Happy Running Accountant

PDX

2014-07-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

I suppose 2 months is still within the acceptable trip recap window? This summer has been crazy busy, filled with work, travel, and fun.

This post is filled with tons of pictures from my trip to Portland, OR with my sister! Portland has been on my wanderlust list for quite a while, and after visiting, I would definitely recommend it! Portland reminds me a lot of Asheville, a foodie/beer town with mountain views and a hipster vibe! Katie and I managed to pack in a lot of activities in 5 days, so be prepared for photo overload!

The view from the plane of Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson made me definitely realize I wasn't in South Carolina anymore!

I arrived in Portland several hours before my sister, so I walked around near the hotel before she got there, stopping by the water, grabbing a cold brew iced coffee from Stumptown, and Skidmore fountain.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites downtown near the Burnside Bridge. While the hotel itself was really nice and recently renovated (with a free happy hour from 5-7 pm!), I didn't feel it was in the best part of town. While Portland is extremely walkable, I would probably stay somewhere in the Pearl district if I ever go back again!

Once Katie arrived, we headed straight to Deschutes Brewery for dinner! Their beer and food was really good (beer cheese and pretzels should be its own food group), as was their elk burger! The weather was perfect and they had the entire restaurant opened to the outside, which made for a fun atmosphere!

After dinner, we wandered around Powell's City of Books and took our first selfie of the trip, naturally.

The next day, our first full day in the city, turned out to be the nicest weather of our trip. It was 75 and sunny, and we set off exploring.

We first had breakfast at Mother's Bistro & Bar, which came highly recommended from various places. Breakfast was good, but I wouldn't say it was the best in Portland. Next we ~~walked~~ hiked 2.5 miles across town to the International Rose Test Garden, stopping at Pioneer Square on the way.

The rose garden was pretty and crowded due to the nice weather. We also got a great view of Mt. Hood!

After our hike uphill, we worked up a thirst for some Portland beer! We stopped at Henry's 12th Street Tavern on the way back to the hotel, and with over 100 beers on tap, we had quite the selection to choose from!

We did some shopping in the Pearl district, then casually ran into Fabio in Whole Foods. Fun fact: he's 55 years old and was advertising a protein powder with his face on the carton.

We stopped for happy hour at Clyde Common, where we snacked on the most fantastic popcorn and sipped on excellent cocktails. I had read how crowded this place gets and you typically have to have a reservation to even get in, but we walked right in and it was relatively empty for a Thursday - score!

We went back to the hotel to get ready for the Foster the People concert at Roseland Theatre. Y'all, this was one of my top 3 favorite bands live. You must see them if you have the chance. The small venue made it that much better!

A late night stop at Voodoo donuts was necessary (the butterfinger donut was on point).

We picked up our rental car Friday morning, with plans to see more of the city/state! We crossed over the Burnside Bridge to SE Portland (the city is divided by divisions - NW, NE, SW, SE) for the famous Pine State Biscuits. Being southerners, we know our biscuits, and these could rival any I've ever had. Holy moly.

Next stop: Multnomah Falls. This waterfall was worth the 30 minute drive outside the city, and it's right off the highway! So incredible, and we even walked across the bridge halfway up the waterfall to feel the water spray!

We kept driving away from the city to the cute little town of Hood River, where we stopped at Full Sail Brewery. The tasting room had a nice outdoor porch with a view of the river, and the scenery wasn't bad either!

Oregon is seriously gorgeous.

On our way back into town, we stopped on the NE side of town, which is an up-and-coming area with a lot of restaurants and bars. We hit Widmer Brothers Brewery first, and then had tacos at Por Que No? We would've loved to explore more of this side of town, but we never made it back. Mississippi Ave gets a thumbs up!

We had the car for another day, so a trip to the Oregon coast was on the itinerary for Saturday, although the weather wasn't fantastic. While you could definitely get around downtown Portland without a car, there were so many other areas of the city/surrounding area that I wanted to see, so a car rental was necessary. With 5 days in the city, we definitely wanted to do some exploring of different areas!

Before heading out, we stopped at the food cart pods (the biggest gathering is around 10th/Adler). We couldn't decide what we wanted so we stopped at Brunch Box and Grilled Cheese Grill - both delicious! We headed to Cannon Beach to see the famous Haystack Rock. The wind was blowing like crazy when we got to the coast, so we had a quick photo shoot then headed inside for happy hour with a view of the beach!

On the way back to Portland, we drove on the outskirts of the Willamette Valley (a famous wine region). We randomly picked the closest winery to us on the map, which happened to be a fantastic decision on our part! Apolloni Winery had a great tasting, with bocce ball and wood-fired pizza in the front yard!

Upon recommendation of employees at the winery, we stopped at Noble Rot for a sunset view. However, without reservations, we weren't able to sit out on the patio, but still enjoyed a mile-high plate of onion rings at the bar before heading to dinner at Trifecta Tavern. Both spots had cool vibes, and were probably more local spots than tourist traps! Katie was pretty excited about the deviled eggs and pimento cheese on the menu at Trifecta, too!

The next morning, we walked to the Pearl district for brunch at Irving St. Kitchen. This was one of my favorite restaurants and meals of the trip - cool atmosphere and even better food with a southern flair. We walked to NW 23rd Street after brunch and loved this area of cute little shops and restaurants. We definitely would've liked to have spent more time on that side of town had we known how cute it was! And no trip to Portland is complete without Salt & Straw ice cream! We spent the afternoon at Bridgeport Brewery (our final flight of the trip) before dinner at Andina. Andina is definitely a must - the best Peruvian food I've had! It was a great way to end our trip!

If you made it all the way through this recap, congratulations!

After looking back at all the pictures, I'm ready to go back again! Who's with me?

April Update

2014-05-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

This blog has quickly turned into a place where I show up once a month and recap what's been happening while I was away, and I kinda sorta like it that way. From now until the end of summer, I've packed my life full of vacations and activities, so I won't be around much except for the occassional vacation re-cap or life update. If you want to keep up with my daily happenings, you can always find me on Instagram (~~probably posting pictures of my food)~~!

April was a busy month, traveling and work-wise. I managed to work longer days so I could have the chance to enjoy my weekends again!

One of my best friends from college, Rachel, is graduating from medical school in a few weeks and moving to Richmond, so I planned a quick getaway to Charleston to see her before she leaves! I didn't quite think it through and picked the busiest weekend in Charleston to drive down (Cooper River Bridge Run weekend), but we had a great time despite the crowds! We ate fantasic meals: tacos at Zia Taqueria, brunch at Poogan's Porch and The Fat Hen, drinks at Leaf and The Gin Joint, and dinner at Blossom. We walked around the city, shopped, got manicures, and generally caught up on life. Rachel got engaged the weekend after I went to visit so now I have another reason to visit - to celebrate!

The next weekend, my parents and I went down to Litchfield for a little R&R. After busy season, I always like to get down to the ocean to recharge, and the weather was perfect for catching a little vitamin D.

I made it down to the beach both mornings to catch the sunrise, which was breathtaking (especially Sunday morning). Although I worked while I was there, I came back feeling more refreshed than when I left!

The next week and weekend were spent celebrating the grand re-opening of our favorite taproom The Community Tap, getting tacos with friends at Asada, and celebrating Easter with my family.

The following weekend was PACKED with activities, because our friend Sarah was back in town from Philly! Several other friends who live nearby (Charlotte, Atlanta, Chapel Hill) also made the drive to Greenville so everyone could reunite with Sarah while she was here!

There was a lot of eating, drinking, girl talk, and of course, selfies. We even checked out a new brewery, Swamp Rabbit Brewery, where we had some friendly competition while playing Scattergories and Apples to Apples. Girls' weekends are the best kind of weekends!

And as if I hadn't had enough trips to the coast in April, Mom and I headed back down to Charleston this past weekend to celebrate the engagement of one of Katie's lifelong friends, Meg. We drove down Friday and stayed with some old friends in their wonderful house on Johns Island, and then headed back after the party Saturday so I could pack for St. Simon's Island for a week for work! All these trips have been so quick, I'd like to stay in one place for longer than 2 days!

Can y'all believe it's already May? I'm so glad the first 4 months of the year are over (because of the long hours at work, obviously) and am ready to start the vacation train this summer! Trips in May and June include Portland, OR with my sister, NYC for Governors Ball Music Festival, and a week at the beach!

Life Lately

2014-03-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

Y'all, I'm alive! Busy season kicked my butt more than I could've possibly imagined this year, but I managed to squeeze in some fun in the past 2 months!

Here's a quick recap of what I've been up to since February (not pictured: the 234930 hours I sat at my computer working):

It snowed! Lauren and I were snowed in for almost 3 days, which just meant we worked from home and almost went stir crazy. Snow days as an adult are not near as fun! We finally ventured out on day 3 to meet friends for pizza and beer - much needed socialization!

I went to the mountains with my parents for a quick weekend getaway.

Katie came home to be maid of honor in her friend's wedding, and it was one of the most fun weddings! Such a pretty location (on the lake in Clemson) and perfect weather for Ashley & Weston!

And in between, I hung out with friends, organized my closet, went on a bike ride, tried to steal a few dogs, and I did a lot of drinking as evidenced by my camera roll...

I also went gluten-free (more on that later this week) and have planned several upcoming vacations!

What all have you been up to while I've been away?

{Recipe} ~ One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

2014-02-11T08:11:00.000-05:00

I'm curled up in yoga pants and fuzzy socks, with a cup of coffee, watching the snow fall. I'll say it once and I'll say it again: I never want to live in a place where snow isn't simply magical.

I'm hunkered down for the next few days with this amazing pasta to keep me warm. There is seriously nothing better than a comforting bowl of this one-pot pasta. Southern Living has the best recipes, hands down. I'm typically not a fan of leftovers and I ate this dish for lunch and dinner for at least 3 days without complaint. The best part about this recipe is that you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry and fridge!

One-Pot Pasta with Tomato-Basil Sauce
from Southern Living

Ingredients
12 ounces casarecce or fusilli pasta
1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 medium-size yellow onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, sliced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/3 cup firmly packed fresh basil leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper (optional)
1 (6-oz.) package baby spinach
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Place first 9 ingredients and, if desired, dried crushed red pepper in a Dutch oven in order of ingredient list. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat (about 12 to 15 minutes). Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, covered, 10 to 12 minutes or until pasta is slightly al dente, stirring at 5-minute intervals.
Remove from heat, and stir in spinach (I saved the basil for this step and added it with the spinach). Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Stir just before serving. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

Bar Carts

2014-02-06T06:56:00.000-05:00

Bar carts have become a recent trend, and while I was planning to stock my bar with something other than wine, I thought it would be the perfect addition to our apartment! We have a lot of underutilized space in our current apartment due to the layout, and because we're renters, that means we have a lot of white walls.

I took to Pinterest for some inspiration as to how I wanted to decorate my new bar cart, and these were some of my favorites:

{all images via}

It took me awhile to gather a collection of liquor (essentials include vodka, rum, gin, tequila, bourbon, and whiskey) plus some extras, so now we're ready for a party at a moment's notice!

The bar car is still a work in progress, but it adds a nice flair to our place!

And in the meantime, I happened to find my signature drink, too: a moscow mule!

Lauren gave me a copper mug for Christmas so I can have my favorite cocktail anytime I want!

1.5 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/2 cup ginger beer
Lime wedges for garnish

Enjoy!

(Disclaimer: This post has no other point other than to say I've been working 65 hours a week and need to drink heavily to otherwise survive.)

{Recipe} Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

2014-01-17T06:50:00.000-05:00

One thing I've always wanted to make from scratch is homemade soft pretzels. So much so that I even added it to my 101 in 1001 list. When Lauren and I were hosting our friends for the Orange Bowl (Go Tigers!), I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to a) use my new kitchenaid mixer to make the dough and b) cross something off my list. Plus, mini soft pretzels make the perfect snack!

However, that will probably be the first and last time I ever make soft pretzels! The first batch turned out great, but the remaining batches, not so much. I think I needed to use a bigger pot for the baking soda/water bath, because it kept boiling over and the last batch of pretzels tasted like pure baking soda! I also attempted to make a cheese dipping sauce but with the arrival of guests and the distraction of the pregame show, I let it overheat and it quickly became inedible. But I will say that people were quite impressed that I made them from scratch (even if it did take all afternoon and left a HUGE mess in the kitchen)!

Soft Pretzel Bites
from What Megan's Making

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
3 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse sea salt

Directions

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter and mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.

Oil a bowl with vegetable oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 425. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over high heat and add the baking soda.

Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each piece into a long rope measuring about 22 inches. Cut the dough into one inch pieces. In small batches (about 15 at a time), boil the pretzel bites in the water solution for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon and place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure they are not touching. Brush the tops with the egg wash and season with coarse sea salt. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove to a baking rack and let rest 5 minutes before eating.

These are best warm, but are still good at room temperature. They are best served the day they're made.

With 2013 In My Rearview

2014-01-16T06:47:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite things about this blog is being able to look back: on a fun vacation, a weekend in Greenville, or just mundane musings on a Wednesday.

I can't say 2013 was one of my favorite years. Sure, when I look back, I had a lot of fun, but I distinctly remember being sad for a decent amount of time. My feelings about 2013 can be summed up with one quote:

{via}

Here's my recap of 2013 in a nutshell!

Highs
+ I got a promotion and took a new role in Recruiting
+ I bought a new car
+ Celebrated turning a quarter of century old in Asheville with the best friends
+ I created a list of 101 things I'd like to accomplish in 1001 days
+ My dad turned 60!
+ I celebrated my 2 year work anniversary
+ The blog turned one!

Lows
- I lost both of my grandparents, on the same day
- A boy broke my heart
- I house-hunted for a bit, and then gave up

Travels
+ New Orleans for Jazz Fest
+ Asheville (spring at the Biltmore)
+ Lake Tahoe (gorgeous)
+ Napa Valley
+ San Francisco
+ Malibu for a reunion with my college roommates
+ Philadelphia

I crossed 3 states off my list this year: Louisiana, Nevada, and New Jersey (over halfway there now!)

I asked a lot of "why?" and "how?" this year. I'm hoping 2014 has the answers.

Holiday Recap

2014-01-14T07:10:00.000-05:00

When I woke up this morning, I felt like blogging. So here I am, unashamed that I'm sharing a holiday recap a month later.

This Christmas season was wonderful! I love being home with my family, having a lot of time off from work, and just relaxing.

Before everyone went home for the holidays, we hosted "Friendsmas" at our apartment, complete with festive cocktails and tacky sweaters!

We had our annual M&M Dinner at Lazy Goat, but unfortunately Katie hadn't arrived from SF yet so it was just me and the adults!

Next up: Katie and I were "A Perfect Pair" of salt & pepper shakers at our friends' themed party (such a fun idea for a party, by the way)!

And then the Christmas festivities really got started!

The holidays are always a flurry of cooking and baking. Mom and I sit down with a pile of cookbooks and make a menu for the days surrounding Christmas. However, our family takes our traditions very seriously so we usually don't deviate from our standard menu for most occasions.

Snapshots from Christmas Eve & Christmas Day:

The week between Christmas and New Year's was filled with more relaxing, movie watching, and spending time with family. With one last hoorah for New Year's Eve, it was time to go back to work.

2013 was most definitely NOT my favorite year, so we definitely had no problem toasting it goodbye!

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Except that's a lie)

2014-01-06T07:49:00.000-05:00

(I wrote this post the week before Christmas, and somehow never managed to post it...)

My heart is heavy while I write this recap post from my trip to Philly (~~over a month later~~). When my friend Sarah moved to Philly, she moved in with her grandparents, who lived outside the city, while she looked for a roommate/an apartment. Having lost all 4 of my grandparents already, I loved being in Sarah's grandparents home, with her sweet grandmother (who was battling cancer) and her sweet grandfather, too. While I was there, her grandmother fixed us a delicious meal with her famous crab cakes, while they told us stories about their vacations all over the world (all 7 continents)! I was devastated to find out that Sarah's grandmother passed away Tuesday night. She was such a sweet, sweet woman, full of life, and made me miss my grandmothers.

Sarah's Grandparents' home

I flew in late Friday night, so by the time we found my luggage at the airport and got back to the house, we both just wanted to grab dinner, catch up, and crash. But of course no time spent with Sarah is lacking a glass of wine and an episode of Scandal!

We were up early Saturday so we could take the train into the city.

We started out at Reading Terminal Market, in the hopes of finding a beer tasting Sarah had heard about. After wandering around the entire market, we stumbled upon the tasting, and I found my favorite beer ever on tap. Day. made.

It was a chilly day in Philly, so we combined sight-seeing with little pleasures to thaw out from the cold. We took a walk by City Hall and the LOVE statue (which is disappointedly tiny, by the way) before finding a salon to get manicures (another Charlotte/Sarah ritual). We then headed further into Center City to look at an apartment for Sarah on the cutest street. We ducked into Monk's, a cozy cafe which was just like the ones I went to in Belgium, for a pot of warm mussels.

Then it was off to Old City for the historical sites!

We stopped in Washington Square to see the Eternal Flame and the tomb of the unknown soldier, then walked to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell (which is now inside, which is also dissapointing).

We met up with Sarah's friends afterwards, had dinner at Triumph Brewing Company, and then went out on the town. It's safe to say no pictures were taken for the rest of the evening!

Late Sunday, a coworker flew in to Philly and we headed to New Jersey for work, but due to lucky circumstances, we got to head back to Philly earlier than expected Tuesday to catch our flight out! One last night out in Philly at El Vez (delicious Mexican food) was complete with 2 middle-of-the-night fire alarms. But hey, complaining works, and I got our hotel rooms for free!

We couldn't go all the way to Philly without getting a philly cheese steak from Pat's, but I have to say, one is probably enough for me for a very long time!

Weekend Update

2013-12-17T07:37:00.002-05:00

With Thanksgiving being so late this year, Christmas has snuck up on me. I'm generally less excited for Christmas in recent years just because I know that immediately following Christmas is busy season, and I have to say goodbye to my life outside of work (~~which, who am I kidding, isn't very exciting~~) for the next 4 months.

But I made an effort the past week to get into the holiday spirit. I took an afternoon off to do all my Christmas shopping and wrapping, I finally got the tree decorated, I attended my work Christmas party and a holiday party for United Way, and now I'm feeling significantly more festive than before.

1. The United Way holiday party, where I bought shoes for a child in need
2. My lovely roomie and I before our office Christmas party
3. One of my clients sent me a GIANT container of pecans. Time to start baking!
4. Some of my favorite girls getting our hair blown out before the Christmas party
5. A delicious festive cocktail (recipe below)
6. Lauren, Holly, and me at the party
7. Our cute little baby Christmas tree
8. My dear friend Whitney turned 30 the night of the Christmas party, and we celebrated in style (and also met Floyd Mayweather at Waffle House at 3 am!)
9. Stovetop potpourri - if it smells like Christmas, we're halfway there!

Cider Pomegranate Smash
from Clara Persis

2.5 oz bourbon
1 tsp lemon juice
6 oz sparkling apple pomegranate cider (Martinelli’s make this)
1/2 tablespoon pomegranate seeds

Fill a tall thin (or short and wide) cocktail glass with ice. Pour in the bourbon and stir to chill. Pour in the lemon juice and sparkling apple pomegranate cider and stir well to combine. Top with fresh pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately.

Stovetop Potpourri

Slice an orange or two, throw in a cup of fresh cranberries, as many cinnamon sticks as your heart desires, and a dash of cloves, cover with water, and simmer on the stove to fill your home with the smells of Christmas. Enjoy!

Making a List, Checking (Things Off) It Twice

2013-12-04T07:09:00.004-05:00

Since it is now December and 2013 is almost over (~~excuse me while I freak out for a second about how fast this year flew by~~), I wanted to sit down and reevaluate my goal list of 101 things that I'd like to accomplish in 1,001 days.

I've crossed a few more things off my list, and I want to make sure this little journey gets documented along the way! Here's what I've been up to lately:

3. Host a dinner party. CHECK!

I'm assuming having 11 people over for Thanksgiving counts as a dinner party, right? I, however, admit that I didn't cook the entire meal, but I did cook to turkey, so that counts for something.

19. Stay in bed all day and watch an entire TV season.

Sometimes you just need a lazy day to yourself. I've gotten mindlessly sucked in to Gossip Girl on Netflix, and it's just that it's so bad, it's good. And also, can I be Blake Lively? Please and thank you.

28. Visit 3 new states.

I crossed off New Jersey while I was up north visiting my friend in Philly (still working on that trip recap, I promise). I can't say I'm dying to go back anytime soon; the roads are really strange and confusing up there, at least in the twon where I was staying (no left turns, what the heck?!).

68. Start a collection.

I've always had a love for coffee mugs, and when Starbucks introduced their "You Are Here" collection, I knew I had to pick up a mug from every city I traveled to this year.

My Los Angeles mug is sitting on my desk at work..

Now can someone just tell me how I can display all these new pretties?

80. Get a blowout at a dry bar.

Happening this weekend before my office Christmas party. Having someone straigthen my curly hair for me while I sip champagne sounds utterly fantastic.

85. Adopt a child from the Angel Tree at Christmas.

We do this every year at work, and this year I adopted a 9 year-old girl, Vanessa. I'm hoping she's going to like the hot pink sneakers I bought her (all girls like pink at that age, right?)!

...................................................................................................

In other news, follow along with me today as I hold the Blog Baton on Instagram! I loved this idea when Mason introduced it, and now my day is finally here! I'll try not to bore you with too many pictures of my accounting day job; I promise accountants can be fun people, too!

Have a happy Wednesday!

My Favorite Holiday!

2013-12-02T07:42:00.003-05:00

My favorite holiday has come and gone. But luckily, Christmas is a very close second and it's only 23 days away!

I'm not ashamed to admit I had 4 Thanksgiving meals this year and each one was better than the one before. We hosted our 2nd annual Friendsgiving, my sister was home briefly the weekend before Thanksgiving so we had dinner with her, my office hosted a Thanksgiving potluck on Monday, and then I headed to the mountains for the real thing. Not only did I have 5 glorious days off, but it SNOWED in the mountains! Probably the only time I'll get to see snow this year.

Ah, the greatest time of year!

How did y'all spend your holiday?

Linking up with Sami

Weekend Update x 4

2013-11-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

After an unintentional hiatus from blogging, this weekend update will be a long one (spanning a entire month, obviously).

First up:

My dad's 60th birthday surprise in the mountains! My sister flew in from California and then my parents' supper club all came to the mountains to celebrate my wonderful dad turning 60!

Next up:

Gameday came to Clemson for the second time when we played FSU, but we don't really need to discuss the outcome of that one...

Other mentionables in the past month:

Clemson beat Georgia Tech on a chilly Thursday night. I traveled to Chattanooga for work. I took a day off. I got a sinus infection. Mom and I visisted a Southern Living design home in the mountains. I sat through 8 hours of CPE. I visited a brewery. Mom and I visited a Southern Living design home in the mountins. And I stole a puppy (wishful thinking).

Come back tomorrow for an update of my trip to Philly to visit one of my besties!

What all have you been up to lately?

Linking up with Sami

Weekend Update

2013-10-07T07:29:00.002-04:00

It's a rainy Monday here and I have an October 15th work deadline looming, so this weekend recap will be short and sweet!

I was working away on Friday when shortly after lunch, I started to feel all achy and flu-like, or like I was coming down with strep. I left work around 4:30 to find I had a 100 degree fever. Don't believe anyone when they say work doesn't make you sick! That made for a really miserable Friday night in bed.

However, I woke up Saturday feeling much better (sore throat but no fever) so I rallied so we could go to Woofstock. Every year, the Humane Society puts on an all-day event with all-you-can-drink from 7 different local breweries, the food trucks come out, and there were 3 bands. Lauren and I obviously don't have a dog but we had no problem stalking other peoples' dogs and trying to kidnap them as our own. I started off the day with a pumpkin cinnamon roll from Neue Southern food truck and it was a little taste of fall even though it was 90 degrees outside.

We left the festival earlier to catch Clemson beat down on Syracuse, then met up with friends at Mellow Mushroom for pizza.

I mainly did nothing on Sunday, which is exactly how I prefer my Sundays to be.

Over and out.

The Land of Fruits and Nuts

2013-10-03T07:39:00.002-04:00

It took me a few days to stop mourning the end of my trip before I could write a recap. I'm not even sorry for the cuteness overload that's about to ensue.

Sara and Caroline picked Laura and me up at LAX around 10 am and we headed towards Malibu for lunch. Our only request was that the restaurant have a view of the water, and Duke's certainly delivered. Driving down the PCH and having views of the water reminded me a lot of being in La Jolla, and I was more than happy to soak up the sun and the view of that gorgeous blue water.

The non-stop girl talk and chatter didn't end for the next couple of hours.

Sara's husband Jim is in the Navy, and they live on the naval base just north of Malibu. It was so fun getting to see their house for the first time! Sara had sent me a bunch of pictures when they first moved in, but it was cuter in person!

We hung out at the house for awhile and let Caroline nap before heading to the beach! And trust me on this, nothing gets a 2-year-old more excited than when you ask her if she wants to go to the beach!

The rock in the distance is Mugu Rock and is apparently a very popular place to film car commercials! We even saw a commercial over the weekend that featured this stretch of the PCH! Pretty cool that I've seen it in person now!

Shortly after we got back from the beach, Jim called and told us we should come to the hangar to watch the sunset. We loaded Caroline back in the car and raced back to the beach (less than a mile from the house, might I add) to catch the sunset.

So much happiness in these photos.

Jim had to go back to work unfortunately but the girls headed home, put Caroline to bed, and Sara made an amazing Thai curry dish that we devoured before spending the rest of the night looking through old college photo albums. We can't wait until Caroline is old enough so we can tell her incriminating stories about her mama!

Saturday we were up bright and early for gameday! We had a huge breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and mimosas of course, then headed to the farmer's market in Old Town Camarillo. We picked up lots of goodies to snack on during the Clemson game before we grilled burgers at the house.

We did switch to the Navy game once and awhile for Jim since he was outnumbered!

After we all took power naps, the girls went wine tasting while Jim took Caroline to the playground. We were lucky to catch the sunset again on the beach in Ventura, before dinner at Cafe Fiore downtown (such amazing Italian food).

Sunday was our last day, and since Laura's flight home was much earlier in the day than mine, we grabbed a quick lunch at Paradise Cove before taking her to the airport. Any restaurant with sand as its floor is an okay restuarant by me!

We spent the rest of the day frolicking around LA, visiting the Dodgers stadium (the game was sold out), seeing the Hollywood sign at the Griffith Observatory, and then taking a drive through Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive.

And just because my heart bursts every time I see pictures of my favorite little munchkin..

I'm imparting wisdom on children one selfie at a time.

I was determined to see a celebrity while I was in LA, and while I was boarding my flight back home (extremely depressed), there sat Paul Walker in first class ordering a whiskey soda. Swoon. He still looks just as good at 40 (!!!) as he did in the first Fast & Furious movie. Yum.

I'm so thankful for best friends like Sara and Laura who I've been friends with since freshman year of college (2006!) and now for little Caroline, who might be the cutest child ever.

The end.

Girl Goes West

2013-09-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

By the time you're reading this, I'll already be on a plane from CLT --> ATL --> LAX.

Back in August, my college roommate mentioned that I should get out of Greenville for a bit and come visit her, her husband, and their so-freakin-cute daughter in sunny Orange County. How long did it take me to ponder that idea? Oh, about 30 seconds. She mentioned our other roommate, Laura, wanted to come visit as well and that maybe we could plan our trip west at the same time. A few group texts back and forth discussing logistics, and boom, plane tickets were purchased.

I can't even express how excited I am to see Sara, Laura, Jim, and Caroline (who just turned 2 last Sunday)! There will be lots of hugs, laughing, college reminiscing, beach-frolicking, and perhaps some wine tasting and celeb-spotting in LA.

The three of us at Sara's bachelorette party!

Catch y'all on the flip side!

{Recipe} ~ Apple Walnut Ravioli

2013-09-25T06:59:00.002-04:00

Because Lauren and I came home with our fair share of apples from the orchard, I wanted to try some new recipes to use them up. However, I'm not really into sweets and didn't want to bake something, so a savory apple recipe was just what I wanted!

This recipe was probably the easiest ever, only required a few ingredients, and tasted rich and decadent. I made this Sunday night and I'll say that Lauren and I have never met a pasta dish we didn't like.

Ravioli with Apples and Walnuts
from Real Simple

Ingredients

1 lb. cheese ravioli (fresh or frozen)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. walnuts, roughly chopped
1 crisp apple (such as Braeburn or Gala), cut into matchsticks
1/2 c. fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Salt & Black Pepper
1/4 c. grated Parmesan

Directions

Cook the ravioli according to package directions.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts and toast, stirring often, until lightly toasted and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes.

Add the apple, parsley, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper and toss to combine. Spoon over the ravioli and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Weekend Update

2013-09-23T07:03:00.001-04:00

It seems like I only have time to show up on Monday morning around these parts. Honestly, all of these recruiting events for work are kicking my booty. I got home after 10 pm three nights in a row last week, after leaving the house before 8 am. Woof.

This weekend, I got to cross another item off my list (visit a food truck!), celebrate the engagement of two great friends (except I managed to not take a single picture of them), and get my life organized before I hop on a plane to California on Friday (more on that later)!

We traveled to the lake to surprise Holly the morning after Trent proposed! I definitely think she was shocked when she came up the stairs to find over 30 of her closest friends and family (2 of her college roommates had driven over 10 hours)! A champagne brunch followed while everyone "oohed and aahed" over the ring. The cutest part was Trent had bought an "engagement ring" for Holly's dog Riley, too!

After raining the entire day Saturday, the sun came out for a mere 30 minutes to show off a magical sunset.

Happy days celebrating friends! Linking up with Sami this fine morning!

Weekend Update

2013-09-16T07:03:00.000-04:00

Visiting an apple orchard was probably one of the items on my 101 in 1001 list that I was the most excited about. When I found out it was going to be 70 degrees on Saturday, I grabbed 2 of my best girlfriends and up the mountain we went.

We visited Sky Top Orchard, about 45 minutes from Greenville, and had the best time! I can't believe I've never done this before, but it'll definitely be a yearly tradition from here on out! Now to decide what to cook/bake with all these apples!

The rest of the weekend was filled with the usual, football, friends, a baby shower for a coworker, and a Sunday afternoon nap!

Linking up with Sami

Mumford & Sons

2013-09-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Not going to lie, pretty excited that it's Friday. This week has flown by but also took forever, but maybe I should stop going to concerts on a ~~school night~~ Wednesday.

My favorite people and I saw Mumford & Sons in Greenville, and while I can't say it was my favorite concert (Is it just me or do all their songs sound the same?), they put on a great show. The pretty sunset beside the stage didn't hurt either!

Bonus: I crossed off #61 again!

{Recipe} ~ Grilled Flank Steak & Sweet Tea Spritzer

2013-09-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

My parents were hosting Supper Club at their house a few weeks ago, and I happily obliged when my mom asked me to help her out with the menu. While it's hard to fix a main course for 12 people, I figured flank steak on the grill would be the perfect way to feed a crowd! Other couples brought the side dishes (broccoli salad and potato salad) and everything worked perfectly together!

This might be a little too late in the year to be posting such a "summery" recipe, but heck, it's still 90 degrees out here so you might as well fire up that grill! Don't miss the cocktail recipe below, either!

Grilled Molasses Flank Steak with Watermelon Salsa
from Southern Living

Ingredients

For the Marinade
3/4 cup molasses
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. grated fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. dried crushed red pepper
1 (2-lb.) flank steak

For the Watermelon Salsa
1 cup diced unpeeled nectarine
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
1 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. fresh lime juice
2 tsp. orange zest
2 tsp. grated fresh giner
2 cups seeded and diced watermelon
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/3 cup diced red onion

Directions

1. Place first 8 ingredients in a 2-gallon ziplock bag; squeeze bag to combine. Add steak; seal bag, and chill 4 to 12 hours. Remove steak from marinade discarding marinade.

2. Preheat grill to 400 - 450 degrees. Grill steak, covered with grill lid, 9 minutes on each side. Remove from grill, and let stand 10 minutes. Cut diagonally across the grain into thin slices. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. To make the salsa, stir together first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Add watermelon and next 2 ingredients, and gently toss to coat. Serve immediately, or cover and chill up to 24 hours.

.........................................................................................................

Sweet Tea Spritzer
from Southern Living

2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup sweet tea-flavored vodka
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
5 cups ice cubes
1 (12-oz.) can lemon-lime soft drink

Stir together cranberry juice, vodka, and lemon juice in a large pitcher. Stir in ice cubes, and top with lemon-lime soft drink. Gently stir and serve immediately.

ISFJ

2013-09-10T09:09:00.003-04:00

As part of yesterday's Blogtember prompt, Jenni asked that everyone take this personality test and share the results. I'm sure I've taken this test many times throughout school, but it's probably the first time I've taken it in my "adult life."

And honestly, the results are dead on. I'm an ISFJ.

{via}

Introvert 11%, Sensing 62%, Feeling 50%, Judging 67%

Here are a few of the characteristics that describe me perfectly:

- ISFJs are characterized above all by their desire to serve others, their "need to be needed."

- They are notoriously bad at delegating ("If you want it done right, do it yourself").

- In the workplace, ISFJs are methodical and accurate workers, often with very good memories and unexpected analytic abilities (hello, I'm an accountant).

- ISFJs take infinte trouble over meals, gifts, celebrations, etc. for their loved ones

- ISFJs have a few, close friends. They are extremely loyal to these, and are ready to provide emotional and practical support at a moment's notice.

I thought this was fun! Have you taken the test?

Weekend Update

2013-09-09T09:48:00.000-04:00

Weekend recaps can start on Wednesdays, right? The beauty of being the author of this little blog here is that I can make my own rules!

Two friends of mine and I decided spontaneously to travel to Charlotte on Wednesday night to see John Mayer. I've seen him in concert 4 times now, but neither Kirby nor Sarah had, so I was more than eager to share with them the amazingness that is Johnnie May (yes, that is his official nickname).

We jammed to his new CD and all of his oldies on the drive up, and didn't get home until 2 am, but it was most definitely worth it. I'll see him a million times more...(crossed #61 off the list)!

Unfortunately, our girl Sarah moved to Philly on Friday morning, so we also spent Thursday night celebrating her last night in Greenville. That of course included cheering on her beloved Ravens (even if they did lose). I'm going to miss her like crazy! Can't wait to start planning a trip to Philly to visit her though!

The remaining theme of the weekend was football, as that's all I did Saturday and Sunday. Cheered my Tigers onto victory again (#3 in the nation baby) and won my first week of Fantasy football against Lauren!

I love when my mom surprises me with little goodies! I've been wanting this J.Crew bracelet forever!

Happy Monday everyone! Linking up with Sami!

101 in 1001

2013-09-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

This list has taken me a lifetime to write! You can read more about the Day Zero Project if you're interested! For me, this list is a happy medium between a bucket list (a lifetime worth of goals) and New Years' resolutions. I technically began this goal on my 25th birthday, so I'm already 2 months in! I've even created a new tab in my header to keep me accountable for the next 2+ years!

Start date ~ July 10, 2013
End date ~ April 6, 2016

1. Fly first class.
2. Own a Le Creuset dutch oven.
3. Host a dinner party.
4. Have a social media-free weekend.
5. Make my bed everyday for a month.
6. Ride on a sailboat.
7. Find a signature drink.
8. Find a signature scent.
9. See a movie in theaters alone.
10. Stay at a bed and breakfast.
11. Invest in personalized stationery.
12. Have a picnic.
13. Send Christmas cards one year.
14. Eat Texas BBQ in Austin.
15. Send snail mail to friends for birthdays and holidays.
16. Buy a coffee table book.
17. Go to a drive-in movie.
18. Donate blood.
19. Stay in bed all day and watch an entire TV season.
20. Read the entire NY Times Sunday paper and attempt the crossword.
21. Visit an apple orchard.
22. Host a Super Bowl party.
23. Have my diplomas and CPA license framed.
24. Visit a food truck.
25. Take a cooking class.
26. Prepare a meal using only ingredients found at a farmer's market.
27. Take a road trip.
28. Visit three new states.
29. Visit Cape Cod/Martha's Vineyard.
30. Visit a new country.
31. Go hiking.
32. See all the "Best Picture" Oscar nominees one year.
33. Host a wine & cheese happy hour for my girlfriends.
34. Sleep under the stars.
35. Watch the sunrise and the sunset in the same day.
36. Don't eat fast food for a month.
37. Take a hot yoga class.
38. Run a half marathon.
39. Update all the pictures in my room/at my desk with recent ones.
40. Visit NYC at Christmas.
41. Participate in a Color Run 5k.
42. Pay for someone else's meal in a drive-thru or restaurant.
43. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
44. Make soft pretzels at home.
45. Participate in a charity run/walk.
46. Meet with a financial planner.
47. Buy something from Etsy.
48. Buy flowers for someone.
49. Make my own spaghetti sauce.
50. Floss everyday for a month.
51. Eat breakfast for dinner.
52. Buy a set of luxurious bath towels.
53. Buy nothing new for one month.
54. Read ten so-called classic novels.
55. Get a massage.
56. Leave a 100% tip at a restaurant.
57. Compile a list of inspiring quotes.
58. Donate my old Mac laptop.
59. Write a "Day in the Life" blog post.
60. Take a home-cooked meal to someone.
61. Attend an outdoor concert.
62. See a play or musical.
63. Stretch every day for a month.
64. Update my resume.
65. Own a decent set of kitchen knives.
66. Stock my "bar" with something other than wine
67. Organize/upload photos from my iPhone (and then delete them).
68. Visit a brewery.
69. Start a collection.
70. Purchase a "Where I've Been" map.
71. Throw out twenty things and don't replace them.
72. Create a beauty routine and stick with it.
73. Buy a bicycle.
74. Eat the recommended serving of vegetables every day for one week.
75. See ten so-called classic films.
76. Try five new foods.
77. Learn how to change a flat tire.
78. Discover five new restaurants in town.
79. Have friends over for brunch.
80. Get a blowout at a drybar.
81. Stop drinking coffee for one week.
82. Go gluten-free for a month.
83. Leave a friendly note in a public place for a strange to find and smile about.
84. Organize my recipes.
85. Adopt a child from the Angel Tree at Christmas.
86. Read a book that intimidates me.
87. Make biscuits from scratch.
88. Pay off my car.
89. Buy a lottery ticket.
90. Watch a meteor shower.
91. Attend a festival.
92. Pop a bottle of champagne, just because.
93. Wake up and work out every morning for one week.
94. Re-read the Harry Potter series.
95. See all seven Harry Potter movies.
96. Watch the past ten years "Best Picture" winners at the Oscars.
97. Make five recipes from Ina Garten's cookbook.
98. Go kayaking.
99. Make another 101 in 1001 list.
100. Put $10 into savings for every goal accomplished.
101. Donate $10 for every goal not accomplished.

Weekend Update ~ Labor Day Edition

2013-09-03T07:08:00.001-04:00

This weekend had all the ingredients to be perfect: a holiday, college football, a Clemson win, and a mini-vacation to the mountains.

To try to express how amazing it was to return to Clemson and cheer my Tigers to victory against the Bulldogs on Gameday is simply impossible...

Every muscle in my body was hurting Sunday morning from being so tense the entire game and walking over 4 miles tailgate-hopping, but it was so very worth it.

I spent the rest of Sunday and Monday relaxing in the mountains with my parents. We visited the Cashiers Designer Showcase 2013 house, took a hike around the lake, and I took multiple naps.

With Labor Day gone, I'm officially ready for my favorite season, FALL!!!

Linking up with Sami