Snowed in!

I wish JT was here to enjoy the snow with me.

Work related challenges

Now that I have been working full time for over a week, a new set of issues and challenges have arisen as a result:

The Commute -- I must say, I really do miss my ten minute drive to my part time jobs, haha. To get to work, I need to travel about an hour from the "suburbs" of Virginia into the heart of DC. This involves catching a bus (which makes stops along my neighborhood), hoping on the yellow line, transferring to the red line, and then walking about 0.5 miles to my office. The first few days of my commute were a little shaky, but I have definitely gotten it down to a science now-- I'm usually out the door by 7:30 a.m. and back home by 6:05 p.m. My bus actually gets in at the Pentagon, so I get to see men in uniform and well-dressed Pentagon employees all the time. :) It definitely makes my morning.

Jason also gave me an idea this weekend that perhaps I can turn into a long term project involving my commute. I might start working on it this week, so we'll see. Maybe it will actually turn into something worthwhile.

Breakfast and Lunch -- Every day last week I have gone to Cosi for either breakfast or lunch and that is something which shouldn't happen. I am on a budget and recklessly getting food is not a part of it! I mean, my commute alone is around $6 round-trip, so I can't afford to be spending another $5-8 on Cosi. So tomorrow I am making a trip over to the local Trader Joe's to pick up bagels, cream cheese, and other things to make wraps, pasta dishes, etc. Saving money is a must right now and this has to be the way I do it.

This is the start of something good.

After a hectic week of packing and moving, I am now in DC and will start my job tomorrow. I'll try to blog more about it soon! :)

Good things come to those who wait.

Good news: I got the job and couldn't be happier! When I was at my interview, the director of admissions said that he truly believed that everything happens for a reason... And I think this situation exemplifies that idea. I had to wait six long months for a job, endure rejection after rejection so I could end up here-- getting a great job in DC like I have always wanted.

Falling in love.

There is something strikingly beautiful about Washington DC. I've been to a few cities here and there, and although they were exciting and lovely, I don't think they have made me feel the way DC does. As I was driving along Mass Ave and around the monuments, my face was literally plastered to the window. Gazing out at the lights was like some mesmerizing experience as my eyes were completely fixated on the things we were passing. The monuments are especially beautiful at night. In eighth grade, I remember traveling to DC for an overnight field trip-- I remember walking around the FDR Memorial at night and thought that was nice, but perhaps I was too young to understand. Driving around the heart of the city gives you a grander overview of the monuments in all their illuminated glory. When we were driving past the Washington Monument that's when I knew I was meant to live here.


My interview on Wednesday went well. After a hectic morning of driving and metro riding, I found the building with some time to spare. I had Cosi for breakfast and then made my way to the third floor to meet with HR and Admissions. Overall, I had a very pleasant experience and I am crossing my fingers that they will offer me this position. The more I think about it, the more I know that I want to work in higher education. My college experience has helped shape me into the person I am today and that would not have happened without the aid of my professors and all the professional staff that I've befriended along the way. I want to be able to do that for someone else... For the lost college student trying to figure out what they want from life and how to achieve it.

Anyway, hopefully I will hear from them within a week. I am so ready to start the next chapter of my life in a city that is so new and exciting to me.

Job search woes

I've been very anxious since Friday afternoon and I doubt this tightness in my chest will subside any time soon. I am going to D.C. tomorrow morning for an interview (on Wednesday) and I am scared to death. I know I can do this job, but I am afraid that if I keep my hopes too high, I will be so disappointed when I don't get the offer. Will thinking this way set me up to fail? I don't know, but to be safe, I am going to think positively for once. Wish me luck.

Driving back on Wednesday might be the worst idea I have ever had. We'll see...

I'm dizzy from all this spinning.

I have always felt like I was meant to do something beautiful. Perhaps that is too broad. I suppose what I am trying to say is that I feel like I am living a purposeful life, I need to fill it with worthwhile endeavors... like photography, art, dance and cooking. I want to be a part of something breathtaking.

Every day I spend at home is another day wasted. It's another 24 hours I cannot retrieve. And as hard as I try to do things that are meaningful, this environment stifles every creative urge I have. Waking up to footsteps from upstairs and the monotony of suburban life leaves me feeling empty. I am ready to take a leap. I am eager to start exploring a new city and meet new people.

Don't get me wrong, there are certainly things in my life that I am more than satisfied with. For instance, I am part of a relationship that is wonderfully simple-- yet at the same time, every day is a brand new adventure. I am very aware of who I am and who I want associate with. And I am lucky to have been where I've been.

But one day, I know I will achieve great things. Just wait, you'll see.

Too much holiday cheer!

Sadly, it seems that my work has been overtaken by tacky Christmas decorations, festive holiday jingles and crazy soccer moms. It isn't even Thanksgiving and I am already in the bah-humbug spirit. Where did my joy go? Oh, that's right, out the door with the middle aged women who just gave me an attitude because I only trying to help her.

Anyway to combat this ever present feeling of ennui, I went bargain shopping (at my place of work, haha) and ended up getting a nice pair of flats and a cashmere cardigan for like $15. Considering the cardigan alone was originally $80, I think I made out pretty well. And I am abslutely obsessed with cashmere right now. To the point that it may be unhealthy...

Hello, beautiful.

These are shockingly comfortable.

I have started Christmas shopping for others, too. (Not just for myself, haha.) Already it seems I've crossed off my mother, two brothers, aunt and cousin off my list. But I am having a hard time deciding what to get my boyfriend... I want to get him something funny (because he's the type of guy that would give me a gag gift), but at the same time, I want to give him something I know he will really like and use. Dilemma!

So, what or who are you shopping for this season?

Distractions

I know it has been a while, but it seems like my two jobs have taken over my life. I haven't had a day off since last Saturday (and that's because I requested off) and it doesn't look like I will have one until Thursday. This would be better if I had a salary and benefits. Ugh.

Anyway, I am waiting for a call back from a temp agency in DC. They called me earlier this week to discuss my ideal job and availability. The woman I spoke with said she was going to forward my resume to a recruitment counselor and they would call me soon to hopefully schedule me for an interview. All I want for Christmas is a real job.

Beyond that, not much has been going on. I went to PA last weekend to visit Jason and it was a lot of fun. Now I'm just trying to figure out when I can see him next. Otherwise, life has been pretty dull...

Photo of the Day - Dave Matthews at MSG

"Dave Matthews at MSG"
New York, NY
Taken December 2006

Apple pie

Currently baking a delicious apple pie. This is actually the third pie I've made in two weeks from some apples Jason and I picked the last time he visited. Eep. Anyway, pie crust recipe is courtesy of Jason's mother and everything else I estimated, haha. It's actually easier to make pie crust than I had originally thought, so I am more inclined to make them homemade now.

Pie Crust (makes two crusts)
2 cups flour
1 tsp. vinegar
1 egg
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup shortening or butter
Water added a tbsp. at a time

Filling
6 medium apples (diced/sliced/whatever)
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg

To make the crust, I sifted the flour and the salt together and then cut cold butter into the mixture. Next, I added the vinegar and egg and incorporated that with my hands. Adding one tablespoon of cold water at a time, I mixed the dough until it was just moist. I learned from Alton Brown that if the pie crust dough is too wet, it will shrink when it cooks! He was totally right! Anyway, I then refrigerated the dough wrapped in plastic wrap for 30 minutes and then rolled it out. The filling was pretty simple-- I mixed all of those ingredients together and then assembled the pie. Then you just bake that bad boy in a 350 degree oven for about an hour and you're all set!

(Image via Colleen Hammond)

Photo of the Day - PA Memorial

"PA Memorial"

Gettysburg, PA
Taken March 2009

Photo of the Day - Butterfly

"Butterfly"
Saratoga Springs, NY
Taken June 2008

Compromise sometimes really is everything...

The more time I spend in limbo (the awkward place between being a college student and being an adult), the more I realize that living is about compromise. We can't always get what we want right away, so we need to find another route to arrive at our intended destination as opposed to the one we wanted to take in the first place. In other words, I guess I'm saying that in my own life, I need to work and fight harder for the things that I desire. It happened with college, it has happened in my personal relationships and now it is happening with my job search. Maybe I need to just work with what's in front of me right now-- thinking about how the present will impact the future and working towards that ultimate goal. Just letting things unfold as they go along.

In other news, I am hoping to do some more things with my blog. I think I would like to start a "Photo of the Day" post and dig into my archives for photos from years past. I think that would also help me get out and take more pictures... I hope.

Also, this blog is what I have been laughing at all day long.

All of my fall favorites

I've been very out of touch with my blog lately due to work, a visit from the boy and general exhaustion. Surprisingly though, I will have worked a total of 48 hours between both of my part time jobs at the end of Saturday, which is the most hours I have ever gotten since I started in August. Small victory, I suppose. Still not enough money to live on on my own, but now I have that one big amount to jump start my savings so one day I can move down to Washington DC.

Jason also came to visit for two days, so we went apple picking, out to dinner and watched the Phillies game together on my couch. Now, I am not much of a Phils phan, but I usually root for them when J is around-- mostly because I don't want to see him in a bad mood if they lose, haha. Luckily, they did pretty well last night, so I am hoping for a Phillies and Yankees World Series (I actually called that a while ago). It would be epic, though I don't want to be around him if the Yanks end up winning.

Apple picking was an adventure. We missed the exit and ended up driving an hour out of the way... It was mainly my fault, but we got there successfully. I climbed a few trees, we picked a peck of Empire apples and made two pies before the game started. So fun. I love autumn.

So today was odd...

It snowed today. It actually snowed for most of the day here in New York. I was shocked. Shocked, I say! Just when I was loving autumn and all that comes with it, Mother Nature throws me a curve ball. I broke out the winter coat just so I could drive to work in warmth... Please note: this is what fall should look like. Okay? Okay. (By the way, I took this picture while I was still at Richmond during the fall of sophomore year. I was standing on the bridge of the Commons over-looking Westhampton Lake. Aw, the memories.)

I also was keeping tabs on the Balloon Boy story all afternoon until I had to go to work. How crazy was that? The boy was hiding in a box in the attic of his garage! Obviously he didn't want to gt yelled at for letting the balloon go, but honestly, I was a little annoyed when I found out that he had been hiding the entire time. Guess he's only six, so he didn't understand the consequences of his actions. Sorry, I'm intolerant of children.

Dreaming

I think I am going to list all the things I will do when I, one day, finally get a real job:

1. Buy a bottle of wine.
2. Go shopping at the Loft and buy all the work clothes I would ever need.
3. Drive to Pennsylvania and celebrate with Jason.
4. Post something here.
5. Post something on Twitter.
6. Jump up and down.
7. Start packing my things.

I guess until then I need to keep applying to jobs and my spirits up. That's easier said that done when all you get are rejection letters or no response whatsoever. Ugh.

You smell good.

I've never really been a fan of perfumes and such (mostly because I don't like florally smells and they are usually very expensive), but when I was at the mall the other day I came across one I might consider wearing... Lola by Marc Jacobs is a really great scent: fruity, kind of musky, and not too girlie. I was pleasantly surprised by how lovely it was despite its interesting and brightly colored bottle. On most occasions I either go without perfume or spray on something that smells like vanilla, so saying that I would wear this is a big step for me. :)

What are some perfumes or colognes that you like? Any suggestions for me?

When I feel sad, I buy things.

But when I am essentially unemployed and on a budget, I try to keep my spending manageable. Yesterday Jenn and I went out to Connecticut for some retail therapy. I have been a little down lately, so I needed something new and fresh in my life. Here's what I got:

I love Aerie.

Replacing my old nude colored bra with this prettier one.

I am in love with leopard print right now.

Just your basic hipster for when I want to be extra comfortable.
And this going-out top from Old Navy.

And that's all I'm spending for the next month, haha. But everything in total cost about $20, so you can imagine how nice it was to save so much money. (Thanks to my employee discount at the Eagle and shopping on sale.) I can't wait to wear these things out!

Flower earrings

I have started making these earrings for my sorority using gold wire, little pearl beads, and earring studs/backs. It's actually been pretty fun so far, though my hands are starting to hurt from twisting and maneuvering the wire. So far I have fifteen orders for white and pink earrings, so I would think this has been pretty successful so far. If you would like a pair, they are currently $5 (to cover the cost of the materials and shipping).


Just leave a comment with your email and we can work something out!

I am a planner.

I like to plan things. Micro-managing my life makes me feel complete. But I've come to find that I need to schedule activities that I find valuable. I want to do things that are for a purpose, that produce an outcome worthy of my time. Working two separate jobs part-time has not been beneficial in the slightest, as I am barely making enough money to pay for my gas tank or dinner out with my boyfriend. I am trying to stay upbeat, but it's so difficult...

Maple glazed pork chops

Yesterday I made maple glazed pork chops with apple wood smoked bacon and onions. Come on, you know this looks delicious! First I started off by chopping the bacon and cooking it until it started to crisp up, then I added the onions and sauteed them until they were just about soft. After letting the pork chops soak in a brine of salt, granulated sugar, light brown sugar and cold water for over an hour, I sprinkled some salt and pepper over them and seared them in a pan (using some of the bacon fat for flavor), letting them get golden brown and crispy on the outside, then let them finish cooking in a 350 degree over for about 10 minutes. While the chops were roasting, I made the maple glaze (deglazed the searing pan with chicken stock to pick up all the flavor), added the bacon bits and onion, and poured it over the entire dish and let them soak up the maple goodness for a few more minutes while they were still in the oven. To finish off the dish I added a bit of rosemary and parsley for garnish. Here's my ingredient list:

Six pork chops
Maple syrup
3 slices of bacon
Half a small onion
Rosemary and parsley
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup chicken stock
Salt and pepper

It was a great dish-- sweet, salty and flavorful. The chops were cooked just right too. I hate when people over cook anything. That dry texture completely ruins my eating experience. Haha, I'm not a food snob... much. Also, this resized picture doesn't do my dish justice. Click on it to see the full size image and let the drooling begin.

Realizing a dream...

Thanks to the support and encouragement of my boyfriend, I have started to plan the creation of my own photography service. I think I want to call it "LK Photography" (if you have any other suggestions, let me know-- maybe I'll hold a poll at some point to see what you all think) and buy some domain space to make a website. At this point I'm too poor to do so, but I already have a gig scheduled to gain some experience photographing events-- in November, I am going to cover Jason's grandparent's 50th anniversary party, so that should be fun. I'm just so ready to pursue something worthwhile-- living at home and working retail just fosters my paranoid notion that I am going to become mediocre, and that is my greatest fear of all.


This picture was taken a few summers ago when I went to visit friends in New York City. I realize that I have a lot of artistic and architectural shots, but I really need some portraits and event photos. So I'm trying to realize one of my dreams and it's kind of exciting. If only my dream of getting a real job would come to fruition...

Catching up

I know it has been a while, but since I got home from Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon I've been trying to get used to having a second part-time job. I noticed something while folding clothes on Monday night-- nothing makes you more aware of yourself than working retail. The key holder who was on duty during my shift is three years younger than me-- actually, most of the staff there is twenty or younger (besides the store manager and assistant manager), which makes me feel so old. Granted, twenty and twenty-two is not a vast age difference, but I suppose being an unemployed college graduate makes me look at the world is another way. These kids just don't get it.

The job search has been a bust the past week or so. Mostly getting rejections or nothing at all. If anyone can give me advice on how to keep my spirits up, I would appreciate it because this is becoming depressing.

When it rains, it pours.

It seems that Gettysburg College has postponed sorority and fraternity rush until further notice and apparently the entire Greek community is up in arms fighting this decision. Never in my life have I seen such outrage-- I mean, guys were genuinely mad about the college getting rid of ESPN and I'm sure the loss of Crabfest on campus is something that has caused a slight stir, but the reaction to this event is full on chaos. Sorority girls are running around in their letters signing petitions, threatening to send nasty emails, shouting angry things across the commons... Insanity, I tell you! Now, I must admit, this is all very funny, but also somewhat disconcerting because it doesn't seem like anyone running this school has looked at a calendar in the last six months-- they have already postponed rush once and was due to commence tomorrow (based on its new scheduled date). So the outrage is warranted. Anyway, long story made short, I enjoy being back on campus-- yet I wasn't at all prepared for the complete meltdown of over 60% of the student body.

College life is funny. I think if I was still a student there I would be more concerned-- probably having anxiety attacks and crying in the fetal position-- however, as an alumna, it doesn't phase me as much. Although, I feel empathy for all those that have worked hard to prepare for this weekend-- and I know the kind of time and effort it takes to arrange an event of this magnitude-- it's not my sorority anymore. And I'm okay with that.

Leaving on a jet plane.

Okay, maybe not, but I am leaving today for Pennsylvania. The plan is to go visit J for a few days and (pending my work schedule) then head down to Gettysburg for rush. At this point it isn't a definite if I will make it there for the weekend, but I am crossing my fingers. See you all later.

Roasted chicken and potatoes

Went with comfort food this evening for dinner. While I was out grocery shopping, I picked up a nice 6.5 lb. chicken and decided to roast it for a delicious homemade meal. I preheated the oven to 350 degrees and completely covered the chicken in a simple herb butter (thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, pepper), making sure I got under the skin and between the wings and drumsticks. Then, I filled the cavity with more of the butter and some roughly chopped onion, garlic, and lemon. After about 2.5 hours in the oven, it was moist and succulent.

The potatoes, on the other hand, were chopped and drizzled in olive oil. I then added some salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, parsley, paprika and chili powder. Those were also roasted in the oven with the bird.

Lastly, after the chicken was finished, I made a black pepper gravy from the drippings-- adding a little salt and a hearty amount of pepper, flour, and milk to thicken it up. It was simple, but effective. Honestly, this was the best chicken dinner I have ever made. And tomorrow, I am planning on using the leftovers for chicken noodle soup. I know you're jealous.

I want to go to there.

Had to do some online window shopping tonight:

• This pearl and starfish necklace combines everything I love about the sea. Maybe it's a little cliche, but I can't help it.
  
• Would absolutely love a black Kate Spade handbag just like this. Actually, I would probably kill for it. Yeah.
  
• I'm going to need new tan loafers or brown moccs considering I completely destroyed my old ones last winter by wearing them every single day. They were amazing.
  
• If only I was a trust fund baby, then I could afford shiny gold shirt from Martin & Osa.
  
• I told Jason that I would become a fan just to wear this Phillies hoodie or tee despite my love of the Yankees. Oh, and they are both on sale too! (Hint.)
  
• These argyle wellies are totally necessary for the fall. Seriously. I can't wear all my shoes in the rain, they will get ruined!
  

Alright, I guess I'll stop now before I torture myself into the fetal position... Sigh. One day I will have enough money to afford at least one of these things on my list. One day.

New furniture, old feelings.

On the upside, I finally got my couch yesterday. It's a hand-me-down from a friend, but with a slip cover and a few throw pillows, it looks nice. Considering I got it for free I'm not really complaining. As a broke and unemployed college graduate, you need to take advantage of any money saving opportunity you can find. As you can see from the picture, I also have an old coffee table from upstairs that is incredibly worn, but surprisingly still functional. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the new additions to my "studio apartment." I use that term loosely since I don't have a kitchen, haha.

Also, I started watching Glee this morning and I am already hooked. It's kind of a cheesy story about a group of misfit high schoolers joining glee club and trying to make something of themselves, but I love it anyway. Also, Grey's Anatomy and Castle start up their new seasons in two weeks and I'm expecting good things from both of them... hopefully. Oh, television.

On the downside, I never got a response from the school I interviewed with last week. Guess they didn't want to offer me a second interview... I suppose that's the worst part about the job search: waiting around for an answer that never comes. I wouldn't even mind someone emailing me and saying that I wasn't good enough for the position because then at least I would know. It makes me feel trapped-- I want to get out, I've been trying to get out, but whatever I do isn't enough. Life is tough sometimes.

Grilled corn and black bean salsa

For dinner this evening, I went with hot dogs and made a simple cold salad on the side. This grilled corn and black bean salsa was the perfect for a night of grilling. Although I altered the recipe a bit to accommodate what was in the pantry (I would have liked to use some fresh cilantro, but I didn't have any), it was still fresh and delicious. Here's what I used:

Approx. two cups of corn
Some canola oil
Salt and pepper
1 half of a red onion
1 small jalapeno
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
Juice of half a lime
A bit of cumin, chili powder and parsley

After grilling the corn and chopping the other veggies, I just mixed everything together and tasted it for seasoning purposes. Big success! Anyway, that's about all for now.

(Photo courtesy of Food Network.)

The last days of summer

Now that the sun is setting earlier and the weather is now more mild, I am coming to terms with the fact that the summer is pretty much over. Although each day in itself felt like an eternity, the past three months flew by. After graduating and coming back to live at home, I wondered where I would be in September. Little did I know that I would still be here-- stuck in a rut, unemployed, angry, and scared. I am still waiting for things to turn around, but as the last days of summer come to an end, it is becoming harder and harder to remain patient and positive.

What seems to get me through the week though are the people that have been constant in my life-- those that take the time to talk me through my frustrations or share their own (most are recent college graduates trying to find their own way in the world). It helps to know that someone out there knows what I'm going through.

Anyway, I spent a lovely Labor Day weekend with Jason. We played tennis, went out for drinks with my friend Jenn and her boyfriend, went to an airshow, and made a delicious chicken dinner together. It was so relaxing and so perfect. While at the airshow, I took over fifty pictures (surprise, surprise) of all these different types of airplanes. I couldn't possibly begin to name any of them, but I'm sure J recognized all of them. I told him how I like that we do all sorts of different things together-- we have such varied interests, haha. Here's a few of my favorites.




I am still waiting to hear back from the people I interviewed with last Thursday, so hopefully I will get a call or email tomorrow. That would be a perfect way to end the summer-- with a second interview. Or a job, haha.

I love Fridays

Since I only work part time, I spend a lot of my time at home surfing the internet, doing research, etc. and this afternoon, I discovered something I would absolutely love to have as an amateur photographer: a Fujifilm Instax Instant Camera. It's pretty much like a Polaroid camera, but instead it spits out little pictures the size of credit cards. How adorable! I love mini things. Anyway, that's what I'm digging right now, so let's work on getting me one. Okay? Okay.

Jason is coming to New York for the weekend and I have secretly planned what we're doing each day! Alright, that probably isn't much of a secret-- I do have a tendency to micro-manage every aspect of my life. Too bad there isn't much to manage these days. I miss being busy. Le sigh. Regardless, it will be a nice, long Labor Day weekend. Enjoy everyone!

My dream job

I have decided that my dream job would be becoming a wedding photographer. There is just so much fairytale-like beauty in marriage that capturing it would be an absolute honor and priviledge. What I also love about weddings is how each one can be completely different from the next in terms of location, colors, mood, flowers, theme-- it's amazing how creative some people are. And I think I would give up one of my kidneys for a Canon EOS Digital camera. You know, just an FYI. Here are some of the wedding photography sites I have been digging:

This blog has some of the most inspiring wedding photos I've ever seen.

I love this site for its DIY wedding ideas.

More thrilled than necessary?

I think not! Although I feel like only a few people will appreciate my excitement (Trish and Maddie, cough), I thought I would share that Widener University has a Sigma chapter! I think it's fate that I am interviewing for a position there. Fate, I tell you!

It smells like fall...

This fall like weather makes me think of all the things I love about autumn: apple picking, football, warm sweaters, hot chocolate, brand new notebooks... I know, I'm a nerd. But I can't help it. I love that sense of newness that the fall season brings because it's always the start of cooler weather, the academic year, when the leaves begin to change. And let me tell you, autumn in upstate New York is probably one of the most wonderful things I can think of. There's nothing like a drive on a winding mountain road with bursts of color on the hilltops surrounding you.


This picture is from the last time I went apple picking (which was a while ago). Went even further north than I am now in search of the perfect apple. Hopefully I'll be able to go sometime soon-- either in New York or Pennsylvania.

Finally, some good news!

I just secured a phone interview for an incredibly perfect job at Widener University. It's with the Career Advising and Planning Services department, which is fantastic because I have a lot of experience in that area thanks to my Career Development internship. Luckily, I have also been speaking with the director of the office specifically, so I don't have any of the HR bureaucracy to muddle through. I hope this goes well because I can definitely see myself working in higher ed and doing something I already love to do-- design marketing campaigns, work with people trying to figure out their careers, etc. etc.

Chicken pot pie

Probably one of my top five favorite comfort foods. Living at home makes me crave comfortable things like no other-- guess it's because I've never truly been content or settled here. Anyway, here's my ingredient list:

Carrots, peas, celery, onion
Diced chicken breast
Little bit of flour
Low fat/sodium chicken broth
Half cup of 1% milk
One clove minced garlic
Thyme, rosemary, parsley
Pie crust (flour, salt, vinegar, shortening, etc.)
Egg wash (whole egg and a drop of milk)

It was a pretty easy assembly: sauteed the veggies and chicken, added the broth and flour to thicken it, stirred in the milk, poured the mixture into a baking dish and covered it with the pie crust. I brushed it with an egg wash and let it bake for like twenty minutes in a 400 degree oven until the crust was golden brown. Yum, that is happiness in a dish.

Muy delicioso!

Decided to try something new this evening and went to Salsa! for beef empanadas and yellow rice. I thought the meal was very delicious considering I've had my coworker Manuel's homemade empanadas and rice-- which are by far the best I have ever tried. The restaurant itself is very casual with only a few tables in the front and a bar style counter where you order your food. It was definitely renovated recently, as the flooring, ceiling tiles and counter tops look brand new. I'm not sure what what was in that space before, so it's hard to say if they just built everything from the bottom up. But for the most part, the food prices vary from $2.29 per empanada to $10.95 for a full meal which includes two sides and there is a wide variety of Puerto Rican dishes that would probably please anyone. Not quite sure what everything was on the menu since most of it was in Spanish, but I'm very excited to try it all.

Eggplant parmesan

In an effort to recreate my grandmother's eggplant parmesan recipe, I learned just how much time it took her to cook this dish. From start to finish, it took me nearly two hours to make. Eep. I suppose I could just be a slow cooker-- since I took the time to make my red sauce, cook the eggplant and then letting the dish bake in the oven. Anyway, I didn't get a picture of the finished product before I dug in, but it was lovely looking-- all cheesy and delicious. This recipe made about four servings and all measurements are, of course, estimates.

2 medium sized eggplants
Handful of breadcrumbs
3/4 cup of flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup milk
2 cloves of garlic
14 oz. can of dicd tomatoes
Some olive oil
1/4 cup diced onion
Parmesan and mozzarella cheese
Basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper

Started my red sauce by sauteing the onion in the olive oil and then added the garlic when they started to become opaque. Once I started to smell the garlic, I added the canned tomatoes and seasonings and let that simmer as I prepared the eggplant. My grandmother used to soak the eggplant slices (I cut them about 1/2 thick) in a salt water brine for a few hours before she made her parm, so I did as well. After drying off the slices, I coated them in flour, dipped them in the egg and milk mixture, dredged them in the breadcrumbs and then fried them in a little more olive oil. Once they were done, they were placed on a wire rack to get rid of the excess oil and then layered in a baking dish with my red sauce and topped with parmesan and mozzarella cheese. About 35-45 minutes in a 350 degree over and the cheese was bubbly and golden brown. I think my grandma would be proud.

Note: I was mostly inspired to make this dish because when I was in PA this week with Jason, I bought the eggplant from an Amish lady at her side-of-the-road farm stand. Good times.

Vacations are always too short.

After a wonderful week in Maryland and Pennsylvania, I am now back home. I started off my trip with an afternoon in Gettysburg visiting my sorority sisters and enjoying some lunch at The Pub. It was great to spend time with them after being apart for a few months. Although, most of them are still in school and getting ready to start their senior year, it was especially nice to see Madeline and Eli, who graduated with me in May. We seem to be feeling and experiencing the same post-grad obstacles that this economy has created. I also visited with my seminar professor, who has put me in touch with an alumnus who works in public relations. Even if he can't offer me a job, it's nice to know someone else is out that that could keep an eye out for me.

Jason and I left Gettysburg that afternoon to head down to Maryland to stay with his sister for the weekend. On Saturday, we decided to go to Annapolis, MD for the day. I had never been there, so I was excited to explore a new city. The downtown area was absolutely adorable-- there were a number of small boutiques, historic sites and expensive, but delicious restaurants. Even though we were there for the afternoon, we were able to take a lovely harbor cruise around the Bay and the Naval Academy. It was much nicer on the breezy deck of the Harbor Queen since the weather was so oppressively hot and humid. I took around fifty pictures on our 40-minute cruise, so I think I went a little picture happy.

On Sunday, J and I went to our friends engagement party. It was a small gathering of 23 people consisting mostly of Gettysburg kids and Dave's family. We ate at a nice Italian restaurant (family style, of course) which included a menu of garlic bread, caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs and cheese raviolis-- very tasty. It was nice to see everyone and to catch up, but I felt a little melancholy after we left the restaurant. I miss going to class, learning new things and participating in activities and sports-- I miss challenging myself. When I'm at home, the most challenging part of my day is choosing which new recipe should I try and what television show I should watch before bed. That isn't the life I wanted after graduation and despite my best efforts, I haven't been able to achieve much more than that. My job search commenced way back in March and amazingly, people who only started looking for a job after May 16 are already employed. How is that fair?

Anyway, the rest of my week was spent at J's beating him in mini-golf (haha), going out to eat, playing tennis, and spending time with his friends and some of mine. It was a great getaway and I can hardly wait until he comes to New York in a week or so.

Life is a movement.

And now I feel like I'm moving. So, I am off to Pennsylvania, Maryland and everywhere in between. See you next week.

Broccoli and cheddar cheese quiche

Usually when I have to work the closing shift at night, I make my dinner beforehand so I'm no starving when I get there. This morning I made a broccoli and cheddar cheese quiche-- one of my favorite comfort foods!


I started out with, admittedly, two 9 inch frozen pie crusts (since I was too lazy to roll out my own) and added my mixture of seven eggs, one cup milk, 3/4 cup grated Vermont cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup chopped onion, one cup chopped cooked broccoli, and a pinch of salt and pepper. All of those measurements are estimates because I never measure when I cook! That might also be due to laziness, but I usually prefer eyeballing things. After about 40-45 minutes in a 350 degree oven, both quiches were golden brown and delicious! I will definitely enjoy this later before I have to go to work.

Heat wave

Needless to say, I was completely unprepared for this kind of heat. Usually upstate New York summers gradually get warmer until the ninety degree weather arrives in mid-July, but this year the weather has been so wonderfully mild. Most days were sunny and in the upper-70s or rainy and in the upper-60s! I can't even begin to tell you how brutal this heat and humidity is and how much it makes me want to drive around in my air conditioned car... During the afternoon when the day is at its hottest, I have been parking myself in front of my fan and lazily waiting until the sun sets and it gets cooler. Unfortunately, unlike my boyfriend Jason (who is in the picture here), we do not all have pools to cool off in!

Speaking of which, I am actually planning on leaving on Thursday to visit J in Pennsylvania. From there, we are going to drive through Gettysburg, PA and then head down to the Maryland/Washington, DC area to be touristy and go to our friends' engagement party. So I am looking forward to that-- after being stranded at home for the past week, I'm in need of a relaxing vacation. Although, the thought of going to an engagement party makes me feel old. It makes me feel like I'm an adult. Oh gosh, when did I grow up?

Nostalgia

As some of my younger friends start going back to school, I can't help but think about the four years I spent in college. My journey from start to finish was a long, stressful, tedious one-- yet it was also full of laughter, adventures, and learning experiences.




Richmond taught me how to be a strong and brave-- a person who could visualize and overcome obstacles. And Gettysburg showed me how to make friends, appreciate the ones I already had and most importantly, who I was as an individual. Being able to start over some place new on my own was so beneficial to me because at that point in time all I had to rely on was myself. It took me a full year and a half at Gettysburg to finally figure these things out, but it was worth it. Looking back now, I couldn't be where I am today without all of what came before and I am so grateful for that.

Bargain hunting

As a broke, unemployed college graduate, you are forced to search high and low for that perfect bargain-- the one item you must have at a price that is absolutely affordable. Yesterday afternoon, my mother and I went to Kohl's and I found these wonderfully simple black heels that will look completely polished and professional with my grey suit. They aren't Nine West, but they will certainly do the job for $13!

More and more I have come to appreciate the happiness that bargain hunting can bring. Shopping has always been one of my favorite past times and ways to unwind or disconnect from my life-- whether or not I end up buying anything. (Although, I won't lie, it's much more fun to be able to bring something home!) It's just nice to be able to think about what's in front of you at the moment, as opposed to all the distractions and frustrations that can arise in every day life. When I was still at the University of Richmond, I took daily trips to the various malls across the city-- walking, listening, browsing and people watching. Sometimes I would catch a movie or treat myself to one of my favorite restaurants in town and just enjoy being alone.

Spicy summer corn chowder

Over the past few weeks I have been experimenting with a number of different Southwestern and Tex-Mex style dishes. So far I have managed to made a spicy tomato soup, honey-lime grilled chicken, and fresh guacamole and salsa-- all of which have been superb. Wanting to use up the rest of the sweet summer corn I had in the kitchen, I decided to try to replicate Panera's summer corn chowder, which went a little like this:

I started out with a green bell pepper, a small yellow onion, and half of a pablano pepper and diced them up. After sauteing the veggies in a little butter, I added minced garlic and a small Italian red pepper (I have been growing these little guys in my garden-- aren't they adorable?). Once I started to smell the garlic, I added some flour to coat the peppers, etc. and cooked it until it was a light brown color. After adding about six cups of chicken stock, I brought it up to a simmer and then threw in two medium Yukon Gold potatoes I had diced. Ten minutes of rapid boiling and voila-- cooked potatoes! I then added the corn, some chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and milk (sorry, there aren't any measurements for these ingredients-- I never measure anything when I cook). And there you go, spicy summer corn chowder!


This recipe made about six servings. Not sure what I am going to make tomorrow, but I hope it will be just as delicious!

New beginnings

Amazingly enough, I have been blogging in various places across the web for almost nine years now-- but at this turning point in my life, I figured I deserved a fresh start with a fresh blog. Ultimately, this will serve as a place for me to write about whatever is on my radar at the moment-- news, photography, cuisine, life transitions, fashion, friends, etc. I can't promise that I will always be entertaining, but I will certainly try. Enjoy.