One Hit Wonder

I'm a fan of simplicity. I am also a fan of cooking. And when the two come together, I am very content with life. My favorite things to cook are homey, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink meals that allow me to get creative and clean out my pantry/fridge at the same time. Observe:

I'll admit that this dinner happened on account of pure laziness and utter impatience starvation after a long day of work. I mixed the sausage and veggies in with some pasta and parm and viola! Dinner was served and I was happy.

Speaking of O.H.O.s.....

Whatever happened to these guys, anyway?


Basking in simplistic simplicity,
-E

[Insert title here]

Why the vague title? Easy. Because it would be nearly impossible for me to come up with name for this post that would fully encompass everything that has been going on as of late. There is also the whole factor of anything past 9:30pm being "late" to me since I started working full time. It is now almost 11 and I am slowly turning into a zombie, so I'll be brief. Here's the Campbell's condensed version of what's been going on lately:

1. Moved out. "Homeless" for 2.5 weeks.
2. Blew a tire.
3. Dad to the rescue. Scored new tires, oil change and non-banshee-screaming windshield wipers.
4. Moved in with a lovely lady named Leah.
5. Went to Charleston/boating fiasco/Hootie and the Blowfish live (EPIC).
5. Workin' 9 to 5. Just tryin' to make a living.

Aside from loving my exciting new job and roommate, the blown tire is the most outrageous thing that has happened to me lately, which I would consider a good thing. Next on the agenda? Finish sprucing up my new digs (colors of choice: deep brown, turquoise and coral) and relax this weekend. More to come including a recent [epic] $10 Goodwill find. I leave you with this gem of a YouTube treasure:

 I hope your mind is blown,

-E

Adventures in the Windy City and Other Recent Happenings

In regards to my lack of posting this week... I can explain. I returned home from Chicago last Sunday night and then was thrown into a whirlwind week of activities and tasks. Monday and Tuesday were dedicated to moving all of my belongings out of my apartment to a temporary holding place and then cleaning and vacating said apartment. As per usual, a monkey wrench was thrown into the mix on Monday when a potential employer called me back for a second-round interview on Tuesday. Not wanting to reschedule, I accepted the interview time, and I'm so glad I did because later that day I was offered the position! I start on Monday and I am a hotbox of emotions including excitement, nervousness, and relief. More than anything, I am eager to see what this position has in store and to start this terrifyingly wonderful new chapter of my life.

Speaking of Chicago......

It. Was. Phenomenal.

We feasted on deep dish pizzas and Chicago dogs. We sampled fine German brews and perused the various bar scenes. We made new friends and utilized close to ten different modes of city transportation (everything from trains to boats to trolleys). I love the city and I am even more convinced now that I want to live there one day. Here are a few examples of weekend festivities:

In other news..

Today my coworker, Daniel, was fortunate enough to be serenaded by me. Song of choice? Elton John's "Daniel," of course. This sparked a discussion on the existence of any songs with the name Erin, which prompted Google searches, which led to the discovery of this little ditty:

I don't hate it. And I'd like to share it with all the barista goons at Starbucks that have ever spelled my name 'Aaron.'


Happy weekend!

-E

If you don't know by now, I'm talkin' 'bout Chi-town

I haven't posted in awhile, and for good reason. I have found that a lot of really terrible words start with the letter M...

Muck
Massacre
Mothballs
MOVING

Obviously, the one in all caps has proven to be the bane of my existence for the past few days. My closet has been heavily consolidated, trinkets have been wrapped and boxes have been packed. The only thing left to do is wait for my parents to arrive and help me move. In the mean time, a vacation is most definitely in order. Today we (my roommates Leah and Ashley, some high school friends and myself) fly off to Chicago at approximately 4:10pm. I visited the city around this time last year and fell in love, so needless to say I am very excited to return. We will be galavanting around Wrigleyville, frolicking on the beach by Lake Michigan, and taking a limo to nearby Crown Point, Indiana, courtesy of Leah's mom. Hopefully this weekend will be just as ridiculous as it sounds.. Updates soon to follow!

Here's to happy travels,

-E

When cucumber met avocado... And then both met my stomach.

South Carolina summers are notorious for being hotter than the devil's armpit. This summer, however, is quite possibly one of the hottest I've ever experienced in my 22 years living in this state. The scorching temperatures and 2000% humidity outside create quite the conundrum when I'm deciding what to fix for lunch or a midday snack. Instead of eating something warm and adding to my internal thermostat's misery, I like to opt for a cold and refreshing treat that's loaded with flavor and lacking in fat. Enter cucumber and avocado salad:

My inspiration for this recipe came from the June issue of bon appetit. My initial attempt was done at my parents' house, so I tweaked it a bit to work with the ingredients I had on hand. I must say, it was delicious, and green and all things good. The key to this recipe is maceration, which involves bringing out the natural juices of fruits and veggies (think strawberries sprinkled with sugar, which leads to that yummy red syrup). You could certainly spoon this salad over a piece of grilled chicken, or stuff it in some pita bread with hummus for a vegetarian treat. I hope this helps to cool off even the hottest of summer days!

Happy healthy eating,

-E

To-do Tuesday

Today has proven to be one of the most productive days I've had all year, which is very surprising considering I got maybe a collective 4 hours of sleep last night. It was one of those restless, tossing-and-turning, sorry excuses for sleep that makes you pray for daylight so you can avoid eating everything in the fridge and watching hours of Walker Texas Ranger and MacGyver reruns. I was out of bed by 6:45am and had an impressive to-do list in front of me by 7. I flitted around downtown like a butterfly on speed; I mailed letters, scheduled appointments, made deals and took names. I got all but two items crossed off my list: go for a run and pizza/bingo night with my friends (and those shouldn't be too hard, now should they?) Now, as I lie in my wonderful bed listening to a summer storm roll in, my only task is to curl up under the covers, watch When Harry Met Sally, and take a MUCH deserved nap.

Sweet dreams,

-E

When life hands you lemons...

...you most certainly do not make lemonade. Especially not if you're having the kind of day I had yesterday. Lemonade is for happy occasions like picnics or the Little Mountain Reunion (the kind that comes in a giant alien-shaped cup... if you've been you know what I'm talking about). Long story short, my Friday the 13th decided to show up a day early and toy with my sanity. But it's over and today is a new day and I am going to rock it out - which is highly optimistic considering today is the actual Friday the 13th. I guess it's true what they say; you've got to have some really weird and awful days in order to truly appreciate the good ones.

Here's a little something that cheers me up when I have a yucky day:

How can you be sad after watching something like that??

Cheers to better days,

-E