Out of Control

That is what the boyfriend says about my picture taking since I’ve started blogging. I told him that I really did take pictures of random crazy stuff BEFORE I started blogging. Here’s the proof!

It’s the Mystery Machine and I don’t think it was anywhere near the time of the recently released the Scooby Doo movie.

Look closely at the crutches strapped to the back of the motorcycle. Talk about serendipity seeing that one.

Seriously. Even before the digital camera age, I was taking pictures of random stuff. One was a Cadillac with some kind of Jesus message and speakers bolted to the top (so they could spread the word!) and another was a huge red truck with probably 50 American flags all over. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jesus and I love America, but not to the point of fanaticism. I have some hard copy pictures that if I can find I’ll and scan them for you as a special treat.

Confession time…I DO get nervous that the people will see me taking their picture. Even though, what could they really do. That’s the one time I wish I had a camera phone so I could be more discreet. But then again camera phones don’t have the awesome photo resolution! I would probably take more awesomely random photos if I had a camera phone. (Like these two guys with matching faux hawks at the outlet mall!) Maybe next time I upgrade.

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

Riding Shotgun with a Salad

Saturday, I was charged with bringing a salad to a sorority luncheon. I was unsure about actually staying for the shindig, but I did my part by providing food, which is mostly what alumnae are good for. For the most part I don’t mind. For a few days, I couldn’t decide what salad to bring, but my mind kept going back to the delicious Chopped Salad from the Cheesecake Factory. I have never been able to find a real recipe, but it’s just a salad so it’s not hard. Here’s the “recipe”:

Chopped Salad

3 hearts of romaine
one medium/large green apple
one large ripe avocado
one small can of sweet corn
blue cheese
bacon pieces (I used the jar kind, by the salad toppings)
grilled chicken (optional, I didn’t use it this time)
tomato (I just garnished with cherry tomatoes, but I suppose chopped up would work too)
lemon juice
dressing (balsamic vinaigrette or your favorite vinaigrette)

1. Wash and dry the hearts of romaine. Chop the romaine into very small bites. As you are chopping, put the romaine on a clean dishtowel or paper towels to absorb any remaining water. (I realize the prebagged kind seems attractive but it really makes it so much better to have very small pieces. If you are in a superhurry or superlazy you could go with the bag I suppose.) When you are done chopping, make sure the romaine is dry as you can get it, then dump it in a large bowl.

2. Wash the apple, then cut the apple into small 1/4 inch cubes (doesn’t necessarily need to be uniform). Squirt a little lemon juice on the apple bits to keep them from turning brown. Dump in bowl with lettuce.

3. Cut avocado in half, and cube it. I use the method where you take each half, and score the avocado (still in the peel) with a knife, in approximately 1/2 inch squares, then scoop out with a spoon. (I know this is a terrible description. Click here for a better description and photos.) Squirt a little lemon juice on the avocado to keep from turning brown. Dump in bowl with lettuce.

4. Add bacon pieces to the lettuce, apple and avocado bowl. (I used almost the whole jar. However, in the process of shaking the bits loose, I shook them loose all over my kitchen.) Open can of corn, rinse and add to bowl. Sprinkle a generous amount of blue cheese over the top of everything (more or less to your taste, I used between 1/2 and 3/4 of a 5 ounce container). Add tomato and chicken if you are using them.

5. Add a little balsamic vinaigrette (I probably used about 1/4 cup, maybe less) and toss everything together with tongs until mixed well. Enjoy!

I promise you, it’s really delish. If you don’t like blue cheese, use a little less, or use a different cheese. The strong flavor really adds to the taste though. And if you don’t really like avocado, you can’t really even taste it because it mixes all up with everything else. The major mistake I made (beside the bacon bits all over my kitchen) was not putting everything in a large enough bowl for good mixing. I did make a beautiful presentation in the trifle bowl I’ve never actually used for making a trifle (although I do have a yum recipe for one) and drove my salad to the luncheon. I had to buckle it up so it didn’t tip over.

Read Full Post »

Top Five Friday

Sorry…yet another late, photoless top five Friday.  I’ll definitely make up for it next week. 

This week is a fun one though….Top Five Favorite Travel Destinations!  There is no particular order…except for Number 1!!

NUMBER 1.  Italy– April 2006.  I’m reminiscing as we speak.  This time two years ago I was visiting, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Amalfi, Positano, Pompeii, the Vatican and Catanzaro.  I’m sure I’m leaving some stops out, but it was the best time ever.  I travelled with Cherrye of My Bella Vita and our friend Angela. Cherrye was moving there, so I volunteered to pack an extra suitcase with her stuff and bring it along, I know…what a great friend to help you move all the way to Italy!  But seriously, for the two weeks I was there, our mission was pretty much “see as much as we can in the time we were there”  so we did – sampling gelato (lots of gelato!), drinking vino (lots of vino!), and eating all the pasta, pizza, and mozzarella di bufalo we could stomach!  Those were the days!   

New York City – May 2003.  It was my graduation gift to myself when I finished my Bachelor’s degree.  I saw everything I could, from the bright lights of Times Square to the somber hole that remained from September 11.  I visited museums, walked everywhere from Little Italy to Central Park, marveled at the Broadway show Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater, took a sunset harbor boat ride, and even got a little lost then found myself walking back to Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge.  I can’t wait until I get to go back!

Chicago, Illinois– May 2002. Chicago was really the only road trip I’ve ever taken, and I went with my mom and one of my high school friends.  It was a last minute kind of decision and we drove my 4-door, blue Chevy cavalier all the way to Chicago, on the way meeting the Atlanta, Texas police officers.  They were really interested in us, wanting to know why we were out so late, where were were going, and who was in the backseat (my mom!).  They were really nice and asked us to do a hockey cheer for them.  Once in Chicago, we went to watch the Houston Aeros play in two of the Calder Cup Finals games.  I got to participate in an “on ice promotion” just because I was a fan of the opposing team.  Of course we saw all the sights we could see, bought coffee on the Magnificent Mile (coffee was in my price range!) and I took my first subway ride.  I’m super excited because I’m going to Chicago in a few weeks for work, and have scheduled a couple extra days to see things I didn’t get to see.   

Dallas, Texas – October 2007.  This almost should not be on my top travel destinations, because it is work affiliated, however, it was one of my favorite trips ever.  I was on a national conference committee with 20ish young professionals, and we all spent 8 days living and working in Dallas.  We didn’t get to attend any actual sessions due to our committee duties, but we had tons of fun, despite 7am meetings, and late evenings.  The reason it is on my top list is because of the fun, memories and jokes I had with fellow professionals.  We had “warm fuzzy” bags where people could leave you nice notes, we went out to dinner together every night and even though I worked hard, it was really rewarding seeing your all your hard work come together.  And and having your work recognized was nice too…something I definitely did not get at my job at the time.

San Antonio, Texas.  San Antonio is great all the time.  I’ve been to San Antonio so many times.  I’ve gone around my birthday, before I started college, and around Christmas.  San Antonio will never get old to me, even though I pretty much always do the same things…walk the river walk, eat Mexican food, ride a river boat, see the Alamo.  Throw in a wax museum visit, Mexican market, or zoo and you’ve got yourself a grand weekend.  And if you are driving on I-10 headed west to SA, you should also make a stop at the Luling Buc-ee’s a top priority.  They’ve got the cleanest, best restrooms around. 

Bonus Buc-ee’s fact: There are almost 30 Buc-ee’s locations…how come no one ever told me!

Bonus Buc-ee’s fact 2: If you are a Buc-ee’s employee, you are not allowed to have a beard, visible tattoos, body piercing, tongue posts, unnatural colored hair, long hair on men, open toe shoes, or torn clothing.  go here for more about careers with Buc-ee’s .

Have a great weekend!

Read Full Post »

A few pics to brighten your day

The first two are from my trip to Houston last weekend and the third one, I swiped the card from the restroom stall at work so I could take a picture of it.

 As if PT Cruiser’s aren’t lame enough!

No, that line wrapped around the building is NOT the line to get in the hottest club in town. I think the Coach Factory store must have been giving out free crack that day. There was even a door monitor/bouncer at the front telling you when it was your turn to go in.

I’m not so sure about posting your business cards for “in-home parties for adult women” on the inside of a public, ladies restroom stall door, but then again, I’m not sure where else you’d have such a captive audience.

Have a great week!

Read Full Post »

PSA – Shopping Registries

While shopping at Bed, Bath and Beyond yesterday, I was prevented from paying for my purchases for several minutes due to the following exchange between a customer and the cashier.

Customer: Hi I need a copy of a wedding registry.
Cashier: What is the name of the bride and groom.
Customer: His name is (I don’t remember, we’ll just call him) Groom ToBe.
Cashier: Ok, I found several Groom ToBe’s. What is the wedding date?
Customer: Um, I don’t know, I think it passed. I think sometime in April maybe. I don’t really know.
Cashier: Do you know where they live?
Customer: Uh, in Willis, or it could be Houston, I don’t really know. I mean, he is from Anahuac, but I don’t know where they live now.
Cashier: What is HER name?
Customer: Oh, no, it’s a boy. His name is Groom ToBe.
Cashier: What is the bride’s name?
Customer: I don’t know, um…Bride something. I don’t really know.
Cashier: Ok, I found it. Their wedding is in June. It will take a few moments to print out the registry.

So my PSA for today is: Before you head out shopping for a wedding or baby registry gift, why don’t you double check your wedding or shower invitation or call a friend to find out the important information. For registry purposes, I’d say the 3 Ws are pretty important…who, when and where. If you don’t care about the people enough to know the pertinent information, why are you even buying them a gift in the first place?

Read Full Post »

Office Party

I’m so excited that Brooke has time at work to do this (yes I realize I’m blogging at work…it’s my lunch break!) but she posted about our “The Office” party.  It was super fun.  She’s really creative and we had tons of Office themed food, games and watched the new episode.  Check out the pictures here. 

Read Full Post »