Weekend

Weekend at the Beach...Heck Yes!

Foodie Friday

How to make Greek Pasta with Shrimp:

INGREDIENTS
1 pound gemelli or other short pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound medium shrimp, make sure to peel
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 cups plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh mint- make sure to chop
1/3 cup Kalamata olives- make sure to pit and chop salt and ground pepper

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to the package instructions and drain.
2. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add half the shrimp; season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and repeat with remaining shrimp.
3. Add garlic and 2 tablespoons water to skillet, and cook until garlic is tender- about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl with shrimp.
4. Add all other ingredients into the shrimp bowl; season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine.

How to be Wild

Lilly

I finally got around to perusing the Fall 2010 Collection of our beloved Lilly. Here are the things I probably don't need but definitely want.


Sabeline Coat Rosette in Cameo White Crane


Newport Dress Ponte in Cameo White Mix It Up...I like the Taylor Dress in this pattern too
Maura Printed Top in Multi Show Me Some Skin



Colby Dress Engineered in Cameo White With Bells On



Lee Cardigan Printed in Black Bang Bang.


The Black Bang Bang pattern is definitely a new favorite. What's your favorite?

Office Space

It's one of those days...or really one of those weeks for both M and I. Sometimes I think the idea of being a professional student would have been the way to go.

Jeggings

We all know that M and I don't support the idea of leggings as pants. I received a text message on Saturday from a friend who has a part time job at Ann Taylor Loft. It read "Loft now sells jeggings." (To view said jeggings)

In my mind, I was thinking 'Oh, can't shop there anymore'. I just don't see the point. Leggings are to go under skirts, dresses, long sweaters and work as stockings in my mind. They are NOT pants. The Loft version comes with belt loops. Why would I wear a belt with skin tight leggings? Why would I not just wear jeans?

I found this blog that talks about how to wear jeggings. Here I learned that she likes them more than regular leggings since they are jean material and therefore don't need to cover your tush. That is a thought I can get behind....if you are wearing leggings, you must cover your tush. Red Alert because I don't think some ladies in the DC and NY metro regions ever got that memo.

If you have decided that Jeggings are your thing...Please use caution. After looking through tons of jeggings photos I learned that if you are slightly hip(py) don't rock these. Also, there is a fine line between skinny jeans and jeggings but there is a difference and sometimes a long shirt can go a long way.

Here is a photo of Annalynne McCord of 90210 with a jeggings fail.


Sienna Miller wears a longer shirt and makes jeggings work.

Sorority Life

I came across this photo today and I just don't get it. I love Alpha Delta Pi and I love Lilly but I don't understand why'd you put the letters on the back of your polo shirt. We had cute little ADPi polos with letters on the breast and one girl I knew had letters on the collar so when she popped it it said ADPi. But giant letters on your back?

Little J

On Tuesday, my friend Sarah and I took the day off to relive my HS existence....Emo kids at Warped Tour. Besides being far too hot to be out all day, we had a great time and I can honestly say I am glad I am no longer 15 years old.

Sometime around 2pm, we see tons of people rushing to this one stage they have set up and I am beginning to wonder who is up next. (WT only has one list of the bands and what stages and unless you took notes, you really have no idea who is where and when). Anyway, we look up and all I can say is "OMG GOSSIP GIRL". My genuine excitement made me get up from my seat and join the crowd in the posh pit. Right, posh pit, I don't know who I've become.

For your viewing pleasure...Taylor Momsen of Pretty Reckless...aka Little J.


And because I have no shame, we did stalk her at her merch tent later to get better pictures of her. She looks just like Perez Hilton describes her with her black eyeshadow and cigarette in hand. She did however change out of the most ridiculous heels ever to sneakers for the signing.



and FYI...the man on the far left of the last picture is her dad.

Bachelorette Update

Tonight's Bachelorette, Ali took her final 3 to Tahiti. Ali first went on her date with Roberto and they seem to get along well. Next, Ali and Chris went out and he told her he loved her and could see himself with her. Last, was her date with Frank. Except Frank was off in Chicago with his exgf and decided he was still in love with her. Frank came back to Tahiti and dumped Ali.

Ali had a fake rose ceremony with her final 2 and they both accepted.

Now, here is my question regarding these dates. Every season the final three are given a date card from Chris Harrison telling them they can forego their individual rooms and spend the night together. Now, if I was the Bachelorette, I would have some problems asking two or three boys to spend the night with me on national tv two/three days in a row. I get that it is 2010 and we can be modern woman but Ali don't you have morals?

Remember Me

I am a crier. You make me laugh...I cry. You make me upset...I cry. I read a good book...I cry. You get it. However, this evening I sat down for a nice night in and watched Remember Me starting everyone's favorite Cullen, Pierce Brosnan, and Emilie de Ravin.



OMG...Have you seen it? I had no plan on having a Saturday night cryfest. However, I recommend everyone watch it. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

Midwest Here I Come

Today, I am off to Omaha, Nebraska for work.

Tomorrow, I have to lead a training seminar at Offutt Air Force Base.

Be back Saturday for a day of tubing in West Virginia.

Top Two Tuesday

Top Two Summer Recipes

Grilled Peach Salad

For salad
3 peaches, pits removed and sliced into large wedges
Olive oil, for drizzling
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 cups mixed greens
1/2 cup snap peas, sliced into 1-inch pieces
3 scallions, dark greens removed, sliced on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup, toasted slivered almonds
2 ounces crumbled goat cheese
For dressing
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Heat a grill to medium. Place the peaches on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Grill the peaches over medium heat until soft and grill marks appear, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove and let cool.
3. In a large bowl combine the greens with the snap peas, scallions, almonds, goat cheese, and peaches.
4. In a small jar with a lid, combine the ingredients for the vinaigrette. Shake well to emulsify then pour over the salad in the bowl.
5. Toss well to combine and enjoy immediately.

Corn and Black Bean Pizza

Ingredients

1 plum tomato, diced
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed
1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 pound prepared whole-wheat pizza dough
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella, preferably smoked mozzarella

Directions

1. Preheat grill to medium.
2. Combine tomato, beans and corn in a medium bowl. Sprinkle cornmeal onto a large baking sheet. Stretch the dough into about a 12-inch circle and lay it on top of the cornmeal, coating the entire underside of the dough.
3. Transfer the crust from the baking sheet to the grill. Close the lid and cook until the crust is puffed and lightly browned on the bottom, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Using a large spatula, flip the crust. Spread barbecue sauce on it and quickly sprinkle with the tomato mixture and cheese. Close the lid; grill until the cheese is melted and the bottom of the crust is browned, 4 to 5 minutes.

Serves 6.

Bachelorette Update

Hometown Dates: Roberto took Ali home to Tampa where they played baseball together. His parents were very friendly to Ali but I didn't think Ali's answers to Roberto's father's questions were very well answered.


Next, she went off to Cape Cod. Chris's family is very tight knit. My concern here was that Chris really wants to be married but I wonder if he really wants to be married to Ali or any girl that would have him. After this show, every girl should want him.

Green Bay, WI was next when Ali and Kirk went to meet with his dad's family and then his mom's family. Ali seemed very out of place wandering around WI and she is still very unsure that Kirk is ready for marriage. Dear Ali, just because he hasn't brought a lot of girls home doesn't mean he isn't ready for marriage. I wouldn't want my future husband to have brought every girl he ever dated home.

Last, Ali was off to Chicago to meet Frank's family. They went on a private boat ride where Frank and a minor freak out. This is getting all too common and really why would you want to date a boy who is constantly freaking out. BE A MAN FRANK. I have no idea how the family visit went because Frank bores me and I feel asleep on my couch.


At the rose ceremony, Ali wore an adorable dress. She also sent home Kirk. She seemed genuinely sad to have to let him go. I am sad too. Why didn't you send home Frank?

Next week, Roberto, Chris, Frank and Ali head to Tahiti.

Fried Butter

Whenever my office needs to smile, one of us reenacts the butter boy dance.



It's Friday!

The downfall of Lindsay Lohan

Yesterday, Lindsay Lohan was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 90 days in rehab.


I have a feeling that she won't spend all 90 days in jail. Think Paris Hilton and her DUI jail time. You can tell by her manicure yesterday that she doesn't believe she has a problem and doesn't take her court appearance very seriously.I hope LiLo finally cleans up her act.

But before LiLo was a cocaine using, SCRAM bracelet wearing hot mess...she was a fun actress. AH, the good ole days.




Now all we need is for LiLo to take Cady Heron's advice: Calling somebody else fat won't make you any skinnier. Calling someone stupid doesn't make you any smarter. And ruining Regina George's life definitely didn't make me any happier. All you can do in life is try to solve the problem in front of you.

Bachelorette Update

Last night's Bachelorette was more of a Jake and Vienna reunion than a Ali finds love in Portugal.




While I never liked Vienna on the show, last night I was on her side. Jake came off as very smug and I do believe he is a fame whore. You worked for an airline, how have you not flown in over a year? Your show wasn't even over and you were on Dancing with the Stars. You moved to LA and not back to Dallas like you said. While, I am sure Vienna had started the problems in your relationship, your need to be famous probably didn't help. Vienna, move back to Florida, go to college and find yourself a nice guy.

Now back to Ali. This episode was fun for me because my mom is in town and I was able to be like "I SAW THAT" or "I was there too". However, I am surprised they didn't do their dates at some of the more beautiful places in Lisbon. Basic run down: Roberto and Ali have a physical connection. Frank is weird. Ty is too stuck on women not working. Chris is wonderful but always talking about his mother. Chris...when do we get to learn about you? and Kirk is a nice guy but Ali is moody and their date was pretty awkward because of it.



Ty went home. This is a decision I agree with. Ali claims to be a worker bee and Ty definitely doesn't want his women working. Though...on his one on one time he claimed it didn't matter. I really hope Chris opens up to Ali and that their age difference doesn't get in the way because of the guys left...he's my current pick for her.

Independence Day

Happy July 4th Everyone!