Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowl

It can be done!
Recently, I made a trip to Wal-Mart and picked up some Jasmine rice, pico de galo, and a few other things. It was just a normal Wal-Mart raid...but that's beside the point.  When I got home I decided to make some of the rice, but then in a moment of inspiration I added some pico de galo to the mix.  It.Was.Incredible.  It tasted almost exactly like the yummy rice and mild salsa at Chipotle! I instantly knew I wanted to try to recreate an entire Chipotle chicken burrito bowl in my own kitchen.
So I made a plan of attack, and this is how it went down:

1. To make the basis of your burrito bowl, take some jasmine rice and cook it to the instructions on the bag. Once made, add some fresh cilantro, lime juice, butter, and salt.  Done and done.
2. Chicken, chicken. chicken - To make the chicken I followed a recipe on Yahoo! Answers.  I cut up my chicken, then browned it in some olive oil, not vegetable oil.  Once that was done I added all of my spices, garlic, and limes and simmered in chicken broth until ready.  That took about 20 minutes.
3. All that was left was putting it all together! I took a scoop of rice, threw some chicken on top of that, spooned on a good amount of pico de galo, added some cheese (I used a mozzarella and provolone mix), and topped it off with romaine lettuce.  

It was a hit!

http://tinyurl.com/3zneobm
Try This At Home! :)

Cheers to the Freakin' Weekend

That's milk.
The perfect compliment to a few WhoNu? cookies which taste just like Oreos.
{More nutritious, same delicious}
I'd Drink To That [Yeah, Yeah]

It's finally the weekend! Time to celebrate (or if you're Rihanna, drink to that). This weekend a few of my friends and I are heading to a university a couple of hours away to visit another friend who has already moved in and has had a week of classes.  She's so grown up it makes me want to cry...but I won't.  I'm excited to finally see her again! It has been a week after all :P And to make matters even more awesome the university to which she is attending makes Jamba Juice in their union! Methinks this trip will be legen...wait for it...dary.  (I've been watching a little too much How I Met Your Mother) I <3 me some Jamba.  

Wisdom Teeth Update:

I still look as though I could nail a reenactment of The Godfather, but it's getting much better.  Although the right side of my jaw is still more swollen than the left and won't unhinge as easily. Is that a sign of an infection? I hope not!

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! 

Don't do anything I wouldn't do :)

Word of the Week Wednesday!

- WORD OF THE WEEK -

Pretentious 

This word has been on my mind for a few weeks now, for no good reason other than the fact that I love the way it sounds and feels coming out of my mouth :)  This word is awesome because it can be used for so many reasons.

Definition of Pretentious: (from UrbanDictionary.com) "Trying to sound intelligent by using long, complicated words, even though you don't know what they mean."

Ex: Pete - "Hey, listen to this.  It's post-hardcore emomathglitch rock.  The lyrics really reveal the prerequisite existentialism of the singers inner hades!"

      Ed - "Do you even know what that means?"

      Pete - "Um...well, no."

      Ed - "You're so pretentious."

Another reason to love this word is for its undeniable sense of irony.  C'mon...the word pretentious means trying to sound intelligent?  The word itself makes someone sound as if they've been raiding their thesaurus for fun.  

And thus wraps up, Word of the Week Wednesday!

Michigan "Haul"

I've noticed on quite a few blogs that bloggers sometimes upload and post these things called "hauls" that are completely consistent of showing off the the purchases they've recently made. So! I've decided to post my very first haul showing off the things I bought in Frankenmuth, Michigan :)

This little guy is a VooDoo doll that was made to inspire creativity.  I'm definitely bringing him to college :)

Mmmm :) Who doesn't love to smell good!? I found this soap and lotion duo in a cute store that specialized in wool blankets and such.  I fell in love and I'm hoping I can find this brand on the internet!

I'm on a dorm room decoration kick and I found these two posters to hang on my wall!  Love them :)

These boxer shorts came allll scrunched up in what looks like mini-shorts. Once you put them in water, boom! Life size boxers.

I found the cutest hat store in the downtown district.  Cannot wait for fall!

These awesome mustaches came from a joke store that was full of cute and quirky things! Too funny :)

And lastly, after a riverboat cruise (that made me super sleepy) we went to a bakery named
SugarHigh <---awesome name.

They had so many adorable and tasty cupcakes to choose from, I ended up getting the Mint Chocolate Chip. Yum.

So, there you have it! My first haul :)

Missing Teeth Monday

    Guess who just got their wisdom teeth taken out? This girl! And let me tell ya, it ain't no picnic in the park.  When I first got to the doctor's office I found out that the way the doctor's put you to "sleep" is by an IV.  I've never, NEVER had an IV before and as of lately I've been psyching myself out about needles.  When I heard that lovely bit of news, I admit, I started crying.  I know, pathetic.  Oops! I even asked the woman who put in my IV to tell me a story to get my mind off of what was happening/going to happen.  It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that she was kind of taken aback, so instead I told her that I would tell a story.  She met me half way and asked if I had any pets.  Just as I was telling her about my beloved puppy, Mac, I was out.  I mean, OUT.

    When I woke up, I was numb to the world and I felt good. It was like coming out of a cloud of happy unawareness.  

Then the happy meds wore off and I was left looking and feeling like this.

Don't I look happy? 

I'm really hoping for a speedy and complications free recovery.  For now, I'm just going to keep watching 27 Dresses...I swear this movie is on TV all of the time haha :)

Peace. <3. and Dry Socket.

How To: Make a Dreamcatcher

This is your How To guide on making your very own dreamcatcher :)

BUT FIRST - a little background on the legend of the dreamcatcher...

Dreamcatchers are one of the most fascinating traditions of Native Americans. The traditional dreamcatcher was intended to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams, while letting positive dreams through. The positive dreams would slip through the hole in the center of the dream catcher, and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below. The negative dreams would get caught up in the web, and expire when the first rays of the sun struck them.
I've recently jumped the bandwagon on the Native American design trend so I'm fascinated by these little  hoops.  Not to mention they'll look awesome in my dorm room!

Step One:

Take some leather and wind it around your hoop of any size.

Hint - take a clothes pin and pin the top of the hoop to secure the leather while you work all around.

  

Step Two:

Take some sinew (it's like a sticky twine) and measure out about 3 arm spans for bigger hoops and 1 to 2 1/2 for smaller hoops. Then, weave the sinew around the hoop and through itself to create a spider web effect. 

Warning - this may take a few tries...it did for me.

Step Three:

Finishing out your dreamcatcher.

Take some feathers, beads, and leftover leather to create a gateway for good dreams to come back to you :)

Tie a strand of leather to the bottom of the dreamcatcher and then take a bead and slip it up the strand.  Take some feathers and secure them into the bead.  Make any design you want and repeat however many times you want along the bottom of the catcher.

  

Presto Pesto...there you have it, a dreamcatcher :)

...Side Note

To make an inner charm like the one above: Before you tie off the sinew, take some beads and other charms to thread through in the center.  THEN tie off the sinew.  

Sweet dreams :)

Damn You, AutoCorrect!

A couple months ago, I was introduced to a super fun and entertaining site called, DamnYouAutoCorrect.
CAUTION: hilarity ensued.  

Whenever I need a mid-day pick-me-up, this is my go-to site (my, wasn't that a lot of hyphenation?)  It usually never fails to make me laugh until I cry.  

I'm talking tears...streaming down my face.
For those who have an iPhone, Blackberry, or other autocorrecting device, it's hard not to relate.

The next time you feel like you need a little laughter in your life, check out this site :)

Some Most posts on DYAC not suitable for small children.

I Love My Friends

Last night marked the last night my group of high school friends was able to hang out until we all split on our separate ways to embark on our own journeys.  My group of friends all collectively started hanging out my senior year of high school, and I'm so beyond happy that we did :)  They made my senior year and this summer so memorable and I wouldn't trade one moment for anything.  We decided to end our summers with an all-nighter complete with breadsticks, a Wal-Mart scavenger hunt, Mega Shark VS. Crocosaurus (Not worth the hype...Sharktopus was much better), flashlight tag, and shaving cream.  Only 2 out of a group of 11 made it to 5 am (with the aid of Starbucks double shots and Mountain Dew - "It's better on the Mountain") one of which was me :P 

Fun Fact 

I'm a PRO at pulling all-nighters - can't touch me.

I still have a month of summer left before I start school (yay for quarter schedules!) but once I do start I know that my friends will make coming home for breaks just that much sweeter.  

Here are some pictures from our last night together :)

Aren't we so cute!?

And so goofy ;)

"I get by with a little help from my friends."

                -John Lennon 

I Made This For You

Can we please talk about Julian Smith?

And no, I'm not talking about that saxophonist who was on that one talent show.  Julian Smith, YouTube  sensation and ultimate funny guy has been capturing attention and creating abs (from laughter of course) for years.  He first caught my attention a few years back and I've been following him ever since.  Not only is this guy hilarious, talented, and crafty - but he's also incredibly irresistible to look at.
Am I right?

I would marry him if he weren't already taken! Even as his goofy alter-ego, Jeffrey, he's still cute.  This guy just has it goin' on.

Speaking of his relationship status, let's talk about his partner in marital bliss and why we can allow ourselves a tinge of jealousy.

• She writes one killer blog, theoneinpink.com, and she's full of different interests (not to mention she's pursuing all of them!) She's one to admire AND she gets to come home to Julian every day. 

Jealousy Rating: 6 

• She was in one of Julian's videos, Confederate Candle.  Enough said.

Jealousy Rating: 8

• Did I mention she's married to Julian Smith?

Jealousy Rating: 10

I hope we all find our own Julian Smith's in this lifetime.  

But, if not this lifetime...maybe the next :)

And the Best Daughter Award Goes To...

ME! That's right :)

Why do I deserve the "Best Daughter Award" you may ask? Well, today just happens to be my mother's birthday and I jam-packed this day full of surprises.  If you are wanting to surprise someone special in your life on their birthday, or for any other reason (Surprise Saturday!) then here are some simple ways to catch your person's heart and forever have their gratitude (or at least their gratitude for that day :)

Who knows, you may even score a few 'Thank You' gifts for just being awesome (I did!)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Start the Day Right with a Healthy Breakfast. I got up EARLY (too early) to make my mother a surprise breakfast in bed.  I even went the extra mile (literally) into town to pick up the morning paper.  Jazz your tray up with cute plates, ribbons, and flowers to make it extra presentable.  Even if they'll be too tired to notice.

2.  Small Presents=Big Smiles. As they say in the Old Country, "Great Things Have Small Packages"   Oops! Just kidding. "Great Things COME IN Small Packages" ;) Big, flashy, and shiny don't always hold the sentimental or special meaning they try to give off.  Instead, go for something small but timeless - like a pair of earrings. Even Better Bonus: MAKE the gift yourself.  Mark Montano's (TLC'S While You Were Out) Big Ass Book of Crafts is chalk full of great ideas that won't break the bank.  Nothing screams "I LOVE YOU!" more than hot glue and glitter.

3. Work the Matinee Magic. Does your special someone have a movie they are dying to see?  Even if that is not the case, going to see a movie (and treating them to popcorn) is a great way to spend the day.  Other ideas that could be copy and pasted into the movie slot: a picnic in the park, putt-putt golf, shopping day, laser tag (for the bold and the brave), or scavenger hunt (takes some time to set up, but well worth the results).  We went to see The Help, which was an ah-mazing movie with the beautiful and talented Emma Stone (I'm smitten with her work). 

4. "Where Do YOU Want to Eat"?  Those six words are like music to ears on a night out.  Nothing is worse than fighting over where to grab dinner, so make it simple and let the person of honor pick where 

you'll dine.  

5. End the Day the Right Way.  If a birthday is the occasion of celebration, then end the day with something sweet...preferably with a lit candle sticking out of it.  If not a birthday, then chocolate truffles can suffice :)

These simple steps can make any [Birth]day a very happy one :)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Tie Dye Tie Dye For

The secret's out. I. Like. Tie. Dye. 

There I said it! Sweet Relief! (Dramatic? Dramatic)

So I was researching tie dye on the in-tra-net the other day (I'm always looking for something new to dye for...hahaha good pun) and I found a site that shows the population how to make...wait for it...it's coming....here it is - Tie Dye Nails! I've tie dyed shirts, as most everyone else in the world has, as well as unmentionables and a pair of shoes.  I'm hooked on dyeing and have been wanting to try to tie dye my nails for awhile now.

Pretty!


This is how you do it.

1. Pick out three of your favorite colors, but make sure one is a light color or pastel.
2. Fill a small bowl with a shallow amount of water.
3. Paint your nails with the lighter color to act as a base.
4. Take some scotch tape and tape the areas on your fingers around the nail.
5. Take one of your favorite colors and let the brush drip a few drops into the center of the water, do the same with the other color left allowing it to drop in the middle of the other color.
6. Take a tooth pick and swirl the colors together.
7. Take your nail and dip it in the color, then pull out.
8. Viola! Tie dyed nails to satisfy any hippie at heart.

Skinny Bitch

I know we have all come across those moments in our lives when all we want to do is change something about ourselves.  Whether it be a nose, a butt, or a belly, we've all been there.  Even the girl oozing with confidence in the center of the room has her bad days.  But, why should we have bad days?  What makes us long for a body another person has when that other person longs for a body someone else has?
Why can't we accept what we have and love it for what it is.
This is something I have been struggling with for the past few months as I'm not as active as I was once upon a summer, and it's starting to show.  Suddenly everywhere I look I see dieting ads, pills, plans, '20 Ways' to get a better, slimmer, more acceptable you.  
And I say...screw it! (I know, I'm classy AND tactful :)
Who cares about fitting in with society's pressure induced impossible standards of beauty? As long as a person is healthy and living their best possible life, that should be all that matters.
Now, don't get me wrong.  I understand the layers and mind games that go along with society's ideals, and I'm not underestimating their powers one bit.  But, for just one day, wouldn't it be such
Relief                                                  Joy
Inspiration

Comfort                                                                             Encouragement

                                         Peace

                                                                                      Confidence

to look around a room and see it full of people just like you who want to be just as free? 

I think so.

So, for just one day, I say we make it happen.  In our own little ways let's set ourselves up to become all of those words above and more.

One day at a time.

ME. Not chemically enhanced, plasticized, or product ravaged.
Who are you?