Friday, June 29, 2012

Stepping Out.

Happy Friday, all!

I hope you got some great Summer Salad ideas from earlier
for this weekend!
I'm just here to say that I'll be stepping out for the weekend.
Jacob and I are heading to DC to visit some friends
so I won't be posting for a few days!!

But when I get back,
you'll have stories from mini-golfing and 
a rave!!!

Rave.

[Note: This is a good time to tell you that I love raves or EDM (electronic dance music.) I love lights, loud music, crazy dancing, people wearing strange clothing and heart stopping, body moving, out of this world bass. It's a way I like to let go, to dance till your all sweaty and hot. I think it's fun. No, I don't do weird drugs or get black out drunk, it's just a way of expressing myself. Please, don't judge.]

What do you have planned this weekend?

Have a great one!!




Summer Eatin'

I don't know about you but when the heat hits,
all I want to eat is something cold.
No soups, no pastas, no melted sandwiches.
It's too hot, yo!

So my summer eatin' routine? 
Wonderful, chilled, delicious salads!!

The Wedge.

The wedge salad is always a great way to go.
I enjoy them because they can be dressed nicely on a plate,
mostly because there's no tossing or mixing all the salad
fixings together, you just cut a wedge of lettuce and sprinkle, drizzle
and dash everything on top!
Traditional wedge salads are made with Iceberg lettuce...
But lets be real, there's nothing in Iceberg lettuce so...Romaine is way better.
Click on the caption for recipe ideas courtesy of EatingWell.com.

Panzanella.

Have I ever told you how much I love Panzanella salads??
I made my first one last year for my sister's Bridal Shower.
They are so simple and fresh and lovely.
Fresh tomatoes, lovely baked croutons, fresh basil, yummo!
The recipe is easy, just look at the picture!
I like to make variations on the Panzanella, too!
Add chucks on fresh mozzarella and red, orange and yellow peppers
for a nice "Italian" feel.
Spice it up with by baking the croutons in Cajun or Jerk seasoning.
Add feta cheese for a Greek feeling!
These salads are very versatile.

Spinach with Fruits.

Lastly, I love summer salads because you can incorporate
fruit in!
One of my favorites is the above picture.
The base of spinach with added berries, maybe some toasted
nuts and throw on some goat cheese!
Mix with a light, maybe citrus dressing and BAM!
Delicious summer eatin'!
Adding fruit to a salad is a great way to mix it up.
It's healthy and different!
because you can utilize the grill while diverting off the
hotdogs and hamburger track!

What are some of your summer salad faves??




30 Days: Day Thirteen.

DAY THIRTEEN: WHAT I ATE TODAY.

Well that's an easy one!
I've only been up for an hour and a half.
I've had a corn muffin and an iced latte that tastes
more like chocolate milk then anything else.

That's probably the shortest post I've ever written.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Travel Bag: Thrifted!

I needed a small pick me up yesterday.
I had been sitting in front of my computer blogging all morning
and needed to get out.
So I put on a salmon colored dress and went out.
As usual, I ended up at the Salvation Army on Crown Street
because in New Haven, there isn't much good shopping.
Yes, I'm saying Salvation Army is good shopping.
You get my drift.
While I was chatting away on the phone with my mother,
I saw this little beauty hiding behind a couch:


5 dollars! I was happy with it. It's pretty big and fits my old over the shoulder bag in it. Plus I'm moving in 13 days and I thought this would make a great plane bag. Man, I love thrifting.

30 Days: Day Twelve.

DAY TWELVE: NAME 5 ITEMS I'M CURRENTLY LUSTING OVER.

I have been trying so hard not to spend my money.
No coffees.
No fruit cups on my way to work.
Nothing extra.
(With a move to Toronto very soon and no possible job in the near future...I'm trying to save...trying...)
So yeah, I have a few things I'm lusting over!!
And whadda ya know?
They're probably all clothes :)
No judging!


I really want a swim suit like this. I think it'd look better on my body type then the normal how-low-and-small-can-we-make-this-swim-suit kind. I got a booty so...I'm learning to deal with it instead of trying to smush it into all the little baby clothing around here.

Baker's.

I love wedges, I do. But I saw these at Baker's online and now I want them.
I love strappy things. Dresses, shoes, bags.
Plus the neutral color would be so versatile! 

Shabby Chic.

Jacob and I have been chatting a lot lately on how to make out living space equally mine and equally his. I said I want more "me" space. He didn't understand. I said I need some spaces to seem more like we live together and not that I live in his apartment. (Let me interject, it's really not like that but there are a few changes that I would like to make...you know...girly things...) And this vanity, or one like it, I would LOVE to have. Personally, not pink BUT this style.

DIY.

This one should be easy to obtain: it's a DIY!
But I'm still lusting after it.
I just love how comfy and casual it looks!
But you could make one for more of a night out right??

Maxi.

As we all know, how I feel about Maxi dresses. I just love this one. It's so beautiful, right?? Plus I think I'd feel pretty in it.

Those are 5 things I'm lusting after right now!
How about you??









Wednesday, June 27, 2012

DIY: T Shirt Head Bands!


Hey guys!!! Multiple posts in one day?! I know, I have 
too much time on my hands!

Anyway, I was chatting with a fellow blogger the other day and we were talking about natural hair and bangs and styling said natural hair.
See, about 3 or 4 years ago, I had the best idea:
Lets get BANGS!
And I continue to enjoy them but more and more these days
I've been pinning them up or wearing head bands.
On that note, I remembered finding a DIY a few months back so
I thought I would explore!

I found this great DIY:


Follow the directions over here and it's actually ridiculously easy.
I made three yesterday.


The first one is red and I made it from the sleeve of a turtleneck.
FIY: One fun fact about me is that loath turtlenecks. Like. I will burn them all. So when Jacob, of all people, presented me with a red turtleneck to dismember, I cut it up...even though I didn't need to in that moment. It was satisfying. 

The second braid I turned into a...


BRACELET! I love it! It's great! 
I want to make a head band long enough to wrap around
my head twice too...but then I got sleepy!

Anyway, I've been really enjoying all of these.
It's a fun way to spend the afternoon, 
it's a fun way to enhance my outfits,
and it's a great way to kill all turtlenecks reuse old t shirts!

Do you have any head band DIY's or cool ways to reuse old t shirts??




Governor's Ball: Weird Fashion



      Last weekend, Jacob and I spent the weekend in the city and went to Governor's Ball on Saturday! There were tons of bands I didn't know but I had SO MUCH FUN! The music was so good, the food was so good, the beer was...well it was Foster's but it was cold! 
      
      I spent most of the day, between sets and beers, observing the strange fashion phenomenon's all around me. All I want to say is: When did fanny packs come back?!

Source.

      High waisted shorts are super in right now. I think I was the only girl there that wasn't wearing them! 

Source.

Source.

      Fanny packs were also huge this weekend! I was a little bummed, however, because if I knew how cool they were, I totally would have worn one! Screw purses, I wanna go hands free!

Source.

Source.

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      Another outrageous fashion statement making it's way back into the world: T shirts with fringe!

Source.

Source.

Source.

      Oh man, there were so many cute outfits and a lot of just weird ones!!! There were lots of high top Cons, fashion tanks for the guys, neon, neon, NEON, mismatched prints, tie die, bandanas (mostly as shirts but...), rompers and one piece swimsuits and there was actually one woman who was wearing just nude colored shorts and a cape...yeah...I'm serious...

      Is there a fashion trend coming back that you're excited for??






  

30 Days: Day Eleven.

DAY ELEVEN: WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU MISS?

     Funny you should ask! I actually miss a lot of things but I won't go on and on about all of those things...there's just one little thing that popped into my mind first!

My mom put underwear on Chasey...it was hilarious. 

The first time mom met Chaey. She was so cute!

Always so happy.

The first day she stood after her surgery. I was so happy to see her moving around.

I just wish I could cuddle her again!

      This is Chasey. She is my little pup and I miss her dearly. I got here my junior year in college because I was in a really awful relationship and I honestly wanted something else to focus my love on. And boy, did it work!!! About a year after I got her, I realized that she was a Blue Heeler and needed a LOT of room, more then I could give her. The two walks a day and nightly trip to the dog park just wasnt enough!
      I ended up letting her stay with my mom and dad and their 3 acres of land and their chickens and ducks and happy dog places. She was much happier there :)
      In October of 2010 she got hit by a car. She was in the hospital for three days and it was the longest three days of my life. She had broken the bones in her "elbow," which is just that tiny joint on her right back leg. After three days of number crunching, crying and something short of completely losing it, I came to the realization that I wasn't going to be able to afford the surgery, even with help from my parents. 
     I remember that day, the emotions, the slow time, everything I felt. My parents drove me to the hospital to say good bye to her. My mom and I sat in this little room with two arm chairs and some warm-n-fuzzy pictures on the wall. My dad had to leave the room. 
      Chasey got wheeled in on a little doggy stretcher and she was so happy to see us she was wiggling around and licking everything she could get her little mouth near! I remember this sinking feeling in my body, everything was moving slowly and I couldn't imagine this was happening. I mean, she kept bringing me a little ball because she wanted to play, how would that not break your heart?? 
      I hear feet walking down the hall towards us and I started freaking out. A woman entered the room, someone I hadn't met yet. She introduced herself and told my mom and I that she has heard of our story, looked over the charts and the money parts of it. She told me that there's a fund that people donate to and in extreme circumstances, she decided where the money will be used.
     Long story short, she told me that the hospital will pay for the operation to amputate Chasey's leg so she can live. I'm pretty sure I was shaking from crying, my mom was crying, everyone was crying. It was a long, long healing process but she pulled through so quickly. And now, she's just like any normal dog! I miss her everyday that I'm away and I hope that someday I can bring her to where I am and we ca grow old together!!





Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Baby It's Cold Outside...

Source.


      So, it's not exactly cold outside. It's 64 degrees. It's actually nice that it's cooling off. After two days in the heat it's nice to wear jeans, ya know??


      I thought I'd check back in with my favorite cool weather friend and see what things I could find that I love! Sweaters, I love to wear you in the Fall, in the Winter and even on a cool Summer night!! Oh and Spring, they are really great in the Spring! Let's see what I found!



      This would be a great sweater for Spring or Fall. Paired with a skirt or shorts! Source.


      I love this loose fitting sweater. Another great for a cool evening. Source.


      Um, this pretty much speaks for itself. Adorable! Source.


      Jacob thinks I wear too much animal print...And I think there's no such thing as too much animal print...Source.


     This is great too! I love the patter and the short sleeves, it lets you wear it when it's a big warmer out. Great shoulder, too! Source.

      So as I sit here, looking out my window, Dawson's Creek playing on the iPad next to me, and all I want to do is put on a great sweater and go for a ride on my bike. Hey maybe I will!

      Do you have a favorite sweater?? What do you think about sweater dresses??








     

30 Days: Day Ten.

DAY TEN: BULLET POINT YOUR DAY OR WEEK.


Today looks something like this:
(1.) Clean up apartment for viewing. Check!

(2.) Run to the store to get more hair bands. Check!
(I want to make some t-shirt head bands :) Tutorial to come once I have a few made!)

(3.) Laundry. It's only half done :)

(4.) Catch up with 181 blogs. Check!

(5.) Find a recipe for dinner.

(6.) Post blog for today. Almost done!

(7.) Reorganize blog binder.

(8.) Work on t-shirt head bands.

(9.) Start making more paper roses.

(10.) Make popsicles. 
(I bought a mold and I'm excited!

(11.) Shower.

(12.) Go through magazine rack and cut out pictures 
I keep meaning to cut out.

That's all I can think up right now...
Trying not to overload my day and all :)

Can't wait to finish that DIY!
These headbands are great!

Monday, June 25, 2012

30 Days: Day Nine

I know I said I needed a dat to catch up...
but here's nine of thirty!

DAY NINE: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE PROUD OF?

Me and Jacob were talking about this all weekend.
Well, in a round about way.
As you can tell from my previous posts about self confidence etc I have a hard time being all supportive and proud of myself.
I recognize that I've done something good, but I have a hard time being like
"You know, I'm damn good at what I do..." And etc.

But weirdly, when I read this question, I knew exactly what I was proud of.
I have taken a huge step in my life and I've taken it away from anything familiar, anything comfortable.
When I got on the plane in Portland, Oregon with my one way ticket to New Haven, Connecticut I knew there was no going back.
I always wanted to travel, to move away from home, to be able to say,
"I tried that," "I lived there," "I've seen that!"



Yes, it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done.
But I am proud of the fact that I am working through the hard parts, pushing to make every day better, to make a connection and experience new things, to be uncomfortable and learn from it, to see everything I want to see, to visit the places I've only dreamed of.
I did it, you guys.
I'm making this life what I want it to be.

For that, I am proud.








One Downfall of A Weekend Off....

So I've been away...
Jacob and I needed a nice weekend away so we planned this whole thing in New York over the weekend.
It was such a great weekend too.
Here's an image to sum it all up for you:


I have to work today but tomorrow I'll be catching up on my weekend, my belated hair tutorial and some more of the 30 Day Challenge!!

Until then, I'm curling back up with the iPad in bed to wait out this thunder storm and do some reading before work.

Happy Monday!
How was your weekend?!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

30 Days: Day Eight

DAY EIGHT: MY GOALS FOR THE MONTH.

Source.

As you may know by now, I'm moving to Toronto with Jacob next month.
The exact date is still...up in the air...
We're basically waiting for his Visa to go through, etc.
We know for sure it's not the 1st of the month,
so we're hoping at least by the 15th.
But who knows.

Anyway, I have a few goals for myself the first month up there!!

1. Make two friends: I want to make a friend base up there this time. Yes, I know people down here in New Haven but I never got close to anyone.
And I regret that.

2. Take a cooking class: These are expensive, however, and since I may not be able to work up there right away, I'll need to savor my money. But we'll see :)

3. Seriously start to build my writing portfolio: This means volunteer writing and making many inquiries about writing positions. I need to start pushing for this.

4. Forget my social fears: Since making friends is hard for me, I really want to just let it all go and be myself, and see who that attracts. Making friends is almost harding then meeting guys haha

5. Be positive: I know the next month or two will be difficult for me, being in a city where I know nobody again, potentially being unemployed and alone (Jake may be getting the night shift...boo..) so I need to remember to stay positive or it'll be hell.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can work on these goals??
What's your favorite way to meet new people?
How do you stay positive?

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

7 Questions: #8

Wow, it's been a grip of time since I've done this!
Lets get it started!


Ladies, who feels me??

1. What do you do when you're sick? (Do you act like a baby? Tough it out? Have any weird cravings? Cry?)

I'm probably the biggest baby there it. No joke. Then I get mean, because I don't feel well and it must be everyone else's fault, no?

2. What do you do to find motivation when you feel you've lost it?
Honestly? Music, movies or blogs. When I'm feeling low, I usually just want to lay in bed and do nothing. Subsequently, I end up watching TV or movies and most of the time I watch something that subconsciously motivates me!

3. Do you wish time away or do you savor every moment?
I do both. I have lazy days and I have days where I savor everything but I think it's ok to do both :)

4. If you could be any mythological creature, what would you be, and why?
At first, I would say mermaid like Gentri, but I feel like there has got to be something out there that was totally bad ass...

5. What is your current biggest weakness and are you working on fixing it?
I think one of my biggest weaknesses would be my lack of self confidence. I think if I had just a little more of it then a lot of things would be different. I don't really know how to work on it. I try and stay positive and happy thinking that'll bring more of it...any suggestions??

6. How do you greet someone when meeting them for the first time?
Usually: Hey, I'm Freya, it's nice to meet you! Then I find something on their immediate person and ask a question about it, like their hair or if they're wearing a piece of jewelry or something. It breaks the ice :)

7. How do you grocery shop? (Do you write up a list? Go in with no idea what you're looking for? Have meal plans? Bring your own shopping bags?)
I usually make a list but then forget it. I take my bags when I remember to, which is actually pretty often and most of the time I have a meal in mind...lets face it, I love cooking so going shopping is a lot of fun to me :)

30 Days: Day 7

DAY SEVEN: WHAT IS SOMETHING (OR SOMEONE) WHO HAS IMPACTED YOU?

I spent a few minutes reflecting on this question.
When normally asked this question, 
I would reply my family.
My parents, who've worked hard 
their whole lives to be the best and to provide 
for my sister and I.
My grandmother, who has been there since
I literally can remember.
I couldn't imagine a better influence on my life.
My sister, who is so strong and I look up to
in everything.

But I wanted to give deeper then that,
to think of something who I may not have known for
very long but who impacted me greatly.
And I think I have the answer!


This is me on my college graduation.
I am currently hugging my Advisor,
D.L. Richardson.
I took one of his Communication courses as a general education 
requirement when I was a theater major.
It was after that class that I decided I wanted to write again.
For the next 2 and a half years, he was supportive,
he told me not to try but to do.
He took special time to work with me,
he was so great when I had no idea what I was doing.
I wish I had stayed in better contact,
but maybe one day, I'll contact him again and show him
what I've made of myself.
And thank him.


Recipe: Spicy Chicken Sandwiches

So on Sunday, Jacob and I decided to have black bean
burgers for dinner, since I made these for dessert:



Except I used half as many strawberries and added blueberries and raspberries!

We don't eat a lot of carbs, let alone sandwiches.
So we decided to see how many different sandwiches and burgers we could make to use up all the buns!
Sunday = Black Bean Burgers
Monday = Salmon burgers (Jacob made and they were delicious!)

Tonight??
Spicy chicken sandwiches!!




I used this marinade but made my own Cajun seasoning.
And since I didn't have lemon pepper, I just added the juice
of one lemon. Then I mushed it all up,
added the chicken breasts and they sat in the fridge for about
4 whole hours!



Note: I didn't add oil to the pan because there's oil in the marinade.


To go with the sandwiches, I looked for inspiration on Pinterest
and decided in the end to make my version of a Southwestern Salad.



For my salad, I used Romaine lettuce, 2 avocados, 1/2 of a yellow and orange pepper (I really like my food to be colorful!), half a can of black beans (rinsed) and 2 tomatoes. 
Then I grated just a little bit of cheddar cheese to top it off.

For the dressing, I used the juice from one lime, 1/2 cup olive oil, one bunch of cilantro chopped and 3 tablespoons of sour cream, with salt and pepper to taste. I put all of it in the food processor.


It was delicious! A nice mix up from the normal salad, ya know?



As I normally do, I went all out and was making cocktails too!
On Sunday, I made Sangria, or at least my version.
In a big a bowl I put 1 container of blueberries,
1 container of raspberries,
1/2 a container of strawberries, cut up,
and 1/4 a watermelon, cut up.
On top of that, a poured
1 liter bottle of white wine,
1 bottle of Framboise,
2 shots of Citron vodka,
3 shots of Ruby Red vodka 
and just a splash of cranberry/raspberry juice.
After a day in the fridge, man that stuff is delicious!


For Jacob, I made him a grapefruit and lime French gimlet.
It's basically 2 shots of gin on top of three big ice cubes, 
fill the glass 3/4 the way with club soda.
On top, splash a good drop of lime juice and grapefruit juice,
and a splash of St Germain.
I shook once in a shaker and added the peel from the grapefruit. 
It was delicious and I don't even like gin!

Overall, it was a successful dinner!

Do you have a favorite way to make chicken sandwiches?
Or how about Sangria??