the great omelette breakfast.

I used to be the world’s best sleeper. I could sleep through anything, to the point where it worried my parents a bit. But as I’ve gotten older and more and more like my mom, I’ve begun to develop her sleeping habits, which are less than stellar. It seems that unless I have a bottle of wine or haven’t slept in days and need to crash, I just can’t make it through the night.

This morning I was wife awake at 5 am and finally succumbed to it and got up. I went ahead and got dressed for work and went in the kitchen to fix something for breakfast with all my extra time.

My coworker and friend Paula brought me a dozen double yolked eggs the other day. One of our farmers had them and uses them to breed and can’t breed double yolks so was just handing them off. I need to have the gang over for brunch or cook something big with them soon because what do you do with 30 double yolked eggs?

I decided I would make an omelette since it’s been a long while since I did that. And also because my stove top looks like this:

I think making omelettes is pretty easy. I cracked 2 eggs and dumped 2 of the yolks (4 yolks is just too much). I scrambled them in a bowl with a little bit of almond milk. In the meantime I took a pan, sprayed it with (100% olive oil) pam, and heated it up. I poured the egg mixture into the pan and cooked it like a pancake before flipping it. Once flipped I added diced onions, bell pepper, and tomato with a little but of cheese. Then I closed up the omelette and cooked for a little bit longer.

It was delicious.

I also cooked my red potatoes last night for dinner. For that I used the following recipe:

6 red potatoes (quartered then chopped into bite size pieces)
2 tbsp prepared pesto
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced garlic - I used 3 cloves.

Preheat oven to 450. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and toss well. Spray a large baking sheet with pam and spread potatoes on pan and roast in oven for about 25 minutes. At 15 minutes I stirred them to prevent burning.

They were good though in the future I probably won’t cook them quite as long.

short & sweet & full of fun.

This weekend started out exactly as weekends should: with happy hour at Salty Nut. Mary Beth and I split a pitcher of Long Island ice tea and I got a veggie burger to eat.

Don’t you worry your pretty little head, we also had frickles.

Afterwards we headed over to Hair of the Dog, soon to be our version of Cheers. We played the shot wheel and we played shotski.

Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to a beautiful view.

I headed out to run errands before the rest of Forest Acres was up and rewarded myself with a misspelled chai.

Charles picked me up around 9:30 and we headed out to Gilbert to pick up a piece of furniture I was purchasing from Craigslist. After we brought it back and unloaded it at my place we headed back out to go to Lake Murray and take Charles’ new boat out with Zack.

It was a perfectly overcast day on the lake and a great afternoon to spend with the guys drinking a few beers and catching up.

After Charles and I headed back into town we met up with our friends at Miyo’s for supper and sake followed by everyone going over to my brother’s house afterwards to hang out. It was a nice Saturday with friends.

Sunday morning I woke up bright and early again and went over to Mom and Dad’s to hop in the car with them and headed to New Zion to surprise my grandmother at church.

We headed to Becky’s Restaurant for lunch and then back to Nana’s to catch up. Of course I couldn’t resist going through her she’d and attic while we were down there. I’m so excited about my finds.

We had a long afternoon in New Zion and I had to get back to Columbia for a long overdue reunion with three of my best friends from Clemson. Mandy is about to relocate from Pennsylvania to Louisiana and is staying at her parent’s house in Greer until her move in one week so she and Elizabeth drove down from the upstate and met Joy and me at Takosushi for dinner.

I had so much fun and always realize when I see those girls just how much I miss them. The night could’ve gone on forever but unfortunately we had to go.

We’re like a brunette mafia.

I was so sad to see such a fun filled weekend end but so ready for sleep!

to the 704 and back.

Friday night I finally headed back up to Charlotte to see my sweet Laura for her dear stepmom’s 50th birthday party at The Duke Mansion. I was excited to get to see my friend and also to finally see where she works! I hear her talk about the Mansion daily and I’ve gotten to see it used as part of the set of Homeland so needless to say I was excited about the evening for a bajillion reasons.

Here is how happy we were when we finally saw each other:

We may love each other a little.

Or a lot, apparently.

I also love her sweet friends. Here we are with Chelsea!

And here I am falling in love, of course.

It was such a fun night with my beautiful friend and all the people that are so dear to her. We danced the night away with champagne + chambord and a quick trip to Brazwells at the end of the night.

The next morning Laura fixed me a delicious breakfast of Ezekiel bread, homemade salsa, avocado, egg, and raw goat cheese.

She also tried to make me drink champagne, of which I was having none of. When I finally became human again we headed to Kickstand for a black bean burger and fries. Totally my new favorite black bean burger. (Sorry, Tupelo Honey.) Here’s what it put together:

The Spin Class
Veggie burger with pepper jack cheese, guacamole, chipotle ranch, on whole wheat bun

I was so sad to leave Laura and head back to Columbia. I can’t wait for my next trip to the Queen City!

paint and pour.

For a million reasons and about a million times I have always said I would never go to a paint and pour night. Yet last week I did just that for my sweet friend Morgan’s birthday. Mary Beth, Amanda, and I met her out there to celebrate with wine and paint. The place, Unwine, was just what I expected with the exception of one thing — they used STENCILS. I have painted a lot in my life and that was a first. And, a trait to which I attribute (or blame) my mom for, I’m pretty free handed with a paintbrush so I don’t react to stencils like my friends did, carefully tracing the outline. I just drew a loose line around it and figured it’d all come out on the wash – er, paint.

Here are Mary Beth, mine, and Amanda’s finished products:

My main problem with this concept is that I paid $35 for a piece of artwork I don’t want to hang when I could’ve probably bought 7 canvases for that price. But I am glad I got to spend time with my sweet friends.

Afterwards, Mary Beth and I headed over to Alex’s new house (currently under construction) and placed the canvases on his mantle. He informed me later he’s using them for kindling. Bollocks.

what a perfect weekend looks like.

Friday night after work I headed home to change clothes and send Reagan a threatening picture.

Daniel picked me up and we headed to the Back Porch to meet up with Michael and Darryl for dinner and drinks. Then we all headed over to the Township to see Band of Horses. I thought the concert was amazing and we got to see Brittany and Derrick, too!

Saturday morning I headed to Pilates of Forest Acres with Brittany and her mom to do a barre class. It was a great workout and only slightly different from Pure Barre. My legs definitely hurt afterwards.

When we left we headed to Cafe Caturra for lunch. I had the crab cakes with shrimp, fried eggs, and potatoes. It was delicious.

And of course I had a couple bellinis too.

I left Brittany and her mom (and Derrick and baby Grace who joined us for lunch) to head to Trader Joe’s, run by the library, and get home to put a coat of paint on a side table I’m repainting.

That evening, Brittany, Derrick, and I headed down to their condo at Stadium Village Lofts to people watch at Kennygate. We could hear the music perfectly from the rooftop. We got to eat and drink well.

And hear some of my favorite music live.

Saturday morning was Cinco de ‘Merica! I got up and headed to Piggly Wiggly first thing. When I got home I made guacamole and brownies and found my stick on mustaches for the party. I headed over to Mims and Andy’s for a perfect day with my best friends full of mimosas, margaritas, sangria & champagne, burritos, movies, and a whole lot of laughs.

I hope everyone’s week is half as wonderful as my weekend was!

fishy.

Yesterday was overcast and windy and my coworkers kept telling me I probably have bronchitis but I ignored all that and headed to Lake Murray after work to spend some time on the water with my friend Jeff.

We stayed out there for a few hours catching up and baiting hooks. We caught 2 fish. My last one was the best and I caught it while reeling in my line!

Man I love fishing.

is this poetry?

It’s the simple things

And the laughter

And the way one person can give you hope.

It’s the freeness to ask questions

Or share quirks                   

Or even sneeze.

It’s the help one person gives

With a project

With a dream.

It’s the way even when you’re unsure

You’re pretty sure.

You’re thinking about it.

It’s the way

Even in the midst of things

Even just one thing can bring a smile.

the [short] list.

Following my conversation with Peter last week I started thinking some more about what I’m looking for in my other half. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about it at all. In fact, lately my thoughts have been restricted to bad dates and, you can guess, what I don’t want in a man as a result of those “dates.”

My wants and wishes change over time and I’m realizing they have become something almost less defined but more happiness-centered. Here we go.

1. Can make a mean grilled cheese. Because no matter the day, no matter the moment, if he can master a grilled cheese I will swoon. I will need swooning pants. And I will want to grab him and kiss him thank you. So if he’s smart he either already knows what he’s doing or he needs to learn. Grilled cheese is always better when made by someone else.

2. I think I can handle it now if you don’t love sports like I do. But one thing is for certain: you must entertain the idea that I love sports. Listen when I talk about sports articles I’ve read. And attend Clemson games with me. Have no fear, we have beer at our tailgate.

3. Makes me laugh. Simple and true.

4. Will hold the level, operate the drill, carry the heavy piece of furniture, clasp my bracelet, cook on the grill, and pour my mixed drinks.

5. Wants to sit on the back deck with an ice cold beer and some bluegrass music dreaming big with me and making plans. And then live them out.

What do you say, world? Think you can throw me a bone?

spring beach weekend twenty 13.

I have been blessed with an especially awesome group of friends that have become like family. Thursday night we headed to Litchfield for the first time since September to spend a long weekend together.

After hamburgers (for some) and tofu burgers (for others) on Thursday evening + a lot of laughs and a bit of alcohol, we headed to sleep only to wake up to this view:

Friday morning post-trip to Piggly Wiggly and breakfast burritos I headed out for a nice 3 mile run that made me remember why I love running so much. It didn’t hurt that it was beautiful and breezy. That afternoon we sat on the beach in sweatshirts and ate grilled cheese for lunch while the guys played volleyball.

When we came in we cleaned up and waited for the rest of the crew to arrive while Charles prepared his famous shrimp and grits.

And a grand ole time followed.

So thankful for all my friends and especially for Mary Beth.

Saturday we headed out to a warmer (yet still windy) day on the beach where the girls caught sun and the guys played bocce ball.

An evening followed with Daniel’s chicken enchiladas, beef empanadas, and rice and beans (for those of us non-meat eaters). And not to be forgotten – pig shirts for all.

I’m suffering from withdrawal from each of them today.

panic!

Last Wednesday I headed to Tavern straight from work for a couple of beers.

Two hours later I was in the Township Auditorium with all the other hippies in town dancing my ass off to Widespread Panic.

The show was amazing and fun and the whole night ended with my friend Daniel exposing me to the greatest thing ever: an aisle of post-concert food stands that included a grilled cheese made with garlic salt. It was amazing. The whole night was amazing.