Pete!! Is that you?!?!

Last night was a B-L-A-S-T. So, as always, a couple of beers turned into a night of debauchery with the boys. I say that because I was literally the only girl there with our group. We went to MacDinton's (our favorite Irish pub) for their happy hour and ended up staying all night :)

MacD's.....always packed on Fridays

So, there was a Christmas party there with some of the most oddly dressed people ever... ok, I get the Santy hat,  I get the red and green kilt, I even kind of get the socks...but the tail?? That I don't get.

A night of shenanigans called for a slightly heartier breakfast than normal. And apple omelet was the perfect mix of sweet and savory for this morning!! 

Unfortunately, I had to sacrifice a few chicks in order to feed my demanding tummy...

SHIT!!! Pete, is that you????

Hahahahaha...

Apple of My Eyemlet (omelet) Adapted from Taste of Home

Ingredients:

• 3 T. whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 3 T. almond milk (or soy milk)
• 1 T. lemon juice
• 2 T. Splenda
• 1 medium sized apple (any color) thinly sliced
• Cinnamon to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Combine flour, baking powder, eggs, soy milk, lemon juice, and sugar into a large bowl. Mix well with whisk. 
3. Pour mixture into a shallow baking pan coated with nonstick spray. Place apple slices and cinnamon to taste on top.

Before

1. Bake for 18-20 mins or until edges are slightly turned up and browned.

After- perfectly browned!

Enjoy with cinnamon, syrup, nutmeg, chia seeds, yogurt, whatever you want!

Three pieces later....

After b-fast, I headed for a maj sweat sesh with my other boyfriend "Gym" :) Him and I did 3 10-minute sessions. First was treadmill hill intervals, second was elliptical intervals alternating between speed and resistance, and third was treadmill speed intervals. I did my favorite ab workout from my friend Rachel:

• 50 straight sit ups
• 50 pulses
• 50 leg lifts to the ceiling
• 50 bicycles
• 50 oblique crunches (crunches on your side)
• Can follow this with 3 30-second planks (one to the front, one on each side)

After Justin finally awoke (I felt like a kid on Christmas waiting for him to wake up so we could play!), we headed to Tampa Bay Downs horse racing track for our friend Nick's birthday!

Lunch was Arby's on the way (it was like the promise land, we were both craving it hard core)...

Market Fresh salad and a Junior Roast Beef (not pictured because I ate it before I had a chance...)

I was like a kid in a candy store, it has been soooo long since I'd been around horses, I forgot how much I love them (I used to dabble in riding when I was younger). I had my very first horse betting experience.

Obviously, the only way to do it is to bet on funny or ridiculous horse names... so I bet on Pull Me Out, Wakiva, and Jenny's So Great. 

Win number 1!!

Me and Gucci both won this race, it was sooo exciting!

This section is for the hardcore old men, 3 whiskys deep...

The jockeys were like carnies....small hands...smelled like cabbage....They were TINY!

Win number 2!!!! We all bet on Pull Me Out because Jen came over and says, "Guys, look, number 9 's name is like a talking penis!" We were dying.

Pull Me Out and Jenny's So Great both won and I was $12.20 richer (ok, when you account for the money I spent betting and buying snacks and drinks, I actually only won $2). But who's counting?

Daaaa girls da girls da girls

hardcore equestrian pic! Jamie's riding her horse, love it!

After all the race excitement we settled into Maloney's Local Irish Pub and Eatery in West Chase with some friends...

Had some girl bonding time and a bloody mary, then we were off!

After the bar, we headed to Clearwater beach for a night in a ONE MILLION dollar condo with our friends Suzy and Stefan. It was GORG. Plus, RIGHT on the water...

Cheetah print door detail

My parents have these at their house!

Suz workin' hard in the kitch.

Sweet flatscreen where we watched South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut at bedtime! I forgot how hilarious this movie is... I was rolling...

Best 3 South Park Songs. Watch more top selected videos about: The Early Show, Baseball

This is the lobby, are joo keeding me?!

Swimmin' with the fishes!

The night was full of cookin', hot tubin', pool swimmin' (it was 85), ice cream eatin' and hysterically laughing (like it always is with those two). 

Din din! Grilled chichen, brocs, rice-a-roni, maters...

un salado! Y patatas fritas (not pictured) I took five years of Spanish and still don't know if I said any of that right...

Great Saturday!

Night all!

What a Ham

Today is the day. Britney Spears turns 30 years old today. I will freely admit, I am one of her last standing fans. I still listen to her music, and enjoy it, especially when I run (Insert tormenting from you guys here).

Let's remember her like this...at the height of her career...before she went crazy...

I don't know about you guys but to me, this means my childhood is officially over.

If you were old enough to remember when her "Hit me Baby One More Time" video came out, you're old too. Goodbye Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, goodbye Britney from videos past, goodbye childhood.

I mean seriously... Mickey really knows how to pick em'...let's see we got Christina, Britney, Ryan Gosling (drool), Justin (not mine), and the list goes on! High five mickey. High five.

Here are 23 adult truths that had me rolling (Numbers 16 and 23 are especially true...)

And I added a 24th since I'm officially becoming an adult right now and I'm 24...

24.) You know you're old when a wild night consists of ordering something new on the Chinese takeout menu and 3 movies in a row! Phew...watch out now.

My first breakfast of true adulthood consisted of plain yogurt, cinnamon, chia seeds, sliced nanners, and homemade cranberry sauce (I love being able to say that)!!! Also, a little Kashi added later for ca-runch!!!

The cranberry sauce sweetened the plain yogurt just enough

So, this has been AAAWWWLLLL ova Facebook the past few days and it is truly disturbing, yet truly entertaining. If you're easily offended, do NOT view this website, it's pretty ghetto, but it is HIGH-LARIOUS.

http://textsfrombennett.tumblr.com/

Bennett is a white boy who thinks he's hardcore gangsta. As you can see from the texts, he's extremely intelligent and perceptive. Here's one of my favs...

Nothing better on a first date than sammon, corndogs, and oriental lasanya. 

I don't know about you guys, but I have ALWAYS dreamed of going to New York City during Christmas time and going to the tree lighting,

the Rockettes Christmas show,

These women are freaks of nature....but I love them so..

see some classic Broadway shows,

go ice skating in Rockefeller Center,

Tell me, WHAT is more classic Christmas than this?!

and MAYBE do some shopping too...just a little.

This has me sticking my whole fist in my mouth biting my nails in anticipation!!!

This video made me even more excited to go someday, I love it!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Lunch was the same today...no news there, except I have officially eaten a pound of ham by myself this week in the soup alone. That kind of makes me never want to eat it again. 

Still tasted delish though! 

I have been called a ham before, so I guess it's true, you are what you eat :) tehehe

After sending out another round of Christmas cards, blogging, and paper writing, I walked to the gym to clear my mind! It was strength training class today, and for once, I finished all the reps and felt great the whole class! Must be the ham :)

I went to campus for a bit to return a book, and I actually got choked up thinking about how this coming week was my last on campus! Who am I?!

Oh Dawson, it's ok....don't cry...please...you look ugly when you cry...seriously.

I don't know why, but I am REALLY attached to the University. I think it's because the first time I've done something completely me, without any friends or family. I think to me, it represents my first big step out into the world independently.

 Plus the school is only 6,000 people total, and about 400-500 graduate students. I know almost every professor and student in the program, and am friends with many of them. I feel like UT is truly MY school.

I mean, c'mon, how can you not be proud of this?

I really felt attached to IU because that's where I found most of my best friends too, but it's slightly different because it was everyone else's school too. Does that make any sense?

Brief shnack of apples with cinnamon and avage nectar

A quick getting ready followed by dinner in the car on the way to happy hour! Ha!...

Spinach salad with cauliflower, leftover sweet potatoes, and olive oil!

Leftover veggie-rific la-la-lasagna!

Ok you guys... as you probably know by know, I have a slight obsession with Christmas and dogs... I found this awesome website (Kara, you will love this)...lifewithdogs.tv

Here are my three five fav. videos so far...


LOVE her laughing hysterically and the dog scooting forward towards her...

This one's short and sweet...kind of creepy and intimate, but adorable!!! The dog's lovin' it...




This one has a baby and a dog!!! Score times two.

This dog is sooo sweet and sooo spoiled, I love it!

Tipper and Skipper. Can't beat it. This is seriously a miracle dog!

December Book Club

Ok, so I wasn't sure what to do for the month of December, but I've decided on a book club! I ordered "The Art of Racing in the Rain" today for my Kindle app on my phone (it was only $3.99!!!) which is a book written from a dog's point of view that I've wanted to read for a while. If you have some time over the holidays and want to read it with me,  I would love to discuss it with you on December 31st!

Justin and I are headed out for a few beers with friends tonight (famous last words), happy First Friday!
 <3

Bumblebee Tuna

Holy December 1st. Really glad I waited until this day to listen to Christmas music. Psych. I've had it on since November, now you people who "waited" are just behind.


I need to get competitive shopping!

Never leave a man behind.

Time to get your Christmas sweaters out folks (or vests if you prefer a lighter fare).

Winning.

Or perhaps something with a little trim?

Is this even ALLOWED?! Grody. Someone get her a sweater for her other boob!

Another autumn apples bowl for b-fast...I was going to eat something different for breakfast, but then I just didn't. Do you guys ever get in a food rut?

So, one of my best friends Donald sent me this and I was dying... I had to share

This was the text that came with it:
1.) You're too fat to be wearing that.
2.) You're too fat to have that skinny boy trying to hold you.
3.) Your balls are showing out of your panties.

Reminds me of Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls...

Excuse me...your balls are showing....bumblebee tuna!!!

Who knew there actually WAS a BumbleBee Tuna?! Not me.

One more thing actually posted by Donald too
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/11/29/tearjerker-alert-former-lab-beagles-see-the-sun-for-the-first-time/


This video made me choke up multiple times.. it's a must watch!




My friend Nicole posted this to Facebook earlier today and I was so impressed with this guy (he's only 19!!!! He may not even have armpit hair yet!!!!). This video made me want to jump up and down with giddy joy.





I love him for doing this. I especially love the way he says Iowans. Regardless of your views, this is an example of how each family defines itself without government involvement. Why can't we all just let each other have a life with someone they love?! And also eat cakes full of rainbow and smiles, and eat it and be happy?!!? Why can't we just all get along?!




And I digress...Today's lunch was exactly the same as yesterdays...again...food rut.

Split pea and ham soup with pecan nut thins crushed on top!

BUT, I did try a new recipe for cranberry sauce!


Warning: This recipe will make your house smell like heavenly maple-y, berry-y deliciousness.


Orange Can Can Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup orange juice (I used the 50 calorie kind)
• 1/3 cup sugar free maple syrup
• 1/3 cup agave nectar amber
• Little bit of orange zest (optional... I don't have a zester, so I just chopped some orange skin and threw it in...not sure about this method haha)

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients into a medium saucepan, bring to a boil.

1. Once it starts to boil, lower the heat to a simmer. 
2. Cook for about 10 minutes.
3. Smash cranberries with a spoon as they start to cook (I found it easier to stir throughout and then once they're cooked, tilt the pan and mash that way so your hand doesn't get a facial). Sauce will get thicker when they're cooked/smashed.

Enjoy on top of yogurt, turkey, ham, or shwhatever you want!!!

This really paid off after licking about 100 envelopes sending out Christmas cards today. It was dessert afterwards!

The pile was huge!!!!!! Can't wait to show you what's inside!

And this is what I looked like mailing them and taking out the trash (which took all of 3 minutes, but of course I passed EVERY neighbor in the apartment building...don't you hate that?!)

Nothin' sexier than socks with flats and stretchy pants.

You know that feeling in your mouth where it feels like someone stuck a vacuum in your mouth to suck out all the moisture, then made you eat a battery? That's what it tasted like.

Mmmmm...envelopes

Class and running errands consumed my afternoon....

I couldn't muster up the gumption to work out until 5, I don't know, the cooler weather has me wanting to stay inside all cozy all day.

I went to the night strength and conditioning class, walked home, 

Took this pic on my walk home and it was too beautiful not to show you!

showered, and once my appetite came back (always goes away when I work out for a bit)... 

I made Veggie-rific La-la-lasanga! Adapted from Kath Eats Real Food

Ingredients:

• 9 whole wheat lasagna noodles
• 16 oz. 2% cottage cheese
• 8 oz. low fat mozzarella
• 1/2 cut grated parmesan
• 4 cups mixed vegetables (you can use anything here, I used spinach, carrots, zucchini, and sun dried tomatoes)
• 3 cups marinara pasta sauce

Directions:

1. Mix parmesan cheese with cottage cheese
2. Use a 9x13 pan, sprayed. Start by layering 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 sauce, 1/3 cheese mixture, 1/3 veggies, then 1/3 mozzarella.

1. Repeat twice more.
2. Cover top with foil tightly.

1. Bake at 400 for 1 hour.

It was sooo good! The one thing I will caution about is that whole wheat lasagna noodles are much chewier than regular... if you are a texture freak you might want to stick with regular.

We also had a spinach salad topped with apples, celery, mixed nuts, mozzarella cheese, and cranberries. 

Justin had to work late tonight, so dinner for one?! Yes please!

Water in a plastic wine glass.....keepin' is klassy with a k.

Today's eating was a lot for a lactose intolerant girl, so I'm comatose and bloated on the couch now... watching The Santa Clause... 

I swear I have watched this movie 124 times and it's still good, even Justin's watching it with me, in between accusing me of stealing his socks...

Seeing as this is the first day of December, I thought I'd celebrate the end of Thankful month! It was a REALLY good experiment for me. It truly gave me something to focus on that was great in my life at the moment, whether it be cookies, family, or just being alive that day! It was like an online gratitude journal, and I'm SO happy I did it.

Good night all!