Thoughts on Blogging

Happy Wednesday readers! So today I'm doing something a little different with Ten Things Wednesday. A little serious. A lot real.

I read a LOT of blogs. 100+ a day. I read a lot of things that make me smile, make me want to be a better blogger, make me cringe. To the latter, I want to provide my thoughts on a bunch of blogging "hot topics." Bear in mind that these are only my personal philosophies on how I choose to blog. There is bound to be people that will disagree, but the beauty of blogging is that it is purely subjective. So, without further ado...

- Why I don't post pictures of every single thing I eat: First of all, I don't post pictures of everything I eat because frankly, you would get bored. I tend to eat a lot of the same things over and over again. Plus I have zero desire to open up my diet to scrutiny from others. Some days I eat too much (actually, most days). Some days I don't eat enough (like once a year).

- Why I don't post three times a day: Again, this would get boring. The bloggers that post three times a day frequently have NOTHING interesting to write about (hence why they post everything they eat because that's all they have time to do). I want to keep things new and interesting for my readers without overloading their Google Readers.

 - On Privacy: This is common sense in the blog world. Not that I think I'm hot or important enough to have someone be obsessed with me, but stranger things have happened. This is why I don't post my address, phone number, where I work, or last name. However, if you're job is social networking, etc. than obviously it's perfectly acceptable to list your job and last name...but for us regular Janes, there's no point.

 - On Responsibility: I never paint myself as an expert. I never even give advice. I tell you what I do and what has worked for me. That being said, a lot of "healthy living bloggers" encourage very unhealthy habits, whether they are meaning to or not is a different story, but I believe in reading your post after you've written it as an outsider would read it and consider if perhaps you are sending a bad message.

 - Why I don't post on the weekends: As much as I love this blog (and you guys!) I also love my "me" time. I don't blog on the weekends because I actually enjoy living my life, spending time with my friends and boyfriend, and don't want to have my life revolve around my blog.

 - Things you will never see me do on this blog:

• Post pictures of my furniture - In all honesty, who really wants to see pictures of my furniture or go on a video tour of my apartment?
• Post pictures of myself in a bathing suit - Nothing good can come of this. Good for you if you have a rocking body, but posting pictures of yourself in a bathing suit is nothing short of narcissistic and tacky. Don't fish for compliments from your readers. It's shameless and unnecessary.
• Post multiple pictures of myself in one post - I don't like to add fluff to my posts, and posting multiple self portraits is exactly that...fluff to add bulk and length to a post. In conjunction with this, if I do happen to post pictures of myself, I promise to never be making weird faces to convey emotion. I'm a big girl and can use my words.
• Outfit posts (unless in jest). If I wanted to post pictures of my outfits, I would start a fashion blog. Plus, I don't have the fashion sense that a fashion blogger is required to have. A few other bloggers should take note of this.

- On giving credit: If I use ANYTHING from someone else's blog, I link to it. Period. If I get an idea from a conversation I've had with someone, or something I read by them, I link to them. Period. Using someone else's idea (even if it's just your question of the day), is stealing.

- On censorship: To some degree I have to censor my blog (i.e. don't talk about X rated things, keep swearing to a minimum even though sometimes I just have to do it, don't tell stories about my friends, etc.) That being said, I try to be as real with you guys as I can and give you the inside track on my life as much as possible. I like my readers to know I'm a real person, not a robot, and my life is far from perfect. The portrayal of the perfect life in the blogosphere is not just irritating, but I also feel that as a blogger, portraying your life as perfect (or with fake, tiny little problems only) leads to a disconnect and lack of relatability to readers. Rest assured that if I was ever able to work from home on a daily basis, you bet your ass that I would never complain about it.

What are your thoughts on blogging?

Foods That Freak Me Out

Good morning! Today is Ten Things Wednesday. If you're new to the blog, Wednesday is the day I show off my affinity for lists, sometimes food and fitness related, sometimes not. Today I am listing some of the foods that I just do not like and kind of freak me out a little bit.

You would think things like tripe (cow stomach) and chicken livers would be on this list, but no. I can actually eat those things. The things that truly skeeve me out are fairly common.

1. Cottage Cheese - This is definitely a texture thing. It reminds me of eating fish eggs. Not that I've ever eaten fish eggs, but this is what I would imagine them to taste like.

(source)

2. Fish - I have made no secret about how I do not eat fish. Everything about it skeeves me out. The taste, the smell, the texture. I was told that the secret to good fish is in the preperation. I don't buy it. Fish is still stinky.

(source)













3. Mushrooms - Unless they are chopped up really small and heavily drowned in sauce, mushrooms are a no go for me.

4. Water chestnuts - No matter how long you cook them, they are still weirdly crunchy. Yuck.

(source)














5. Chia Seeds - I just can't get past the fact that they expand and gelatinize in your stomach. Creepy.

6. Nutritional yeast - I know everyone in the blog world seems to love this stuff, and truthfully I have yet to try it and probably won't unless it's unknowingly slipped to me.

7. Beets - There are very few vegetables that I just can't stand and beets are one of them. Maybe it's the fact that they stain everything, maybe it's the fact that they smell like vomit when they're cooking, but whatever it is, there is just no way I can eat them.

8. Tab - Oh yes I went there. It was hot during the 80s and I still randomly see it in supermarkets sometimes and am automatically scared. Nothing like drinking your chemicals!

(source)


















9.  Sour gummies - I like the sour patch kid commercials, but when it comes to actually eating them, I just can't. Typically I like when two flavors are paired together, but sour gummies are just gross.

10. American cheese - I HATE American cheese. I think it's just about the most disgusting thing there is. I love pretty much any other kind of cheese but cannot stomach American cheese. This is one Americanized food that we got completely wrong.

What foods really turn your stomach?

The Downsides to Working Out

I know you guys actually read my blog because you love my pessamistic self-deprecating humor, right? Then you've come to the right place! I actually like working out most of the time. Sure I complain about it, but the sense of accomplishment of a completed workout far outweighs the downsides of actually working out. With that being said, there ARE downsides...and here they are.

1. Sweat rashes. TMI maybe? Oh well, I'm just being honest! I get sweat rashes a lot, usually either under my arm, in the crook of my elbow, inside of my thigh...wherever I sweat a lot. No amount of baby powder completely cures this problem. It makes wearing shorts and a tank top unsightly in the summer.

2. Blisters. Even with careful planning, bodyglide, strategically placed bandaids and buying the correct shoes for your feet, blisters still happen. And they suck. I always manage to get blisters in the most painful and annoying places.

3. Raging hunger. The more I work out, the more I like to eat. Which completely negates the fact that I worked out. It's an endless vicious cycle.

4. Being tired at 8pm. Ok, in truth I would probably be tired at 8pm even if I didn't get up at 5:30am every morning to work out, but the working out ensures that I could put my head down at 8pm and fall asleep instantly. It also makes me completely useless at night because I'm so tired and lazy.

5. Having to shower twice. Some people like to shower. I do not. I do it out of necessity of course, but when I go to the gym in the afternoon or evening, that means I have to shower again and that makes me unhappy.

6. Sweaty ponytail hair. In case I hadn't already mentioned it, I sweat perfusely when I work out, and that usually equates to have sweat drip off of my ponytail, which is just the grossest thing.

7. The DOMS. That would be delayed onset muscle soreness for those of you who do not obsessively read fitness magazines like I do. The DOMS usually occurs the day AFTER your workout and then continues on for at least another day after that. Squats give me the worst DOMS.

8. Annoying or inadept class instructors. There is nothing worse than leaving a class feeling like you could have done more because the instructor clearly didn't know what they were doing or were just half-assing it (I have had this a lot with instructors who teach multiple classes in a day...by the time they get to the evening class, they have nothing left). It also sucks being demotivated by Fitness Barbie in her pink leotard and neon white teeth. When all you can thinking about is wanting to snap off her head, it's hard to focus on how hard you're working.

9. Permastink. You gym goers all know what I mean..."permastink" is the permanent smell your gym clothes take on no matter how many times you wash them or whatever fancy pants detergent you use. Gym clothes can clearly be distinguished as gym clothes by the way they smell.

10. Pre-planning. Working out takes a lot of pre-planning. If you're a runner, you have to plan your route, water stops, etc. If you are a morning gym goer, you have to pack a bag to go right to work, or pack a bag if you are going right after work. That's just a lot of WORK. For lazy girls like me, that's the number one reason I would skip the gym if I didn't live less than a mile away and had the option to change and shower at home.

What is your least favorite part of working out?

Signs I'm Getting Old (at 28)

I'm 28 going on 80. Practically overnight I can feel the chains of death pulling me closer to it's evil grip. Ok, so maybe that's a little dramatic. I actually have no problem with aging at all...just like Joan Rivers.

The signs are all there. Here are the signs that I am getting old fast...

1. Hangovers. In college, my hangover would last an hour. Pop a tylenol, eat some greasy leftover pizza for breakfast and I was good to go! What time does the next party start? Not anymore friends. Now, I need Motrin 500s, a full breakfast, an extra 5 hours of sleep, and another twelve hours lying on the couch recovering. Getting drunk is now a full three day event...one day of actual drinking and then two more for recovery.

2. I'm tired by 9pm everynight. Which leads me to #3...

3. I can fall asleep anywhere. Sitting up. Propped up. Laying down. On the bus. At work. Mid-conversation.

4. Eating too much fiber now has detrimental consequences. Gone are the days of eating indiscriminantly whatever and whenever I feel like it. I now notice that eating certain combinations of foods can have disasterous effects.

5. My idea of a great Friday night is dinner with the boy, movie at home on the couch, in bed by 10. Quality time!

6. Liking Justin Bieber music makes me feel like a pedophile. Sure I loved New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys back in the day, but back then they were age appropriate for me. What is my excuse for loving Justin Bieber??

7. U2 is now played on classic rock stations. When did this happen?

8. I sometimes wonder if muscle soreness is a sign of early onset arthritis. And then I hobble around like an old lady.

9. Cleavage. As in, I hate showing it now because it makes me feel unprofessional. Plus as you get older, things look better covered up. In college, it was the more boobage the better!!! Oh I miss those days when showing the goodies actually got you some where.

10. I constantly find myself having "remember when" conversations with my friends. As in, remember that movie The Sandlot? Or, remember that time we ran from the cops in high school with our twelve pack of natty ice? Or, remember when slap bracelets were cool?

What has you feeling old these days?

Head of the Class

Hey readers! Sorry for the late post today...let's just say I've been lacking inspiration on the blog lately. But never fear, I put the question out to Twitter and Facebook about what ten things people would like to have me talk about today and I got a request for a list of workouts I have tried and what I thought about them. The title of the post refers to the fact that no matter what workout class I take, I must be right at the front. I'm a shorty and if I'm not in the front I can't always see what the instructor is doing. And despite the picture below of the girl in pink, I am not usually smiling when working out.

Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert, these are only my personal opinions on what works for me.

1. Pilates - Similar to yoga but very core-based. It has been a while since I have taken a Pilates class, but if your core is your weak point, Pilates may be for you. It is more a strength workout, so it should be used as such. You will need cardio to supplement. I personally prefer to do my ab exercises when I have time rather than take a class though.

2. Zumba - I have taken zumba twice and absolutely hated it both times. I know a lot of people love it, but my personal opinion is that it's cardio for sissies. I barely broke a sweat either time and it was a lot of random spinning around, not even really dancing as I had expected it to be.

3. Kickboxing - I used to take kickboxing on a weekly basis and loved it. It's quite a workout. The only complaint I have about kickboxing is it has become increasingly popular over the years and every class I have been to has been very crowded...and if you have never taken a class, I will just say that it's hard to put your full energy behind your punches and kicks when you have people very close together. Aside from that, it's one of my favorite forms of cardio.

4. Spin - Spin is my workout love. I do it three times a week now and look forward to every class. It's practically the only workout that I can get excited to get out of bed at 5:30am for. It totally kicks my ass everytime and I leave a sweating hot mess.

5. Vinyasa Yoga - Vinyasa is one of the most popular forms of yoga. Vinyasa is a beginner/intermediate form of yoga that does get your heart pumping a little bit as well as stretches you out. Vinyasa is my preferred form of yoga. The only drawback is that yoga at a gym is so much different (not in a good way) than it is at a studio...but since I already pay for the gym, I find it hard to justify paying for yoga also.

6. Bikram Yoga - Bikram is a series of mostly standing poses (the sequence and poses never change) in an over 100 degree room. I have done bikram a handle full of times, and while I can say that I do like it, I have almost passed out a few times from the heat. I am a serious sweater and extreme heat dehydrates me. A few recommendations for bikram...go early in the morning before the studio gets a chance to get humid and stinky from all the sweating bodies, bring a towel to put over your mat, and freeze your water before class so that it stays cold.

7. BodyPump - In case you live under a rock and have not heard of BodyPump, it's basically a full body strength training workout set to music. Each song is a different muscle group. It's an hour long class and focuses on number of repititions rather than weight. Aside from spin, BodyPump is by far the best workout you can get. Unfortunately I no longer go to a gym that offers it, but am looking forward to moving and joining a new gym that does offer it. A lot of gyms have a similar option (sometimes called Conditioning, or Strength, etc.) but none that I have been to compare to BodyPump.

8. Step - I know you're thinking step is so 80s, and truthfully it's exactly how you would picture it to be. It's good in a pinch if you are not a treadmill person and only a class will do, however, I would not personally add it to my rotation as I prefer variety, and it's basically straight cardio with no intervals. Plus many instructors/classes don't have music and I NEED music to work out.

9 - Boot Camp - Most gyms offer some form of boot camp, and there are many free or cheap boot camps that pop up in cities once the warm weather hits. Boot camp is basically a series of circuits that totally kick the shit out of you. I like it because you are constantly changing what you are doing. I would take boot camp more often, but unfortunately my gym doesn't offer it at convenient times for my schedule, but I definitely recommend squeezing it in if you have room.

I know this is supposed to be ten things, but I have only tried 9 classes so the tenth one is one I've been dying to try.

10 - TRX - This is a strength training class using suspended cables and your own body weight. I have heard nothing but good things and can't wait to try it!

What classes do you prefer? What have you been wanting to try?

The Fight is On

Welcome to yet another edition of ten things wednesday (damn everytime I write that I wish it rhymed...a poet I am not). Anyway, today is a list of eat this or that. I am by no means a qualified expert on what you should or should not eat nutritionally, I can only speak for what I personally prefer and what works for me. The following list are foods that I eat all the time, stacked up against a swap for it.

1. Sugar vs. Artificial Sweetener - Most of the time I choose real sugar. I never roll with artificial sweetner with the exception of Truvia for my coffee. I hate the idea of sweetening my food with chemicals. Plus some of the more popular ones (Sweet N Low, Equal) leave a really nasty metallic after taste. Plus there have been various studies linking fake sugars to lots of not-so-fun sounding diseases. There have been just as many studies contradicting that artificial sweetners cause disease, but with so much conflicting information, why risk it?

2. Full fat cheese vs. Reduced fat cheese - I have said this many times before, one thing I will NEVER go low fat on is dairy. Yes, you are taking in less fat when you eat reduced fat or fat free cheese, but think of all the stuff they add back in to make the cheese taste semi-okay...even though fat free cheese still tastes like a dirty sweat sock to me. Gross.

3. Beef vs. Chicken - Y'all know I'm a meat-loving girl. I LOVE me a big juicy steak. However, beef really is the red headed stepchild in this scenario. It is high in saturated fat (the kind of fat that clogs your arteries), so most of the time I roll with chicken. That being said, if I go out to dinner on a Saturday night, I'm ordering the Prime Rib.

4. Milk Chocolate vs. Dark Chocolate - Yes, dark chocolate is better for you and the blog world is abuzz with the wonders of dark chocolate, but I'm going to be real here. I prefer milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is good, don't get me wrong, but given the choice, I'm going with the milk everytime. The dark chocolate just does not satisfy my sweet tooth at all.

5. Olive Oil vs. Butter - Paula Deen would shudder at this question. I use real butter for baking only, olive oil for everything else. I recently purchased a Misto and love it! No more nonstick spray for me! I use olive oil in all of my cooking.

6. Whole Eggs vs Egg Whites - I have recently started eating egg white omelettes for breakfast, but other than that I only use egg whites for baking recipes that call for it. The yolk of the egg is where all the fat is, but it's also where all the nutrients are. I try to alternate between whole eggs and egg whites when it comes to omelettes. A little yolk never hurt anybody.

7. Soy Milk vs. Almond Milk - As I mentioned in my Dairy Experiment post, I switched from regular milk to soy milk years ago. I was raised on whole milk, but the calorie and fat content are astronomical, so I needed a creamier yet healthier way to gorge on cereal. Enter soy milk. I made the switch from soy to almond after realizing I didn't really need the fortified protein in my diet (I get it from other sources) and that almond milk was even lower in calories and slightly higher in other nutrients. I haven't looked back. Almond milk is delicious. I want to venture into trying to make my own soon.

8. Dried Fruit vs. Whole Fruit - I'm sure you guys already know that dried fruit is just a condensed version of whole fruit and contain all of the same nutrients. The difference is volume. Eating a piece of fruit is satisfying, eating one dried cranberry is not. The majority of the time I choose whole fruit, but there are occasions where dried fruit is more appropriate. For example, I love dried cranberries in my salad or raisins in cookies.

9. Rice vs. Quinoa - Nutritionally speaking, quinoa is the better choice with fewer carbohydrates and more protein. That being said, rice tends to soak up the flavors of food and sauces much better though. I do use quinoa occasionally (most often with my orange glazed tofu) but for the majority of the time, I use brown rice. It tends to be bulkier and has more chew factor, thus making it my go to in terms of grains.

10. Peanut Butter vs. Almond Butter - For anyone who has ever had Justin's maple almond butter, this is no contest. Yes, peanut butter is tasty, but nutritionally, almond butter is a powerhouse. And my pal Justin makes almond butter the king of nut butters, in my opinion.

Which of these foods do you prefer over the other?

New Years Resolutions: Where Are They Now?

Happy ten things day! Since it is almost the end of the 1st quarter of 2011, I thought I would revisit my new year's resolutions and give you a little update to where I'm at.

1. Save more money. Fail. I have not managed to save any money, but on the bright side, I have set a goal of being debt free by the end of this year. I am on the right track to do that and am making fantastic progress so far.

2. I will stop being a time nazi. Fail. I still get really really antsy when waiting for someone, and still find myself getting irritated when they are even a minute late. Case in point, during my dinner party a few weeks ago, I had thought Danielle was going to arrive at 5:30, but she didn't get there until almost 6...my first comment to her when she walked in the door..."you're late!!!!!!"

3. Bake less, cook more. Win! I have definitely been cooking more than I have been baking, but I can't deny my baking bug when it strikes me.

4. I resolve to stop resolving to give up coffee. Win! I have not said ONCE this year that I am going to give up coffee. I did just resolve to stop spending so much on Starbucks and start drinking the free coffee at work instead though.

5. Eat a more varied diet. Win! I have been trying to incorporate new and foreign fruits and veggies into my diet and at changing up the foods in my usual dishes to get a wider variety of nutrients in my diet.

6. Be better about strength training consistently. Fail. I have no idea why this is so hard for me. I can easily talk myself out of a strength workout, saying to myself "oh you don't need it" but when it comes to cardio I say "NO! You MUST work out." I wish I had that same kind of determination with strength training. I really have to work on this one.

7. I will not wait until the "GET GAS NOW!" light comes on in my car. Win! I have not let my car get below E since the beginning of the year. Mostly because she is very sick and needs her transmission rebuilt, so I haven't been driving her very much.

8. I will try to watch more adult TV programming. Fail. My DVR is still full with almost all teenager shows, which the exception of Grey's Anatomy and Survivor. I have really tried to get myself into some other shows with no success (The Event, Blue Bloods). I can't help myself.

9. I will stop buying bottles of OPI nail polish. Win! I have not bought a single bottle of nail polish this year. Instead, I have been trying to salvage some of my older polishes and considering them "new."

10. I will stop at just one cookie. This one is a huge gigantic FAIL. I still have yet to eat only one cookie at one time. NO self control.

How are you doing on your New Year's resolutions? Win or fail?

My List of Grievances

It's ten things Wednesday! (This would sound so much better if it rhymed, so I get a fail for alliteration). Semi-inspired by my good friend Melissa's Three Things Thursday, I thought I would make a list of my own of things that are really getting to me lately.

Yes, I am not so secretly an angry person.

1. People who talk on their cell phone on the bus. Or in the supermarket. Or really anwhere in my general vicinity.

2. The cost of concert/play/art show/musical tickets. Most shows of Mary Poppins are going for $150 a ticket. Who HAS that kind of money? How are poor people like me ever supposed to get cultured when tickets are a car payment?

3. The 5 dollar footlong Subway commercials. Please. Make. It. Stop.

4. People who leave their phone on vibrate. The bzzzzzz sound really gets to me. Especially if it's every 5 seconds. If you're seriously that popular, just keep checking your phone and turn the vibrate off.

5. Daylight savings time. I love that it's light out later now, but seriously, for the first few days I feel like I have jet lag. It's only an hour, but for some reason it makes me feel like a zombie, minus the whole eating-people thing.

6. Can I ask you a question? Can you do me a favor? Can I get your opinion? Just come out with what you want. Don't waste my time with extra questions. I don't know why, but this really bugs me.

7. Line straddlers. You know these people. There are 2 lanes open at the store and they stand in the middle of the two so that they can hop in the line of whichever one is going faster, thus leaving you in the slower lane.

8. Automated system outerspace. Every company has an automated phone system now, so when you actually have an issue and have to call, their number selections never match your exact issue. You have to press 15 numbers to finally get to the crux of the problem, which then transfers you to a customer service representative. Why didn't I just get a customer service representative to begin with?

9. Not enough or too much of the bread or an appetizer at a restaurant. If four people go out to dinner, there should be four pieces of bread brought to the table, not three or five. This just creates awkward situations, because everyone wants that extra slice of bread. Same goes for appetizers. If there are two people, bring out two arancini, or four. Never three. I don't know why restaurants do this.

10. Airlines. It's not enough that I pay astronomical prices to fly, but then you have to charge me $25 to check a bag?? To add insult to injury, many airlines don't even offer snacks anymore. (JetBlue, you are the exception, I love you and fly you whenever I can...xoxoxo). Not only are snacks not offered, but when I order a diet coke as my in-flight beverage, give me the whole CAN. Why must you be so cheap???

What's really bugging you lately? Get it off your chest!

My Kitchen Gadget Wish List

These are all the things that I have been fantasizing about to outfit my kitchen. Some I haven't bought just because they are expensive, but others just because they aren't something I necessarily would use very often and just haven't gotten around to buying them.

1. Stand Mixer - How much easier this would make my life! Right now I just use a hand mixer and let me tell you, it's amazing that I don't have carpel tunnel in my wrist by now.

2. Garlic Press - I just buy minced garlic in a jar, but if I had one of these I might be more inclined to use fresh garlic!

3. Dehydrator - I have wanted one of these for a very long time (I have had a few stints trying to go raw) and think it would make a fantastic addition to my kitchen.

4. Juicer - I love the idea of juicing, but unfrotunately any of the good juicers are really expensive.

5. Donut pan - I don't need an excuse to make donuts, which is why I haven't bought one of these yet.

6. A pretty cake plate - This will most likely be my next purchase, just so I have somewhere to store all my delicious baked goods and a pretty place to photograph them for the blog.

7. Keurig coffee maker - You all know I have a Starbucks addiction. If I had one of these at home, maybe I wouldn't waste so much money buying Starbucks.

8. A waffle maker - I love waffles and order them out whenever I can because I don't have a waffle maker at home. It would be so great to have so that I can have waffles whenever I want!

9. Soda Stream Soda Maker - This may be the coolest thing ever. Make your own soda? Yes please. I have an addiction to all things fizzy as well so it would be so much more inexpensive and economical to make my own soda.

10. Cuisinart Griddler - This would be perfect for pancakes and grilled cheeses. Right now I just use a skillet for those things, but my skillet has little ridges, which don't make the prettiest pancakes. I could use a griddler.

What kitchen gadgets do you own and love? What gadgets do you wish you had?

I Wish I Could Stop...

1. Reading blogs that feature a ton of baked goods.

2. Drinking Starbucks. Everytime I buy a Starbucks coffee, my wallet cries. This coupled with my spiking energy level due to the caffeine makes for some high powered guilt, followed by jubilation, then guilt again.

3. Facebook stalking my exes and anyone that ever knew them.

(source)

4. Being seduced by Amazon and their low prices and free shipping. I am single handedly keeping them in business.

5. Stress eating. I know that I'm doing it, but I do it anyway. I made cookie dough last night. Not cookies, cookie dough. I ate half the dough and put the rest in the fridge to eat when my next anxiety attack hits.

6. Letting my road rage get out of control. For whatever reason, I am a three headed monster in the car. Traffic and parking related incidents literally having me fuming. One day I'm going to pop a blood vessel over a parking spot.

7.  Being so indecisive. I can't make a decision to save my damn LIFE. I have told all my past boyfriends and friends...if you want me to make a decision, give me options like a multiple choice question. And if I have to make a decision on what shirt to buy, forget it. I will be debating it in my head for DAYS.

8. Swearing so much. I curse like a drunken sailor and sometimes it's not pretty. Often at inappropriate times and to inappropriate people.

(source)

9. Wearing yoga pants pretty much everywhere in place of jeans or real pants. They are so comfortable and make my butt look so good that it's hard to wear anything else. Plus they are super forgiving if I have a big meal. But alas, it's not exactly classy to wear workout clothes everywhere.

10. Spending obscene amounts of money on being "pretty." You girls know what I'm talking about. Hair appointments, wax appointments, miracle creams, etc. Why is it so damn EXPENSIVE to look good?

What do you wish you could stop doing?

Ten Reasons Why Being Single Rocks

Wednesday rears it's ugly head again! Thanks for all your supportive comments on yesterday's post. I know I will get through it and come out a bigger person and you all will help me with that. You guys are the best!

So today is ten things day on the blog. If you're new to the blog, every wednesday I post a "ten things" list...sometimes about food, sometimes not. In light of the recent changes in my life, today's list is ten reasons why being single rocks. These ten things apply specifically to me, but I hope you single ladies (and even the attached ones) can relate!

1. No jealousy. You can have friends of the opposite sex without worrying about your significant other being jealous and insecure. And you don't have to be worry if they are flirting with other people, giving out their number, etc.

2. Being free to go out with your friends whenever you want, for however long you want. This one is probably my favorite because the boy and I did not have mutual friends, so it was either spend time alone together or spend time apart, which left a lot less time for my friends. And the passive aggressive "go out and have fun but I'm going to hold it against you later" BS gets old.

3. Only having to clean up after yourself. It's nice not having to wash other people's underwear or clean their hair out of the sink. Gross, right??

4. More money! This obviously does not apply to every relationship, but it did to mine. It's nice spending your hard earned cash on yourself than spending it on someone else! Yay retail therapy!

5. More time to go to the gym. When the boy was living with me, I very rarely actually made it to the gym, especially when I started letting him take my car everywhere because his piece of shit van stalled all the time. I missed working out in the morning.

6. Lax personal grooming habits. This one may be TMI, but it should be recognized. Obviously when you're in a relationship, it's expected that you will keep up with a certain grooming schedule (i.e. shaving your legs every couple of days, closing the door when you go to the bathroom, not checking your tissue to see what color your snot is, etc.) but when you're single, you don't have to worry about any of that!

7. Pink sheets. Or in general decorating however the F you want to. If I want pink sheets, I can get them. If I want to splash a room with flower photos, I can do that. The girlier the better!

8. Blasting the heat without hearing complaints. I like it hot! Now I can turn the heat up to 75 or 80 instead of having to wrap myself up in blankets to stay warm or risk hearing a tirade about how hot it is.

9. Cooking smelly food. It's nice to roast brussel sprouts and not have to hear whines for days about how the house smells. I think roasted brussel sprouts smell delicious.

10. No junk food. This is by far the biggest one. I can go to the supermarket and not have to worry about the boy being with me, putting crap in the cart, or having to keep unhealthy snacks in the house because that's what he eats. No man food messing up my diet!

What do you love about being single? If you're not single, what do you miss about being single?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

...is not Christmas. It's not my birthday (although that is definitely #2).

IT'S GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SEASON.

Every year at this time I come into work and find a lovely surprise on my desk. My shopping bag full of girl scout cookies. Yes, I said a shopping bag. I never order just one box. That would be cookie blasphemy. I did practice a little self restraint this year and only ordered 3 boxes.

Within MINUTES arriving to work, this happened...

You would think it stopped there. Well it didn't. It didn't stop until there was nothing left.

This got me thinking about my favorite seasonal foods and how when I see them, I get so excited that I inhale them like it's going to be my last meal. Here are ten of my favorites for you guys. There are more than just these ten, but you don't necessarily need such an up close and personal view of what a glutton I really am by me giving you the entire list. In no particular order...

1. Girl Scout cookies. Specifically thin mints. Keebler makes a good knock-off version of thin mints, but there really is no substitute for the girl scout brand.

2. Pumpkin butter. As I have mentioned before, I hoard jars of Trader Joe's pumpkin butter. When I finally see them on the shelves in late August, early September, I buy 5 or 6 jars that first day. No joke.

3. Cadbury mini eggs. I bought an 18 ounce bag this past weekend and it's already almost gone. Yes, I have a problem.

4. Summer squash. You can usually find summer squash in the supermarket year round, but really the only time it tastes good is right from a farmer's market in the middle of the summer. It was one of my favorite vegetables growing up and it's the perfect summer veggie as far as I'm concerned.

5. Gingerbread. Nothing says fall and winter like gingerbread. I love baking up some gingerbread and then topping with homemade whipped cream for a treat. Trader Joe's makes a great boxed mix of gingerbread.

6. Candy canes. I love candy canes as they are, but even more so as the topping for chocolate cupcakes with peppermint frosting or peppermint bark.

7. Apple cider (and apple cider donuts!). I love hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick in it and there is nothing better than a hot apple cider donut fresh out of the oven. Yum!

8. Starbucks seasonal coffees like the Gingerbread Latte or Peppermint Mocha. I look forward to Starbucks seasonal drinks like a parolee looks forward to freedom.

9. Egg nog. I only allow myself one carton a year because I don't really like to drink my calories unless it's coffee, but that first glass right around Thanksgiving is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.

10. Watermelon. Again, you can find this in the supermarket all year long, but it's the best in the dead of summer when you can buy a huge whole watermelon and chop up the juicy center yourself instead of eating it out of a plastic container that was shipped from South America. Nothing in the world beats watermelon.
What is your favorite seasonal food?

Ten Things I Love About Traveling

Hello again from DC!

For my ten things post today, I thought I would share with you guys 10 things I love about traveling.

1. Maid service. I love not having to make my own bed or wash my own linens. Plus maids at a hotel always manage to get the sheets tucked in so much tighter than I ever can.

2. Trying out different restaurants.

3. Taking in the sights.

4. Free toiletries.

5. Flying. I know this one is strange because a lot of people don't like flying (the boy included) but I actually kind of love it. I love the rush of take off and I love the excitement of landing in a different place. I love looking out the window as I am flying over a city and flying through the clouds.

6. Airplane snacks.

7. Having a gym in the building. I envy those of you who live in apartment complexes and have a fitness center in your complex. I am one of the laziest girls on the planet. The fact that I don't have to actually drive to the gym gives me an abnormal amount of happiness.

8. Room Service.

9. Quality time with my Kindle.

10. Coming home to these furry faces.

What is your favorite thing about traveling? Are you a nervous flyer?

Ten of the Worst Valentines Day Gifts

Valentine's Day is just around the corner friends! Today I wanted to list for you the worst possible Valentine's Day gifts. These gifts are to remind all of you single girls why it's better to be single than to get these things and a list for you attached girls to print and give to your boyfriend/husband/dog as a DO NOT.

1. Snuggie. I know some of you may think this is an awesome gift, but it's not. Anything that says "Just Like on TV" is not an acceptable gift.

2. Tools. This happened to my mother once, true story. She cried. It was ugly.

3. Love coupons. The gift that keeps on giving, right? Wrong. All love coupons do is show your significant other just how lazy and cheap you really are.

4. A Gym membership. Nothing says I love you like I think you need to go to the gym...because what that really says is "get your ass in shape fatso"

5. A tattoo. This may be the worst gift ever. If you get one for yourself with your honey's name on it, that shit is PERMANENT. Unless you plan on only dating people with the same name as your current squeeze (or you think you're going to be together forever you think) you are going to regret that ink.

6. Singing stuffed animals. Yes, it's fun to press the tummies of every single one of them at Walgreen's just to annoy the people that work there, but it's not fun to actually get one.

7. Electrical appliances. Pointing out the domesticity of your wife or girlfriend is not going to go over well. Yes, she wants appliances. As wedding gifts from cousins, not from her husband or boyfriend when she is expecting jewelry or flowers.

8. Money. Sure everyone loves money, but giving your girl money shows her that you couldn't be bothered to put the thought or effort into getting her an actual gift. Though some girls might actually like this, I think it's horribly tacky.

9. Christmas candy. Nothing says cheap like getting candy off the clearance rack just because it happens to be in a red box and could possibly be passed off as Valentine's Day candy. You're not fooling anyone cheapskate!

10. Anything Valentine's Day themed. Mugs, keychains, t-shirts. Anything that says or implies Valentine's Day is not a good gift. These are generic gifts that you get when you have absolutely no idea what else to get...wise up boys. Get flowers.

What is the worst Valentine's Day gift that you've received? Anything to add to this list?

Ten Guilty Pleasures

Happy snow day #567 this year folks! To celebrate yet another day on the couch because it's too crappy outside to do anything but indulge myself in my favorite guilty pleasures which include...

1. Teenager shows. A lot of my friends make fun of me for this, but I LOVE me some teenage drama TV. My favorites include Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, Hellcats, Secret Life of the American Teenager, Skins, Teen Mom, and Make It or Break It. I am owning this one big time. I cannot get enough of these shows.

2. Yoga pants. Normally these would not be a guilty pleasure, but I don't wear yoga pants to just yoga. I wear them everywhere. To the gym, to the supermarket, even to dinner sometimes.

3. All things shiny. I love glitter, sequins, and all things shiny. This is why the majority of my shoes are patent.

4. Strawberry Creme Peeps. I know it's all sugar and chemicals, but they taste so damn GOOD. I can eat several packages of these in one sitting sadly.

5. 80s love songs. Peter Cetera, Huey Lewis, Chicago, REO Speedwagon...I actually have a full playlist on my ipod dedicated to 80s love songs.

6. Twilight (and other paranormal young adult novels). I read all four twilight books in a week. No I didn't sleep, I didn't work, I just sat and read Twilight. These kind of books are like crack to me. I actually just finished a 3 book series about a teenage troll (who looks like a normal teenager) called Switched by Amanda Hocking. For those of you who liked Twilight, you will enjoy these too.

7. Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks. I have made no secret about my obsession with Starbucks, but the caramel macchiato is my kryptonite. This is the drink I get 90% of the time and relish every. single. sip.

8. Humor websites like icanhazcheezburger.com, damnyouautocorrect.com and peopleofwalmart.com. I literally could waste an entire 8 hour day on these websites. They are by far the most hilarious websites I have ever seen.

9. General Hospital. I know Melissa is with me on this. I have been watching GH since I was 7 years old. It had gotten harder to keep up with it when I was in college (before DVR, the horror) but I now tape it everyday and watch it.

10. People watching and judging what other people are wearing. I know this one is awful, but I can't help it and it makes me happy. I love sitting somewhere and watching people walk by and thinking to myself, "nice shoes" or "Ew, I can spot that fake handbag a mile away, what WAS she thinking?" Yes I am that shallow. Sorry I'm not sorry.

There are so many of these, I literally could have gone on forever...but what I really want to know is, what are YOUR guilty pleasures? I'm dying to know!

Ten Signs of a Bad Restaurant

I am a self proclaimed restaurant snob. I know good service and good food when I see it and I have certain expectations (some say impossible, I say stringent). I also do my research before trying a new restaurant. Every single one of these signs of a bad restaurant, have happened to me in the past month alone. Chains, take note, these are the reasons you can't charge higher prices.

1. There is no bread basket. Or the bread basket you do get is old. Olive Garden you are the biggest offender for serving day old bread. Don't think I can't tell that your breadsticks were baked yesterday and then just reheated right before being shoved in the basket.

2. There is no oil or dip for your bread, there is only butter. In little individual packets that have been frozen. I understand the need to refrigerate butter, but does it really have to be so hard I have to warm it in my hands to keep from tearing my bread?


3. The waitress writes her name on the drink napkin or on the paper tablecloth. Yes, they really do this. Why? I don't know. Just in case your memory is so bad you can't remember the name "Amy" when you want a refill on your soda.

4. The dessert menu contains three items and one of them is gelato. I judge a restaurant solely based on dessert. Even if I did not like my entree, if the dessert is good enough, I'm going to come back. And by the way, no one ever orders the gelato anyway so why bother having it on the menu?

5. The "vegetable of the day" is zucchini and summer squash. In January. This one actually happened at a restaurant that I adore 99% of the time. So disappointing. Where did they get that summer squash? Guatemala?

6. Dirty flatware or water glasses. This is just disgusting, but is actually fairly common. I would estimate this happens to me about 1 out of every 5 times I dine out.

7. Paper napkins. Nothing says cheap like trying to wipe your hands on a paper napkin. Spring for the cloth, it ups the swankiness of your restaurant 100 times over.

8. The restroom doors say anything on them other than "Men/Boys" and "Women/Girls." You guys know what I'm talking about here. If the establishment has "Hens" and "Cocks" on the restroom door, don't expect a quality meal.

9. They don't take reservations. Who wants to actually wait 90 minutes for a restaurant? This would require going to dinner BEFORE you are actually hungry. Who has this kind of time?

10. Bringing the check over as I set my dinner fork down on the table without asking if I would like dessert or coffee, or even if I'm ready for the check. I always order dessert, and despise not being asked if there is anything else I would like. Even if the dessert menu sucks, I am probably still going to want coffee.

What do you hate about some restaurants? Any bad experiences recently?

Ten (Kind of Obvious) Cooking Tips

Hey guys!

This edition of my usual Wednesday Ten Things post is a list of little cooking tips I wish I had known before I started cooking. Most of these will be fairly obvious to you experienced chefs...but for the newbies who have just started venturing out into virgin chef territory will appreciate this list.

1. When making homemade pizza with a pita or a wrap, toast the wrap BEFORE putting the toppings on. This will make it a little crispier and will hold up to the moisture from the sauce so you don't have pizza soup in the middle of your pie.

2. Buy tomatoes on the vine. This will vastly extend the life of your tomatoes. I have been known to get close to three weeks out of tomatoes that are still attached to the vine (usually sold in bunches of 3 or 4).

source

3. When freezing bananas, unpeel it and chop it into pieces before you freeze it. Trying to peel a thawed banana is hell and trying to blend an entire frozen banana into a smoothie (unless you have a Vita Mix) is next to impossible. So save yourself the trouble and peel and chop that sucker before freezing it.

4. White flour and wheat flour are NOT the same. You can't sub in wheat flour for the same amount of white flour that a recipe calls for and expect it to come out the same way. It won't. Wheat flour is a lot more dense and will leave your recipe dry and/or flat. Sub out half if you're are looking to make the recipe healthier, or looks for recipes that specifically cater to wheat flour.

5. You don't have to keep buttermilk on hand. This one I just recently learned and is something I definitely wish I had known years ago. To make "homemade" buttermilk for a recipe, simply add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk and let stand for ten minutes.

6. When making multiple batches of baked goods, don't reuse your cookie sheet or pan right away. Either allow it to fully cool, or run the bottom of the sheet under cold water. Otherwise your delicious creation will cook unevenly or burn on the bottom.

7. Household items that can double as kitchen appliances: Wine or liquor bottles make good rolling pins. I didn't have a rolling pin for the longest time (I do now, I'm more classy than I was I guess) but most everyone has a bottle of wine or liquor on hand. It also helps to take a few nips from the bottle when baking. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable. Also, hammers make good meat tenderizers. You work with what you've got.

8. When reheating grains like rice or pasta, add a little water to keep it moist and fresh like you just cooked it. You can also use a little broth if you are looking to add a little flavor.


9. Remove the seeds from tomatoes when making dips or using as a pizza topping. The seeds will make your dip watery and your pizza soggy. Removing the seeds and just chopping up the "shell" of the tomato will yield much better results without sacrificing the taste you're going for.

10. Freeze extra broth in an ice cube tray. I don't know about you, but I almost never use a whole box of broth, I always have a little bit leftover. Rather than throw it away, freezing it in ice cube trays allows you to just take out what you use and save the rest without having to buy a new box for every recipe. Just make sure you use seperate trays for your regular ice and your broth...you don't want beef flavored water.


What little tips do you wish someone had told you before you started cooking? What great shortcuts have you learned along the way?

I'm Jealous...

...of the bloggers who can just look in their pantry and a recipe appears in their minds. I find a recipe I want to adapt/try and I have to go buy the ingredients to make it. I can never just wing it in the kitchen.

...of women who are tall enough to be able to wear flats. Heels are a must if I don't want to feel like a midget. It's bad enough that I almost need a step stool just to get into bed.

...of people who like fish, because I know it's good for you, but I really just can't eat it.

...of dog owners. I have been dying to get a dog for the longest time. The boy and I are finally moving at the end of the summer to a place that allows dogs and I can't wait to get one.

...of the bloggers who have stand mixers while I am busy mixing things with a hand mixer. At least I'm building up my wrist strength. It's almost a workout.

...of food critics. Can you say dream job? I mean, you get paid to EAT. Swoon.

...of people who can do real pushups, not just the girly ones. I have the upper body strength of a 5 year old girl.

...of the bloggers who have a Vita Mix while I kill a $40 blender every three months.

...of fast runners. I will probably be a 10 minute mile girl forever. At least over long distances.

...people who live in climates where it never snows. Because it snows a lot in Boston and it sucks. But at least I have a snow day today because of it...which I will have to spend shoveling out my car. I would rather be at work.

What are you jealous of?

Stylish Blogger Award

Bonus post for the day lovelies!

My fellow blogger friend Rachel from The Avid Appetite was gracious enough to award me with the Stylish Blogger Award! This is a great way to get to know other bloggers outside of just what they had for breakfast!

What to do:
1. Make a post and link back to the person who gave you the award
2. Give 7 random facts about yourself
3. Pick 15 recently discovered bloggers to share the love with
4. Email them to let them know they've won.


First up, my seven facts!

1. I hate mushrooms. If they are cut up small enough and drowned in sauce, I can eat them, but otherwise, they gross me out.

2. Washington DC is my favorite place on Earth. I am going from Feb. 7th through the 17th for work and I am so excited I can barely stand it!

3. I worked at Dunkin Donuts in high school. To this day, I cannot eat filled donuts or anything glazed. Don't ask, you don't want to know.

4. As far as desserts go, I would pick anything fruit based over anything chocolate any day. Fruit cobblers, pies, etc. definitely appeal to me more than chocolate cake.

5. I didn't get my drivers license until I was 23 years old. Yep, I was a late bloomer. Basically, my parents refused to teach me how to drive, so it was the fuzz who eventually taught me how to drive and led me to get my license. I still am driving my first car too.

6. I was born on the 4th of July and when I was little I thought the parade and the fireworks were for me. I still say there is no better day to have your birthday (although New Years Eve and St. Patrick's Day are pretty cool birthdays too). Hooray for us holiday babies!

7. I subscribe to about 20 different magazines. Yes, I am a crazy magazine lady. I usually read them within a few days of getting them, rip out anything I want to keep and then throw them away. I love getting magazines, but I hate having them around the house.

And now for my 15 award recipients:

Will Jog For Food
Defining Di
My Verbal Vomit
Cooking For 1
Food Fitness Fashion
Big City Lil Kitchen
Andi on Life
The Small Boston Kitchen
Emily Eats Clean
In My Tummy
Cake Batter and Bowl
Beth's Journey
Life in a Holding Pattern
Cooking Whims

Check these ladies out, they are all fabulous and interesting and I hope they participate!

Ten New Obsessions

Happy Wednesday guys! Last night was uneventful as I am still recovering from being sick over the weekend. For whatever reason, I seem unable to shake it. I am exhausted still and my stomach is still not feeling 100% right. Hopefully taking it easy this week will help me finally fully recover and get back to normal. I miss feeling healthy.

So since it's Wednesday, you know what that means...Ten Things! I have an obsessive personality. When I find something I love, I use it/play it/watch it to death until I can't stand it anymore. It's all I talk about. I irritate friends and family by my incessant rantings about whatever I'm loving at the moment. It may be a personality disorder and it may explain my tendency to facebook stalk. Either way, I embrace it as who I am.

Aside from what you guys already know that I'm obsessed with (Starbucks and crappy TV) here are ten of my latest obsessions that I wanted to share with you. In no particular order:

1. Peppermint extract. This was the key ingredient to the frosting on my chocolate cupcakes. This stuff doesn't come cheap ($5.99 for a teeny tiny bottle) but a little bit goes a long way. Next I will have to try the butterscotch extract that Tina keeps talking about.

2. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. I absolutely loved this book. It is one of the best books I have read in a really long time. It is spectacularly written and gripping. If you are of my generation (graduated HS around 2000, this book may be of particular interest to you because it was around the time of Columbine, which was a scary thing when I was in high school).

3. MAC eyeshadow. I really don't know why it took me so long to be sold on Mac eyeshadow. For the longest time I have been swearing by cream eyeshadow by Nars and Benefit, but honestly, there is no comparison.

4. Pom Arils. I had never had pomegranate before this season (pomegranate flavored things yes, but not actual pomegranate). These are unfortunately a seasonal item so I only get to enjoy them for a short time, but I plan on taking full advantage. My next experiment in the kitchen may be Emily's Pumpkin Fig Pomegranate Upside Down Cake.

5. Dexter. The boy and I ordered the first season on Netflix and have breezed through the first eight episodes. Everyone had been talking about this for a while, but honestly, Showtime has always been the redheaded stepchild of the pay channels for me and there was no way I was ever going to pay to get Showtime. This show might actually make paying for it worth it.

6. Sauteed Brussel Sprouts. You guys have been seeing me eating these by the pound lately. For whatever reason, I have been craving them all the time. There are worse things to crave I suppose...but the poor boy hates the smell of them. I did get him to eat a small one the other night but I don't think they will be entering his regular veggie rotation any time soon. Which is fine with me, all the more for me!

7. My new Canon Rebel. I am more than obsessed with this camera. This may be my best purchase ever and I'm only sorry that I didn't buy a DSLR camera sooner. The pictures are unbelievable compared to my old point and shoot. Even though the boy and my cats are getting really sick of having a camera in their faces all the time (Bailey is frequently giving me looks of "bitch I will cut you if you put that thing in my face one more time") I can't help myself. I am now a compulsive picture taker.

8. Sequins. This is one fashion trend I have always kind of hated, but recently I have found myself strangely attracted to sequins and even went so far as to purchase a sequined shirt. Who am I??

9. Sabatino's Italian Kitchen. Menu and Locations here.This is a little Italian restaurant that I can't seem to get enough of these days. I have eaten there probably at least three times in the last two weeks. I have loved everything I have gotten with the exception of the garlic bread. It's nice to have a go to restaurant in my new neighborhood.

10. Angry Birds. In case you live under a rock and have not heard of this game, it's basically you slingshotting some angry birds at some happy pigs through obstacles. The object of the game is to kill the happy pigs. This game is crack. I cannot stop playing it. If you have a smartphone, download it. And if you don't have a smartphone, who are you? This is 2011.

What are you currently obsessed with or loving lately?