Sorry I’m Not Sorry…

…that I haven’t blogged in days. Tis the season! To be a lazy blogger? Sure!

…that 2 of my favorite gifts this year wers a Chick-fil-A gift card and a foam roller.

The best part was that when I originally asked my aunt for the foam roller, she confused it with a sex toy. Hmm.

…that my grandparents know how accident prone I am and got me a gift certificate to get a RoadID. This little bracelet will have my name, emergency contact #, allergies (NKA baby!) and blood type. I also got to put a quote on there. Sorry I’m not sorry that instead of something inspirational, I put “Run for more cookies!”

It’s true. I run for more cookies.

…that on Christmas, my family and I got really weird. Wine may have been to blame, but honestly, we’re a strange group sober. My cousin Gabrielle jokingly handcuffed me so I couldn’t drink more wine.

And when I snapped out of the cuffs, she slapped on some duct tape. Fancy duct tape, if I do say so myself.

Did you guys know you can make crafts with duct tape? Gabrielle made me some bows. If you’re wondering why my eyes look possessed, it’s because I am.

…that clearly huge possessed eyes run in the family. Hi Zachary.

…that on Friday I bought an Xbox + a kinect. What! I bought it for one main reason: to dance. Jason and I may or may not have stayed up until almost 5 a.m. dancing. It sure does beat Trio’s 1:45 a.m. closing time.

I have danced to Party Rock Anthem like 45 times in the last 2 days. I also bought Your Shape.

…that all these Xbox workouts are being refueled with peppermint Hershey Kisses.

…that this post was really random and weird. What else would you expect from me?

Talk to me, people! I miss you! I love you!

What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. On Monday, my very first printed article hit the stands. Featured in the Going Out section of Mount Pleasant Magazine, you will find my article on wine tasting. I can look at my blog all day long on the computer, but to finally have something in print is so exciting!

My favorite part is my shameless single girl plug in the contributors section. You just never know who might get their hands on this.

Here is a link to the online edition: http://mountpleasantmagazine.com/winter2011/

*Locals can pick up a copy at the Mount Pleasant Harris Teeters, Piggly Wigglys, Whole Foods, Triangle Char & Bar, The Shoe Fairy, Mary Mojo Boutique, Village Library, Metto Coffee, Mount Pleasant Visitors’ Center, Salon Capelli, T-Mobile (1036 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.), Boulevard Diner, Great Clips on Coleman Boulevard, On The Run, and High Thyme Cuisine on Sullivan’s Island.

2. While at the library yesterday, I noticed this book. I was cracking up in the aisle by myself. I mean really, I feel like the library is so conservative, but clearly not.

In case you missed this hilarious post, I’ve previously posed with this gem. It was a joke…kind of…

If you’re my facebook friend (which you should be), you will appreciate my current profile picture, which is very similar to the one above. But better.

3. Ashley informed me that one of my favorite beverages, Vitamin Water in XXX zero flavor is actually an excellent hangover cure. It’s chock full of Vitamin C, B3, B5, B6, and B12, manganese and electrolytes. Electrolytes help replenish the fluids the alcohol stole from you and vitamins are just wonderful, obvi. Plus, the name XXX always makes me think of my nickname Xtina.

4. My friend Eric, a food critic for the Charleston City Paper, has dared me to do the cinnamon challenge. Although I told him I put cinnamon on everything, he doubts my ability to choke down a full tablespoon. I will vlog this. Get ready!

5. You should also get ready for a chocolatey giveaway tomorrow! Stay tuned…

Food Nostalgia

So this morning, I randomly woke up at 6:47 a.m. It is very unlike me to wake up before my alarm clock, so instead of groaning about it, I took advantage of the situation. It was pointless to stay in bed, and because I skipped my workout Tuesday night to hang out with Lucy, I figured a morning run was a good idea. I ran a 5k around a neighborhood nearby and then walked close to 1 mile home. Just about 4 miles later, I ran back to my bed, turned the fan on high and watched the morning news while I cooled down. I actually really liked starting the morning like that!

Once home, I began destroying eating plain Greek yogurt topped with blueberries and fiber cereal. Just because I deviated from my normal morning routine, did not mean I was switching up breakfast! Later, at work, Dane had powdered donuts. Something in my head (heart?) told me that it was totally fine to eat one, as I had resisted them since um, early high school? It was total nostalgia once the powdery goodness hit my lips.

So that afternoon, I was reading Laura’s blog and saw her post about DUNKAROOS. I freaked out and she responded telling me they were at Super Wal-Mart. Well you know my crazy behind went to Wal-Mart immediately after work. And there they were. On the bottom shelf. WHO PUTS DUNKAROOS ON THE BOTTOM SHELF?!

Laura also informed me that Super Wal-Mart has Rice Krispies Treats Cereal. So, yep, I bought that too:

Rest assured that after making these purchases, I drove straight to Boone Hill Farms and picked up some fresh, local veggies: tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and peaches. Balance is key!

Tonight I’ve been thinking, about childhood foods. Here are a few of my old favorites:

My Grammy always bought me these. Is this even real meat? Eeeeeeek.

I used to eat all the crackers first and then the cheese! EW disgusting kid alert. OR I would make sandwiches.

Jawbreakers!

Candy bling!

These make me want to squirm now:

No wonder I had cavities.

And how did I eat all this crap? Young metabolism and lots of THIS!!!

Now tell me your favorite childhood foods or trends!

For the record, I did not eat cereal and dunkaroos for dinner. I had chicken sausage and zucchini and squash with hummus. :)

I May Be Crazy But I Can Make Beet Risotto with Goat Cheese!

All of my negative traits must be forgiven, for I can make some killer risotto.

And cookies.

But really, I am a CLUMSY MESS. It’s not a joke. My attention span is unreal. I’m either unable to focus on anything, or I’m hyper focused on one thing. Luckily, I tend to be hyper focused at work, as long as I have my music on.

A typical Whole Foods shopping adventure for me includes a)knocking something over, b)dropping something, c)ramming something or someone with my cart, d)losing my cart, or e)all of the above. Today, while purchasing Arborio rice for my dinner, I had a moment. You know those bins at Whole Foods? I had pulled down the handle to release Arborio rice into my bag and then heard my phone go off and for some reason, I just walked away. While the handle was still down.

I made it rain Arborio rice all over that place.

This girl looked at me like I was all sorts of stupid, but I looked at her and laughed, because really, how serious could this be? It’s freaking rice. It costs like 2 cents and you have to laugh at life, right?

I walked out of Whole Foods and chuckled to myself the entire ride home. Then the cooking began! I was in the mood for something comforting, so the beet risotto that Lucy’s mom had made us came to mind. It was time to recreate her masterpiece!

I used a combination of her recipe and one that Jenna recently posted on Tasty Kitchen.

Beet Risotto

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2-3 medium beets, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 cup Arborio rice
• 3 cups fat free, low sodium chicken broth
• 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• salt & pepper to taste
• crumbled goat cheese, for topping

Preparation:

1. Warm the olive oil over medium heat in a medium pot.

2. Add the beets and onion, and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the rice, chicken broth, and balsamic vinegar. Increase the heat. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the rice is tender and the risotto is creamy, stirring occasionally (about 15 minutes).

4. Season with salt and pepper and add the thyme. Sprinkle with the goat cheese. Serve immediately.

While chopping the beets, I nicked my palm with the knife. Then I realized I had no idea if I had broken the skin because my entire hand was red anyway! Aren’t beets fun?!

Despite spilling rice and cutting my palm, this meal was ridiculously good. It was creamy and comforting with a nice hint of thyme. The goat cheese balanced out the tangy balsamic and also added to the creaminess. I’m kind of glad I didn’t invite any friends over because I want this alllllllllll to myself!

Along with the beets, I had some Swiss chard that I sautéed in olive oil with garlic and crushed red pepper. Quite a colorful meal.

Now apparently I am not the only crazy in Charleston. Check out this dude I spotted walking down King Street last weekend. HOT PANTS! They are bright yellow and his hair is blue. I found it to be such perfect timing that he was walking by a fire hydrant when I spotted him. They match!

XO!

Sweet & Summery Chicken Salad

Despite the fact that it’s 46* and raining here in Charleston, I was feeling Summery. Maybe because I was just at the pool last weekend? There were a bit too many Coor’s lights and Peeps this weekend so I together an easy chicken salad with some ingredients I found in my kitchen. It came together quite nicely…and Summery.

Sweet & Summery Chicken Salad, serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded, cooked chicken (6 oz.)
• 1/2 cup pineapple tidbits
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces
• 2 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt (I love you, Fage!)
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
• s&p to taste

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, toss together chicken, pineapple, carrots, and walnuts.
2. Add Greek yogurt, honey, mustard, cinnamon, and salt & pepper. Mix well. Serve atop a bed of lettuce or in a pita.

The Guzzini bowl and silverware pictured above were purchases from Eataly in NYC. This is my most recent green obsession purchase. The amount of green objects I have is obnoxious.

- my laptop

-my Blackberry cover (Matt was creeping on my text messages.)

- my Camelbak

- kitchen bowls

- one of my bedroom walls

-Longchamp bag

- mittens

– blankets

- dumbbells

–kitchen utensils

- and the unnecessary collection of Menchie’s spoons

I think everyone has an affinity for a particular color, but I probably need an intervention.  Yesterday when I was at Menchie’s, I noticed they now have hot pink spoons! I immediately texted Lucy, knowing she’d be psyched. She replied, “No freaking way! Take their spoon supplies!!!!!!! It’s you and me in spoons!”

Obviously I asked the girl at the counter if I could buy some. She smiled, handed me a bowl and said “Here. Have a nice day!”

SCORE!! But now Lucy and I are wondering what the heck we’ll do with 60 pink spoons.

What is YOUR color?

I Am In Love.

Not with a man, nope, no way.

I am loving these lately:

1. C.O. Bigelow lip products: Apple Rose Salve and Lemon Lip Cream. Both are so refreshing and Summery!

2. The fact that even at 26 years old, I still consult a Magic 8 ball for making life decisions. Ask8ball.net is the 8 ball of the 21st century.

3. Library books. I embrace my nerdiness.

4. Nerdiness would be an understatement.  This would explain why Ashley and I feel that it’s okay to “power up” with our matching rings.

5. PEEPS!! Justin reintroduced these into my life Thursday night. For the past 20-ish years, I’ve thought that I didn’t like them. Wrong. We ate these peeps in .2 seconds in the Target parking lot.

6. This sign from the tanning bed that I found in Ashley’s bedroom. It was on her desk, but I kindly placed it on her bed where it belongs.

7. The fact that we somehow managed to get half of the gym friends out on Friday night. Don’t ask me who the Bob Barker lookalike and his woman are. We just befriended them I guess.

8. Chick-fil-A. Did you think it wouldn’t be on this list? Ha.

What are yall up to today? I am off to the Vickery’s Oyster Roast with some gym friends. Sunday Funday!!

xo!