Random Ramblings

I mean really, when is it ever not sporadic thoughts around here?! Trying to keep the house organized, clean and gearing up to pack while finishing up the semester. I've got some finals to grade and God willing, some revisions of my thesis and after that I can get started on everything else.

It looks like the weekend is going to consist of all of the above - we may try to get out for a date night dinner, which we haven't done in forever! Also, I thought I'd have a little dinner for my brother and his girlfriend. We all want to make sure we get together before things get crazy. I'm not into/don't have time to plan anything elaborate, so I picked up some pre-made pizza crusts. I thought we could have a few different pizzas (easy, throw on toppings and bake), toss up a salad and maybe make a dip for appetizer!

Speaking of cooking, I need a good homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe! I usually follow the back of the chocolate chip bag recipe but they are just too cakey and not gooey/chewy enough for me. I made a decadent Italian Sausage and Vegetable risotto last week - rich, delicious and my first time with risotto. I'll post pictures later. Since we've been low on time lately, I've been making one of Real Simple's easy recipes. You know, the ones where they literally give you the recipe with like 4 ingredients. This one is a play on Shepard's Pie and is a big hit in our house.

- 1 lb. of ground turkey (simply my preference, use ground beef or pork)
- 1 frozen bag of mixed veggies
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- *they used pre-made mashed potatoes in their recipe*, I used about 4 0r 5 red potatoes, sliced thinly
- 1/2 medium onion
- 3 tablespoons parmesean

While browning meat in one pan, I saute the sliced potatoes with the onion in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. After the meat is browned, add the mixed veggies (I think they said 8 oz. bag - but however much you want) and ketchup. Heat until throughly mixed and warmed. Serve with the sliced potatoes on top and sprinkle some parmesean on top. (They have you put potatoes on top of the meat in a casserole dish and baked in the oven for about 15 minutes - I just cut out that step.)

I tell you, it is super easy, super pleasing and is a great meatloaf/shepard's pie type recipe if you are in a hurry. I can imagine using pre-made mashed potatoes would make it even easier and better, I just have had potatoes on hand. And I like how you can easily alter it to your own taste.

In other news, my sweet husband came home with a bouquet of Christmas flowers for me. He went to the florist and asked them for a Christmas bouquet with red and green flowers! How sweet is that? I've been a slightly, ahem, grumpy elf the past week and really, how can I be grumpy at all after that? We also watched Christmas Vacation last night while drinking beers from a sampler six pack he picked up. I'm just not a beer 'advocate' as they say - maybe my taste buds will change but I tried the Sierra Nevada Christmas Ale (purely because of the name and label, of course.) and I couldn't even drink it - too 'hoppy', as they say, or just intense. I'd rather taste wines but that's just me!
And I love the Card exchange some bloggers are doing. I just don't have my you-know-what together this year for cards. I knew we would be moving and just didn't plan ahead. So, maybe next year!

J.Crew is FINALLY having a 20% off sale and I'm thinking I might pick up a few Dream sweaters that are on sale right now. I'm realizing I need to stock up on sweaters and I really like those because they are warm without being bulky. Andd, I'm feeling like I'm in a style rut. You ever get those whims? Where you just feel like a change - make-up, hair? I've been wearing my hair pretty much shoulder-length for awhile now and I'm bored of it. I don't do anything to it and usually end up putting it up. I want a new style and I think it will motivate me to keep up with it better.

I'm looking at a bob with a few bangs - not too short.

Not so much this (at all)...Although, isn't Katie just becoming Miss Sassy Fashionista. Her hair looks good here but I'd be wary of it for everyday.


This is what I'm imagining but shorter length...I mean, of course I want to style myself after Reese's style - she always looks great.



Newly married, new city - I think a new haircut works! That's it for now, hope you all have a wonderful (for some snowy) weekend!