Glitter Manicure

It's no secret: I LOVE nail polish!! I'm not one of those crazy people who has to have each nail perfect every single day, but I do love trying different colors and trends and I have to give myself a manicure each week. I put on my favorite show (currently: How I Met Your Mother) and go to work. One of my new favorite trends for nails is glitter nails. It's perfect for summer since the sun makes your fingertips shine, and it adds sparkle (literally!) to otherwise ordinary nail colors.

Individual Stuff Turkey Loaf

Rarely in cooking do I actually come up with something on my own. I'm tend to be a a by the book person through and through. But since starting this blog I've ventured into modifying recipes to suite my needs. It's been a fun and new process. And so brings us to my stuffed turkey loaf. This dish is actually quite simple. I just took my favorite turkey loaf recipe, found here, and added a little something extra: pepper jack cheese wrapped in sliced chicken. The flavors melded together for a nice rich dinner I'll surely be making again. And really, melted cheese in the middle of anything is awesome.

The Little Things

(Kool-Aid Popsicles: We had them everyday during our pool breaks)

Summer has officially arrived!! And though its a time for pool parties and cookouts, I find that now I'm that an adult, I have little time to enjoy those things I love most about summer. But on this Monday (and lately actually) I reminisce back to being twelve and summer was filled with those wonderful little things that made up my childhood. Here's a glimpse into the past for a special little things. 

(Disney: During the late afternoon when the Florida rain would push us inside, my sisters and I would curl up with wet hair and sun-kissed cheeks to watch a movie. We'd watch the same one over and over again memorizing each word so we could play it out. Disney's Aristocrats was a favorite one summer)

(Duckings: Our house back when I was twelve sat on a small pond and we had ducks! Every summer we'd add duckings to our pond and watch them grow. They were our adorable little pets. We didn't keep them in teacups but I couldn't resist this picture from here.

(Watermelon: This summer staple is still part of my summers, even now. But back then my mom would cut it up and sprinkle it with salt. I don't care to eat it that way anymore, but it was a nice cool treat from the Florida heat.

What are you're favorite summer memories?

The Hub City Diner

While there wasn't much in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, my boyfriend and I did stumble across an adorable cafe that screamed southern charm. From the delicious homemade food right down to our waitress's accent, The Hub City Diner gave us a peak into southern living. If there's anything to say about the town, it's people are ridiculously friendly. They gave us cake! Orange cream-cicle cake to be exact. Plus each person we met at this quaint diner also gave us a smile.

Raspberry Bars

You know what I love most about blogging? The food! Blogging is like recipes that I would never be able to think of at my fingertips. I've tried two different recipes already this week from a particular site (this recipe and another to be posted later). I find myself looking for new recipes to try all the time! These raspberry bars became an instant sensation in my kitchen. They were gobbled down so quickly! In fact, my boyfriend has asked for them twice since I made them. Although raspberries are his absolute favorite food, so maybe that's not fair. Regardless, this is a simple summer treat taking advantage of fresh fruit and a sweet tooth. 

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

The road to Mississippi was long and actually quite boring, but eight hours after we set out on our journey, we arrived in Hattiesburg. The Hub City, as it was called, is nestled at the southern end of Mississippi about 2 hours from New Orleans and an hour from the Gulf of Mexico. There honestly isn't much to this small town of the south, but we found one of it's treasures. In the heart of the city is the University of Southern Mississippi. It's beautiful campus almost seemed out of place among the modern amenities, but we enjoyed a good hour walking around and admiring the old buildings. Being outside was certainly a nice break from sitting in the car for so long. 

The Little Things

(Mini glitter nail polish)

Please excuse my absence last week. It was a crazy time and I spent the majority of it in Mississippi for a job interview and the rest of it editing a video for a separate job opportunity. But I have since returned, with pictures from my trip and a new perspective of the South, and I have also finished my project (I'll post it here later) Here are some things that are currently making me smile. The future, as I'm constantly reminded, is unknown, but all these little things keep me grounded. After all, I for sure know glitter nail polish will always make me smile. 

(The boy who travelled with me to Mississippi)

(A glass of wine after a long day)

(Adding fun to an already wonderful snack)

Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

Remember my failed attempt at baking? Well, I finally succeeded! It's a not a huge triumph considering I've had this easy recipe for years and have made countless batches of these delicious peanut butter cookies. But seriously, these little treats are the easiest cookies you'll ever make from scratch and I'll give you the recipe right now: A cup of sugar, a cup a creamy peanut butter, and an egg. Mix it all together and bake until your kitchen smells like peanut butter heaven (or about 8 minutes). I'm giving credit to an old friend who many many years ago shared this recipe with me.

P.S...Do you like my new layout?

New Things and a Roasted Chicken

I tried something new recently. I roasted a chicken. It had always seemed like a difficult task reserved for special occasions, but I was compelled one weekday afternoon to try it. I'm not sure why I decided I would tackle this dish, but I'm glad I did! The chicken was moist, flavorful and surprisingly simple. It makes me want to try new things more often, and indeed I will be soon, in and out of the kitchen. I suppose I'm about to embrace a "new" attitude on things. But for now, trying a new dish led to having a simple go to dinner that is as fabulous as it is easy.