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The Birthday Girls
January 15th is the birthday of two special ladies, my Mom and my dear friend Katie.
Katie has been one of my closest friends since my freshman year in college- 2008. It’s hard to believe that one person stood by my side through my college years, the ending of a long term relationship, graduating from college, moving to a new city and starting a new relationship. We both had the same goals while in college and worked together in our campus job. We balanced each other out and made ourselves into a dynamic duo. She is the Boot to my Hammer. Today she lives 20 minutes away and we try to see each other as often as possible. Happy Birthday to one of the most genuine, most sincere, and most loving friends in my life!
My Mama is one special lady. I wrote about our special bond in November but if you missed it check out (THIS) post. She is one of the most selfless, loving, nurturing, and intelligent women I know. She is a loyal friend and family member through and through and would give the shirt off her back for someone she loves. I don’t know anyone else who would drive three hours and across the bay bridge just to take me to a doctors appointment when I was sick. Happy Birthday to my favorite travel, shopping, and Ludacris singing buddy. Love you Mama!
12×30 January Week 2
The 12×30 Challenge has been great so far! It helps me to be able to highlight one part of my day that really stood out. It doesn’t have to be a huge moment, something as small as a hot cup of Starbucks coffee counts too. I missed a few days this past week so I’m going to be working extra hard this week to NOT MISS A DAY!
Monday
Last Monday was the first night of The Bachelor! My roommates and I gathered in the living room with a nice bottle of champagne and lost our minds over the shenanigans that is already happening! I have my favorites and then I have the girls that I’m questioning as to why they made it past the first night.
Tuesday
Tuesday was the REALLY cold day here in Baltimore at a balmy 15 degrees. I walked the mile home from work and thought all of my appendages were going to fall off before I made it to the front door. Upon arriving at my stoop I realized our outdoor faucet had burst and our entire stoop was covered in about 3 inches of ice. It looked like Kevin McAllister had been over and rigged the place. The ice is FINALLY gone- 8 days later
Wednesday
I forgot to take a picture!
Thursday
Have you ever heard of Drunk History? From my understanding, it used to be a youtube series that was later picked up by Comedy Central. They get people drunk and ask them to explain an event that happened in history as actors act out the scene. We heard they were filming in our local bar on Thursday night so we went there in hopes of being chosen or getting our 15 minutes of fame. Neither happened but it was still good to get out of the house and see my friends.
Friday
Friday I held the baton! Yay!
Saturday
Annnnd I forgot again
Sunday
I always make a soup or something in my crock pot on Sundays. Since its been so chilly and everyones been feeling under the weather I thought I could use a little homemade chicken noodle soup. I obviously had to pair it with a soda to complete the meal.
Mondays will be the new 12×30 Recap Days around here when I have some fun stuff to report!
Toodles
My time holding The Baton
Happy Monday everyone!
As you all know I held The Blog Baton on Friday and was so excited to do so! I signed up for the exchange within a week of Mason announcing it and yet I was given a date three months later! The response both from interested participants and the interaction between bloggers has been really cool to watch.
I was actually a little nervous to hold the baton. What if no one liked my photos? What is no one responded? What if I didn’t gain a single hit on my blog or followers on my Instagram? I had nothing to worry about! So many of my fellow bloggers, friends, and family commented and liked the pictures showing me that I was not posting to crickets. I also had double the amount of views of my blog and gained 15 new Instagram followers. Overall, this was so worth doing and I’m excited to get to know my new friends better!
Here are the photo I posted in case you missed it:
This was my highest liked photo and my favorite one that I shared
I was sooo excited to upload one of the incredible sunrises that I see every morning on my walk to work but of course it was sleeting on the day I was scheduled to hold the baton.
I wanted to share a photo of my view at work!
My favorite part of holding the baton was being able to interact with other bloggers. I was heading out to dinner and drinks with some friends and couldn’t make a decision on an outfit. I posted this and asked the ladies to tell me what they thought.
They chose and I got so many compliments on my outfit 🙂
I went to dinner at Abbey Burger and built my own- so good!
I wrapped up the night with this evening shot (the white light near the top is M&T Bank Stadium) and thanked everyone for hanging out with me!
Tomorrow I’m going to do a week recap of my 12×30 Challenge photos!
I’m holding The Baton today!
Happy Friday!
Today is the day, I’m taking over The Blog Baton! Make sure you follow the account on Instagram (HERE) and check out the photos I will be posting until midnight tonight! && Have a great weekend!
The weekend of productivity + a BIG announcement!
It’s Thursday! Just one more full day of work until the weekend! You’d think I have big plans, but I’m just excited to get some things DONE! I feel like my To Do list has been getting longer and longer as the weeks go on so it’s time to tackle this list!
This weekends goals:
– Give my car the superstar treatment i.e. Emissions testing, oil change, new battery, car wash
– Complete numerous DIY projects
– Purge my room of everything and anything that I do not need or use!
– Catch up on my shows. I desperately need to watch RHOBH, Vanderpump Rules, Courtney Loves Dallas, and the WWHL episode with Carlton.
Please cross your fingers that some of these things ACTUALLY happen because lately I’ve been a big bag of lazy. But that also had to do with my obsession of watching Season 2 of Scandal on Netflix. Now that I’ve completed the season and they don’t have Season 3 up yet, I have no valid reason for being a blob.
SOME BIG NEWS!
Mason from Mason Like The Jar started a beyond genius idea of The Blog Baton. TBB is an Instagram account that bloggers take turns using over a 12 hour period. Each blogger is given access to the Instagram account and can post anything she’d like from midnight to midnight. I love this idea and have spent the last three months following each new blogger that has held the baton. I’m so excited because my day is TOMORROW! Follow (HERE) and check out the photos I’ll be sharing with the world tomorrow!
Go To Recipe: Cowboy Caviar
I feel like I don’t branch out very much when it comes to new recipes and meals. Once I find something I like, I eat it on repeat for a couple weeks and then need a while before I’ll eat it again. I could share my go to meals at for this month but I think my Go To snack to take to parties is more fun! We are winding down from the crazy busy holiday season but there are still events and parties on my calendar and I don’t know about you, but I need some healthy options for party food! Annnnnd if there are any leftovers you can indulge in some healthy snacking as well.
My Cowboy Caviar never fails me- record time for the entire bowl to be consumed is less than 45 minutes (the recipe makes 72 servings!)
Cowboy Caviar
1 15 oz can of yellow corn, drained
1 15 oz can of white corn, drained
2 15 oz cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes, drained
finely chopped cilantro
3 green onions, finely chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
Half of a lime (juice needed)
Combine all ingredients together and mix well. Then squeeze half of a lime over the entire bowl.
Viola! So easy! I always bring the Cowboy Caviar and two bags of organic tortilla chips with me.
What is your Go To Party Snack?
12×30 Challenge
Lately I’ve been in a rut. A rut with work, my personal life, my health, my appearance, my room, etc.
There are little things here and there that I want to tweak and change and with the new year upon us I’m even more motivated to make some changes. Out with the old and in with the new! I don’t think I’ve mentioned on here before but I’m not a huge fan of New Year Resolutions. I think they are too easy to break and by June I can’t even remember what mine were to begin with!
This year I am going to try my hardest to complete a bunch of mini resolutions. Some I have come up with on my own and the rest will be courtesy of the 12×30 Challenge. Kym from Travel Babbles and Jenn from Jennifer Blake have organized a series of challenges each month for 2014. I find its easiest for me to complete personal challenges when I let others in on the secret. Encouragement and interaction keep my attention.
I’m excited to dive in and grow as a person through these challenges. Join me on this journey by using #12x30Challenge on your social media accounts!
Just Breathe
It’s going to be one of those days. I just need to remember to breathe and let be.
Soup of the Day 