This Recipe Will Change Your Life.

With the holidays come the holiday parties! 

This good news quickly subsides to the anxiety of what to bring, wear and when to arrive. While every situation is different, I have one recipe that will completely eliminate the "what to bring" anxiety for the remainder of December. 

You're welcome. 

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Enter Buffalo Chicken Dip. This is an easy crowd-pleaser that always has guests asking for the recipe. 

So without further adieu, the recipe:

1 can of chunk white chicken, drained
1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
1 (8oz) package of cream cheese
1 cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup ranch dressing


Mix all of the ingredients together in an oven-proof bowl. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with your favorite crackers (Rtiz!) or vegetable sticks. 

San Francisco!

Today, the day American Airlines files for bankruptcy, I'm flying on AA to San Francisco. Wish me luck! I absolutely love San Francisco, even though I've only been there twice. It's a love-at-first sight type of thing. One of my dear friends from college moved there a few years ago and I can't wait to see her. 

Here we are in 2007, enjoying a fantastic snow day that delayed the beginning of the Spring semester. UT closed for two days, which we quickly filled with snowmen, popcorn and chickflicks.

And, nearly five years later, we grew up. Reality hits with real jobs, bills and complicated schedules. A month ago, we all got together for a fabulous dinner at Moonshine. I was late, but made it in time for the picture. Priorities.

So, hopefully there's still an American Airlines crew to fly me to San Francisco.

Winter Wishlist

This is what I want to wear today, with red nails and a perfect top knot bun. 

Madewell, Silk Trelliswork Top

J.Crew

Jimmy Choo Peep Toe Pumps

Marc by Marc Jacobs Bag

But, I can be found cleaning the apartment, working on job applications and exercising in yoga pants.

recent reads

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This weekend I started The Poisonwood Bible (by Barbara Kingsolver) after unassumingly picking it up at the bookstore. It completely captured my attention, drawing me into the missionaries' lives as they prepared to leave for Africa in the 1950s. Several friends have recommend the book to me and I'm excited to spend this week engulfed in a great read! 

In other book news, I recently finished Chelsea Handler's book, Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea. The things she can get away with saying are ridiculous and I was often laughing at the paperback hoping no one was watching. It's like getting cocktails with Chelsea, but she's the only one talking. It was hilariously entertaining. If you love her show, standup and personality, then you will love it. 

The Magical Powers of Moisturizing

Happy Sunday! I just got back from a four-day whirlwind in Tulsa for a beautiful, barn wedding. 

It was a great trip, but I'm so happy to be home! 

As previously mentioned, Winter has its way with my skin, drying it up completely and laughing all the way through the holidays. It's impossible to stick with the same moisturizer I use during the summer months, so I'm left researching moisturizers 

(for a completely appalling amount of time). 

This is the most important step for me- finding an amazing, creamy moisturizer that doesn't clog my pores, but lasts throughout the day.  

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This is a basic, but fantastic moisturizer that is readily available at your nearest Whole Foods. It's creamy, but not greasy, and absorbs well into the skin. And, I love that it's a natural, vitamin-based product.

My other winter obsession is a nighttime oil. As oppose to using a separate night cream, I just apply an oil under my moisturizer before bed. It's calming and leaves you with a dewy complexion in the morning. 

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Full disclaimer: I was not satisfied with this product when I first purchased it a few months ago. It's hard to tell if it delivers any of the results promised. BUT the moisture is incredible and since adding it back into my nightly skin-care routine under moisturizer, I can notice a bit more glow when I wake up in the morning. So, first impression aside, it's a recent recommendation.

Does anyone have a moisture mask recommendation? 

I'm not completely satisfied with my current one by AHAVA.

holiday decor

November is well underway, whether I'm ready or not. Which means the holidays will come and go well before I've had my fill of gingerbread lattes. 

Coffee drinks aside, the decorations are one of the best parts of the holidays. Twinkle lights earn the respect they deserve and red is everywhere without being too bold. While buying red and green peanut m&ms is the extent of my decoration so far, I've been brainstorming with great intentions.

Here are a few of my favorite ideas for holiday home decor.

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Stovetop potpourri is such a romantic tradition. It was a staple to have cinnamon sticks on the stovetop growing up, and this collection of orange-peel, cranberries, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg is a variation I can't wait to try on a lazy Sunday. Because smell is everything.

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Filling the canister with ornaments is a great, quirky way to bring the holidays into a space! I love this to help coordinate a color scheme or just bring character to the normal decorations.

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And finally what holiday isn't complete without 80 wine bottles for the creation of this fabulous wine cork wreath. Love it.

More details and step by step instructions are available at the links below each image.

Recommendations for Winter Weather

Oh hey winter, thank you for drying out my skin. It's unbelievable how quickly my skin reverts to its finest desert-land impression. There are a million and one recommendations when it comes to adjusting to the dry air of winter, but only a few have proven noteworthy year after year. My skin is normal/dry and I opt for more moisturizer when all else fails. 

This is what I've learned.

The most important step is to switch to a gentle, cream-based face wash, or even a cleansing oil. Moisture is king, and I've found that the creamier the better. Last winter, I used an oil cleanser which I absolutely loved! The oil removed all makeup and left my skin silky smooth. However, it is a balancing act, because I don't want too much oil, resulting in horrendously clogged pores.  I want to glow like Kate Bosworth, is that too much to ask?

Cetaphil is a great basic wash for sensitive skin. It's inexpensive and never irritates your skin. I like to keep this in the shower as my go-to, everyday cleanser. And, since it's such a mild face wash, it's easy to follow up with exfoliating treatments or face masks.

Pond's Cold Cream is perfect for removing makeup and adding moisture. It's also readily available at all drugstores at fantastically reasonable price-point. I first bought this because I read that Jenny from the Block's mom uses it to this day, and that was good enough for me. (Best when followed with toner.)

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Cleansing oil is best for PM use. Origins makes a great oil cleanser that smells as great as it feels. That's what I used last winter. DHC is not a brand I'm familiar with, but the cleansing oil has received some rave reviews. This is a recent discovery that I can't wait to try!

The cleansing process is followed by various moisturizers/serums/masks that I promise to post about soon! 

What are your favorite products?

I love to hear personal recommendations above all else.

Please take these recommendations with a grain of salt. I'm not an expert and merely spend thousands of hours researching the best face care regimens, because I don't want to waste my $5 on the wrong Pond's product. These are all personal recommendations that I happen to love, with out any strings attached.

a little burst of inspiration

Here's a soundtrack to complete the whole inspiration theme of the last couple of days. While I'm writing it serves as good "break" music as well. Every hour, one 10 minute break keeps me sane.

Also good for hibernation during cold winter days, as is expected tomorrow.

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Animal- Mike Snow

try not to dance.

Fix You- Coldplay

absolutely perfect lyrics.

Give Me the Beat- Ghostland Observatory

the best personal theme song. (because everyone needs a theme song)

The Middle- Jimmy Eat World

take me back.

Louder Than Ever- Sarah Jaffe

hauntingly thoughtful.

Do You Realize?- The Flaming Lips

beautiful.

Guns and Horses- Ellie Goulding

Unique, powerful voice.

philosophical learnings and elle woods

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In school, philosophy was always my favorite. I once petitioned to keep the philosophy teacher at my high school. (I was a very cool kid.) But all this popularity aside, thinking outside the box helps to put your own box in perspective. Have I lost you? I've lost myself. 

Anywho, here's a little tidbit I rediscovered today:

For it is no light undertaking to separate what is original from what is artificial in the present nature of man, and to have a proper understanding of a state which no longer exists, which perhaps never existed, which probably never will exist, and yet about which it is necessary to have accurate notions in order to judge properly our own present state. 

-Jean-Jacques Rosseau

Maybe we spend our whole lives trying to find our original self. 

But what does that mean?

new novels of november

Ok, here’s my November thing. I love the little things. I love when my dog sleeps in and glares at me to turn the lights off in the morning. I love when the Brita is full. I love fresh coffee and cinnamon. But then an equally little thing comes to ruin the lot, and by one fell swoop my happiness subsides. But why? The coffee is still fresh, George still has the cutest of all the faces, but I let some other minute detail override the collection.

In November, I will appreciate the little things that I love with as much energy as I let the annoyances bring me down. It should prove a happy recipe.

I will also be participating in Write A Novel in November. Join me?

resume lessons

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The job market is cutthroat. Unless you live under a rock (cheers to you!), you are aware of the devastating state of the economy. Delving back into this world is stressful, daunting and overwhelming. The life you've lived and all of your accomplishments must now fit onto one page. And that page, could make or break your early career. 

The infamous resume is constantly under scrutiny. What do you include? What format? How do you prioritize your work experience? Over the past month my resume has undergone many revisions and I've learned a few things along the way. Here is a collection of both my thoughts and observations through the job search process.

Constantly update your resume to reflect current work experiences in real-time, with the most recent position at the top with the dates worked  through present (- present). Even if you work at a job you love, just keep track of everything you are doing, developing or implementing. Everyone should keep an updated resume on hand, just in case, because you never know what could happen. Opportunities may arise and you do so many things in a workday that it is easy to forget that month you doubled leads for the sales team. 

Proofread, proofread and then proofread again. This is my weakness. I get so excited about the content that I disregard the minute details in the end, and I've paid for it. When I first redesigned my resume, it was a complete overhaul. Everything from the font to the objective statement was revamped. I hit the ground running, but forgot to proofread the dates for my work experience because that had obviously not changed. Two weeks, hundreds of inquiries and maybe three responses later, I was modifying my objective statement when I realized a date was off. One number decreased my work experience from 1 year and 4 months to a simple 4 months, rather significant. Don't be in a hurry. Re-read everything, slowly.

Tailor your resume with each application. This can be a simple adjustment or a vast overhaul. Recently I read an article that said "Objective" statements at the top of a resume were outdated. I disagree. An employer told me point-blank that it was my objective that solidified my first interview. They knew that we were on the same page right off the bat. An objective takes 5 minutes to update for a specific position and shows you are truly interested in the position (even if you send out 30 resumes everyday). So, it may be old-fashioned, but it got me an interview, and I have yet to hear of someone being turned off by a clear objective statement. Responses, much less interviews, are few and far between, so any little detail should not be overlooked. Tailor as best you can and as often as you can.

Be specific. When I graduated my resume was a generic summary of all of my internships to hit as many bases as possible. This was a great strategy when I first graduated college and was trying to diversify my English degree. But, 2 years later, I need to identify accomplishments and demonstrate the employed value I had for the company. 

An "Interests" section at the bottom is also imperative. Let people know that you have a life outside the workplace and that you bring unique characteristics. At first my interests included "running" and "cooking Italian food," which is decent, but not as noteworthy as "running with my boxer, George" and "perfecting spaghetti sauce." This extra description allows a more immediate connection with the stranger reading your resume. Multiple people have asked about my spaghetti sauce since adding that detail.

Your resume can be daunting, but if you spend a little extra time on it, the return on your investment is priceless. Hope this helps and good luck!

stale coffee beans get fresh

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The Texas Pecan Coffee ran out this morning, so I rummaged through the back of my freezer* for the back-up Dunkin' Donuts coffee beans. Dunkin' Donuts makes fabulous coffee for a simple brewed cup, but they don't stay fresh for long. The result is bitter. And how does one combat dry, bitter coffee beans without running over to the local grocery store? Add a teaspoon of cinnamon to ground coffee in filter before brewing. This worked like a charm. I also added warm almond milk for an extra special cafe au lait. Highliy recommend.

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*I store all of my coffee beans in the freezer to keep it fresh for as long as possible. 

every bathroom needs a chandelier and other nonsense

I live in a fantasy world. The kind of fantasy world where chandeliers always accompany a claw-foot bathtub. It's getting serious and I may never find a suitable apartment. To be fair, this idea was spurred by a friend with equally obtainable expectations. Our back-up plan is a Real Housewives gig. 

Reality, don't bother me.

Now jump on the bathroom-chandelier bandwagon:

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"Man, wow, there's so many things to do, so many things to write! How to even begin to get it all down and without modified restraints and all hung-up on like literary inhibitions and grammatical fears..."

-Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Welcome to my life, Spotify!

This morning I unassumingly clicked on someone's playlist link in Twitter, under the program Spotify. It was not a virus (thank you Jesus), but the newest advancement in music sharing!

Because sometimes my Mariah and other 90s Fascinations playlist just doesn't hit the spot and this variety of recommendations is priceless.

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I'm a big music-discovery person, spending countless hours cherishing those 30-second and then 90-second clips in i-tunes before solidifying any purchases. While I'm still on my first shared playlist, the love is apparent. You can see other music recommendations from your Facebook friends, and you can click on the play button within Facebook to listen to the recommended songs of your friends in their entirety. Love at first sight.

As soon as I solidify the most perfect playlist, I will share via Twitter. Stay-tuned! 

Dance.

george's lesson of the day

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Dogs often growl at George when they meet. He's a ball of energy and sometimes he is a little too intense for other dogs. But George does not give up. Give him five minutes and George will win over even the most grumpy pup. It's a gift. But it's also interesting to watch how easily they get along after the initial hurdle is overcome. Once the differences are past them and George shows his relentless interest in the other, they become inseparable. To watch this roller coaster is entertaining (although sometimes stressful).

And then, how many more people would I know if I simply greeted them as they passed or didn't let a first impression derail me? I'm not the most open person and I like the friends I already have as oppose to meeting new ones. It's comfortable and safe. But everyday George runs up to a new stranger and licks there face. Now, I'm going to draw the line with personal space, but it will be a personal goal to start saying a simple "Hello!" to people I encounter throughout the day.

the happiness of our parents

What a perfect fall day! George and I went to the dog park where he simply ran laps, enjoying the weather, in between little play sessions with the other dogs. It was a beautiful morning. And I'm wearing this next time (as oppose to sweatpants!):

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One of my favorite blogs had the brilliant idea of an article club. From many angles it's a genius concept, the commonly short attention spans, the varied interests, the short time commitment, but what solidified the idea in my mind was her first article selection, a Modern Love column from the Style section of The New York Times. I have read this column religiously for 5 years and am still trying to muster the courage and organize my thoughts enough to submit my own. 

But when I read the selected column, it was this quote that stood out in my mind:

“It’s not age-appropriate to expect children to be concerned with their parents’ happiness. Not unless you want to create co-dependents who’ll spend their lives in bad relationships and therapy."

What are your thoughts on this? Everyone has sad moments, but at what point is the line drawn for inappropriate sharing on the part of the parents? I've recently been thinking a lot about the happiness of my own parents and at what level I need to be invested in their well-being. They raised me and sacrificed a great deal to give me this life, but it's hard to constantly be stressed about their happiness, which, frankly, I'm unable to control.

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While I would want an open and honest relationship with my parents, I am increasingly leaning towards the ignorance is bliss camp when it comes to children. Even as adults, they are still their parents' children and this relationship is the foundation for so much more. 

Nows...

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This morning I'm up early with a plan for it all.  It's easy to remain ambitious before the day begins. There are so many papers piled high on my desk and books that I still need to enjoy before the free time dwindles to responsibility. 

"Forever is composed of nows." -Emily Dickinson

pumpkin season

The first pumpkin pie of the season was a hit! Thank you, Paula Dean. This recipe is perfect, not too heavy, just the right amount of pumpkin flavor and simple as pie (oh, snap). One of my friends even pretended to like pumpkin pie and ate a slice. I have the best friends. The pie was a necessary celebration for the cold-front Dallas is experiencing and the season finale of Dallas Most Eligible. 

Does anyone outside of Dallas watch this show? I'm not sure, although my claim to fame this past weekend was running into Courtney at the neighborhood gas station. 

Love her (minus the whole Neil-hazing phase).

And I will leave you with George in his Halloween costume. He's a pumpkin and he loves it.

complex perfume for a complex life

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Perfume constantly reminds me of places I've been and things that were. It magically transports me completely through the senses, in a way that is personal, romantic and an extension of the self. Needless to say, I'm a bit obsessive about perfume.  I admire anyone who can settle on one scent and never waiver, they know who they are, but I'm still evolving, learning and embracing change. The perfect scent means everything, from first impressions to how you will remember each moment. 

Enter, a new find in the perfume department: Tom Ford Black Orchid. 

There was a sample at the bottom of my latest Sephora purchase and I finally got around to trying it out. It's magical. Conveying a musky scent that I'm always partial too, but then adding a bit of sweetness. It's a more complex perfume. 

As my life is a little complicated right now, it makes sense that I would fall in love with this.

50/50 Movie Review

Life happens without asking for permission. There's no briefing where you are able to discuss the next step or bluntly state that you are not quite ready for that challenge. It would be nice to guide life and have the authority to confirm or deny any change, but then there would be no real challenges or surprises. And while some challenges are small or surprises great, life is never fair with its allocation of tragedy. 

Last night, I finally went to see 50/50. It's tragic to think of anyone getting cancer and suffering through life with such a debilitating illness, but somehow Will Reiser leads the audience into the reality without loosing them. 

It was fabulous. Seth Rogen impressed with his approachability and unwavering loyalty to his best friend, Adam, who developed spine cancer in the movie. Rogen is friends with the screenwriter, Will Reiser, who developed spine cancer in his 20s and based the screenplay off of his own experiences. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Adam in his usual quirky, nerdy persona and Anna Kendrick plays the psychologist in an endearing, naive fashion. Overall, it was a comedy, but a very real comedy, where the depth of any struggles were not dismissed or overlooked. Sometimes, all you can do is laugh.

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9 to 5- Dolly Parton

love everything about this song.

The Show Goes On- Lupe Fiasco

Theme song for my life movie.

Just Dance- Lady Gaga

This will always be my favorite Gaga.

Up on the Roof- The Drifters

Doo-wop.

Better Than Revenge- Taylor Swift

"No amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity."

Boyz- M.I.A.

Because it makes me feel gangsta.

Takin' Pills- Pistol Annies

Pistol Annies are the best thing to happen to country music.

Sometimes- Michael Franti

Dance it out.

dinner time

While the weather may still feel like it's summer in Dallas, we are well into the fall season and I intend to pretend until the weather follows suit. Enter tonight's dinner- Shepherd's Pie.. After researching a few recipes, I settled on this one from Alton Brown of Food Network fame. This meat and potatoes variation is a delicious reward after an hour of cooking. The preparation is simple, but requires some patience. 

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It's perfection. But maybe add some tomatoes.

Tribute to Thai Food

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When the day feels like it will never end, or I've had a week filled with stressful late nights, there's always one thing I crave at the end of it all-Thai food. Finding the best Thai option is a game to me, I love the success and then the hope of topping my current favorite. It's always a to-go order and it must be spicy (when in doubt, add Siracha!). In Austin my favorite was the Thai Noodle House on campus. Not the best atmosphere, but absolutely the best take-out option.

With Dallas, the search began all over again and after many pad thai attempts, I've discovered a hidden, unassuming gem-Thai Thai. 

The pad thai and crab rangoons complete me. While the spice level is adjustable upon request, the peanut to noodle ratio is a perfect balance and this all deserves a top rating in my book. The restaurant is BYOB, which I appreciate (especially considering my uncertain paycheck), because pinot noir goes phenomenally well with a plate of pad thai.

sidewalk adventures

Life is a whirlwind. The past month moved at such an unbelievable pace, void of any consistency, and I'm just now catching my breath. It's beautiful to have a life filled to the brim, but then overwhelming when it all boils down to me still searching. delicious ambiguity.

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George taught me that sometimes you just need to take a walk outside and bounce around on the sidewalk. Which is a ridiculously fulfilling moment every time. It also brings little gifts. So while rent in Uptown is expensive, it continues to dispense designer sunglasses on said sidewalk. Today it was a pair of Coach sunglasses. A few weeks ago it was Marc Jacobs. So I break even.

looking for answers

Does anyone listen to music waiting for the lyric you need to hear?

Have you ever been to a bookstore looking for the answers?

Sometimes I spend days looking for answers, but I know full well the only answers are found through living. 

There's no one to tell you when or why or how, or much less who will bring it all together, if it is to be brought together through you.

Issues of a Blogger

Does anyone know why all of my photos disappeared? Even my personal photos that I uploaded are now a depressing black box with an exclamation point.


The only thing I can think of is that I deleted all photos that were tagged on Google+, but hopefully that didn't translate to my blogging portfolio. 


The whole phenomenon of linking everything together annoys me. This is also why I hate my iphone. Can I please have a phone that efficiently makes calls without alerting me of work emails and the latest facebook location of my friends? Don't get me started on the 5 steps to actually get to a basic keypad, 5 steps to look like a phone. This is possible too much to ask, but I like to keep things separate, I enjoy a good compartmentalization outlook. Is that so wrong? Let's enjoy things, simply and one at a time. 


This is all very annoying. 

Tomato Pie and the life of a Modern Day Grandma

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Last weekend I made a tomato pie and celebrated my 80th birthday. Jeff and I were about to go out of town, but had 4 tomatoes threatening to go bad while we were away. So, while flipping through Southern Living (and watching Golden Girls) I found this recipe and altered it to ingredients we already had. The result is below.

4 medium tomatoes, sliced

1 onion, sliced

1/2 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 cup light ranch

1/4 cup cilantro 

1 cup Gruyere

1/4 cup parmesan

Preheat oven to 350. (I omitted the pastry portion of the pie, but you can use homemade or store-bought, whatever your preference.)

Salt sliced tomatoes and place in bottom of dish (or pastry shell). Place sliced onions over tomatoes.

Stir together mayonnaise, ranch, cilantro and gruyere. 

Spread mayonnaise mixture over tomatoes and onions. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes and let cool 5 minutes before serving.

It resembles a healthy pizza and is perfect for summer days. There are many variations that are worth sampling. 

I promise my next post will be wildly irresponsible in hopes of maintaining an audience under 75. Wild.