30 Day Challenge - Day 12

Something I am OCD about:

Um, I'm not... No, actually I don't really know. I'm messy and I like my piles. I do like having a clean bathroom sink but I'm not OCD about it.

Hmm... it's the garden beds in the front. I want them to look good all the time and I'm known for picking sticks out of it when I leave for work in the morning, when I get home and when we leave for some other event or whatnot.

Or maybe it's always having cheese in the house.

Lusting For...

Wine glasses...

From Pier 1 Imports. Why, oh why can I not stay out of this store? And why, oh why do they keep sending me emails with items like this?

30 Day Challenge - Day 11

A recent photo of me:

And yes, I've finally figured out how to style my hair! Wear a hat! HAHA. I am in the flowered dress, with the beads and the black hat.

Thank you, weddings for having photo booths and friends that love to get pictures taken in them.

The Joys of Homeownership

Yep, the sewer backed up.

Gross.

At least it wasn't that bad. The drain is set into the basement cement a few inches, so the gross sewage only came up a little bit - did not get the carpet but all the cardboard boxes are gross and nasty. Psst... don't tell Bimmer Man that his golf clubs were sitting in it either...

The plumber came out and cleaned it, however, since our house is so old and clay pipes are porous, well, they said to expect it again. If we want everything to be replaced, it'll be the price of a small car.

SO...

I don't know.

The sewer saga may continue.

Hence the slow posting of recipes.Oops. Don't worry, I've saved some up (like a creamy garlic chicken recipe that I saw in the newspaper!).

30 Day Challege - Day 10

A photo of me more than 10 years ago -

I hope this counts. It's from seventh grade English class (I think). I am in the middle with the black shirt with the horizontal stripes.

Thank you, genetics, for blessing me with the worst frizzy and fluffy hair ever.

30 Day Challenge - Day 9

A photo I took:

Ahh... I used to take photos for a living (I still do in my spare time!) so I have a ton. Here's a favorite from this summer.

30 Day Challenge - Day 8

A photo that makes me angry or sad: WARNING - GRAPHIC PHOTOS

Animal cruelty.

This is the reason why I work with the Minnesota Federated Humane Societies. We work with the authorities to help prosecute people who do things like this.

And yes, those are dead buffalo just lying in a field.

And yes, I've seen worse than this.

It's heartbreaking, heart wrenching and brings tears to my eyes knowing that people do things like this intentionally.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox now.

Meet Ted

 click here to watch it on CNBC.

Meet my friend Ted y'all. This is Ted. Ted Brassfield. He graduated from law school with Bimmer Man (please, note that their facts are wrong, it should say 2009 graduate, NOT 2008).

I think I may get a little opinionated here, so please, if you don't want to read, feel free to skip this post.

Millions of people go to school to get an education. And many, ok, lots, of those students get loans, federal or private. Many of these students also live on student loans with the promise of their schools saying that they will get a job when they graduate. The numbers are skewed. They do that to get students in the doors and money in their pockets.

Many people go back to school with the American Dream promising rising careers, fulfilling the hopes of helping others, using their degrees to get better jobs, working their way up in the ladder and shattering the glass ceiling.

Second and third year law students send HUNDREDS of resumes to potential employers, whether it be Big Law, clerkships, large companies that need in house counsel, etc... And not many of those HUNDREDS of resumes result in interviews. There's way too many unemployed, qualified, experienced lawyers out there.

If law schools keep becoming accredited and keep churning out graduates, when in this current economy holds little to no job prospects, who is to blame? The ABA? The schools? Students for wanting to follow their dreams?

Eh, there's no right or wrong answer. There is a need for change in the legal community, there is a need to recognize a problem. Jobs are a major issue right now across the country in all areas, not just the law.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox now. Thanks.

30 Day Challenge - Day 7

A photo that makes me happy:

Meh, I can't decide. Frankly, any photo of Rusty makes me super happy. Poor dog, he'll wear anything for me too. He kept those ears on for a good 20 minutes (he was the only dog to keep his graduation cap on for the whole class too in obedience!).

30 Day Challenge - Day 6

20 of my favorite things:

1. Diet Mountain Dew

2. Quaker Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip granola bars

3. Zyrtec

4. Irish Setter puppies (also, I refuse to post an image of them because I don't want anyone buying from a BYB, there are a few available in rescue, try petfinder.com or saveoursetters.org)

5. Flowers and gardening. Love it! I love growing my own, so relaxing and easy.

6. Flip flops.

7. Donkey Beach in Kauai

8. A car that runs. Bimmer, get your car fixed.

9. The new Gopher Stadium

10. The Gophers actually winning a game.

11. A great pair of jeans (from Banana Republic, please)

12. The moment when I'm finished with a long run and I realize that I could've gone another mile or two.

13. When Bimmer Man gets home before 7 pm

14. The smell of lavendar

15. Cooking. Just the process of chopping veggies and the immediate scent of garlic when you throw it into the pan. Smells like home.

16. Apple Crisp with vanilla bean ice cream

17. Bed. I love sleep.

18. A down comforter

19. Freshly Swiffered floors

20. A really good book

30 Day Challenge - Day 5

Favorite Quote:

Creativity takes courage
- Henri Matisse 


See all the days here.

30 Day Challenge - Day 4

Favorite Book:

Hands down, I have to say it's:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle)

It is a super fast read, cute, a bit of historical fiction and it's read like a bunch of letters (that part is hard to get used to, but by the end you don't even notice). The setting is on the island of Guernsey off the coast of England. Think post world war II era with the descriptions so fantastic that it makes you want to visit.

Actually if you google the book with the map of places, you'll find something. I remember that someone in our book club did that. It was great!

So, definitely a book to recommend, but if you like mystery novels, or horror novels, you probably won't. Oh, well, at least you feel a bit more literary after reading it!

30 Day Challenge - Day 3 - Stop The Presses

Favorite Television Show


Wait, does a soap opera count?

 
Now, does seeing the men of my soap opera entice you to watch it? Find all their bios here.

Ok, so if soap operas count, now after seeing all the hotties on cast, then The Young & Restless gets my new vote for favorite television show. It all starts in Genoa City with the Newmans and the Abbotts. There's sex, there's violence (um, Chance just died, however it was closed casket so he might be back), there's intrigue and mostly, it's better entertainment than Dr. Phil.

So, yep, Y & R gets my vote!!

30 Day Challenge - Day 3

Favorite Television Show.

This one is tough too. I think for right now, it's True Blood. However, in the middle of winter then I really like Weeds or Grey's Anatomy. But I'm going with True Blood for sure!

When Bimmer mentioned getting rid of cable, I sort of had a small heart attack, what in the world would I do without Vampire Eric and Vampire Bill?

Oh, and I also found Jessica's blog too. Crazy, right? It's sort of like the baby blog and wedding website from The Office.

But I definitely have to leave y'all with a picture of Alexander Skarsgard.

If you'd like to see the complete list of days, click here.

30 Day Challenge - Day 2

Favorite movie.

Meh, I'm not really a movie person. I mean, I like movies and I like to watch them and I like to see people's ideas and thoughts and interpretations of books, characters, etc... However, when asked what my favorite movie is, well, I clam up and stammer because I don't really have one.

But if you tell me that I might only have one movie to watch for the rest of my life, well, give me Google and an hour and I might be able to tell you.

So I think I'd have to pick:

Gone With The Wind
Big Fish
Mystic River
Juno
Little Miss Sunshine

Or maybe some other random. Eh, I don't know. It has to be funny and sad and have a great cast of characters and good writing. Maybe even based on a book. But even then I can't pick just one. Oh, well, you 30 Day Blogging Challenge! You've challenged me and it's only the second day!!

30 Day Challenge - Day 1

Favorite song

30 Day Blogging Challenge

Can I do it? Um... maybe... Here's the list:

Day 1 - your favorite song
Day 2 - your favorite movie
Day 3 - your favorite television program
Day 4 - your favorite book
Day 5 - your favorite quote
Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy
Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 - a photo you took
Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 - a photo of you recently
Day 12 - something you are OCD about
Day 13 - a fictional book
Day 14 - a non-fictional book
Day 15 - your dream house
Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 - a talent of yours
Day 20 - a hobby of yours
Day 21 - a recipe
Day 22 - a website
Day 23 - a youtube video
Day 24 - where I live
Day 25 - your day, in great detail
Day 26 - your week, in great detail
Day 27 - my worst habit
Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - a dream for the future

So I think my plan is to start tomorrow. But first I need to find the charger for the battery for my camera.

Wish me luck because I have NO IDEA where to even start looking for it!

Wing Chairs

Hibiscus Wing Chair - Pier 1 - $299 on sale

Hmm... I don't know about patterned chairs quite yet. We bought a new painting at the state fair for the living room. It's mostly gray with some yellows and oranges. It's of Paris at night looking towards the Eiffel Tower (think Impressionism). So, I like gray and yellow, however, I'd like my living room to reflect warm tones so I'd like to keep it bright and airy, but with a warm twist. I guess, I did take one year of interior design classes so I should be able to describe what I want... but that was a few years ago!

And not to mention curtains... that's on my list of things to buy as well. I just need to get inspired!

What? Cats in Ikea? HILARIOUS

Pesto Toast - Sort Of

French bread with fresh pesto and mozzarella cheese all melted in a 425 degree oven for about 10 minutes. It's heaven in your mouth.

As you can tell, I have a TON of basil to use up from the garden. What are your favorite recipes with basil?

Oh, and how the heck do you dry herbs? I've never tried but I think I have enough basil to last me awhile if I can figure out how to dry it!

The Green Omelette

Mmm... Eggs are one of my absolute favorite meals. I can eat eggs for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Omelettes are especially easy - and my new favorite is with just spinach, cheese and a little green onion. YUM. I think I also added green pepper to this one too.

What's the best way to make an omelette?

Use medium-low heat and cook slowly, lifting the edges and letting the still runny egg flow underneath to make sure it's cooking evenly. Then when you close the omelette together, flip at least once get everything all warm and melty, then slide onto a plate. I don't really like my omelettes still runny, so I cook it until it's pretty firm.

And cheese. An omelette is never the same without lots of yummy cheese!

Next Book on my List:

206 Bones by Kathy Reichs. If you've seen the show Bones then you've been introduced to Dr. Temperance Brennan (who happens to write a fictional novel with the fictional character Kathy Reichs). And I'm here to introduce you to the novels! Deja Dead: 10th Anniversary Edition (Temperance Brennan Novels) is the first novel and 206 Bones is the newest.

Yes, my darlings, I do love the Temperance Brennan novels! They are filled with mystery, intrigue and yes, a very hot FBI agent. If you need a good read for traveling, any of these would make a great choice!

So I'm super excited to start this one - and I'm also reading Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, Book 2) so I don't think I'll be able to confuse the two novels.

Happy Labor Day - I hope you have the day off!!

Steak Sauce

Nope, sorry, no picture of the very large T-bone steak that was demolished by Bimmer Man and me yesterday. We ran out of steak sauce though. Oops, so I share with you the recipe that I made - I have to say that I will now always make my own because it tastes so much better than store bought!

Also, if you're in Minneapolis and you buy meat from a farm, could you let me know where you buy it from? I'd like to keep our meat local and organic, but mostly humanely raised. 

Simple Steak Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  ketchup
• 2 1/2  to 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1  tablespoon  brown sugar
• 4  drops hot pepper sauce
• 1  tablespoon  prepared mustard
• 1  tablespoon  cider vinegar
• Pinch salt
• Pinch pepper

Preparation

In a bowl, whisk together the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, hot pepper sauce, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper.

Tara Bench, Real Simple, SEPTEMBER 2006

Gnocchi with Basil & Chicken

Just like the title says - that's what it is. Perfect for a summer meal or one that you need to whip up in just 15 minutes.

Grill chicken with grill seasoning (like McCormick's or something like that).

Boil the gnocchi.

Julienne the basil.

Melt butter to go over the gnocchi.

Slice up the chicken.

Combine in a bowl and serve with a salad.

Old School MONSTER

Ahh... this was from the first week that we adopted him. Isn't he adorable? He was a MONSTER. Jumping over the back of the couch... needed a 3 - 5 mile run every.single.day and afraid of everything.

Oh, and tall.. so tall! And no gray hair yet! He has a few gray hairs now, and his chest is turning gray... and we think he's only 2 1/2.

And of course, the botch job neuter that he got so he had to wear a shirt for a week. Poor guy, at least it was during Halloween so he looked like he had a costume on for the week. Oh, well. We got through it!

Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil

Yup, straight from the garden except for the mozzarella. I don't live on a farm. I don't have cows or chickens (though I swear I spotted a chicken coop in my neighbor's yard).

Just layer the tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. Then drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and you're good to go! I accidentally picked too much basil, but I love it anyway so I needed to use it up. YUM!!!