You Better Be-Lieb It
You guys, I was nominated for an award and it’s totally legit because I got an email about it and everything!
The Liebster Award recognizes a good blog that has yet to earn 200 followers. Its origins and rules are up for debate, but I jacked a complete set as my nominator understood them (listed below).
Check out my acceptance speech, and read more about Mark, who proves parenting after the loss of a partner can be done — even with humorous anecdotes along the way. And many thanks to him for thinking of me as a deserving recipient 🙂
Rules for Accepting the Liebster Award:
- Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their Liebster Award blog post.
- Answer the 10 questions given to you by the person who nominated you. Bonus questions are optional.
- Nominate five to 10 of your favorite blogs with fewer than 200 followers. Provide a link to each, and notify them of their nomination.
- List 10 new questions for your nominees to answer. You may include more than 10 questions, marked as bonus questions, but remember your nominees only need answer your first 10.
- Include the acceptance rules in your post, so your nominees know what to do.
Questions from Mark at Holding Together the JELL-O
1. What is your favorite day of the week and why?
Sundays are usually low-key and are used to recuperate from the previous week. Plus, the schedule allows for football & boozy brunch!
2. If you enjoy exercise or playing a sport, what is your favorite and why?
My favorite sport to play is volleyball, because it’s fast-paced and I was good at it for a while.
3. What is the highest score you’ve ever made in bowling?
I’ve broken 100 a few times … pretty amazing if I must say.
4. It’s a rainy Sunday afternoon. What would you enjoy doing? Why?
If I’m not brunching or watching football, I would be clearing my DVR or reading. Rain calls for laziness, always.
5. What’s your favorite breakfast food?
Eggs Benedict has quickly become a favorite — I’m a sucker for any combination of eggs, meat & carbs.
6. What is your favorite junk food?
Let’s just say: If having popcorn for dinner is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
7. Why did you decide to start blogging and what do you hope people take away from reading your blog?
My professional background is in content, editorial and copywriting. I wanted a creative outlet without worrying about a client’s needs. It’s since evolved, but I hope people leave with a few laughs and some insight to my messed-up mind.
8. If you were going on vacation, where would you go and why?
Greece and Italy top my international wishlist — I’d love to experience the food and culture the way I’ve been blessed to with other European and Central American spots.
9. If you have one, what’s your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Football is my favorite, but I’ll watch baseball, hockey, volleyball, lacrosse … pretty much any sport with a pulse.
10. What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen? Why did you think it was so bad?
I remember falling asleep in the theater during “Autumn in New York.” I haven’t given it a second try but it seriously made me reconsider my love for Richard Gere.
Bonus Question: If you are married or dating someone, how did you meet?
I’m casually dating someone I met at a bar through a mutual friend. Stay classy, folks.
My Nominees:
- Cosmo @ Deadly Rantsome Man: He’s crass and sometimes cruel (what did bacon ever do to you?), but he’s one of my best friends. Enjoy.
- Rachel @ saltedchocolate: Well, duh. If you’ve read my blog ever, you know I love my frand’s blog … hopefully this will make her start posting again 🙂
- Rochelle @ TNK Style: Ro is the queen of mixing high-end pieces with budget-friendly buys. Check out her amazing finds and great ideas!
- Shannon @ They Call Me Nay Nay: She’s witty, sassy and super-smart when it comes to content. And, she recently moved from FL to NY, too! #twinsies
- This Is a Pretty Life: I really love her fashion and DIY updates, especially the mani posts. If my nails ever look half as good as hers, I’d be over the moon.
Questions for My Nominees:
- What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
- What’s your favorite travel destination?
- How many siblings do you have, and where do you fall in birth order?
- How did your answer to #3 shape the person you’ve become?
- What inspires you most for your blog?
- Where’s the best food in your current town?
- Have you ever successfully completed a DIY project & can you tell me how you made that happen?
- What does your dream home look like?
- Which song is guaranteed to make you cry?
- Who is your hair icon & why?
Now go read their blogs, and buy me a celebratory drink while you await their answers! Schwing!
WO: Weekly Obsessions
OK, so I finally understand why people find Christmastime in New York City so magical. The lights, the decorations, the snow … it’s all pretty exciting for this Florida girl. Here’s what else has me fa-la-laing:
- This London Fog Coat: Remember how I’d marry those LOFT leggings if I could (I’m wearing them again today, obviously). Well, the same goes for this absolutely perfect winter coat. It fits like a dream and is warm without being bulky — just look how happy that model is!
- #PaleGirlProblems: My fair-skinned frand was such a peach for showing me this list of true issues for the fair and freckled. As much as I’m loving the winter here so far, it sure does make me realize just how pasty I can get. Hooray!
- People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Drucks struck gold twice this week when she shared an amazing blog that so encapsulates everything I want to be in life. From overachieving mommies to movie-theater a-holes, she’s got it all covered.
- “Evolution of Beyoncé” – Pentatonix: It’s been a while (read: NEVER) since I featured a song from Queen B. This should count for at least a half a point, since it’s a Beyoncé-inspired medley of magic. Pentatonix, you just won yourself a new fan.
Images courtesy of: Macy’s, Elite Daily, PIWTPITT, SoundCloud
My Best Frand’s Wedding
As expected, Rachel’s wedding weekend was incredible. With perfect weather, fabulous company and unequivocal love, I was so happy to celebrate their special day in style.
We danced and drank into the night, and a surprise delivery of 100 McDonald’s hamburgers revitalized us all for a few more hours 🙂
The happy couple continues their vacation to Antigua while the rest of us return to reality.
Despite some bruises, broken bones (really!) and bloodshot eyes, we’re all thrilled for Rachel and Clint to become man and wife. Cheers!
How can you be mad with a view like that?
Guest book — wishing as many happy years as there are fish in the sea!
Clint makes his walk down the aisle … like a sorority spirit run 😉
Dad greets Rachel, and we’re all crying by now.
Snuck a quick pic of the newlyweds making a getaway.
Blue velvet cake for the couple.
Stealing twinsie away for a few photos.
Pure bliss.
At our three-woman bachelorette party … on her wedding night. Perfect!
Friday Fiver
Short and sweet, here are the top five reasons I’m totally in love with today:
- I’ve enjoyed Friday the 13th since I was a kid, and it’s always been a day of joy — like good friends getting married on Friday, April 13. No superstitions here!
- My company’s summer celebration is today, which means a half day of work and a whole day of nonsense. Bring on the Cuban food, cigars and moustache contest 🙂
- It’s the end of a particularly grueling week. Both my professional and personal lives have been overrun by commitments, deadlines and chaos. Cheers to finally allowing myself to relax.
- Girl Talk’s “Friday Night.” On loop. All day.
- This picture, found by Rachel, and keeping me in stitches:
Work it, Grandma!
Happy Friday, friends. Hope you’re all sipping drinks poolside and soaking up the summer sun!
What I imagine an LSD trip would feel like
A Dinner for Impatient People
If you’re like me, you hear “A watched pot never boils” and would like to slam your head against a wall. Patience may be a virtue, but it certainly isn’t mine.
As such, I don’t particularly enjoy making dinner and standing over a boiling pot of water. Give me a cupcake recipe and the 18–22 minutes to spend doing other stuff while they bake, and I’m a happy girl. But, I digress.
Normally, I’m happy to “whip up” crackers and cheese for a quick and easy dinner. Classy, I know. Classier: the plate I use.
I’m going to be such a great housewife.
But for nights when I need a real meal — and still need to save money and time — this recipe from salted chocolate is perfect. It’s my easy dinner go-to, and it was exactly what I needed to start my week off right.
Full disclosure: This wasn’t tonight’s meal — I ate too quickly to capture it!
Mozzarella Caprese Pasta
Recipe created by salted chocolate
INGREDIENTS
- 1 (8-10) oz. jar of mini mozzarella balls
- 1 container of grape (or cherry) tomatoes
- A few leaves of basil
- Extra virgin olive oil (enough to cover the dish, but don’t soak it)
- 1 box thin spaghetti
- Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
- Cook pasta according to directions. Meanwhile, julienne chop the basil. Once pasta is cooked to al dente, drain. Add the olive oil to your liking, plus the tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls and the basil. Don’t mix together.
- Then, dish into bowls – ensure each plate has a good amount of tomatoes and mozzarella. For each bowl, add salt and pepper to taste. The cheese will start to melt over the top of the pasta and seep down.
NOTES
- My local store doesn’t carry mini mozzarella balls, so I use a block of skim mozzarella and cut it into chunks. Let’s be real here — cheese is cheese!
- Add 5-minute garlic toast (I love Pepperidge Farm’s Garlic Texas Toast) and a glass of red wine for a complete meal.
What’s your favorite dinner to create in minutes? This impatient lady would love more recipes!
WO: Weekly Obsessions
I survived our cruise (barely) and am officially back to reality, as deadlines pile up and my car’s constant issues create a bigger dent in my bank account. So, here’s what I’m using to keep the hump-day ho-hums away.
saltedchocolate: I have to give some blog love and a big birthday shout-out to my dear frand, Rachel. She’s off for the rest of the week to have fun in the sun, while the rest of us schmucks are stuck at the office. Enjoy every minute of it, Soul Sister. You deserve it!
My Nieces: Brother and his fiancée are the proud parents of two adorable little girls, Bailey and Chloe. I’ll be watching them this weekend, and I know they’re excited for a fun-filled adventure with Aunt Amanda. At just 3 and 1, respectively, they’re the cutest kids I know. [End crazy talk.]
Spotify: I’m late getting on board with this music software, because I’m always hesitant to try the latest tech trend. But, after I left my iPod at home during a weekend workday, a co-worker enlightened me to this free service and I haven’t looked back. My fave feature is using the Inbox to share songs. Stellar.
“Bridesmaids” on DVD: If you haven’t seen this movie yet, go ahead … I’ll wait here. While I love a good comedy, Kristen Wiig and crew take laughs to another level in what’s been dubbed the female version of “The Hangover.” The special features and deleted scenes are worth the spend alone. Seriously, watch it now.
True story: “Hold On” just came on in my Spotify … it’s destiny, due to my love of “Bridesmaids.” Here’s to getting through another week of crazy!
WO: Weekly Obsessions
This week has been pretty rough — like a same shit, different toilet kind of week. I am in serious need of a vacay. Lucky for me, I’m headed to San Francisco next week for play (oh, and work). Until I get to The City by the Bay, here’s what’ll keep me happy.
Mila Kunis: I’ve loved Mila since her spoiled Jackie days on “That 70’s Show.” Her roles in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Black Swan” were great, but 2011 has treated her best. She’s agreed to attend a military ball with a Marine, was fantastic in “Friends with Benefits” and she just told off a reporter on behalf of JT — in Russian —удивительный (or, awesome!)
My Scrabble Ring: Arguably the best $5 I’ve ever spent, I absolutely adore the Scrabble ring I purchased from robotsnappingturtle on Etsy. It’s simple, sweet and it showcases my word-nerdiness … many thanks to Rachel for the find!
The Triumphant Return of “Jersey Shore”: Viva Italia! I know we’re still a day away from the premiere, but I can already guarantee that the guidos and guidettes will provide endless entertainment this season. Putting a bunch of Italian-Americans in a foreign country = let the clusterfuck begin.
All Things Football: The lockout is over, and America has been celebrating for a week straight. From a local strip club’s marquee (“Our girls won’t lock out NFL players”) to “The League” having something to film this season to the fantasy draft I just calendared, it’s about time the frenzy began. Let’s. Do. This.
Hope your week is swell, mothatruckas!
Murphy’s Law Monday
We already know that I’m not graceful, nor am I skilled at transporting food from plate to mouth without a pit stop onto my clothes. But, today’s Case of the Mondays was truly dreadful. I’m surprised I’ve even managed to type this without somehow screwing it up.
The day started with my best frenemy, the snooze button, winning (again). I woke up 23 minutes before I was supposed to be at work, giving me 13 minutes to get ready and out the door. I was down, but not out.
That is, until I dropped my intended shirt for work INTO. THE. TOILET. You heard right. I was pulling jeans off my shower-curtain rod, and I inadvertently dragged the shirt off as well — allowing it a perfect flight into the porcelain bowl.
I found a backup blouse and put the other into the sink to be dealt with later. Rushing out to my car, I cursed myself for not packing a lunch last night. I’d have to spend my lunch hour fighting the crowds, instead of running errands like I planned …
… After finagling a parking spot and ordering my food, I reached into my purse for my wallet. With it nowhere to be found, I stammered like an idiot and fumbled for cash — but I knew full well I didn’t have enough on me to pay. Luckily, my angel Rachel was with me, and she covered me so we could get the H outta there.
The rest of the day hasn’t proven as miserable, but I’m no fool. I’m waiting patiently (for once in my life), for the next disaster to take place. And, considering it was one of my many nicknames in college, “Murphy’s Law” and I appear to be biffles. Joy.
Wittyburg.com 