Gardening 101: Don't Kill It.

Ok, Ok.  I'm not the best at gardening.  I'll get it eventually.. but until then.  I'm loving these hardy (and almost unkillable) plants.

Lantana [Apartment Therapy]

[succulentLOVE]

Rosemary [The Kitchn]

but will they stand the deep south heat??

Napping Perfection.

Y'all know I love a good nap.  Whether it's at work.. or face down on the lawn (or the hill outside the undergrad lib with RSJ in college)... I'm always game for an amazing mid-day nap.

And how absolutely perfect would these be to have around to fall asleep in..?

[Sunset]

[Pottery Barn]

Great Additions to Your Summer Cooking!

Moistly Grilled from Sur La Table -- Keeps your food tender and moist while you grill!

Grill planks for all the smokiness you need in your dishes!  [a fire inc]

 And when you're eating on the lawn... these are perfect for relaxing in the grass.  [Spoon Sisters]

I'm a sucker for grilling out, and once I get my own little patio area set up.. these cute accessories will def be on my wishlist.

Endless Summer.

I'm adoring these summer images from Antonella Arismendi in her Endless Summer photography collection.

Blogs I'm loving.

The Alternative Wife
Her picture posts continuously inspire me and just give me general lovely images to brighten my day.  She's also a highly successful Manhattan-ite with a fabulous style that I aspire to (when I have the dough to have a killer wardrobe!).

Skinny Jeans and a Chai Latte

I feel like a kindred spirit with this lovely blogger -- we have very similar styles and I absolutely adore her latest finds and the insight into her life as a newlywed! 

I'm catching up on all my blogs, and I really adore these wonderful ladies!

And this is life.

So first of all.  He's ok.  He actually made it on his Africa trip (and thus our break-up since I would be gone to NOLA by the time he gets back) -- which we didn't find out he was going on until a few hours before his flight left.

He was hit on his bike by a car that was not paying attention and pretty much t-boned him.  He's in good spirits, although it has really shaken up me and his friends.  He broke his arm and nose.. and her windshield.. and she was the first to apologize and call the ambulance.

It really put a damper on our farewell plans.. well ruined them.. but we made the best of it.  There wasn't much else we could do.. but I am so thankful he wasn't hurt worse.  

And since he was off to Ghana, he made sure to get red, white, and blue colored cast for to rep the US in the world cup.

Goodbye Durham!

So these last few days (and weeks) I've been so busy with my move -- and it's official!  I'm out of Durham (and the Triangle) and off onto the next chapter -- medical school!  So for the next few weeks, I'm a free bird, wandering NC and GA with my handsome dog and visiting family and friends until I move into my apartment in New Orleans.  

One of these days I just want to sit on a porch, with a glass of sangria, and catch up on my google reader.  I hope everyone's enjoying their official first day of summer!

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Poor and Hungry: Turkey Burgers and Lemon Mousse

There's something about a delicious burger that I have been craving lately.  And this was just perfect.  I had some onions and pimiento cheese around.. and 3/4 pound of lean chuck.  After having a get together and some left over dip and a little onion.. you'll spend just a few bucks for the fresh (grass-fed) ground beef and another few bucks when you buy day old sliced bread from Whole Foods.  I can never keep their bread long enough to use a whole loaf anyways, so this is perfect.

The trick for the onions is to carmelize them just right.. a tiny bit of butter and saute them on low/med for about 20 minutes.. get them nice and brown on the edges (and a little translucent in general). 

For the burgers -- Worcestershire sauce is absolutely essential.  A handful of breadcrumbs and an egg yolk will help it all bind together when you're using a pan. (rainy days have a downside..)

Then I found this amazing recipe from Serious Eats for a low-fat lemon mousse.  It was delicious, and with one cup of fat-free greek yogurt, it made 3 large servings.

Materials:

1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt (1 container)
1 lemon worth of lemon zest

1 large lemon's worth of juice (but it could have standed to have another half lemon worth)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup water
1 envelope (about 2 1/2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin -- whole foods sells 4 packets to a box
4 egg's worth of egg whites (large eggs)
Pinch of salt
3/4 cup sugar

Method:
- Mix yogurt, zest, juice, and extract in a small bowl. Whisk together and set aside.

- To a separate small bowl, add water. Sprinkle gelatin on top and set aside.

- Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water (this will make the bottom half of a double boiler). Boil over medium heat. In another bowl, add egg whites, salt, and sugar, stirring gently to combine. Once water is boiling, carefully lower the bowl with the egg whites and others into saucepan. Whisk gently until sugar is dissolved and eggs are near-scalding to the touch. Remove bowl from pan.

-Scrape gelatin water into egg mixture and whisk quickly and thoroughly to combine.

-Put the hot bowl into a bowl of ice water and whisk quickly. Once the mixture is cool to the touch, add yogurt mixture. Continue whipping a few more seconds, until it's all combined.


-Divide mixture among serving vessels and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes. Serve cold.. and they suggest berries which would have been an absolutely delicious addition.

Their final product (ours disappeared pretty quickly haha).  And there's no guilt (not that I ever have any) with this dessert.

Beach Dreams

[Mate Ugrin]

I have a few weeks before I officially move into my new spot.. and this is something that I need to find time to do.. even if it's by myself (which actually would be pretty pleasant).

I'm currently reading through Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.. a true story about a man enduring through Hurricane Katrina and the crisis thereafter.  I love it, and it's really getting me a sense of how New Orleans really was during that time.. which I know I will still help with the rebuilding.. especially that of their healthcare system.

..there's something really peaceful about reading this book on the beach, toes in the sand, and a mimosa in hand.  and of course Coops would come along as well.  I'm digging it.

And this is why I love her.

Kelly Cutrone:

"Some women follow men.  Others follow their dreams."

In a nutshell.  She's my hero.

One of the original boss bitches.  

I'm really tired of hearing all these girls give up what they wanted to do with their lives to be with their man.  It's something I will never regret, although it's hella hard at the moment.  But I've worked too hard to get where I need to be to let anything hold me back.  

..and I've got mad love in my life right now, even without a boyfriend.  Thankful is the word I'm searching for..

Fashion Distractions.

Roberto Cavalli -- Glamour Mag Hungary [via dress, design, & decor]

I can't explain why I'm obsessed with these (and I know S$ would adore them) -- I surely can't wear them in NO.. but they feel very NYC to me.  [words, a blog]

When I get my body on point.. I'm getting a cutout dress like this.  Adore.

[5 inch and up]

It's somewhat of a hodgepodge.. but this is what I'm digging lately from my tumblr feed.

Well hell.

Thank you La Dolce Vita for this addition to my life quotes.  Easier said than done, but it'll all be worth it.

..till it happens to you.

I know what I said

Was heat of the moment

But theres a little truth in between the words we've spoken

Its a little late now to fix the heart thats broken

Please don't ask me where I'm going

Cause I don't know

No I don't know anymore

It used to feel like heaven

Used to feel like may

I used to hear those violins playing heart strings like a symphony

Now they've gone away

Nobody wants to face the truth

But you wont believe what love can do

Till it happens to you

Till it happens to you

Went to the old flat

Guess I was trying to turn the clock back

How come that nothing feels the same now when I'm with you

We used to stay up all night in the kitchen

When our love was new

Oooh love I'm a fool to believe in you

Cause I don't know

No I don't know

Anymore

It used to feel like heaven

It used to feel like may

I used to hear those violins playing heart strings like a symphony

Now they've gone away

Nobody wants to know the truth

Until their hearts broken

Don't you dare tell them

What you think to do

Till they get over

You can only learn these things

From experience

When you get older

I just wish that someone would have told me

Till it happens to you

Till it happens to you

Till it happens to you

I absolutely love this song by Corrine Bailey Rae.  It's gorgeous... and it's a lovely song on my breakup playlist.  John and I mutually agreed that we were not doing long distance (bad experiences in the past), and that we'd much prefer to be good friends than try a relationship that is doomed from the moment I move and end up hating each other.  I need to be on my own for a while (y'all I've never been single since 15. not. good.) and I need to figure myself out.  In the past I would have given up everything I had worked so hard for to make a relationship work, but that mentality is so juvenile and it would only hurt myself.  Everything I have ever done has been to become a doctor.. and I'm not letting anything prevent me from getting there.

I know John and I will be great friends.  We have to be.. but it may mean some critical time apart before we actually reconnect as friends.

This is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.. and I'm scared shitless, but I'm also very excited.  And these upcoming posts may be a little emo (or a lot? ah.) but bear with me.

I miss dance class.

..especially when I look at these gorgeous pictures by Dane Shitagi.  I think I just may enroll in a (credit-only) dance class at Tulane.  Perhaps in 2nd semester once I get settled into my classes?  

[Dancing in the City series]

Don't you wanna..

just head to the beach by yourself (and your handsome pup) and sit and relax with your feet in the sand?  Just chilling out and contemplating where your life is headed?  I feel like it's all happening so fast (and sometimes not fast enough).. it's eerie.  My friends and I are all headed in different directions, which is exactly what we're supposed to be doing.. but it's a little surreal.  I'm so proud of all of us for really doing the things in life that will get us to where we need to be in life.  RSJ is her own HR powerhouse in Asheville (which, ahem, is a temporary location missus!) and S$ is doing big things in NYC with social work at Columbia.  When did we get so.. adult?!  

But lately I've been having a strong pull towards heading down to the beach house after my last day of work (and after I've fully moved out of my apartment) and just.. being.  Does that make sense?  I swear I'm usually not this deep in my head (mainly because it's scary to me.. all those.. thoughts! ah! haha), but it'll be good to be a little introspective.

And with these images, I'm having even more of an urge to go as soon as I can.

[Miles of Style]

 [Ringo, have a banana!]

[The Alternative Wife]

Any of y'all heading to the beach this summer?

Octopus Love.

I'm really loving these octopus images.. it's giving me inspiration for a future tattoo.  Idk what it is, but these creatures are fascinating to me.

 [little blue bird studios]

[gimme a high five tumblr]

[octopi love]

Fun facts?  They have amazing eyesight and a really well-developed brain.. which has evolved separately from mammals.  It's the closest to an "alien" life form that has been found.  Also?  3 hearts.  Blah-dow.  There are highly intelligent and interesting animals.. and I could go on for a while.. but I won't bore y'all with my nerdy tendencies. 

Science is awesome.

SFP: Visiting NOLA

I fully expect that when I move to place like New Orleans, I'm going to get a lot of visitors.. and I welcome y'all!  However.  I'm also a student... and with this comes massive amounts of studying. BUT.  The good news is, for a lot of this town, you don't need a tour guide.. especially where I'll be living.  Just grab a beer, and walk around the city while I'm holed up in the library.

But I def won't be studying the whole time.. Tulane's really got this motto down to a science -- "work hard, play hard"... and even the Med School's chaplain gets down.  So here's a basic guide for your visit so you won't be sorry for partying (SFP).

1.  Don't double fist.  Especially when one fist is a hand grenade.

2.  Just say no to any kind of "bombs".  Anything that sounds destructive, will be.  (I should have trusted my gut on this one.)

3.  Be nice to the locals.  And everyone showing you a good time.  You could be this guy.  SFP.

4.  In New Orleans.. sometimes the shots are huge.  But on second thought..  let's stick with beer.  Marathon drinking y'all.. not a sprint.

5.  Speaking from experience, a 6am flight out of NOLA is asking for trouble.  But even if you think you'll be good and come back at "bar close" (which is never, ps) and sleep for a few hours.. always have your bags packed.  Case in point?  3am.  We've come back to drop off some friends, bags packed, and I go out with the gays for some more drinking and shenanigans.  Flight?  6:30am.  Actual time I leave New Orleans?  11am.

 
6.  And finally, get excited, because as soon as you get picked up from the airport.. we're doing this.  (in Louisiana you can drive with an open container.. as long as you're not the driver..  don't worry Mom haha).  Monsoons upon arrival.  (destructive?  of course.)  You can't leave this city without having an amazing time.. and it literally starts upon arrival.

I'm moving in less than a month!  Visitors welcome!

A Memorial Day Picnic!

The boys and I went out to the American Tobacco Trail on Memorial Day.. and it was just the perfect relaxing day.

How cute was this little picnic backpack JP got me for Christmas last year?!  It had everything you need for wine, cheese, and other food.  There's even a cooler in the back.

Here's our spread.

And look at how relaxed Coop is?!  Gah, I love this guy.

Of course there was wine..

I absolutely love the summertime.