Body Snatchers

This morning Lars and I woke up early enough to make breakfast: broken yolk sandwiches. We had thick-cut peppered bacon on Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Sourdough with Trader Joe’s Cheddar/Gruyère cheese and a fried egg. I highly recommend this sourdough bread. I thought the whole wheat would take away from sourdough’s bite (that bitterness, I am without words), but it did not.

I also had a small glass of my favorite juice: Trader Joe’s Mango Nector. It just needed champagne.

So, I am officially done with school for now. I head to Scotland early June to take classes and I am super nervous. Since my plane is arriving a day early, I am on my own for an entire day. I plan on making the most of it by staying in some quaint bread and breakfast, but I have to figure out how I’ll get from Edinburgh to Dundee (1 1/2 hour drive). Figuring out transportation is a bitch. But, I found out that Dundee is like the marmalade fucking capital of the world (they actually sell Dundee Marmalade at Trader Joe’s). So, I’ll make sure to bring some back (along with other things) for my first giveaway.

Well, the rest of the day will be spent figuring out this whole Scotland thing, so I don’t fall into the hands of body snatchers or something.

I think I need Scotland, though. I am having a mid-academic crisis. So, I’m in Indiana for the next 4 years, because this PhD thing takes 5 years total (I grew up a hour from here). Two couples in my life are moving to new places, because they want to live in those places. Their moves are not based on school, business, or family. They just want to be someplace new. Someplace fun. More than ever, I have been wanting to just pick up and leave. I would move to San Fransisco or Seattle. I would work as a barista. I would have little money, but I don’t really have money now either. But, just get a job there when you get your degree? Well, I want to be a professor and its so competitive that I won’t have many options. I would be lucky to have 1 option, really. Okay, okay. This whole thing is so stupid. I do not hate my life, I’m just so bored. I’ve been in the Midwest for my entire life. I’ve always thought, “I would totally be fine living in the Midwest for the rest of my life.” But now…NOOOO. I cannot. Wah, wah.

Well, the rest of the day will be Scotland planning, rolling around on the floor complaining, and soccer later. Catch y’all later!

Where is the coolest place you’ve traveled to internationally AND do you have any tips for me? 

Back to School Food

Hey, hey, hey.

Today has been busy. I want it to be Thursday, like now. I woke up early and taught my first class. My class is mostly male, but they were talkative and awake. I also had two graduate seminars. Holy crap, a lot of reading in my future. After teaching, I took my reading to the local coffee shop, Greyhouse. I helped myself to one of their new savory crepes: the broccoli, chicken, and swiss (with some green onions thrown in). It was pretty awesome, but my one complaint is that the broccoli was too cold. I would order it again, though.

After all the teaching and learning, I headed to Zumba class with some fellow female graduate students. Okay, Zumba is awesome. You don’t stand still, once. I can feel it in my butt. I’m totally going again, but I was exhausted after this first class. Since Lars was my ride, I had to read outside while he was in class. That workout drained me, so I needed some post-workout nourishment: a mango smoothie. It made reading bearable.

Lars had sent a text earlier today saying he’d make dinner, because I had been working so hard. He made a delicious pepperoni pizza with some fresh mozzarella and basil. He even made the sauce.  I’ll keep him.

So, today rocked as much as a school day can rock. But ugh, back to reading.

What is your favorite type of smoothie?

Hello!

Good morning. I’m drinking an orange mango smoothie from Starbucks like it is my job. I’m doing so while watching teenage angst via Pretty Little Liars. The internet in my apartment is broke, so I threw on a scarf and ran towards the free wifi. I’m about to drive to my parents house, but I thought I’d drop in and say “hello” before I cross state borders.

Check out my new blog post from thriftshoppin.com.

Cute Distractions

I finally got my smoothie, folks.

Blueberry-Banana Smoothie

• a carton of farmers market blueberries (I would say about 1 cup)
• 1 sliced frozen banana
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup uncooked old-fashioned oats
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• 2 handfuls of ice

This was a delightful and refreshing “lunch” before I hit the road. I drove to my parents, but made sure to stop at Trader Joe’s first. Get ready for some TJ-inspired meals all next week!

When I got home around 4 I was famished, so I made quick TJ’s snack: a butter croissant and some fresh mango slices.

I was trying to blog, but a certain someone kept distracting me!

I’m watching some Beverly Hills, 90210 and then heading out on my new bike!

What is your favorite outdoor summer activity? Mine is not swimming, because I don’t know how. Wah, wah.

Oh look! My least favorite New York housewife has a video on healthy eating!  I think she needs less crazy in her diet.

Muffins on Muffins

Muffins on Muffins is general “Prep” slang for Arguing over the same general principle, agreeing, and not realizing your both on the same side of the argument. It was created in early 2005, and spread wildly through the east coast of the United States. It was mostly used by people tripping on acid at Techno gigs, who were arguing over pseudo-politics. People who were also on “A” would call the two participating, “Arguing about Muffins on Muffins” -urbandictionary.com

What up, what up!

This morning I slept in again, but I did spend the weekend sleeping on an uncomfortable leather couch. It was like being in the frats all over again. I think I am just catching up on a lot of lost sleep. Listen to your body, folks!

For breakfast I got one of those Starbucks’ Vivanno Smoothies in Orange Mango. I think this is my favorite flavor there.

I went to another farmers market in town. It was a row of 5 tents. What? What? So, I left. I think I need to go on Saturday.

I went home and ate a mini bite of my ooey gooey brownies. Still ooey gooey, still awesome.

The brownie reminded me of my mad baking skillz (note the z) and I decided to bake again. It was a mix, but it was delicious. I decided to make muffins. These are not flavorful enough to eat on their own, but these pair well with jam and honey. I might add ham and cheese next time to make these savory! I think this mix would be great for some corn muffin experimentation. I also made sure to spray the muffin cups so that the muffins just rolled out.

For lunch I ate one corn muffin with Amish triple-berry jam and another with honey. I also cut up some fresh strawberries.

Lars and I are finishing up a documentary titled Inside Deep Throat. Yes, it is about a porn, but it is actually very interesting and funny. I always think it’s hilarious when the elderly talk about their days of sexual exploration. Then Lars and I plan on kicking the soccer ball around. I insist on playing 1 v 1, but he thinks it is unfair. I reminded him that I play his video games. So, I win. Then this evening, Lars and I have a double date with one of my new colleagues!

What if your favorite type of muffin? I love any muffins with cinnamon and fruit!

AHHHH! Speed Post

Hey friends. I wanted to blog real quick about my afternoon/evening/night yesterday. I have had such a busy weekend helping my family send off my brother. I have so much blog reading to catch up on. I look forward to reading your blogs this evening! Love doing it, though!

For lunch I was excited to use my gluten-free pizza crust I got from the Farmers Market. It was delicious. It was rustic and crunchy. Yum. I wanted to give a shout-out to the creators of this awesome pizza crust: The Measuring Cup Gluten-Free Bake Shop. If you are in the Indy area, check it out.

I topped the pizza with Trader Joe’s pizza sauce (a decent buy), mozzarella, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil. So good!

In the afternoon I wanted some alone time, so I went to Starbucks to read. I got a grande iced coffee and snacked on some fresh mango. 

For dinner we went to a local burger joint called Bub’s. I decided to try the Elk burger. I was nervous so I had a beer and covered the burger with lots of mustard and ketchup. I wasn’t a fan, but I’m also afraid I should have asked for it to be more done. I only ate 1/2.

When I got home I made myself a snack plate with fresh mango slices and one of my cut-out cookies.

Well I need to workout and make breakfast for my family Ahh! So much to do. Talk to y’all later! Have a great Sunday!

Mango, Nutrisystem, Wine & Tampons

I woke up at 7 AM, because I slept on the most uncomfortable leather couch. I have no bed at my parents anymore. Wah Wah. I decided to go to the farmers market. There were attractive men there. It was decent, and I bought some gluten free pizza crust from a local bakery. I’ll be using it for lunch…so stay tuned.

Afterwards I went to Trader Joe’s. Going there super early is a baller idea. The aisle’s are small and the residents of my city are rude, thus stressful shopping usually. I got some fresh mango, which I ate with my Cinnamon Life cereal for breakfast. Yum.

And, look what I got. A poor graduate student’s dream: 3-buck Chuck. Indiana fact: You can’t buy alcohol on Sunday. Last time I went to Trader Joe’s on Sunday, and I was devastated. Chuck was calling my name, but the law kept us from uniting. Now, we are finally together. Let the good times roll.

I also bought some make-up remover clothes.

I am trying to buy greener hygiene products, ever since I watched the documentary America the Beautiful. Have you ever bought organic tampons? I feel like I would prefer to be greener in that area. Just saying.

In other news, my father is on Nutrisystem. Look at our cabinet! He says it taste like cardboard. I can see why it leads to weight loss, then.

I’m going to work out and then relax. Peace out my baller bloggers.

P.S. I’ll share my TJ’s finds in later posts.