One Day at a Time

Tuesday, October 26

Biggest Loser 5K Recap!

I have been neglecting my blog when it comes to life updates. Blerg.

I know I told you guys about the Biggest Loser coming to Myrtle Beach a couple weeks ago...well Amy & I signed up the day before and I'm so glad we did!

It was a warm morning, but it was a ton of fun. It was Amy's first race ever, so that was super fun to be apart of. We got to see several former contestants from the show, and I even high-fived Bob on the race!

They told us the episode would air the week of Thanksgiving-so be sure to look for us!

This is the finish line...along the boardwalk. Not too shabby a view!

Amy & I before the race.

The lady in the pink is Sherry from last season.

I totally high-fived him right after this!

We had a friend who printed out a life-sized head shot that they carried around the entire race. She was a hit afterward and we took so many pictures with them.

Me & Sam-we always end up finding each other at local races. Love her!

Kiki came to be our cheer squad/AV girl!

I didn't stand in line to get an autograph but I did get super close to get some pictures!

Everybody loves the oranges at the end!

Sunday, October 24

Philly Recap!

Ok so it's been about 2 weeks since I've returned from Philly and let me start out by saying how much fun I had! We did so much shopping. So much sight seeing. So much eating. It was a great weekend! I wish it were closer so I could visit more often!

Here's the biggest picture dump ever:

Day 1-King of Prussia Mall

Pumpkin cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory

Day 2- Downtown Philly

Liberty Bell

Still cracked!

At Christ's Church cemetary-Ben Franklin's grave site.

There just happened to be a car show on a side street downtown so we decided to check it out. Low and behold-there was a DeLorean!

Waiting to get into Independence Hall

The room where the Declaration of Independence was signed-too cool!

Congress Hall (Next to Independence Hall).

The original Senate.

City Hall-seriously one of the prettiest buildings I've seen.

Had to get a Cheesesteak!

Inside the Christiana Mall in Delaware - Natasha loves some R2D2!

We had a ridiculous amount of Cheesecake Factory that weekend!

My friend Jon from high school has moved up here this summer and turns out-he and his wife live super close to Natasha! We were able to meet up for drinks the night before I left.

Thursday, October 7

Shameless Plug

I'm not sure if you guys have heard about the Denim Recycling we have going on at Gaps all over...but...it's pretty awesome. If you bring ANY old pair of jeans, we will give you 30% off ANY pair of 1969 jeans! And you can bring in as many as you want.

Want to know what's even cooler? Once it's all said and done, we recycle the old jeans into housing insulation. The last denim recycling event we had back in March provided insulation for over 500 homes in Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina houses. Be apart of something bigger by donating your old jeans!

*Oh and if you go to Facebook, and like the Gap's page, you can get a special code to get 40% off instead of just 30%!

Wednesday, October 6

Whoopsie!

I am a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad blogger. Please forgive me!

Life has been pretty busy around here lately! Lots of work, friends coming into town, and honestly, not enough time for me to sit down for hours and blog like I really want to!

But I will let you in on some super fun plans I have starting tomorrow...

I am going to Philadelphia! My friend Natasha has been up there for a little over a year and I have an opportunity to visit for a long weekend. I can't wait to do all the super nerdy stuff; Independence Hall, shopping, the Liberty Bell, Cheese steaks, shopping, the Rocky steps, and shopping. It's gonna be a great weekend! You can be sure I'll be back with an awesome post about my trip.

Also-on a side note- South Carolina is playing the #1 ranked Alabama this Saturday. AND ESPN's College Gameday crew is going to be there! SO SAD I can't be there!

Good thing probably, for Lee Corso's sake anyway. I'd be sure to punch him in the face if I ever saw him in person.

Sunday, September 19

Oreo Truffles!

I present to you...

Oreo Truffles.

Start with one box of Oreos.

One bar of cream cheese, softened.

Two tubs of Baker's Dipping Chocolate.

Grind up entire box of Oreos in food processor.

Reserve a few crumbs for on top.

Combine softened cream cheese with Oreo crumbs.

Form small, bite-sized balls, and cover with the chocolate.

Sprinkle Oreo crumbs on top.

Leave in the fridge until chocolate hardens, approx. 20-30 minutes.

Eat as many as you want too!

Sunday, September 12

Mushroom Risotto

So I'm not quite sure why but all of a sudden, today I decided I was going to make risotto. If you know me IRL, I watch a ridiculous amount of Food Network and don't really act upon it. Today though, it all changed! I present to you, Tyler Florence's Mushroom Risotto:

Ingredients

8 cups chicken broth, low sodium
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 onion, diced, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced, divided
1 pound fresh portobello and crimini mushrooms, sliced (I used baby bella and button mushrooms.)
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon truffle oil (Omitted b/c Lowe's didn't have it, nor was I going to pay for what it probably would have cost.)
1-ounce dried porcini mushrooms, wiped of grit (I used dried shiitake, again because that's what Lowe's had.)
2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
Fresh Italian parsley, for garnish

Directions

Heat the chicken broth in a medium saucepan and keep warm over low heat.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 onion and 1 clove garlic, cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the fresh mushrooms, herbs and butter. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes until lightly browned, season with salt and pepper. Drizzle in truffle oil then add the dried porcini mushrooms which were reconstituted in1 cup of warm chicken broth. Season again with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Saute 1 minute then remove from heat and set aside.

Coat a saucepan with remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Saute the remaining 1/2 onion and garlic clove. Add the rice and stir quickly until it is well-coated and opaque, 1 minute. This step cooks the starchy coating and prevents the grains from sticking. Stir in wine and cook until it is nearly all evaporated.

Now, with a ladle, add 1 cup of the warm broth and cook, stirring, until the rice has absorbed the liquid. Add the remaining broth, 1 cup at a time. Continue to cook and stir, allowing the rice to absorb each addition of broth before adding more. The risotto should be slightly firm and creamy, not mushy. Transfer the mushrooms to the rice mixture. Stir in Parmesan cheese, cook briefly until melted. Top with a drizzle of truffle oil and chopped parsley before serving.