tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52892108266953009502024-02-18T20:10:27.644-08:00Housewife MemoirsThe Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.comBlogger419125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-21169997833909738362014-10-26T20:06:00.001-07:002014-10-26T20:06:31.846-07:00On Blogging and Italy <div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's been almost a year since I've written anything on this blog, and to be honest, I'm a little nervous. My blogging frequency severely dwindled in 2013 and came to a complete stop in 2014. With my work and personal life only seeming to get busier by the minute, I couldn't bring myself to write down really any thoughts that I felt should be put out here. My view of blogging has also changed as the shift to marketing your personal life has grown, and between the societal pressures to have the wittiest tweets and the prettiest instagrams, adding my voice to the blogging world just seemed exhausting and futile.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is another rant for another day, but all I'm here to say is that Chin and I recently took a holiday to Italy, just the two of us. We really didn't have much of a summer-- between Chin studying for the boards, taking the boards and then quickly starting 12 weeks of grueling surgical rotations and electives ("What did we get ourselves into?!" is a common phrase in our household), and then me, planning and executing a 30,000 person wine and beer festival in August and having an event every weekend in September, we did not have a summer. Last spring we knew that our summer wasn't going to be fun (to be frank), so we decided to plan a trip for the fall to get away and spend time together other than when we were sleeping (we had a few of those on some of our 80-hour work weeks).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Don't get me wrong, more than a year later, I still really love my job and Chin loves med school. But we needed some time and to us, time together and traveling with each other are our top priorities right now.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Okay three paragraphs later I'm finally telling you why I'm blogging. While we were there I wrote detailed notes in my travel journal, and after getting my phone stolen and losing all my pictures and essentially everything since 2012, I decided I wanted to wipe off the spiderwebs on my blog and record my writing from our trip via the Internet. It's really a selfish preservation thing.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, without further adieu, below are the journal entries I wrote for each day of our trip. Some are short, some are long, and some of them might not make sense because they're unedited and probably a little choppy. Blame posterity that these are on the Internet.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Friday, October 3, 2014: Getting There</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We are lucky in the fact that getting from Rochester to Toronto, we were the least stressed we've ever been. It took us under three hours to get to the hotel to park our car, with a five minute wait at the border. Five minutes! Compared to our five hour debacle on the way to Paris where I couldn't stop hyperventilating last summer, we were calm, cool and on time.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After checking in with Mussolini's daughter who could not have been more unhelpful, Alitalia finally gave us the exit row for free. With Chin being a million feet tall, we always try to finagle an exit row on a transcontinental overnight flight.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Upon taking our sleeping pills, we both slept for eight hours, waking up at 6 a.m. for breakfast. That sensation of going to sleep in one country and waking up in another is still amazing to me. Being in Italy hasn't quite hit me yet, because we still have such a long travel day ahead of us and will have to be "on" for a majority of our trip to Nocelle. I'm hoping the thrill of our trip will come when we wake up tomorrow on the Amalfi Coast.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Saturday, October 4, 2014: Trains, Planes and Automobiles</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let me just say that after all the planning and fretting, we could not have gotten luckier in our travels so far. Nothing's been stolen (fingers crossed!) and we made it off the plane in time to catch the Leonardo Express train which then got us to Rome Termini in time to catch the 3:45 train to Napoli.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With only one small panic attack, we had a hard time finding the platform to Napoli. When we found it we rushed on the train and sat in two random seats. Little did we know the seats we randomly picked happened to be our assigned seats! Fate is a very real thing. Hoping the last legs of our journey are as smooth as the first. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Saturday, October 4, 2014: Nocelle and Long Trains</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We seem to have jinxed ourselves. With what was the smoothest ride imaginable to Naples came a wave of frustration for the last leg of our trip. Upon arriving in Naples early, we went downstairs to buy tickets to Sorrento. We crammed ourselves onto a platform filled with locals and tourists alike and boarded the wrong train. It took us three stops to figure it out but it was three stops too late. We got off in a random town near Naples and had to backtrack, then take the 30-stop train to Sorrento. We lost our time we had earned and then some, but Pasquale, our amazing driver from our last trip to the coast in 2012, was waiting for us in bustling Sorrento.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We then made the winding, tedious, dark drive through the mountains to Nocelle, where we are staying for the next 3 days. I forgot how beautiful the Amalfi Coast is even in the dark. The roads wind around and around and every turn gives you a splash of the dramatic cliffs and lights of Positano and Praiano below.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nocelle is in a league of its own. You drive to the village and suddenly the road just stops. No cars are allowed in the 115 person town. We got out of Pasquale's car and walked through twinkle-lit paths to our B&B, Casa Cuccaro. Someone was playing the accordion in a house below with the moon above. I thought it was a dream. The town is filled with B&B's, a few restaurants and a small square with a church overlooking the coast. Our B&B is wonderful, and has small but amazing amenities like U.S. plugs (!), a hairdryer and a private terrace with a killer view. We are lucky.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3e9hJPDpQR-EZVDi8QTii4JlDRf3iW34kJNssUhHoBSIAj-k-NFZEF4yC7SAuIHSFzJ54CYxU3XE0yIBu2CoA6HI3B8lurCXxNjMJZ3OFKO3G5KSIuxmSIHzyAXq17tEd9yIiJjOjt35/s1600/IMG_6353.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3e9hJPDpQR-EZVDi8QTii4JlDRf3iW34kJNssUhHoBSIAj-k-NFZEF4yC7SAuIHSFzJ54CYxU3XE0yIBu2CoA6HI3B8lurCXxNjMJZ3OFKO3G5KSIuxmSIHzyAXq17tEd9yIiJjOjt35/s1600/IMG_6353.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For dinner we went to Trattoria Santa Croce and were ridiculously spoiled with bread, prosciutto with melon, pasta bolognese, pasta with tomatoes and shellfish and grilled steak with parmesan, arugula and cherry tomatoes. The tomatoes were just... Stunning and delightful are the only two words I know to describe them. Everything was truly divine. We took a walk around the village after dinner and can I just say what a sport Chin is? He genuinely seemed to enjoy today and didn't complain at all about being tired or spending too much money. This vacation has been wonderful to us already.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Sunday, October 5, 2014: Mountain Goat Symphony</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Is it possible to be in a more beautiful location than this? We woke up this morning and headed to the terrace for a breakfast of sweet rolls, yogurt, and plums overlooking the coast. I've consumed enough carbs in the past two days to last a lifetime. We then headed out of our B&B and up a few stairs and there we were on the Path of the Gods. We hiked to Bomerano, a small mountain town above Amalfi. Around every corner was stunning scenery: sheer cliffs, forested grottoes, abandoned brick homes, vineyards and unbelievable views of the coastline, from Praiano to Capri. As we hiked we encountered a herd of darling black mountain goats, their bells ringing above us in a joyous symphony as they pranced on the mountainside. We also ran into several mules and geckos. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We got to Bomerano with the intention of taking a bus to Amalfi, grabbing lunch and then taking a boat to Positano. We soon found out the bus was 2.5 hours away because it's Sunday. So... We decided to hike to Praiano and see if we could take a boat from there. Back on the path we went until we found out we couldn't take a boat and our only viable option was to hike back to Nocelle. At that point we'd been hiking for four hours and I wasn't mentally prepared for two more hours of hiking and had a meltdown. BUT, we made it down the path, after much coaxing from Chin, and back to our B&B, dusty shoes and all.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We then got our bathing suits on and made our way to Positano, thinking we could quickly walk there as well. What is wrong with us? It's an hour walk. We finally got too tired at Montepertuso and took the bus down the mountain. In Positano our main priority was no longer lunch but just gelato. Pistachio and nutella for me, kinder and chocolate for Chin. It tasted like gold as we made our way to Spiagga Grande to take a dip in the sea and rest on the rocky shore.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For dinner, we got ready and were picked up at the Nocelle bus stop and taken to La Tagliata for an unforgettable meal. High up in the mountains, our table was perched overlooking Positano as it shined under the full moon. At La Tagliata (tie-ya-ta), you dine on what Mama and Papi are cooking that night. So, we gorged ourselves on bruschetta, ricotta, mozzarella, bread, marinated pumpkin, spinach with a chicken croquette and broccoli, peas with chickpeas, frittata and beans and eggplant parmesan with pork meatballs. That was the appetizer.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For primi we dined on pumpkin ravioli, "mama's" pasta, another pasta I can't remember the name of but was so good, and gnocchi. All freshly made. Mama wakes up every morning at 5 a.m. and they close the restaurant at 2 a.m., every day! For the meat portion we had: lamb, chicken, pork, rabbit, steak, beef, beef kebab and sausage. By then I thought I might die but we still ended up having dessert, chocolate cake and a fruit pudding cake with fresh fruit salad.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Walking back to our B&B I just couldn't believe how beautiful our world is and that we get to experience things like we did today. </span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Monday, October 6, 2014: Sea Day</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We ended up sleeping in this morning, which to be honest had me feeling anxious, but our day turned out to be lovely. We woke up for a quick breakfast and made the bus trek down the mountain to Marina Grande. We rented a small 8 horsepower boat and after some adjustment, made our way down the coast towards Praiano. We eventually found a small cove that looked as though it was a private beach-- with not a soul in sight. There was a ladder in the water leading up to several blue beach loungers, but nobody was there, so we made our way up to the carved out rock. We laid in the sun, ate lunch on the boat and cliff jumped (after much coaxing from Chin). The weather was perfect with beautiful sunshine all day. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the late afternoon we decided to make our way back to Positano until we realized our anchor was stuck on a rock. But, after some momentary panic and help from a nearby boat, we got the anchor out and headed back to the Marina. I laid on the front of the boat in awe of the jutting coastline and the sparkling sea. We got back to Positano and after a snack, spent another evening laying on the rocky sand resting in the sun. For dinner we went to Risto Degli Dei, a pizza shop in a cave in Nocelle, once again overlooking lit-up Positano . We had carrot soup and caprese salad and delicious pizza with the restaurant's cat and accordion player. Is this real life? </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Up next: Capri, Pompei, and arriving in Roma </span></i></div>
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<br />The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-89742652539259440572013-11-27T08:21:00.000-08:002013-11-27T08:21:13.993-08:00What My Life Looks Like Now<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, I am still alive. Still here on the internet. It's now almost December and my life is flying and I still can't believe our trip to Paris, or summer for that matter, even happened. So much has happened since I spoke about how hard 2013 has been, and it's also been almost four months since I started a job that I am so unbelievably grateful for, and I've been relatively discrete on here. I'm ready to open up about it now (as much as I can while maintaining the level of professionalism and respect I feel for my company and colleagues). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First, let's rewind back to the end of July. I had quit my first out of college, entry level "investment job" and took a month off to travel with Christian before he went back to school. I was gearing up to start my culinary arts program. The day I paid my tuition, we were in Denver helping my in-laws move to a new home. I had sent my tuition check a few days before we left for Denver, and had noticed that the check had been cashed on moving day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That evening, after a VERY long day of non-stop moving and hauling boxes, I sat down in our hotel room to catch up on the internet world. Usually it consists of checking blogs I love (or don't love, too), going down my twitter feed, and meandering for a few minutes through facebook. I was excited to check my email that day, hoping I would have some information about my upcoming courses for school. Instead, I saw an email that was probably one of the most shocking things that had ever happened to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This past January, I sent my resume to a lot of PR/ad agencies and firms in Rochester, hoping to be considered for a job. I obviously didn't have much success, hence the investment job ----> culinary school. So when I got an email from a woman (my current boss) asking to interview me for an events coordinator/public relations position at the agency I'm at now, I was floored.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The rest of the story happened so quickly I barely could process it. After two days of skype interviews, I was the newest employee at New York's largest integrated marketing agency outside of Manhattan. It wasn't what I had planned for myself, and to be frank, it wasn't something I thought I'd ever be able to attain. I just didn't recognize that sort of potential in me. But, I'm so happy I took the leap of faith to start my job that brings new challenges and excitement every day (there truly is never a dull moment). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, after the news that I'd be starting a new job, we jetted off to Paris with butterflies in our stomach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The day after we got home (let it be known that I was a little bit jet lagged), I started my new job, where I was immediately thrown into a massive annual event we were spearheading. I wore nice work clothes for an hour before changing into workout gear to head out to the venue where the event was being held. It was thrilling, intimidating, and exactly what I had always dreamed of doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, I'm starting to get a handle on my job and all that it entails. The people I work with are my biggest mentors. I work with strong, capable men and women who have taught me more in the last 4 months than I learned in the 4 years I was at BYU (no offense BYU Comms, I still love you to death). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I get a lot of people who ask what I do on a day-to-day basis. The honest answer is that it varies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the PR side of things, I am writing PR plans and press releases, as well as doing a variety of media relations like media pitching, t.v., radio and print interview coordination, publicity value analyses, print and tv advertising coordination, press release distribution, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the events side, we do everything from vendor relations to decor, catering coordination to venue management, presenting creative concepts and seeing through an event from start to finish. A lot of our clients are non-profits, which means we do a lot of fundraising events like galas. We also do some corporate work and I'm currently working on a festival (the same one I started working on my first day) that happens every August.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So. Now you know what I do and why I love what I'm doing. My colleagues are smart, kind, hilarious and experts in their field. I, on the other hand, am still learning how to do what I do, but I'm grateful to have the opportunity to learn in a collaborative environment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">a small view of my desk (check out my custom nameplate- seriously love!):</span><br />
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The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-15132862850605569092013-09-19T03:58:00.000-07:002013-09-19T03:59:15.838-07:00Some Things About Me<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Um hi. All of a sudden it's been like, a month and I haven't written anything on here. But that's kind of the name of the game now, right? Getting caught up in other things, I sort of forgot my virtual world existed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't have much to say, I'd love to tell you about my job, but I think I'll wait until I have more time and energy for that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My beautiful friend <a href="http://thebutterflypapers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Amber</a>, PR goddess and mother extraordinaire, tagged me in a fun questionnaire that I thought I'd share with you! So... here goes.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Why do you blog and how has it affected your life? </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I started blogging when Christian and I got engaged- mainly so that my family who didn't live near us could keep track of wedding plans and thoughts about our engagement. It's sort of turned into a place where I can track my thoughts and sometimes it's just really therapeutic to share your world with others. It's made me learn a lot about what I do want to share on the internet and I've also learned a lot about other people through blogging. It's also made me realize that there is a big disconnect between the online world and the real world. You shouldn't live your life to blog about it, you should live your life, and blog about it if you have time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What is your biggest fear? </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My biggest fear in life is missing out. I've always been that way. I'm obsessed with being in the know and experiencing things that others do too. It's really stupid and something I should learn to get over, but there are SO many things I want to do, and I'm worried about not being able to experience it all. How do you time your life to make sure you can be apart of the things you're supposed to be a part of? And how do you even know what those things are? It's a terrible, terrible game.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Yes, this is just a practice run for your next job interview. </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hopefully no more job interviews for me for a while! If I could time it right, I would love to be well established in my career, preferably at the agency I'm at now. There's so much room for growth and development there. Kids are off the radar for me at the moment (give me 8 more years, then I'll think about it). Ultimately, I hope to be even more in love with Christian than I am now and in a place where my self-esteem, standards, and heels are high. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What is your most awkward/embarrassing moment? </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do I seriously have to pick one? I wish there were just a few, but unfortunately my whole life is one big embarrassment. There's that time I threw up chinese food all over the parking lot in front of Chin's grandparents the first time I met them. That was a good time. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you could meet anyone, real or fictional, who would you choose? </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On a less serious note, I day dream about meeting John Mayer, like every day. Luckily, BFF Ali and I share this dream and have a game plan down for our first encounter with him someday. On a more serious note, I would love to meet Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife. Her story in <i>The Paris Wife</i> blew me away, and I would love to pick her brain (also highly recommend the book!). </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What is something you wonder about a lot?</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I wonder about people who I don't talk to anymore a lot. It's ridiculous and not good to dwell in the past, but when you leave the path of someone you used to know, it's natural to think about them from time to time. When you care about someone a lot, and then all of a sudden you don't, you don't ever really don't. Excuse my grammar. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where do you find your greatest inspiration? </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I find a lot of inspiration through traveling. I'm a little bit of a wanderlust freak and being in a place where there's nothing to do but explore the beauty of what's around you is amazing. The sounds, sights, and smells of an unfamiliar place are the ultimate inspiration.</span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tell us about a favorite memory from growing up. </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One summer my family went to the 1000 islands up in Canada, and we stayed at this small bed and breakfast near Alexandria Bay. I think about it all the time because of the beautiful sunsets, the cold water, and the swing that hung from the B&B owner's tree in her front yard. I can still smell the blueberry breakfast bread pudding she made for us and for me, it was like the quintessential summer trip. I had sun-kissed cheeks and salt in my hair, and I can still remember waking up early in the morning, anticipating another day to start. Simpler times, people, simpler times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffwDCbZv6jLrX9tnT7vtUaY-hUhqczA_Y1fiOyCEZ0smr6Viq9CGcBmua_8wTuXMiC7JBmitSzZZ2Gp35LNuDoACjLsiojcjRDTQXXwfU6jPzgHWSmkZj3787z8hnhGpbieCRBVSPd8iR/s640/paris25.jpg" width="376" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And there it is. I'd love to hear your answers to these questions! </span><br />
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The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-73040075683202651882013-08-26T18:17:00.000-07:002013-08-26T18:17:16.864-07:00The Pingrees Take Paris<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been putting off talking about our trip to Paris for weeks. I can't seem to find any words to describe our time there. It was such a special time and it hurts my heart to think about not being there. All I'll say is that exploring the city of love and lights with Chin, without knowing the language and only relying on each other without phones or internet and language barriers, was the best time of my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Instead of doing multiple posts about our trip, I might save our stories for just Chin and me and my little travel journal. However, here are just a couple photos from our trip and a little video I made with footage from our trip. Enjoy! </span></div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrD3bmr3O_6QCiO3E59qQlBOvW4ogn0Yk7nIGyCh31w2zHDqXewQa_qIM5GycIxkpDN-dJk7X9DSqUHjqppY2Fm3pvUXDmSNbMoh2nwA-Mdiolujp3xBX6PBwyWv99qfjjW1w1qatrM4y/s640/paris8.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/72699612" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-58840362341703216652013-07-29T08:39:00.000-07:002013-07-29T08:39:15.888-07:00Vive La France!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We are off! I haven't talked about our trip to Paris much on the blog, but tomorrow we set out for another summer journey to the City of Love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been dreaming about Paris for years. There's such a stigma that comes with the city. The romance, the excitement, the lights, the food (ooh la la, the cuisine!), the sights, the history. All of it appeals to all of me, and I can't wait to turn my dream into a reality. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We've gone a bit mad (read: I've gone crazy) about traveling recently. I think it's the thought of our someday future of children and careers and other responsibilities that has us wanting to wander all around the world while we're young and full of life (I start my dream job the day after we get back, details to come!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our apartment is right in the heart of the 7th arrondissement (neighborhood), with an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower from our windows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, Paris, be prepared for me. I'm coming to take advantage of everything you have to offer. I am giddy with excitement and cannot wait to spend a week taking french macaron baking courses and strolling the Musee d'Orsay, picnicing on the Champ de Mars and viewing Paris at night from the Sacre Coeur. And most of all, I can't wait to spend a week in the most romantic city in the world with Christian. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>"There are only two places in the world where we can live happy: at home and in Paris."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> -Ernest Hemingway</i></span></div>
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The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-58689733525890074592013-07-26T11:34:00.000-07:002013-07-26T11:34:17.554-07:00Nantucket & Cape Cod<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">During our trip to New England, we got out of the city for a couple days to explore the cape and Nantucket. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the first day we took a ferry over to Nantucket to spend the day and explore the island. The day started out a little rainy and we were kind of worried our day would be spoiled by the weather, but about 10 minutes after we got there the rain cleared up and the weather ended up being perfect the rest of the trip. It was cool enough to enjoy riding our bikes around the island, but warm enough to visit the beach and stay in shorts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nantucket is incredibly beautiful and I couldn't help feeling like I didn't fit in at all. I spent the day with my hair in a huge curly mess on top of my head, and my makeup was smeared from the humidity and drizzling rain. The people visiting there are beautiful and the shear wealth of the place was a little overwhelming. I didn't really mind not fitting in, and seeing how the other half lives (eg not forever college students) was fascinating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We spent the day riding bikes around the island, stopping at different beaches and landmarks. We shopped around Main Street and ate dinner at a small pub, and naturally ended the day with incredible ice cream (Um hello salted caramel coconut with toffee! Chocolate with peanut butter cookie dough! Rainbow sprinkles! Handmade waffle cones!) before heading back on the ferry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can't wait to go back there someday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next day we began with a huge breakfast at a local diner, and then a stop at the Cape Cod Potato Chip factory. We got to see how their kettle chips are made and try some free samples (which were delicious). Then we drove up the cape all the way to the very tip of Cape Cod to a small town called Provincetown. It was quintessential New England, with narrow cobblestone streets and old buildings. It had shops filled with salt water taffy and a pier with a pirate ship at the end. The weather was sunny and warm and the little town was about as eccentric and lively as they come. We walked down the pier and explored the shops, and found more ice cream and a delicious mexican restaurant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maren and I matched not on purpose. Our outfits are flipped!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Relaxing on Jetties Beach</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nantucket is filled with hydrangeas with deep color hues. They were absolutely stunning</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Paths made out of seashells? Yes please.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Provincetown, MA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do you see those nachos? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks for reading along on our adventure to the most beautiful place in the U.S.A! New England, I love you.</span>The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-751241746397674152013-07-23T10:24:00.000-07:002013-07-23T10:24:03.097-07:00Boston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chin and I have a lot on our agenda during the month of July. We both have the month off, and in effort to maximize summer bliss, we're trying to fit in a lot. We started the month off by heading to the coast, with a weekend trip to Boston, Cape Cod, and Nantucket (We're currently in Denver, and head to Paris in a little more than a week!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you follow me on instagram or facebook, you probably have seen most of these pictures, but I figured some commentary behind them might be in order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We went with my sister, Maren, and her husband, Jordan, and we had a blast. We roadtripped from Roc to Boston (only about 6 hours), and spent the weekend exploring my favorite area of the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My dreams of living in Boston and having a sailboat on Nantucket Sound were only heightened after spending some more time there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Boston is my favorite city in the country. There's an incredible amount of rich history, with beautiful architecture and a plethora of things to do. All of that combined into an urban setting that's hustling and bustling all the time makes me a very happy girl. Add in its proximity to the cape and the ocean, not to mention the overall preppy feeling, and you might understand why I was made to live there. How could anyone not want to be there?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We spent our first evening and our last day in Boston eating at Pizzeria Regina in the North End, walking the Freedom Trail, exploring Harvard and Cambridge, strolling through Quincy Market, eating cannolis from Mike's Pastry at the Paul Revere House, getting our sea legs on board the U.S.S. Constitution, meeting up with Chin's aunt for a perfect dinner at Legal Seafood, and ending our trip by exploring downtown and eating ice cream outside a lit up Quincy Market. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Boston, I love you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pizzeria Regina made us feel like we had traveled back in time 60 years, and their pizza was SO good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chin, the fearless tour guide on the Freedom Trail</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Almost took this little guy home with me</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Best. Pastry. Ever. And I don't even really like cannolis! I felt like we were in Sicily all over again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have cannoli all over my face so that's good...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dinner on the wharf</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ciao Boston, until we meet again!</span>The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-74546987995466147552013-07-22T08:10:00.000-07:002013-07-22T08:10:01.034-07:00Berry Picking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There's nothing like picking raspberries and enjoying berry shortcake on a muggy night in summer. We took a little family outing (my sister Maren and her husband and baby were in town) to Chase Farms, a local favorite, to pick some ripe berries and enjoy the evening. The timing was uncanny; the rain held off long enough to let us finish our berry shortcakes and ice cream, and then we were greeted with a torrential downpour on our way to the car. You'll never hear me complaining about summer thunderstorms though. They're quite common in Rochester and I grew up falling asleep to summer rain, so I enjoy the nostalgia and familiarity of it all. My sweet niece loved the berry patch and couldn't wait to start eating the raspberries straight out of the freshly-picked pint (I couldn't blame her!). Rochester summer, you are magnificent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Look at that face!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Dickens women, minus my oldest sister Les and my sister in law, Amber.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Come to me, fresh raspberry shortcake.</span><br />
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<br />The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-122283598601806492013-07-15T11:54:00.000-07:002013-07-15T11:54:53.300-07:00My Favorite Cupcakes: Hummingbirds<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Before I talk about the best cupcakes ever, I just want to say thank you to everyone who reached out to me about my previous post. I was NOT expecting the outpouring of support and similar feelings, and I was shocked by the number of emails/messages/comments I received and was frankly very touched. Here's to following our dreams and making our own happiness!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay so I first made these Hummingbird Cupcakes for Easter and I have been craving them since. Before i made them, I had no idea what a hummingbird cupcake was. Honestly they kind of sounded gross like some sort of ambrosia or nut cake type of thing and I was like what are these? But when I made my first batch and tried the batter, I literally almost ate all of it before I could bake it. Seriously, the combination of cinnamon, pineapple, walnuts, coconut, and banana is out of this world. They have the moistness and spice of a carrot cake, but the texture is divine and the fruit in it adds an extra sweet kick. I love them. Add the sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting and I am over the moon. Is it possible to love something so much?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Hummingbird Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Adapted from <a href="http://marthastewart.com/" target="_blank">Martha Stewart</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3 cups flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 tsp. baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 tsp. cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 tsp. salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 cup (2 sticks) butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 tsp. vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 cups sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3 eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 cups mashed bananas (about 3 large)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 cup unsweetened coconut (I used Bob's Red Mill)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Preheat the oven to 350 and line 2 cupcake pans with liners and set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and set aside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, vanilla, and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until combined after each addition. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In a separate medium bowl, mix together bananas, nuts, pineapple, and coconut. Add into the butter mixture and beat until just barely combined.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">STIR in the flour mixture until just combined. Scoop batter into the cupcake pans, filling each well about 3/4 full. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bake for about 23-27 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the frosting:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 tsp. vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4 cups powdered sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Combine the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the powdered sugar until combined. Turn up the speed and beat until mixture is a frosting consistency. Frost onto cooled cupcakes. Enjoy! </span></div>
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<br />The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-90339091623715474292013-06-24T21:28:00.000-07:002013-06-25T07:18:24.829-07:00Why This Year Was The Hardest of My Life<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been debating whether or not to write this post for a long time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But the title kind of says it all. This past year was incredibly difficult. I don't mean to sound whiny (though my tendencies lately may point that way), but I've been feeling so down on myself as a woman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A year ago, I had no idea what my life would entail when it came to the arduous and long journey that is medical school. Starting out, you expect it to be difficult, but the thoughts of someday having a doctor husband and a comfortable lifestyle wins out and it becomes this exciting road and we were told over and over, "medical school is an adventure, it'll be the best time of your life." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay can I say something about that statement? Medical school is definitely an adventure. But this year was not the best time of our lives. It was the hardest. When Christian and I got married, I was on board 100 percent with him going to medical school. The thought was exciting and I was so proud of Christian for pursuing his dreams and working so hard to make them a reality. But being young, I hadn't developed enough mentally or emotionally to make a mature and decisive path for myself. I got caught up in the one goal we had (career-wise) as a couple: get Christian to medical school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The longer we were married and the older I got (though I realize 22 is still quite young and I am still very immature), the more I questioned this path we're on and the more I began to envision the goals I had for myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All of a sudden, there were things I wanted to do but instead, I was living in my sister's basement finishing my bachelor's degree in 3 1/2 years so Christian could be where he wanted to be. Though I love Christian and I want to support him in any way I can, this was not my idea of the life I had pictured for myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When we were all settled back in Rochester after Christmas, I began looking for a job to help support us through medical school. And this is important to note: I wasn't looking for a job to help fulfill me as a young, professional woman, I was looking for a job because it was my duty as a wife to support my husband while he furthered his career and academic studies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was offered a job at a great company at the end of March, and even though it was a big girl, professional job with a reputable company, I did not feel right about it. After praying about it and contemplating my options, I decided to turn it down and keep looking for other jobs. At the time, Christian was drowning in school work, extensive church responsibilities, and other duties like his job as his class secretary and surgery interest groups. He was barely staying afloat and so I decided to take a part-time job while I kept looking for a job that I felt good about. However, after being pressured and pressured, I took the job that I knew was wrong for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first day of work I remember walking into a bathroom stall at 4 p.m, and sobbed for a half hour because I couldn't believe the mess I had gotten into. It was my first day and I knew the job was totally wrong for me. For me, it wasn't about the money, it was about being fulfilled as a human being and contributing to society. I felt defeated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was at a job that I didn't feel invested in whatsoever, but too tired and busy to make an effort at home or in my relationships with Christian, my family, and friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I started to explore my options and figure out what I really wanted to be doing with my life at this moment and in the future. For a long time I had been toying with the idea of culinary school, but the expense didn't seem worth it and there are no culinary institutes or art institutes in our area that offer a full program. Our local community college, however, offers a culinary arts certificate program that is one year long. The tuition is extremely inexpensive and even though it's just a community college program, I could still learn skills that interest me, even if they don't further my career. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Christian was really supportive of the idea and I decided to find out more and I even signed up for classes (hellllooooo "preparation of breads and cookie doughs!"). However, once again I was at a crossroads. People around me, including my family, could not believe that I would give up a perfectly suitable job to go to some community college to do something that wouldn't help me support Christian. How dare I do something so selfish? Right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This whole situation has broken me. As a woman I've felt that I'm simply supposed to follow suit behind my husband, no questions asked. It's completely acceptable and admirable for Christian to spend 12 years (school, residency, AF payback) training for his career, but when I try to take 1 year at age 22 to get more education in something I'm extremely passionate about, I'm selfish and unwilling to support my husband? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I realize that marriage is about sacrifice and compromise, but I think both of those things should be shared equally by both partners in a relationship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't mean to sound resentful, because Christian has tried really hard recently to help me follow my dreams and change this unfulfilled state that I'm in, but this year has been so hard. Sometimes I resent being a woman, and I hate saying that. I've always valued my femininity but WHY is there so much pressure on women to support, nurture, and submit? Is there no place in (Mormon) society for women to excel, succeed, and thrive in our passions and talents?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know the answer to that question is yes, there is a place for women with big dreams in society. Long story short, I decided to leave the company that I'm at. Though I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to work there, I know it was just not the right fit for me. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do now. I've applied to some other jobs more in my field of expertise (communications, pr, and event management), and I'm also still signed up for the culinary arts program. We'll see what this fall brings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You're probably concerned and think I'm some scorned feminist, but I promise I'm just someone who lost sight of their individuality and personal goals. I think it's expected that as a young, temple-married woman, my blog is supposed to be about the eternal bliss of marriage and how blessed I am to have a husband. But I would be lying if I said how easy this past year was and how incredible the first year of medical school was, and that's just not true. I feel like I should be honest, and sharing the good and bad bits of marriage is part of that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I am extremely blessed to have Christian. In the end, even though my personal struggles have really affected our marriage this year, we are still happy and happy to be married. I could not have gotten through this year without Christian and his efforts to try to support me as I figure out my mess that is my life at this moment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If I sound resentful of him, it's probably more my jealousy of him. I envied him for so long. Knowing his career path since he was young and having nothing stopping him from doing it. I'm trying to copy his example now, I'm just a few years behind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I apologize for this (probably very whiny) rant (with no pictures even!) and am seriously impressed if you made it all the way through this.</span><br />
<br />The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-27095514558647282862013-06-05T05:55:00.001-07:002013-06-05T05:55:52.200-07:00Change. <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've kind of turned my life upside down lately. I'm not exactly sure what's gotten into me and why all of a sudden I've turned into a rebellious teenager of sorts, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm on this self-discovery bender and I've kind of decided to stop wishing things would happen, and just make them happen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Living alone does dangerous things to me. And I've lived alone a LOT this year. Being alone makes for a lot of quiet moments and a lot of thinking (read: daydreaming). I find myself late at night on my laptop scouring the internet for travel deals and planning trips all the way up to the point of booking them. I also find myself looking up prices on different classes I want to take and online shopping like a boss (actually not really- online shopping terrifies me and I work right by the mall so I tend to shy away from buying on the internet).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let it be known though- I've turned into this free-spirit freak and I guess working all day and being alone at night will do that to you. It makes you want to be a little more free than you can actually be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This blog post will make sense to the rest of you in a little while, trust me. Just be aware: I'm not sitting in the passenger's seat of my own life anymore. I'm in the driver's seat going 150 mph. </span><br />
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<br />The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-15062936555947237132013-05-29T04:38:00.000-07:002013-05-29T04:38:09.918-07:00Rhubarb Cupcakes with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Before we talk about important things like cupcakes, some things have been happening lately:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. I graduated! Technically in December, but in April I flew back to Provo
to walk at BYU's commencement and convocation. Gosh I missed Provo. It
was surreal being back there. Everything was the same and familiar, but
different too because life keeps on going for everyone still there.
Somebody different lives in our old apartment and somebody else is
studying in my favorite chair in the Brimhall. I was on the verge of
tears all weekend because I couldn't believe that this part of my life
was coming to a close. The best part of my life so far (I'm still
deciding how I feel about the med school part), very officially done
with. I'm grateful for it and can't believe that I was lucky enough to
attend BYU. It was the best thing to ever happen to me (I met my best friends, my husband, and received a world class education).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. Christian officially finished his first year of medical school at the U of R. Can you believe it?! What a whirlwind of a year it has been. It's had plenty ups and plenty downs as well, and I can't get over the fact that he is 1/4 of the way done! I wish there was a way to say how proud I am of him, but I don't think anything can really do it justice. He is the most incredible man on the planet so there's that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. Chin also left yesterday to go to Officer Training. I don't know if
I've shared it here on the blog or not, but Chin is doing medical
school through an Air Force scholarship. Basically, they pay for medical
school, and at the end of residency he'll be an AF doctor for 4 years
before he can go into private practice. I was worried at first, but the
prospect of potentially living overseas while he does his payback makes
it seem like a pretty good deal to me. So anyways, he's off to Officer
Training in Alabama for the month of June, while I'm here in Rochester.
I'm terrified of him leaving because we've had enough time apart this
year (e.g. a whole semester) but I'll make do. Lady and I will stick
together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And finally, let's talk about cupcakes. One of my absolute favorite parts about our tiny little house is our backyard. We have a nice, secluded chunk of lawn (front and back!) that's surrounded by pine trees. We borrowed my parents' fire pit for the summer and have a nice patio set, with lights strung along the back of the house, making our yard ideal for dinners outside and weekend gatherings. I just love how cozy it feels. I also love that we have plants! It sounds silly, but we have a beautiful rhododendron bush as well as new pumpkin plants, rose bushes, hydrangea, lavender, and best of all, a rhubarb plant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our rhubarb plant was HUGE this year, and consequently I was able to make these cupcakes with fresh rhubarb straight from the garden. And they were divine. Chin dubbed them as his favorite cupcakes I've ever made, and that was without the frosting on them. They're thick and dense (my favorite type of cake) and have a perfect tang, tempered slightly by some sweet sugar and butter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The frosting is the perfect compliment. Fresh, sweet, and smooth, you can really taste both the rhubarb and the strawberry, a divine combination for summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made these pretty in pink cupcakes for the last Med School Wives Club get together of the season (we'll all be off in different directions for summer), and I loved how girly they were. I didn't take any pictures with my real camera, so iphone pictures will have to suffice for now!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rhubarb Cupcakes with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Adapted from <a href="http://kitchenkonfidence.com/" target="_blank">Kitchen Konfidence</a> and <a href="http://marthastewart.com/" target="_blank">Martha Stewart</a></span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the stewed rhubarb:</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3 cups fresh rhubarb, ends trimmed and diced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 cup water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3 tbsp. sugar</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the cupcakes:</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, room temperature</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 large eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 cups flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 tsp. salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 tsp. baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 tsp. ground ginger</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/3 cup milk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In a medium saucepan, combine rhubarb, water, and 3 tbsp. sugar over medium heat. Stew, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb starts to soften and breakdown, and the mixture starts to boil, about 7-8 minutes. Pour the mixture into a clean bowl with a fine mesh strainer or small colander. Discard of the rhubarb juice in the bowl, and transfer the stewed rhubarb into the bowl that previously held the juice. Set aside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Preheat oven to 350 and line a 12-well cupcake pan with liners. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until well incorporated, scraping down the bowl as needed. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and ginger. With the mixer on low, pour in half of the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Then add the milk, followed by the rest of the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Gently fold the stewed rhubarb into the batter. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan, about 2/3 full for each cupcake well. Bake for 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to a cooling rack and let cool completely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the strawberry buttercream:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 cup fresh strawberries*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, firm and slightly cold</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pinch of coarse salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4 cups powdered sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 tsp. vanilla extract</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Place strawberries in a food processor or blender, and blend until completely pureed. Set aside. Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy. Turn mixer to low speed and slowly add the powdered sugar, beating until combined. Add 3 tbsp. of the strawberry puree and the vanilla, beating until combined, but be careful not to over mix to avoid the mixture becoming to airy. Frost the cooled cupcakes and enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*You could use frozen strawberries that have been thawed, but fresh are best in my opinion. </span><br />
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The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-36917290484610851972013-05-09T05:47:00.000-07:002013-05-09T05:47:53.812-07:00Our Stay at Ashford Castle<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm a little embarrassed that it's taken me almost two months to finish my posts about our trip to Ireland... But I'm happy (for you... a little sad for me) to say that this is the last post I'll do about our trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After our insane day trip to the Aran Islands, we spent the night at a cozy B&B in Galway, eating coconut cheesecake in bed while it poured rain outside. Galway is right on the coast so with the wind that night we were basically hiding inside from a monsoon. We slept in the next morning and after a long (and incredible) breakfast we headed into downtown Galway to shop around. They have a TopShop as well as amazing department stores in Galway and it was really hard for me not to buy all the things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After picking up some sandwiches at a local deli we headed up to Cong, where we would be staying for the night. When we booked our trip, the tour we picked let us pick what B&B's we would be staying in, and then they automatically booked us for a night at the Ashford Castle. We didn't realize, however, that Ashford Castle is an actual CASTLE (that makes me sound idiotic but seriously) and five star resort, with grounds that encompass the entire town of Cong. When we drove over the moat and up to the valet parking, our mouths literally dropped when we realized that we were staying here for the night. The castle has hosted celebrities like Mel Gibson and Ronald Reagan, and we felt extremely out of place. Traveling through Ireland on a tight budget doesn't typically entail a night in a castle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But we went with it. We spent the afternoon in the drizzly (but refreshing) rain, roaming the miles of walking trails the castle has. We couldn't afford to do any of the fancy things they have at the castle like falconry, horseback riding, fishing tours, or archery, but we were content with touring the grounds and resting in the drawing room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was proud of myself in the fact that I did a little bit of research of dining options at the castle before we left for Ireland. The George V dining room runs about 75 euro a person, and Chin and I both knew that wasn't going to fly. Also, we tried to pack light for our trip and the dining room requires women to wear a formal dress and the men a suit
coat and tie. We opted for the more casual (and much less expensive)
dining option and ate at Cullen's. In the summer months, Cullen's is located in a cottage right next to the castle, but in the winter, Cullen's is literally located in the Dungeon of the castle. They send the cheap, young, married students to the dungeon for dinner, and we were totally fine with it. It turned out that the less expensive restaurant was still the nicest and most gourmet of our trip. Perhaps not the most traditional Irish meal, but incredibly delicious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After our rugged day in Inis Mor, Ashford Castle was a little taste of luxury that we felt pretty undeserving of. We felt like a king and a queen and pretty much decided that someday when we have some real money we'll come back in the summer and do falconry and eat in the fancy dining room. But until then, we're totallllyyyy fine with our one night stay at Ashford. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The grounds were unbelievable, and the castle dates back to the 12th century!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fresh artisan breads, and incredible appetizers were just the start of our meal at Cullen's</span><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_r8zmRndHevQqmdss_zdxZuFAbeTamtlXXtkmWOp9ioqYbJXZ25OiXDuFDTq8ZIsoyHBR6_oz65BWa7pUmzG8T1RSo_f899t7KgaddHvZm3lS8KJZWKD8oNzB8VTjN6HQMgn2fN5GZNOG/s640/ireland25.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While out exploring the ground we found a bridge in the middle of the woods crossing over the river that goes past the castle. Everywhere we turned we found so many hidden gems!</span><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHINkSPjXmvfwoNHUiSNmtQB6p6sREYefdXW0Zgmhr8S8y-FhPuwVoncBj1ALR0h_j38reDTEKUvBLkbzPMATOGeiQOu8tdxC58sus4OIuKkv7DljVbfsf-AMYHzmerMKZEvmxi1pzKiKI/s640/ireland24.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">SO MUCH GREEN</span><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE1WuvNEyRz1GWQiIxeV5zeZQo6bUHJIKUru9jymHTuAjtmmPibGmlzoujuIZtTrGveTcr92X_a-ZUO0X73FVzaXd7xPjKc1MImxWoQBp71awBDtIYg_3H36xIbbYXAqLhsabs2eNXBBe/s640/ireland23.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A little shot of downtown Galway. I want to live in Ireland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks for following along on our journey through Ireland! It's been fun to look back on our trip and remember all the amazing adventures we had there. For me, it was a trip of a lifetime and I'm glad I got to share it with my husband and partner in crime.</span></div>
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<br />The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-70556825706011561252013-04-22T04:22:00.000-07:002013-04-22T04:22:47.446-07:00Healthy Chocolate Coconut Granola<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Have you guys heard of <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/bobby-flay-fit/package/index.html" target="_blank">Bobby Flay Fit</a>? I was never really a Bobby Flay fan before (his weird hair and long island accent are BUGGIN), but on the Food Network website he has a mini web series about how he got into shape and stays there. It's an amazing series and the food he makes- oh my gosh I die. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He made this recipe for chocolate coconut granola, and I was drooling on my keyboard and seriously went home right after work and made it. I was like, "I NEED THIS. Screw dinner." Chocolate granola became my only conquest for a Wednesday night. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Turns out it tastes as good as it looks. Chocolatey oats with almonds and coconut flakes, white chocolate and chocolate chips, and a light coconut flavor that turns Greek yogurt into an almond joy in breakfast form. You can thank me later. I adapted the recipe to make it even HEALTHIER, and more low-cal. Because let's be honest, men can tend to eat more than women, and even though Bobby's version is "healthy," it still has 1/4 sugar per batch (plus honey and chocolate which can add up). That's a lot for a healthy snack or breakfast topping! So I did you all a favor and made this recipe even more healthy, without cutting back on any flavor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I took a bite of this and then almost ate the whole batch and then had it for breakfast the next morning, then for an afternoon snack, and then for dessert that night. It's like crack, people. Coconutty, chocolatey, almondy crack for people who are addicted to dessert but are trying to be skinny too.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Healthy Chocolate Coconut Granola</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Adapted from <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/bobby-flay-fit/package/index.html" target="_blank">Bobby Flay Fit</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. Coconut oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/3 cup cocoa powder (organic is good or something dark and delicious. Bobby suggests Valrhona but I just used Hershey's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/4 cup honey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 tbsp. Stevia granulated baking blend (OR 1/4 white sugar*)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pinch of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/8 tsp. coconut extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/8 tsp. vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 1/2 cups oats (not quick-cooking)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 cup raw whole almonds, coarsely chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (I used Bob's Red Mill organic)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/4 cup chocolate chips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/4 cup white chocolate chips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Brush a cookie sheet/baking pan with 1 Tbsp. coconut oil. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Heat the remaining 1/4 cup of coconut oil in a small saucepan over medium heat (until melted and clear). Whisk in cocoa powder, honey, stevia (or sugar), and salt and bring to a simmer. Whisk until stevia is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the vanilla and coconut extracts and whisk until smooth. Turn off the burner but leave the saucepan on the burner, put a lid on to keep warm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In a large bowl, combine the oats, almonds, and coconut flakes. Pour in the cocoa/honey mixture and mix with a rubber spatula until oat mixture is completely coated. Transfer the mixture to the prepared cookie sheet and spread into an even layer. Bake for 40-45 minutes (depending on your oven) then turn off the oven. Leave the pan in the warm oven for another 20 minutes. Remove, then put on a cooling rack to cool. After 5-10 minutes, sprinkle the chocolate chips and white chocolate chips on top. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Once completely cool, transfer the granola to a big bowl and break into small, granola sized pieces. Enjoy! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Serving Suggestion</b>: Pour 1/4 cup of delicious granola (140 calories) over 1/2 cup vanilla, fat free greek yogurt (about 80-90 calories) and half of a banana (45 calories) for a delicious and filling breakfast that's under 300 calories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Per 1/4 cup serving: 140 calories, 6g fat, 4g sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*Using sugar instead of Stevia baking blend adds 15 calories per 1/4 cup serving and 5g sugar per serving. </span><br />
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtxUstD4-sgvpqWno1e04kaOvRYUiM78qz5611Xvw2sf4v3Z-Q4kiQBNTHHLcbL-vew0K75elM7BUZjH-RSwzUNl-MdIasSMzsub7bY_wg31zyZZcovWgNbsDCev7eN7D9QWJ1BP-KizU/s640/granola3.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br />The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-54036343741551999312013-04-15T17:50:00.002-07:002013-04-15T17:50:37.408-07:00When You're About To Die On A Ferry<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a true story. There was one distinct moment in Ireland where I truly thought we were about to die. It wasn't like how I was expecting we would die if we were to somehow perish in Ireland. I had always thought we'd run into a herd of sheep or get hit by a truck on a one lane road (which there are a LOT of in the countryside of Ireland). But instead, we almost died on a boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After an amazingly sunny day in Galway at the Cliffs of Moher, we were feeling confident about the weather and were looking forward to waking up the next morning to take a ferry over to Inis Mor, part of the Aran islands that lie right off the western coast of Ireland. I decided against boots (bad idea) and an extra sweater (worse idea), and we headed to the port to take the ferry. It was drizzling a bit but we didn't realize how INSANELY WINDY and cold it was outside until we got to the port to catch the ferry. We were running late and didn't have time to grab extra layers or boots, and ran to the ferry (they only go back and forth once a day in the off season, so if we missed it we'd be out of luck). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The ferry ride over to the island wasn't calm by any means, but we made it there fine. We enjoyed the group of 50 French teenagers screaming and flirting with each other (seriously hilarious). Despite our original plan to rent bikes, we ended up jumping on a tiny tour van with a big German family instead to tour the island and stay out of the bitter wind (best idea we ever had- the poor French teenagers had to ride bikes all day in the wind and rain). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The island was stunning, and much more quiet and slow moving than any other place we had been previous. They only speak Gaelic on the island and live in thatched cottages and go to the only local pub that's open in the winter and eat scones all day. It was lovely and cozy and mystic and magical all at once. The weather and the small population of the island made Inis Mor seem eerie and beautiful all in the same. We hiked up to Dun Aengus, a fort located on the highest point of the island, met a horse (a real life Fatty Lumpkin!) guarding a cottage, had tomato soup and scones to warm our freezing souls in a tiny cafe, and shopped for Irish sweaters before heading on the ferry. Despite the chill and continuous rain, the day was wonderful and the people delightful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We were excited to get back on the ferry simply for the warmth, and took our seats on the bottom floor by the windows. And here's where it gets good. In the 7 hours we spent on Inis Mor, the waves and the wind and the sea seemed ready to teach us a lesson of sorts. We embarked on our hour journey across the sea back to the mainland, and encountered some of the biggest waves I'd ever seen. It started out with the waves coming at us from the side, making the boat rock side to side, starting the sea sickness of everyone on the ferry (imagine being rocked to a side, looking at the window, and being perpendicular with the water. I died a little inside). I started to get a little nervous, gripping my seat- and Chin- tighter and tighter. I don't get sea sick so I just enjoyed the couple in front and behind us throwing up into the bags that the crew brought around. Truly wonderful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, this is where I thought we would truly, honestly die- the ferry changed direction and all of the sudden every 5 seconds the ferry was engulfed in waves, being thrown practically under the ocean surface. I felt as though we were in the Life of Pi, except in a much smaller boat and the zoo animals were French teenagers throwing up and screaming hysterically. At this point I lost it. Our drizzly but magical day on the island turned into The Perfect Storm, and I found myself praying to God that when we died that it wouldn't hurt, and that we wouldn't feel how cold the water was. My nervous grip on my seat turned into hands that were shaking uncontrollably, covering my face as I sobbed and basically was screaming in hysterics right along with our little French friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have always loved boats. I've endured plenty of "rocky" boat rides, and due to my lack of sea-sickness, nothing had really phased me before. But that hour of my life was the longest I could imagine. Maybe it was because I lost my wit and nerve, and everything just seemed amplified as I yelled repeatedly at Chin, "WE'RE GOING TO DIE," but when we got off that boat I vowed to not go on a ferry again for a long, LONG, time. It was not my shining moment by any means, but if you had been there, I don't think you could blamed me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's comical looking back, because the crew told us as we were getting off that they had endured MUCH worse, and that it would take a LOT to sink that ferry, but at the time I was horrified. And now I just feel dumb. I'm sure I made the people throwing up around me feel much better, no?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After that sob/ridiculous story, here are some pictures of the beautiful Inis Mor. If you go to Ireland, make a trip here (but just not on a windy day in March). Plus, this is where they filmed most of the movie Leap Year- including the end where he proposes (!). </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dun Aengus </span></div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWpscwYln-EXOto4qTYIWIr4MY0TO3Q-zMCyVwcSeWCbTz9xGJKVELuyXc13UxwPtrdqgEWP2lD2n9kTCiA8NtwSy0LIL8EEu9YQRJZ_LF8F1VMlhF1PNjxxOVXtAOAHji4-6VjTCQ_yn/s640/ireland19.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We froze at the top, but the climb was so worth it!</span><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlFRDCyIKLTmvE7kYeLkAZjZAi93Pzltbvj9wVrVD_IF7XWGzz3pK9xo0Pq-IPyUFvJg_V61eLYhNflWu3DAdEvA_NnJfQ_j_x1TY5jsUyptQMe_N77lXu2yDR8BLKu4lUSbq8nHS7tWo/s640/ireland20.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0__Bk0mYyoViL5uFNn0fHlXgCb-Pgw379C731gnJpAKdXAyiuTkKaFSrHdT9HbY_elIH8PB4Y5-3LOwLksNdB5vXjtdKtAHvDyWPbHXxn3JtYY9EzU6jhBm7bkqpSeg8wQkC8NTnVHF-/s640/ireland15.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our very own Fatty Lumpkin, protecting his master's cottage (someone seriously lives there)</span><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3fL-F6JdG1O0gqH-4skb2RSFwlhlzH1VkkKXIxQ2fv_ry3MWFerR5vBfgOqGGwNyRG39fIVBJXKU_UUwpEbIH0uLj-FZCE-_oceHGsPP5d8hiOoXtoNiYZndEDMCuUS-TKDY99wZRHb3/s640/ireland17.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Coastal living is the best kind of living</span><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-EuiAmGQMhOF-29G2zpneEpoiPrDHFBdyibXNAxS3UCSPNl398PAl3BaRllCnxURyca3IwBjFqyKJSfm3q528-wFnbUqA98eE6aGq0NqII8gJkbOKieqoSCZQZf8AiU2XG8-OIszhJsf/s640/ireland18.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">According to our Patrick, our tour guide for the day, this cottage sold for 250,000 euro. A quarter of a mil people!</span><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnpi1ABF2BCicqaNKfezDxpZUQVbd3078CMwrnWwpFCs4x6bygYUzGuYFUkAtxf9PblK4mp3mkC41pRKbt49MbX6tVSR1pDLh4dGQT7vY-8cRzYioisCLrZRStPAmYQUPrcfvWgTpnMJ8/s640/ireland16.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Feeling a little wind blown, but I'll never forget that soup and raisin scone (divine).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPWpi_c_aIEIFihexL2rsMflWze3TMZvHfZCxagb0YNpKt-iOTL1y0NTm1cCK9QwcP4Pf0KAdbzk74Ah0O4MjCuqkGv4FCprv3Ee0Cn1CvFbVyv0CftOj5-J691yvwkOOoTq6VDMCqkVD/s640/ireland14.jpg" width="426" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So many sweaters, so little time. Chin ended up getting a couple pairs of cozy wool socks, and I found myself my very own Irish sweater!</span></div>
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The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-6156081953704184522013-04-03T07:00:00.000-07:002013-04-03T07:00:21.015-07:00The Cliffs of Moher<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After a relaxing morning exploring the Dingle Peninsula, Chin and I headed up to Galway in search of the Cliffs of Moher. Fatty Lumpkin took us straight to a ferry dock to take a car ferry across the bay to the cliffs. Literally, like I think she would have taken us straight into the ocean if we had let her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The cliffs were absolutely incredible. I couldn't believe that there was a place so beautiful on this earth, and that we were there experiencing it. You could walk along the cliffs all the way down to the edge of the farthest cliff in view. We made it pretty far, but then realized we were starving and eventually turned around to walk back to get lunch in town. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Between the sunshine and the fact that we were standing on this monstrous edge overlooking the ocean, I was in heaven. There's something so relaxing about hearing waves crashing into these huge cliffs, with the salty sea air surrounding you. </span></div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan_JYbFIrhZ2YPHEMRjjjVoqPKzS60ga9q5ihNW0TTfNdILeBK-N5rdevC0bpZzIxph0PClQlgbHrx8CUbbl5e4zEl9YP4s53gBdShEfxAaZiY0F5VHEe8RgwH9RUtSaIFN3CYsOEk7xw/s640/ireland9.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you look closely, you can see the rock where Dumbledore and Harry apparate to in the 6th Harry Potter movie (when they're trying to destroy the first horcrux, if you know what I'm referring to, fellow HP freaks). Chin was pretty excited about it, and kept saying things like, "How did they get up on that rock?! How did they film it?!" Really the important questions in life right there. </span><br />
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqgawnKHUemnud5vO8s_8-XxF0473SwdgYOW4ZfnYKjBtrIUrBHBizupPIjWGKQ79pkOaAosOFvX7R9XfDJNU9wU6jLIDdZFnSVtJvc0U3DB4Gy7iObwIkaMglymeaTUDSFdFJOMA-JeK/s640/ireland11.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pictures can't do it justice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want to go back. Of all the days on our trip, this one pretty much tops it for me. </span>The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-3853010130154600362013-03-29T07:29:00.000-07:002013-03-29T07:29:34.762-07:00Traveling to Dingle<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After our first day in Dublin, Chin and I took Fatty Lumpkin (our GPS... Name that book!) and hopped in our tiny little Peugot and drove across the whole country. It seems ambitious, but luckily from Dublin down to the Dingle Peninsula all the way on the West side of the country is about 4 hours. We had lots of time to get to our bed and breakfast there so we decided to make a day out of our travels, and it ended up being one of my favorite days of our vacation. That's a big claim to make though since I could say that about almost every day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Traveling through the countryside of Ireland is nothing short of magical. The narrow roads are surrounded by hovering trees and vines, and the rolling hills are SO GREEN. I kept comparing to the scenery to all different movies. One second it would look like Lord of the Rings, the next Harry Potter, the next Princess Bride, and then the next it would look like Snow White and the Huntsman. I was getting pretty carried away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We started our morning by first stopping in Portlaoise, about an hour outside of Dublin. It's a really small town, but after seeing the movie Leap Year, I knew I wanted to stop at the fort that they explore (while waiting for the train, if you know what I'm talking about). The Rock of Dunamase sits at the top of this ginormous hill, overlooking Portlaoise and the Irish countryside. We drove up this tiny one lane dirt road, and we ended up being the only people in sight for like, miles. This ginormous fort, with a beautiful church at the bottom of the hill, and we were the ONLY ones exploring it. It was honestly the best morning of my life. We had a blast looking around and climbing on everything. The views were breathtaking and the air was so clear and fresh. It was misting a little bit and I honestly felt like I was in a movie. Magical, I say. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our view from the top</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For lunch (and our halway point), we made our way to Limerick, a big city smack dab in the middle of our route. We ended up spending some more time there (we ate dinner downtown there again later in the week), and we wanted to try a restaurant I had read about called Zest. It sits in the Limerick City Gallery of Art, and is known for it's fresh cafe food and modern atmosphere. It was a great meal and I'm still dreaming about the cupcake we had.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before heading down to Dingle, we made one more stop at Killarney National Park, which sits right on Lake Leane nestled into some misty mountains. The views reminded me SO MUCH of a Harry Potter movie, and we could pretty much hike wherever we wanted, which ended up being a blast. The park's woods and views made my jaw drop. Could you imagine going in the summer and being able to swim in the lake? I would die.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After a few mixups trying to find our bed and breakfast (it was in a parish of a tiny tiny town, making it basically off every map ever), we finally made it to Dingle. Our bed and breakfast had a perfect view of the ocean, and with a little bit of daylight left, Chin and I decided to make our way down to the beach. We passed lots of sheep and cows on the way, all who gave us funny looks.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The beach was chilly and a little rainy, but sometimes that can be the best kind of beach.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next morning we woke up to blue skies and sunshine (and the best waffles I've ever tasted from our B&B innkeeper), making Dingle one of my favorite places on earth. </span> <br />
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The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-7279290560188388312013-03-26T05:11:00.000-07:002013-03-26T05:11:28.503-07:00Dublin<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We're home from Ireland and let me tell you, coming back was not easy. Not easy even at all. To say we had an amazing time would be an understatement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm not a world traveler. But, I would say in my short 22 years here on this earth, I've been to a few places and seen some new faces. I've loved pretty much every place I've ever traveled to, and then there is Ireland. It's kind of in a category of its own for me. Maybe it's because I'm still on that post-trip high, or maybe it's simply the fact that it's an amazing country. Between the people (who in my opinion are the friendliest, kindest, most hospitable people I have ever met), the scenery, the food, and the fact that I got to spend one blissful, uninterrupted week with Chin, we had the time of our lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We spent two and a half days in Dublin (our first day and last day and a half) exploring the city and the time in between was spent in the Irish countryside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A few thoughts on Dublin...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love big cities. I'm not really from a "big" city, but I've always loved the feel of being downtown. The city lights, the rush of people, the sounds... It all fascinates me. Dublin was no exception. We flew there on St. Patrick's Day, which meant that we didn't get out and about until the day after, so the city was still recovering from the wild day previous. Festivals were winding down (though we still got to participate in a few of them) and the streets were a little quiter while the people in Dublin recuperated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our first day in Dublin we explored Trinity College (and the amazing Book of Kells) and Christ Church Cathedral, the oldest building in Dublin. We were exhausted from jet lag, but still managed to try the Bangers and Mash from The Oval Bar, and take a ride on a ferris wheel (set up for a festival) overlooking Dublin. Pretty magical if you ask me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our last leg of the trip we also spent in Dublin, seeing some of the sights that were closed on our first day. We took a tour of Kilmainham Jail and saw the galleries in the Chester Beatty Library. Our last night in Ireland we ate at Porterhouse Brewery (famous for a reason, it was incredible) and were part of the hustle and bustle that is the Temple Bar District on a Saturday night in downtown Dublin. The streets were packed with people headed to pubs, live musicians, and all sorts of lively folk. We stopped into a cafe for some of the best hot chocolate I've ever had, and slowly walked back to our hotel, soaking up the sights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We managed to catch the last day of food stands outside of Christ Church Cathedral and all this candy was calling my name.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Christ Church Cathedral was a spectacle in itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We were lucky in the fact that our hotel was in walking distance to pretty much all the sights in Dublin. Our first day, we picked up lunch at Roly's Bistro and ate lunch on the canal before heading downtown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The apartments close to our hotel were stunning!</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4HD-Bw_v2C5oT7zmyJlieO9Gz0H_9XjdCqXM4VhGIEOJxR-rH02hBOcMBiYH8wZoSzCx0RyyhrO3OnxJZbVSuA-QOl2ekEhqHg-1Ki7e9c6aRwyMmTXiB_DqSdb2U0y5PvjWi_-zmqLc/s640/IMG_4073.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Exploring the old library at Trinity College</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A rainy night in the Temple Bar District</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dinner at the Oval Bar (thanks for the reccomendation Moe!)</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGYU5MsMqdhzsD6IRyJoIQhI3NTuuoNtG3qCbOaIJdxaQvAuGjKGoLcaizVOIjbJ-PhEZ7Fq3Lh4IEnTyUnmUdPAQPlWK6IPNl1ZboS6xtqT2lP4J18Hu2-cO8j1NBE9zZqmUYc-j6yfZ/s640/ireland2.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On top of the ferris wheel. A little chilly, but a perfect way to end our first day in Ireland.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Exploring the Temple Bar District on our last night in Ireland</span> </div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5YnHCskxPROU8dBhKy79tYS5zmqJIcFimWAHzQQhFNbOJG2P-XY64KXHiKkjzeb7Ptx-ulfCCQJ14EMk4Rqv9azfeHNaiW9Sbike9sqUCKaF6BtjiqX3OMBDRzL-zR1fIWHfkIKc4eRh/s640/ireland4.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Walking around a corner to see a stunning Trinity College lit up at night was a beautiful surprise!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Overall, we LOVED Dublin. It's such a clean and (seemingly) safe city. It's easy to get around and the people were so friendly. I'll try not to drag out our vacation posts for too long, because I do realize how annoying that can be. But thanks for reading along in our Irish adventure!</span>The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-79060476153202841662013-03-11T07:02:00.000-07:002013-03-11T07:02:11.522-07:00Getting There<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It seems that March has brought us a storm of to-do lists that never end. This weekend was the busiest of the busiest (and not necessarily the most pleasant) and it had me actually looking forward to Monday so I could maybe get my life/routine back, even if just for a couple days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We leave for Ireland on Sunday and I'm not sure if it's just because I planned the trip by myself and the success of it is riding on my shoulders, but I am freaking out a little. I'm not the most laid back person to begin with (you should see me when I'm late to something... not pretty), and the hype I feel about our upcoming trip is sending me into overdrive. I like having a lot of things to do so this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but things are definitely hectic around here. My suitcase has been packed for a few days (you see what I mean about anxious?) and so if you see me the next couple of days wearing pants that are four sizes too big and a t shirt running around like a nutcase, you've been warned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Regardless of the stress that comes with getting ready for a big trip, we are bouncing up and down over here with excitement. The stress is GOOD stress and I'd rather be stressed out over something fun and exciting so I really shouldn't even be worried. But how do you tell a naturally bred worrier not to worry? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I guess the point I'm trying to make is that this week is Cray with a capital C. Chin takes his cumulative final for this block on Friday and once he is done, break officially begins! So bring it on, Monday (and Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even my writing is sounding hectic today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And for your viewing pleasure... How could you not love this little face? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYEFuUgKLVAZW7lnbEn-aoAafMBOfKoIilfhllHj4-whsTmyKtL-DzKftIgmJ5Agv7V7t7hvVECWwwC6Gosn8c-IX8zxJiSPmxTto3a3-AZpY4_DY9vS8gGoYU2PS19QyCmfKgZT2fHUs/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYEFuUgKLVAZW7lnbEn-aoAafMBOfKoIilfhllHj4-whsTmyKtL-DzKftIgmJ5Agv7V7t7hvVECWwwC6Gosn8c-IX8zxJiSPmxTto3a3-AZpY4_DY9vS8gGoYU2PS19QyCmfKgZT2fHUs/s640/-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-29631131745336170022013-02-22T06:44:00.000-08:002013-02-22T06:54:11.344-08:00So 22<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I turned 22 yesterday. And ohhh what an age 22 is. I'd like to say it's the perfect age. You're still young and spry, but at the same time, you've passed that awkward bump that's 21 and are no longer considered "barely an adult." You have one whole year of adulthood under your belt and you've learned a thing or two since then. You're willing to take on more responsibility, and you're no longer "just another college girl." You're a functioning member of society with the ups and downs that comes along with that. So I'm happy to be 22. I liked being 21 too; the thrill of finally reaching adulthood and the sense of accomplishment that came with that, that was nice. But for me 21 was a growth period. I slumped and bumped along for half of that year, and then decided to make some changes to better myself. Now I'm 22 and the ball is rolling and I'm fresh and clean and it's just one more step in this progression. And I'm pretty happy about it. I won't be 22 forever, so I guess I'll enjoy it while I can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday ended up being pretty low key. I've been on my sick death bed all week, so after a short (and pretty pathetic) attempt at picking up my exercise routine in the morning, I headed to Med School Wive's Club that my mother (usually it's just us med wives, but we were graced with the prescence of my mother, grandma, and a few family friends) offered to host for my birthday. I was blown away and honored that my mom went to so much trouble to make our luncheon special for me yesterday. She thought of basically everything and the table was a beautiful sea of pink and gold, my two favorite colors of all time. You're never too old for pink, right? She made, well, pretty much everything. You see it, name it, she made it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Homemade pom pom toppers on top of Wegmans cupcakes (I died). </span></div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXhICytkHFaFSgAFkf_UivLMkxmG9lBJ1qQjFLAMYw6MByEsfuU9e1PPeAfsMt0ig0ERsyGd9_ZqtVfNWQuG6p4Hazrv_4y4VYW-NPgBjbqWjaemG2O54Mwtzs7mLnNK7RbhADCwMeB-5/s640/IMG_4016.jpg" width="508" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loved the little touches like the gold jungle animals (dollar toy stores she spray painted) and succulents for each girl, planted in a hand-painted tea cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Photo below courtesy of Xan Craven)</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-g2Lct3LOgNlapbrFjk9R5OYxn5JLcu9Ngw30dHDvmos_YQTjgtN0c8XHhPWbQTt1MyZpVs-dBSLzmINURRjubQbg1RC2z6_hcro-m31l-gf4LkILK9WmgqhyphenhyphenYdhsgM7_ZiShyphenhyphenx6B4-45/s640/487257_10100203122105404_556493700_n.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My mother and I both share a love for decorating with Chinese takeout boxes, these were the perfect pink! I also loved the little Hors D'Oeuvres table!</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ByOBcxd2pH1QTKWW5uGXf3jfs1F2YBbUzAV6w7NKg3hd7zLXbpVEk7N7JtMYXbO3jegdAVAJh62EhXkoAPbLKzK1w40pUqNgu0bK9k3R1jpXlRgjX_rT2lkP_ZWQyHbky1y6z5W-hmUq/s640/birthday6.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My pictures, as always, don't do the table justice. I love the polka-dotted burlap runner my mother sewed, as well as the hand-dipped vase filled to the brim with Trader Joe's florals.</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu51CpnbNQli2eQsvHmaJgvFkBpmpQnhMedtZBXeQUqY6rcfcD1OIzySHglgaoYm7lzOFdh0ttHo212YcLioy0vbDX9wF4z3tUAHKexyS3MEriDzn_3StwjZspUfoUHHjZZTrjZuRiFRz/s640/bday4.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">CUPCAKES.</span> </div>
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<img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH4KO2nHktETN09z8h4MK2wC3cqwnc0-7agNB9GYFFKESlkwq8z7fu164URcRkHwD-H_LiprLBTASQ3eB2a08aFLqPK4LVFVg31umv7mgIE1PrKuaUbwrq7cIQyYHpXttZj9ofdgiXarX/s640/bday1.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chin and his buddies got out of class early yesterday, and since all their wives were over for the luncheon, they surprised us by popping in and studying at my parents' house for a few hours while we partied. Bless them.</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnep6d4EeWFmnJWXuZnRp5nUXjWfenEPtNpeNJZJTtWj2Ujs1snfkjHY3BFfWoh-0JvOfXJJ1ekjXCmx1Eb7SbfoL8UqvwYo2B-yVQ2R3wDKit-0OZhNAQYFpQNCmGGuC-b82Q0SdYN1DG/s640/bday2.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So grateful for my friends and family (near and far) who made my day special. 'Specially love my Mama and the Wives Club (missing you Liz!), and Ali Kirk because I'm obsessed with her. </span> </div>
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<img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXOYpjToVR_je-u1Pzn9PK-rQz5cbHK9dz-l8E_iaGtKFYJ9TQ2QacbEFUzM4WoHgrVqE9o3jpMMkxVlotZ2kr-91cCXGWAxHGYcBcvI_ofhUxl94Zvp0HRW4XnBD0520B4Jm4002BDDS/s640/bday3.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My Grandma made it to the luncheon to give me kisses and tell embarrassing stories about me which I don't mind one bit. She's the best lady out there.</span> </div>
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<img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvyy_7-YRvAphT7cW_PnDljWiMbF2Gx7ItaHCQxHyvAg2bn3X5STPCvsHtl4BWG5BfxjlqOea3RaivOn6XQqYVaAJERfQfxrzDolBCdE5sCenpz1R3mgKDWMx1GO-h14mFme24DZiZxs5/s640/IMG_4025.JPG" width="640" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I took Lady to the vet for a checkup in the late afternoon, got a nap in (!), and then Chin and I went to dinner at <a href="http://www.restaurantgoodluck.com/" target="_blank">Good Luck</a></span>. <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'd been wanting to try it for a while and we decided to go and were so happy about it. It's a Farm-to-Table restaurant where every thing they serve is made to scratch in house (so so fresh). They serve it to you family style, and slowly bring you out each course one at a time so you can enjoy everything on its own. Chin and I ended up sharing a Bibb Lettuce Salad with Pepperoncini Vinaigrette, the Good Luck Burger (a huge burger topped with McAdam cheddar, fresh slaw, and hand-cut fries), and chocolate cake with homemade ice cream. Our dinner ended up being 3 hours long, between long talks in between courses, lots of eating, and conversations with people around us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm grateful to Chin for getting me Lady as my birthday present this year, she's a gem (obvi since she's the CUTEST) and I love her to pieces. My birthday gift to myself? Losing 43 pounds and feeling so much healthier this birthday than last. You might not be able to tell a difference, but I think I look a lot different this birthday than last, and I'm pretty happy about it.</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSg3iEzlJfkZB_Jv1igWRjT0p4DFHFORR_3UJ8WqQIAbM4pG5zVwmKoT98mqRZ8pbf5QB0jWlf2Eeu_3jWygBnx1mrPxcWPiD9M4SvPu5LX2cgu4eBGg1Gr4xH9efwvFBQC7I_sERpBg9U/s640/fat+pics.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm like, SO 22 right now.</span></div>
The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-41527050527739192852013-02-11T09:57:00.000-08:002013-02-11T09:57:24.149-08:00Introducing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Meet the newest member of our family, Lady Pingree of Brighton, or more commonly referred to as Lady. We are smitten! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She's the cuddliest, smartest, prettiest pup around, and even when she's chewing holes in all my scarves and tracking in muddy footprints through the house, we still love her to death. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been wanting a dog since Chin and I got married almost three years ago, and we finally decided to bite the bullet and do it. We both grew up with golden retrievers; Chin's parents still have two and my family's golden, Rusty, died about a month ago. It's nice to have a friendly little face around again. </span></div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDiQrt6b07oVAeAs9Xr1EsgyT_ilw91zVZg-PON8MRHkmyTMDVI2zmBsaJSW_4CklJAwuEhcA0Tiqv5WqeNRtnQffyDgq9nK4rbgQiYBLEOH0S6-McOK1bjZgPZ6cyNJ9JJNUU7rjL3n0/s640/lady1.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5h_pKze7CIR1iWoNEZFSn-GZnab86eXWS27dytXAOPpi-xEaTstGKBByRWLviMOMvWOlBmeXb3GdyGQaHe7VDXWflK2ITAMqVg9KCwEbJ2Hbj7Dvb2AgN_DFS9c2-qEZd8U7ybtxBKht/s640/IMG_3968.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of her favorite toys is her soccer ball, we swear she was born to be a soccer player (air bud anyone?). </span> <br />
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2L8cNqFzUfx5cLZFf-zDlRRD7j8VTTLTnZHP2fVBcIqPb_fQBzxRMcJgN3_SOZFLenqYAx0lMLukj-L4mei-T6QSvMmoJ7dyP34nLOJYgFV_6MEX3y3PyBj0yRi6rARi1_CdrkPV9lKO/s640/IMG_3986.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She's VERY attached to her dad, mostly because he's the brave one who takes her to the bathroom in the middle of the night and feeds her lots of treats.</span> <br />
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnx0lT5I-iJmHoGraEmAKwb5fy-a8avMroK73ucLCbOA3pxmi2i9tbqdPfIluVi4y6t0BQZ0XvNILbh8mPy01Scwfq8Bnlxwtd-273s-AMwpQTlNOkcmw7DgFNFVh7qEH-NQUwP-Ok9Ds/s640/IMG_3987.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This face gets. me. every. time.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyL51lcUHxsaOT6iBHlK7-xdjHtaoVY-iI7iNC3QBj4lCdizLiHAQLOLrPxmQQW1_GsDmYFFPKb_CrC5U4ZCDDGrFKZu5j6HoxbIh9NKx6LgaQCh-J6_vHhNC6KxhCJEtmOfuKrrdv9BI/s640/IMG_3976.jpg" width="426" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So... be prepared for lots of little Lady adventure stories and pictures of our growing pup, we love her to death!</span>The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-37398431718602319692013-02-01T05:35:00.001-08:002013-02-01T05:35:05.327-08:00The Wives Club (& a Recipe!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I haven't posted a recipe in FOREVER. I haven't been making good use of my camera, and with my lack of cooking in general my last few months in Utah, I haven't really had any recipes to share. However... I've been cooking/baking up a storm since we've been in New York... It's honestly getting a little out of hand. I made a meal schedule with all new recipes I wanted to try from now until April, so Chin has had a lot of new meals lately, with a lot more on the way. They've all turned out pretty good so far, with my new favorite tacos recipe being the star. I'll get to those in a minute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Besides Chin, there are three other LDS married guys in his med school class. So, the wives, being as awesome as we are, decided to have a Wives Club luncheon every week. The host changes weekly, and all the other wives contribute a little something to the meal each week. It's been a blast so far. I eat like a queen every Thursday (I'm talking turkey and cranberry sandwiches on homemade rolls and delicious tortilla soup good), and the company is even better. I'm a lucky woman to have come to Rochester and already have friends. Med school wives have to stick together! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was my turn to host this week, and we did some Valentine's crafts post-lunch, so I decided to dress up my table a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made Roasted Veggie Tacos with Avocado Cream and Feta, because they're my new favorite meal and are just purely delightful. Here are some pictures from the afternoon (c/o the talented <a href="http://www.xanseye.com/" target="_blank">Xan Craven</a>), then I'll get to the recipe! </span></div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKSUTocDfGBE2CeFoAbnJXMRlQv8PHtByN0Ie5gagY89rxbj7GOmStbMqyI8lROm07Q_tIgSOWA8M8SAPO7zzBOhtG-ZCQgwhdHR0D2qe_IJYA0qx2Mzevce1AhiBaJlVVRHhom1sx0p8/s640/IMG_0690-L.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB8XlkxDO6HvF0Bl-SD1-DtlFuCRsxYRjZHMVxEHeOmjO2fda_i_LPhZj7SVjbxGQ2CRO1lcH5StH5vmYpIPgpmMjtAZz6oPuGVzXc8p3M6dpye3FFKJoeA7bDleyRmkvAY7BcCjSMxvA/s640/IMG_0691-L.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hydrangeas were a great price at the grocery store, and made for a great centerpiece. Each girl had their own chinese take-out box with juju hearts in them!</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAEORopQdFoiRlo1ZZ8Rmz2JNrGBpgr3jLur_QDVuNQ6PxWtCWUKVl2TcYfxxs0_kU_9Us95V9yOAmXfp120EkBuvO4dMCB3HqjPlKa_bqHr5rdjV9mD-F0znWzJZHOPz3GrEQLxkrRsK/s640/IMG_0692-L.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Guacamole cups (won ton wrappers baked in cupcake tins, filled with guac and salsa) made for great appetizers.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eML2Vk5i43IGm6VBzWOvzo7zRTEO02SrsNaxn0Vouh7d4hWKzo1aZa1d9mri0N8jei9lV8KHtGENFFVqqR0gs1Ae_hMy1fLlfGSWzUhJ-yiKZ3tiF1Ro_3rrg_p7VW0_UomSDT7ByudY/s640/IMG_0695-L.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymnXLS-VKqllzZEtoE3pQENsQwmaXpOHwLRbOfb_yj9dfPqrStuwYjDYvcWJepnMPcAATnWW1319zaGacoxsgZNEP75veWYyuEmNhVw_hYdmqPRK20m_K4pBcnkFKxns6DKvCVfXohGja/s640/IMG_0697-L.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Seriously you need to make these tacos.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt8lwZAqa-6AGfMwq-4fLVy4DFF3UVmSydLCu22vp3h7bi1QExGRr8vFPkQI8ecctnxS9OI0uaC84xoqbh3zJ-_9-Dfp9wZFwQcp_9Jmi1IU4RvUOzeFcvaAdRCU3A0cXfaZvk1A-c5wU/s640/tacos1.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made red velvet cupcakes for dessert, and served some hazelnut chocolate cookies from Trader Joe's (the best).</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I-geMrZ8mFxa0hFNEV-aDRsMbLsBvlGD0bdVmpR89tDwoVXQ2PKSDd0R-hGslnL637LJJVws-9HGA70inkXJ59o8nmISv9C2q3eplSgCf5oxLNJ4xog08p_o9y-h2vEgxmy9wNT0FFNJ/s640/IMG_0699-L.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We all made different types of garland for our crafts, here's how mine turned out:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">AND NOW: the best taco recipe, ever! They are SO easy, so fast, and even Chin loved them (and they are vegetarian-friendly so that's really saying something)!</span><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Roasted Veggie Tacos (with Avocado Cream & Feta)</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Adapted from <a href="http://naturallyella.com/" target="_blank">Naturally Ella </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For the Tacos:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 small zucchini, diced<br />1 small butternut squash, diced*<br />½ medium red onion, diced<br />1 C. frozen or canned or fresh corn kernels<br />1/2 carton cherry tomatoes, sliced in half<br />1 red pepper, diced<br />2 Tbsp. olive oil<br />2 cloves garlic, minced<br />2 tsp. cumin<br />¼ tsp. salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">6-8 taco tortillas (corn or flour)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">feta cheese for topping</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">extra cilantro for garnish<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For the Avocado Cream:<br />1 ripe avocado<br />⅓ C. plain greek yogurt<br />¼ C. cilantro</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 Tbsp. lime juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Prepare your veggies as listed above,
and place them all onto a cookie sheet. Drizzle olive oil, garlic,
cumin, salt, and pepper over the veggies and mix with a large spoon to
coat. Roast until all the veggies are tender, about 20-25 minutes
(Squash takes the longest- I test it with a fork to make sure it's
tender). While the veggies roast, prepare the avocado cream by placing
all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Heat up your tortillas if desired, then assemble with veggies, cream,
and feta. Enjoy! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">*You could use any type of squash you like, our local grocery store just cuts and pre-washes butternut squash and puts it into a package so you don't have to cut it up yourself. But you could use acorn squash or even summer squash! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A recipe wouldn't be complete unless I instagrammed a picture of it, right? </span><br />
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<br />The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-50028420807778212342013-01-28T07:25:00.000-08:002013-01-28T07:25:08.339-08:00Around the House...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm posting just a few photos of what I've been working on lately. To you all you expert interior designers out there, how do you decide when your work is finished? We still have a million projects left to do (Chin's office isn't even unpacked yet), but eventually when things start to wind down, how will I say, "my work here is done?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Regardless, I'm having a blast working on our little space that has quickly become home for us. If you refer back to the <a href="http://thenewlywedpingrees.blogspot.com/2012/12/updates-on-all-things.html" target="_blank">"Before" pictures</a> I took, it really does look like an entirely different place altogether. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We're planning on hosting a housewarming party (mainly just because I haven't thrown a real, Pingree party for months now) sometime in March, and I'm hoping to have all the rooms in our tiny house put together by then. I'll probably do a virtual tour sometime around then as well. But here are just a few shots of what's coming together so far:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My office:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's a little hard to tell, but I painted the room the softest version of blush pink I could find, called "Pink Sea Salt (by Martha Stewart)." The wall gallery is still coming together, but I tried to find prints that reflected my personal style and my wanderlust tendencies. The rug is an old rug my dad found in Morocco about 10 years ago. My parents never use it and let us borrow it for a while. I love it. The desk was about as cheap as they come from Target, and the chair was going to be thrown out at my dad's office, and so he brought it home to see if we wanted it. So overall, a pretty inexpensive way to decorate! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My clothing rack has proven to not only be decorative but extremely functional as well. I put all my favorite pieces on there and now I know exactly where something is when I'm in a rush. </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made this garland for a bridal shower a while back, and somehow it made it all the way to NY from UT. We couldn't get our down duvet back, but don't worry the homemade tulle garland is safe!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Living Room:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Probably my favorite room of the house as of late, mostly because of the architectural charm it possesses. I didn't picture it, but it has wood beam barn ceilings and scalloped trim, and it was too pretty to paint. We call the style of our living room "The London Look," because my dream in life is to live in the UK and we wanted to bring a little bit of it here to Upstate NY. I've been keeping with the color scheme of poppy red, charcoal, cream, tan, and touches of black. It sounds a little dreary but I think the colors add a bit of modernity to the gingerbread style of our house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This horsehead lamp was on clearance at West Elm over the summer, the books were found for 50 cents each at a barn sale, and the bowl was a clearance Target find last fall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our couch is (still) being reupholstered, so our comfy T.J. Maxx chair has been our only place to really sit in our living room. We have some Pier 1 director's chairs not pictured, but they're not the most comfortable and Chin and I find ourselves sneaking into the big chair whenever possible. Our rug was 75% off at Rugs USA over Black Friday weekend this past year (we're obsessed with it), the queen of hearts pillow was a T.J. Maxx find, and the side table (on clearance) and the floor pouf were both Target finds.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We used Ikea $10 lack tables as our coffee table (they were the perfect size and color!), and the coasters and candles are from Ikea as well. My Grandpa made me the gold box for Christmas last year.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our entryway is tiny, but I love the faux oil lamp that came with the house. Literally, it's bolted into that nook. It's not going anywhere. </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Dining Room:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It doesn't really have a set color scheme, but we decided on a delicately light grey color for the walls for a neutral tone. Our farmhouse table is really the star of the room, we refinished it ourselves and absolutely love it (plus it has a leaf that can fit 10 people around it!). It was found at a local consignment store. The fabric chairs were on clearance at Home Goods and the wooden chairs were $5 each on the side of the road (originally from Pier 1). The chandelier is from Ikea. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kitchen Details:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The kitchen has required a lot of work, and is still in the process of being remodeled. So far though, we really enjoy it. Our breakfast nook is great for breakfast, lunch, and leftover dinners. I painted the table (found at a local consignment) white with gold colorblocking, and my grandpa refinished the top of it for me. The chairs were found at a barn sale and still need to be painted. </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This cart used to be a holder for tools at a mechanics shop, and we found it at a barn sale for $15. My Grandpa (who really is a superstar if you can't tell by now) cleaned it up, painted it, and built a wood top for it that's removable. So I can use it as a work space/island in the kitchen, or take the wood top off and use it as a cart for serving/parties in the dining room or living room!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hope you enjoyed some of the details of our place as it comes slowly together. I'll get a full tour up once I feel like it's complete (which may be never!). :)</span></div>
The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-877386892880397142013-01-21T08:29:00.000-08:002013-01-21T08:29:54.288-08:00Eating Habits That Changed My Body<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's been a little over a month since I shared with you a few details of how I lost 30 pounds last semester. Since then, I've lost 10 more pounds making my weight loss a total of 40 pounds. I have 5 more pounds to go until I weigh what I weighed when Christian and I got married, and 10 more to go until I reach my target weight loss of 50 pounds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To say I feel like a totally different person is an understatement. Not just because I can almost squeeze into my favorite pair of jeans that have been up in my closet waiting for me for two years, but because my heart and my body feels like a machine. I can feel my body working and strengthening when my butt gets kicked in a total body sculpt class. I can feel my body thank me when I end the day and I'm on track with my healthy-eating goals. I have finally been able to see my body adapt to this different lifestyle that I've been leading, and it feels great to know that I don't want to go back to how I was eating and exercising before. Eating healthy is no longer a dreaded chore for me (although I will never totally cut out sweets, who do you think I am?).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Speaking of eating healthy, I want to share with you some of the things I did to change my eating habits that have contributed to 75% (in my opinion) of my body changing for the better. Whether you're trying to lose weight or are just curious about how other people eat (or neither and you think I'm insane), maybe some of what I say can be of use to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">DISCLAIMER: I hope I don't offend anyone by writing this. Everyone has their own eating style and in the end, you should do what you like and what works for you. I've just had a lot of people ask what I did to lose weight and change my body, and this is what I did. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've never been the most unhealthy eater in the world. I don't care for fast food (unless you count In N' Out because I dream about their burgers), and I've never been a big soda fan. I had a small two-year long stint with Diet Coke, and now just treat myself about once a month. I've always liked salad and am not really a picky eater, so naturally healthy food has always been a part of my repotoire, at least in one way or another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Before last Fall semester however, I had been on a year-long hiatus from eating healthy. I wasn't making dinner for Christian and I on a regular basis, which meant eating out A LOT, and I made sweets (anything from cookies to cupcakes to donuts to cake) part of my daily routine. I made Christian take me out to get a cupcake like three times a week, people. I'm not sure how I let myself get so comfortable in a routine that was doing a lot of damage to my body. Not only in gaining weight but in feeling terrible- both physically and mentally. I guess I just didn't really realize the change that was happening until all the sudden I had gained 45 pounds (seriously) in about a year (I can't believe I'm admitting this to anyone- I am actually cringing writing this). When we got home from Europe this summer I was looking through all the pictures I had taken, and all of a sudden I thought, "Wait, this doesn't even look like me."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It took me that long to realize that in the span of 12 months I had changed into somebody that I hardly recognized on the outside. And then, to make matter worse, I didn't do anything about it! July and August went by and I consumed more ice cream than half of America does in a year and ate pie and hamburgers almost daily for the rest of the summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm grateful that once school started my brain actually kicked in and I started to work at changing my body into something that was fit, healthy, and most of all, made me feel proud. Because in the end it doesn't matter what our bodies look like- we're all shaped differently. What matters is that we're happy with our bodies, that we're proud, and when we look in the mirror we should feel beautiful, no matter what size or shape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I did not feel beautiful. I wanted to wear a plastic bag over my face and stay in bed all day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So now after that rant, here's what I've been doing the past 5.5 months that has helped me change my body and most importantly, has made me comfortable in my own skin.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are some things I had to learn first and foremost about healthy eating. the first is that you should never have less than <b>1200</b> calories a day. Anything less is doing nothing for you. It might help you lose weight, but you'll just be malnourished and you won't be doing a lot of favors for your body. Most importantly you won't be creating a lean, mean, fighting machine, which is way better than just being thin (in my opinion). Which leads me to another point- yes, I do count my calories. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Calories: I count them on the My Fitness Pal app. It's an app (also available online) that counts your calories, fat, sodium, vitamin, sugar intake. It helps you calculate your fitness goals and then tells you how much you should be eating. You can also record your fitness and it tallies that in for you each day. You can record your progress. I'm addicted to it. I am religious about recording on it and it has been the most helpful thing by far in helping me lose weight. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another thing to learn: You should not be trying to lose more than 2 pounds a week. Losing weight isn't a fast process if you do it right. At first I was really disappointed that I was only losing 1-2 pounds a week, but after a while, those pounds added up. There is no "quick fix" when it comes to being healthy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Measure everything. I'm sure you think I must be OCD by now but you have no idea how much you put in to your body when you don't measure it out. 1 cup of skim milk has 90 calories (which is kind of a lot for something that's liquid AND fat free, I'd rather waste my calories elsewhere), and you don't need a whole cup for a bowl of cereal. But how many times have we just poured a huge bowl of cereal with lots and lots of milk? Try measuring 3/4 cup of cereal and 1/2 milk next time (both are serving sizes), and you'll see how much extra you're putting into your body that you could save for something else (like cheese, or maybe even a special treat!) </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's what a typical day looks like for me:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My calorie goal is about 1250-1300 calories per day. This goes up on days that I exercise, but I still never go over 1300 calories, even on days when I could eat more if I wanted to. There have been times where I've eaten a little bit more (Christmas was the worst), but I haven't eaten more than 1500 calories since the end of August. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Breakfast: I try to eat most of my carbs in the morning (always try to eat the most carbs for breakfast and not at night).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Usually I have 3/4 cup of chocolate cheerios or 1 cup of cheerios (both 100 calories), and 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (15-20 calories)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Total: 120 calories</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then I'll add 4 oz. (1/2 cup) of Trop 50 for 25 calories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That makes my breakfast a total of 145 calories. I never go over 200 calories for breakfast. Though you could, since breakfast should be a hearty meal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sometimes I'll switch it up and do 1 egg and 1 egg white (87 calories total) with a 1 slice of wheat bread (90 calories) for 177 calories total.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lunch: I try to have a balanced lunch with lots of protein. I usually have a sandwich: 2-3 slices of deli turkey (35-50 calories), 1 sandwich thin (100 calories), and a slice of colby jack cheese (70 calories). Then I'll have a rice cake (35 calories) with a laughing cow light swiss cheese wedge on it (35 calories) OR a part-skim low-moisture mozzarella cheese stick (60-70 calories). Maybe I'll have some carrot sticks (60 calories for 15 baby carrots) or some fat free pretzel sticks (50 calories for 25 pretzels).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This usually totals about 340-360 calories. I try not to go over 450 calories for lunch. If I do I try to have a smaller dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Total for the day so far (if I have eggs for breakfast and lunch shown above): 522</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dinner: I always mix it up for dinner, we try to do a different healthy meal every night (tonight we're doing roasted veggie tacos with avocado cream and feta). I try to keep the main part of my meal at around 400 calories- then add extra for add-ons like bread, salad, or sides. Usually dinner totals about 500 calories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Total for the day so far: 1022 calories. If I eat 1280 calories for the day I still have 258 calories left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Snacks: I love snacking. I love to leave a little elbow room for snacks here and there throughout the day. Usually I have a small one in between breakfast and lunch (like a clementine- 40 calories each, and a small handful of almonds- 150 calories), and then one at night after dinner. I try to have my nightly snack before 9 p.m. Usually it's a sweet- I can't live without them. Like a square of ghiradelli chocolate or a small chocolate chip cookie or something along those lines. I NEED something sweet at the end of the day, so I always save enough calories for one small little treat at night. I try to keep my snacks under 200 calories per snack. So if I had a clementine, cheese stick, and a homemade chocolate chip cookie (110 calories) for my snacks for the day, that would put me at 210 calories total for snacks. I could add a rice cake in there or maybe an extra clementine and that would put me at 250 calories for snacks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Total for the day: 1272 calories (which sounds just about right).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now if I exercise I might add another helping of bread at dinner or another cookie or something extra at lunch, but usually I keep it how I described above. It's important to treat yourself, as long as you don't go overboard! I try to stick to one sweet a day (maybe 2 if I'm feeling extra fit ;) ). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I hope you can see that I don't do anything super crazy when I eat. I eat normal food. I try to stay away from anything super processed, but for the most part, I just don't eat a ton of anything, and I try to stick to whole grains and lots of fruits and veggies. Weight loss doesn't have to be a chore or something you dread. Heck, it doesn't even have to be terribly difficult. I wanted to do something that was attainable for me, and I feel like I didn't even have to change my habits SO much. I didn't want to have to do a no sugar, no carbs, no food, no happiness diet. I knew that wasn't for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So there you have it, I've eaten basically like this (with a few exceptions on holidays and the occasional weekends) since August, and don't plan on ever going back to my old ways. I honestly think that my eating habits are the main reason why I've reached my fitness goals. Exercising has just made the process a lot easier and maybe a little bit faster. Both are essential, but eating right will change your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">P.S. sorry for this humongous rant. </span>The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5289210826695300950.post-51152020740661906562013-01-09T20:24:00.002-08:002013-01-09T20:24:56.995-08:00Playing Catch Up<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been silent on here for a few weeks now. Not because I didn't have anything to say... In fact there are a lot of things I actually want to blog about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been MIA mainly because I've been doing real life things and just haven't really had time to document it on here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These past few weeks have been a whirlwind. We flew to Denver for a couple weeks for Christmas, and then drove from Denver back to Rochester with all of our stuff packed to the brim in our car. Driving across the country in the middle of winter is something I hope to NEVER experience again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The weather was relatively mild except for a few rough spots, but not having any rear view mirror visibility (from all our stuff) while driving on icy, windy roads made for plenty of Hayley breakdowns. I'm a nervous driver/passenger anyways, and I cried a LOT on our 1600 mile journey back to NY. I'm a baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now that we're back in New York, Chin is back in school and I've been working like a mad woman on our house/trying to find a job. Our new place is coming along slowly... like molasses pace. However, we're moving in this weekend and I couldn't be more excited! We'll still have a lot to do but at least we'll be able to stay there instead of driving over to work on it every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our Christmas in Denver was delightful. We spent the time with Chin's family. We ate WAY TOO MUCH (I'm still full), shopped, got our butts kicked at a few spin classes, and spent time with our niece and Chin's family's pups. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How was your Christmas? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have to admit that I'm excited that 2013 is here. 2013 is the year we move into our new place and settle into Rochester, and we're also headed to Ireland in a few months! Plus, come June Chin will have finished his first year of medical school and here's hoping in the next little bit I'll be able to start at a new big girl job. Fingers crossed! Bring it on 2013! </span></div>
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The Pingreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09751138817465220272noreply@blogger.com1