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

Pop a Squat

Today marked a mini-milestone for me. Observe:

That's right. I bought my first piece of furniture, which basically means that I am now a big girl by default. I found this little beauty at an antique store in the bustling metropolis of Little Mountain (my hometown) back in November. Being an unemployed college student, I didn't have adequate funds until graduation money started flowing in months later. Additional motivation to purchase came after the ladies who work at the store informed me that another person had been scoping out MY chair earlier today. So I pounced. And I have zero regrets. Other finds included a lobster pin, books, and a vintage dress I would give my left arm for:

My trips to antique and thrift stores are the equivalent of Audrey Hepburn's obsession with Tiffany & Co. in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I encourage anyone to step outside the retail box and scout out some hole in the wall shop. You might be surprised at what you find.

Happy antiquing, 

-E

Open for Business

Dear Whomever,

After a 9 month hiatus, I'm back to blogging. This time around I am a little older (well, 9 months older), a little wiser (college degree), and more dedicated to posting as I have nothing but time this summer. Below is an abridged list of what's been going on:

1. Sad news first. My beloved Ruby passed away from Parvovirus and I miss her tremendously every day.
2. I turned 22 years old in November.
3. I celebrated the holidays the best way I knew how.. Eating enormous quantities of home cooked meals and retail therapy overload.
4. I finished college!! This counts as a partial explanation for my lack of posting.

(which brings us to the present...)

5. I am on the job hunt. Countless hours of searching, tweaking resumes, and writing cover letters has led me to several leads but no official offers. It's brutal out there, but I remain optimistic. In fact, I have an interview today with a PR firm in the lovely Greenville, SC, so fingers are crossed.

I solemnly swear to blog more often. You can also expect more food posts because I've been getting really creative in the kitchen as of late. I am excited to share this delightfully terrifying new chapter of my life and I hope it yields fabulous stories to write about!

Thanks for reading,
-E

The Phantom Kitty

Directly behind my aparment building is a small grassy area and a chain link fence that connects to an old man's yard. I typically walk Ruby in this area every morning so as to avoid distractions on the other side of the building (people, cars, other dogs, etc).

Sometime around mid-August, a tiny white and orange kitten started showing up in the parking lot, mostly lurking under cars and darting from one hiding place to another. Being that my building is mostly inhabited by girls (with an apparent soft spot for feral cats), the little fur ball always was always being left food scraps and water. This went on for about a month, and then she disappeared.

I'm assuming she found her way to the old man who lives behind the apartment complex. One morning about a week ago, I was walking Miss Rubix and I saw a sweet little orange and white speckled face peeping through the fence.. Observe:

Melting of the heart commenced. I think my adoration for this gorgeous little creature stems from the previous love-of-my-life, Pumpkin (may he rest in peace in kitty heaven):

I mean.. how could you NOT appreciate something so obese and lovely?? Regardless, the beautiful moment I shared with Pumpkin Jr. was quickly cut short by a certain someone of the Husky persuasion. Ruby lost her shit and tried to attack my new feline friend and she (I'm assuming it's a she) ran away. And I was devastated. I just knew I would never see her little face poking through the fence again...

But alas! She was there the next day.. and the next, and the next! I have unofficially named her Plucky, due to her bravery and commitment to visit me every morning. At least... I like to think so. I'm even toying with the idea of giving her to my sister as a birthday present/housewarming gift for her new abode. Plucky seems to have the class and wherewithal to be a Charleston housecat.. and what a fantastic rags-to-riches story that would be!

Ruby Goes Under the Knife.. And Other Shenanigans

Ruby got spayed last Friday. As expected, the whole ordeal was incredibly chaotic and involved alot of crying (from both parties) and an unfortunate poop episode in my Honda (from Ruby). I felt like a crappy person all day.. no pun intended. To add insult to injury, apparently she cried more than her neighboring kennel mate which, by the way, was a Chiuaha. She came home with a shaved belly, stitches, and a level of highness that rivals Cheech & Chong. One positive aspect of the experience is that she has since become slightly more docile. In fact, she spends most of her days lounging around on her favorite chair in the apartment which, ironically, is a bright shade of ruby red.

(Ignore the demonic eyes.. Husky eyes and camera flashes are apparently a bad combo.)

Now.. because I'm not one to only blog about my precious canine companion (I swear), I have a new obsession in the "spirits" department. Cue Barenjager:

As a member of the college-age demographic, I have voluntarily taken it upon myself to sample and explore a variety of different alcoholic refreshments, but this one takes the cake. I suppose it may be necessary to like the taste of honey to enjoy this golden treat, but I am willing to bet that even if you dont love honey, you will shortly after partaking. My favorite way to drink it is with Arizona Sweet Tea.. Gut Schmecken!!!

Finally..
I made somewhat of a hasty purchase two days ago. Mostly because I was in a time crunch, but also because I was trying to avoid talking myself out of it. I purchased my very own pair of oxford shoes. I thought this trend was absolutely fascinating when it first came about, but I was hesitant to buy my own pair for fear that I just couldn't pull of a fashion move of that magnitude. The biggest surprise wasn't that I could pull them off splendidly with a pair of skinny jeans... but rather, that I found the little beauties at Old Navy for a mere $11.

I love the eyelet detail and the gray faux-suede that will go with virtually anything! As I'm assuming is the case with most oxfords, they need to be broken in. Regardless, I am very pleased with my purchase and I plan to utilize them in a number of styles.. from leggings to skinnies, to skirts, and more. Hip hip hoorah for fashion bravery!

Stroke, Shmoke

As of tomorrow, exactly one year will have passed since my dad suffered a stroke. He is a special case and incredibly lucky due to the fact that he experienced no paralysis or physical impairment (other than his peripheral vision being slightly altered) at all. Additionally, the left side of his brain was where the "attack" took place, really did a number on his emotional characteristics. He has always been very quiet and mellow by nature, but also hilarious. In the aftermath, however, he talked ALOT.. and wore more of his emotions on his sleeve than previously. The doctors were completely baffled by his ability to stand up and articulate his speech normally only several days afterwards. In fact, their reports expressed a sheer inability to explain why he was okay after such a massive stroke. Seeing him in a hospital bed for the first time ever really tugged at my heartstrings. Daddy is such a central figure in our family. He is rational and dependable and an incredibly hard worker. He's the best dad I could have ever even dreamed up and most importantly... he's still doing great a year later!!

Bitter Apple and Other Oddities

Ruby is currently going through a phase. I can't decide if it's equivalent to the "terrible twos" or the dreaded "rebellious teenage years." Maybe it's just a horrid mixture of both. Regardless, she is quite literally tearing my apartment to shreds. I'm talking destruction that entails eating baseboards, window sills, and my roommate's favorite shoes....

No big deal... just $80 shoes I now have to replace. I made the venture to PetSmart yesterday in desperate hopes that someone would be able to help me release Ruby of her chewing demons. Cue Bitter Apple:

This, my friends, is liquid gold if you have a dog who chews. It is colorless, odorless, and apparently tastes god-awful to dogs. It's also safe to spray virtually anywhere, including most fabrics. I sprayed some on the baseboards and my window sill as soon as I got home yesterday, and then patiently waited. It wasn't until this morning after running a quick errand that I got back and knew Ruby had had a lick of this magical potion. Trust me, she was NOT a happy camper. In fact, she's been hiding under the futon ever since... but I can live with that. Additionally, I purchased a handsome new choke collar (because I don't enjoy having my arm ripped out of socket everytime I take her downstairs to potty), a fire engine red leash (because it makes her blue eyes pop), all-natural peanut butter doggie biscuits and raw hide bones (because she needs encouragement for good behaviors), and some fun little toys...

(because in the end, I'm a big softie). The rubber foot squeaky toy is my personal favorite, but I can't help but wonder if that will only initiate bad behaviors in the form of cannibalism... Guess we shall see.

Dress a L'orange

Let me tell you about my current predicament. A predicament that seems to find me this time of the year, every year. I go to Clemson University (go tigers) and our team colors are orange and purple. Quite a unique combination, no? Being a southern insitution, it is completely expected of female attendees to deck themselves in stylish sundresses for the first few games of the season. Here's the issue... our first four games are all at home and I am quickly running out of options (and funds for options) for gamedays. We're coming up on home game #4, so I have set out on a personal quest to find inexpensive-and actually attractive-orange and/or purple garb for this weekend's festivities. Take a gander at my finds thus far..

Ahh.. simple yet classic. And orange, no less! This little beauty is by Renn and I found it on Amazon.com for $33.66 (no shipping because I'm an Amazon Prime member..hollaa!). Definitely a do-able price considering I could wear this again for a number of different occasions. Ideally, I would dress it up with some fun jewelry.... observe:

This party-on-your-neck is from Francesca's Collections and I happen to love it. It's like a necklace made of Nerds candy (cue Willy Wonka imagination room daydream) and a reasonable 18 bucks.

And now.. for the more subtle fan...

Voila! Both orange and purple are adequately represented. This would be p-resh with a nice little orange scarf and some booties. Also, I'm a huge fan of the criss-cross straps cut-out in the back.. sassy! This number is by my good friend (and probably yours), Forever21.. and on sale for $12! Hellooo, college budget!

Have a Listen, Have a Gander

YouTube is arguably one of the best inventions of my generation. While entertaining, it is also a major cause of procrastination from my studies (or lack thereof). Here's what I'm listening to/watching instead of reading up on the fundamentals of persuasion...

I love it. It's a perfect combination of a Marc Jacobs ad on acid, Marilyn Manson, Slumdog Millionaire (cue blue Indian go-go girls), and a slew of cross-cultural references (African American bongos + clapping choir).

I don't know about you, but I vote for Vampire Weekend to make a cameo appearance in this year's winter Gap Campaign.. Those sweaters are on point.

Annnd finally, over a year before Beyonce debuted her one-shot choreography masterpiece with Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).... there was Feist. Is it any wonder Sesame Street snatched her up as a guest star shortly after? I think not.

Vintage Vixen

Confession: I spend a large majority of my funds on vintage items. From a financial standpoint, this may be considered by most to be a flaw. Personally-and probably only in an effort to justify it-I see it as a skill to be able to find these now one-of-a-kind items and make them my own. I'm not going to sit here and lead you to believe I'm one of those girls that only wears awesome vintage clothes and nothing mainstream (I am a poor college student, afterall), and I will say that I do frequent retail stores of all shapes and sizes. However, set me up with a good antique store, flea market, or online vintage boutique and things have the potential to get out of hand. I rarely shoot for high priced items... except in the case of the chenille bedspread...

It was love at first sight. I found this little beauty out of sheer luck at the antique store in the bustling metropolis of Little Mountain, South Carolina (my hometown). Either the dealer or some other smart shopper had hidden it in the drawer of an armoire and I just happened to find it! It was severly out of my price range at the time, but with a little haggling from mi madre, it became mine. I love it.. not only because of the peacocks (one of my favorite birds), but also because it's not just your run of the mill Pottery Barn-esque bedspread. Ahh, the beauty of vintage!

Other purchases include a sassy sequined going-out shirt (very 80's), a long bright yellow pea coat (very Jackie O, no?), and multiple pieces of jewelry (me likey the clip-ons). Enter my newest obsession: Etsy. My sister introduced me and I am a huge fan. Everything from vintage buttons to alarm clocks is on this site.. so if you, too are a lover of all things vintage, you must venture on over!

Ruby the Wonder Pup

Puppy Fits

Ruby is my dog. Her father was a very handsome Siberian Husky and her mother was a dainty little Catahoula Leopard Dog. Ruby has striking blue eyes and a question mark tail and is very beautiful. She, like most other good looking dogs, uses this attribute to her complete advantage. I guess you really can't expect much more from a dog that cost $25 on Craigslist and since her arrival has been spoiled rotten to the core.

Ruby has puppy fits. You may be wondering what this entails.. and the answer is simple. A puppy fit consists of 5-10 minutes of sheer hell in the form of sprinting, panting, barking, talking (if you're half Husky, apparently), and jumping from one piece of furniture to another in a highly sporadic manner. The severity of a puppy fit, of course, lies with the candidate at hand. Ruby is 6 months old and 45 pounds.. I feel confident that one day, she will blossom into a majestic creature that poses snout-up on a mountain top somewhere in Siberia... but for now, she is very much in her awkward teenage years.

Initiating a puppy fit is much simpler than you would imagine; all one really needs is a racquetball. And it must be a raquet ball. Tennis balls are much too dense to deliver that perky bounce that drives a dog crazy. Smaller junk machine kaleidiscope-esque bouncy balls are much too bouncy and very hard for a dog of such clumsy nature to tackle down. Racquetballs, on the other hand, are ideal because they provide just the right amount of bounce and fit perfectly in most dogs' mouths (All of this was discovered by complete accident, of course, but now I feel inclined to share).

On the evening of August 31, 2011 (last night)... the puppy fit to end all puppy fits occurred, right here in this very apartment. In retrospect, I could honestly be held responsible for instigating the whole thing. Blame boredom mixed with procrastination. While entertaining, said fits are also mildly terrifying sometimes, and at one point I honestly thought one of my roommates might be attacked by this viscious creature that had replaced my little blue-eyed dreamboat. In the aftermath, I was trying to figure out what would trigger such an episode. It occurred to me that maybe this was Ruby's way of releasing some inner demons that were really stressing her out. It was then that I realized that maybe we should all have a puppy fit once in awhile. Perhaps not in the way that Ruby goes about it (she is a dog, afterall), but wouldn't it do us all a world of good to go outside and run around in a completely unplanned and organic fashion? Or-in the appropriate place and time, of course-maybe just let out a yell/scream/holler/jibberish.. one that satisfies you to the core and makes you forget the worries of your day, even if for just a second. Keeping all of that in cannot possibly be good for us as individuals, let alone as a society.

I've read that we can learn alot of things from dogs. While I do not necessarily agree with most of Ruby's day-to-day methods (I've lost 3 pairs of panties in the last month, not to mention her love of pillows as play toys), her puppy fits may or may not be a life lesson that sticks with me. For now, my mission is to formulate a way in which to combat her spazz-attacks in a way that is safe and effective. Wish me luck.

Oh, heller

Welcome to my blog. It is my sincerest hope that I can impart....... something on you. Enjoy!