Kitchen Adventures |:| Noodle Bowls

I love going to a restaurant and discovering things that I can recreate at home. I have done this with the chicken caeser pasta salad from Cheddar's and certainly different drink recipes like Tennessee Manhattans that I first had at a place called Baker Peters. So a couple weeks ago, on a chillier day, I went to lunch at ZenClay. I usually get salads for lunch, but I was cold. So I opted for a Noodle Bowl. YUM. A few days later my friend Danielle told me about Noodle Bowls you can get at the grocery store--also YUM. The ingredients are simple... the prep shouldn't be too hard (right?)...so I gave it a whirl. And I think the end product turned out pretty tasty!! (and pretty)

Ingredients:
Broccoli florets -- 1 head
carrots--2 sliced
sugar snap peas--couple handfuls
(steam the above until fork tender and set to the side)
mushrooms--cup of whatever variety you want
shrimp--I used a bag of frozen
vegetable broth--1 box
garlic--1 teaspoon
crushed red pepper --1/2 teaspoon (or to taste)
soba noodles (8 oz) --cooked according to package directions--(PS I really like these noodles, they are new to me, and delicious!)

In a pan I heated a little oil and got the garlic and crushed red pepper going. Then I added the mushrooms. I let them sweat a bit and added the veggie broth. I heated it to boiling and dropped in the shrimp to cook for 4-5 minutes. Add the veggies and let them reheat for a minute. In a bowl put a quarter of the noodles and top with a quarter of the broth/veg mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I liked it in this very clean form. I think the hubs would have liked it to be kicked up in the sauce department. Maybe next time some soy sauce and sriracha could be included. It is really a Choose Your Own Adventure type of dinner :)

Weekend in Review

The weekend was damp--ok downright soaked. And COLD! I mean it is October, but I was unprepared for 44 degree weather. Still, we made the most of it. Friday night the kiddos and I (and my momma) bundled up and went to the Homecoming Parade. It rained and rained, but my kids were so excited--jump over to the family blog to see some pics.

Saturday morning, we had a wonderful family breakfast. I think it needs to be a tradition! We whipped up some blueberry muffins (for Joe) and sausage (for Libby) with lots of French pressed coffee for me and the hubs (YES--my husband is now a coffee drinker-who would've ever thought?). We hung out around the table and enjoyed each other's company for a while before Corey had to head to his gig.

Joe "reading" me the recipe

The coffee drinking Bozics

The kiddos and I spent the rest of the day indoors. It would have been great to go to the game, but wrangling two kids in the dreary conditions didn't seem like a good plan. Instead we watched from the warmth of our basement. They even performed a half-time show for me.

Later on Meghan paid a visit. She and I made some snacks and had some wine. It was great to catch up and hang out. We threw on PJs just in time for Corey to get home. The three of us watched the documentary about Conan and called it a night.

This was actually before the Marshall game--aren't we cute in our dark gray shirts :)

 Sunday was church and lunch with Meghan and the med students (band name possibility?). Then HOMEWORK. 7 hours in the same chair is too many. But the finish line is in sight--8 months. That's the long term excitement...the short term excitement?? Spending some Q-time with these people in 3 days!!

cityChurch |:| encouragment

We had our community group last night--the topic? encouragement. We looked at different stories in the Bible where God encouraged his People-Moses, Elijah, Peter, but the one that stood out to me was Joshua.

In Joshua 1, God tells Joshua that he is to lead the Israelites into the promised land without Moses. Moses was the leader all through the desert-Exodus. But God wanted Joshua to be the leader now. And over and over God reassures Joshua-don't be afraid, I'm here. Joshua 1:9 was one of those verses I clung to in high school. I had it memorized...I wrote it in my locker. But sometime in the last 10 years, I forgot it. But what a powerful thing to be reminded of - everyday. Don't be discouraged. Why? Because God is with you wherever you go. HE is capable, HE is strong, HE is powerful. And HE is with me.

and I want to encourage those around me--like he tells me to. "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but ENCOURAGING one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

COFFEE--how I love thee.

Happy National Coffee Day. 

However you drink it!!

It is my favorite (non-alcoholic) beverage and definitely deserves a post of its own. My friend Danie gets it-(-go look at her post with some fun coffee inspired songs :) I will share some of my favorite coffee prints from Pinterest, and continue to drink coffee all day long - I am doing my part!

haha--I think I have done this before

 I would love to have this is my kitchen :)

 My motto in law school for sure!

 I need to stage more fun photos like this

Walk-In Closet |:| My Style Pinboard

Let us take a walk back time...

Two years ago, I started law school...
My wardrobe consisted of T-shirts, flare cut jeans, and sneakers.

Here is a photo. 

I would repeat this in different colors pretty much everyday. It was easy and comfortable, and not scary. Because fashion to me is slightly scary.

The last two years, my style has changed-maybe not dramatically to those of you who are very fashion forward. But for me - it is a pretty drastic change. I mean, c'mon, I bought booties and leggings.

Despite my desire to change things up, I struggle to pick out items and pair items. Welcome Pinterest. I am (slightly) obsessed with this site. It provides me with recipes and DIY ideas--word art and home decor inspiration. But for a fashion-fearing gal, it also provides great cues for outfits. So my motto this year is going to be "Staples and Stretch"--meaning keep the STAPLES: I still love T-shirts and jeans--cardigans and scarves. But I need to STRETCH: add an item that maybe I wouldn't have on my own. Here are some of my inspirational outfits.

STAPLES: T-shirt, jeans 

STRETCH: everything else. I like the hat and jacket, but they scare me. 

the boots are super cute, but it is definitely a stretch.

STAPLES: jeans, T-shirt, scarf 

STRETCH: stripy flats paired with gold-ish bag

 (don't you like my fashion verbage-very articulate)

STAPLES: TOMS, jeans, tank 

STRETCH: odd cardigan that I probably wouldn't pick for myself

STAPLES: cardigan and jeans.

STRETCH: heels, bangles and top. I am not much of a bracelet person.

(plus I prob wouldn't pair the distressed jean with such a polished outfit)

You can see all the other inspiring outfit creations I have pinned on My Style Pinboard. And feel free to make suggestions. I am always open to fashion ideas :)

Kitchen Adventures|:| Soup and Bread

I love this time of year because I can make some of my favorite foods. One of which is SOUP. I love soup. It is warm and comforting and makes me very happy. I also love bread. At any time. With anything. Last night I made both of these. The bread was AMAZING! The soup was ok. I have had better. But I am determined to add a really good creamy chicken and wild rice soup to the recipe mix.

So first--the BREAD.

 It turned out to taste a little like sourdough and I think if I had let it set out longer, it would have enhanced that flavor even more. I found the recipe on a blog called Cheap, Healthy, Good. (I'm not sure that they are writing new articles, but I have had a lot of fun reading the old ones.) It was SUPER easy. Mix ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap. LEAVE IT ALONE for 24-ish hours. form into a ball. LEAVE IT ALONE for 2 hours. Bake in a pre-heated dutch oven for 45 minutes. Easy-peasy and OH SO delicious.

Next--the SOUP. 

I got the recipe out of this months Cooking Light. It had all the right elements-onion, celery, carrot, rice, chicken. But the creamy factor only came in at the end-by adding half-n-half. AND Corey noted that he would prefer more rice (that is after I had already doubled what the recipe called for). It might be that the only way to achieve a good, creamy soup is to go the traditional way-with a roux. But in an effort to try a healthier version first, I followed the rules. Next time...it will have butter--cause you know, it makes everything better.

Book Nook|:| The Hunger Games Trilogy

     I admit that I love Young Adult Fiction books. I love Harry Potter and I liked Twilight. Some of my favorite all time books fall into this category-A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Beauty, etc. I can't help it, really. These books (when written well) have all the emotion and character development as grown-up books without all the garbage.

     So when my friend Ellen told me about The Hunger Games trilogy, I was psyched. And it didn't disappoint. In fact I have already lent out my books twice in a two week period. That means since I bought my set in August, four people have read/are reading them-and my friends Lauren and Erin bought their own. Granted my friend Meghan read them in world record time, but that is how one MUST read these books. They are impossible to put down.
     A little Background that doesn't spoil ANYTHING-you could read it on the jacket of the book: The main character is a girl named Katniss who lives in District 12--at some point America is mostly destroyed and all that remains is the Capitol and 13 districts, which the Capitol uses to support itself. One of the districts rebels and is annihilated by the Capitol. In order to keep the other districts in line the Capitol begins the Hunger Games. Every year, each district must give a girl and a boy (between the ages of 12-18) to participate. What do they have to do? Fight to the DEATH. Weird, right? It is so strange how accepted the games have become to the people that live in this book. 

   
 Katniss is a compelling character-she doesn't know her own strength or beauty or charisma. You watch her grow and change as the books progress. Of course there is love and action and happy and sad. All the elements necessary for a good book (in my opinion). But I am most impressed by the author's ability to captivate me. I could not stop reading, and I felt like I knew the characters.

The movies begin in March 2012--so READ BEFORE VIEWING. You won't regret it!