Pink & Green Thursday: Blossoms

It has been raining here for almost a week! Lucky break for me since my rain boots came in right before the monsoon hit. I guess (almost) April showers bring May flowers is how the saying goes. I can't wait for everything to be in bloom so I rounded up these pretty little things for this week's Pink & Green.

Orchids, tulips and snapdragons, Oh my! Such pretty things to look forward to after all this rain! At least its supposed to be 72 and sunny on Saturday in time for Cup. 

Also, last night was hectic so recipe Wednesday was pushed until tonight. On the menu for tonight: my very own Cheddar Lasagna! 

Day 22: A picture of something I wish I could change

There are two things that just break my heart that have absolutely no place in America or even the world. Starving children and homeless veterans.
13 million children in the US are hungry or at risk for hunger. Feeding America has a program that sends backpacks filled with food home with children on the weekends and over holidays. I encourage all of you to see if your school has a chapter or need for one. Or you can just make a donation to help support this vital program.
Also, I wish I could change how many homeless veterans there are. The VA estimates that there are 107,000 veterans on the street on any given night. Also, another 1.5 million are at risk of becoming homeless. It's just appalling that we don't take better care of people who have served our country to keep our liberties safe.

    
Alright, thats my soapbox. I encourage all of you to get involved with something you really care about!

Day 21: Something I wish I was better at

I wish that I was better at making food not only taste good, but look good. Of course Beau doesn't care about this as he has said so many times before, but I just get a little bit more satisfaction when something I make turns out pretty too. So I'll learn how to position things on plates and decorate cookies and cakes more carefully and maybe one day I can do things like this:

and this

What do yall wish you could do better?

Bullet Mishmash

• Sorry I've been MIA! School has been a killer this week. So glad things are slowing down now. 
• I need a job! If you're in Cola and need someone let me know! 
• I entered a contest (I love contests!) over at Monograms and Manicures for a Smathers and Branson needlepoint belt! You should definitely check out her blog it is fabulous! 
• At the risk of sounding redneck, Beau has made making rum his new hobby and we are going to be distilling later today. I'll have to let you know how it turns out! 
• My new Hunter rain boots just came in today and I couldn't be more excited. Especially since its supposed to rain today! 
• Carolina Cup is coming up this weekend and I have to say I already know where I'm getting my dress done next year. Annabelle over at LaRoque does amazing things with fabric. I love how her style is whimsy and classic at the same time. Also, she does CUSTOM Cup dresses! Isn't that every girls dream? To have a fabulous one of a kind dress that you can guarantee won't be on anyone else?! I think so!  
• Beau and I have also picked up watching Dexter. If you haven't seen it, give it a try! We've watched like two whole seasons in the past week and a half! 
• Also, over SB I saw a ton of girls wearing straw fedoras and I thought they were adorable. I'm thinking of getting one, but don't really know if I'm a 'hat person'. Here's one from Target that I think is particularly cute. What do yall think? I may just have to go by there! 

Happy (late) St. Patrick's Day!

Sorry for the belated post, but I didn't officially celebrate St. Pat's until yesterday. This weekend has been filled with so much fun!
Thursday was Beau's 22nd birthday. He opted for a home cooked meal of ribs on the grill, potato salad and corn on the cob. True southern gentleman I guess. I was very flattered. We then went and picked up dessert from Nonnah's in the Vista and ate it under the stars in the backyard. Then we went and hung out with some friends.
Friday we had a cookout at another friends place.
Saturday my best friend from HS came into town for St. Pat's in 5 Points. All of our friends came over to me and Beau's house to pregame and then walk down to the festival. We had loads of fun and got to hear Corey Smith play!

Here's a few pictures from Saturday's festivities:

The boys and their green beer! Beau (far left) looking especially Irish! 

Myself with a leprechaun!

Corey Smith

BFF Lizz! Miss you already! 

I had loads of fun, but I'm glad its over. I'm tired!

Day 20: A picture of a place I'd like to visit

I would LOVE to go spend time in Italy! 

So I can see the sights and eat lots of stuff like this:

Yummy! 

Day 19: A picture of a letter

T for Taylor!

Day 18: A picture of my biggest insecurity

I have a huge fear of failing. I can't stand to think that I won't accomplish all the things I want to in life. 

Recipe Wednesday: Burger and Fries

I know, I know. Nothing groundbreaking about burger and fries, this recipe wasn't even as good as the burgers I usually make, but they were still delicious. I didn't take very many pictures seeing as how nothing was particularly interesting. I was going to make something much more complex, but my menu got thrown off this week. I promise i'll do better next week! 

Presenting the Missouri Burger with Garlic Parmesan Fries

Here's everything you need to get started. The recipe called for thyme instead of basil and seasoning salt over Ms. Dash, but this is what I had on had and they were still good.

So I preheated the oven at 425 degrees and set to slicing up my potatoes. Once they were all sliced I tossed them in a bowl with all the seasonings.

Then I set to making my patties. Now you can cook these in a skillet, bake them or grill them. We just used our little George Foreman grill. After they were done we topped them with pepperjack cheese, so yummy! 

I know I don't get an A for presentation, but take my word on it these were good! 

Day 17: A picture of something that has made a huge impact on my life recently

This is my acceptance letter into upper division nursing at USC! I wasn't sure if my GPA was high enough to get in on the first round so when I got this letter I was ecstatic! This means I get to stay at the university I call home. I'll be a Gamecock til I die!

No Problems Mon!

Day 16: A picture of a place you've recently traveled.

Labadee, Haiti  SB2011 Cruise

Here is a picture of me on the way to Dragon's Breath Point in Labadee. After our "grueling hike" we settled down in some beach chairs for some fun 'n' sun. They had the tastiest drinks called Labadoozies! 

Here's a few more pictures from the cruise. We had the best time and the ship was the biggest one we had ever been on. If you haven't cruised do it! Its super fun and surprisingly cheap.

At the hot tub! 

Green Grotto Caves
Falmouth, Jamaica

Climbing Dunn's River Falls
Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Walk for Wishes for Make a Wish Foundation

What's yall's favorite vacation spots?

I'm back!

I'll start off by saying that SB was fabulous and was over wayyy too fast! I'll have a special spring break post up soon. Right now i'll just resume the 30 day photo challenge (we're halfway through).

Day 15: A picture of something you want to do before you die

I want to sail on this boat:

Holland America's ms Amsterdam

To all of these places over 112 days! 

How awesome! 

And all this will only cost you $20,000 for an INTERIOR stateroom! 

Also, I planted some flowers today and I just can't wait for them to start sprouting! 

 

SB post coming soon!

Bon Voyage!

Tonight Beau and I are starting our journey to Ft. Lauderdale. Tomorrow we leave on a 5 day cruise for SB! Here's the ship we will be calling home for the next 5 days! We will be visiting Labadee, Haiti and Falmouth, Jamaica. In Jamaica we are going to climb Dunn's River Falls! I can't wait. Lots of pictures to come.

Navigator of the Seas

Day 14: A picture of something I couldn't imagine my life without

Love! 

Have a fabulous week!

Day 12 & 13

Day 12: A picture of something I love

The obvious thing would be to put a picture of Beau but I don't think thats the point and I'm pretty sure yall have that one figured out by now! So instead:

I love cooking! Nothing makes me feel more at peace than if
I have the time to just stand in the kitchen making an elaborate meal!

I love lillies! These were the first flowers that Beau ever bought me!

Day 13: A picture of a favorite band or artist. This one is hard because I love a lot of music. Right now my favorite band is probably Muse and my favorite artist would be Lady Gaga. 

One thing on my bucket list is to see Muse at Wembley Stadium in London!

This is my favorite Lady Gaga song and the video is great! 

Day 11 and Pink and Green Thursday!

Day 11: A picture of something I HATE!

I hate hate hate when people drive and text! Its super dangerous and annoying. If you have to do it, do it at a red light, but please keep glancing up so I don't have to give you the 'courtesy beep' letting you know that the light has changed.

Also, I decided to jump on the pink and green bandwagon! I thought since today was the last day of classes for me and I am officially on Spring Break (yay!) that some pink and green cocktails were in order!

Classic Mojitos!

Sugar-rimmed Margaritas? Count me in! 

These look like candy! 

Happy (almost) St. Patrick's Day!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Recipe Wednesday: Manicotti alla Romana

Okay so this is a new recipe I found on Allrecipes, my favorite recipe site. I would say this isn't the typical weeknight meal, but my schedule is light on Mondays and Wednesdays so I go all out for dinner. Oh the life of a college student! This is my first time so I didn't photograph everything, plus I enlisted a hungry Beau's help so he was a little impatient when it came to the food photoshoot! Anywho, lets get to it. 
Here's what you'll need: 

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 pound ground beef
• salt to taste
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 (12 ounce) package manicotti shells
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 cups spaghetti sauce, divided
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

First you'll want to dice up your onion to a fairly small size. Then heat up some oil in your skillet and cook the onion until translucent. Then add your garlic and saute it for a minute or so.

Then you'll want to add your hamburger meat and cook it until fully browned. After its done, set it aside and let it cool. I stuck mine in the freezer to speed up the process. A hungry Beau calls for drastic measures! I'm sure yall can relate.
While doing this, cook spinach according to package directions. I just threw mine in the microwave for four minutes. When spinach is done, mix with hamburger and let cool. 

Next you're going to wanna make the cream sauce. Meanwhile start cooking your manicotti. Only cook it for about half the recommended time (approx. 4 mins), then drain it and cover the shells back up with cold water. This stops the cooking process and keeps the shells from cracking. 
For the sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan, once melted add flour and chicken bouillon. Cook this until bubbly. It will appear dry, dont worry! Add half and half and bring to a slight boil. Let boil for one minute stirring frequently. Set sauce aside away from heat to thicken. 

Next spray your baking dish with cooking spray and spread some spaghetti sauce on the bottom of your baking dish, about a 1/4 cup should do it. I just used some leftover, homemade spaghetti sauce so its meaty; yours can be from the can. Meanwhile, have your oven preheating at 350. 

Next stir ricotta cheese and beaten egg(s) into spinach hamburger mixture. Then stuff into shells. Sorry I'm doing this with my hands. If you have a better way please share. I know I could do it with a pastry bag, but this filling was a bit too chunky for it. 

Next you can either follow me or the directions in the link at the top. I just did spaghetti sauce first because thats what I put on bottom. So cover remaining shells with spaghetti sauce. 

Then cover shells with white sauce, being careful to not mix the sauces. Although I don't know what harm it'd do. I think its just for presentation. I let my sauce sit a bit long so it wasn't as thin as I'd like it to have been but it cooked all the same. 

Bake uncovered at 350 for 40 minutes, sprinkle with Parmesan and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Sorry I don't have a photo of the finished product, me and Beau were pretty hungry after all this prep work. Next time, I promise! But just so you don't have to suffer here's a picture of someone else's. 

YUMMY!