Daily Archives: April 18, 2012

Recipe: Cucumber, Tomato & Onion Salad

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Bites and Sips, Clarissa Nash, Recipes

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There are few things I can eat in my work cafeteria because I’m allergic to gluten, so I usually settle for a baked potato and a salad. One day I was eating and I couldn’t take another bite. I was going to throw up if I had to eat anymore spinach.

I researched Pinterest and found this charm of a recipe from Rachel Ray. I LOVED it, but make sure you have gum afterward and drink plenty of water.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 English or seedless cucumber, diced
  • 2 vine ripe tomatoes, diced
  • Handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, a couple of splashes
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
  • Dress with vinegar and oil, salt and pepper, to your taste.

– Clarissa

(Clarissa’s health blog)

My Love For Chalkboard Paint

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Arts & Crafts, DIY & Crafts, Home and Design, Katie Garton

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My high school friend’s mom painted a whole wall in her kitchen with chalkboard paint so they could leave each other messages and draw things for decorations. It was the coolest thing. Ever since, I knew I wanted to use chalkboard paint everywhere that I lived.

You can get this wondrous paint at Wal-Mart and Home Depot. It comes as spray paint or in small cans. It’s usually $3.97 and up. It’s a cheap and fun way to spruce up a piece of furniture and add color. Pinners on Pinterest have even shared ways to create chalkboard paint with mortar and any color of paint. I’m just a little afraid to make it myself and possibly waste money. But if you know that it works, let me know.

In my first place in NYC, Mike and I painted a large square in the kitchen to draw on and write reminders for bills.

 

But at our new apartment we decided to paint furniture. We painted our armoire and trunk. We thought we’d leave notes for one other on the armoire and could have visitors sign the trunk. Come visit and add to the decor!

 –Katie

A Challenge: Mac ‘n Cheese Wedges Recipe

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Arts & Crafts, Katie Garton

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I experienced a heavenly bite last night at a diner in Wrigleyville. This heavenly taste was called macaroni and cheese wedges ($4.95).

They were greasy and very unhealthy, but they were the best piece of comfort food a girl could ask for. It was like a bite of the best mac ‘n cheese in a just-crunchy-enough fried shell.

My challenge for you: Come up for a recipe for this. I know it has to be mac ‘n cheese, but how do you make the fried shell. And how do you avoid overcooking the mac ‘n cheese when you fry it?

–Katie

Birth Order Can Affect Your Personality

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Be A Better You, Brianna McClane, Real Life, Relationships

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I acted like a baby last night.

It’s nice to blame everything on being the last born of three girls. The “baby” is supposed to be an attention-seeker and self-centered.  Last night when I wanted to be taken care of and I needed attention it was only because of my birth-order.

Or so Parents.com tells me.

According to the article:

Firstborn

Reliable Conscientious Structured
Cautious Controlling Achievers

Middle Child

People-pleasers Somewhat rebellious Thrives on friendships
Has large social circle Peacemaker

Youngest

Fun-loving Uncomplicated Manipulative
Outgoing Attention-seeker Self-centered

These characteristics make sense. The firstborn is the child that the parents and grandparents lavish attention on, the fawning siphons as more children are born.  The youngest has to almost scream for attention it certain circumstances. We all know that it’s impossible to put people in a box. While this research is useful to understand people and their position in their family, you can’t label someone that easily.

(me, Meg, Sarah)

My middle sister Megan is reliable and structured while Sarah is outgoing and fun-loving. I’m every single good characteristic listed above. That’s a lie. I am conscientious to a fault and an achiever. Of course, I have some of the characteristics of a younger child. I like to feel special, I’m spontaneous and, if my artsy, writer side isn’t acting up, I’m uncomplicated.

So what do you think? Does this help explain you and your siblings at all?

You can always try Myers-Briggs personality test. I’m an INFJ.

–Brianna

In the Know: Wednesday

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Arts & Crafts, Katie Garton

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Things to Celebrate

I don’t know that this holiday should be celebrated, but more power to you if you do. Today is National Wear Pajamas to Work Day! Please send us a picture if you see anyone celebrating (heeltoboot@gmail.com and @stilettosandboots).

It’s the birthday I’ve been waiting to post all April (sarcasm) – Kourtney Kardashian is a little bit older today. But if you are a Kardashian fan, I hope you’re eating cake for her.

It’s also Victoria Secret model/actress Rosie Huntington-Whitely’s birthday. I only mention this because she’s kind of hot– yes, women can say other women are hot. We should all enjoy cupcakes for her birthday because I doubt she will.

News to Know

Women are the key to the upcoming election — at least that’s what it sounds like. With all of the cat fighting and such, polls are showing Obama is leading Romney in female supporters. According to Reuters, Obama has 51% of the female vote. (CNN)

 

Alec Baldwin announced that 30 Rock will end next season. AHHHH! I wonder if he’s telling the truth. Or maybe he’s just spreading this rumor so people will stop talking about him and his recent engagement or stalker girl. (CS Monitor)

 

 

Stop me if you’ve heard this one – a penguin bit Newt Gingrich last Friday. The GOP candidate is known for his love of zoos & this isn’t his first kerfuffle with an animal, he was bitten on the chin by a baby cougar in 1995. (Yahoo)

 

– Katie