March madness

I really need to do better about updating this blog.  Really.  And i have time...i just have been keeping things locked up in my brain, dwelling on things, and trying to internalize it......not airing my dirty laundry.  I guess i am growing up?  Or becoming boring?  I don't know.

Current obsessions:

Girls
Season 3 ended last night and the show is maturing and each of the girls had a nice storyline.  Shoshana didn't graduate from college, found out that Marnie and Ray had slept together, and then asked Ray to get back together, to which he said no.  Poor Shos.  Marnie kisses a guy who has a girlfriend and then spies and grins from behind a gate when this said guy and his gf break up.  Psycho much?  Jessa attempts to help an artist commit suicide (something i am not sure i could do), only to have the artist change her mind, AFTER swallowing the pills, and 911 is called.  Hannah, finally does something for herself and puts her life in a forward position after getting accepted at Iowa writing school....without Adam's approval.  And the best part of the show...

 

..................... Elijah wears a suit and the pants are actually shorts!  New fashion trend!!  WOWza!  Do you think Brett would look good in that?


Divergent by Veronica Roth

Have you read the book(s)?  With the movie being released this past weekend, i decided to read the 1st book so that i could then see the movie.  The short summary:  Beatrice Prior lives in a future version of Chicago where there are five distinct factions. Each faction thinks one virtue is best: Dauntless think bravery is keen, Erudite love knowledge, Abnegation is pro-self-sacrifice, Amity hearts friendship, and Candor is into telling it like it is. Beatrice grew up in an Abnegation family. But when she turns 16, she decides to join Dauntless—partly because they're cool; partly because she doesn't feel selfless enough to be a good Abnegation; and partly because her test result showed that she was Divergent, meaning she doesn't really fit in with any one faction.  But joining Dauntless isn't just about showing up and saying "take me." All the initiates have to train and compete to get into the faction. Along the way, Beatrice takes a new nickname—Tris—and meets a range of people. There are new friends like Al, Will, and Christina; new enemies like Peter and his evil minions; and new teachers, like the scary Eric and the hot Four. Tris has to compete to get into Dauntless, all while hiding that she's really Divergent. There's blood, violence, and some kissing (between her and Four).
I mean, really, isn't that what everyone's high school experience was like?  For me, just throw in a baby and poof- that is my life.  LOL.
Anyway, it is a great YA book (read it if you haven't), i can't wait to see the movie, and per Buzzfeed.com, you can take a quiz to see what faction you belong to.  Apparently i should be in Abnegation.....because of my selfless nature....haha....but my short temper today has convinced me that i should be Dauntless....because although i might not be brave all the time, i would like to punch people and throw elbows every once in a while.  :)


NCAA Tournament
My bracket is busted.......thanks Duke.
Enough said.


Food
When am i not obsessed with food, eating out, and yummy drinks????
And yes, i still like my diet mt dew and rice cakes and sour patch kids....and yes, i don't cook as much even though my schedule isn't as busy (doesn't make sense).......anyway, back to food.  This is what i have been cooking.
Cilantro lime shrimp......

Sweet chili asian meatballs.....

Spaghetti squash...i just eat it with Parmesan cheese.  Plain.  Simple. Glorious.

Sriracha Bloody Mary (O.M.G.)

Well, that is it from me.  I'm already chapters into the 2nd book in the Divergent series (Insurgent).  But i gotta wait one year until THAT movie comes out!  Ugh!

xox.  happy monday everyone!

Hello and goodbye February

Where did the month go?  I know it was short and all, but really?  My last blog post was a day prior to turning 35.  Over the past month and 10 days, i don't really know what i have done.

Well, that is not true- i have been traveling, working, had girls nights (no pictures...sorry), had date nights, had couples dates nights, had mother-daughter time, had mother-doggy time, and have spent some lazy days recovering.  I still have not read the all books that i wanted to (especially Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg) or spent enough time with family (sorry mom) but i'll get to it when i can.  Not going to stress myself out right now.  I'm enjoying what i can, when i can.

So now for the random stuff....

#1
Has anyone noticed that the weather in Charleston has been crazy??
Hot, then cold, then ice storms (two...thank you Polar Vortex with the closure of school for taylor many times and me having to have a sleepover at the VA with Cindy and Sally!!!), an earthquake (yes, seriously) and then hot and then cold again.  Bipolar weather.  That is my term for it.  And really i shouldn't complain because up north they are getting it way worse than us...but i'm going to....because i am ready for spring!

 (this is at our outdoor mall in Charleston during the 1st ice storm......crazy!!)

#2
And it is true....i have learned you can go back again.
Hello Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto) from My So Called Life (aka the best show ever of 1994-1995)

And true to form, 20 years later..........ahhhhh (those are angels singing from heaven at his beauty).....he is still smokin'.
Jared Leto is now the lead vocalist and songwriter to 30 Seconds to Mars (great band) and has recently revived his acting career (we can't forget about Urban Legend, right Kaitlin Means Winarsky?) and has won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for the movie Dallas Buyers Club (which is excellent.  rent it.  rent it now.).

I.  Just.  Can't.  Get.  Enough.
ok...i'll stop.


#3
High school friends- does this strike fear in your heart???

What is even more scary is that Taylor is taking it this week.  This week people!!!  I took the SAT twice- the 1st time i was a little pregnant (like 6 weeks...but i knew) and the 2nd time i was A LOT pregnant (like couldn't fit into a school desk i was so fat).  And now my little girl, who was growing in me when i took this test, is getting ready to take it.  AND to make you (and me) feel older, we are looking at Colleges- Emory last month, Wofford and Furman in March, and BU, Northeastern, NYU, and Columbia in April.  Duke will be a weekend roadtrip soon, i'm sure...we just don't have it planned....but Taylor has requested Cosmic burritos....how does she remember them????  And wait, to make you (and me) feel even older, i somehow have to figure out how to PAY for her college.  Lol.  I didn't realize when i had a baby that she would grow up and become a real person that i would have to buy things for.  Word to my friends who have young ones now......plan ahead for college.  You can't tell that to a 17 year old who has an unplanned pregnancy.....or even to her when she is going into 200k debt for medical school!  But plan now.

#4
I'm going to leave you with a positive note.  :)
Happy Almost Friday!!

Things i love right now all from Buzzfeed (of course the 1st one is about Theo/Beau, my Instagram obession).

http://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/these-vines-of-a-boy-and-his-puppy-napping-together-will-hur

http://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/if-friends-had-used-suggested-hashtags

 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/reasons-why-kids-are-the-meanest-people-in-the-world

http://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/play-the-friends-trivia-game-that-forced-monica-to-give-up-h

My last blog post of my "early thirties."

I'm growing up.  In three short days, i leave my "early thirties" and transition to the "late thirties."  Or the big 3.5.  I realize that 35 isn't old....and really you are only as old as you feel...or only as old as you look (thanks dad for the oily skin that keeps me looking young and allows people to think taylor and i are sisters instead of mother & daughter...hehe)....but as a kid i remember thinking that 35 was old.  I mean OLD.  And now, i am about to be 35.  But don't worry- i plan to celebrate in style.  A quiet dinner with loved ones and i bought myself a REALLY nice present.....er...presents.  :)

Sharing a few things i love right now.
1st-
Do you know this blog? http://www.mommasgonecity.com/  Or her instagram account?  @mommasgonecity
If you don't, head over there and spend some time looking at her pictures.   Basically she has a son who is about 2 years old (Beau) and the family adopted a puppy (Theo) and these two take naps together.  All the time.  And she takes pictures of it daily.....which has now turned into a book deal (!!!)
















I honestly look forward to nap pictures on a daily basis.  It makes me smile.  Friends forever.  I just die! :)
Go over to her blog or instagram and add a little happiness into your day.

Next.

How did i not jump on the Girls bandwagon when it 1st came out?  And why did it take me ALL this time to figure out i needed to be watching this show.  Worst part of it all?  I made the decision to start watching seasons 1&2 only 4 days before season 3 came out (last night).  I have no idea what prompted me to start watching the show....maybe it is because i have ALL this time on my hands....or maybe it is because my favorite food blogger Jessica (http://www.howsweeteats.com/) talks about the show all the time....or maybe because i just wanted to. 
So i watched seasons 1 and 2 in 3 days.  Literally sat on my rear end on saturday (it was rainy and yucky so totally justifiable) and made my way through each episode.  AND.  IT.  WAS.  FABULOUS.

The show is unbelievably witty, painfully truthful, and has hilarious dialogue.  And really sometimes i can't believe i am watching it.......it is like a car accident that you can't turn away from.  But i'm hooked.  Like "i love lena dunham, want her to be my best friend, inspire me to write a book, pray that taylor writes a screen play so we can go to the golden globes in 10 years."  *sigh*

Speaking of the Golden Globes.  I really need to go to the movies.  I can't even tell you the last movie i went to.....maybe Sinister (which i watched through my hands over my eyes)....but there are so many movies i want to see!  American Hustle.  Gravity.  12 years a slave.  It really needs to rain on the weekends so i can feel good about going to see a movie and not missing fun things that are happening in Charleston.

And despite the fact that it is Restaurant week in Charleston.....CO, J Paulz, and Poogan's Porch were all great....going to Cypress and Trattoria lucca (for my birthday!!) later this week.....i made this last night.
Cilantro Lime Shrimp  http://www.lanascooking.com/2011/06/07/cilantro-lime-shrimp/

It was amazing.  Served over a little pasta and we had crusty bread to sop up the sauce.....yummmm!  If you like shrimp at all, make this.  Make this now.  :)

Well, Kathy Lee and Hoda are on, which means i need to start my day.  Today is my "run errands day" since i will be working most of the week.....except on my birthday because really?  who wants to work on their birthday, right?  I'm excited to start my life in my "late thirties" and i know 2014 is going to be a great year!!

Happy Monday everyone!

Merry Day after Christmas

Well, Happy Boxing Day.....or Day After Christmas.  Or amazing shopping day (although best shopping day ever is Nov 1st- the day after Halloween).

Taylor and i are sitting on the couch watching a NCIS marathon since it is cold and rainy outside.  Tiberius had been having horrible gas (yes, i know this is an overshare) and our christmas tree is dying and i am dreading taking off the ornaments and putting them away.

I want to make this:

Candy Cane Milkshake Yum!


And now some pictures from our Christmas.



Just kidding.  This is the Kardashian Christmas party....that i was not invited to.....dang it!!
View their pics here

Ok, on to the real pictures!

 My tree

 

 

My parent's Christmas Tree

MYA

                                                                                 

Ava

 Tiberius' Christmas bone (he ate the whole thing)

 Taylor and Mya

And now on to selfies....... :)

And Ava got a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and otoscope and syringe (full doctor's kit!) for Christmas.
She knows how to listen to hearts....and then i taught her how to listen to lungs....with the patient breathing in and out really really deep!  I'll make a pulmonologist out of her yet!!

I love NYC....but only in small doses and when it is not snowing.

Believe it or not, i actually got up the courage to break out of my "homebody" shell and traveled to NYC last weekend...i mean, who doesn't want to see the city during Christmas Time.
So that means PICTURE TIME!!

Friday was travel day and we arrived in the city around 8:30....staying at the Grand Hyatt at Grand Central Station

We needed food.....determined for food.....even ignoring the "hey shawty" calls of the NYC men.
This was my dinner..... it was awesome

Just some of the Christmas decorations that night..... (the tree is at our hotel)

Saturday the snow started......lots of snow.

At Rockefeller Center....

More snow at the Freedom Tower and 9/11 Memorial

 (it was so so so so cold)

Then Grand Central Station break and Oyster Bar for oysters/champagne

We had dinner at an authentic Moroccan place but some people don't want me to talk about it...

.........or the 100% proof Fig liquor.

And after dinner there was even more snow as we headed to Broadway to see Spider-Man!

By Sunday, the snow had ended (and the rain had stopped as well) and we ventured to the Chelsea Market.

 Then back to Time Square to see the Bodies Exhibition

(only dorky doctors would love something like this!)

And for the kid in all of us- Toys R Us

 

After that, we picked up our bags and headed to the airport.

Goodbye NYC