Tunes Tuesday: Gato Barbieri

Just a short number for this Tunes Tuesday. I recently finished "Eat, Pray, Love" for more times than I'd like to admit. This song will make you feel like you're right there in Italy, and who wouldn't like that right about now?

Happy week, everybody!

Cupcakes posing... 

For the new Food Network Cupcake app!

Can't decide if this is all about the rooms or the dogs. Can't decide if that is even a problem.

Don't be afraid to wear white

My friend tried on this dress and looked amazing. I'm convinced that Anthro can do no wrong. Period.

Easy? Summer? Desserts? I'm in.

Are you ever too old for a bff charm? Answer: never

So versatile!

What a girly photo shoot!

6th grade graduation is huge, man

The future of kid's books? 

Just finished reading a juicy summer read

Double duty

Have a wonderful and relaxing week, reader-friends!

Tunes Tuesday: Dead Man's Bones

...err, Tunes Thursday. The bigger issue here, is I just found out that Ryan Gosling is part of a band. Heavens! I had no idea. The man acts, looks good, loves animals, is in a band, did I mention how attractive he is? Eva Mendes is one lucky lucky lady. 

p.s. a love letter to Ryan

Quinoa burgers

I'm always looking for new and healthy (non-cardboard) eats to try, but low fat recipes are hit or miss (if you know of a healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe that is good, you know where to find me). Today, I thought I would try quinoa burgers. Quinoa is like a smaller version of rice. It's super filling, and this recipe only took twenty minutes - tops! I'm definitely going to try this one again. 

2 rounded cups cooked quinoa 

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or other variety, if you prefer)

1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese

1 medium carrot, finely grated (OR 1 cup shredded zucchini, squeezed dry)

3 eggs

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 green onions, including white parts

1 /2 teaspoon Splenda or sugar

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Olive oil for frying

.

To cook quinoa:

1 cup uncooked quinoa

2 cups water

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a medium saucepan bring the 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil over high heat.  Add quinoa and reduce heat to low.  Cover and cook for 18-20 minutes, or until all water is absorbed and the seeds are tender.  Allow to cool for a few minutes.

In a large bowl combine the cooked quinoa, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, carrot, eggs, flour, green onions, Splenda, pepper, cumin, salt, and garlic powder. Makes about 10 burgers. 

San Francisco 2012

Hey reader-friends! Remember last week how I said I was writing from California? I'd like to share some Instagram photos from my trip. I was in the sunny state for seven days with my good friend Annie. We met on our dorm floor last year and bonded over our love of eating dinner at 4:45 and many'a Say Yes to the Dress marathon. Her family recently moved outside the Bay Area, and I was so excited to tag along!

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1. The first day, we went on a tour of the city and Alcatraz. It was such a spooky island. We took a 10-min cruise ship there, and it showed us some great views of the city. With waves splashing onto the rocks and flowers lining every path, it was hard to believe this beautiful place housed some of the worst criminals. We even saw a book about a girl who grew up on the island because her dad was one of the wardens. She took a boat to the mainland for class everyday - can you imagine? 2. The morning was so foggy, and the city was so chilly! Annie and I would get excited thinking we could see the Golden Gate, but more often than not, it was just power lines in the suburbs. It seemed at first, I was looking for it no matter where we went, so seeing it for the first time was such a thrill. 

3.    4.

3. We went to a Loews's garden center and helped Annie's mom choose some flowers. Everyday in the suburbs was dry and hot - perfect cactus weather! 4. My favorite spot of the whole bus tour - Twin Peaks. It overlooked the entire city and the bay. San Francisco felt like this cool island town - houses painted all sorts of colors, the bay almost always in sight, and houses stacked on top of houses! 

The city no longer has room to grow horizontally, so it really is developing vertically. If you looked down the street in one direction, it seemed to disappear down a hill. But if you looked in a different direction, you couldn't possibly fit all the homes in one photo as they jutted in all sorts of funny angles and on the sides of the mountains? Hills? Rolling terrain? However, I was surprised at the lack of space everyone had. Such tiny lawns (if at all), and garages typically took up the entire main levels of homes which makes for better, er... earthquake living conditions, for lack of a better term? The city was pretty squished, but it was crazy-bustling, in a good "where do I look now" kind of way. So much diversity! Maybe I couldn't "figure it out" at first, because you can't possibly put a label on it. 

5.  6. 

5. I couldn't get enough of all the houses. Looks like they belong in Florida, no? Or perhaps MGM Studios at Disney? As we were driving around town, I couldn't help but notice that none of the houses had screens on their windows. When we stepped outside one night, Annie and I quickly realized there were nearly no bugs. In addition to the lack of humidity, there also weren't any bugs! I'm convinced California is a little piece of heaven on earth.  6. Spotted in World Market: Happy Hippo chocolates! Have you ever had them? They're the best.

Home sweet home at O'Hare! What beautiful signage we have here in the Midwest, wouldn't you say? I was so bummed to leave behind Annie and her family. 

They made sure I saw the Redwoods, drove over the Golden Gate Bridge, and Annie and I even had a chance to visit the movie theater twice in one week. We took her dog on a couple walks, finished books, bought new books, (I) fell asleep outside, and we tried plenty of delicious California eats! It was the perfect vacation to start the summer!

Cupcake dispenser

Have you seen the Sprinkles 24-hour cupcake dispenser? It seems like stylish vending machines are having a comeback! I'm already a huge fan of Redbox, and just the other week I took a survey about buying make-up from a vending machine. Before we know it, we'll be buying our Thanksgiving dinners out of machines!

p.s. Sprinkles Ice Cream is soon to follow the creation of the cupcake dispenser. Yum! 

Happy Monday

(conceptual fashion via weandthecolor.com)

Stuck in a diet rut?

Liz Lemon's hair has an infographic

Keep your eyes peeled for scallops

Did you hear who got married?

I'm in love with everything about this wedding

A friend of mine tried this most amazing pizza in California, and I found the recipe here. Figs, pear, goat cheese - I'm dying to try it!

A whole board dedicated to peanut butter. Genius.

What a gutsy outfit - love!

Now this would be quite the dinner party.

A song to start your week off right

xoxo

An abundance of postcards

I have a bunch of photos and postcards from every city I have visited (plus a few sent from friends). I have been looking everywhere for creative ways to display them without slapping more schtuff on my walls. This 10 Creative Ways to Display Photos from Creature Comforts offered a few good ideas, although I plan to keep my eyes peeled for creative book ideas, so I can take the postcards with me! 

p.s. I also collect mugs from cities I have visited. My favorite? Pirate Flags from the Florida Keys. 

1950's pin-up girls

These pin-up girls before and after from the 1950's gave me a laugh! Did people really cook popcorn like that? God bless microwaves! 

Happy Monday!

Hello reader-friends! I am writing from the sunny state of California! My friend's family just moved out here, and she invited me along to spend the week just outside the Bay Area of San Francisco. Yesterday, we took a tour of the city and visited Alcatraz. It's been too much fun and today is only day three! 

I promise to share photos when the trip is done, but first a few links to start your week... 

Maybe I'll run into this couple. 

Just check out these camera straps!

Make your own 

Five ridiculous things I've said to boys

Maybe it was inspired by this

This baby belongs in a magazine

You know those Burger King ads about the cinnamon rolls? My mom pointed out that every time I see them, I mention how good they look. Every time. Maybe it's time to make these. 

Picnic in Paris

As close as I'll get to Paris anytime soon

One girl takes a stand, and gets 46,000+ supporters

The perfect snack for summer

Happy week, y'all! 

Jean smocks

I'm in love with my chambray shirt from Loft (although admittedly I just call it my "jean top." Sounds so 1999!). It looks great with shorts, leggings, skirts, and of course jeans (and jean on jean is a total "do," in case you were wondering). Paired with flats it functions perfectly as an interview outfit, but with tall brown boots, it looks great for a night out with friends!

These jean dresses from Curator would make great wardrobe pieces, and they don't look like a romper. So no worries that you would run into a toddler sporting the same jean smock. Perfect. The best part? They are wearable throughout the entire year! Throw on colorful tights in the fall or a chunky knit in the spring and you're set!  

Newspaper art

I'm absolutely in love with these prints on newspaper, and I'd imagine they could be remade at home - even better! They would look so cute arranged together on a wall painted with a splash of color, don't you think? 

So many Vader options

Ron Burgundy

Dog king

Currently reading

Currently reading: the final installment of "The Hunger Games." It's dark, but I've already read the first two, so how could I not finish out the series!

At the start of 2012, I made it my personal goal to read one book/ month. Unfortunately, school books kind of took over. And although I have fallen a little behind, I am looking forward to catching up this summer.

I just recently finished "Medium Raw" by Anthony Bourdain. I would like to read one of his other books "A Cook's Tour" all about his travels and food. What's not to love?

A photo of Anthony and his team when I saw them speak at South By Southwest

They even had someone drawing the conversation as part of Oglivy notes - designed to simplify keynote speakers and panels, in the case of SXSW. I was a total nerd about it when I saw this whiteboard on the side of the stage. Thankfully, my fellow nerds at SXSW shared my excitement.  

Nickelodeon was my childhood

Remember when watching television meant sitting in front of hours of Hey Arnold, Rocket Power, and Doug? Ahh, the good old days. 

My sister told me about this 10 lies Nickelodeon taught me. Numbers 8 and 10 hit all too close to home. 

A picture of Bailey. Just because. 

Pizza, peanut butter, and cauliflower?

I'm always looking for new healthy recipes to try. Thankfully, Pinterest has probably tripled my recipe collection. One of my sorority sisters just pinned a bunch of treats from Dashing Dish. (The problem with following friends on pinterest is that we are all so similar I just want to repin everything they post #firstworldproblems)

Dashing Dish has everything from teriyaki chicken lettuce wraps to greek style feta burgers - all of which I am dying to try! Even better? There is a plethora of recipes with peanut butter. I'm sold.   

Mini cauliflower pizza bites

Pizza bagel

peanut butter swirl brownies

Tunes Tuesday: Jonsi

Reader-friends, I stumbled upon Jonsi the other night, and I might have very hastily decided that his album "Go" will be the soundtrack to my summer. It's (mostly) upbeat, instrumental, and there is a lot going on in each song: the perfect kind of music to jam to with the windows rolled down on a summer night.

His album lead me to check out this movie preview featuring Around Us by Jonsi. Ten points if you can guess who the narrator is! ...That alone should be reason enough to see this film.

He also contributed a song to the soundtrack for How to Train Your Dragon - another film I highly recommend. 

Happy tunes hunting!  

Happy happy Monday

It has been rainy and bipolar outside lately. Woof.

Shouldn't I be barefoot in the grass or laying at the park in shorts and sandals? False! The rain has given me an excuse to stay indoors and read all day. Not to mention those clothes aren't going to unpack themselves.

A few surprises to brighten your week... 

(via Citified)

I love seeing weekly wrap-ups! ...or monthly too. 

These shots don't make me feel like I live in the twenty-first century.

The perfect bikini bottoms

I have got to try this recipe soon!

Can't yet decide if the hype makes it worth the read...

Cool logo design. Get it? Cool?

The best worst timesuck

Style inspiration from the best 

Yum

Welcome back, Summer

You've been missed.

Since arriving home yesterday, thus far, I have indulged in too much deep dish pizza, cleaned off my bookshelves, added embarrassing amounts of magazines to my growing stacks, become one with the couch, and alas, I caved and got a Pinterest!

This time last year, I got a Twitter. I've gotta keep up with my social media! And heavens, have I been missing out! Already, I have a handful of boards, each one full. I think it safe to say that my food board will be the most full, followed closely by the board with everything that makes me laugh.... Is it bad I considered pinning a giant pool pillow to my Fitness board?

I'm looking forward to reading one too many books, keeping up with my blogs once again, taking in the sun, and baking - tons of baking.

Happy start of Summer 2012!

Tunes Wednesday: The Uglysuit

Heavens! It's already May, and I am nearly back home in the 'burbs of Chicago. Lately, I have been looking for laidback study music. Something that keeps the lids from drooping, but also something that doesn't have me distracted by all the dance moves I'm creating in my mind (don't want to scare everyone studying at the 'brary.)

The Uglysuit seems to fit that criteria right now.

Happy studying, fellow Hoosiers!