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Wine and Caves

So I had a lovely little evening last night that consisted of salad, french bread, brie, wine, chocolate chip cookies, and my very own bear cave.

It is surprising that wine goes well with chocolate chip cookies....to me at least. So last night with my belly full of good food and wine I went to sleep in a little basement cave room and felt absolutely wonderful all day today. Of course within hours of getting home I am cold and have the stirrings of a headache. Oh well Saturday's are the worst days noise wise so not a fair comparison....

To chocolate chip cookies and wine!

P.S. Oh not to be left out - I also had wonderful company all evening! Thanks for a great night ladies...

P.S.S. WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SING (SCREAM) PRINCE SONGS DOWNSTAIRS!!!!!

Whimsical

So sorry it has been so long since we have chatted! I am sooooo glad finals are over. I can actually have a bit of a life! :)

Recently I have started carousing a new website that sells handmade items. (http://www.etsy.com/) Today while killing time I found a particular section of their items that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE! This category is listed as Nostalgic-Whimsy. I think that it perfectly defines me. I am a bit of a romantic at heart!

Here is the link

http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/nostalgic-whimsy/99?page=1

A few photos of my favorite items!

Peppers!

Okay I am gonna have to make this a brag-blog for a moment. I made the yummiest stuffed peppers I have ever had tonight. So maybe I was especially hungry but still they were really, really, really good!

So for the recipe (if it interest you):

Ingredients
1 Packet of Yellow Rice mix (the one I used made 2.5 servings)
3 Bell Peppers
8oz Mushrooms
1 Tomato
1 1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese
Olive Oil
Onion Power
Salt
2 Cloves of Garlic

So first I started the yellow rice. I also started sautéing the mushrooms. I used the olive oil (enough to cover mushrooms and sauté without burning), the 2 cloves of garlic, onion powder (enough for your personal taste; I sprinkled it all over the mushrooms), and a bit of salt. Next I diced up the tomato and blanched the peppers.

When the rice and mushrooms were finished cooking I mixed them together with the tomato and half the cheese. I used this mixture to stuff the peppers.

I cooked the peppers for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. I sprinkled the rest of the cheese on top of the peppers and broiled for another 5-10 minutes.

I served the peppers with a bit of salsa. Delish!!!!

Happy thought for the day.....home cooked meals are the best!

RACHEL ZOE!!!!!!

http://rachelzoe.com/

Love, love, love it! :)

Pets

I love my pets. They make my life better. They are entertaining and a joy to be around. But.....tomorrow is my day off and what will I be doing? Getting up as early as I normally do and driving to Gainesville to take Snort and Twinkle Toes to the vet at 9:30. Then I get to drive back to Commerce to study and then back to Gainesville for school. Why haven't they invented those beam things like in Star Trek yet?

I should've been a chef

Lately all I want to do is cook...bread. I think I should have been a chef or a baker. I would love to be able to cook all the time, probably because I love to eat. Maybe I will copy that new movie Julia, grab a cookbook and start cooking everything in it! I tend to do this every year in the fall/winter. It is a comfort food issue. Like I am gearing up for the holidays and hibernation? I'll post the recipes that work out for me. Hopefully I can find some that are healthy!

Fall Changes

So lately I have been obsessed with clothes. Maybe it's that fall is in the air. Not sure but one of my favorite places to online window shop is www.anthropologie.com. I love, love, love everything they sell. So instead of blowing my budget I decided to re-purpose some of my own clothes. Imagine that!

I reorganized my closet this weekend, spurred on by the above clothing obsession. I am fortunate in that I have a VERY big closet. The biggest I have ever had. Not only it is large but it's pretty. I love having everything in its own place. It makes getting ready in the morning so much easier. Plus while cleaning I was able to donate several things.

I also decorated the apartment more this weekend. I still need some curtains but I am happy with the way everything is for the moment. I am nesting a bit. I think its the season change. I am subconsciously getting ready for winter.

I love fall!

Things I love from anthropologie:

Rain delay

I'm behind. That is what I think on almost a daily basis. I am late for work, late getting home; there is not enough time to do all the things I want. Or maybe I just don't manage the time I have well.

I am finally on my last two years of school or three if you count the 5th year program I will be following. I am behind here too. I should have finished school by now and be well entrenched in my profession of choice. Life gets in the way sometimes, and our own not so smart choices.

Am I behind in life? I am surrounded by women my age with multiple marriages, kids, etc. I don't have any of those past or present. I try to search myself and see if this bothers me but it really doesn’t. I don't feel a hankering for children yet. I would like to be with someone but I am not lonely. Like most things I guess when I really want it I will get it.

So why so introspective today? Not sure. I am not quite at an impasse but not completely settled in my current world either. I spoke with a friend today who is dealing with something that happened six months ago. She made me thankful for the people that I have in my life. She has also made me think of the lives we live and how we live them. As I said before I always feel late, rushed, and in a hurry to get to my next destination. Some of us live our lives rushing towards the hereafter. We never appreciate what we have today. We are always looking for something bigger and better.

I can’t be happy living my life rushing for something better. I want to learn to appreciate my surroundings. Appreciate the life I am in and who and what I have surrounded myself with. The future is always there. It will wait if not for me then for those I love. I hope to help them appreciate their daily lives as I learn to appreciate my own. To everyday find something that is joyful, thoughtful, peaceful, or fulfilling that gives a meaning for the day. To have a daily rain delay that makes me stop the world in its tracks and appreciate the here and now.