Top 2 Tuesday - Friendships

It's Top 2 Tuesday Again...

Top 2 Things You have learned about Friendship - ok or top 4.

1. To only be friends with people that value you the same as you value them. There are times when you are needed more than you need them and vice versa. But in the end, make sure you are valued. I have been used too many times and so just like I said in THIS post... "But my time, ME - I am more valuable than a fake friendship."  and "But the friends that I have deep conversations with, that know ME, that want to know how I am doing and don't want to hear "fine" - I always ALWAYS have time for them."

2.  Friendships evolve and change. For example - my best friend is pregnant with her first child. Our friendship is changing- and that is ok. Her life is about to truly change again. Our friendship changed when she got married as well (and that is ok!). We have learned that when something changes you can grow together or apart. I know she will be busy with the baby and I know she will be a wonderful parent, but that means our talks all of the time, they won't be as often. That also means our ALONE time will be all the more precious. I've just learned that also my life has changed - so our friendship has.

3. Lastly - When your best friend tells you "you have to meet this person, I just know you will be great friends with her. You like similar things and are going through the same thing right now" believe her. I met that person and V has become such an amazing friend. Actually I would say V has become my "other" best friend.

4. You can't have enough friends. As long as they are TRUE friends.

Weekend Wrapup

Short quick updates-

1. This weekend included my best friend's baby shower. It was a lot of fun, and she looked amazing. Most of all, it was wonderful seeing her again. Since she lives in Austin and I do not (I am not happy that I do not, but I don't!) I rarely get to see her - so it was lovely to spend a few hours in her company. She truly is the best friend I could ever have!

2. B and I went to the Farmers market and I think we picked up some great items - including FRESH Snapper. We met the fisherman and everything - love knowing where our food comes from.

3. WE watched Texas beat Missouri - Go Horns...at least one team can win these days ;)

3. Sunday was a lazy but wonderful day. Sometimes you just need to rest.

Budgeting

Thanks to Buford Betty and all of her posts about getting out of debt, I decided to have a budget and stick to it this year. I don't really have much debt - no school loans, no consumer credit card debt...all I have is a car payment. I am pretty responsible when it comes to money...but I realized that I know how much I make and my savings should have A LOT more in it. So comes in the budget. I am almost 1 month down. I put all the amount I wanted to put in savings this month, I didn't eat out as much as I normally do as it is cheaper to eat at home and much healthier. B and I still had date nights, I still went for drinks with friends but instead of "oh I dont know what to make to tonight, let's go out" I had a plan.

I menu plan for the week EVERY Sunday. It really helps. WE do most of our cooking at B's place - because well his kitchen is SO MUCH BETTER than mine...and bigger. I subscribe to Cooking Light  Magazine and I have to say- we love it. I have yet to make something that wasn't just absolutely delish.

Anyway- if anyone needs tips on menu planning, eating in more etc- I can help. What I can't help with is the the WANT to do the dishes after you cook them...I still hate that part. :O)

BLog Meetups

So Taylor told me about the Dallas blog meet up. I have never met "blog" friends before. I somewhat keep my IRL friends and my blogging separate, but after reading about everyone else having such a great time meeting new people, I am really wanting to attend. I don't know if I can make it or not yet, but I want to. Has anyone else met up with "blog" friends. I'm not from Dallas, don't live in Dallas and the only connection I have there are my Godparents, whom obviously I write about often and just adore. I would love to also meet H-town folks as well. Anyway...just wondering...

Top 2 Tuesday - healthy recipes

Top 2 Healthy Recipes and Snack ideas!

1.  Tomato Soup - I just love this on a crap day like today!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes, with juice
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream, warmed
Salt and pepper

Preparation

Warm oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until slightly softened and fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in flour to blend, about 1 minute.

Add tomatoes with juice and broth to saucepan, increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Stir or whisk constantly until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

Working in batches, carefully transfer soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a bowl until all soup is pureed. Return soup to saucepan, stir in cream and cook over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes, until heated through. Do not boil. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot in warmed cups.


Nutritional Information
Calories:123
Fat:9g (sat 4g)
Protein:3g
Carbohydrate:9g
Fiber:2g
Cholesterol:20mg
Sodium:543mg
 
 
2. Cider-Glazed Chicken with Butter Pecan Rice

Total: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cutlet and about 1/2 cup rice)

Ingredients
1 (3.5-ounce) bag boil-in-bag brown rice (such as Uncle Ben's)
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 pound chicken breast cutlets (about 4 cutlets)
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup refrigerated apple cider
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

1. Cook rice according to package directions in a small saucepan, omitting salt and fat; drain.

2. While rice cooks, melt 1 teaspoon butter in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan. Add cider and mustard to pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until syrupy. Add chicken to pan, turning to coat. Remove from heat; set aside.

3. Melt remaining 5 teaspoons butter in saucepan over medium-high heat; cook for 2 minutes or until browned and fragrant. Lower heat to medium; add pecans, and cook for 1 minute or until toasted, stirring frequently. Add rice and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; toss well to coat. Serve rice with chicken. Sprinkle with parsley.

Nutritional Information
Calories:333
Fat:13g (sat 4.4g,mono 4.9g,poly 2.2g)
Protein:29.1g
Carbohydrate:24.2g
Fiber:1.9g
Cholesterol:81mg
Iron:1.5mg
Sodium:601mg
Calcium:23mg

Friday Favorites

Today's Friday Favorite is... I'm changing it up this week and I wanted to see if we could do a Link post...
So here goes:

Friday Favorite - What is your favorite color and Why?

Mine is yellow. It reminds me of warm weather, it's cheery and I look great in it!

What is yours?

Continuation of my last friendship post

Picking the people you want in your life and not keeping the ones that hold you back. That is what the last 2 years have been about for me.

Pre having B in my life I realized that I was in a "holding" pattern of dating seriously awful men. Men who said cruel things, did cruel things and yet I still held on. Sometimes I look back at those times in my life and I think "WHO THE HELL WAS I TO PUT UP WITH THAT BS?" I feel like an entirely different person than I used to be. I guess what they say is true - if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.

I have done the same with friends. I just don't know how to truly explain the freeing feeling. I just think sometimes you have to truly look at your life and see who lifts you up and who doesnt.

Top 2 Tuesday - spring outfits

It is Top 2 Tuesday again...

Top 2 outfits for Spring...

I love love love Spring...and all of the dresses it brings! So here goes...


1.  Lilly Pulitzer's Adalie Wrap Dress- just got it and I'm in love...

2. While I don't own this dress...I just love it. :) I think it is more "summer" but it just makes me smile..
The Burberry Brit Annette Ruffled Shirtdress

Friday Favorites

B will laugh at this but today's Friday Favorites...

COUPONS

I love coupons. Does anyone else cut coupons like I do? I don't go overboard like the TLC Extreme Coupon people...but I do try to combine my coupons with sales...for example:

CVS was having a sale on makeup. UP to 75% off! Of course I indulged...because that is what I do!
So before sale and without coupons the items would have been a total of $175! With the sale combined with coupons I spent $22. Some items I bought because I thought they would be fun to "play" with - I mean I love playing with eye shadow and other things I stocked up on - hello Revlon black eyeliner that I love. So yeah. I love coupons. More than I should. I am ok with it.

I also love sales...but that is another Friday favorite sometime! :)

Fill in the blank Friday

It is Fill in the Blank Friday

1. I feel happy when....everything works out. Ya know, when you get all stressed out about something and in the end it works perfectly!

2. I get silly when...I drink too much wine!

3. Something that makes me sad is those commercials for abused animals - makes me tear up!

4. Something that makes me annoyed is - stupid people.

5. A time that I've been truly surprised was when my parents put together a surprise sweet 16 party for me. I was truly shocked.

6. I am so thankful for my life. THe people in it, everything I have accomplished and truly just my life.

7. I feel loved when I am surrounded by the ones I live.

I won! I won! I won!

The Pink Shoe Diaries was having a giveaway and I WON! I've never won. I am so excited...even more so because her blog was the very first blog I ever read...a million years ago. Now...what to buy!?!  :)

Stylish Blogger Award!

I got an award...

First..to Traffic Jelly - thank you for tagging me. I literally just started reading her blog as of Tuesday and I just could not stop. I have found she has incredible strength, great honesty and is a wonderful writer. She can put emotions into words, which I think is difficult to do at times. Life gives everyone their fair share of bumps in the road...I think it's time for Al to just have some smooth sailing for a while! :) Oh and her love of Guacamole and Wine - totally my kind of gal!


The Rules:


1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!


Ok, 7 things...
 
1. I love the University of Texas- Longhorns. UT was my first choice school and I loved every second I was in Austin. It was amazing to live out a dream of mine since I was little. This I know is no shock to everyone as I have professed this love of Burnt Orange and White many times...but I love them even in off years...like last season - it was hard to be a Longhorn last football season!
 
2. I smile all of the time. I smile when I am happy, when I'm nervous and just because. I feel life is too short to not be smiling - and I don't care if I have "smile lines" it means I'm happy, and I'm ok with happy.
 
3. Wine is an obsession of mine. I drink it far too often so I am trying to cut back...but I just love it.
 
4. I love scarves. I know I live in Houston, I know I live where it barely gets cold and rarely stays cold for an entire week, but I love them. I own far too many for a person who lives in this climate. (I also own too many coats!)
 
5. I bite my nails. There I said it. I want to stop doing it...any tips?
 
6. I am traveling a lot this year. In fact a trip in Feb is already planned - a nice camping trip. I cannot wait.
 
7. My best friend in the entire world is having a baby in March. It freaks me out that she is married with a baby on the way. I feel so....behind. Even though I know I'm not.
 
OK and I tag...
 
1. The UnDomestic Momma
 
2. Smiling is good for your teeth!
 
3. The Life of a Suburban Princess
 
4. Confessions of a Domestic Goddess
 
5. Beantown Prepster
 
6. A Step into my Life
 
7. Hungry Meets Healthy
 
8. Jenna's Jargon
 
9. Leggings are not Pants
 
10. Preppy Little Dress
 
11. Reasonably Swanky
 
12. The Little Things We Do
 
and anyone else who wants to join!

Friendships.

Sometimes I sit and wonder about life. You know, the deep thought kind of moments and I think to myself...

Is this my life? Is it what I really want it to be? What do I want to change? Do I truly treat others the way I want to be treated? Am I really happy or just happy enough?

I ponder the "what ifs" and the "if only these.." in life and then I look at what I am surrounded by and I think

Wow.  I worked hard for all of this.  I was lucky in some situations and unlucky in others. One thing remains constant in my thoughts though - I couldn't do all of this, dream all of this, and truly love all of this if I were alone. I am surrounded by love.

Some was easy and some was difficult, but truly every single day I think "I love my life."

Love is hard. Love is trying and love is so incredibly difficult. But the ones I have chosen to surround myself with, I love more than I could ever explain. Love is lost, love is found.

I had "friends" that I realized weren't what I would want in a friend- so even though it was difficult, I decided to no longer pursue those types of "friendships". Sure there are days when I am lonely and "if only" I didn't let go of  (insert name of former friend) "friendship" then I would have someone to go to the mall with, have lunch with etc. But my time, ME - I am more valuable than a fake friendship.

It wasn't easy but everyone that I have in my life - I know is a true friend. I like it better that way. Sure I go out with a group of people now and again, but usually one of my real friends is in that group - because I think overall I'd rather stay home and read than be surrounded by people that I know don't value me the way I would value them.

It was a huge lesson to seek those that value me equal to how I value them. It isn't that my heart isn't open to new friendships, it always is, but the old ones, where I realized I was being used, called only because no one else is available, used to get to know other people - I don't have time for that. I'd rather read.

But the friends that I have deep conversations with, that know ME, that want to know how I am doing and don't want to hear "fine" - I always ALWAYS have time for them.

Top 2 Tuesday - Addictions

Top 2 Strange Addictions

1. Goldfish. I admit goldfish aren't strange...but I have no kids in my life...so this unmarried, childless twentysomething buys goldfish in HUGE quantities...I can't get enough!

2. Cutting my cuticles. Gross, I know. But I cut them ALL the time...and yes I know I shouldn't. Thanks!

Friday Favorites

Today's Friday Favorite

I LOVE Cooking Light Magazine.

B and I use it ALL the time to cook dinners and meal plan together. So far EVERY single recipe has been delicious. Truly amazing!

New Years

B and I had a fantastic New Years! (if you can't tell from the photo!)

It all started at a friends house - we grilled steaks and had a yummy dinner with champagne and wine. Then we headed to the St. Regis to ring in the New Year. We partied and truly had a wonderful time. We left around 12:45 as our friends were getting and so were we. Our friends live a few blocks away from one of B's fraternity brothers that was also having a party so we decided to stop by for a little bit. A LITTLE bit turned into almost 4:30AM. Needless to say, it was fun.

On our way home we saw some BEAUTIFUL German Shepherds running about a major road. So of course B pulls over, corrals them into the car and takes them to their home. WE called the number on their tags and since there was no answer we just went to their house. The dogs were precious. The owners....were a bit confused as they had no idea their HUGE dogs got out. Knocking on the door at almost 5AM...yeah they were a bit scared at us until we explained the situation...then they were nothing but so incredibly happy their dogs were home.

I'd be so upset if we lost Roxy so even though I thought B was CRAZY for putting them in the car, I am glad they are home with their owners. He always does the right thing!

2010

What was 2010....


Where did you begin 2010? I was in Seattle for my friend L's Wedding.

What was your status by Valentine's Day? I was with B, we went to Americas, he sent me roses and I was falling in love. Best Valentine's ever.

Were you in school (anytime this year)? nope

Did you have any encounters with the police? nope

Where did you go on vacation? where did I not? Florida, California, Colorado...

What did you purchase that was over $500? MY NEW CAR!!!

Did you know anybody who got married? yes

Did you know anybody who passed away? not this year.

Did you move anywhere? yes. Into the city

What sporting events did you attend? Astros...I'm sure I am leaving some out...

Where do you live now? I live in my new place!

What's the one thing you thought you would never do, but did, in 2010? Fall in love.

What has been your favorite moment(s)? The lighthouse. When B surprised me with the lighthouse.

What's something you learned about yourself? I can do almost anything that I put my mind to

Any new additions to your family? Yes, my "sister" had a baby and A LOT of my friends are pregnant.

Get a new job? yes

How old did you turn this year? 28