Autumn & Jerry

Yippy Skippy!

Autumn — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:08:13 +0000

So, it wasn’t that long ago that my brother and I were lamenting that the best shows of Nickelodeon stardom were past. Oh, the good old days…meaning the 90s, of course ; – ) Then, just as I surfed Google News one last time last night before bed (yes, I love my Google News and check it at least twice a day, loud & proud yo! lol) , and what did I find..? Oh just some very exciting news: TeenNick is bringing back the best of the 90s! Whoop whoop.

I needed more stuff on my TiVo to watch during the time I don’t really have, and here it comes…I am so there. Even if it feels a little disconcerting that my beloved old shows are now referred to as “retro programming”, I can be cool with that.

P.S. Hope my fav old show Doug is included in the lineup! Are you listening, TeenNick?

So Sad :-(

Autumn — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:13:04 +0000

The Last Text

My brother sent me the link to this video that shares the stories of several young people effected by texting & driving. Some are still alive, some are not. I know I am guilty of doing this sometimes, though I’ve really made an effort to stop. However, after watching this for ten minutes, I’ve realized how stupid even one text is when you’re in the driver’s seat. I am an ortho/trauma nurse, I know what can happen. But we all like to believe things that happen to other people won’t happen to us…but these kids in the video are normal kids, and it happened to them. Please watch, it’s worth your time. <3

Interesting

Autumn — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 01:05:34 +0000

2010 was one of the warmest years on record, tying with 2005. Check out this photo gallery chronicling the biggest climate impacts of 2010, including the gulf oil spill and countless other weather anomalies. These events should remind of us the importance in doing our part – recycle, support clean energy, and educate yourself on our climate’s situation. It needs a lot of TLC, especially now. <3 A great place to start is here.

Organization Find

Autumn — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:34:07 +0000

Gotta love this site, even though I don’t live in an apartment – big houses still need creative decor and organizational tips! : – ) Though my Google Reader stays pretty full, I do my best to keep up with all the great blogs I follow, and this is one of them. While browsing this morning, I found this nice little post about organizing dresser drawers and keeping them tidy. Sweet!

P.S. There’s more! Ways to get started and tips for the kitchen cabinets.

Let the Holiday Blur Begin..!

Autumn — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:03:43 +0000

Personally, the holidays seem to fly by in a magic flash starting back at Halloween, but especially between Thanksgiving & Christmas! Before we know it, 2010 will be celebrating its finale and 2011 will be here. Every single year I say I’m going to slow down and try to enjoy every moment more than the year before, but every year seems busier than the last and again, flies by. Even still, I do enjoy every minute.

Some things to look forward to as December arrives:

12 Days of Cookies from The Food Network! I love the recipes, and each one is emailed daily. Of course, there are plenty of extra options on the website too, but there’s something special about the daily cookie selection <3

25 Days of Christmas on ABC! Gotta love all those movies & cartoon classics. Our newest tradition is saving up a selection to watch on Christmas Eve after dinner and before opening gifts with my family : – )

As tempting as it is to absolutely throw all common sense, health, and nutrition out the window during this time of year, it is still important to make good choices to balance out the less-good ones : – ) It isn’t fair to deprive yourself of all the goodies that come once a year, but make time for some exercise and healthy meals in between the parties and splurges. Here are a few tips to help make that balance happen.

P.S. Here’s another casserole I want to try making for the holidays! Looks yummy and reminds me of the amazing dish my Granny used to make. Disclaimer: while what I said before about making healthy decisions is true, this recipe doesn’t quite meet that criteria due to its butter content, so file this one under splurges ; – )

The Best Find Ever

Autumn — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:28:17 +0000

Years ago I bought a SIGG water bottle at Whole Foods in Sarasota, FL – one for me and one for hubby. I recently had to upgrade mine, but hubby’s original bottle is still going strong, and I think these purchases are some of the best we’ve ever made! For someone who drinks as much water as I do, and feels the need to have a drink nearby at all times (yes, this includes having one in the car when making the 3 minute drive to our neighborhood grocery store – don’t judge, lol) this bottle is a must-have! It’s worth spending the extra few bucks to get the SIGG namebrand, even if the cheaper knockoffs are tempting. But don’t get me wrong – if you refuse to buy this water bottle, still get a reusable one for sure! It’s just sad to clutter the earth forever with empty plastic bottles that were enjoyed for mere moments. However, these aluminum bottles are safe, convenient, easy to clean, and pretty to look at.

Above, you can see my old and new bottles meeting each other. After all the places that gold water bottle & I have been to together, I thought it deserved a proper farewell. Oh, and another perk? The bottles are fully recyclable! : – )

Comfort Food

Autumn — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:38:33 +0000

Waking up to a cloudy, quiet morning after sleeping in is a good recipe for comfort. Checking my email and seeing an entire list of comfort food casseroles from MyRecipes.com waiting for me was a nice touch to an already lovely morning. With a few minor modifications, such as substituting veggie broth for the chicken broth, these already-reduced fat casseroles will surely be making appearances in my kitchen over the next six weeks as we celebrate the holidays, 2010-style! A few I look forward to trying:

Squash-Rice Casserole

Mediterranean Spinach Strata

Broccoli & Three-Cheese Casserole

Garden-Style Lasagna

….and last but not least, a new twist on make-ahead breakfast:

Marmalade French Toast Casserole

YUM-O, right?! I also want to try making this easy dessert sometime soon, likely next week for Thanksgiving. Pear-Ginger Crisps, anyone? I love this time of year! : – )

New Find

Autumn — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:06:13 +0000

Thanks to Jerry, who told me about this great site just in time for my dual class presentations today! Slide Share is a nifty little free service that lets you upload PowerPoint presentations online. You can make them public or private, tag them with information for organization, and have easy access to your uploads from any computer.

This convenient site really saved me today – I had two beautiful Keynote presentations on the iPad, just waiting to be connected & shared with the class. However, the connecting part was easier said than done. Luckily, I had both presentations stored on Slide Share, and my plan B worked just fine. Success!

November Chill

Autumn — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:36:25 +0000

What a cold, gray day we’ve had (and I’m not just talking about the state of politics after the disappointing midterm elections). This is perfect weather for a sleepy nightshift girl, but not so much for a day full of classes, errands, and projects. The bird tree provided interesting scenery during my post-workout lunch break on campus.

First Weekly Find

Autumn — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:32:22 +0000

I am often finding little things here and there, whether it be a new food item (like this week), a new store, a new concept, or a new TV show. I always like to share cool new finds, because that’s how I’ve come across lots of can’t-live-withouts from others making the effort to share a score, such as these awesome cucumber facial wipes that are now part of my daily routine, thanks to MsSingleMama‘s recommendation (thanks again!) : – )

Or Etsy, thanks to a too-cool-for-school Flickr contact who happens to have her very own store there. Since I was introduced to the world of Etsy, I haven’t stopped shopping and pining after one-of-a-kind items for myself and everyone I know! : – )

So, this week I made my own little discovery while shopping for pizza toppings at our local Fresh Market, when I noticed a display of newly stocked bags of chips. On closer inspection, they were lentil chips made by The Mediterranean Snack Food Company, and not only were they yummy looking, but also low in fat – I knew we had to try them! I chose the cracked pepper & sea salt blend, and they have just the right amount of salt & spice to them, with a light crunch, and overall great flavor. J and I have enjoyed them over the past few days, and so far have managed to restrain ourselves from scarfing down the entire bag in one couch sitting. But, it would be an easy thing to do. Trust us.