Things We Love - Lyndsay

Opening all the windows in the house at night and turing off the air conditioning: Ahhhh, what a wonderful night it was last night.  Because the temperature dropped so low last night, we decided to open all the windows in our house and turn off the air.  Not only does it air the house out nicely and cool it down, but we're saving money by doing it!  Awesome.

My running shoes: My running shoe of choice is a Mizuno.  I never knew what a difference a good pair of shoes could make when it came to my running.  I had no idea what I was missing.  I've been running in these shoes for about a year and they are the best thing that has happened to my running.  Super comfortable and plenty of support. 

Kernels Seasoning White Cheddar Popcorn Seasoning: Ok, I am addicted to this stuff.  I am a popcorn lover by nature - have been since I was very little.  But this white cheddar seasoning steps it up a notch for my in my popcorn eating experience.  Now, I've recently had some difficulty in finding this white cheddar seasoning at the stores, which was totally bumming me out.  But, my amazing husband ordered some for me and got be a box of 6.  Amazing! 

Top Model

America' Next Top Model cycle 15th starts this Wednesday, Sept 8th!  To get excited I've decided to post my top 8 favorite contestants and their best photo of the cycle.

1. Nicole Fox- Cycle 13 (Winner)

<><><><>

<>

<><><><>

2. CariDee English-Cycle 7 (Winner)

3. Nicole Linkletter-Cycle 5 (Winner)

4. Kahlen Rondot- Cycle 4 (Runner-up)

5. Brittany Brower- Cycle 4 (4th)

6. Allison Harvard- Cycle 12 (Runner up)

7. Laura Kirkpatrick- Cycle 13 (Runner up)

8. Katarzyna Dolinska-Cycle 8 (5th)

Okay, that was actually harder than I thought!  I couldn't find all the pictures that I wanted.  Oh well.  Comment if you agree/disagree or think I missed someone.  And watch Top Model Wed at 8pm!

-Alissa

P.S. I can't get the two pictures of Nicole Linkletter off!  I don't know why they are up there before CariDee.  Becky, can you help me with this??  haha.  When I click the picture it doesn't give me the option to delete... I'm giving up trying to fix it cause I'm getting so frustrated!  Ugh!

Foodie Friday (on Saturday...)-Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

My last week's "things we love" list and Katie R. have inspired me to post the recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies :)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

-1/2 c. butter

-1 1/2 c. sugar

-1 egg

-1 c. canned pumpkin

-1 t vanilla

-2 1/2 c. flour

-1 t. baking powder

-1 t. baking soda

-1/2 t. salt

-1 t. nutmeg

-1 t. cinnamon
-1 c. chocolate chips

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar until light & fluffy.  Beat in eggs, pumpkin and vanilla.  Mix and sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.  Add to creamed mixture.  Mix well.  Add chocolate chips.  Use a cookie scoop or a teaspoon and drop onto cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes  Remove from cookie sheet while still warm.  This makes about 3 dozen or less but it can be doubled.


These are the perfect cookies to make for the holidays.  They have a fluffy, cake-like taste to them and obviously the pumpkin makes them seasonal.  Also, they always are perfectly shaped.  I'm not ashamed to admit that some of my cookies end up looking weird...but not these :)

Things we love-Alissa

Happy September everyone!  There are a couple of notable birthdays coming up: Justin (4th), Katie Roberts (13th), Bella Swan (13th) and Lyndsay (27th)!  So happy that's its almost fall....which brings me to #1 on my love list....

1. My North Face Denali Fleece Jacket: Joe gave it to me for my birthday.  Since I live in Georgia, you'd think I would not have had a chance to wear it yet.  Buut work is freezing so I've been sporting it zipped to my chin.  So warm and cozy. 

2. "If I Grow Up" by Todd Strasser: I read this book in less than 24 hours.  It's about a good kid from the projects who gets involved in a gang.  It's one of those books that stays in your mind for days after you finish reading it.  I also really like how it was written...Strasser has an interesting style.  I'm planning on checking out his other books.  I'm pretty sure its geared towards high school boys but oh well!  I loved it!

3. Sushi: I've been craving sushi rolls on a daily basis lately!  I went tonight for a girl's dinner with Lyndsay and Cate at Mori House.  So good.  We got a spicy tuna roll, a rainbow roll, an alaskan roll and a california roll.  Delicious!

The people have spoken...

The poll results are in…..and Ann Tayor Loft came in first place, by over 50%, for people's favorite place to shop! The rest of the order is:

2nd: Express
3rd: Banana Republic and J.Crew
4th: The Gap

Thanks for voting! Make sure you vote in the new poll :)

-Alissa

Foodie Friday (on Monday...)

For my Foodie Friday (on Monday...) I thought I would give you a little glimpse at what Jonathan and I cook for dinner.  For those of you that know me, we rarely go out to dinner - I would say maybe once a month - we cook at home.  Every week we write on our calendar what we're going to make for the week and then plan a grocery list accordingly.  Here is what two weeks of meals in our house looks like:

Sunday - Grilled Chicken with Okra
Monday - Chicken Spaghetti
Tuesday - Pan Seared Fish (Mahi)
Wednesday - Baked Ziti Primavera
Thursday - Broccoli Rice Casserole
Friday - Turkey Burgers
Saturday - Dinner at friends house - Lasagna


Sunday - Chicken Pesto Pasta
Monday - Rice, Mushroom & Turkey Casserole
Tuesday - Italian Veggie Pasta
Wednesday - Chicken Casserole
Thursday - Tofu Pasta with Veggies
Friday - Grilled Fish (Tuna)
Saturday - Chicken Penne Florentine

And to give you a little more insight, anytime we make something with pasta, it is always whole wheat - the real whole wheat, not the fake kind.  Yes, there is a difference.  The real whole wheat pasta has only one ingredient.  We like Hodgson Mill brand.  Anything with rice is always brown rice.  Again, check your ingredient labels.  Real brown rice has only that, brown rice.  Let me know if you want any of the recipes.  Many of them I find in Cooking Light and then we just modify them to how we like it!

Workouts for the Week - Lyndsay

I had a pretty good week last week for workouts.  Check it out:

Monday - workout at the gym (ran 4 miles on the treadmill and then did some weights)
Tuesday - volleyball
Wednesday - running with Alissa at Sims Park
Thursday - hot yoga
Saturday - run in the neighborhood (quick little run, only about 1.5 miles)

This week I'm already off to a good start.  Getting ready for that 5k!!  Less than two weeks away!

Workouts for the week-Alissa

I made my workout goals and ordered my new shorts from sports authority.  yay!  2 more weeks til the 5k...

•Tuesday: volleyball

•Wednesday: 3 mile run with Lyndsay

•Friday: 2 mile run with Joe

•Saturday: practiced running the 5k loop with Joe

Oh and I was looking for a picture of my shorts to post (can't find a normal sized one...weird) and i realized they just went on sale!  not cool...  i just ordered them yesterday!

Things we love-Alissa

This wasn't a very good week for me.  Katie R and Kim went home on Sunday so I was missing them.  And on Monday my car broke down and my phone stopped working.  I just felt tired and grumpy all week and I didn't have the strength to post.  Buuut I'm better now so here's my love list :)

1. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies: These have to be my favorite cookies ever.  I made them for Kim, Katie R and Lyndsay this weekend.  They remind me of fall (I'm so excited for fall right now) and home.  My mom always makes them and her recipes are the best.  

2. Cheap car repairs: On Monday morning, while I was driving to work, my car overheated and my wheel locked up.  So I pulled into a gas station, tried to call Joe and work only to realize that my cell phone would not make any outgoing calls!  Luckily the gas station person let me use their phone and Joe came and rescued me.  Joe just signed us up for triple A last month so we didn't have to pay any towing fees.  Go Joe for thinking ahead!  I liked the place where they towed my car and I think we finally found a decent mechanic here.  It was only $210...which is amazing cause in the last 2 years I've paid over $3,000 in car repairs.  I was so happy once I heard the price...and now my car is as good as new.  Well almost...its still infested with ants but thats a story for another time.  haha.    

3. OPI nailpolish in "my private jet":  On Saturday Katie R, Kim, Lyndsay and I got manis and pedis.  I almost didn't get a mani cause mine always chips but a shoulder massage comes with it so I couldn't resist.  I got this color cause it's one of my favorites but its dark so I figured it would be chipped by Monday.  Well it stayed perfect for at least 5 days!  I got tons of compliments.  I love the dark gray with a little sparkle.  I recommend it to everyone!  Oh and I recommend Savvy Salon to everyone too.  They are great!

-Alissa

Things We Love This Week - Lyndz

Yay for Wednesday's!  This is my favorite day.  One: it's mid-way through the week, Friday is only two days away.  Two: I get to think about all the things I love this week.  Here we go:

My hair straightener - It is a Remington® 1" Teflon® Fiber Ceramic Straightener and it is amazing!  Because I go tothe gym after work, I have to take a shower in the evening.  Usually I even go to bed with my hair wet.  What?!  Yes.  I do.  So when I wake up in the morning, I have crazy wavy hair that is sticking up in all sorts of crazy places.  Let me tell you people, this hair straightener works it out!  By the time I'm finished, my hair looks awesome - like that morning's bed head never existed.  Love love love!

The public library - I will admit right now that I was never a library person. I love to buy books and keep them around so I can read them multiple times. My problem was when I bought a book that I thought I would like, but ended up hating. What then? Now I have bought a book that is going to sit on my bookshelf and mock me because I didn't like it.  But I have seen the light.  I love the library.  It gives me a little thrill to add books to my request list that I'm really looking forward to reading.  Then, when I get the email saying my books are ready for me to pick up I get so excited!  So do it people!!  Stop buying so many books and use your library.  Buy the book if you love it and know you will read it again.  And get some library fees too, so we can pay those sweet librarians that pull my books for me and have them waiting.

Royal Gala Apples - I eat one of these apples every single day without fail.  They are the perfect combination of sweet and tart.  And they're perfectly crisp - not soft and mushy.  You know what they say: "An apple a day..."

Workouts for the Week - Lyndsay

So this week was not very productive for me in working out.  I wish I could say it's because I was really busy with stuff...but really it's because I was lazy.

Tuesday - volleyball night
Wednesday - running with Alissa at Sims Park
Thursday - hot yoga

I know next week will be better - I really need to get ready for our 5k on Setpember 11!!!

Lyndz :)

Workouts for the week-Alissa

I'm proud of myself because I made my workout goals for this week!  I ran 3 times and each time I ran a little farther than I did before.  One more week til I can get my new shorts and 3 more weeks til the 5K!

•Sunday: 3 mile run
•Tuesday: volleyball
•Wednesday: 3 mile run
•Friday: 2 mile run
 
I didn't get the chance to work out this weekend cause Katie R. and Kim came to visit!  Expect a post on that this week :)  So much fun....
 
-Alissa

Foodie Friday- Black Bean Fiesta Dip

I got this recipe from my mom and my Aunt Suzi and it's amazing!  I recently took it to a party at Lyndsay's and it was a big hit.  I think it's one of Joe's favorite things that I make.  Enjoy :)

Black Bean Fiesta Dip

Combine:
2 cans black beans (drained)
1 c. frozen corn (thawed and baked with 1 T corn or olive oil @ 450 degrees 7-8 min.)
1 large tomato (diced)

2 large avocados (diced)
2 T red onion (diced)  (This is what the recipe says but Joe and I usually add more)

¼ c. chopped fresh cilantro

1 tsp. pressed garlic

Dressing:
2 T lime juice
¼ tsp. cumin
1 T cider vinegar
2 T corn or olive oil
1 ½ tsp. salt

Pour dressing over mixture and stir. Serve with frito scoops or as a stand-alone salad.  I love it with the fritos.  I mix everything ahead of time and put the avocados and tomato in just before serving. Otherwise, the salad gets soggy.  If I'm making it just for Joe and I and want it to last longer than one night, I just keep the avacado and tomato in separate bowls.  Let me know if you try it and like it!  Oh and the picture is taken by Jen :)

-Alissa

Things I Love This Week - Lyndsay

Ok, if you’re a big-time slacker that can’t blog on time, please raise your hand (picture me, here on my lunch break, raising my hand very slowly and looking sheepish). So here I am, with my favorite things this week:



My Toyota Prius (her name is Polly): Now that I’m living closer to work, my daily commute has dropped by like 18 miles! Amazing! The less time stuck in traffic in the mornings and evenings has made me beyond happy. And along those lines, I love little Polly because I made it almost four weeks without having to fill up my tank. Wow – talk about fuel efficiency! Every time I get in my car, it’s like a game to me to see if I can get better gas mileage than the day before. So here I am, saving the planet and saving some dough!

Yogi Toes Mat Towel: If you read my last post then you know that I love to take hot yoga classes. Although all that sweating is very good for me and makes me feel great, it presents a problem because my mat gets crazy slippery. When this happens I start to slide around on my mat and can lose or fall out of some of my poses – which makes me break my concentration and lose my Zen. But, my new favorite yoga accessory to help me with my problem is a mat towel. The towel has little rubber dots (the company calls them “eco nubs” – how cute is that?!) that grips my mat and prevents it from moving around while I changing poses. The top is a soft, towel-like material that is super absorbent. It also gives me a little extra cushion when I’m doing a lot of poses lying on my back or stomach.

Stila Eye Shadow Trio (in Champagne Gold): This is my go-to eye shadow for all occasions. I am obsessed with it. I wear the light pink shade every day. It has just a hint of color and is super sparkly. I sweep it over my whole lid. The taupe shade is perfect for work or daytime wear. It’s not too dark but is still noticeable. Finally, I wear the dark chocolate shade for evenings out, or if I want to look super fancy for work one day.

Things we love-Alissa

1. Grey's Anatomy Season 1: Joe and I just finished re-watching it.  So good!  I love the Meredith and Derek love story.  And I love when Addison sweeps in and ruins it.  Such a good show...

2. Ghirardelli Chocolate Syrup Brownie Mix: My favorite dessert.  I got to make them last weekend.  Yum.

3. My Mom: She has come so far in her computer skills.  And now she is following this blog!  How sweet :)  Go Meer!  <3.