Category Archives: Random Thoughts

Hitting Reset

Posted on by

4

Do What Makes You Happy

Happy 2013! Here’s hoping your New Year’s Eve celebrations were not only a success, but the perfect opportunity to say goodbye 2012, hello 2013.

I’m not big on resolutions mostly because they tend to have negative connotations (stop doing this… give up that…) and focus on what we lose, not what we become. So instead of pledging a list of resolutions, I’d like to propose we all hit reset. Take time to really examine the things we’d like to accomplish in our lives in the coming year and set up specific, measurable ways to get there.

You may have noticed that the blog hit reset too – getting a little bit of a facelift due to a new header graphic. I hope this is just the beginning of some upcoming changes/improvements to the site. Big thank you to my friend Kendall who designed it for me.

I’ve made some other plans for the year, in terms of eating and being well, but you’ll just have to stick around to uncover what’s headed your way.

Cheers!

What are your goals for the New Year?

Thankful Twenty Times

Posted on by

2

Thankful for today

And today I’m thankful for…

1.  Family & friends, near & far

2. Health

3. Intelligence

4. Cowboy boots

5. Yoga

6. Education, the ability to possess & pursue

7. Wine

8. Laughter

9. Strong legs, ready to run

10. Healthy food & clean water

11. Music for listening & dancing

12. Madison, Wisconsin

13. Reading books

14. Macaroni & Cheese

15. Writing

16. Lake houses on warm summer days

17. Seeing the world

18. Cooking, new recipes & old

19. An active mind & body

20. Ambition

What are you thankful for today?

 

Pinterest Picks: Pins for Colder Weather

Posted on by

7

Happy Thursday, everyone! First things first, my apologies if you visited the blog yesterday and were expecting a good ole round of What I Ate Wednesday (linked up in case you want to read other posts). Have no fear and stop your worrying, it really was Wednesday – I just was feeling the complete opposite of good on Tuesday night and well, these posts just don’t write themselves.

To make it up to you, next week I’ll share the recipe for these burritos I managed to make in between lounging on the couch and spending much too long on Pinterest.

Until then, here are a few of things I found on Pinterest that I thought would suite the cooler temps headed our way quite nicely.

Pasta with butternut squash sauce – you know I never pass up a good pasta dish! I feel all warmed up just looking at it.

Photo Credit

Pecan pie bars – add these to my Christmas cookie platter please!

Photo Credit

A champagne bar because, well, why not pass the bubbly?

Photo Credit

Sometimes Less is More

Posted on by

7

Be SIlly, Be Honest, Be Kind

If you read regularly, you may have noticed fewer posts than normal lately. This is partially due to being out of town and partially due to lack of time. (I don’t like to use the word “busy” because I think we’re all busy. What we can accomplish is just a matter of priority and attitude.)

Anyways, I’d just like to take this time to say I’ll be switching to 3-4 posts a week as oppose to the 4-5 posts a week I’ve been currently doing. What does this mean for you the reader? Higher quality posts with better images and more thoughtful… well thoughts. I hope you’ll continue to enjoy reading the posts as much as I enjoy writing them.

Photo credit

Fall TV Favorites

Posted on by

1

Due to a batch of new shows recording on my DVR as we speak, I thought I’d talk about something a little unconventional for a food blog: TV. You see, it really isn’t that far of a stretch because who doesn’t like to have a TV show or music on in the background while you’re cooking? I know I do. Admittedly, I prefer music, but that’s mostly because I’m a huge fan of spontaneous dance parties… even if it’s a party of one.

Before I share all the *gems* of shows I’m watching this season, please note. A serious TV watcher I’m not. What I mean by this is that I don’t watch a lot of TV and that I don’t watch shows of a serious nature. Say what you will about my favorites but I gave up on paying any attention to other people’s opinions a long time ago – I like what I like. :) Let’s begin shall we?

Glee on Fox – Returning for the 4th season, the outbreaks of song and dance make my heart sing (see spontaneous dance parties above). So far this season has been pretty different due to a number of the characters graduating high school, but I like the new story lines. Only downside? The show is on hiatus until November.

Glee season 4

Nashville on ABC - Okay so I’ve only seen one episode so far, but I think this is going to be a good one. It combines music and drama… clearly a theme for me. Anyways, while my interest in this show was piqued simply by the location due to a recent trip to Nashville it’s been more than fun to relive the trip via the sites on the show. Seriously shot on location people!

Nashville on ABC

Chicago Fire on NBC - Does anyone remember Chicago Code, the show about the Chicago PD? Well I really liked it and they canceled it… and left a cliffhanger too, the nerve! I digress. Again I’ve only seen one episode (and a half – watching as I type) but this one seems pretty good too. Living in the area, it’s fun to track the places these firemen go. Warning – it’s kind of a tearjerker.

Chicago Fire on NBC

Hart of Dixie on the CW - I watched the first season because I have fond memories of Rachel Bilson on The OC. It didn’t take me long to get hooked on the show and watch the whole first season. The second season seems to be a mess of a love triangle, but this small town drama is sweet and heartwarming, not to mention Rachel Bilson wears a lot of cute clothes.

Hart of Dixie

Don’t worry. Food Network is also still on constant rotation.

p.s. – The butternut squash recipe from yesterday’s WIAW will be up tomorrow!

What shows are you watching this fall?

Three Things Thursday

Posted on by

4

Let me be honest… I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to write about for today’s post so I started thinking why not share a few random thoughts with y’all… three to be exact!

Great Gatsby Quote

1. I just spent about a half hour reading quotes on Pinterest  - call it a blessing or a curse but I love reading how other writers weave words together and hence The Great Gatsby quote above. Speaking of which, have you seen the trailer for the movie coming out this Christmas? It’s star-studded cast will hopefully prove to yield a wonderful film and I’m immediately adding the book to my must-read list. (It will be a re-read! I have read it twice before.)

2. Since I’ve already uncovered my inner nerd, I might as well talk about the book I’m currently reading. I just started Julie & Julia and even though I’m only a chapter and a half in, I like it so far. The story is neatly connected to the author’s interest in cooking. I know there is a movie version of this book too, but I never saw it.

3. I picked up another pint of this ice cream at the store this evening… because that’s just what I do when go to the store for bananas and tea.

Photo credit

Wisconsin Made

Posted on by

2

This past weekend I visited a city that is very near and dear to my heart, Madison, Wisconsin. A proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin, some of my fondest memories from young adulthood (well, I was young and trying to be somewhat adult-like), took place in this town. To me, walking the streets of campus and downtown represent hope, ambition and fearlessness. They remind me of dreams and of thinking the world was outside the door waiting for just for me, and in a way, I suppose it was.

Needless to say, I enjoy visiting Madison for many reasons, but the one that ranks highest on the list is the breath of fresh air and sense of renewal I feel every time I’m there. Here are a few more:

The view from Memorial Union Terrace

Memorial Union, Madison, WI

Drinking Spotted Cow on the Terrace

Memorial Union

Homemade Babcock ice cream, made right on campus (sorry for the weird pic, I was trying to walk, eat & photograph!)

Babcock Ice Cream