Exciting news!

Well, an update on what's been going on with me.

1. As I say everytime, I plan on posting more. I need some serious blog-fiber to get things moving. Maybe this exciting new thing will be just the ticket.

2. The Biggest Loser.

As you know, I work at the University of Tennessee. I am at a desk job for the first time in my life. It has it's Pros.... nights and weekends, whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! and it's Cons... sitting at a desk for 9 hours a day - no movement at all!

Well, I coerced a co-worker to go to the UT's VOLfit challenge kickoff. UT, Knoxville is competing again all of the other UT campuses to see who can become the healthiest campus in Tennessee. We weighed in and sat through some fun talks. While I was at the event, I picked up a random flier announcing the "UT Biggest Loser" competition. There were 10 slots that you had to "audition" for. It is a 6 week challenge. You meet with your trainer 2x/week and there is a big final weigh in. The winner is based upon most body fat % lost. As the winner, you will receive 6 free personal training sessions and other prizes to be announced later.

Well, I auditioned and GOT IN! Wahoo!
I had my assessment and the gist of it is that I am overweight and out of shape. Believe me. This was as much of a shock to me as it is to you. :0)

The poopy part of this equation is that the competition began on January 31. It is now February 09 and I am TEN DAYS BEHIND!! Yipes!
I made the mistake of being honest on my questionnaire that I had a serious back injury last year. I have gone back and forth with my old Dr.sand my trainer here and FINALLY they have agreed to let me train. Yaaaaaay! So, today at 1:00pm is my first session. I am a little nervous that he is going to kick my ass.
I am also VERY excited! I know that I am 10 days behind everyone else, but I also know that I haev been eating well, I take 2 dance classes a week and walk Sophie 3-4x/day. I am just going to kick it up a notch!

Everyone at work, including my boss, is very supportive! They've got my back.

Please send me some good workout music! I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time in the gym in the coming months.

Well... considering I *am* at work and will be leaving in the middle of the day to train... I should get back to it.

:)

Baaaaaaaaaaaaack. For reals this time!

I will be the first to admit that I am a lame blogger. I have all of these great blogging pipe dreams, but never follow through. I don’t even know who reads this, but it is nice to know that there is someone, anyone out there who reads my words. ☺

An update of my life – I am still working at the College of Business at the University of Tennessee. I love my job – even though I am just an assistant, I feel as though I am connected to so many of the students.

I am still wanting to go back to school. I am aiming for my masters in Library Sciences – I would love to get involved with promoting literacy in children. That is my main goal. Though, my first step – I would love to focus in records and archiving. Then – get a job with a large theatre (Hellooooooo Met!) and work in their archival department. I could totally see myself wading through ancient photographs and creating digital libraries!

Other than that – not much is going on. Adjusting to single life again, finding myself and realizing what an awesome person I am. ;) There is definitely something to be said for being on one’s own after a long relationship. You don’t realize what you sacrifice of yourself when you are in the moment. Though, totally worth it. ☺ Just because a relationship doesn’t work out in the end, there are 6 whole years of good memories that I will never discard.

Knoxville has been interesting these last few months. I live in an adorable apartment. I just need to finish unpacking it. (yes, I have lived here since June – what’s it to you?!) I have a new comforter, new curtains, new desk (actually… my grandfathers from the 50s, new to me!) and new friends!

I have become really active in my church (http://knoxvilleascension.org) and met a lot of really great people. I am involved in the LAMBS ministry which is all about pets. For St. Frances day, we had a blessing of the animals. It was great! I love being active in a community like this! Church life was something I never expected for my life – I was originally just becoming a member so that my fiancée and I could get married in the church - but it was a pleasant surprise when it turned into more. I still hold on to my previous beliefs, but there is nothing wrong about adding on. I would consider myself Episcopagan. ☺ As a man once said… “can’t we all just get along?!”

I will sign off for now – but let me post some blog ideas here. I will create them AND post them! Now that I am posting them here… it is a promise that they will come up. If they do not come up in the next month, I give you full permission to come to TN and force me to type. ☺

(in no particular order)
1. Introduction of my furry family.
2. My new apartment.
3. Race for the cure.
4. Knoxville.
5. Funny memories from my childhood (WITH pictures)
6. High School memories (with pictures… sorry guys!)
7. College – GC&SU – the early years!
8. College – NCSA
9. Sewing and Cake Decorating Classes
10. Books I am currently infatuated with.



That’s 10 in 30 days… I think it is totally doable. Look… giving myself goals. So grown up. ☺

A picture to tide you over.... Maggie being helpful. (Please excuse the mess... it was a rough time. :) )

Back from the dead!

My apologies to all of you who read this blog (if anyone...!) for not having posted in such a long time!  I have been going through a lot of personal things and have not wanted to bog down the blog with it. :) 

BUT - I am back!  Summer is blazing on here in Knoxville!  I have been filling my evenings with everything under the sun to keep me out of the house and the heat!  I am going to the gym, watching my way through LOST with Valerie, taking sewing and cake decorating classes and whatever else I can think of! :)  The fruits of my sewing labor will be posted soon.  I am very proud of it!  My current class is all about pattern reading.  I am still confused by it, but I am sure that it will begin to get easier!  I can't wait until I can make my own sundresses!

Anywho, technically I *am* at work.... so, I should get back to it!  These scholarships can't process themselves!

2 Cupcake Recipes

Ummmm... I have to make these. I am having a housewarming party for my new abode sometime in June - these WILL be making an appearance... omg....

Via: Food in My Beard Blog

2 Cupcake Recipes: "

We had a family gathering at my parents house this past weekend, and my mom was making 2 different cupcake recipes for dessert. I was glad to help out and get a free post out of the deal. One of these recipes is a mini peanut butter cupcake from food network magazine, and the other is an oreo cheesecake cupcake from Martha Stewart. Both the recipes were huge hits at the party. They were fairly easy and soo good! Unrelated reminder: Battle Peas and Ginger is up on Foodie Fights!

The cheesecake recipe was super simple.

Adding oreo crumbs to the mix.

The cake recipe for the peanut butter cups was also simple, just everything in one bowl and mix it up.

The peanut butter topping was PB chips melted in cream. After this chills, it is whipped.

Piping peanut butter onto the cupcakes.

This is the chocolate that you dip the cupcakes in.

These need to freeze about 15 minutes before dipping so the peanut butter doesn't melt.

The cupcakes went well together.

And the whole family loved them.

I liked to serve the oreo ones upside down.

Yum. I normally go toward chocolaty/peanut butter type desserts, but surprisingly I liked the cheesecakes better!

The peanut butter cupcake recipe is here, but we used this for the actual cake part cause some of the reviews said the cake was bland.



The Martha Stewart Oreo Cheesecake recipe was nowhere to be found on her site! So here is is on 52 Cupcakes.

"

Chicken Tikka Masala Ravioli

Ummmm.... I am totally making this! Dinner party at my house!! Holy cow. I dare you to not drool as you read this and gaze longingly at the photos.

(courtesy of the blog Food In My Beard)

"Chicken Tikka Masala Ravioli: "

This idea popped into my head the other day and I dropped everything to make it immediately. I was hanging out with people when I thought of it and got home pretty late, but still managed to throw the chicken in some yogurt. When you think about it, this recipe is super obvious and I cant believe I haven't thought of it before. The sauce on chicken tikka masala is tomato based and similar to pasta sauce. This came out amazing. We ate it all and even my family who is sort of shy with indian flavors said it was great. I have never thought to put grilled things into a ravioli, but what a revelation. You can really taste the grill flavor as you eat these.

The marinated chicken and some buttered onions. The marinade was yogurt mixed with some curry powder, salt, pepper, cumin, and smoked paprika, soaked overnight.

Tasty stuff! It sucked that there was still a long time until I could finally eat. This chicken was so tasty I had about 5 pieces fresh off the grill.

I saved a few of these chicken tikka chunks to eat with rice tomorrow.

I recently saw this 5 minute ricotta recipe on serious eats. Put milk and vinegar into the microwave, and take out ricotta! I made this in place of the Indian cheese called paneer.

Ravioli filling done.

More store bought curry powder. I am normally not one to use the store bought mix, I like to grind my own! Today I didn't feel that it was necessary.

Tomatoes, cream, and cilantro in, then blend it all up.

So tasty!

So good that I am putting 5 pictures of the final dish. Deal with it.

This meal is such a natural combination, why didn't I think of this earlier?

Mix yogurt with curry powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until it is a nice reddish pinkish color. Add chunks of chicken. Let it sit overnight. Skewer. Grill.


Along with the chicken, grill some onions that have been spread with butter and salted.


Follow this recipe for 5 minute ricotta. Or this classic ricotta method.


Chop the above grilled items, then mix it all together with the cheese for the ravioli filling.




Make pasta with this recipe. Roll it into sheets and make ravioli.



Make a paste with ginger, garlic, chiles, and curry powder. Saute the paste in butter for 2 minutes. Add a large can of tomatoes with the juice, and some cream. Add cilantro. Simmer for 10 minutes, then puree with a blender.


Boil the ravioli in salted water for about 5 minutes. Toss in the sauce and serve.

"

Trololo Man found!!!

Remember on video week... I wondered where Trololo man was.

I FOUND HIM! SO had a lot of other people on FB... but I had to post this! It is a current video of this gentleman watching all of the youtube parodies of his now infamous song. brilliant. :)

You Know You're From Georgia IF....

Ok - I have had this for a while and thought that it would make an awesome post. It made me pee my pants a little... so true!

A little background. I was born in Augusta, GA - but moved to Watkinsville, GA when I was 7 as my mother decided to go into Law School at UGA. Watkinsville is this tiny tiny farming town right outside of Athens, GA. I think Watkinsville's primary purpose was to provide land for UGA's agricultural school! People say they are from the country, "I had to pass a cow pasture on my way to school!!!" I get a kick out of responding with, "My high school was surrounded by cow pastures and a cemetary." There was one grocery store, Bells. There was one gas station, The Golden Pantry. There was a Dairy Queen. That was it. Anything else and you had to go into Athens.

Now, as I grew up and we all got into High School - "the man" made his way into Watkinsville and created.... a Hardees. A Publix. McDonalds. Blockbuster. A Coffee House. omg.... we were all so excited! I think the town gained a few pounds when the McD's came in. Oh... and let's not forget - one of the very first Zaxby's as one of the founders is from W-ville. I hated it, growing up. Feeling as though there was nothing to do and we were all bored out of our minds. NOW... I kinda want to move back. But only to the Watkinsville of my youth. Not the trumped up, strip mall town of the present. Oh well....

On to the post!!!!!

You Know You're From Georgia IF....

1. You can properly pronounce Chickamauga, DeKalb, Dahlonega, Smyrna, Buena Vista, Valdosta, Hahira, Houston Co., Milan, Okefenokee, and La Fayette.
P.S.. Atlanta = ADD-LANNA not AT-LANT-A.

2. You think people who complain about the heat in their states are sissies.

3. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.

4. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but by the availability of
shade.

5. Stores don't have bags or shopping carts, they have sacks and buggies.

6. You've seen people wear bib overalls at weddings and funerals.

7. You think everyone from a Yankee-state has an accent.

8. You measure distance in minutes.

9. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean.

10. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.

11. You know cowpies are not made of beef.

12. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date.

13. You know someone who has a belt buckle bigger than your fist.

14. Almost everyone you know is either Baptist or Methodist.

15. A Mercedes Benz isn't a status symbol. A Chevy Silverado Extended Bed Crew Cab is.

16. You know everything goes better with Ranch dressing.

17. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.

18. Ironically, you only crave Chik-Fil-A and alcohol on Sundays..when neither are sold.

19. On one side of the road there's Wal-Mart and on the other is a cotton field.

20. The directions to your house include "turn off the paved road."

21. "YALL is a word.

22. Fried chicken is a major part of your diet

23. Krispy Kreme dounuts are the only kind of dounuts you eat.

24. You call it a cold Christmas if you don't break out in a sweat in your new sweater.

25. When a single snowflake falls, the entire state shuts down, even if it doesn't stick. The radio and TV news will make snowstorm reports every 10 minutes and the grocery store will be completely sold out of bread, milk, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer.

26. People actually grow, eat and like okra!

27. You know the difference between a hillbilly, a redneck, and a Southerner.

28. Your dog and your wallet are both on chains.

29. Panama City Beach, Florida is a big deal.

30. You understand that at least once a year your car will turn yellow with pollen.

31. You know at least one Bubba, and maybe a few guys named Bo.

32. You say "tuna fish sandwich." (not tuna sandwich)

33. You use "Sir" and "Ma'am" if there's a remote possibility that person you're talking to is least 30 minutes older than you are.

34. Braves=good. Yankees=bad. Mets=LOATH

35.You love sweet tea, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and all Southern comfort food...and Southern comfort

36. You don’t appreciate it, You preciate it.

37. Your last words might be, "Yall watch this."

38. Herschel Walker, Larry Munson, Sid Bream, Hank Aaron are legends

39. You say and know what "I bet your sittin in tall cotton right now" means

40. You use the heater in the mornin and AC in the afternoon during the "winter" season

41. You might have heard of people finding their lost boat in a lake that has dried up recently

42. You know that Hurricanes are those the really big storms that give us lots of rain and a lil wind while at the same times destroys Florida!

43. You know there is more than one type of Pecan

44. You know the general population in the state will be stocking up on ammo and guns due to the new President

45. You say "mash" instead of "push", for example...buttons

46. The Redneck Games in Dublin and Smileys Flee Market are kinda a big deal

47. Savannah is The place to go to in the state for St. Patty's Day

48. The Perry Fair (GA National Fair) is on your calendar of events every year

And finally...
This one is the absolute Gospel truth! I have said this so many
times!!


49. You are 100% Georgian if you have ever had this conversation:



"You wanna coke?"



"Yeah."


"What kind?"


"Dr Pepper"

The video below shows you a little bit of Downtown Athens, GA. With a beautiful song in the background! Sleepy Time In the South... :0)

(ps... if you read this - and are from the south... leave your own favorite southern-ism!)