Month: August 2012

Friday Five

katespade

1) My new Kate Spade purse came in the mail. It makes my feet do a happy jig.

notes

2) Apparently, my stats class is going to require three different colored pens to keep my notes straight.  Geesh!

drink

3) Pretty drink to finish out the week

Lazy Sunday with the pup.

4) We had a lazy Sunday with movie marathons, dip and chips.

workout

5) I started CrossFit two weeks ago.  If you haven’t heard of it, YouTube some videos.  It’s pretty awesome and pretty brutal all at the same time.  Here’s me post workout.

Happy Weekend y’all!

Caramelized Onion-N-Steak Salad

Caramelized Onion Steak Salad

Here is a super quick, super easy salad recipe that is so, SO good.

I made this one on Sunday when I wasn’t feeling great and needed to avoid making poor eating choices.

I went out to dinner the night before and had some leftover steak – 3 oz. to be exact (it had to be fate to make this salad!).

Ingredients:
1/2 head of romaine lettuce
1 cucumber
1/2 small onion
1 hard-boiled egg
3 oz. lean steak
light ranch dressing
2 tsp. butter
2 tsp. Canola Oil
To hard boil an egg:
add egg to pan then cover with cool water.  Heat until at a boil.  Turn down heat, cover pan.  Let sit for 15-20 minutes.  Then add the egg to a bowl of ice water until cool to the touch.  Peel and slice.
Directions:
heat 1 tsp. oil and 2 tsp. butter in pan, add the onion.  Let caramelize – few minutes.  Remove onion from pan, set aside.
Add 1 tsp. oil to same pan and heat cucumber for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside.
In large bowl – add cut lettuce, steak, cucumber, onion, and sliced egg.
Makes about 4 servings.  Top each serving with 1 T. light ranch dressing.

5 PointsPlus per serving (4 without dressing).

It’s been a week.

tree copy

A long, long week.  Ever have one of those weeks that seems to be dragging on?  Well this week is one for me, that’s for sure.  I seem to be struggling to find time to get anything on my task list done.  It’s bumming me out.  Thank goodness it’s hump day!

Friday Five

clouds copy

1) I have a thing for cloud pictures. I think that’s apparent.

driving copy

2) I’ve got a pup that is sneakily trying to learn how to drive. Take my eyes off the driver for one second and somehow she’s in the seat.

beernsalad copy

3) Yummy dinner with friends at Garbo’s in Springfield this past week.

outfit copy

4) Quick glimpse of my outfit this week. Now with school back my clothes are lasting much longer than my average 8-5 job. Try 8am – 10pm.

lake copy

5) Nothing beats a day at the lake. Tubing. Fishing. Relaxing. One word can sum it all up – perfect.

DIY Ribbon Wreath

FallFinished

Recently, while browsing Etsy I came across some adorable ribbon wreaths.  I decided to make my own and then because it was pretty easy, I made one for a coworker who is obsessed a fan of the HOGS.

Just a warning that my pictures may be a bit jumbled with the directions – I forgot to take a few photos while doing my first wreath.

measuring

1) cut ribbon into about 4 1/2″ – 5″ pieces.  I used several different designs on my wreaths.

ribbonandpin

2) loop the ribbon and stick a straight pin through, like so.

beginningstages

3) start sticking on.  Continue until all the foam is covered.  My wreath was quite a bit smaller than my coworkers.  I used about 22 yards of ribbon and about 200 pins.  On the HOGS wreath I used 36 yards and about 350 straight pins.

GoHogs

4) after you have the wreath to your desire amount of fullness, then hot glue letters on.  I went with a fall theme for mine since I just can’t wait for the season to change.

almostfinished
closeupoffall

Now you have a fun, festive wreath. Enjoy!

DIY Project Board

To say I’m a dreamer is a bit of an understatement.  I have all these ideas and projects swirling around in my head at all times.  This past weekend, I finally took a moment to capture my ideas.  But first I had to create a project board, naturally.

supplies

You’ll need: 1 picture frame of your choosing, fabric large enough to cover the entire frame, scissors for trimming, and dry erase markers.

First measure the fabric.  I wanted mine to be a bit larger than the frame backing (for good measure).

step1

Second, I cut (not much explaining there).

Finally, I put it all together and then hang on the wall.

finished

Overall my Project Board cost me $9.00 and about 10 minutes, which includes re-hanging my pictures on the wall to make room.

finishedprod

I think it turned out great and now I have a place to capture projects and ideas.

hangingonwall

Now, I could have put some lettering spelling out “projects” on the fabric before piecing the frame back together, but I didn’t think it was necessary and who knows – that frame may take on a second life someday.

The total cost for this project broken down:

Frame – $4

Expo markers – $4

Fabric – $1

Total: $9 and about 10 minutes

Enjoy!

The LAST first day of class

me

Ok, here I go.  I’m about to embark on my first day of class for the last time.  That’s right, after this fall semester my graduate school career will be over.

Kind of nerve racking to think that school is almost done.

Also, it’s nerve racking to think about the projects, tests that are about to come my way all while holding down 2 jobs.

I can do it.  I can handle anything for a few months.  I can do it.

During grad school, I’ve learned a few things:

1) I actually did absorb some information during undergrad

2) It’s really important to come to every class period, unlike undergrad

3) The saying that you learn more while doing is true – I cannot explain all of the real-life concepts I understand now by having a job in management

4) Make friends.  And then more importantly – keep them.  They will come in handy during the classes that are more challenging.  For instance, finance.  That was a tough one.

Just something about it

longflowingskirt

A blue skirt that swooshes when you walk.  Makes you command attention.  Add a fedora, some wedges and I think you may just have it.

Or at least that’s how I feel when I put this skirt on and no one is going to tell me any different.

Skirt: Windsor (similar here), blouse: F21, Fedora & Wedges: TJ Maxx

Friday Five

shoes copy

1) Kick back and relax, the weekend is here.

GardenRidge

2) Spent an afternoon wandering around here last weekend. Now I cannot wait till I have my own home to decorate.

Apple Braised Chicken copy

3) Whipped up a nice lil’ meal this week. Apple Braised Chicken with a whole lot of veggies 🙂

flowers

4) Pretty flowers that were sent to a dear friend

sky

5) one day apart, same area of the city.  HUGE difference.