the one our Vice President drives, the one I stare at every morning after parking my "busty" - the nickname for my busted Jeep that has still yet to be fixed. :( So yeah, dreams suck when they make you realize what you don't have, and what your mom certainly isn't going to buy you today.

beans, beans....

I'm obsessed with beans right now. Hence all the gas I've had lately, but whatever. It's good for me, right!?

So, here's a new recipe I totally created. I'm sure it's not the most difficult thing to create, but I was proud of it! I didn't take any measurements, I just messed around until I had it the way I liked it.



Ingredients:
1 can garbanzo beans (rinsed/drained)
1 can black eyed peas (rinsed/drained)
1 can cannelinni beans (white kidney beans) (rinsed/drained)
a bit o' chopped red onion
about 15 sliced green olives
big spoonful of minced garlic. (yes, i buy the refrigerated kind. what of it?) :)
enough Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing to moisten everything...it gives it a really nice flavor!!






and a bit of tarragon - just a few shakes....
some salt and pepper, just a bit.


Mix it all together. Eat. Enjoy. I really like the garbanzo beans in this salad because they are a little stronger, I guess you could say, than some other beans so they hold up better through all the stirring.

It's delish. Enjoy!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Something else I've been enjoying lately.... Uncle Ben's Ready Rice!! It's great for a dinner on those busy weeknights, or also as a filling side to a chicken breast and some veggies. I'm obsessed!! There isn't a flavor that I've had yet that has disappointed!!

food review

Healthy Choice Sweet Asian Potstickers - buy this, eat it, love it like I did!! tres magnifique!!

very very good - I wish it were a bit bigger portion, but I understand why it can't be a 3 lb. serving, because it would no longer make it healthy. a bit salty, but it's Asian food, which is usually pretty salty anyway, right?

love it!

also, great pork recipe I made this weekend:

Ingredients:

Pork Chops
Soy Sauce
Garlic (lots o')
**Key ingredient - Wok Oil - like this brand that we used - Wok Oil is great because it comes fully stocked with great flavors like onion, garlic, and cilantro - it is basically pre-seasoned with fabulousness!! Much better flavors than traditional veggie or olive oil. I got mine at Kroger, and it was VERY worth the purchase! You can really spiff up some regular stuff with this great oil.

How To:

Marinade pork in the soy and chopped garlic for about 5-10 mins.... cover the bottom of a skillet with the Wok Oil and cook until done! Eat, ENJOY. Fab-ness.

***WARNING: this WILL give you garlic breath!! haha!

losing it

weight, that is!!

I've lost somewhere around 9 pounds since Memorial Day. I know this isn't a crazy amazing triumph given that it's been over a month, but I think I'm doing it the right way - just being healthier. I'm exercising much much more, and continuing to eat as healthy as I can, so it's just working. I'm really pleased. I'm wearing a dress today that I've never really liked on myself. It's amazing what a little 9 pounds will do! I want to keep losing, nice and slow like this. I finally had a few people who don't see me every day notice that I looked thinner. That was a great feeling :) Because I knew they could notice when I had gotten a little more plump and were too nice to say anything (thank god. i would have lost it). :)

I just feel better. At least through my constant struggle with weight, I now know what works for me. EXERCISE. If I don't do it, I gain weight. If I do it, I lose weight. It's a very simple equation for me. Thank goodness. It could be a lot worse. It's just a matter of actually doing it. But I've been doing pretty good so far, so we'll see. July 24th is my "due date" for this little health train. I go to the beach the following week, and that day is the day I get this awesome full body lymphatic drainage cellulite reduction treatment thingy done, so I really wanted it to pay off when I got it. So my goal was to try and get in as best (realistic) shape as possible by July 24th, just in time for my treatment and the beach trip. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

The trip home to MD was amazing. So relaxing, perfect weather (mid 70's with an insane cool breeze) and I did everything on my goal list (see below post). Watching fireworks on the chesapeake bay from a yacht was the perfect way to spend my 4th. Got drunk and dropped my sister's camera, so didn't get as many pictures as I had hoped, but hopefully we can salvage some. We'll see. Prob. will be a while.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'm going to a Bunco night with some of my old college girlfriends tomorrow, so that should be exciting! I've never played, so hopefully I won't suck :)

i'm going home. :)

home to MD for the weekend. my mini-holiday begins in nineteen minutes. i can't wait.

priorities (in no particular order):

smiling
breathing (slowly and with purpose)
sunshine on my bod.
alcohol - ok that's a pretty high priority, i mean really....
the chesapeake bay (sigh!)
family
water.
a yacht. yes. be j.
jewell (the doggie)
relaxation
happy.

happy america day.

i'm a featured photographer!

Check out my photo of the Belcourt Theatre featured on Schmap Nashville city guide!!

and check out schmap, it's pretty cool!!

i'd love the support!!

to all five of you who read my blog (if that!) i'd love for you to possibly post a link to my new photography blog on your blog!

it's www.meghannlangfordphotography.blogspot.com.

still a work in progress, but i'm excited!!  i need to get current and get all of my new stuff up there, but tell a friend!

big thanks!

-m

i just bought this.

and i'm really effing excited. I can't wait to put it on my new wall at my new home. yay. :-)

am i boring?

...because mostly what I blog about is food? I definitely don't consider this a "food blog" - but I find that that is what is usually on my mind. And if I find something healthy and also yummy, I feel like it is my moral obligation to share it with the world.

So, today's item of indulgence is this. I really wasn't sure about it, so it's been sitting in my freezer for about three weeks. I finally ate it today, and realized that the last three weeks of my life have had no meaning because I hadn't yet enjoyed this amazing feast. It was effing delish. So yeah, a little bit of an overstatement, because the last three weeks have actually been very meaningful, but yes, this meal is a tasty treat. I'm full, I'm happy, and I'm healthy.

Also, I have started making a great drink at the office with things that are here for our enjoyment and do not require an expensive trip to Starbucks. Basically, brew a green tea, add some crystal light lemonade mix, and voila - you have a green tea lemonade, except you didn't pay 500 dollars for it. Ok, I will admit, the s-bucks version does come in a fun cup, and it's really only about $3, but i'd rather have free, thankyouverymuch.

LIFE. Yeah. Pretty much. Went home to MD this weekend. Here's the main gist: Crab feast (you bet your ass), boating with mom (fun until she and her boyfriend got into a screaming match and i wanted to jump off the boat and die), and some good old fashion RELAXIN'. I needed it, but not the wanting to jump off the boat part. Very dramatic argument, totally unnecessary, but I would still rate this trip as a "good" trip home. Not great, but good.

I'm moving this weekend. FUCK.YES. I cannot describe how excited I am. MINE MINE MINE IT'S ALL GONNA BE MIIIIINNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! .

scall-lip.

day two of burrito face. and still in love. currently eating one now. maybe a tad too much hot sauce on it, but i'm enjoying the lip burn. ...something to do, i guess. ha. ?

...great din i made two nights ago which provided a full two meals (and still have some leftover!):

I'll call it the Whole Foods "The Sample Bitch Got Me" meal: (she really did, she totally got me.)

1 pkg frozen bay scallops- just thaw them in the sink in a collander for 10 mins. no need for all that annoying thawing they tell you to do.

1 pkg fresh mushrooms. any kind you like, really. i prefer the standard 'shroom.

some fresh basil

some rice (i used the whole foods brand jasmine rice (frozen, resealable package - which by the way is VERY yum and convenient.) :)

garlic, butter, olive oil. - for cooking the scallops, as much or as little as you'd like (i used just a bit to try and keep it healthy and it was great).

and lots of love.

1) cook 'dem scallops in the olive oil/garlic/butter fab blend for a few mins, add mushrooms and basil. cook till done. you'll know. scallops will be golden brown on parts but not all over.

2) serve over rice

3) eat that shit, because it's amazing.


**rant of the day: i bought honey (at whole foods, it's effing $4.) and I got home, tried to pour it on my SEVEN DOLLAR loaf of damn bread (another insane buy) and it was expired. the store sold me expired (by one day) honey. i realized, oh, i thought the "organic" part of it was the fact that it was hard as a rock with these strange crystals in it and impossible to get out of the little bear. No, it's because it was damn old. How can they sell me expired honey? Doesn't honey last for years? that store hasn't even been open for years.

So i immediately thought, I bet other stores send the Nashville store their expired stuff to sell to us, because they think we're stupid and won't look at labels. That was my first thought. How ridiculous am I? BUT - I didn't look at the label, so maybe it's true??

I'm taking my god damn $4 honey back. And going to Kroger, and getting a $2 honey and a chocolate bar. SO THERE. fuckers.

i love you, burrito. it was good while it lasted. as i take my last two (maybe three - i'm not sure yet) bites, I bid thee farewell. you have been good to me. amen.

burrito face.

currently, i am eating a burrito so large that it is giving me burrito face.

what's ok with this issue, is that there it not one thing in the burrito that is bad for me. so i'm ok with being a piggly wiggly. (side note - i just finished it. it was delicious.)

i don't know what my deal is lately.

1) i'm starving all the time. i can't seem to get satisfied. i seriously have thoughts of gluttony often. the things i would eat if i could....

2) i'm kind of in a slump right now. i don't think that i'm unhappy with my life. i have a great job that i'm lucky to have, even if it stresses me out on a daily basis. i have an amazing boyfriend who loves me for some reason which i will never understand. i have a great family who also, for some reason, (probably because they have to) loves me.

I honestly think I'm just bored. I'm about to move into a one bedroom apartment in ten days. holy hell am i excited. i am so ready to have my own place. no one elses shit laying around but mine. i must say, my roomates don't really live at our house due to various reasons... so i have had some experience living basically alone, but it will still be so different. i'm pretty sure that after "officially" living on my own, i will never want to live with anyone again...that scares me. what about Cord? ha!

so, I think with the move will come a refreshed attitude. i also haven't taken a single day off all year, so this upcoming holiday weekend in maryland will be just what the doctor ordered!! i am just ready for a change. SO ready.

3) why do people have to be downright rude? i'm a nice person, god damnit. get over yourself. seriously..... if you are that unhappy with yourself and can't figure out how to be nice to others, stop talking to me. kiss my ass, for real.

have a great day, everyone. :-)

_happy_may_

number one. dude in the cube near me - STOP HUMMING. please.

number two. eat these. they are good and very low cal for a granola-ish bar.

number three. virago = effing expensive, but totally worth it.

number four. i get to go home to MD in less than two weeks. i cannot express how EXCITED i am to get the hell out of here for a few days. i miss my family so much. it's been since the holidays.

number five. i'm moving in three weeks. holy shit. it's times like these when i wish i had magical powers. FO SHO.

happy may. rain, please go away. thanks.

also....

because if this were me reading this blog, and this blog belonged to someone i knew.... i would hope that they would also put a disclaimer in there that no, the below blog was not about you.  whoever "you" may be.  this is not directed at anyone in particular, just a self-reflection.  

that is all.

a few words

angry.

irritated.

frustrated.

exhausted.

hungry (constantly).

open-minded.

educated.

loved.

hurt.

ignored.

overlooked.

fat.

skinny.

nope, fat again.

over-worked.

guilty.

not guilty.

excited.

unmotivated.

lonely.

intelligent.

mature.

poor.

fortunate.

over-stimulated.

under-stimulated.

moving on....

...some words to describe my life over the past few weeks. it's been a month full of ups and downs. i've learned quite a bit about myself and those around me. i'm going through a very transitional time right now. i think i'm finally growing up. when we get older, certain things and their importance begin to shift. (is it bad that I accidentally typed "shit" instead of "shift"?) i'm beginning to realize what is truly important, and what really doesn't mean jack shit.

i miss my family. people who have the option of seeing their loved ones whenever they want don't realize how lucky they are. at least i was brave enough to move 800 miles away from everything that i knew, and i've created a life down here. a damn good life. sometimes i just don't realize how good it is. and i've earned it. i made it happen. no one else.

i've decided i won't let other people have an influence on my happiness any more. only i can foster my own happiness.... why should i rely on other people to make my life happy for me? as my detox bag of tea read this morning: self-reliance conquers any difficulty. that is so true. you can only rely on yourself. screw everyone else. those who truly matter will show you that they matter.

*disclaimer - this is not in any way reflective of my relationship. i'm happier than a clam. i just miss the guy. he works constantly. i feel guilty for making him feel guilty that we never see each other.... so no, this is not about him. it's about me, god damnit.

curves in the road

If you haven't noticed, I've been basically MIA from the blog world lately.

I feel like there is just so much going on... I can't even begin to give updates!

Usually my blogging happens on my mini lunch break at the office... but we've been so slammed at work that I haven't been able to! So I'm taking a whopping 10 mins to blog a bit!

Trying to get back on the health train... GOSH, will we ever be happy with our bodies!!? I had this chat with a friend of mine yesterday.... that we will always be wanting to look better than we currently look! Will I be unhappy with my body forever? OR, will I have to become a super health freak and work my ASS off, just to die skinny? When does it become not worth it? I know I can work harder. I should work out more. But I think that I eat fairly healthy - I cheat every now and then... but what's the point to LIVE if you can't enjoy FOOD!!!??? And I'm not talking about being a gluttonous pig, I'm just saying, do I need to feel guilty every time I eat a snack size snickers? Because I do.

Well anyway, I worked out last night. Great workout. I felt great. So I know there is a benefit. It's just hard. Hard to get my ass to the gym!! Hard to go by myself. I have friends that workout, but schedules and all that crap is annoying some times... So now I'm going to pray to the workout gods - please give me the motivation I need!!

Today was a healthy day so far. I had a great b-fast - granola with fresh strawberries and banana, and then a low fat string cheese for snack, then a GREAT lunch that was very random! Lean Cuisine Mac n Cheese + a little bit of tuna + and a little bit of shelled edamame = PROTEIN and YUM! It was like a Tuna Noodle Au Gratin thing!! I loved it!!

Well, I realized that I need to get back to the grind.... and go drop off my Diana film at the lab, so I'm outie... but I will pick this up later!!

my poppop

then... with my grandma. she still gives him that same look.  :)  such a great photo! 

and now...  playing with the antique gate latch I got for him. :)

are you kidding me?

this is a post i started almost two weeks ago.  since then, i became ill with the 10 day funk, got super busy at work, and really forgot all about blogging until tonight as i sit in my new "cuddle blanket."  i'll elaborate more on that later... :-)

First of all.... my dream last night (at this point is several weeks ago and I have forgotten most of it). I have blogged before about my teeth-related dreams. Last night might have been the mac daddy of teeth dreams. I dreamt that I was losing ALL of my teeth. Every single one. And I could feel them, taste the blood, feel them wiggle.... i could even feel my gums and the roots that were exposed. it was SO real. 

so, mostly what I can remember is that i ended up losing all of my teeth.  i was somewhere that i believe was work.. but Cord was there.... very blurry at this point two weeks later... but I ended up in my old dentist's office back in my hometown because i would obviously need some surgery.   (sidenote - my dentist who was an amazing man and a family friend was diagnosed with lou gherigs' disease several years ago, so the dentist's office that i went to in my youth is no longer...)  So, knowing that it was not going to be the same as it used to, I subconsciously made it in my dream a very trashy, pink-decored, big-haired-women-filled place.  They told me that a full set of veneers would run me about $500k.  I told them there was no way I would be able to take out a loan for that!! They said that it was my only option and that's how much they cost everywhere.

Then I woke up.  

But that left me thinking.... how much would you pay if you lost all of your teeth, and your only option to save them cost you half a million dollars?  Would you go toothless?  Or would you go into serious debt for most or all of your life,  so you could have teeth and live a normal life, even though your life really wouldn't be normal because you'd be in so much debt?? Hmm, I think I'd have to have my teeth? 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I did not get this for valentine's day, but i think it's freaking hilarious.

http://www.sendapantygram.com/

I did, however, have an amazing v-day with the cordster.  After a nice morning of sleeping in (he worked while I slept) we met up at my place and exchanged gifts.   I got him a great little painting of the city of chicago (just what the map would look like...very cool) and he got me the most THOUGHTFUL, SWEET gift ever.  First off, he gave me a great necklace charm made from a piece of ancient ming dynasty pottery - one of a kind. I have one that i just love and found one online that i loved even better, and he got it for me!! he's a slick one.  The gift that made me cry like a little child cry baby is silly but really meant a lot. 

Before he gave it to me, he asked me what things we do all the time.  I said, "watch movies, talk, and cuddle."  Number three was the winner.  I am constantly telling him that I want cuddles.  It's literally my favorite thing to do.   So, he got me a little red fleece blanket that he had embroidered to say "cuddles"!!!!   i know this is super cheesy and fluffy and lovey, but damnit, i loved it.  i just thought that it was so heartfelt and it really meant a lot.  he said that whenever i want cuddles and he's not there, i will have them whenever i want them...  aaah, the cheese. anyway, yes, a great day of photo-taking around nashville and a fab dinner at sunset grille and a lot of cuddles at night.  a great v-day and 4 year celebration of us being together ;-)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

i worked today even though we had off.  somehow, i felt very unproductive.  i even put that i was there an hour less than i actually was because i was so distracted.  

they bought us mellow mushroom pizza. i had a piece of like super veggie. freaking fab.  then i had a veggie sub from subway for dinner.  a very veggie day. i can't seem to get enough of them lately. i'm a little fruited-out, but i'm all about the veggies, as long as they're prepared for me. i've been very lazy about preparing meals lately.  i need to get with the program. i also need to either start going to the y, or cancel my membership. i think i should go to the y.

does anyone have a CLUE how to be healthy and save money at the same time? i honestly think it's impossible.  i've really been working on my budgets since both of my roommates got engaged in the past month and i will be living solo as of june (insert mini freak out here!). but i'm actually pretty excited about it; just not sure how it will all work financially. i mean, i know i can do it, but i would probably have to live off of cheap, not healthy food.  maybe i'll have my dad come down and plant me a garden?  hmm. 

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i got really creative yesterday and made some of what i'm calling "photo art"....  and i finally did something with my flickr account.  check it out.  be my friend or whatever. i don't know what i'm doing. :)  the "fun with color" are the new fun ones. enjoy.

ok, i'm blogged out.   fin.

how can you not love this face?

She's totally a human. I just know it. :-)

My mom sent me this in an email this morning...it made me so homesick! I want to be in Maryland, with the snow, and my mom, and my home, and my dog.... wah. Freaking ugly rainy Tennessee winters... Why don't you just get like 10 degrees colder!!?? please!!

Great lunch today - a fab treat: Bongo Java Cafe O'Lait and a cup (very small, but it did the job) of their black bean chili and a slice of fab hearty wheat grainy whatever toast. (avec butter, of course!!) I can't be good all the time!
The chili was very very good, and I will be getting it again. So healthy! Who needs tons of ground bif in their chili?
Usually, me. but not today!

mmm freakin' mmmmm

One of the best breakfasts I've had in quite some time.

1 - A nice, warm bowl of these. So delish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar added on top!
2 - a gorgeous bowl of fresh strawberries, and green and red grapes.
3- a scrumptious, soul-warming Grande Soy Cafe Misto from Starbucks. (just a coffee with steamed milk...but oh so good.)

great start to what I hope will be a great day.

Tonight, I'm going to this. Hosted by the Bacchanalian Soceity of Nashville, it's taking place tonight in the TPAC main lobbies....hopefully, I will be on the winning team, and will win a few hundred bottles of Australian Red!! :-) drinking like the roman gods....oh, how exciting!

sunday night

no shower.

laundry in the scary basement garage.

black beans, brown rice, and a bit o' cheese.

bed covered in work that i took home. how shit-tastic.

four hours of house. why do i love him? is it because his character makes me feel a bit better about myself? hmm, or just because he's a sexy asshole. oh yeah, the latter. for sure.

nip/tuck - wow what a love fest. i love it.

recipe book reading and more menu making... what's up for this week? stay tuned to see if i actually go buy all that shit. ugh. lazy. someone hire a live-in chef for me. and pay for it. thanks.

strange animal rustling around in my non-working a/c wall unit- i wonder if it's building a nest? i wonder what kind of animal it is.

any takers?

a bird? a squirrel? something with fleas that will eventually invade my room and eat me alive?

i've been watching too much house.

i have off tomorrow. plan on doing a little bit of "money i don't have spending" - i've been dying to go to the Scarlet Begonia off West End. I'm going tomorrow, damnit.

i worked today. money... thank god.

yes we puede!!

Cord's friend John co-owns an indie label out in LA called vosotros (music for "you-all"). check it out. They are doing some amazing things.....

In celebration of the Inauguration, they had some of their musician friends put together a great compilation of some p.d. patriotic songs. Super fun! Click below and enjoy.

http://yeswepuede.com/ (puede = "can" in Spanish) - get it? ha...

Meanwhile, Cord had me take some photos of his studio last week and I just finished editing.... here are two of my favs. I love that place! It was so fun to photograph! .... shameless plug.. if you or anyone you know ever needs photos taken of anything (like a studio, home for sale, salon, anything?) just let me know! I'm el cheapo. ;-)

Gasoline Studios

go greek and eat beans.

choo choo!

I finally sat myself down this Sunday and made a menu for the week! It was very fun, actually!! I'm kind of enjoying being a homebody at night.... even if I'm by myself sometimes. It's very nice to just RELAX!  :) wow, what a concept!

So, yeah - I made a menu by looking through a few recipe books (why have them if you don't use them, hello?). I went to T. Joe's and Kroger (for those things that Joe's is lacking) and I made a menu for the week!  Here it is, I hope you're excited!

-Black Bean & Pineapple Salad (made with fresh baby spinach, fresh yellow and orange peppers) 

-Marinated Asparagus Salad (with tarragon and lots of herbs and spices!) - from the WW 5 ingredient or 15 minute cookbook!  one of the best cheapo purchases ever!

-Southwestern Two Bean Soup (from the WW cookbook - SO YUMMY and only like 2 WW points!)

-Greek Rice (brown minute rice with fresh chopped tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese and greek seasoning!) also from the WW cookbook - it was delish!!!!  

-Spinach and Mushroom Fettucine Alfredo - I think this is from the WW cookbook too!

So yeah, pretty healthy and something different!!   Buy that cookbook!! 

diana pics

Post #3 of the day - no, i'm not bored...just excited about my first roll of 120mm Diana film!
Here are my favs.

NO LIE.

no lie. 100% super serious. 3rd office injury of the week. also food related. I cut my finger on a STAPLE trying to get into my lunch today!!! It even drew BLOOD! for real! In my lunch was a baked potato and and a salad - not the worst lunch in the world mind you, but maybe it was telling me not to eat the roll inside?

Oh well, screw it! I ate the roll - but I did not eat the huge amazing cookie. I figured someone was REALLY trying to tell me something. I just can't believe this!! It's so strange - all of these minor, painful injuries at work - all related to eating BAD FOOD! I must listen to these signs.....

The roll was very delicious. :-)

office injuries and wii fit

I guess I'm having a hard time getting back in the groove of being in the office. I'm exhausted, for one....and two, I've injured myself on harmless objects twice since Monday. That is not a good track record.

On Monday, I sliced (yes, pretty serious slice) my finger on a HOT CHOCOLATE TIN! Who does that, you ask? Moi. It's actually scaring me a bit b/c it won't close up. It did finally stop bleeding. Today - I snapped a binder clip (that was holding my bag of rice chips closed) on my finger. I think this is the health gods trying to tell me something. Don't eat hot chocolate. Stop snacking on rice chips. (even though they're healthier than potato chips, they're still not that great to snack on).

I guess I should listen.... especially since my wii fit told me that I gained 4 pounds since November 11 (the last time I was on my wii fit - no WONDER I gained weight!!) ha! Now, there have been a few gym trips in between those wii fit days - but not many. Not enough, evidently. Between Jamaica, Christmas, and just being at home... I have gained 4 pounds. I'm actually relieved, because it looks and feels like about 10.

Guilt ridden, I wii-fitted last night for 45 MINUTES!! I am so proud. I did the real stuff too - not all just the balance games which are the fun ones. I hula-hooped, did lots of strength training, a bit of yoga, and the "long run." Which is very challenging to do in socks on a hardwood floor, in place. And I've somehow effed it up so that the music doesn't play - I can see my little mii down there with music notes coming out of it, and there is no music. Just silent...running... only the sound of my footsteps. I guess it's bad when my grandmother's mii flies by my ass at a fast-paced jog..... ha....it's good motivation to run in place faster.

So yes, 45 mins of good sweating, lunging, hula-hooping exercise. It will make my rice chip snack not make me feel so bad, I guess.......

Picking up my Diana photos today. If there are any good ones, I'll share :)

no resolutions.

After the holiday pudge has packed on, my jeans are barely zip-able, and I feel like a whale, I have decided to get back on my health train. I had done pretty well up until Jamaica. By that trip, I ate whatever I wanted, and it totally got me back into my bad habits.... I'm not calling it a New Year's resolution, because we all know those never work. It's just continuing what I started a while back, and knowingly let slip during the holidays.

The holidays were fabulous... lots of rest and relaxation, lots of family (which I was very happy about) and LOTS of driving...ugh! But actually, the driving was not too bad this year - my sister helps the journeys go by pretty quickly! Lots of eating, and lots of wine.. mmm..... lots of my mom's from scratch bread (wowza) and oysters....and stuffing... I love Christmas. NYE was back in Nashville, very fun and very expensive-o. But worth it. I can be an old fart when I'm an old fart, right? I better get out and celebrate while I still feel like it! So yeah, great holiday. I need to put some pictures up on this dang thing!! Dang! Nothing better than the Atlantic Ocean in the dead of winter.... it's beautiful!

My favorite gift is a Diana F+ camera my mom got me!! LOVE! check it out... I'm getting my first roll developed soon so I will be posting some pics from that...if they turn out!! It's tricky!!

So, since I'm back on the health train, I might as well blog about fun things I find that are healthy and also enjoyable. I'm currently enjoying a winter delights (or something) salad. It came in a bag, and I really like it! It's mostly lettuce (butter lettuce, which I actually like!) and a little bit of almonds, dried somethings (some sort of berry) and then a little bit of bleu cheese crumbles (OMG!) in a white balsamic vinagrette. Tres yum. I'm pairing it with a healthy choice minestrone soup. Nice hearty, healthy winter meal! I also stocked up on Edamame at the grocery, so I'm back to that craze. We'll see how long it lasts. Something has to happen to these five pounds of hibernation-ready flab.

:)