Expensive Wine and Cheap Cheese

On Wednesdays, We Wear Pink

2012-02-01T12:50:00.005-05:00

This somewhat famous line from a movie I oh-so frequently quote, Mean Girls, has resonated true today amongst Pro Lifers the country over.

Susan G Komen announced yesterday that they will be halting all grants to America's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood after years of pressure and boycotting from several Pro Life (or as the AP likes to call us, "Anti-Abortion") activists, myself included. To show our support for this monumental decision, many Pro Lifers are donning pink today.

Why the big stink? What was the issue? Planned Parenthood does good things, right? Yes, but although the grant from Susan G. Komen was intended for cancer screenings, I believe it is justifiable to say that the bad outweighs the good when it comes to all things Planned Parenthood, and for SGK to sever ties is a huge step in the right direction... No political suggestion intended.

Consider this analogy, and keep reading before you write me off: There were good things that came from the holocaust, such as advances in medicine from the human experimentation... but is that what we remember from the holocaust? Absolutely not. We remember that 11.5 million innocent lives were slaughtered for no reason other than their ethnicity, creed, sexual orientation or complexion. I had the opportunity to travel to Auchwitz when I was studying abroad, and I will never forget what I saw. The air in the camp is still heavy, and I have zero desire to ever see it again.

I have similar sentiments when praying outside an abortion clinic, or when I drive past one. Since Roe vs. Wade was passed on January 22, 1973, we have ended over 54 million innocent lives to abortion. Sure, Planned Parenthood does cancer screenings and their 19-year-old interns (some of whom I have spoken to claimed to be Pro Life and had no idea PP provided abortions... hmmm) happily greet us all at the Metro with their clipboards and powder blue tee shirts, but is that what they should be known as? The sweet power blue shirted teenagers who can get downright nasty when you gently confront them? The cavaliers of "women's health?" No. They are partially responsible for the 54 million lives slaughtered... Many of which were little ladies themselves.

I wear pink today because I believe in women's health... And I KNOW that abortion is not healthcare. Best wishes to Susan G. Komen. Keep up the excellent work.

March for Life 2012

2012-01-24T11:15:00.007-05:00

Every year at this time, I feel more and more compelled to fight against the greatest legal crime in our country: Abortion.

Yesterday was the annual March for Life here in DC, and over 200,000 people came to give a voice to the voiceless. Being a proud member of the freakishly small nationwide Catholic community, I was beyond excited to run in to many people I had not previously seen in a while. I saw friends from Atlanta, Indianapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Michigan, home, and Steubenville, and love/hate the fact that we are so passionate about an issue that brings us all together. I love it because it mobilizes people to do something about such a travesty.. I hate it because I wish we didn't have to.

I met some amazing Protestants on the Metro while en route to the March yesterday. We chatted for a long time, and as we were getting off the train, the senior pastor looked me in the eyes, and said, "Gosh, I hope this is the last time we have to do this."

Me too.

Thanks to everyone who Marched for LIFE. We braved the cold and misty rain (and my hair ended up looking like a Brillo pad), but hopefully it will all be worth it some day.

... And like any good Catholic, we finished the day off by celebrating the lives that were spared with a few cocktails...

Survivors of Roe vs. Wade: born 1985, 1986, and 1987 :)

Obama--At It Again...

2012-01-20T18:01:00.003-05:00

Alright, blog babes... I haven't ranted about politics in a while, and it's about time. The Obama Administration announced today that they have reached a great compromise on the great battle with ObamaCare over mandated birth control, sterilization, and abortificants... That compromise is that Catholic churches are exempt from it.. That's it.. Crickets.... Crickets...

Those who are not exempt are Catholic hospitals, universities, schools, administrative offices, and so on... Pretty much the only people who are exempt from it are pastors of individual churches.. Sooo we reached a compromise, right? What's the problem?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says,
"[E]very action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil" (CCC 2370). "Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means . . . for example, direct sterilization or contraception" (CCC 2399)

The topic of birth control is not what I want to discuss here. It is established that the Church is against it, and using contraception in any form is an intrinsic evil. I have definitely stated my two cents on the issue, and I think we are all well aware of it. Whether or not you agree, read on. That is not the debate at hand... Yet...

The topic that is so dangerous is the fact that the Obama Administration is over-stepping religious liberties, as promised in our Bill of Rights.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (emphasis mine)

So, whether or not you are Catholic; whether or not you agree with birth control, the danger is that this mandate is inhibiting Catholic institutions' "free exercise thereof." Why? Because, simply stated, the Catholic Church is against it. For the government to mandate something that is contrary to our religion is an infringement on civil rights and liberties, and is NOT within their realm of jurisdiction.

I understand that there are other Christian denominations who do not have a teaching against birth control, and many of their members work for Catholic institutions. The problem is that we, as Catholics, see birth control as an intrinsic evil which is not to be encouraged, and certainly not provided.

I'm angry as hell, blog babes.. It is evident that a battle is brewing, and I hope we are all ready to fight.

Generation Me's Manners

2012-01-17T11:06:00.005-05:00

I read a book--rather, a flew through a book, which I briefly alluded to in my last post, this past week that I highly recommend, called Generation Me:Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable Than Ever Before by Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D.

Even though I do not agree with every thing Twenge says, I do notice a large part of her argument in today's society. Generation Me, Twenge says, consists of those born in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, and each decade has had increasingly worse "GenMe" symptoms. Twenge argues that the self esteem curriculum taught in schools from the time we were in kindergarten has backfired, making us narcissistic, self-centered and overly optimistic. She says that we are more likely to be depressed later in life as a result of the optimism because we are bred to have unrealistic expectations about life in general... Although it may sound bleak to say, I do find that that is true. Very few people I grew up with thought they were going to be anything other than a multi-millionare famous person, when the fact of the matter is that they're mostly working as lawyers, accountants, teachers and realtors.. There's nothing wrong with any of those professions, obviously, it's just not what any of us expected.

One thing that Twenge says that I wish I could scream from the rooftops is the lack of social graces from our generation. Because we are self-centered, we think that we are the source of our own truth. Just because Mom says to always write a thank you letter doesn't mean that it's necessary if I don't think it is... I mean, I thanked them in person, right? ... And just because I was invited to someone's wedding means it's OK to go drink copious amounts of booze and not even bother to slip a $50 in to a card? And I can RSVP to something and not show up because something better came up, I'm too tired, lazy, etc? And I can show up to a dinner party empty handed?

Blog babes, get ready for a rant...

With few exceptions (most of whom either went to our rival college--Christendom or are seminarians. Go figure), I notice a huge lack of manners from our generation, and am so thankful I read this book because Dr. Twenge articulates the reason so well. People do not have manners is not because they weren't taught; it's because they're self-centered as hell! If I am the source of my own truth, who are my parents to tell me what to do?

So, if you are content in your own little self-centered world, feel free to ignore my following points.

Etiquette in 2012--Simple, Concise, and Essential to Survival in a Social World

- Thank you cards. I have written about these countless times, and they are imperative in times such as gifts given for: graduations, weddings, wedding showers, bachelor/ette parties, birthdays, get-well, anniversaries; also following job interviews. When you receive simple cards, it does not merit a thank you card in return, however if they contain money or a gift card, they absolutely do. Other times that thank you cards are appropriate, however not necessarily essential (but it is always a nice gesture!): when someone treats you to dinner/lunch/coffee, takes you to a sporting event, walks your dog, or does something nice, but that nice gesture is not a gift of any kind. If it is a tangible gift, a thank you card IS essential :)

-RSVPs. If you receive an invitation to something, whether it be a paper invitation, a Facebook invite, an eVite, a Paperless Post, or a homing pigeon, YOU MUST RSVP BY THE SPECIFIED DATE! I always RSVP as soon as a receive an invitation to avoid forgetting. If you RSVP to something, the only excuse to miss it is if you are genuinely sick, in which case you are to call the hostess (no texts or emails) to tell her that you are sick and unable to attend, and apologize profusely.

-Weddings. It's all very simple: RSVP, dress up (this means a dress for ladies; a shirt and tie--preferably a suit for guys. Polos shirts, mini skirts, and pants for ladies--not OK), bring a gift, don't get belligerent, take only one party favor.

-Dinner Parties. Always offer to bring something. Even if the hostess declines your offer, it is still nice to show up with a bottle of wine or box of chocolates, however it is absolutely not necessary.

-When You Are A House Guest. Bring a hostess gift such as: a picture frame, a bottle of wine, a nice candle, soaps, monogrammed towels, a gift card to a local restaurant, a planter... The possibilities are quite endless. Go to bed (or at least in your room) when the hostess goes to bed; offer to help with dinner; leave your room the way you found it; offer to strip your bed... After you leave, send a thank you card for their hospitality.

-Watch your swears. This goes especially for when you are with people who are older. Cussing is disrespectful. Even though it may bring a bit of casual-ness to a conversation, always feel a person out first.

-Look presentable. When you are going to church, look better than when you're going to the gym. Wear makeup. Do your hair. Don't show up to a nice restaurant in jeans. Looking nice is courteous to people around you. It's not vain. It's manners.

Be considerate. Think about how others see you. Respect.

I will leave you with my favorite Emily Post quote.

Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.
Emily Post

Bridesmaid, Romney, and Me, Me, Me

2012-01-11T22:14:00.002-05:00

I do! I do! It's official, blog babes.. I am a bridesmaid three times in 2012. Words cannot express how honored I am; all three of these brides are dear friends of mine who will, without question, be in my own wedding, provided that ever happens.

I'm reading a very eye-opening book entitled, Generation Me, which refers to those born in the 70s, 80s (holla!), 90s and 2000s. Pretty much what the author says is that an obnoxiously strong emphasis (which has become sooo accustomed in schools) on self esteem programs has backfired in to people thinking they are way more important than they are. Hmmm... So this got me thinking about my blog, my assumption that people do in fact care about my innermost thoughts, recipes, DIYs, and my chirping about etiquette... Do you care? Haha. I write to be entertaining a lot of times, but scrolling through my old posts, I notice that I have written in a bit of a authoritarian style... Please ignore that sound. I'm really not that cool and wise. Gosh, I have a lot of retraining to do.

In other news, we all know that Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire Primary, which most likely means that he will ultimately get the nomination. Originally hearing the debates, this notion did not sit well with me. Romney did not seem like a true conservative, who did indeed have a track record of being Pro Choice. It wasn't until a few weeks ago, when Ann Coulter was speaking about Romney on Hannity, that I was finally put at ease, and his speech last night put me even more at ease. Governor Romney is articulate, fiscally veryyyy conservative (which is important, given the job market), Pro-Israel, Pro Life (as Ann Coulter pointed out, we all know people who have gone from being genuinely pro choice to genuinely pro life. Plus, during his pro choice days, Romney never signed a single document expanding abortion. Convenient timing, perhaps, but it's still good to know), promises to repeal Obama Care (side note: Romney Care, which was at the state level and therefore very much in line with our constitution, was endorsed by conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation), and is a small central government conservative. Even though he's perhaps not the greatest that stood on the debate stage, I'll take him... But I do still love ya, Newt. (there I go with my self-importance again... Newt Gingrich will never see this!)

To conclude, this post has absolutely no direction, and to avoid oversharing (another symptom of Generation Me), about the reason... Fine, I'll over share--I'm sleepy... I'll just stop here.

Thank you for reading and pretending to care. Haha.

2011-Looking Back

2011-12-31T16:38:00.011-05:00

There is less than seven hours left in 2011, and I am sitting on my bed, claiming defeat over my napping intentions... My guests are in the next room laughing, so I'm assuming that they're not napping either. Tonight will be interesting. One word: Red Bull.

We were shopping today, reflecting on 2011 when I realized that it really wasn't the best year... And that's OK because they can't all be perfect... 2006 was a pretty much a perfect year... 2008 was pretty great too.. And I'm confident that 2012 will be as well.

I'm not always the best at specific New Year's Resolutions, so I decided to keep it simple this year: Grow in self-discipline, learn to love better, allow myself to not always be the strong one, and appreciate the little things... OK, so maybe it's not that simple but I realize as I'm writing this that it (hopefully) will all boil down to one thing: falling deeper in love with our Lord.. Everything I listed is part of a Christian life, and I hope these changes will overall bring about a greater change.

A year ago right now I was at my dear friends' wedding in Michigan, where we welcomed in 2011 in a grand ballroom. I pulled the ring out of the cake pull (Southern equivalent of catching the bouquet--the bride is from Texas).. And welp... Dating this year wasn't the best.. Ironic? Yes. And that's OK.

Also in 2011 I visited Boston for the first time... It's a truly fabulous city where I grew in deep appreciation for all things Sam Adams Brewery... And also learned to never, ever touch John Harvard's foot (side note: some Asian tourists were rubbing the foot as I was learning why you neverrrr touch it).

My mom and old friends came down from Cleveland for a long weekend. We got a limo and went wine tasting in Virginia's wine country. Granted, I did not pay for said limo, but I would imagine that it was worth every penny... Right, Mom?

Woke up one warm May morning and took a COMPLETELY spontaneous trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware... Let's just say that it was worth every turn of the wheel... Amazing....

Spent some great time with my household sisters (my alma mater's version of sororities). I always find it amazing how I can go literally months or years without seeing some of these ladies, but when we get back together it's like we never were apart. Love them.

I went to NYC um... yeah... three times... (pause for reaction). That is actually less than I usually go, come to think of it.. But I love it more and more every time I go.

Not photo journaled: I made several new friends and grew closer with old friends and former acquaintances, which I now fully call friends. You may or may not be in any of these pictures, but know that I am so thankful for you, your love, and your challenging me. I look forward to getting to know you all more in 2012.

To those I have not kept in touch with: I'm sorry, and I hope to be better in the future. Know that I still love you and will always value you as friends.

My favorite book I read this year:

unPlanned by Abby Johnson

My favorite movie of 2011:

.... So unoriginal, I know... But I also have to admit that I also enjoyed What's Your Number? with Anna Farris.. I'm glad I was able to catch in while it was in theaters for all of three days...

All-in-all, 2011 went by super quickly, and that's OK. Even though it is always a little bit bittersweet to leave a year behind, I look forward to see what 2012 has in store.

Happy New Year! May the 2012th year of the Lord be one of life, love, happiness... Oh, and a new President ;)

Christmas Eve Lunch... And everything you've ever wanted to know about my family's Christmas...

2011-12-20T12:26:00.004-05:00

Sigh, there are days when I wonder what in the world I am doing, where I am going or what the Good Lord’s plan is for my life. Today is not one of those days. I have been freakishly productive lately, and my stress-less attitude (which almost never happens during the entire month of December) has made self discipline oh-so worth it... And my life FINALLY has direction. I’m back in graduate school starting this January. M.Ed, here I come.

I turned another year older last week, and even though I admit that my eyes did well up more than once throughout the course of the day, I was able to maintain relative composure. To quote a good friend of mine, “We are like a fine wine; those other bitches are more like bags of Franzia.” I love it when people say mean things to make me feel better. Haha...

I volunteered myself to make Christmas Eve lunch this year.... Since I have a teensy weency extended family, which consists of two aunts, an uncle, a great aunt, two grandmas, and a whopping five cousins (and a cousin-in-law)--and yes, that’s both my mom and dad’s sides--we have to arrange holiday schedules so that everyone can be present. Soo, since my cousin decided to move an hour away a year -and-a-half ago, we had to adjust things a bit. In years prior, we always did Christmas presents and bruch (which consisted of an amazingly artery-clogging Velveeta eggs benedict) at my Mama and Papa’s house (pronounced “mumma “ and “puppa”) on Christmas Day morning. When Papa passed away, my cousin took over the brunch, and it was occasionally moved next door to her parents’ house... Well, since my said dislocated cousin declared that , no, she did not want to drive back to our hometown after having been there all day Christmas Eve (can’t say I blame her), we changed this whole routine to Christmas Eve lunch at my parents’ house. Background information: my mother does not like to cook... Where do I get my obsession from? Your guess is as good as mine. Anyway, so as to avoid an eight foot sub and sheet pizza, and, if we’re lucky, DanDee Potato Chips, I have taken it upon myself to make a Feliz Navidad Christmas Eve Lunch. Why? Because Mexican food is easy and fairly universal, and why not? Heck, maybe I’ll even throw in a pinata to add to the theme. We’ll see how motivated I am.

Here’s what’s on the menu:

Chips and homemade guacamole
Funchiladas
Cilantro Lime Rice
Refried Beans (from a can... I am a Yankee, and people will just have to get over it)
Mexican Corn (that a certain New Yorker got me obsessed with. You know who you are. And I could kill you.)

For dessert, I am thinking about a hot chocolate bar... And I blame Pinterest for this idea... And my obsession with making all things cute... And not just cute but the cutest that all guests have seen in their entire lives. Let's be honest, I typically succeed...

How to do it? Lots of ideas... Hmmmm...

I hope y'alls party planning is going well! Merry December 20! Oh, and Happy Hannukah! Tonight is Night #1. Mazel!!!

The "I Don't Know What To Get You" Guide to Christmas Shopping

2011-12-12T12:02:00.009-05:00

We all have one (or several) of those relatives.. You know, the person who, if they want something, they buy it for themselves. Every year, they say they don't want anything, and when you show up empty handed, it gets all awkward. My father is one of these people, except he never says that he doesn't want something. He makes it very clear that we should certainly buy him a gift, but the eternal mystery is what.. I have written about this previously, and since I know for a fact that he does not read this on a regular basis, I will share my go-to "I don't know what to get you" Christmas list.

1) Tervis Tumbler. Doctors say that a grown human should drink at least 8 cups of water a day. Some people have even said that that number is significantly low, and that it is in fact double, if not triple or quadruple that number. Nevertheless, give your difficult gift-ee a personalized Tervis Tumbler.. Personalize it with a favorite sports team, a favorite hobby, or even his or her name... What isn't to love about hydration?

2) Zapi Toothbrush Sanitizer. OK, so I know I'm a germaphobe to say the very least, but these things are SO COOL. Plus it gives a bathroom counter a little color. Mine is pink... And Google coupon codes. I was able to find one that gave me 35% off.

3) A magazine subscription. Many magazine publishers have two for one holiday deals, so it is definitely on the budget-friendly end of Christmas presents. And even though it's not the Jelly of the Month Club, as Cousin Eddie says, "It's the gift that keeps giving the whole year round." Print off the confirmation of the magazine subscription and wrap it in a pretty box so the recipient still has something to open.

4) I think gift cards are impersonal, but since I am a control freak, I personally love getting them... But, sorry family who never reads this, I don't give them. Ever... However, if you're unlike me, to personalize them a bit, put them in a little theme order: $10 to Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble and $5 to Starbucks tucked inside a blanket=a book and a coffee on a cold winter day.. Admit it, it's cute... And again, budget-friendly (Target has great, inexpensive blankets). Another idea is a retail store gift card+a restaurant gift card+a manicure gift card=a girls' day out (shopping, lunch and manis.. Yes please!).

5) Movie night in. Scour the Amazon.com DVD section for cheap classics like The Goonies, The Princess Bride, The Gremlins, Grease, The Newsies, etc. that the recipient probably doesn't own on DVD (plus they're inexpensive) and head over to the Dollar Tree. A DVD+popcorn bowl+4 boxes of candy+a box of microwave popcorn+filler paper+a basket gift bag=movie night in.... And if you get a $5 movie, it'll cost you about $13 total.

I hope this helps with your Christmas shopping. Since I am a proud sufferer of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I was finished shopping a little over a week ago... Go ahead, be jealous. But seriously. Get it done, and you'll feel so much better. Happy Shopping!!!

Mad Fox Brewery

2011-12-09T10:38:00.009-05:00

Do you ever get to an epiphany and wonder where a certain thing has been all your life? For example, I have known about Oreos and cookie dough for the past 25 years, but only in the past few months have fellow bloggers taught me to combine the two.. And I wonder, where have they been my whole life?

I had a similar sentiment when a friend introduced me to Mad Fox Brewery in Falls Church, VA. I'd driven past it more times than I could count, and since it's tucked in an industrial plaza, didn't think much of it. Their brews are awesome, but dare I say, their food is even better... They boast a scratch kitchen (everything is made to order, nothing frozen or pre-made... amazing). I've even become a bit of a student of beer pairing, and I have found that the "Frickles" (fried pickles) and Kolsch make an excellent couple. The Grilled Chicken Panini is anything but generic, as it's name suggests. I am not exaggerating when I say that it was the best sandwich I've ever had... And the service is incredible. Being a restaurant brat myself, I know good service is a reflection on a strong management who knows the importance of training, as well as high morale for employees.

Mad Fox Brewery. Trust me when I say, it's the place to be.

Candy Cane Joe Joe Stuffed White Chocolate Chip Cookies... Try saying that 10x fast.

2011-12-07T07:15:00.006-05:00

Every so often I have a stroke of culinary genius... This weekend brought about one of those times. I was invited to a potluck dinner on Saturday, and at potlucks, my competitive edge tends to always show. I needed a showstopper, the best... Although many of the other dishes were impeccable, I must say that my Candy Cane JoeJoe Stuffed Cookies were what people were talking about... Perhaps because it was the only dessert... Seriously, who goes to a potluck and doesn't think of dessert? Granted, I'm not complaining.

So, every year around this time, Trader Joe's exhibits their love for humanity by sharing with us their annual special of Candy Cane Joe Joes. Sigh. Amazing.

But how do we make them better, you ask? I mean, they're a good thing, don't get me wrong... But everything can be improved, right?

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Brittany's Candy Cane Joe Joe White Chocolate Amazingness... All humility aside, of course.

Modified from the recipe from the fantabulous Jenny of Picky Palate

2 sticks (1 cup) softened butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
10 oz bag white chocolate chips
1 pkg. Candy Cane JoeJoes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars together with a mixer until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined. Using a cookie scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo Cookie. Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo cookie. Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is enclosed with dough. Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Makes about 2 dozen VERY LARGE cookies.

Ah, there they are...

Going to a cookie swap this weekend? Welllll, this will definitely be a hit. Trust me.

World AIDS Day... No Day But Todayyyy

2011-12-01T21:47:00.004-05:00

If I hadn't lived with the person a do, I would have likely not known that today was World AIDS Day... And if I hadn't lived with the person I do, I likely would not have really cared... Well, not much more than I did since seeing (and being obsessed with) Rent, both the Broadway rock opera and the motion picture musical, which I saw for the first time on my 20th birthday alongside a person who has since become a good friend, who had proceeded to sing every. single. line. while we were in the theater... But that's a story for another time.

My roommate works in AIDS/HIV research, and I am so proud of the difference she's making in this world.

... So join me in praying for all those affected by HIV and AIDS, particularly those in third world countries that do not have access to the health care that we have here.

Reflecting on World AIDS Day, I got to thinking about the people I know who have been affected... And, yes, this self-proclaimed fairly sheltered Catholic, Conservative actually does actually know a few.

It's devastating and forces a major lifestyle change...

AAAAAAnd I have hit a mental block... Slash it's past my bedtime. Join me in prayer for all those affected by HIV and AIDS. One day we will find a cure, but until then, love and compassion are what the sufferers need.

How I Spent My Thanksgiving Weekend

2011-11-30T09:17:00.007-05:00

I love Ohio. I do. I really honestly do... But sometimes I need a grim reminder as to why I don't live there.

I saw quite literally every single solitary person from my past, all the way back to kindergarten--all at bars, I should add... Trying to catch up as one of the very few people who has left our town while screaming over music is not only voice-straining but exhausting. I decided that if I go out for Thanksgiving Eve next year, I will bring a signs that say:

"Yes, I still live in DC.

No, I don't have any plans on coming back...

Because it's too cold....

Yes, I know it's crazy that I'm not working for my dad; Maybe some day.

You look so grown up too!

Thanks, I'm finally back to my natural (hair) color.

I don't know when I'll be home again, but lunch would be great!

Congratulations on the engagement/baby/wedding."

So, anyway, we played (cough cheated at) Name That Tune... Here was our team name... Delta Zeta Stella... Stuck in college mindset? Yes..

Haha, so needless to say, it's good to be back in the District for the next few weeks anyway.

Our Thanksgiving was unusual, which tends to be a family tradition... I can honestly say that no two Thanksgivings have ever been the same. We have spent them in Vegas, New Orleans, Austria, Florida, at a friend's house, at our grandma's house, at our other grandma's house, at our aunt's house, at our great aunt and uncles's house, at a restaurant, and this year, we ended up getting carry out from my parent's club because my mom and I were too sick to actually dress up to go there and eat it... And, despite the fact that the Thanksgiving meal was enjoyed at our lake house in my slippers and PJ's, devoid of any makeup or hair primping, it was one of the best turkeys I've had in my life. A-mazing. The owner of our club is Jim Stouffer, yes of the microwave TV dinner fame, and even though his expertise may be confined to the frozen food aisle, he sure knows how to hire a great chef... And the view we got to enjoy from the comfort of the lake house wasn't too shabby either...

I didn't hit up any of the Black Friday specials because a) I think it's stupid and b) it is always a personal goal of mine to be finished Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving... Rest assured, blog babes, I have once again achieved my goal this year. But, one thing my mom and I did decide to go was to drive 20 minutes from our lake house to the tiny town of Elmore, Ohio to go antiquing. We dragged my dad along, much to his dismay.

After scoring for several hours in a shop that was "just a bunch of shit," according to Papa Bear, I found two of these for $2.50 a pop:

So, I was extra motivated to decorate for Christmas when I got back to DC. Each of the tree candle holders is on an end table, and here is our back wall.. Admit it... It's adorable:

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving and are enjoying the first week of Advent. Gosh, I do love this time of year.

Fried Cauliflower

2011-11-22T10:13:00.004-05:00

I fell in love with yet another unhealthy appetizer.

Oh.

My.

Gosh.

My roommate (who has never heard of Better Midler, but that's beside the point) was craving fried cauliflower... So she made it... And, I must confess I had no desire to try it.

And if I hadn't, it is very likely that I would have missed out on this amazingness forever.

If you need a fairly easy app to keep your Thanksgiving guests satisfied while finishing up the turkey, fry some of these babies up, and all parties' involved lives will be changed.

OK, so here's what you do:

1) Crush up Ritz crackers and put it in one bowl.
2) Beat an egg and put it in another bowl.
3) Dip cauliflower in egg and then in the cracker crumbs

4) Pan fry in EVOO

Allow your life to be changed.

Oh.

My.

Gosh.

One variation that would be pretty awesome would be to put a bit of parmesan cheese in with the crackers for a little extra flavor... Just a thought.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I'm heading home to Ohio today where we will be enjoying Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' country club... Because our kitchen is under construction.. I'm not thrilled about not being able to cook, but certainly cannot complain. Even though my dad and I did LITERALLY all of the cooking last year, my mom still freaked out. Sensible? No... But chances are stress will be kept to a minimum this year haha. Have a blessed holiday.

Movember--Almost Done!!!

2011-11-22T10:06:00.003-05:00

So I went to a Team Velvet Undernose fund raiser last weekend. So. Much. Fun. All-in-all, it was a great night, money was raised for prostate cancer; Solly's in DC, where the event took place, carries Great Lakes beer (my favorite); AND UVA beat Florida State.

Allow me to use this post as a friendly reminder to donate:

Jon Kennedy
PT Mooney

Vintage Ridge Vineyard

2011-11-15T12:31:00.005-05:00

My time as a nanny is split between wondering why people willingly have children and excitedly anticipating having my own some day. Today is the former. Little Lady is sick, and I am therefore exhausted.

But, onto a better note. I should have updated this a while ago in regards to this place but am just now getting around to it. Allow me to share one great local haunt definitely worth checking out.

Vintage Ridge Vineyard in Delaplane, Virginia is, from what I can recall, a hidden gem and perhaps one of the greatest tastings I've ever done here in Virginia. As you can see from the only photo of myself below, I was definitely having a good ol' time at our first stop, Barrel Oak... So I do not recall specifics... But, I do know all of the pours were great! Each pour was paired with a small bite to bring out both the gourmet food as well as the wine's special features. Awesome--I highly recommend... But definitely make reservations beforehand, as the tasting is quite elaborate. Cheers!

... Oh and remember my car insights from a few posts ago? These are the four gentlemen I was referring to... Thank the Good Lawd nothing happened with our car... um, mini van... But if it had, we would have been just fine.

Just Say YES

2011-11-08T08:02:00.002-05:00

Hey blog babes!

I can only write a super quick post, but wanted to pass these along to all Ohioans voting today. VOTE YES ON ISSUE 2!

Trust me on this one. The Great State of Ohio is ba-roke, and cannot afford to keep paying pensions the way they do now. Check out these links:

Better Ohio

The Hidden Price of NO

Decisions, decisions...

2011-11-07T14:22:00.000-05:00

Two of my childhood besties are getting married this summer, which means they are both stressed with planning (and which also means I am not eating for the next 7 months... I type this as I shove cheese and crackers in my mouth. I'll start tomorrow). One friend has chosen her bridesmaids dresses; the other has not. Even though I would happily wear a potato sack to stand up with any of my good friends, politely keeping all dress opinions to myself, I must admit that I am more than slightly thrilled that both of these brides have excellent taste in fashion.

The friend who has not chosen her dresses yet... we'll call her Angela... because that's her name... has solicited the assistance of her bridal party to provide our "honest opinions." A task, I confess, is not a difficult one (pause for reaction). Again, she has excellent taste so I've liked all of her options so far. Soooo too further complicate her decision, I went against all that I ever have believed about weddings and logged on to the David's Bridal website. (Side note: I have long complained about their awful customer service and vowed to avoid dealing with them as much as I can.. Until I realized how incredibly inexpensive they are in comparison and decided that I can in fact tolerate a saleswoman that smells like a Bingo hall if it means not having to spent $300 on a dress I'll never wear again).

As a professional bridesmaid, I know it is imperative to keep dress opinions to oneself unless you are given permission to do otherwise. The one exception in The Book of Brittany is that you may say something if you are completely uncomfortable (I.e. It's too revealing). This may be said only before dresses are purchased... Or just have a seamstress sew some extra fabric in the cleavage and call it a day.

Background information. My definition of modesty greatly differs from about 99.999999999% of the population. I do not believe women need to dress a-la Duggar with long prairie skirts and frumpy button ups... However, I don't think it's okay to leave nothing a mystery, a-la Snookie... Bless her heart... A fitted sweater and mini skirt with tights? Fine. A plummeting halter, rubber band style skirt and 5 inch heels? Not fine.

Anyway, so David's Bridal, I learned today, truly, I mean truly covers ALL bridesmaid dress bases. Shapeless, frumpy, and shroud-ish, so as to keep all eyes on the bride? Check! Giant obnoxious fabric roses on the skirt to show how trendy everyone is? Check! So pouffy that there is no humanly possible way anyone can fit down a church aisle, let alone in a limo? Check! Check! But, call me a prude, but the ones I found the most not ok were the street walker style bridesmaids dresses. I mean, for real... These babies were sooo tiny short that I cannot imagine anyone wearing them to a nightclub, let alone a wedding. But obviously people do because they're not clearanced out like the cupcake skirt monstrosity that I can only imagine anyone buying as a Halloween costume.

Before I go off on a whole new tangent, let me just stop here. I am very, very glad these brides have enough class to not have us bridesmaids looking cheap... And for my dear blog babes who pray, say a prayer for Angela that she makes up her damn mind!

Happy Monday!

Suggestions Welcomed...

2011-11-03T14:46:00.001-04:00

Every year around this time an inevitable question comes to mind: what the hell (or as autocorrect keeps trying to get me to say: he'll) do I buy my dad this year?

For as simple-minded as men in general can be, my father is perhaps the most complicated human being ever spawned. Not only is his birthday quickly approaching, but Christmas is shortly thereafter. Every year I think I have come up with the most perfect option only to find out a) that he already has it or b) it was in fact a dumb idea. Take the gift I got him a few years ago as an example. As Papa Bear is a wannabe mobster, I thought I had finally found the best present ever--The Godfather trivia game. What I didn't realize was that he is certifiably obsessed with the trilogy and knew--I am not kidding--every single solitary answer in the deck of cards, which I ended up quizzing him on while riding in the back seat to his Little Italy birthday dinner. Plus, it's not like guys (who, let's be honest, would be the only people who would know The Godfather well enough to play the trivia game) sit around and play board games on their annual manly bros testosterone weekends... Or any time, for that matter... One year I accidentally ended up on my dad's manly bros testosterone weekend at our lake house and let's just say that I found it necessary to lock myself in my bedroom with a trashy Danielle Steel novel and Spice Girls playing on my computer. Boys, no matter their age, are really from a different planet and words cannot express how much I needed to be girly.

So, once again, I am faced with dilemma... And once again, I'll probably end up calling one of his general managers at the restaurants for ideas... Which will probably all end up being generic.

Wish me luck.

Love to my Mo Bros

2011-11-02T09:09:00.004-04:00

I have a confession to make. Any kind of "manly" facial hair gives me the willies. Seriously. Razors are our friends. It was a beyond annoying tradition for guys to stop shaving during our semester abroad at the school I went to. Not OK. Give me a clean shaven, smooth as a baby's bottom face for all men in my life, and I am a happy girl.

My aversion to all things scratchy (have you ever kissed a guy with a beard? Ugh. If the answer is no, keep it that way. Gag) is of course exempt during the month of November... Or Movember, I should say.

Movember is an annual fundraiser for prostate cancer research. Gentlemen practice mortification by "donating their upper lip" to the cause... Ha, what a joke. They're loving the 'stache. Of course, they do look for donations. Here is where you come in.

Two of my good friends, Jon Kennedy and PT Mooney are on Team Velvet Undernose, and are very passionate about this cause... Especially when it means growing facial hair for the world to see.

I'm so proud of you guys! Keep up the great work!

And seriously--for all of you blog babes, know that every 2.2 minutes, a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer.. That's 1 in every 6 men in his lifetime will be diagnosed... Scary statistics!

Here are the links again. Since both Jon and PT are fundraising, maybe split your donation between the two? That'd be sweet... :-)

Jon Kennedy
PT Mooney

You were inundated with breast cancer research fundraisers last month... Ladies were first, and now it's the guys' turn! Ladies, support your brothers, uncles, dads, husbands, and many other men in your life... It's only through continued research that we will beat this and all forms of cancer.

GO TEAM VELVET UNDERNOSE!!!

The Necessity of Men with Cars

2011-11-02T07:28:00.004-04:00

I went with some friends last weekend to the winery... We had set the date for October 29 literally weeks, if not months ago because, well, in Virginia there is usually beautiful fall weather well in to November, sometimes even December.

Man, does our Good Lord have a sense of humor.

A few days before, a friend who was planning on coming texted me to say, "Did you see it's supposed to snow on Saturday?" I was convinced she and all the weather men were kidding.

I was wrong.

Not only did it snow, but it accumulated.

On the way out there, we saw several spun out vehicles on the side of the highway, and I was all of a sudden very grateful to have four men in the car, er, mini van (don't ask) with us. I lack car skills. In fact, I have never had much of a desire to acquire said car skills. Pretty much, if I have AAA on my side, I'm OK right?

This reminded me of my many car woes. I will only share one with you... I need to pocket some of the others for the next time I have writer's block.

I was visiting my college town, a place where many colorful individuals reside, when I noticed that my tire had lost pressure... Don't be impressed that I noticed this. My car at the time was computerized or whatever and informed me of such problem. I called my dad who told me that, no, I absolutely cannot drive back to DC on one tire with low pressure. Who knew? So, I pulled in the to town BP, or Bob Paul as I'd been calling it... Not quite sure where that came from... Anyway, I parked my car next to the tire filler upper thing, and realized I didn't have a clue what to do next. So I brushed up my mascara, fluffed my hair, and strutted in to the gas station only to find a woman working there... Only in Steubenville would I see this... Not wanting to flirt with her (grody), I asked her how one fills up a tire, hoping of course that she would actually do it for me. No, she tried to explain it. Not even attempting to take mental note, I listened politely, and then asked her if there was a gentleman working today who would be able to help me. At that request, she scoffed, and brushed past me to my car. She waved me over, and began filling my tire, explaining every step of the process. "EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DO THIS," she said over and over... and over and over and overrrr again. I tuned out her instructions, thanked her, and drove back to DC only to lose tire pressure upon my arrival. I called my dad, thinking that was such a huge coincidence. He told me to take it to the Acura dealership as soon as possible, and that it is not a coincidence... It is in fact a huge problem. The next day, I dropped my car off, and took my usual spot in front of the flat screen in the waiting area of the dealership. A few moments later, my car guy, waved me over, stifling a laugh. "Miss, I have never seen anything like this. Were you driving through a hardware shop or something?" He pulled--literally--a 4 inch, maybe even a 5 inch nail out of his pocket and handed it over. I promptly handed it back, blushed, and thanked him. He asked if he could keep it, and I told him yes. This is one "funny story" that I would have rather forgotten. How embarrassing.

So, ladies, the moral of the story is this. Always have a man in the car with you. They bring a sense of peace of mind that no AAA card can bring... And if all else fails, keep your dad on speed dial and your cell phone fully charged. Even if you are as moronic as myself when it comes to all things motorized, Daddy-o's love it when you ask them stupid questions that they actually know the answer to.

Actually, scratch that. Even if you do have a man in the car with you, still call you dad. Your still needing him might be beneficial to you next time rent is due.

Eastern Market

2011-10-28T10:36:00.002-04:00

By far my favorite place to take visitors to DC is Eastern Market. Sigh. I had a few friends in town last weekend and that is where we went.

If you live in DC and have never been, get there stat. If you are coming to visit, put it on your list of things to see. Eastern Market is seriously one of the greatest things our fair city has to offer. And go hungry. Eastern Market, which I'm pretty sure I've written about before, is a farmer's market, place for artists and artisans to sell their handmade stuff, as well as a flea market.. And there's also a ton of foodie places to grab lunch, from po'boys to pretzels (my favorite), to empanadas, to crepes to donuts... Ok, I need to stop. I'm in between breakfast and lunch right now and my tummy is grumbling just thinking about it...

These are my finds from last weekend. You never know what you might find when you go. Get there!

I have probably spent a little too much time staring at this vintage brooch. Oh. My. Gosh. I needed this in my life. Brooches are super hot right now, especially vintage ones. Not only can they be pinned on clothes, but also can be worn to adorn a curled ponytail.. Sooo doing that.

Um, yeah. The hot sauce guy, who sets up shop in the flea market part of Eastern Market, is a very friendly gentleman from (if I recall correctly...) West Africa. Samples are abundant, but this is my favorite. If you're sampling, though, don't forget to grab a bottle of water before you do.

So remember how I have to often remind myself that Rachel Zoe is not in fact my friend? Anyway, she wore something similar on her show... Except I'm pretty sure that hers was Hermes... And I can't afford that... Anyway, here's the next best thing. Sooo cute... If I do say so myself...

Last but certainly not least, I'm loving enamel and I partially blame the movie The Help. Enamel is sooo 60s chic and I loooove it. Inspired by The Help, I think I've worn these earrings at least three times in the past week. Sigh...

Happy Friday everyone! If you're in DC, get to Eastern Market! But don't forget to bundle up--it might snow tomorrow.. Ca-razy! Oh, wait, what was that, Al Gore? Snow in DC? Global warming? haha--sorry--couldn't resist!

My 2 Cents About Obama's Student Loan Program

2011-10-27T11:50:00.003-04:00

Our darling president, the one and only Barack Hussein Obama, gave a speech yesterday unveiling his student loan plan.

Pretty much, we have another situation of the government sticking their groping hands where they do not belong.

So, here's the thing. The vast majority of the people I went to college with were there on student loans. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have thanked my parents for the gift of my education. I fortunately did not have to go down the student loan route.

OK, so putting myself in the position of many of my friends, the president's plan seems pretty cool. 10% minimum payments, rather than the current 15% and loan forgiveness after 20 years, versus the current 25 years... Awesome, right?

Right... Until you sit and think about it.... Here is the question we need to really explore. WHERE DOES ALL THIS MONEY COME FROM? Any time you hear things like "tax cut," "loan forgiveness," or any other fluff that our Prez likes to use for his sugar coating, does that mean that the Federal Government is holding bake sales to pay for the revenue it has lost? Or, to quote Dave Ramsey's Tweet from earlier today, does the money come from Santa Claus? Or do government officials take pay cuts themselves? Ha! Keep dreaming, babes.

Obama said that between he and his wife, they had $120,000 in student loans. Bummer... But whose fault was that? Columbia University, where Obama went to school, charges the current tuition of $35,352 a year, which is significantly higher than the national average of $7,650 a year (according to collegeboard.com). Granted, both of these numbers are inflated since Obama's college days, but you get the idea.

From @DaveRamsey on Twitter earlier today: "Hey stupid. If Gov. Insured Student Loans are forgiven that means taxpayers paid for your school. #epicfail"

OK, no matter what your political stance or if you're totes cool with stealing from taxpayers (who aren't necessarily wealthy, I should add) to pay for student loans of people who did not need to take out as many student loans as they did, think of it this way... If you have student loans, take a deep look at yourself and think about if you really needed to go the route you did for school. Most people would admit that they could have worked for a few years and saved up, or gone to community college for two years and then transferred, or gotten a job with an industry that pays for college tuition (there are several out there!).

According to Forbes Magazine, here are the schools with the highest amount of average student debt. If we're keeping on the hashtag theme, I would have to say, #anxiety

American University ($40,966 worth of student loan debt)
Buena Vista University ($40,569)
Cleveland Institute of Art ($61,270)
College for Creative Studies ($47,604)
Eastern Nazarene College ($47,815)
Florida Institute of Technology ($40,630)
Green Mountain College ($39,862)
Kettering University ($41,485)
Lawrence Technological University ($42,723)
Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus ($41,000)

Note that these are the AVERAGE amounts of debt, which means there are plenty of people dragging the average up from their upward of $100,000 in debt.

So, call me a coldhearted bitch all you want, but I think this whole plan is ridiculous. I have stated my reasons above, but if none of this could convince you, think of it this way: Our nation is in $14 TRILLION worth of debt... Debt has to eventually be paid off. How is it going to be paid off? Look in the mirror and you'll have your answer. Yup, taxpayers... And, perhaps I should add the fact that somewhere between 51% and 57% of the people living in this country (depleting our resources and enjoying entitlement programs) do not pay a dime in federal income tax, soooo guess who's paying for their lack of contribution? Look in the mirror again and you'll have your answer. Short answer: We don't need another thing to tax us with, especially something that isn't necessary. At all.

Problems aren't going to solve themselves. It's time for people to take responsibility for their actions, work with their God given dignity to work and provide, without the aid of the government meddling where it doesn't belong.

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. -2 Thessalonians 3:10

Plastic Skeleton...

2011-10-26T14:14:00.004-04:00

I taught the kiddos I nanny for a new word today. Our nanny word of the day (or in this case word of the month) is: morbid.

Why, you may ask?

Because THIS is what we walk by every morning on our way to school:

Nothing like a good ol' Halloween decoration to remind us of our own mortality... Which of course I did not get in to with the 5 year-old and 2 year-old. That would not be good.

But this got me thinking. Yes, blog babes, a plastic skeleton sparked some thought.

I've been complaining lately about how quickly fall, and well, life in general has been passing by. Before we know it, Christmas will be here (squeal!!) and then another year will come to a close. With only a little over two months left in 2011, I realized how much I have taken time for granted this year. I have not lived every day as if it was my last. In fact, I have seldom spent much time doing the things I should be doing. I spend too much time watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Rachel Zoe Project and Modern Family. It takes me entirely too long to primp... And I don't call my grandma anywhere near enough (perhaps because she always interrupts me mid sentence in an attempt to hang up on me... But that's beside the point).

So, blog babes, I am starting a new week resolution, and feel free to join me.. Here are my goals for the remainder of 2011:

1) A friend had as her Facebook status this week, "If Jesus is not the Lord of your day, He will never be the Lord of you life." Wow. I jotted it down and have been thinking about it ever since. If he's not #1, WHAT am I doing? Time to prioritize.

2) Keep a freakishly clean room. It helps my outlook on life so much.

3) Wear fake eyelashes only on very special occasions.

4) Write snail mail.

5) Get back in touch.

6) Love better.

7) Pray for people who need prayers.

8) Volunteer.

9) Read.

10) Mentally prepare to turn 26 on December 16 so I don't spend the entire day crying like I did last year.

Just Another Manic Thursday...

2011-10-20T13:36:00.005-04:00

It's time for a mindless post.

..Because I am completely brain dead today for some reason.

So, Little Lady and I went to the playground this morning, where I proceeded to freeze my ass off... It's about 50 degrees here in DC, with about 35 mph winds. Granted, I should not be complaining because this is only the start of it. I just wish I had brought a more appropriate coat, like my oversized Michael Kors puffer that I still haven't worn yet because I bought it on clearance on BlueFly.com this past April. Sigh. Anyway, I cut our playground trip a bit short, and waddled her over to Starbucks, for a much-needed Skim Salted Carmel Mocha. Yummm. In an attempt to keep her quiet for a bit longer, I got her a kid's milk... Admit it. This is pretty darn cute. The cup on the right is mine, which was only a Tall (I figured I should probs save like, three calories or something), and then the cup on the left is Little Lady's... Ahmygosh, sooo cute.

I have some old friends coming to town this weekend. I. Am. SO. Excited.

For as much as I complain about tourists, I do have to admit that I absolutely love pretending to be one every so often.

Yup, I told you this would be mindless...

I blame my lack of sleep, which coincides with lack of self-discipline... I really like reading my books at nighttime.. Is that so bad? Plus, this is what I've been waking up to these past few mornings:

When someone is all cozy like that, c'mon... Who wants to get out of bed? Not me.

Happy Thursday!!! Stay tuned for a guest blogger in the next couple days. This old friend of mine is an economist, and my go-to person when I have questions about complicated things... Get excited.

Occupy Hollywood

2011-10-14T06:24:00.005-04:00

I am both under the weather and extremely sleep-deprived. Please excuse any type-os. I am confident they will be abundant in this post.

As we all know, Occupy Wall Street has swept across the nation. I was in DC last weekend and saw protesters "Occupying DC" with the now infamous Occupy Wall Street flag protesting.. Well.. Do any of them, let alone us, know what they're protesting?

So, pretty much they're mad at successful people. They think they are unfairly taxed and big corporations aren't taxed enough.. That's darling. Although not owners of large corporations, I know several small business owners, who I would be willing to bet these protesters would consider to be the allusive, hateful wealthy. When things like minimum wage are increased, or their taxes are increased, do the owners take a pay cut themselves? No... Nor should they. They invested money and time in starting their businesses and they deserve to take home as much profit as they earn. Who suffers from tax hikes and government mandated pay increases? The employees. Many business owners cut back the employees who are paid higher to pay the required minimum wage to minimum wage earners... Or just eliminate positions altogether. There is only so much money that can go in to pay roll.. It's just a fact.

This is going to sound like it's off topic, but keep reading, blog babes.. I'll bring this all full circle.

I was watching Kim Kardashian's Fairy Tale Wedding on E! this week. So, the Kardashians made their fortune off of people filming their every day lives for their show Keeping up with the Kardashians. They now get paid upward of $100K to sit in front of a camera for a few hours for promotions and have launched perfume, nail polish and lingerie lines. OK, so they're millionaires many times over. Part of me says good for them... But then another part of me starts to get annoyed that no one seems to be annoyed by this. Kim Kardashian had THREE custom Vera Wang wedding gowns ($25,000+ each) ; she gave each of her bridesmaids a Judith Lieber crystal clutch (super cute, but a non-custom made JL Clutch is $3,000+... Now imagine how much a custom made one would cost?!), AND her engagement ring is 20.5 carats total, and is valued at $2 million. People on Wall Street have invested countless hours and dollars in to their educations. They work long hours, are up often at the crack of dawn for stocks to open in London, and pay a very high cost of living in New York City. The Kardashians, and many other celebrities for that matter, get paid just as much (if not more) than these hard working Wall Street-ers.

Now, if we want to get annoyed at rich people, how about an Occupy Hollywood? Unlike people in finance, celebrities don't really work that hard.

Oh, wait. We can't do that because our idol celebrities are liberal, and we have to listen to everything they say because we agree with them. What a joke. Y'all want to get ticked off? Get ticked off at someone who deserves to be ticked off at.

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

2011-10-13T11:32:00.004-04:00

So, people have recently been giving me crap for the fact that I quite literally only wear boots when the outside temperature is at 60 degrees or below. I find them flattering and cute and fall-ish. Sigh.

But, one drawback to my boot collection is that they're all flats... I always am dwarfed by my friends even when they're not wearing heels... But this got me thinking. Am I short or are all of my friends tall? Sooo, like any good millenial child, I Googled it, and this is what I found.

Your height is below the average height for White/European females. The average height for White/European women is 163.7 centimeters and your height is 162.56 centimeters which is 1.14 centimeters less than the average height.

OK, so I'm slightly below average... And my friends are tall. I can deal with that.

So on my fall shopping list is def high heeled boots.. But I also read that thigh-high boots help elongate... But I'm not sure how I feel about them. Here is where you come in, blog babes. I need your input. Are thigh high boots trashy or cute?

Thigh High Boots: Take this survey! Are thigh high boots... Would you wear thigh high boots?

Your input is appreciated. Thanks!!!

40 Days for Life

2011-10-06T14:26:00.001-04:00

One of my good friends from home Tweeted this yesterday:

One of the abortion ladies was begging a girl to not enter planned parenthood. I lol'd

OK. So, initially irked by his reaction (and the fact that he knew damn well I would say something), I replied, "It's 40 Days for Life. You'll see a lot of that for the next month or so." We then went on to talk about the Pro Lifers' different approaches to the cause... As well as their homogenous demographic.

Although a self-proclaimed holy roller weirdo, I do have plenty of friends who do not practice their faith, and are very much a part of the secular world. I know their thought process. People (often myself included) are shallow, vain, judgemental, and are obsessed with what others think.

Many of the girls who rush to "terminate their pregnancies" are in the secular world as well. Are there some God-fearing ladies who think they have no other choice rushing to the abortion clinics as well? Sure. But, I would venture to say that most of these girls are very much a part of the allusive "world," thus perhaps having a bit of a shallow viewpoint on life in general.

Stay with me here.

Most of the people who "sidewalk counsel" (people who talk women out of getting abortions; not to be confused with street walkers), or pray outside the abortion clinics are middle-aged women who have kind of given up on the whole appearance thing. OK, forget it. I'm not sugar-coating. Most of the women are frumpy, have stringy hair, wear non-flattering prairie skirts and are, frankly, kind of weird. Then there is the occasional grandpa in a Knights of Columbus baseball hat, holding a sign that says, "Abortion Hurts Women".... And of course the plethora of priests and religious, clutching their rosaries. ALL OF THESE PEOPLES' PRESENCE IS IMPORTANT. However, for your average "I'm too cool for you" teenager/young adult girl who is pregnant, hormonal, and scared, these are the last people they will listen to. So here is my challenge. If you are young, hot, and Pro-Life, get out there and pray outside the abortion clinic. The shallow teenagers/young ladies are much more likely to listen to you than they are some frumpy librarian-looking lady. Am I wrong?

I saw a bumper sticker today that said, "Evil Exists Because of Good Peoples' Lack of Action." If you believe what you believe, do something about it.

Happy St. Francis Day!!!

2011-10-04T07:00:00.005-04:00

God bless melatonin. Seriously.

I had a great day yesterday, but me being in a freakishly good mood often equates to high adrenaline, which often equates to difficulty sleeping. But, rest assured, I popped one of those babies and am in a great mood once again.

Last night I went to the Transitus of St. Francis, a ceremony to commemorate St. Francis' transition from life on earth to life in Heaven. I look forward to it every year, and have attended one pretty much every year since I was 17.

People often find it surprising that, I, a fairly high-maintenance conservative who has a deep appreciation for all things couture, would have such a devotion to St. Francis, who was devoted to humility and poverty (and whose modern day followers are often painfully liberal). I honestly can't articulate it. I happened to go to both a Franciscan high school as well as college, and somewhere along the lines, I've picked him up as my patron.

I love his biography. I'll do my best to paraphrase here. Soooo, pretty much, Francis was the son of a wealthy fabric merchant in Assisi, Italy, which is in the (gorgeous) region of Umbria. Scholars have debated over whether or not he was a rebellious teenager, but there is reason to believe that he stumbled off the straight and narrow at some point. So his big conversion happened while he was near a little church that had fallen in to ruin. He heard the voice of the Lord say, "Rebuild my church," and Francis took that instruction literally, and rebuilt that very church (side note: that little church is still standing in Assisi, Italy, and has been replicated many times. My college has one of the replicas :)). Then happens all kinds of crazy stories including, but not limited to, Francis giving away his very expensive knight-style armor to an actual warrior (since Francis felt unworthy to wear it when this guy was lacking); Francis stripping down to his bare nothings and walking out of the town... You get the idea... He was an extremist. So, then he leaves the city, lives on nothing, and very quickly people start to see the appeal of his lifestyle, join him, and thus begins the Franciscan orders, which live on today.

There are three orders of Franciscans: First, Second and Third. The First order was founded for the actual friars, and are now called the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), and the OFM Capuchins. The OFMs ran my high school. The Second Order was founded for St. Francis' friend, St. Clare, and are called the Poor Clares. There was a group of these ladies near where I used to teach. I loved attending Mass at their convent. They're cloistered, which means they seldom leave their home, but they spend several hours a day praying for the world's intentions. Pretty cool. Finally, the Third Order was originally founded for those who lived a secular life, those who are married, etc. But, religious orders jumped on the bandwagon as well, and today there are, gosh, more third order Franciscan orders than I could ever possibly attempt to list here.. Not that I would be able to anyway. Third Order Franciscan Friars--TORs, which stands for Third Order Regular, ran my college.

I had the opportunity to visit Assisi five years ago, and I am dying to get back. I have never felt more of a sense of peace than when I was there. The terrain is beautiful, and the little hilltop town is quiet and quaint... Plus Umbrian wine is a-mazing... But that's beside the point.

Happy Feast of St. Francis! May his intercession mean as much to you as it has for me!

Sip N' See

2011-09-30T07:04:00.006-04:00

So, I made a resolution that I feel the need to share. I am overcommitted, and need to cut back in areas of my life. I have made it my personal goal to blog two times a week. If I happen to blog more than that, great. But, for now my goal is to write only twice a week... And I will not beat myself up for cutting back :).

In other news, I threw a Sip N' See for a good friend of mine last weekend. What is a Sip N' See, you ask? After a mama has a baby, her girlfriends come together to see the baby and sip tea (or in our case, apple cider... Non-spiked... It was a Sunday afternoon)

I wanted to incorporate a fall theme, but also wanted to make it verryyyy gender specific, since Liz didn't find out the gender of the baby ahead of time (and I would be lying if I said that didn't drive me certifiably insane). So I decided to do pink pumpkins--Liz's Little Pumpkin. Sooo I pretty much started from scratch, and this is what I came up with.

To drink: Apple cider.. Boring, yes... So I added apple slices and caramels to rim the glasses. It added to the cute factor.

What party is complete without cupcakes? I made chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting, as well as pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting... And the "cupcake stand," which I use to hang jewelry on on a day-to-day basis, was found at Home Goods.... Ask me how much I love that place... Oh, and I made the cupcake toppers on my computer :). Fun fact, there aren't any pink pumpkin graphics out there... So I made one. It turned out OK, wouldn't you say?

The main course table. I served apple chicken BBQ, coleslaw and potato salad (which a guest offered to bring, bless her).

And, since I was particularly feeling motivated the night before, I made these sparkle pumpkins.. Seriously, every special occasion deserves a little glitter.

Party favors: Mini pumpkin loaves with a cute picture of the guest of honor that said, "Thank you for welcoming Liz's Little Pumpkin."

It was a good time had by all, even the guest of honor, who spent a good amount of the time sleeping.

Welcome to our world, little Clara! We love you!

Sunset Hills Vineyard

2011-09-27T13:36:00.020-04:00

Impulsive winery trips are sometimes the best.

Have I mentioned how much I looove Virginia wineries?

I think I might have.... ;)

Although it sounds like a retirement facility, Sunset Hills Vineyard in Loudon County, VA has been named Virginia's favorite winery for 2011... And HOW was this my first visit, you ask? I don't know either.

The atmosphere is gorgeous--the tasting room is an 1870 barn that was completely refurbished by the Amish... And we all know how much I love the Amish. One of the guys who work there took us downstairs for the grand tour. A private "chandelier room" is perfect for small events. While we were there, a wedding was being set up, AND there was live music in the "historic stone pavilion." Did you know that pavilions could be historic? Because I didn't.

The wine was terrific as well. Although I'm not usually a fan of steel chardonnays, theirs was light with just enough flavor.

Anyway, check it out. You won't be sorry... And take a load of these pics. Sigh. Gorgeous!!

Fridayssss

2011-09-23T13:17:00.004-04:00

I love Fridays.

Despite the fact that it was abnormally difficult to get out of bed this morning, I am in a wonderful mood. Yesterday didn't go so well.. Today is exactly the opposite. It's raining, but I've been productive, and the little lady went right down for her nap without any fussing. Here's hoping she stays sleeping for a decent amount of time :).

This weekend I am hosting a Sip N' See for one of my good friends. What is a Sip N' See? Well, traditionally, it is a tea hosted by a new mama's family or friends for people to meet the new baby. I am, of course, taking a bit of a new spin on it.. And everything is turning out quite perfect. I can't wait to share details!

On a less light note, I heard an EXCELLENT point on Patriot XM this morning. I was listening to hear recaps from last night's debate. The point posed was: We have bitched and moaned about Obama's lack of executive experience, while cheering on Hermann Cain who has quite literally ZERO political experience.. It was a good point... And it's gotten me thinking... I do like Cain. He's a smart guy, but I'd like to see him in as a governor or senator before he runs for president... And I still really like Perry. What is it about Texas men?

In other news, my sister has opened an Etsy shop, and here is my favorite item: Brooke's BOO Letters. She's making me a set right now and I can't wait to get them! Seriously--how cute would these be on a mantle or on an accent wall?

OK, so there really isn't a point to this post.. You'll just have to deal with that. I am very not focused on life in general right now (weekend? Is that you?)...

To conclude, I wll share one thing that is very much on my mind right now--what I had for lunch. I am indebted to my friend Liz for sharing this life changing recipe, via Pioneer Woman. It's Avocado Egg Salad, and I may or may not have already pretty much screamed it's excellence from the rooftop. Try it. The only modification I added was a dash of paprika.. And of course, I used fresh ground black pepper.

Oh my gosh. No, you don't understand. This is the best thing ever made. Seriously.

Happy weekend to youuuu!!!

Football Food

2011-09-21T11:36:00.008-04:00

I may be the type of person to curl my hair and never be seen without makeup; I enjoy shopping, The Rachel Zoe Project, Real Housewives, fine wines, designer purses, and accessorizing. However, in the fall months, the one thing that is more appealing than outlet shopping and wine tasting is none other than college football.

I grew up as an Ohio State fan, but since I am now doing my Master's through UVA, I must admit that my allegiance has somewhat switched... Plus, OSU was more than slightly tacky with their lack of ethics from last season... Not that I'm not still a fan. I am. It's just more appropriate to be more of a 'Hoos fan...

Not that UVA is any good, at least in football.. They won lacrosse this year, though! That's apparently a big deal in Mid Atlantic States.

ANYWAY I enjoy college football. A lot.

Since Charlottesville is a few hours away, most of the games are enjoyed on my couch.. And obviously, one simply cannot watch football without sufficient sustenance.

I seemingly always make the same thing.. But, like my mama always says, "If it's not broken, don't fix it."

Brittany's Awesome Football Food Menu
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- "Spanakopitas" (my own version)
- Mac and Cheese
- Monster Cookies (with team colored M&Ms if possible)

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

8ish oz cooked chicken (boiled or grilled), diced (ignore the Swanson ad above.. I just can't do chicken in a can. It sounds repulsive)

2 [8 ounce]packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup Blue Cheese dressing
3/4 cup red hot sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients; pop in oven heated to 350; bake until cheddar cheese is fully melted. Serve with tortilla chips and celery sticks.

Brittany-kopitas

1 package of Tastefully Simple Spinach Artichoke Dip, Prepared
8 sheets phyllo dough
EVOO

Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough in prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with olive oil, and repeat process with two more sheets of phyllo. The sheets will overlap the pan. Spread spin dip mixture into pan and fold overhanging dough over filling. Brush with oil, then layer remaining 4 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with oil. Tuck overhanging dough into pan to seal filling.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve while hot.

Paula Deen's Creamy Mac and Cheese (the best recipe I've ever found... And go figure--it makes you gain weight from just reading the recipe...

Ingredients
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (an 8-ounce box isn't quite 2 cups)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stuck) butter, cut into pieces
2 1/2 cups (about 10 ounces) grated sharp Cheddar cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Boil the macaroni in a 2 quart saucepan in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the eggs, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper and stir well. Then add drained macaroni and stir again. Set the slow cooker on low setting and cook for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Monster Cookies-- I've blogged about these before.. They are my favorite.

I have yet to have a Paula Dean recipe that I'm not in love with... And with the amount of butter she uses in just about everything, that should certainly be the case. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Paula Dean's Monster Cookies. If you are looking for a terrific and simple show-stopper, these babies are it. I always use seasonally appropriate M&Ms, which adds to the cuteness factor. I also skip the optional raisins. There are already plently of flavors to go around. Enjoy!

Ingredients
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 12-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup Orange and Navy M&Ms (go 'Hoos)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup raisins, optional
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate candies, chocolate chips, raisins, if using, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in large resealable plastic bags.

These recipes will ensure friendships to last a lifetime. Seriously--who wouldn't want to be friends that make food like this? Seeriously.

Go 'Hoos!!!

Bonnets, Buggies, and Oatmeal Pie

2011-09-20T11:24:00.010-04:00

I am just finishing a book my roommate let me borrow, called Mennonite in a Little Black Dress (A Memoir of Going Home) by Rhonda Janzen. This humorous true story about a Mennonite who chose a much more secular approach to life, which later bit her in the ass, is a beyond sweet story about finding one's own roots.

Growing up in Northern Ohio was a certainly unique experience. One might think that living in the Midwest meant for stereotypical Americana 24/7. I would tell them to think again. During my childhood/teen years, I travelled only 4 hours and was in a separate country, which I visited quite frequently, especially once I turned 19... Yes, I am referring to Canada, where one can legally drink 2 years earlier than in the States... I also experienced the many cultures within Cleveland--Little Italy, the Maronite Catholic Church (including my BFF's debutante, where I learned the Lebanese Debke dance), the Greek Festivals, blah blah blah... But, among my favorite subculture/counterculture was that of the Mennonites and Amish.

I always assumed that, since I knew so much about them, that I could describe the difference between Mennonites and Amish. I learned this past weekend that I cannot... Because, well, even though there are differences, there are also many differents sects--Ordnungs-- of both. There are some Amish that are in fact more liberal than some Mennonites, even though the general rule is the opposite. There are also Amish Mennonites, which I just learned of such a thing this past weekend.

I was always quite fascinated with the Amish, who would often be sighted even in my hometown--they could ride in cars so long as they don't themselves drive them. My mother always told me to stay away from the Amish because "they didn't get their shots." Yes, they are pacifists who also don't believe in modern medicine for the most part, but the fact that they didn't get shots made me very envious of them.

Until I learned that they don't get to watch Nickelodeon.

They also don't vote, use zippers, paint their nails, wear makeup, curl their hair, collect Social Security, pay taxes or use plows--when farming is their life.

I went on a trip down memory lane this past weekend, which lead me straight to Holmes County Ohio, aka Amish country.. OK, so not so straight. For anyone who's wondering, Mercedes Benz's GPS systems are idiots. We ended up quite literally in the middle of nowhere before I got us un-lost.

Our first stop was Heini's Cheese Chalet... It is not our typical place, however, we were stuck in the car for so long that any place with a powder room was a welcome stop. It was there that my mom struck up a conversation with a lady about a brie recipe. This conversation must have impacted her so much that we overheard her relaying it to one of her friends while we were in the parking lot.

Next up was Der Dutchmann Restaurant, which may or may not have caused me to gain several pounds. Hel-lo gym... I make no exaggerations when I say that the food there is incredible. My mom and I even concluded the meal with a trip next door to their bakery, where we bought (and later devoured) an oatmeal pie.

... and then we shopped, talked to Amish, and took a leisurely trip back to Cleveland.

OK, so Rhonda in Mennonite in a Little Black Dress might not have ever visited Holmes Country, Ohio.. In fact, I quite doubt it. But, rest assured, it's still thriving, one carbohydrate and fatty cheese at a time.

Ugly Cookies

2011-09-15T13:41:00.015-04:00

Every so often a conceited baker needs a little humility in her life. That happened to me last night.

I am going to let you in to a little secret. As if my last post didn't entirely make you think that I'm a Type A freak, allow me to confirm any suspicions with today's post. I have a little ritual that happens just about every day when I get home from work, particularly after a bad day. I will not give you every detail, but know that part of it includes JoJo's (Trader Joe's knockoff Oreos) dipped in peanut butter. Well, I, for some reason, begrudged myself an afternoon caffeine fix yesterday, and left work absolutely exhausted. Jojos and Peanut Butter were more than necessary. WELL, as I was standing in the kitchen (oh, another thing is that I typically stand while I'm eating. I read somewhere years ago that it helps burn calories faster and it's just become a habit), eating said concoction, I had a Moses/Burning Bush moment... OK, not quite... But I was feeling very inspired... If peanut butter and Jojo's/Oreos/another knockoff were SO good, why can I not make an elaborate cookie out of them?

So I did.

I immediately got out my mixing bowls went to town, and made peanut butter cookie dough (thank you, SimplyRecipes.com):

Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Beat the butter until creamy, 2 minutes. Add the sugars, beat for 2 more minutes. Mix in the peanut butter and egg. Mix together the dry ingredients - flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar butter mixture.

I wrapped a bit of cookie dough around each Jojo/Oreoo/another knockoff

..Popped them in the oven...

....And ohhhh SHIT! A few minutes later, I smelled burning... Thinking there was no possible way the cookies could ever be burnt already, I flung open the oven door, was greeted with a face full of smoke, and there they were... My ugly cookies.

Don't they look like gross biscuits from KFC?

So, apparently my 20/15 vision isn't 20/15 anymore because I set the oven to 500 degrees rather than 350. Um, or, more likely, just assumed that it was set to 350 when it wasn't... If I was feeling especially crabby, I would have blamed my roommates, but I'm not today, so I won't.

The good news is that few of them were actually THAT burnt, and I was able to take them to my meeting last night.

And, rest assured, dear readers, they are gorgeous on the inside

(Don't you love my nail polish? :-)

I am not the type of person to burn cookies. It just doesn't happen to me.

This was all a very humbling experience. Fortunately my fellow alumni association members devoured them... This at least gave my cookies a redeeming quality.

The Ferocious Creatures of NW DC

2011-09-14T12:17:00.005-04:00

Perhaps one of the most traumatic things of my entire life happened at the playground yesterday.

Background information. I am a clean freak/germaphobe. Working as a nanny has made me absolutely no better at overcoming this, which some people have attributed to a minor form of OCD.. No matter the case, if I so much as come near a Metro station, change a diaper, or am forced to touch a door handle, I cannot think straight until I can wash my hands. I have been known to dry heave during diaper changes, and admittingly wash my hands like a doctor scrubbing in to surgery. Other people may see this as a problem. I see this as a way of life that prevents a copious amount of head colds.

At the playground yesterday, in typical 2-year-old fashion, the little lady I nanny for was covered head to toe in sand, with her hand lodged in her mouth, trotting around the playground obliviously. I glanced up from my book to see her running toward a black squirrel, who was eating Chex Mix, screaming, "Hi! Hi" (we had a discussion about going up to strange animals, so this was all my doing. So long as she waves and says "hi" from a safe distance, dogs will not bite, cats will not claw, and the world is a happy place... Unbeknownst to me, however, "safe distance" is subjective). By the time I had sprinted over there, the squirrel was more than a little annoyed at her interruption of his bootlegged snack. I snatched her up, and within milliseconds, the squirrel had pounced on my foot like a frog. As quickly as it was on my foot it was off, but I certainly made an embarrassing show for all of the neighborhood kids to see. A toddler on my hip and a black squirrel on my foot, I was screaming to the point that I'm surprised no one called 911.

And now I need therapy.

I quickly ran back to my spot on the bench, poured about a gallon of hand sanitizer on my foot, and resumed my day as normal.. Or as normal as it could possibly be after an experience like that.

If this animal looks at all cute, with its bushy tail and big brown eyes, think again. It a ferocious creature, looking to do great harm... Or, as Carrie Bradshaw says, "A squirrel is just a rat in a cuter outfit."

Looks I'm Loving

2011-09-13T14:22:00.000-04:00

Dresses are my favorite article of clothing, but for some reason I have been really bad at shopping for them lately.

This must soon be remedied.

InStyle and Lucky both made a similiar statement for fall: Do NOT be afraid of color. This is advice that I vow to take very, very seriously this season.

Below please find looks from H&M, Kate Spade and J. Crew... Happy fall shopping! How much do you LOVE the pink colored tights? I'm totally doing this...

Pro Choice in Fashion :(

2011-09-12T06:59:00.002-04:00

OK, if I have already written about this, I apoligize for being redundant... I know i Tweeted about it...

Anyway.

I was reading Lucky magazine recently when this advertisement caught my eye:

Hmmm... So I went to the website: Where Do You Stand? and sure as hell, the reference to handbags was in fact meant to have a double meaning...

My response to that?

If she didn't want to carry it, she shouldn't have gone shopping... er, had sex... Double meaning... You get it hopefully.

So, I just checked the website to see how the conversation is going. The question presented was: "Should abortion remain legal to keep it regulated and safe?" (peanut gallery: what an effing joke) It is encouraging to know that people are speaking up! A few examples:

"It shouldn't be legal, it shouldn't be happening. What makes me sick is not only the thought of someone ending an innocent life legally, but the push for making U.S. citizens to pay for it." -Joshua

"What, gives that woman the right to take the, most basic right, the right to life away from that child? If that woman is raped, is she legally allowed to kill the man to raped her? Because he reminds her of terrible things she went through ? If she's not allowed to kill the man who raped her because he reminds her of terrible things, then why is she allowed to kill the baby because the baby reminds her of terrible things?" -Chris

"This question is not valid. Not even addressing the actual issue of abortion (which should NOT be legal)... Implying that keeping it legal makes it safe and regulated, is not true! How many times do we hear of someone performing a botched abortion or aborting a CHILD that is past the legal age?" -Holly

"Mr. Cole, women deserve better than abortion! Your ad is really old-school misguided, misogynist feminism. Real men support women and their babies. I hope your ads open this topic up for honest discussion!" -Wynette

Well said, ladies and gentlemen..

Ughhhh SOOOO frustratinggggg that Kenneth Cole did this!!! I know most, if not all, fashion designers and celebrities are super liberal, however they don't take stances like this. My gosh, for the longest time my dad wouldn't even tell his close friends who he voted for because he was afraid of losing business.. Even though he is not anywhere near as public as Kenneth Cole, the day that he openly posts something so controversial is the day pigs fly. NOT OKAY, KENNETH COLE!

Good thing I always thought your stuff was cheap looking...

What to do, Cannoli, what to do?

Remembering

2011-09-10T09:47:00.006-04:00

Photo Credit: wikipedia.com

We all remember where we were when we heard that day... I was at study hall in the school cafeteria at Padua Franciscan High School, trying to focus on my homework when I saw the lunch ladies run out of the kitchen to watch what was happening on TV. I can remember not fully understanding at the time the magnitude of what was happening, but I do remember Peter Jennings' words.

"For those of you just joining us, we have been attacked."

"This is the biggest attack on U.S. soil since Pearl Harbor in 1941."

"The Pentagon in Washington, DC has been struck."

"We're talking about massive casualties at this moment."

"The southern tower at 10:00 Eastern TIme collapsed on itself."

... I just looked up the old footage and am currently bawling.

I can't believe it's been ten years.

I understand the magnitude now.

May we never forget what happened that day... May we never allow anyone to forget what happened that day.

Let freedom ring.

The Freedom Tower (I took this picture last weekend when I was in NYC)

Feeling Corny

2011-09-09T13:47:00.012-04:00

My name is Brittany and I am a Halloween addict.

Here is where you say, "Hi, Brittany."

OK, well I should clarify. I am a holiday addict. The only thing I love more than Halloween is Christmas... I am obnoxious when it comes to holidays. I actually drives me quite crazy that there aren't many holidays in the spring and summer worth decorating for. I do decorate for Easter, and 4th of July... But it's just not the same...

Starbucks releasing their Pumpkin Spice Latte, which Twitter was buzzing about on Tuesday, got me all inspired to start searching for cute ideas for Halloween, and all of fall, for that matter... Thank you, Pinterest, for giving me a place to put them all... This is getting to be a problem... addictionnnn...

I love candy corn. Last year I got a huge glass pumpkin and filled it with candy corn for decoration... Within 24 hours, all of the candy corn was consumed by myself, my roommates and the many males who have taken up unofficial residence on our couch... I don't know what it is about candy corn. Just seeing it in stores makes me happy... It's a happy candy, wouldn't you agree?

I saw this in Root Candle Company in Medina, OH about a month ago... It got me all inspired.. Sigh... I can't wait until it's socially acceptable to start decorating...

First of all, there is no way in high heaven that I would ever muster the patience to make this... I love cheesecake, but it is one thing I would rather buy than make... I know, I know, I'm SUCH a sellout... CLICK HERE for the recipe/instructions.

Candy Corn Cookies... Again, so damn cute.

I am SO doing this to my pumpkins this year!! Ahhh!! ADORABLE!!!

Um, yeah... SO making this. It would look cute in doorways!

My mom loves "ghosties," and decorates almost solely with cutesy-looking ghosts, complete with smiles and orange bowties... Not kidding... I feel like a lot of people pick themes for the decor... Care to share yours?

Rain, Rain, Rain and Margaritas

2011-09-09T11:49:00.004-04:00

Oops. So my last post was ended a bit abruptly. That is because I was Skype-ing with one of my besties in Texas.

ANYWAY, it is raining here in DC, and has been all week. The flooding got so bad in some areas that schools were closed... Washingtonians are funny when it comes to natural disasters. The "hurricane" that "stuck" a few weeks ago merited completely packed grocery store parking lots and copious amounts of sand bag distribution. When the "hurricane" did in fact strike, few things resulted--very little power loss, some wind here and there, and lots of rain for about 12 hours. Irene was quite the tease... When it snows, you would think people were preparing for the end of the world. Coming from Northern Ohio, to say that this whole mentality is humorous would be an understatement. In order for schools to be cancelled in Ohio, it needs to snow about three feet from 6 AM to 7 AM. No matter how much snow falls over night, if it is gradual, and the plethora of snow plows can keep up with it, school is on.

In other news, I went to an event this past week at Neiman Marcus hosted by the Junior League of Washington. It was fabulous, called Margaritas and Makeovers. I got sooo many samples. I'm in love. Well, the margaritas they were serving I am officially obsessed with. They're called Sinless Margaritas and they are seriously a-mazing! Your average normally-made margarita has about 300 calories in it.. Yeah.. Not kidding. These babies are only 5 calories (plus the tequilia, which probably would bring the total up to about 100... But still better than 300, though, right?). Oh, and they're made with all natural ingredients and is sweetened with the stevia lead... I don't eat/drink fake sugars like Splenda, NutraSweet or Sweet n' Low.. I read Skinny Bitch and it totally scared me out of ever consuming them again.. Anyway, I loooove margaritas and have the unfortunate habit of pounding them, especially when there is Mexican food involved. Yum. Well, this takes the guilt out at least slightly.

Alright, all for now. Order the margarita mix. It will change your life.

NYC, H&M, OMgggg

2011-09-08T19:57:00.006-04:00

For some exrremely annoying reason, the Internet at the house I work at haaaates anything from Google--i.e. Blogger. Although a lame excuse, that is one of the many reasons it has taken me eons to update this. My sincerest of apoligizies. Be prepared for a posting overload.. I promise to make up for lost time.

Another reason is that I have a whole new addiction to take up the little lady’s naptime/my free time every day and that is a lovely site called Pinterest. I have been known to be an idea hoarder. Even though I am fully aware of the fact that I will never use probably 90+ percent of the ideas, it brings me great comfort knowing that there are ideas for my future entertaining and holiday decorating endeavors. Pinterest is fabulous--all you do is click “Pin It” in your bookmarks, and it makes a virtual bulletin board of all of your blog post loves.

I got back from New York City Sunday afternoon and am still recovering from the extreme amount of energy that city requires. Sigh. It felt like we did everything... And, seeing as we were really only there for about 40 hours total, we did do an awful lot, including, but not limited to:

- Mani/Pedis
- NY Style Pizza
- NY Style Bagels
- Mass (at St. Monica’s on 79th between York and 1st--gorgeous!)
- Walking the Brooklyn Bridge
- Ground Zero
- Battery Park
- The Strand Bookstore
- Chinatown
- Little Italy
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Rockafellar Center
- NBC Studios
- Starlight Diner
- Dinner at Dos Caminos in Midtown
- Drinks at McSorleys
- Coffee at a hipster coffeehouse (The Mud Room) in the East Village

Phew! It was a great trip, but I’m glad to be back.

In other news, I had every intention of doing some clothes shopping in NYC, but, as you can read above, barely had time for sleep, let alone shopping. So, when i got back to DC yesterday, I got cleaned up, threw a load of laundry in (not that you need a whole play-by-play... You love it, admit it), and went to Tyson’s Corner to swoop up the remnants of the Labor Day Sales...

And I am SO GLAD I did.

If you have not yet checked out the H&M Fall line, drop what you are doing, and take a gander. I am in lust... Plus, I am like, waaay in to quality and H&M’s quality is comparable to many, much pricier stores. Love love looove. I’m wearing the brown leggings I bought there right now, as a matter of fact..

I also hit up good ol’ Bath and Body works. Labor Day to me means that it is time to retire the tropically-smelling candles and Wallflowers for something warm and cozy.

Pour Me Something Tall and Strong...

2011-08-23T11:56:00.004-04:00

Reading my Twitter feed this morning, I notice that people are in quite the tizzy over the impending Hurricane Irene.

First of all, I would LOVE to know how they choose the names of hurricanes... Even though I have not experienced one firsthand (and don't ever intend to), in the past decade I have found that most of the destructive hurricanes happen to have innocent-sounding names... If a woman named Katrina walked up to you on the street, would you be frightened? Me either. Or how about Rita? That was my first grade teacher's name... How about Ivan? He sounds like the kid in school who had no friends.... Wilma? The only Wilma I ever knew was a newscaster back in Cleveland. How about Felix? That's a cat's name...

Hurricane Names I would be Afraid Of:
- Hurricane Butch
- Hurricane Cruella
- Hurricane Beezelbub
- Hurricane Crimson
- Hurricane Darth
- Hurricane Elvira
- Hurricane Fang
- Hurricane Hulk
- Hurricane Lucifer
- Hurricane Sasquatch

Hurricane Irene is on her way, donning her powder blue hair, hearing aid and house dress... Likely walking with a walker...

I don't mean to make light of hurricanes--I know how devastating they can be. I have several friends who lost a ton in Hurricane Katrina, and I have seen much of the devastation firsthand on my trips to New Orleans.

But seriously--I would call for the National Weather Service to start calling hurricanes what they are--mean and scary, not one of my grandmother's girlfriends.

If all else fails, and Irene does happen to be a mean lady, raid the local liquor store and turn a hurricane in to a good thing--a silent killer of a drink.

Cheers, Irene! Hopefully this won't affect your Coumadin...

1 oz white rum
1 oz Jamaican dark rum
1 oz Bacardi® 151 rum
3 oz orange juice
3 ozunsweetened pineapple juice
1/2 oz grenadine syrup
crushed ice

Combine all ingredients, mix well (shake or stir). Pour over crushed ice in hurricane glass. Best enjoyed through a small straw. Garnish with fruit wedge if desired.

Dress Like a Republican!

2011-08-12T14:34:00.007-04:00

A phrase I've heard quite frequently lately has been, "Oh, that outfit is sooo Republican," meaning it's frumpy, ugly, unflattering, prude-ish, whatever. The thing I find so ironic about it is that it is beyond untrue.

I was watching the GOP Debate last week, when Michele Bachmann caught my eye. She is truly a beautiful woman who most certainly knows how to dress... And I wish so much that she had a chance in the primary... Unfortunately the media is beyond brutal to Conservative Women, and I'm less than optimistic about her future as a candidate.

That got me thinking how many gorgeous women are in our party... In fact, I would venture to say that there are more pretty public figure Republican women than Democratic women... Don't get me wrong. I think Michelle Obama is gorgeous, and Jackie O will remain a fashion icon for an eternity (even though her husband was pretty fiscally conservative, but that's irrelevant right now). However, we have Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Mary Fallin, Governor of Oklahoma, Kelly Ayotte, Senator from New Hampshire, and Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona... And I know I'm missing quite a few as well... Whether or not we agree with every single one of these ladies' policies, there is one thing I think most people can agree on. Dressing like a Republican isn't such a bad thing when we have elected officials like this.

Who is to say that these ladies weren't the influence of some of the latest trends? Seriously! Check out InStyle and you will see preppy looks are hot hot hot this fall... And Banana Republic is even doing a MadMen-inspired line.. Were the people of Madmen days liberal? I think not...

Procreation Sustenance

2011-08-09T14:39:00.005-04:00

So apparently procreating is like, really tough... I've heard it all before, and all I can say is that, when all else fails, blaming Eve for eating that damn fruit alleviates the stress of being woman from time-to-time... And since I have not yet had a baby, I know I am only speaking from the minor leagues here.

One of my good friends recently had a baby and has been pretty much sleepless ever since the little lady entered this world. Between nursing, diaper changes, and the inevitable visitors, I'm sure cooking is the last thing on a new mama's mind.

I learned about this from a friend who set it up for the new mama and daddy--MealBaby... If this is old news, please excuse me, but I still think it's pretty darn cool. OK, so how it works is that one person sets up the registry, emails it to all the new mama and daddy's friends, and then friends sign up for a day to bring food over.

One thing I wanted to do was to provide two meals, since I was only technically cooking for two, and most recipes provide for at least four. So, I divvied up the home cookin' in to two separate pans- one for them to eat as soon as I got over there, and another to freeze and eat later.

The menu:
-Chicken Fingers from Trader Joe's... Where else?
- Homemade Mashed Potatoes
- Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Truffle Brownies from Tastefully Simple

I wish I had actually taken the time to measure the Mac and Cheese because it turned out pretty good.. I can tell you the basics... But if the measurements are way off, please forgive me.

- Melt 1/2 stick of butter (or a whole stick if you're feeling adventurous) in about 2 cups of whole milk in a sauce pan over medium heat
- Add every kind of cheese you can find, including but not limited to: Sharp Cheddar, American, Parmesan, Mozzarella, Asiago, Mexican Blend... And stir until the cheese is melted
- Toss over 1 lb cooked penne.

Oh, and another thing I did was line the pans with aluminum foil to avoid much dishwashing... Because no one likes to wash dishes, especially those who just had a babe.

Congrats to all new mamas and daddies!

Tarara Winery

2011-08-09T14:08:00.006-04:00

This past weekend was Tax Free Weekend here in Virginia.. So, of course, I had to completely screw up my overly-strict budget and take advantage of clothes shopping without having to give Uncle Sam a cut. A friend and I actually got up at a decent hour on Sunday morning to travel out to the Leesburg Premium Outlets, about a half hour from where I live. After a few hours of shopping, we grabbed lunch and since we were already out in the country, took advantage of its surroundings and hit up a local winery... Oh, and rest assured, readers.. Winery of the Week will be returning on a somewhat consistent basis soon... It's been way too hot to go "wining" until recently. We're finally experiencing a bit of a cool down--thank God!

Tarara Winery in Leesburg, Virginia is one of the most gorgeous I've been to! I almost felt like I was going camping (and I, for once, mean that in a good way), driving up the windy gravel driveway, following several signs to finally make it to a parking lot. We had to walk up a long wooden walkway before finally making it to the wine tasting room, which looked like it was built in to the side of a mountain. Gorgeous!

The tasting consisted of almost all dry wines, which was fine by me, even though it is sometimes fun to try dessert wines.

My favorites? The Neveah Red, which of course, was the most expensive on the list.. Grrr... I hate when that happens... And, surprisingly, the Rose 2010... I'm usually not a Rose fan, and frequently make fun of my friends who drink White Zin... Not OK... But this Rose was, I learned, prepared French style, giving it a dry oakey taste, almost resembling an oakey chardonnay. The 2009 Charval was the runner-up mainly because of how indescribable it is. Let me just say that it's a white blend that makes for a perfect summer wine.

Matchbox

2011-08-04T07:26:00.005-04:00

Yes, aforementioned, life has been crazy.. Although I certainly cannot complain.

I'm loving life right now. I feel like things are in order, and it all is starting to make sense again. I realize now more than ever how incredibly blessed I am to have the people in my life that I do. Seriously.

And what brings friends together better than food? A loosely-kept tradition of ours has been to go to 7:30 PM Mass, and then grab a drink and/or dinner afterword. This has been completely swept to the wayside until this past weekend, where we all agreed that it needs to happen more often.

Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro is an affordably swanky pizzeria to the nine. The ambiance is fabulous, with gorgeous wooden walls, that almost have an Asian feel... And, seeing as it's in Chinatown, that is more than apropos. Open gas flamed lanterns accentuate even more, giving Matchbox an almost cozy feel.

Their extensive drink menu is most certainly something to write home about. The Watermelon Tease is certainly a girly drink, but its sweetness is both light and summery... And I won't sell out the person who ordered it ;).

And the pizza... Oh, the pizza... We all know how judgemental/picky I am when it comes to restaurant food and service (and, I should note that the table and bar service was fabulous... The host stand was a bit of a different story), but Matchbox certainly did not disappoint. Perhaps one of my favorite features is the fact that even the individual-sized pizzas can be halved--one topping on one half, one on the other. Um, yes please.... Anywhere that I don't have to be completely decisive is a good place by me. My choice? Half "Fire and Smoke," and the other half Chicken Pesto. Although I am a faithful pesto eater, I have to confess that the Fire and Smoke was by far my favorite--straight from the menu: fire roasted red peppers / spanish onions / chipotle pepper tomato sauce / garlic puree / smoked gouda / fresh basil /(very spicy) Now, I wouldn't necessarily call it "very spicy," but it certainly does have a nice enough ass kick that we all need to clear our sinuses every so often. Amazing. Incredible. I highly recommend.

Friends and food, what could be better? When they are amazing friends and great food, well, that is an evening well spent.

Check out Matchbox. You won't be sorry.

Yes I'm Alive

2011-08-03T14:58:00.001-04:00

... But things are insane. I have lots to share with you all so I pinky promise I'll update soon!

XoXo
Britt

In the meantime, if anyone feels the need and/or desire to discuss the picture below, feel free... The only Bravo TV personality I love more than Andy Cohen is Giggy the Pomeranian.

Pearl of Great Price

2011-07-27T07:30:00.006-04:00

Those of us who read the Daily Gospel will be experiencing a bit of deju vu today. Like on Sunday, we read The Pearl of Great Price, except today is shorter than Sunday... It's only two verses...

This has inspired me to re-evaluate pearls of all kinds... Because we mustn't discriminate. They're all beautiful and make any outfit even cuter.

Southern Living recently did an article called The Southern Girls' Guide to Pearls. Even though I am technically an Ohio native, and therefore not a true Southern girl, I would be lying if I said that it is not something I have strived for ever since I moved to Virginia.

There's something about Southern women. Although they sometimes are a bit more busy-body than yankee ladies, they know how to cook, bake, and dress better than those from south of the Mason-Dixon Line... And dressing often includes pearls, both of great price and otherwise...

One of my favorite jewelry designers, Mignon Faget, is from Louisiana... Her stuff is gorgeous, if even a teensy bit overpriced. She does pearls and fleur de lis like no other...

And finally, we mustn't forget about Tiffany's, an American staple... And by far my favorite place to visit on 5th Avenue.

Haha, and now that this entire post has contradicted what today's Gospel has to say, allow me to attempt to redeem this.

The questions being asked in this gospel are:
1) How much of an emphasis do you put on your eternal salvation?
2) Are you willing to give up everything for it? (i.e. your...my.... entire pearl collection)

For as much as I enjoy these earthly things, I must remember that they are temporary... And a little Gospel deja vu is sometimes needed as a reminder.

Merry Christmas in July!

2011-07-25T12:34:00.007-04:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I have an unhealthy Christmas obsession. It can be 90 degrees out... Kind of like how it is right now... and I would be thrilled to stumble upon a cute Christmas store. I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

Well, every July 25 (or the weekend close to it), the Lake Erie Islands head in to a weekend of debauchery for Christmas in July. I unfortunately (sarcasm) was unable to attend this year, but in years past I have always enjoyed going over during the day (far too many wet tee shirt contests in the evenings) to see Put-In-Bay in all of its holiday splendor. The Carousel plays Christmas music, everyone wears a Santa hat, and all of the bars, restaurants and shops have decked the halls with boughs of holly.

Even though I did not celebrate Christmas in July this year, I am happy to remind you all that we only have 5 months to prepare for the birth of Jesus, and we must do so in style.

So, I took it upon myself to gather some of my favorite Christmas ideas, just so you're all prepared well in advance...

This is a recipe I came up with two years ago because my roommates and I were obsessed with the peppermint mocha coffee creamer:

Candy Cane Mocha Cookies (adapted from RealSimple.com's Double Chocolate Chip Cookies)

There are days when you just want something sickeningly sweet. Or, if you're going to a cookie exchange and want something super unique, this is it.

Makes 3 dozen cookies| Hands-On Time: 15m | Total Time: 35m

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tbsp espresso
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white chocolate peppermint chips***
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed. Lower to medium speed and add the egg and vanilla. Sift together the flour, cocoa, espresso, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. On low speed, add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Form the dough into approximately 1 1/2-inch balls. Place on parchment- or foil-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
Bake until the centers are just set, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

***If you don't have theses, melt white chocolate, smash up some peppermints or candy canes, mix them together, spread them out on wax paper until they dry and then break them up in to tiny pieces. Viola! Homemade white chocolate peppermint chips

Admit it: You LOVE these ideas from My Sweet Savannah... I want a sparkley reindeer!

And we mustn't ever forget about everyone's favorite criminal, Martha Stewart:

And I never in my life thought that I would everrr have a desire to host a Christmas cookie exchange. How FUN does this look? Too cute! Check out all the details at The Busy Budgeting Mama.

This article in Better Homes and Gardens got me addicted to Pure Style Home, and I have been a faithful reader ever since. How much do you LOVE her decor?

All for now! I hope this jump starts your Christmas brainstorming! It's never too early to start preparing! Christmas is only 153 days away! Merry Christmas in July!!!

Crave

2011-07-22T12:54:00.005-04:00

Perhaps my greatest weakness is a fresh-baked cupcake. Living in DC, cupcakeries seem to be everywhere... And I can hardly resist them. The only way I am able to stay away is if the line is really long because a certain TLC show made one famous.

Well, Houston boasts Crave Cupcakes, and I am loving the way they do cupcakes. They are seriously amazing! And the atmosphere there is super cute... How much do you LOVE the mixers on the wall? Adorable!

Although I had a chocolate peanut butter cupcake, I would have to say that Lindsay's was even better. Her flavor? Strawberry. Amazing. Incredible. Next time you're in Houston, be sure to check it out.

How much do you LOVE the mixers on the wall?

On our way home, we found a little guy greeting us on the walkway... Maybe he was telling us we need to read the newspaper more often....

Junking

2011-07-22T12:34:00.007-04:00

OK, so as I mentioned before, I did something unique and different during my trip to Houston. Since I had been there oh-so many times, the touristy things were not necessary for this trip.

I went junking.

And I am officially obsessed.

You know the saying "One man's trash is another's treasure?" Well, I have never found it to be more true.

One place I do draw the line, however, is with clothing. I just can't wear used clothes, no matter what designer label it contains. It just grosses me out for the same reason I rarely borrow clothes... But maybe that's just me.

We went to a flea market in Pearland, TX where I bought a gorgeous peacock brooch... And I just remembered that I don't have a picture of it... I will share later... We also went to a bunch of antique shops in Houston... They were near St. Anne's... But I'm not sure what the cross streets were. Anyway, the antique shops were awesomeeee, but waaay out of my price range.

What I learned from this experience: Haggle and carry $5 and $1 dollar bills. It's oh-so worth it.

I've been researching flea markets in Virginia ever since I got back. I think I'm addicted...

What the Pill Means to Me

2011-07-21T13:15:00.005-04:00

OK, so I haven't been getting too too heavy on my postings lately, and that is going to change for today. Rest assured, I will most likely be blabbing about nonsense again tomorrow.

Today, my oh-so favorite "charity" organization (not), Planned Parenthood is hosting a "blog carnival" advocating the use of the birth control pill, through such a funnnn outlet, blogs of every day women like myself.

Except I'm pretty sure that this post isn't what those at Planned Parenthood had in mind.

I believe the Pill is perhaps the most dehumanizing legal commodity in America.

I have been trying to read liberal media publications lately, so that I can better defend my belief. What I have found is that those on the Left tend to think that greater access to The Pill and abortion "services" are the solution to the plethora of teenage and otherwise unwanted pregnancies in lower-income areas. Because clearly those from a lower economic status are animals who are not in control of their sexual desires. Not once do they mention that they teach how to prevent getting pregnant to begin with. It's really quite simple. Pregnancy isn't like cancer, where you can take preventative measures (no smoking, wear sunscreen etc.), but there's no completely sure way to prevent cancer... In many cases of cancer, it's just the luck of the draw. However, I know of one 100% accurate way to prevent pregnancy, and it's very, very simple: Leave your clothes on when you're with someone of the opposite sex.

Furthermore, I know from personal experience with friends how the Pill affects the mental status of a woman. The Pill tricks a woman's body in to thinking it's pregnant, so it will stop ovulating... I say this with love to all of my pregnant friends out there, but spend a few minutes with a woman withchild, and tell me that she's exactly the same woman she was before she conceived. They tend to be sensitive, irritable, and well, weight gain is certainly a factor, whether or not you are gestating. To put it crudely, The Pill makes women fat and bitchy... And no one wants to be fat or bitchy, let alone both.

Oral contraceptives work by three modes of operation:

They suppress ovulation.
They thicken cervical mucous, making it difficult for the sperm to travel through it.
They may cause early abortions since the pill prevents the lining of the uterus from being sufficiently prepared for a newly created child to implant, should ovulation occur.

Citation: www.thepillkills.com
Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., patient package insert: "Ortho Tri-Cyclen/Ortho-Cyclen Tablets (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol)," (Manati, Puerto Rico: Janssen Ortho, LLC, June 2010), (accessed March 21, 2011).
Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., patient package insert: "Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo Tablets," (Raritan, New Jersey: Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., August 2008), (accessed March 21, 2011).
To conclude, I am not going to be all extreme and say that The Pill should be banned by the government. That is most certainly not their job. However, I do not want to be paying for other people to take a medication that is

So, pretty much if you're Pro Life, it's a bit of a dilemma if you're taking The Pill, huh?

I was in the hospital recently, and it was feared that I had developed a blood clot... The very first question the ER doctor asked was what birth control I was on... He was very relieved to hear that I do not take birth control, thus making my risk much lower. I did not have a blood clot, by the way...

Thromboembolism (blood clots): Women who use estrogen-containing birth control pills are at a 3- to 6-fold increased risk of developing blood clots. Blood clots may lead to deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, or stroke. Additional causes of blood clots include advanced age, obesity, family history, recent surgery, and pregnancy. Low-dose (less than 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol) oral contraceptives pose less risk than older, higher-dose formulations. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of blood clots in women using combination contraceptives, particularly for women older than 35 years and those who smoke more than 15 cigarettes per day. (Source: EMedicine.com)

To conclude, I am not saying the Pill should be banned by the government. That's not their job. However, I do not want to be paying for people to be taking it with my tax dollars, nor do I think we need to "increase access." People are capable of controlling themselves, and we should encourage them to live up to their God-given standard... But, I sure think people need to be better informed of its adverse affects.

To quote a good friend of mine, the one and only Gabriel Giella, "I can vouch for [the fact that people need to be better informed of the Pill's side effects]...I work in the ER (of a non-catholic hospital, by the way) and we are constantly getting people in there with various complications from it...blood clots etc...and every single woman looks so utterly shocked when it's mentioned that it could be due to the pill."

What's more shocking to me is that these ladies don't know, and Planned Parenthood is doing nothing to stop it. Enjoy the blog carnival, babes... I hope I screwed a thing or two up by posting this.

On the Edge of Glory Funchiladas... Ahem...

2011-07-20T12:50:00.005-04:00

I'm seriously ready for this heat wave to be over... I walked up to Mass this afternoon, and I feel oh-so very sorry for the people sitting near me... Even more so because the 2-year-old with me was screaming, AND my phone rang (ringtone: Lady Gaga's Edge of Glory... At least it wasn't Judas) during the Prayers of the Faithful.. You know, the ONE silent time where we call to mind our intentions? Yeah. That one moment of silence was interrupted by I'M ON THE EDGE OF GLORY AND I'M HANGING BY A MOMENT OF TRUTH... That's where I was able to reach the ignore button. Thank you, Lord for keeping me humble. Whoopsies...

So, I went to Houston this past weekend, and, as always, it was an absolute blast. I love the culture down there. Sigh. The people there are so sweet, and I miss it already. I'll share more about my trip in my next post.. I went "junking" aka thrifting aka flea marketing, and my trip certainly merits a post. I'm obsessed.

For now I'd like to share a recipe I came up with that I've made twice now and has become a hit.. I made some for 4th of July weekend, and everyone who tried them wanted the recipe... Ladies and gentlemen, meet Brittany's Funchiladas. They're like enchiladas, but way more fun because they're made with a Crock Pot... What isn't fun about a Crock Pot? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Brittany's Funchiladas

Ingredients are bulleted.

- 3 well-endowed boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 8oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 cup of salsa (I prefer hot, non chunky, but it's a matter of preference)
- 1 can of Rotel
** Mix the above ingredients in a Crock Pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours**

Using two forks, shred the chicken and stir until any liquid is absorbed in to the chicken. If needed and/or desired, allow another 30-40 minutes in the Crock Pot on low for the liquid to absorb.

While the shredded chicken is still hot, add
-- 1 8oz block of cream cheese
Stir until blended.

Meanwhile, you will need the following to complete the Funchiladas:
- 15-ish flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 2 cans green enchilada sauce

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray the heck out of a large glass casserole dish (you may need more than one.. In fact, it is highly likely that you will), and pour half of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of the dish.

Heat up each tortilla individually. I just nuke mine for 15 seconds, but you can use a stovetop as well. I think it's stupid to do that, but that's just my humble opinion.

Put a bit of the chicken mixture onto each tortilla, roll up, and crowd into the casserole dish. Cover the funchiladas with cheese and enchilada sauce, bake until the cheese is melted and enjoy.

Warning: you may become addicted, and these are notttt good for you... But they sure do taste good.

Fun Fact for your Tuesday

2011-07-12T12:57:00.004-04:00

I have had absolutely no motivation to write these past few days, and I decided to blame it on the 100 degree weather. There is something to be said for living in the mountains, where humidity seldom reaches. It's hot and sticky here in DC, but it is making me very thankful for air conditioning. I have even found myself praying for the inventor of AC on more than one occasion, thankful that the Lord created him with such a beautiful and considerate mind... And may or may not have Wikipedia'ed him. His name is Willis Haviland Carrier and his 1906 patten for "The Apparatus for Treating Air," known today as Air Conditioning.

Today AC is my saving grace, and the only reason I am posting today, even if this is a verryyy short post.

More soon, I promise. Stay cool... In more ways than one :)

My book worm self and life as a bridesmaid

2011-07-07T23:34:00.005-04:00

I could scream it from the rooftops.

I FINALLY HAVE FOUND A BRIDESMAIDS BOOK THAT I CAN RECOMMEND TO MY INQUISITIVE FRIENDS!!!!!!!

Here it is ladies: (and gentlemen who are clearly going to scroll right on through this post)

The Knot: Bridesmaid Handbook: Help the Bride Shine Without Losing Your Mind by Carley Roney is a no-nonsense simple, truly manners-conscious go-to guide for those asked to have the honor.

I've even learned a few things, as you can see... For example, how to manipulate a bride in to picking out decent bridesmaids dresses (Ang and Heather, don't say I didn't warn you) haha.

In other news, my many long travels have given me one extreme obsession: Audiobooks. I just finished Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen (stupid, mindless, and not worth your time), and am almost finished with Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, which is amazingly common sense, and is simply a third party telling me exactly what my dad has been teaching me for years... I realize not everyone is as fortunate to have a smarty pants Daddy-o like I do, so I must recommend this book for anyone with financial problems, or for anyone looking to be even smarter with the Almighty Dollar. Ramsey's principles are simple, but, as he admits, they are certainly challenging.

My time in Ohio is quickly coming to a close, which is such a bummer. I was so happy to see two of my oldest and best friends, both of whom got engaged in the past few weeks... It's so crazy how quickly life flies by! In honor of the brides-to-be, I will be posting embarrassing tidbits in the months leading up to their respective big days. Get excted.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

2011-07-06T12:13:00.007-04:00

I have said for years that I was born about two generations too late. I love anything old, as I expressed in my Coney Island post... As embarrassing as this is to admit, I actually used to volunteer for our town's historical village during middle school and high school... Yeah, embarrassing.. haha. But don't worry--I was waaaay too cool for a hoop skirt or petticoat.

There is just something so sweet about the simple way of life past. Today it is rare to find a person who is completely content with a book, a hammock and a glass of sweet tea. We need constant stimulation with our electronic gadgets. I may sound like a grandma for saying this, but I am completely convinced that the quality of conversation is diminishing with the millennial generation, perhaps because their typical form of communication consists of texting and instant messaging, rather than any voice-on-voice communication.

Anyway, there are a few places that still cherish the pastimes of the yesteryear, and one of these places is among my favorite to visit in the summer months, Lakeside-The Chautauqua on Lake Erie.

Not too far from my family's lake house is Lakeside, which boasts perhaps the most gorgeous view of Lake Erie in the area. Founded by the United Methodist Church in 1873, the Christian values and serenity are unmistakeable throughout the entire village. You won't find an arcade or Internet cafe in Lakeside; only small (adorable) shops, an old movie theater, shuffleboard, mini golf, ice cream parlors and tiny cafes.

My mom and I were walking around Lakeside yesterday when a large group of middle school-aged kids in matching green shirts came parading down the street singing a tone-deaf version of This Little Light of Mine, lead by a twenty-something guy strumming a guitar. Apparently this is the week of the Methodist Youth Conference... Presh..

Among my favorite places to go in Lakeside is Sloopy's Sports Cafe... Notice how I said cafe and not bar. Alcohol is not allowed in Lakeside, as it is technically against the Methodist religion... Which is interesting because my grandparents are Methodist and never finished a day without a stiff nightcap... And when I say sports cafe, I mean that there are sports memorabilia on the walls... No TVs to watch games. Life is far too simple in Lakeside for things like that.

While at Sloopy's I found this on the wall, along with several other banners representing the many God-fearing colleges and universities across the country:

No matter your preference for summer activities, one must always admit that they need a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and I can think of no better place to find true peace than a place like Lakeside. We all need a break. We all need quiet, and we all need to remember that there were many who came before us.

Listening to the little Methodists sing their rendition of This Little Light of Mine, I felt both old and young at the same time... Entirely too old for youth group days, but entirely too young to fully appreciate that the street I was standing on has been the walking place of several generations before me. As the lake breeze gently rolled by, I remember how to find a nostalgic quiet and peace, if even for a fleeting moment.

2011-07-02T22:29:00.002-04:00

I'm at the lake house, and am absolutely content. It's amazing how relaxing life can be when the water is in view... Sighhhh...

Chances are I won't be posting for a few days, but wanted to send a nice little Happy Birthday to the best country in the world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA!!! Thank you for being the best country in the whole wide world! I love you and am so proud to call you my own!

Coney Island!!!

2011-06-29T11:50:00.007-04:00

I am perhaps, no, certainly the most nostalgic person I know. I love inanimate objects that tell a story. That have a past. That have seen more than I will ever see, even if they have no mouth to tell or no eyes to see.

During my trip to New York for the ordination, I was thrilled to go with some friends to Coney Island. Unlike Cedar Point, which I know and love very much, it has maintained its old style. The rides are visibly outdated, the ticket stands are still old and worn down. I absolutely loved it.

Although not reputated as being the best area in all of Brooklyn, I fell in love. The smells of cotton candy and fried Oreos fills the air, the sound of laughing permeates the entire park, and the gentle breeze coming from the ocean leaves no mystery as to why developers chose this location as a resort way back in the 1830s.

As my night at Coney Island came to a conclusion, I stepped off the Cyclone roller coaster wondering who has sat where I was before? In its 84 years of existence, it's certainly seen more than I ever have... Nostalgic of me? Yes. But I am not ashamed.

This is Andy and Meg. Check out Meg's blog, and peer pressure her to update it. I love her stuff!!!

This is Kree, my fabulous hostess for the weekend.

In the background is "Fawtha," the fabulous pastor at the church I stayed at.. Yes, that is how they say "Father" in Brooklyn

Hope for the Future

2011-06-28T12:39:00.009-04:00

I feel like I constantly have book recommendations, and here I am with another one. My reading of The Courage to be Catholic by George Wiegel has come at a very appropriate time. Although it was assigned as a textbook for undergrad, I never really dove in to it as much as I have these past few weeks... Yeah, I'm a slow reader.

This book is SUCH an eye-opener... Seriously. Wiegel goes through the 2002 scandals that hit the Catholic Church, inadequately dubbed by the media as "Pedophile Scandal" (the overwhelming majority of victims were post-pubescent, and therefore not a situation of pedophilia). Weigel goes on to show how the American Catholic Church had such poorly-formed priests immediately following the Vatican II Council, which concluded in the mid 1960s. He then goes on to show how the American Catholic Church has improved since the 1990s, and recently ordained men are perhaps the most zealous they ever have been... And I would most certainly agree.

As I mentioned before, I traveled this past weekend to Long Island for a friend's priestly ordination. It was absolutely beautiful in every way. I woke up a bit too late on Saturday morning, quickly got ready, and scurried out the door to go to the Rockville Center Cathedral. The place was packed and the atmosphere joyful and excited. As the seemingly hundreds of seminarians, deacons, and priests processed in, I was so refreshed by the piety and reverence displayed by each and every one of them. They were thrilled to have four more men become one of their own, and their prayerful excitement could be felt throughout the entire cathedral.

The evening of the ordination was a reception that rivaled any gorgeous wedding reception I've ever been to. Aside from the fact that there was no band, and there was a large sea of Roman collars present, you would swear a beautiful wedding reception was exactly where we were. I caught up with some old friends, and spoke with several "Men in Black," all of whom had a thick Lon-Giiii-land accent and terrific senses of humor. Naturally, the topic of faith and life came up as we were talking, and I cannot even begin to express to you how refreshed I am, knowing that the future of the American Church is just plain fabulous.

George Wiegel calls priests who are afraid to preach on topics that truly challenge--the fact the artificial forms of birth control have no place in a Catholic marriage, that you simply cannot be Catholic and pro-abort, the fact that sin does indeed exist in this world, and that the act by which man and woman become mother and father (shout to my FUS friends who studied in Austria.;-)) only belongs within the context of marriage--are simply preaching what he calls, "Catholic Lite." Priests, deacons, as well as men and women of faith need to defend the Church's teaching, and not water it down to some Kumbya fluffy-duffy form, that only perverts the Truth... Not because this is all a set of guidelines to make us all miserable, but because they are there to make us fully human, to embrace what God has given us, and to give Him glory in all aspects of our life.

This past weekend has given me great hope. Please join me in praying for all priests, deacons, seminarians, as well as zealous people of Faith. May we never forget the Truth of the Bride of Christ, the Catholic Church. And may we never, ever lose our passion in defending Her.

Photos by Kree Kenton

Happy Monday!

2011-06-27T13:11:00.005-04:00

Does anyone have any idea why the HELL my background isn't showing up? On my computer it's showing up a dingy grey and not the cute yellow and white I had on there. Hmmm...

This weekend was fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. I travelled to Long Island, pronounced "Lon-Ghiii-land," for a friend's priestly ordination. It was absolutely beautiful! I only teared up once, haha, which is unusual for me. It did save the necessity of makeup re-application, so I am by no means complaining. I will post more about the ordination festivities and, as well as the evening trip we took to Coney Island later this week... I do have a lot to share.

Today, however, I'd like to brighten up your Monday with something that has brightened my day--hydrangeas. I am absolutely in love with these beauties. Enjoy the pictures and I hope you're having a fabulous day!

Speaking of Summer Snacks...

2011-06-23T14:13:00.004-04:00

I simply love the 4th of July. There is something about being with family at the lake with beer in hand that makes life so special and sweet. For the past several years, I've been in charge of the food, and this year is no exception. I've been throwing around ideas, writing down necessary ingredients, etc. One very nice perk is that my mom hates cooking so much that she's willing to do the grocery shopping so long as I take care of all the so-called dirty work. Consider it done, mother.

I made this Italian Salsa this past spring for our winery tour, and will make it again for the 4th. The great part is that it can easily be made a few days ahead of time... It is good either warm or cold, and is always a huge hit. One variation is that is can be served on sliced grilled crostini over cold cream cheese. Yum!

I wish I could take complete credit for its originality, but it is actually adapted from a special recipe I had at Maggianos.

Italian Salsa

- Two large red bell peppers
- 1/2 cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
- 2 mozzarella cheese sticks, chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1/4-1/2 cup pine nuts
- 1/4 cup chopped, cooked bacon: optional

I love all things Trader Joes...

First, spilt the peppers in half, lightly coat them with olive oil, place them on a cookie sheet and broil them until slightly browned.

Remove from oven, chop up, mix with the rest of the ingredients and chill until it's ready to be served... Eat with pita chips.

Summer Snackin'

2011-06-22T13:03:00.004-04:00

A wise person once told me that a good cook is never without friends. I have found this to be true, especially when it comes to appetizers. These babies, which I will add to my recipes tab for your future reference, are an original of mine and have always been a hit when I've made them. My sister even texted me for the recipe last weekend and made them all by herself. I'm so proud.

Brittany's Corniness... I'm open to other suggestions for names.

1 large bag of Tostito's Scoops
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup non-chunky (I hate that word) salsa
1 cup fancy-shreded Mexican blend cheese
Small can of corn, drained.

Lay all of the non-broken chips on a cookie sheet, open side up. Mix all remaining ingredients and, using two spoons, gently place in each chip. Bake at 350 until cheese is melted, about 5-8 minutes.

Islands, Boats, and Good Times.

2011-06-21T12:01:00.013-04:00

What a weekend! After getting gridlocked in the DC Beltway thanks to the U.S. Open on Thursday evening, I got gridlocked again on the way back, thanks to an accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike... All with one patient pup in the back seat... Never a dull moment on my car rides, let me tell you.

Welllll, to say that my weekend was eventful would be the understatement of the week. I got home to Strongsville late Thursday night, went straight to bed, woke up the next morning, drove up to the lake house in Ottawa County, spent Friday night on South Bass Island or Put-In-Bay (or "The Bay" as the locals call it), spent all day Saturday on Kelley's Island as the designated golf cart driver (true story), woke up early Sunday morning, went to Mass, followed by brunch at my parents' club for Father’s Day, and was immediately back on the road to the Metro DC area. Yeah. Now I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation haha.

I simply love the Lake Erie Islands. There is something so awesome about having to take a ferry to where you will be spending your evening, or in some cases, entire weekend. Put-In-Bay is the name of the village on South Bass Island. The charm as well as fun potential is immeasurable. For a family-friendly trip, be sure to stay off Delaware Avenue after 5 PM... I must admit that that is when it starts to get trashy. We rode the boat over with a lovely gentleman, surely a former debutante escort country club member who was wearing a shirt that says "I Enjoy Vagina," in Coca Cola font. Classy. So soooo classy. Ick.

... And, rumor has it that MTV is doing a Put-In-Bay reality show, set to air fall 2012. I asked several different people and they all heard that it's true. We shall see... But I have a strange feeling that maybe, just maybe MTV’s presence just might make Put-In-Bay a less family-friendly.

From the boat ride over, people always know whether or not it's your first time there. If you've been there before, you know that as soon as the boat is getting close to the dock, start subtly creeping toward the exit.. As soon as they lower the gate thing (what are those called?), book it to the closest golf cart rental place. On weekends, they WILL run out of them, so it's best to take an earlier boat and beat the golf cart-craving crowds.

Rent a golf cart, meander throughout the island, checking out some gorgeous real estate, shop around, enjoy the perfect lake breeze, ride Kimberly’s Carousel, one of the few wooden carousels left in the US, do a wine tasting at Heinemann, have lobster bisque at The Boardwalk, do a fish shot at Fishbowl, go up Perry’s Monument for a great view of Pelee Island, as well as the lower shore of Canada (on a clear day), and spend some time at the National Park building for some history on Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry, for whom the world’s 3rd largest memorial stands only yards away... If you're driving, though, don't overdo it with the booze. You can get a DUI on a golf cart... And I've known people who have. So seriously... If you are going to be driving a whole 25 MPH on your very dangerous golf cart (sarcasm), make sure to keep your alcohol intake to a minimum.

Definitely the most family-friendly island option, however, is Kelley’s Island, directly to the east of South Bass.

Kelleys is geographically larger than South Bass and was at one time owned by the Kelley family. The Kelley’s Mansion is still on the island, and is often open to the public for tours.

One point of advice, though, is that Verizon phones think you’re in Canada on Kelley’s Island, so find an AT&T customer to do the important phone calls... Depending on your plan, Verizon can charge up to $2 a minute, and that would not be a fun phone bill to get.

We got to the island late afternoon, since the boat literally left us at the dock... Yeah, we were walking to get on, and the teenage workers thought it’d be funny to pull up the gate and leave without us. So annoying!

Once we finally got there, we rented out golf cart and took a very scenic route around the island. Don’t you love these houses?

Our first stop was the Kelley’s Island Wine Company, where I did a tasting. Now, for those of you prefer dry wines, island wines are not for you. Colder climates yield a better crop for sweeter grapes, and therefore produce better sweet wines. I fortunately do not discriminate and enjoy all kinds, sweet or dry. My favorite in the mix was Coyote White... I have no idea what was in it, but it tasted decent enough.

Next, my dad thought it would be a brilliant idea to go to the West Bay Inn, formerly owned by a fellow Clevelander. Back in the day, it was perfect for its goregeous view and scerene atmosphere. Those days are apparently over. It is now a breeding ground for 40-something divorcees in bikini tops and cutoffs. So NOT okay. We stayed for one cocktail before I insisted that we leave. Grody to the max.

What we didn’t do while we were there this time was take advantage of the many family-friendly activities available, from horseshoes at the winery, mini golf downtown, the cute shopping, touring Kelley’s Mansion, lying on the public beach, to checking out the glacial grooves, which are giant areas of limestone carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago.

Even without going to the islands, the mainland is way fun as well... I love Great Lakes Popcorn Company, and of course Cleats Marblehead.

Great Lakes Popcorn has 30 different flavors of popcorn, raning from Butter and Salt to Strawberry to Root Beer to their best seller and signature, Vanilla Butternut. My personal favorite is the Columbus Mix, a salty-sweet combination of White Cheddar and Vanilla Butternut... It is addictive. Don’t say that I didn’t warn you.

At Cleats, try some Lake Erie Island Smoke wings and an Erie Island Hopper cocktail or Great Lakes Brewing Company Dortmunder. Eventhough Cleats is on the mainland, I always believe in sticking to a theme... Watch the boats come in, and if you're lucky, a Coastie might even buy you a cocktail... What could be better than supporting our men in uniform?

Whether you choose to make your trip to Lake Erie’s “Vactionland” jam-packed with activity or jam-packed with books, naps and jigsaw puzzles, you’re sure to love the budget-friendly area that I call home. What I wrote here is just the tip of the glacier.... pun intended.... There are many others things to see and do. And, if you’re lucky, I just might share with you some more as the summer progresses.

Guest Manners :)

2011-06-15T13:41:00.005-04:00

This is my 200th post!!! Thank you to my faithful readers... I'm learning that more and more of you are out there, even though you rarely comment.. Haha.. It's quite alright. I know now that you're there... And for my gentleman readers, I promise I will not ever divulge that I know you're there, even if I do...

Anyway, on to my point...

I always joke that English was not my first language.. No, manners was my first language. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if my very first words were please and thank you.

That being said, words cannot express how grateful I am to my mother and grandmother for pounding etiquette in to my otherwise-air-filled head... I was a bit of a ditzy child. I can remember both loving at hating my birthday because as soon as the festivities were over, I had to personally call every gift-giver and thank them, only to do the same thing nine days later for Christmas... Yes, I'm a December baby... This was more than slightly annoying, and was quickly replaced by my constant Thank You card sending, which continues today.

Christmas is, I'm sure, the last thing on everyone's mind right now... But perhaps a bit more timely is the beach.

My family has had a lake house on Lake Erie since I was in 2nd grade. I've written about it countless times. Summers on the Great Lakes are incredible. There is just something so special about spending time near a large body of water, swimming, jet skiing, lying in the sun, and enjoying a cold one or two.. or three or four.... ;)

Having a lake house meant that we often had house guests, who were responsible for my fondest of memories. With almost eighteen years of summers at the lake, we have accumulated several wonderful hostess gifts... Granted, they were certainly never expected but were always appreciated. A framed picture that says, "Heaven is a bit closer in a house by the water," given by my parents' friends years ago, still hangs in our kitchen, and I think of them every time I walk by it. We also have a giant coffee table book on lighthouses, given by another of my parents' friends.

All that being said, is it very good manners to bring a little something with you if you have been invited to stay with someone for the weekend... Unlike Thank You cards, it is certainly not expected but will certainly ensure an invite back next year :).

Beach house, shore house, lake house, river house, Hampton House (ha!), island house, other-body-of-water house, country house, mountain house, cabin, cottage, primary house, whatever, it is always nice to bring a little something for your hostess.

Tastefully Simple (use ID# 0115496)has some wonderful options, such as the Fire Up the Grill gift set... Shameless plug...

So does Yankee Candle. I love their reed diffusers. Or, my personal favorite candy store everrrr, Malley's Chocolates. Their small gift basket is perfect.. And looks amazing...

If you're on a budget, a super cute idea is to bake up some cookies (always a hit: Monster Cookies. See my recipes tab up top), put them in an inexpensive glass cookie jar and tie a pretty ribbon around it. Ikea has some fabulous glass jars for $5 and less. The Burken jar is one of my favorites and can totally be reused by the hostess for picnics.

Anyway, I clearly have the lake house on my mind because I'm going there this weekend! I can't wait! This probably means I won't be posting for a few days, but stay tuned for a post that will totally convince you to do your next vacation on the Midwestern "North Coast." Seriously, I'm convinced that it's America's best-kept secret.

Meant to Be

2011-06-14T07:04:00.004-04:00

And again, I am greeted by two sleeping children, an owl coffee mug full of black Columbian coffee, and a cool summer morning. Life is grand.

I took the kiddos to the zoo yesterday... One of many advantages of living in DC is that the Smithsonian Zoo does not charge admission... However, we do happen to pay for it with our tax dollars... Anyway, when we were in the Small Mammal House, I noticed a particularly interesting-looking creature, a Tree Shrew. This little fella was the most content animal in his habitat. He was just waltzing around, seemingly without a care in the world. To be blunt, he isn't the most blessed of creatures as far as the looks department goes, but he didn't seem to notice or care. Walking a bit further, we came across the Naked Mole Rats. Now, to say that these puppies are downright ugly would be an understatement. However, their huge teeth and pink, wrinkly bodies did not distract them from running through their plastic tubes, happy as little larks.

This got me thinking about a talk I heard, given by a friend of mine. He said that human beings are the only of God's creatures who strive to be something other than what we were created to be... Wow.

The tree shrew wasn't running to his plastic surgeon for rhinoplasty. He has no idea that his nose is huge or that is it disproportionate to his face... The naked mole rats weren't off getting vaniers, or worrying about which couture designer they were going to solicit to cover themselves up. No, they were content with just they way they are.

As cliche as it may sound, this all brings me great comfort. With the constant pressure of our society, it is difficult--if not impossible--to be the person God created us to be... No, it's not impossible. Just really frickin' hard. haha. The temptation to strive to perfection is never-ending. The constant revenue of plastic surgeons, over-priced designer clothes (made in China... see a previous post... ;-), and a possible endless variety of salon treatments makes moving toward contentment a constant battle we must face.

Looking at the pictures below, I am darn glad I am a human being. Although I am unfortunately aware of my flaws, both physical and otherwise, I am blessed to know that contentment is possible... Even if I have to be reminded by an unfortunate-looking creature. We were all created to be who we are, whether it be a naked mole rat, a tree shrew, a brunette, a green-eyed girl, or someone with skin that just won't tan. It's time to be who were were made to be...

To conclude, allow me to leave you with a quote from my favorite movie, Steel Magnolias:

"The difference between human and animals is our ability to accessorize."

haha. Love it... Have a great day, everyone!

Capitally, Pridefully, Irked

2011-06-13T13:45:00.002-04:00

I find it amazing how bad some people are at business sometimes. Allow me to rephrase... I can't stand it when prominent businesses and public figures endorse political things. Having grown up as the daughter of a business owner, I always knew to keep my dad's thoughts and opinions a secret. It makes sense. His clients are anyone from union workers to devout, pro-life Catholics to teachers to family men and women... He did not want to make his politics known. He doesn't endorse political candidates. He sponsors things like community baseball teams, high school athletics, and church fundraisers... And in the Midwest, you're going to be hard-pressed to find someone who will be ticked off by any of that.

That being said, I am veryyyyy annoyed with some large businesses which I solicit on a daily basis.

Let me back up.

Yesterday on my way to Mass, I was stopped at a red light when two women crossed the street, holding hands. One was short with a spiked hair cut, wearing a wife beater and cargo shorts... The other was wearing teensie tiny cutoffs.. and rainbow pasties.... Uh huh. You just can't make this crap up. My first thought was, "I am way too sheltered to live in this city." haha.

Apparently the Capital Pride parade was yesterday.

So, out of curiosity, I just looked up the sponsors, and was shocked the businesses names on it.
- Saab
- Nationwide
- Wachovia
- Absolut Vodka
- Bud Light
- Barefoot Wines (owned by Gallo)
- PNC
- Suntrust
- Progressive
- Bloom Grocery Stores
- Bank of America
- Verizon Wireless
- Walgreens
- TD Bank
- Schmirnoff
- Six Flags
- Whole Foods

FOR THE COMPLETE LIST CLICK HERE

I am not calling for a boycott or anything crazy like that. Heck, I wouldn't have a phone, bank or organic foods (or one of my favorite organic wines: Paso a Paso, available at Whole Foods) if it wasn't for these businesses. All I'm saying is that it's really frickin annoying that it is socially acceptable to publicly endorse politically liberal organizations, and not conservative organizations. I have been Googling for a good half hour now, and cannot find a single public business sponsor of the Pro Life movement, for example. The NRA sponsors are all totally predictable-- Cabelas, Savage Arms, etc.

There is such a double standard in this country that it drives me insane. Maybe one day we'll see an end to all of this.. But until then, I will remain annoyed.

Whirlwind Weekend

2011-06-13T07:03:00.004-04:00

You know how weekends are supposed to be for relaxing? For unwinding from a busy work week? Yeah... This weekend was SO not that for me.

One of the many rites of passages for being a twenty-something is that seemingly everyone gets married in spurts. I have gone years with only one or two weddings that I'm invited to, while I've had years where I've literally had more than a dozen. This weekend needs to go in the wedding hall of fame. I left late Saturday morning, dropped Cannoli off at the boarders, drove the entire way with my hair done and my dress and heels on for a wedding in Philly, attended the wedding and reception, left the reception a bit early and drove down to Atlantic City for a bachelorette party. I stayed up until 2 AM with the bachelorette party games, slept on a couch, and drove back to DC yesterday afternoon.

I am too old for this. haha.

Now, I'm back at work. The kiddos are still sleeping, and I have a date with my owl coffee mug... See previous post.

Today might be a bit challenging, but the important part is that I have coffee and, darnit, I had fun.

I hope everyone has a blessed day!

Coffee Dependance

2011-06-10T07:16:00.003-04:00

There is something so sweet about a morning when the kids sleep in.

Here I am, a few weeks in to this new nanny job, and I'm already creating habits. These habits are neither bad or good. It's just that they brings me to realize how incredibly OCD I am.

I get here at 6:45 AM. If the kids are still sleeping, I immediately gravitate to the coffee machine. If they are awake, I fix them breakfast, and then I gravitate to the coffee machine. This particular coffee machine and I don't really get along, so I spend a good 5 minutes playing with it to get it to work. Sometimes a nanny friend and her little lady are over at this point. Once the coffee is ready, I dig through the cupboard to find my favorite mug, a grey owl mug. Every time my little lady sees it she points and says, "Owl. Hoooo hoooo." If the owl mug is dirty, I find it in the dishwasher, hand wash it and use it. No, I am not joking. I must have the owl mug. I take my coffee black, and nanny friend takes hers with cream and sugar because, and I quote, "I'm way too Southern to drink my coffee black."

This morning, as I sip from the said owl mug, I can't help but wonder what in the world I would do without the copious amount of caffeine coffee brings me. I remember one of the college profs asking her class who gave up coffee for Lent. A few people raised their hands and she said, "No. Don't do that. I need you all actively participating in class, and I'm going to need you all to be caffeinated."

Do I need it? Um, well... No... I do occasionally go a morning without a cup of Joe. But, I do must say I am more sweet and charitable when it is a part of my day.

That being said, I just realized that I wrote an entire post on coffee and a mug... And that is just about all that is on my mind right now. Time to do a little more with my day. Have a fabulous day, y'all!

Truth

2011-06-09T22:32:00.004-04:00

Words cannot express how much I should be asleep right now... But that is clearly not an option. I was lying in bed this evening, trying to get myself tired (days sans gym tend to be a bit challenging for me) while reading my InStyle July issue, which came in the mail today. I was skimming an article on the color "blush" (a pale pink which never looked good on fair skin) when my phone lit up. It was a text message from our unofficial hometown crier, self-proclaimed future member of the non-existant "Strongsville Wives Club" (love ya, Val) with some horrible news.

One of my grade school teachers has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Having been away from my hometown for 7 years now, I have most certainly lost touch with the vast majority of its residents, including all of my former teachers. Running in to them from time-to-time was usually fun (I was apparently a pretty memorable kid), but like in any small-ish town, makeup-less days and hair in a greasy ponytail made me duck and run on more than one occasion.

This news got me thinking about how many people we take for granted. This particular teacher was the reason I chose to pursue education myself. She was everything a teacher, mother and woman of God should be. Not only is she absolutely gorgeous, put-together, humorous, loving, and faithful, but she was the most passionate teacher I had in my 17+ years of education. I always knew that she believed what she taught, and took her job very seriously. Why I spent two years in the classroom and intend on continuing to pursue my M.Ed is, without a doubt, because of her. Have I told her any of this? No. That will soon change... But how tragic is it that it has taken a situation like this to even make me think to say that.

Every person has a non-family member who has helped form the person they have become. Who is yours, and how will you thank him or her? Will it take a serious illness for you to even think to do it, or will it happen today?

Please join me in praying for this beautiful woman. I obviously do not want to release her name, but the Good Lord will know who you are praying for.

Every day, every hour, every minute, every second, every breath is a gift.

May we never, ever take each other for granted.

Made in the USA

2011-06-08T07:35:00.008-04:00

I can't help but start to sing Bruce Springstein's Born in the USA as I type the title of this post. Even though he's a huge and open liberal (like seemingly every other famous person), it's a good jam.

I was shopping with my mom in a store in Georgetown that I had come to love, Vineyard Vines. The general atmosphere of the store makes me want to go to the beach, with their white-washed panel ceilings, and punchy, summery colors all around. Their price point is higher than your average Banana Republic or J. Crew, and their sale rack is downright humorous.. $125.00 for a skirt on SALE? OK, so perhaps it's better quality, or the cost of labor is higher, right? Wrong. I noticed a label on that particular adorable navy and white knee-length a-line skirt that I was very disturbed by: Made in China. Then, I went throughout the store, looking for the same thing... And found it. On every single article of clothing I picked up... I am not going to go down a whole road of human rights and sweat shops and all that stuff.. However, if a store like Vineyard Vines is going to export their manufacturing to a country like China, where labor is dirt cheap and, let's be honest, the quality of clothing is not quite the same, then they have absolutely no right to charge what they do! I was SO disappointed. So, this got me thinking. If I am going to buy clothing that is made in China, it sure as hell had better be dirt cheap, and, on the flip side, if I am going to be paying for quality, name-brand clothing, it sure as heck had better be made in America... Or Canada... I can deal with supporting Canada. (not their socialist government... Or whatever the heck they are... you get what I mean)

So, I here are some fabulous American-Made clothing stores... I have scoured the Internet, and have come up with very little more than what is below... Many of which I'm sure you're aware of, but feel free to look closer. With so many jobs being exported overseas, we need to support what we can in America.. And, seriously, we just do things better over here. Why pay big bucks for something that is going almost solely for the name brand? If you're going to pay to wear a designer, make sure the overwhelming majority of what you pay isn't just to the label.. A good amount of it should be going to the people who made it!

American Apparel has become a newfound love of mine. Their very provocative advertising campaigns are more than slightly annoying, but I do appreciate that they make adorable basics... And seriously, be warned that they literally show female models wearing sheer tops without anything under it. So weird and not necessary... It's not like it's French Apparel or some other country where people are naked all the time... Beside the point...

This Leaf Flower Lace Tee is SUPER cute... I'm usually not a red fan, but this is fabulous (plus it was the only of the three colors shown with a tank underneath). Either tucked in as shown or untucked over jeggings. Adorable... Just don't forget a cami!!!

This Nylon Tricot Figure Skater Dress is so versatile, it's amazing... I love it in charcoal.. I tried it on when I was in New York, and almost bought it. Very flattering.

Another love of mine is True Religion jeans. I was introduced to them by two of my fabulous friends from California when I was in college. A-mazing. They are by far the best quality clothing I own... And, the best part is that you don't have to pay full price for them! Off Fifth (Saks outlet), Nordstrom Rack, and even sometimes places like TJ Maxx and Marshalls carry them. I just wonder if Buddhists get irked that their god is portrayed playing a guitar? Hmmm... Anyway, check them out. Made in the USA, amazing, super cute.. What more could you ask for?

A few others have been rumored to be Made in America, but the more I have been researching, the more ambiguity I have come up with. Anyway, here they are:

-Marc Jacobs
- Juicy Couture
- J Brand
- Blue Bird Denim

Happy shopping!

Feelin' Hoppy

2011-06-07T09:20:00.004-04:00

So, a few months back I went with some friends to a brewery in Baltimore. We did a tour, drank some brews, and had many laughs. Although I am definitely a wine fan, I am the first to admit that beer is another great love of mine. With the summer months in full swing, sometimes the heaviness (and, I'll be honest, quick tipsiness) of wine isn't perhaps the greatest investment of my time and calories. When the weather is steamy and I'm sitting on a beach, pass me a cold one.

This weekend I went with a friend to Hops Brewery in Arlington. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to go there, and I'm so glad we did. For $3.79, we got to sample all of their microbrews. Love it! We were both in agreement that the best of their selection was the Thoroughbred Red. The food was great, as well... Nothing says beer perfection like blue cheese smothered kettle chips... Or perhaps that's just my opinion... The atmosphere is mediocre, so if you go, make sure you bring plenty of fun friends.

Having grown up in the restaurant business, I always appreciate people who get the job done the right way. That being said, I am more than happy to recommend Hops Brewery. Enjoy!!!

Photo by Natalie (Grifka) Mooney.. On her iPhone.. Who the heck can take this cool of a picture with an iPhone?!

Christian Unity

2011-06-02T21:04:00.002-04:00

I am going to try to not be snarky or use un-ladylike words. In fact, I am even going to try to write this without any sarcasm. We all know how much of a challenge this can be for me.

I do not understand people.

To begin, please watch this video. I will warn you, it is very, very disturbing for those of us who are Christians.

CLICK HERE

Basically all I would like to say is that we need to band together as Christians, particularly as Catholics. Nitty-gritty debates are just simply stupid... And I'm really, really sick of them.

My solution:

1) Stop fighting
2) Evangelize the TRUE faith
3) Stop what the YouTube I posted said.

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." -Ephesians 4:3-6

Memorial Day Memories

2011-05-30T21:29:00.003-04:00

I saw a Facebook status today which really rang true... And now, of course, I cannot seem to locate it. But, I remember the gist. It said something along the lines of Memorial Day is not for barbecues and summer kickoff parties; It is a day to remember those who have died..

Obviously to anyone who knows the first thing about American history, this goes under the "no duh" category. However, when you stop and think about it, to most Americans it is indeed just an extra day off to enjoy the warm weather and some grillin'. How many of us actually stop and think about the sacrifice our brave men and women in uniform have made?

Living in the DC area, patriotism hits much closer to home than in some other places. This is the first year that I've lived here that I did not venture in to the District for the festivities and memorial services. However, during a quick trip that I took to New York City yesterday, I was sure to thank all of the Navy soldiers I saw that were in town for Fleet Week... And the fact that many of them were very cute and polite didn't hurt either.

But in all seriousness, my grandpa, Papa (pronounced "puppa") was very proud to be a veteran of World War II. I learned more from this man than I could ever imagine, let alone express, but by far the most important thing I took from the 16 years I got to spend with him here on earth, it was to always remember to thank our military.

So I dedicate this post to my Papa, Donald G. Wolfcale. Thank you for your service to our country, and for helping to make me the proud Conservative American Christian woman I am today.

Not a day goes by where I don't think about him and miss him terribly. But every time I see a proud soldier saluting our flag, I know that his legacy lives on.

Wedding 411 for 2011

2011-05-25T12:01:00.006-04:00

I somehow have become the go-to person when it comes to wedding etiquette... I'm not entirely sure why.. Perhaps because I'm almost positive the movie 27 Dresses was based off of my life... Now if only I could have a James Marsden... Anyway, weddings are important, and marriages need to be supported in every way. According to DivorceRate.org (yes, that is a real website), close to 50% of American marriages end in divorce, with the highest percentage being among those who marry at or before the age of 24. Having gone to the college I went to, I know several people who got married at age 21-24. Odds are not in their favor, so I find it to be a personal responsibility of mine to support them in every way possible. Allow me to share the proper responsibility for the wedding party, as well as guests and host party.

Wedding Party (Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, Best Man, Groomsmen)

- One of my greatest pet peeves of this generation is general cheapskate-ness. NEWSFLASH, folks. If someone gives you the HUGE honor of asking you to be a part of their big day, you're going to have to shell out some cash. If you cannot afford it, you must graciously decline the request. The Maid of Honor and Best Man are pretty much coordinators of the whole wedding party, the go-to people. The bride and groom will dictate what exactly they want you to wear on the wedding day, but other than that, all questions should go to the MOH and BM... The happy couple shouldn't be given any more stress than they already have. As a bridesmaid or groomsman, it is your responsibility to make sure all showers and bachelor(ette) parties are being handled by the MOH and BM. IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BRIDE'S MOTHER OR FAMILY (unless they're part of the wedding party) TO THROW THE SHOWER!!! In fact, it is beyond improper and reflects very poorly on the wedding party if that must be done. The MOH and BM may ask for you to pitch in with hosting. If they do, you must comply without any huffy-puffiness. That is part of your job. You also must bring a gift to all showers, as well as to the actual wedding. For lingerie showers, it is completely acceptable to go in on a gift with another bridesmaid or friend. Lingerie is extremely expensive, and since lingerie showers are a new custom, the rules can certainly be bent a bit. Likewise, it is also nice for all of the bridesmaids to pitch in on a single big-ticket item off the couple's registry for a shower and/or wedding gift. I will discuss the proper amount to spend on a wedding gift below, but for a wedding party, I find it acceptable for each wedding party member to pitch in $20-$40 for a shower gift, on the lower end especially if everyone is pitching in for throwing the shower. On the day of the wedding, the wedding party must be prompt and as stress-free as possible. The bride WILL be freaking out, so try to keep her as relaxed as possible. Last but certainly not least, nothing is tackier than a drunk wedding party. You spent a good amount of dinero on what you're wearing, from the dress or tux to nails, hair, jewelry, etc. Don't ruin it by getting a little too friendly with Jack, Jim and Jose, K?

Host Party

-Many brides choose to have a host party as well as a wedding party. It's a B Team of friends, for lack of better terms. Nonetheless, the host party is a part of the big day and an honor to be asked to be a part of. Whatever the task being asked, the host party should comply with whatever is needed, whether it be doing a reading, passing out programs, asking people to sign the guest book (like Miranda Hobbs), or whatever. Be prepared to be the bitch on the day of the wedding. You may have to run errands, hold the bride's cell phone, direct caterers, whatever. The possibilities are endless. The nice thing about the host party is that your responsibilities are limited to the day of the wedding. You are not obligated to throw any showers or bachelorette parties (although you must certainly attend if possible). Likewise, you are most likely not obligated to buy a special dress or rent a tux. Plus, you just might get a corsage out of the deal, and a thank you gift from the happy couple. Technically speaking, the host party should be invited to the rehearsal dinner, but that may vary from wedding to wedding.

Wedding Guests

- No shower hosting, tux renting, or unflattering dress buying. Your responsibility is to look nice, show up, and buy stuff. Proper wedding attire for ladies is a dress and nice shoes, preferably heels. If it is a winter wedding, lady guests should wear nylons as well. Tastefulness is important. Don't look like a prostitute, and for eff sakes, wear the right bra with your dress. Black dress=black bra; strapless dress=strapless bra; backless dress=something creative from VS. Gentlemen should wear a shirt and tie with a suit. To me, what I'm about to say goes until the "no duh" category, but I've seen it, so I am going to say it anyway. Skirts, tee shirts, jeans, khakis, corduroys, FLIP FLOPS, casual sandals, polo shirts, clip on ties, leather jackets with fringes, Crocs, dread locks, and shorts are ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTABLE. You thought I was just being a smartass, huh? I assure you, dear reader, every little thing you just read I have witnessed with my own two eyes at a wedding. Absolutely appalling.
- As far as gifts go, you are obliged to send one even if you cannot attend the wedding. Yeah, that's right. You got invited to the wedding, it's in Seattle, and you can't attend. Save yourself the plane ticket, and even postage of an actual, tangible gift, for that matter, and send the couple a gift card. Oh, which reminds me. I have been told by several brides that they actually appreciate gift cards more than anything for their actual wedding day, especially if they are getting married in a place other than where they will be living. Gift cards take up minimal space, and make for a fun shopping trip post-honeymoon. Below see my guide for wedding spending for your average 20-something.
- If you cannot attend the wedding, a $25 gift card is acceptable, however $50 should be the goal.
- If you are attending the wedding stag, no less than $50 is acceptable.
- If you are attending the wedding with a guest (a guest is invited ONLY if your invitation said Your Name AND GUEST. If one has not been invited--even though all guest over the age of 18 should have a guest invited--, do not put the bride in an awkward position and ask if you can bring someone), no less than $75 is acceptable, but $100 should be the goal.
- If your family has been invited, calculate $50 for each adult as well as $25ish for each child should be spent altogether. Likewise to the note above, if your children have not been explicitly invited on the invitation, assume that you just might have to get a babysitter for the evening.
- If you cannot attend a shower, you are not obligated to send a gift, however it is a nice gesture if it fits in your budget.

Welp, there you have it. My proper guide for all things nuptial. Oh, and after the wedding, mark the couple's anniversary on your calendar. Especially if you were a part of the wedding party, make sure to send them an anniversary card every year, and don't forget to pray for them! Marriage is SO attacked these days, that, as I said, the couples can use as much support as possible.

Mermaniacs

2011-05-21T00:38:00.005-04:00

I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I was finally feeling up to getting out of the house for an extended amount of time today. PRAISE BE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! Not only did I strike up conversations with random strangers, I also paid to do precisely what I've been doing for the past week--watch a movie.

I admit that I am not a huge follower of Pirates of the Caribbean, but I went so as to avoid having to go home again. Overall it was a great movie and is totally worth seeing.. Any time Johnny Depp is on the big screen it is money well spent. Sigh. Anyway, I do have one minor complaint that I must express here... Worry not, dear readers. This does not in any way give away the ending.

And I should add that this post has full potential to make me sound like a huge weirdo. That is a risk I'm willing to take.

Like any frilly girly girl growing up in the late 80s-early 90s, the allure of Ariel, the Disney mermaid, was illimitable. Everything I wanted to be... It stayed with me so much that I in fact still think of a canonized singing crab every time someone mentions St. Sebastain. True story. Anyway, who wouldn't want to be a mermaid? They get to swim around, have a sea horse or a non-pinching crab as a pet, and sing with all the pretty critters of the ocean's floor. In to my adult years, I realize that they could even train eels to do electrolysis and have all the detoxifying sea mud treatments they could ever ask for. Life as a mermaid couldn't be half bad. In fact, it still sounds pretty fabulous to me.

Pirates of the Caribbean has shattered all of my childhood fantasies.

The mermaids in this movie hiss and kill people.

Excuse me, WHAT?

Yeah.

Kill people... And hiss... Oh, and they have vampire's teeth (seriously--is Twilight going to permeate EVERYTHING?!)

Here I am, sitting at the movies, feeling so much better, when a mystical creature is snatched from me, just like that... I feel like I'm back with that crazy person who tried to convince me that Santa doesn't exist.

WHAT is this world coming to?

Emoti-What?

2011-05-20T01:26:00.003-04:00

Parents and technology never cease to give me a chuckle. My mom thinks it's totally appropriate to write "lol" at the end of every IM and Facebook comment, even if she's the one making the joke. And my dad has recently learned the wonderful world of emoticons and pictures within text messages. I woke up yesterday morning to this: "U must read Kevin O brien s editorial in todays Plain Dealer. It was about u and your experience. Touching <3." Note: none of this was a type-o on my end. I am just relaying how he wrote it. Here is what is running through my head at the time:

1) Who is Kevin O'Brein, and why the heck did he write an article about me (it was not an article about me, for the record, it was about my college)

2) Did he accidentally send this text to me, when he meant to send it to Brigid? (his Regional Manager/the older sister I never had... Or wanted.. kidding).. Our names are similar, and his vision isn't the best. Plus it would have made much more sense for this Kevin O'Brein character to write about her. She lives in Cleveland still. I do not.

3) Was he trying to say less than three, or is that supposed to be a heart, and if it's supposed to be a heart, WHO taught him that?

I remember being at Cleats last summer when I read a text from my dad with a smiley emoticon... I must have looked a little perplexed. Brigid peeked over my shoulder and said, "Oh yeah. He does that now." As in, he knows how to make emoticons.

Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks... As long as he stays off "The Facebook," I suppose technology isn't a scary thing for him after all.

Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, I have complied some of my favorite emoticons:

Ash Wednesday Emoticon: +:-)

Cross Eyed Emoticon: %-)

Rude Emoticon: :-)~

A Big Ol' Slice of Humble... Gordita?

2011-05-19T23:56:00.005-04:00

OK, so this past week as been a very humbling experience. My Energizer Bunny self had to stay in bed for the past six days... Mind out of the gutter, folks. YEAH. I was in my room. In bed. With my dog. FOR SIX DAYYYYSSSSS. I told you to get your mind out of the gutter. The worst part was that I felt fine. I just happened to have a dangerously high fever. Awesome. So, one ER trip, a round of crazy-strong antibiotics, an unfortunate incident in CVS and countless long phone calls later, I am CRAVING human interaction more than I could ever imagine.

A friend called me earlier this evening and I talked his ear off for almost an hour. Before that, I was Facebook chatting with a sorority sister. When she signed off, I sent her a rude message because she was my entertainment at the time and left me high and dry.

During this past week, driving has been a bit of an issue for me. Now, I said I feel fine, and I do, however, only one thing sounds good to me food-wise, and if I don't get that one thing, I won't eat. Starvation=light headedness. Light headedness=not a good idea to drive. That one thing that sounded good is a Bean Cheesy Gordita Crunch from Taco Bell... Yeah, screw the vegan thing. That shit is waaaay too hard. No wonder they're all so skinny. They have to starve themselves. So, I went to Taco Bell today (don't judge, seriously. Let the record state that I NEVER eat at Taco Bell besides times such as these) and the guy in the window asked where my dog is.

WHERE MY DOG IS. Oh. My. GOSH. He remembers me... And he remembers Cannoli... And I have become a regular at Taco Bell. A few times this week, so as to avoid my neurotic canine getting crazy while I'm gone (he can do a lot of damage in a small amount of time), I have just brought him with me to Taco Bell. It's right down the street, and if I was going to kill myself for poor driving, the bag of fleas is coming with me... Because God knows my mother would send him to the pound... And Heaven is better than to pound.

And, yes, dogs do go to Heaven.

Wait, let's review. I am a REGULAR at Taco Bell.

I have never missed the embarrassing hole-in-the-wall bar in my college town more.

Lord, thank you for your little lessons of humility. I will never again judge those purple visors or those talking hot sauce packets.

Winery of the Week-Piedmont Vineyards and Winery.

2011-05-14T17:52:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I wonder why it was ever a good idea to move out of my parents' house without a husband. So, our internet was "out" for three days, and none of us knew how to fix it. Well, I decided, what the heck? I unplugged both cords and plugged them back in and viola! the Internet is up an running agin... How embarrassing...

Our much overdue Winery of the Week is Piedmont Vineyards and Winery. The oldest vineyard in Virginia, it is owned and operated by a Germany family, who is sweeter than sweet. Their Hunt Country Chardonnay tops my list--has a nice buttery, creamy undertone. Amazing. It is not, however, a "spend the day" at type winery. I would definitely recommend allotting a few hours, and moving on your merry way.

Loves of the Week: A great read, Joe-Joes, Candle, Organization, iPhone App, and a day trip from DC

2011-05-09T18:01:00.017-04:00

Drop what you are doing and get this book. I am not always a super quick reader, but I flew through this in a day. Heaven is for Real is written by Wesleyan pastor Todd Burpo, and tells the story of his son's near-death experience. It's sure to give you a chill or two, while strengthening your Christian faith. It's incredible.

Yes, I'm talking about being vegan again. Get over it.

I found this list of Trader Joe's vegan products. I didn't realize how much they carry! Wow! CLICK HERE

I am BEYOND excited that I have found an amazing sweet something that is vegan. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Joe-Joe's and Better'n Peanut Butter. Sigh. A vegan match made in heaven.

Side note: Just because something is vegan does not necessarily mean something is healthy... Or, um, low in fat, rather. I've come learn that to maintain a healthy vegan diet, you end up eating a pretty high fat content, since you need to supplement your protein with things like beans and avocados.

I've always loved Oreos and peanut butter. It's a combination I learned about in the Lindsay Lohan version of The Parent Trap, when she was still young and innocent, and had not yet been acquainted with illegal substances. Oreos and peanut butter are proof that God loves us. However, if we're staying away from processed foods, my little substitute is better. Joe-Joe's, Trader Joe's version of Oreos, are amazinggggg, even if they aren't altogether low in fat or calories. Better'n Peanut Butter tastes the same as actual peanut butter, except it has 85% less fat and 40% less calories. The consistency is a little weird, but the calorie saving makes this sacrifice well worth it.

Second on my list is the importance of a good-smelling space. I recently moved from the basement of my house to an upstairs bedroom, where my soon-to-be-hitched roomie resided until recently. I now have windows, which I didn't realize how much I'd miss. In an attempt to enjoy summer smells in every way possible, I bought a Caribbean Salsa candle from Bath and Body Works. Good smells really make a huge difference in life in general.

So, somewhat by accident, I came up with seriously the best organization technique I've ever had. While I was living in the basement, I was very limited on closet space. So, my mom bought me the As Seen on TV Wonder Hanger hahaha. She watches too many infomercials. ANYWAY, since I am no longer limited on closet space, I have now used the Wonder Hangers to store my purses and necklaces. I've read that if you can't see something in your closet, you're much less likely to wear it. No more problem anymore. I can see everything now and feel so much more organized.

I discovered a new iPhone app today, and the best part is that it's free! It's called Red Stamp. Here's what I sent my mom using this app this morning:

Finally, I was craving the beach like no other this weekend, so a friend and I took a day trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, about two hours from here. It's a gorgeous boardwalk town, and like any East Coast boardwalk town, is a glimpse in to the good ol' days of America. What could be better than sun, sand, carnival rides, beer, photo booths, carmel corn AND skeeball? Nothing, I tell you. Nothing.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

2011-05-08T10:31:00.002-04:00

Moms. What is there to say? Well, if they didn't carry us for 9 months and teach us everything we know, we would certainly not be the people we are today...

I would like to dedicate this post to my mom, Traci. Without her there are several things I would not know:

1) Napkins always go in laps
2) It is beyond rude to cross your arms while talking to someone.
3) Halloween must never be half assed
4) Cooking and baking are not a necessity, but making sure the entire house has the white glove treatment, so much so that you could eat off the floor, is beyond essential (I disagree... Obviously)
5) How to use a Swiffer Wet Jet multiple times a day.
6) Christmas stockings are "tacky" and must stay in a box in the basement until Santa comes... Unless of course we forget, in which case Santa uses a Giant Eagle bag as a substitute.
7) Love is not geographical. Distance makes the heart go fonder.

I miss you, Mom! Happy Mothers Day! I rarely say this, but I SO wish I was in Ohio to celebrate with you! XoXo