Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Costa Rica is Not an Island

Leaving for the beautiful Pura Vida Spa in just 3 days!!! Bought a brand spankin new beautiful suitcase (sadly, not pink) today and am beyond excited to fill it up with all my yoga goodies.

Last night Mom and I watched Legally Blonde 1 AND 2. She loved them!! Now hopefully she won't be so hard on me...

I've been a sucky blogger lately, i know, but i promise i'll be better when i'm abroad. Kisses!

Monday, August 20, 2007

La Dolce Vita

This past week has been absolutely divine. I've been in Dallas, not worrying about school at all, and having a heck of a time cleaning, decluttering, and re-decorating. When my parents moved into this house a few years ago, they didn't really have the time to fix it all up properly. So i've taken it upon myself to turn this house into a home. I've already done my room, and it's completely pinkified (though in a classy, not 12-year old way) and wonderful. I'm working on my sister's room/guest room so that they may have a pleasant stay when they come for Christmas. The gameroom has been transformed, as it was previously just a junk room, and now sports a new coffee table, booksheld and two chairs all courtesy of IKEA but i swear it looks like Crate & Barrel thanks to my touch. ;-) I'm re-doing my mom's desk b/c it's really hideous. I mean, she was using weird plastic containers to hold her pens, and really old outdated paper sorters. Yuck. I remedied that problem immediately and bought some supplies @ IKEA (where else?) and even painted one of the pieces and customized it with "MOM'S DESK." She's going to love it!!

Speaking of Mommy, she's in California right now visiting my sister and my bro. It's crazy how much i miss her already. I'm 24... will i ever stop missing my mom? Doubtful! She returns tomorrow, and my plan is to have the house gorgeous for her arrival. Who said i wasn't a good daughter? ;-)

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Happy Birthday to Moi!


Thank you, my darlings, for all the delicious birthday messages!! It's not even noon, and i feel beyond loved. :-)

I must say, i feel like this birthday is right up there with the one where i got Barbie's FABULOUS hot pink dreamhouse. I received some great news on Thursday afternoon. I am officially done with non-fun things and can focus all my attention to Costa Rica, Paris, London, Italy, Greece, etc. I've never felt closer to my parents, and the level of honesty and mutual respect between us is incredible. I think i've finally come to peace with the fact that my sister is married and despite that fact, she still adores me as her petite soeur. I have AMAZING friends who continue to support and inspire me. And even though i'm about 30 lbs heavier than i'd like to be, my eyes are always puffy b/c of these darn Austin allergies, and i most definitely have to take the MPRE again, life is tres sweet. And i'm uber thankful to the big guy above.

Happy birthday to me. :-)

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Fancy Nancy


I love Fancy Nancy!!!!!!! I mean she is totally me...

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Remorse

I'm sorry. I take it all back.

It's A Grind

At the risk of sounding superficial and well, let's be honest, like a huge b*tch, i have to say that this place is full of unhappy, selfish, and unattractive people. They are not willing to share a single one of their 3 unused and clearly unnecessary chairs with you. They will glare at you if you ask, rather kindly, if this seat is taken. They will stare at you, at your inability to maneuver yourself and your schoolbag through the tables. They suck. Particularly the overweight and clearly miserable woman sitting next to me who, I couldn't help but notice, is not wearing socks with her tennis shoes. Oh thank God, she just left. Now i can have this tiny excuse of a table to myself.

Patience Is A Virtue

I'm trying very hard, VERRRRRY hard not to lose my mind. Currently sitting in the computer lab on the 5th floor of the loathed Tarlton Law Library, i am staring at a small sign in the window of the help desk that states: "BACK IN FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE." That's funny. Because i'm pretty sure i've been sitting here for at least twenty minutes (that's 5 minutes TIMES FOUR!), and there has been absolutely zero signs of life except for the random guy sleeping on one of the couches outside by the window. Maybe he's the one who works here? Maybe he anticipated taking just a quick 5 minute power nap and instead got lulled into a deep sleep... Maybe i should wake him up? Maybe i should scream bloody murder because i NEED to get MS Office on my mac so that i can take my TWENTY-HOUR HOUR TAKE-HOME FINAL ON MONDAY!!!!!!!

Breathe.... breathing...

Friday, August 3, 2007

Legally...Asian?


I'm currently watching Legally Blonde while studying for my con law II exam. Goodness i'd almost forgotten how much i adore this flick!! It's so funny to think back to when i first saw it... i had absolutely ZERO intention of going to law school when it first came out, and now... well, now i'm right smack in the middle of law school, aren't i? Granted UT Law is nothing like the Harvard Law portrayed in the movie (although i do empathize with the complete and total non-pinkness of it all), and i am grateful for that. Still, i don't think that handing out scented pink resumes would fly around these parts...

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Kale Gratin & Millet

Having been inspired to treat my dying body better, i whipped up some yummy millet and hearty kale gratin for dinner a few nights ago. I'd never really had either, and i'm happy to say that they both turned out great and were super easy to make. Here are some recipes:

Kale Gratin
1 large yellow onion
4 tablespoons of butter plus 2 teaspoons
1 bunch of kale
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons each freshly grated Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses
3 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs

1. Cut the onion in half lengthwise, then slice it onto the thinnest slices possible.
2. In large, heavy-bottomed skillet with a tightly fitting cover, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. When it foams, add the onions, reduce heat to low, and cover the pain, letting the onions sweat, stirring them occasionally, until they are nearly dissolving.
3. Cut the kale into thin slices and add them to onions. Put the cover no and cook until kale has wilted, about 10-15 min. Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring, until the kale is soft, another 10-15 min.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
5. Grease a baking dish with 1 teaspoon of butter and set aside.
6. Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and flour over the greens, and stir. Increase the heat to high, stirring still, then add the milk, a little at a time, continuing to stir, creating a sauce for the vegetables.
7. When it has thickened, in about 5 min, spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Mix the cheese and breadcrumb s together and scatter over surface. Dot with remaining butter, and bake until the top is crusty and golden and the edges are bubbling about 20 minutes.
8. Serve hot from serving dish.

*I used 1% milk and used only Parmesan cheeses as Gruyere was not in my fridge.*

Millet
1. Bring 2 1/2 cups of water to a boil (add pinch of salt, optional)
2. Add 1 cup of millet (you can purchase in bulk section of Central Market)
3. Cover and reduce to simmer.
4. Cook for 25-35 minutes
5. Uncover and fluff with fork.