The Food Chronicles: March Edition

uhhh not quite sure why but I've recently been craving chocolate milk. I've had it twice in the past week and before that I hadn't had it in years.



I'm not a huge fan of milk unless it's in cereal or cookies. (I LOVE COOKIES!)

I guess my body was craving calcium for some odd reason. And no I am not pregnant. Perhaps it's osteoporosis setting in?

When I was a kid I used to adore strawberry milk. It didn't come pre-made so my mom had to buy the Nestle strawberry mix that came in a tin can. You could even put it on your ice cream!



They just don't make stuff like they used to.

Lady Hawks

This has been a pretty exciting week in the world of UNCW Women's Basketball. Not only did the Lady Hawks get a bid to the WNIT, but they have also defeated their first round opponent, Richmond.

Now, here's the exciting part...

UNCW gets to host the second round game against Eastern Michigan! Not only is this the first post-season appearance for the Lady Hawks ever (in program history), but it is also obviously our first time hosting a post-season game.

As most of you are aware, I am an avid basketball fan and have been following the UNCW Women's Basketball team all season. Kristi and I even went to the conference tournament in MD last weekend. But I won't lie -- I follow because of Coop. I have loved her since she played for USC and grew up watching her shape the WNBA. She is a huge idol of mine and to have her here on campus is truly amazing.

So, here's to wishing the Lady Hawks the best of luck in the NIT! I'll be there cheering them on. GO HAWKS!

Spring Break?! Where?

Well, this week is Spring Break for the students at UNCW. This means that my office is finally clear of all student workers which translates to near silence. The phrase "silence is golden" has never rung so near and dear to my heart as it has this week. While there have been maintenance workers coming and going the past couple of days, it still beats hearing the "like" and "oh my god" every 5 seconds. However, it still seems like the space directly outside my office door is still the meeting place for everyone - staff, faculty, maintenance workers, etc.

I am not amused.

I had almost a dozen students (student workers in the office, classmates, etc.) ask me what I was "doing" for Spring Break. Well, since I am a full time UNCW staff member first and foremost, I will be doing my job without interruption due to classes and related meetings. I do not have the luxury of jetting off to Jamaica or Cancun or wherever it is young college kids visit these days.

My idea of a break is being able to sleep 8 hours a night and getting in a good work out. Is that too much to ask?!?!

With all of that being said, you can understand why I have not been as productive at work as I should be. But with each passing day my concentration gets better and better; Friday is shaping up to be the most productive day of all!

My motivation to do anything at home is also lacking. That long "to do" list that is sitting on my bedside table? Hasn't been touched since it's been made. Those school books that are waiting to be read in an effort to get ahead for the second half of the semester? Haven't been touched since they were taken out of my bag on Friday.

And this is why:
- Monday: My first day without classes was spent catching up on sleep. For twelve hours.
- Tuesday: My second day was spent watching a movie and then catching up on sleep. For nine hours.
- Tonight, I actually managed to work out, cook dinner, clean the kitchen and bathroom, change the air filter, shower and shave, put away some clean laundry, gather up some dirty laundry, and organize my belongings for work tomorrow. If I have any energy left after typing this blog post, I may even flat iron my hair. Hot damn!

I am hoping that tomorrow is a productive day at work and even more so at home! I'd like to attempt to tackle my "to do" list in case the weather is nice and allows for outdoor play time this weekend. I'd also like to put away this other mound of clean laundry that is staring me in the face, as well as sift through some paperwork.

I really feel that life would be much more do-able with a midget assistant. Think of all the extra little things (no pun intended) that could get done in my life. AND I'd be boosting the economy by paying someone a salary.

all natural face scrub

I find it challenging to find a good exfoliating face scrub. A worker in the Wal-Mart suggested that I try equal parts of sugar and vegetable oil as a face scrub. Well what do you know - it works fabulously!

I took 3 tablespoons of regular ole sugar and mixed it into 3 tablespoons of regular ole baking vegetable oil. (I put this mixture into a container with a lid so I can access it daily. It is housed in my bathroom next to all of my other face products.)

I feel that, since I am in my late 20's and clearly not an adolescent, I should not have acne. And I don't have it bad, but from time to time a blemish does pop up. I also find that they stay longer and leave scars. What's up with that?!?!

WIth this scrub, I have found that the scars are slowly disappearing and the blemishes are far and few between. And I thought the sun was the only miracle worker for my face...

inconsequential nonsense

Wow, a lot has happened this week.

Just as I was thanking God that it was Friday and for allowing me to survive another hectic week, I learned of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan. Immediately, I stopped worrying about my foolish schedule, my massively long "to do" list, and the so-called troubles I'm having. It's sad that it took something so devastating to put all of this into perspective.

My heart and prayers go out to those affected by this awful disaster.

Sunday Double Feature

Today was a lazy day. It was pouring down rain everywhere in town and I had tons of [un]important things to accomplish!

I get a pedicure about once a year, usually in the Springtime to prepare for warmer weather. Pedi's aren't necessary other times of the year because I spend so much time in the sand. So, today was pedi day.

Today was also a "stuff yourself like it's the Last Supper at the Chinese Buffet" day.

This was followed by a trip to purchase "super fun kitchen items that I cannot use in my current house because my roommate will break them so I'll just save them for when I buy my first house" things. World Market is slowly becoming a bad house decor addiction, joining the likes of Crate & Barrel, Ikea, and Pottery Barn.

BUT, the highlight of the day was seeing two movies: Unknown (with Liam Neeson, January Jones, and Diane Kruger) and The Adjustment Bureau (with Emily Blunt and Matt Damon). TAB was my favorite of the two (and not just because that abbreviation shares my initials), although I did enjoy both.

Now it is time to study for my three midterms this week. I'll check in again in approximately one week. Until then, it's crazy time.

Rolling in the Deep

I am midly addicted to this song. And when I say mildly, I mean absolutely obsessed!

randomness aka the story of my life

I feel that, after this week, bullet points and/or numbered bits of randomness are necessary for this particular blog post. I think that "To Do" lists were the only things helping me survive this week so I decided to continue the list-like trend. If you don't like lists (and why would you NOT like lists, by the way?!?!) then you can go ahead and stop reading this now. Begin list:

1. I am currently watching The Golden Girls for the first time in months. This is unheard of! Not a day used to pass when I did not spend quality time with The Girls. That is just one example of how insane my life has been as of late.

2. Speaking of friends, I just received in the mail today a postcard from an old high school friend. So, thank you Jeannie for thinking of me! (And I'm not saying that you're old, just that we've been friends for a while :)) For those of you who love humor, check out her blog here. Jeannie does improv on cruise ships and is honestly the funniest person I have ever met. I know that my readers think that I'm funny but I think that she's funny so you know she must be really funny. Right?!

3. I was attempting to remember everything that happened to me this week while sitting in an 8 a.m. accounting class. But I couldn't. I walked into my office around 11 (after that one class and then multiple meetings) and a co-worker came to visit. He gave me one look and I instantly knew that he was feeling the same as I was. It was just one of those weeks where I didn't know which way was up - both at work and in the classroom - and today was just a Godsend. It truly is a miracle that I made it through the day, let alone the week. I'd like to thank Sarah and Michele for inviting me to lunch today and offering tons of belly laughs.

4. I would also like to thank Kristi for meeting me at 8 p.m. (as I was leaving work, mind you) to have a few beverages and slices of pizza. Sometimes a girl just needs a grape vodka sprite! Tonight, I was that girl.


5. If you're all looking for some extra reading material, check out my bff Cassie's blog about e-dating. She is also hilarious.

6. For some reason, I allowed myself to pick up my Kindle again while waiting between meetings this week. I am now absorbed in another non-fiction book written by a lawyer who somehow gets caught up in conspiracy or something. It sounded interesting when I purchased it on Amazon and it's still holding true. Once I have the energy to hold my eyes open to dig the Kindle out of my purse, I'll give you all the title of the book. Until then, you'll just have to remain on the edge of your seats.

Current Food Addictions

I currently have 2 food addictions and, surprisingly, neither of them are candy/processed!

They are....


[drumroll, please]


asparagus...

ANDDDDD

sun dried tomatoes

:)

oh, how sad

Well, the month of Tiffany has officially ended.

As I sit and procrastinate with management course materials staring me in the face, I'd like to thank all of you who made my birthday a fabulous series of events.

And I'd like to give a special shout out to the YMCA for choosing to conduct gym repairs during the week of my birthday! You prevented volleyball matches from being held which inevitably prevented me from getting angry with a certain previously mentioned "teammate."

Here's to hoping that March and some warmer weather will help foster and lengthen my stretches of motivation and creativity...

Shopping Adventures with Liz

Mom drove down from Maryland and I met her in Raleigh for the weekend. Needless to say, the shopping trip was full of highlights (per usual). Here are just a few random picture memories from the trip:

I hope his armpits are warm.


Typical Raleigh attire for men.


Has anyone ever been in this store? I'm curious as to what's inside... As many of you know, I love to nap! So yes, I would love to "sleep to live."


I feel like I need one of these, as is usually the sentiment with nearly everything at Bed Bath & Beyond.


My favorite purchase of the day! 30$ booties from Nine West

PPOTW: Uneducated Athletes

(Yes, I realize that I am posting two consecutive PPOTW's. However, I just realized that we are already 3 weeks through this month and I have yet to post any PPOTW's. So, my dear lucky readers, you get them all at once!)

Allow me to provide some [but most certainly not all] background information about my athletic career...

I have been playing competitive indoor volleyball for about 20 years now. (Where I'm from, they start us young!) I have been coaching all levels of competitive indoor volleyball for close to 6 years. When I moved back down to NC, I started playing outdoor beach volleyball - so that's about 4 years I've been playing of competitive beach.

Now, when I meet someone who has only played outdoor volleyball and it has only been for 2 years, I tend not to take them too seriously. Yes, you can learn a lot by playing outdoor. But the outdoor game is not easily translated to the indoor game, which is where I met said person.

So, when I play indoor with this nameless person mentioned in the above paragraph and he tries to tell me how to play volleyball or whispers smartass remarks under his breath, I pretty much want to massacre him on the court with my bare hands.

1. I do not appreciate it when people of a lesser caliber attempt to coach me.
2. If you're going to say something to me, it damn well better be without an attitude.
3. No one on the team likes you because it's always all about you. Get over yourself.

Someone please explain to me how a guy who is much younger than I and who has only played outdoor for a couple of years, can possibly know more about indoor volleyball than a nationally certified coach who has been playing for over 20.

When you figure out that answer, please pass it along to me. Thanks.

PPOTW: System Maintenance

I understand that all systems require maintenance, especially these days given that everything is technologically related. What I don't understand, however, is why some system administrators insist on performing this system maintenance during normal operating hours.

I understand that these people probably work the same hours that I do. But you think that they could come in an hour early or stay an hour later or HEY! maybe even have an automatic maintenance update installed so that everything takes place in the middle of the night when no one is working.

The Big Bang Theory

Last year, I gained a new tv show addiction: The Big Bang Theory.


I was at my parents for a visit for an extended period of time and one of the local stations happened to be showing a marathon of TBBT, which also happens to be one of my mother's favorite shows. Since it was a weekend and there was nothing better to do in that po-dunk town, mom and I took to conquering the marathon on the tube.

This show makes me audibly laugh almost the entire time! Just when I think I've recovered from laughing at one line, someone says something else that's even funnier. I'd like to meet the writers for this show.

I can't decide who my favorite character is though. Sheldon probably has the best one-liners but I also like Penny because she is the only girl in a sea of dorky men.

C'mon

Need a new workout song? Try this one by Busta Rhymes & Co. It's got a great beat and could really keep your blood pumping!

On a side note, who knew that Busta was still busting out rhymes?!

Happy Heart Day!

Not only is today Monday, but it is also Valentine's Day! I hope that makes your Monday slightly more bearable. And if not, then just eat your feelings in the form of those individually packaged candies inside of the giant red heart shaped boxes that seem to be growing out of the ground such as these:

The Social Network

I realized over the weekend that I was probably the last 20-something I know who had not yet seen The Social Network. So I watched it.



I must say that I was quite impressed with the whole movie. (I'm not sure how accurately the story was told, although it must have some truth to it if it was endorsed by Mark Zuckerberg.) I had done zero research into the historical facts behind Facebook and its founders so this was an educational piece in my eyes.

I would also like to know if MZ is really worth billions of dollars. Is that in tangible assets or intangible assets? I'm thinking the latter.

Anyways, I thought the acting was phenomenal. And Andrew Garfield accurately resembles my best friend Cassie's boyfriend, Mark. I think Mark needs to collect royalties for Andrew stealing his looks!

Wait... you mean it's not 5 o'clock yet?!

I know that it's 5 o'clock somewhere, but I would really like for it to be 5 o'clock where I am. Right now.

On that note, I would like one of these straws for my bottle of wine:



Or perhaps some sort of wine bottle sippy top so that I can easily drink out of the bottle without requiring the use of a glass. Who drinks just one glass of wine anyways?!

Snowboarding Adventures

This past weekend, Kristi and I went snowboarding at Sugar Mountain Resort near Boone, NC. Kristi's birthday was on Friday so this was our attempt at celebrating it. She had been sick all week and I was starting to feel bad towards the end of the week, but we muscled through it!

We both left work early on Friday and made the trek over to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The weather was disgusting the entire time - cold and rainy - which meant that people were driving even more erratically than normal. I saved us from getting in one accident on the way there. Kristi was impressed while I was just seething with anger.

Anyways, we got there around 9 pm and were starving so decided to eat at Woodlands BBQ. That restaurant served THE best pulled chicken BBQ that I have ever tasted in my entire life! We both got a "tray" that came with slaw and hush puppies - and it only cost 5$. I mean really... I could eat there 3 meals a day! They sold bottles of their sauce and I'm really kicking myself for not purchasing one.

The next day, the weather was still iffy so we decided to go shopping in the downtown area of Blowing Rock. We also had to search for ski pants because... ding ding! I left mine at home. (They were anxiously awaiting my return on my bed.) There was a Tanger Outlet Mall conveniently located about a mile from our hotel so you know I had to stop in and say hello. We got a couple of good deals but didn't go too crazy.

Once the weather cleared, we headed up the mountain to ice skate and to go tubing. It was cold but so much fun! Kristi and I would hook our two tubes together and one of the workers would fling us down the hill. We spun 39448 times and laughed until we cried. I think Kristi's tears actually froze to her face. We are far too old to have that much fun :)

On Sunday, we were finally able to hit the slopes! By the time we packed the truck and checked out of the hotel, it was around 11. I think we got to the slopes around 11:30. We decided to wait another 30 minutes and purchase a half day lift ticket. That gave me time to find a pair of sunglasses in the gift shop and check out the cafe. Once we purchased our tickets and got all of our gear, we were off! To the bunny slopes.

First off, we were wearing far too much clothing for this adventure. The high that day was 45 and I felt like my body was on fire. I ended up stripping down to just a t-shirt and ski pants before the day was over.

Secondly, whoever told me that snowboarding was hard has lost their mind. I don't know if it's because I'm athletic and pick things up easily, or if it's because I'm awesome at pretty much everything I do, but this challenge proved easy. That's not to say I'm a master - I could definitely use more practice. But I picked it up far faster than anyone else I know. Aside from Kristi.

Kristi tried skiing once and hated it. I, however, grew up skiing and love it. It was a bit of an adjustment for me to get used to moving my legs as one unit; Kristi knew no different so she had no obstacles to overcome.

We started off by keeping one foot loose and the other strapped into the board. This was fine for about 10 minutes. It's much easier to learn with both feet strapped in. We had watched one YouTube video about how to stop and that was all we needed! We figured out how to turn and all that jazz on our own.

By the time our ticket expired and we got back to the truck, my knees were swollen and I was super tired. We decided we needed to eat before the drive so we stopped at a sushi restaurant we had seen advertised on some billboards. Everything was going fine until we realized that it was 6 pm and we hadn't received our bill yet. Apparently the computer system was down so they had to manually add our tabs. By the time I finished arguing with the waitress about how and why I didn't feel comfortable leaving them with my credit card number on a piece of paper for all the world to see, it was 7 pm. The manager finally gave me the ok to write a check. So I did and we were on our way. (I can't tell you how close I was to walking out without paying. We were so irritated!) Needless to say, I was exhausted when I got home around 11.

But, all in all, it was a successful trip! We plan to go again soon. And when I say soon, I mean in like 3 weeks.

The Month of Tiffany

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the famed event that takes place during the entire month of February, allow me to fill you in.

And no, I am not speaking of Black History Month.

I, of course, am speaking about The Month of Tiffany. aka February. aka my birthday month. That's right, I've devoted an entire month to celebrating ME! (I would choose an entire year but then others would not get to share in the spotlight and if I'm anything, it's a sharer.)

I feel that celebrating myself for an entire month is completely acceptable. Not only is February the shortest month of the year, but it is also usually the coldest. So I've really helped in jazzing up the month. We all need a reason to celebrate for 28 days and I for one am growing tired of celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks (although they have both made significant contributions to our country). I just needed a change of pace, dammit!

I can't remember when I instituted The Month of Tiffany. All I can remember is that it was one of the best ideas that I've ever had.

What would make it even better though is if someone were to give me a little gift every day of the month! A painting, candy, flowers, movie tickets, dinner... anything, really. I'm easily entertained. I'll even accept a hand made card. You all have 27 more days to come up with fabulous gifts. I will also accept jewels, vacations, houses, and automobiles. There is no price cap on these gifts. So go crazy!

Let me know if you need my mailing address.