7.17.2012

Tasty Tuesday - Shepherds Pie {Kinda}

So today I had planned a delicious peach cobbler for you all. But, it was my last day off work for the week and I didn't feel like going to the grocery store today. I also didn't feel like getting out of sweatpants or brushing my hair. So, peach cobbler will be next week!


I still had some brownies anyway because my hips were craving those earlier this week. And by my hips I mean Jason and anyone knows I can't help myself when baked goods include chocolate.


Anyway.


I decided to try my hand at some yummy meat pie! The European in me was crying out for something traditional. 


I know, I know. Its not actual Shepherds Pie because its using beef instead of lamb. But I'm on a budget and that budget includes cheap meat! 


If anyone wants this recipe, feel free to comment and tell me and I will post it for you and everyone else's benefit because this pie is so delicious!!!


Now, I only have one photo because I didn't take any of the cooking process because my dog was standing on my feet the whole time and I was a little lazy *think back to why this isn't cobbler*. So here is my one and only photo which is also semi-eaten because we were starving.


Side note: I love paprika in my mashed potato crust.


Happy eating!!

7.15.2012

Makeover {Bathroom Edition}

I love the apartment I live in. Its spacious, the neighbors are great, the layout is PHENOMENAL, and its inexpensive for the neighborhood. And I don't mind paying a little more for an outstanding neighborhood... Personal preference.


But it is an apartment, so its moderately plain. You can dress up the walls with art, add bright curtains, and have fun furniture but its not the same as painting and having architectural details. But, its an apartment and you can't do that.

Well, I'm about to break the rules ;)

In the bathroom at least.

It all started with this amazing, beautiful, unique clock I found at a flea market in California while I was on vacation. 



Isn't this the best flea market clock you've ever seen??


It was gorgeous and I knew I had to have it, even though it had a $100 price tag and I had no idea where I was going to put this.


So, bargain-hunter me talked the man down to $44 and after months of indecision, it was put in the bathroom.


I decided I wanted to do a pirate theme instead of nautical, but the only inspiration I could find was for a little boys bathroom and thats not what I was going for at all. I didn't want blues or greens or tans or blacks. I wanted something stormy, sexy, modern, and adult.


I started thinking about what I thought of with all of those buzz words and it hit me. Fantastical stormy seas. Below is my inspiration. Enjoy ;)


This is going to be the color of my bathroom. Its by Ben Moore and its called Stormy AF-700. Its a nice medium gray without too much blue or brown or green in it. I am putting in some white chair rail trim about 5" below an existing towel rack on my far wall and this is going to be the color above that.


The bathroom already has natural oak and white cabinets, but I can't change that, nor do I have to money, so I just have to work with that. So the rest of the colors are going to be plum and white with natural oak colored details.



These are the bath mats I am going to put in. We have a navy one right now, but it needs replaced. I am putting on in front of our long vanity, one is going in front of the shower and the last one will be the toilet contour rug. I really think these colors will look outstanding together. They remind me of a stormy, ocean at twilight.


This is the style of chair rail trim I am considering. I might make mine a little thinner than this, but I think I will have to buy a few samples to really decide. {side note} I have serious bathroom envy over this photo.


I'm going to be adding some floating shelves above my toilet, I like the 2 as opposed to 3. Mine will be white though, instead of the black in this photo.



This is the shower curtain I am saving up for, I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Jason isn't too fond of the white, but I told him I could *probably* figure out how to dye it something darker.



This is the final photo I have for you guys. I absolutely love this and think it is perfect for the feel I am going for. I know exactly where its going and it is ridiculously affordable.


I will be adding more to my inspiration and once I start my painting and styling, I will be updating you with loads of photos so that you may follow along, most steps of the way. If you have any ideas for me that you think I would love, comment with some links, I love receiving new ideas!!


A cloudy, Oregon day to you!!



7.10.2012

Tasty Tuesday: Tuna Pasta Salad

Oh man, only the second one and I almost missed it! 


Its okay, I'm here now :)


This week I was watching a YouTube video of one of the ladies I subscribe to and she made a summer recipe instead of a beauty tutorial.


I was surprised, but it sounded soooo delicious and I knew I just had to try it.


It is a pasta salad, normally I'm not even a little bit of a fan of these, but this one actually sounded pretty amazing. And I added some extras :)


Below is the recipe and my not-too-appetizing photo because I had already started eating it before I took my picture. So, excuse the photo, it doesn't do it justice.


The reason I normally don't like pasta salad is because its either too mayo-y or too vinaigrette-y. This one manages to be the perfect combination of both of them. Try it out, its simple and very cheap!


Sorry again, it tastes better than it looks half eaten....


Ingredients:
3 1/3 dry cups of rotini pasta
2/3 cup mayo
2/3 cup italian dressing
1 T oregano
2 cans of tuna
4 roma tomatoes diced (or any, I was going to use grape tomatoes halved, but roma's were on sale)
5 pepperoncini sliced thinly
*Optional: cucumber, bacon bits, mushroom, chicken, artichoke, olive.....


1. Boil pasta, drain, and let cool.
2. Mix together mayo, dressing, and oregano.
3. Add in cooled, cooked pasta and mix together with sauce.
4. Mix in both cans of tuna, veggies, and any additional ingredients.
5. Chill for at least an hour then enjoy!


I like to keep this in my fridge for a quick lunch or to take to work for a snack with some protein! 


If there are any food requests, feel free to ask for them!! I like a challenge and will make nearly anything!


See you next Tuesday ;)

7.07.2012

I'm sexy and I know it...

Because I..I..I..I work out!!! 


Yeah, that was really cheesy, but thats me haha!


I have started a new work out regimen and I feel like I am really going to stick to this one. I forgot how good it feels to get runners high and how good it feels to push myself to my limits, knowing that my body is slowly transforming.


I have to get in shape for me wedding that is less than a year away, and I have to get in shape for life!! Jason and I are planning for kids a few years out and I want to be a positive life example, with my habits already formed instead of just trying them out. 


Health is very important to me and I have let it go the last year, but no more!! I started my workouts two days ago, and in a week I will update with what I have been eating and how I have been exercising.


I may even post update photos of myself with weight and accurate fat percentage. But thats if I decide to be brave, I've really let myself go as far as fitness is concerned.


When I post my weight, its not because I want to weigh a specific amount because I honestly don't care what my actual weight is. I am posting it with my fat percentage so the transformation between fat weight and muscle weight can be more accurately measured.


I will also post what I have been eating once a week. I'll do it on Friday and call it Fitness Friday


There I go with the set blogging days again...


I hope I inspire someone to work on their fitness!!


Stay sexy!

7.03.2012

Tasty Tuesday: Raspberry Pie

I am not normally a person who likes to do themed days because I feel it can be constricting to my creative writing juices, but I think this Tasty Tuesday will help me try new recipes.


It gives me a goal to try something new at least once a week. 


This Tuesday I created a pie. I wanted to make a pie from scratch anyway and I just happened to have over a pound of raspberries on my hands.


My mother-in-law and father-in-law came to visit from California and stopped at a Farmers Market on the way up. Oh man, did they pick up some tasty treats!! They brought this thing called a Bumbleberry Pie. It has loads of delicious berries and some other yummy fruits like apples. 


They also bought a flat of raspberries and they needed to be eaten because they were far too delicious to be thrown out. 


Insert delicious raspberry pie.



Cleaning the rest of the good ones.


After I made my super yummy, flakey, buttery, and get this, SOFT crust!


Going into the oven for the next hour. Its torture smelling it for so long!


Finally the finished product just begging to be eaten! It was still steaming hot during this photo. I'm surprised I've been able to hold back from just horking down the entire thing!


If anyone wants the recipe leave me a comment. I'll put it up sometime this week, but only if I get some comments asking for it ;)


Stay Tasty!!