sundry.elements

• new year’s resolution

  My new year’s resolution is no more resolutions. Every January I make a resolution or two and vow to stick with it no matter what. Well, when life gets in the way I break the resolution. Breaking the resolution makes me feel guilty and like I’ve let myself down. With everything going on in my life right now, I can’t take on any additional stress.
  For instance, the day my break from grad school began I carefully chose four books that I would read over my four weeks off: Absalom, Absalom, Watership Down, East of Eden and Lolita. I became so excited the week of finals about reading books that I chose, books that I had discussed with fellow grad students or professors, books that I just plain needed to read (ahem, Faulkner). Instead, I would up spending the first week resting, watching Gossip Girl season 1 and decorating the house for Christmas. In order to further my reading efforts, I took Watership Down from the office and put it on my nightstand.”Now that I can see it, I’ll read it,” I thought. Wrong.
  The following week came and went with my birthday celebration and Christmas festivities. I went to bed every night exhausted, looking at the Richard Adams classic before I would turn my lamp off.
  The third week of break became a project week. I gave my poor, beat up Toms a makeover. I made mercury glass, notepads, a perpetual journal. I sewed buttons onto pants and shirts that had long been neglected, all while watching season 2 of Gossip Girl. My Christmas break reading list left my mind with my hands busy at work and my mind turning to Upper East Side mush.
  The week after New Year’s arrived and I realized my thesis deadline was quickly approaching. I started feverishly working on writing, editing then rewriting with lots more editing. My deadline came and went yesterday, and my advisor gave me an unsolicited extension of another week.
  Now, here I am. The week before classes start and four books on my reading list. And, what do I feel? Guilt! I feel guilty because I haven’t read four books that I am not obligated to read at all, but I told myself I wanted to read them. But, I didn’t. So, the guilt has set in.
  This whole story to say that I tend to beat myself up when I don’t accomplish my goals, not matter how meaningless or insignificant in the scheme of things. I guess that isn’t the worst quality to have, but I just realized that I am putting undue stress on myself. And let’s face it, I don’t’ need any more grey hair. I still have goals, but they don’t have a time limit. I haven’t given up on accomplishing things in my life. I just think the deadlines are the problem, these stressors.
  So in an effort to reduce stress and be a little more carefree, I resolve not to make resolutions. Here’s to a great, new year!

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  4 months ago
• *Apologies in advance for poor photos. Blame it on laziness, pure laziness.*

  Because my life consists of school lately, I have been finding solitude and peace in thrifting. Yes, thrifting. I have been thrift shopping for years, but stray away from it when I become slightly obsessed over drool worthy yet ridiculously priced frocks at anthropologie. If you’re a thrift shopper you know the thrill of the hunt and the even more thrilling price tags (especially if you catch a $1 sale day—woot!). Because the latest trendy looks are from eras not that long ago, there are plenty of trendy following options still lurking on the racks. 

  Hubs and I have been meticulously budgeting our income for the last 6 months or so. This has resulted in more couponing (see my posts here and here) and more cautious spending of my personal money. This month I have managed to still have $30 left after 27 days, even after my monthly Starbucks Gold Card $20 fill-up. But, even more importantly, I have snagged some über cute gems while thrifting. All of the items pictured for less than $50 (6 skirts, 2 blouses, 1 nightgown, 4 belts, 2 necklaces and a crossbody DVF bag—to replace my short-lived school bag). I went a little skirt crazy, but 2 of them are for spring, so that’s really only 4 new fall skirts, right?

  If you are not a thrifter or want to learn more, I’d like to suggest Jentine’s blog. She is amazeballs.

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  6 months ago

• warning: dangerously addictive recipe

  I’ve been a fan of buffalo wings for as long as I can remember. Thankfully there is an amazing regional chain, Wild Wing Cafe, that serves thirty something flavors of buffalo wings that are pretty much all delicious. Although I love buffalo wings I never, ever, never make them at home. They are too messy, too much work and just taste so much better when I buy them at a restaurant. 

  My alternative to my non-buffalo wing producing kitchen is this recipe. It is the marriage of the ever comforting macaroni and cheese and my beloved buffalo wing. This recipe was first bestowed upon me by the Pinterest gods, but has since been made and tweaked to the point where I no longer feel guilty for not crediting my original source (but I did anyway). 

  Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

  adapted from howsweetitis.com

  serves 4-6

  1/2 pound pasta (I’ve used farfalle/bow tie and elbow mac; I like the elbow mac best)

  2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

  1 bag of frozen broccoli

  1 tablespoon butter

  1 tablespoon flour

  1 1/2 cups milk (when I’ve been low on milk I’ve used 1/2 cup milk and 1 cup water)

  4 ounces grated monterey jack cheese (I used half a brick) + more for topping

  1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce

  1/3 cup panko bread crumbs

  salt and pepper to taste

  for garnish: chopped green onions and additional buffalo wing sauce to drizzle

  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

  Prepare water for pasta and cook according to directions.

  TIP: I put the frozen broccoli in a colander and when the pasta is finished, I pour it and drain it over the broccoli in the same colander. The hot water thaws the broccoli. Time saver!

  While pasta is cooking, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter, and once it’s melted and bubbly add the flour. Whisk together to create a roux and cook for 1-2 minutes until mixture gets a bit golden in color. Add milk, stir and turn down heat to low. Continue stirring until milk thickens. Add in grated cheeses and continue to stir until mixture is smooth. Stir in buffalo wing sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.

  Spray a baking dish (9 x 13 is fine, I used a round 4-inch deep dish) with non-stick spray. Add pasta, chicken and broccoli. Pour cheese sauce over and mix thoroughly until everything is coated. Sprinkle with additional grated cheese, bread crumbs and green onions. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Drizzle with buffalo wing sauce.

  **To make this vegetarian, just omit the chicken. It is delicious without it.

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  6 months ago
• 

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  6 months ago
• 

  Worth $40+
  Paid $9.86 (with tax)
  75% savings

  Extreme couponing? Not quite. But it is still really fun to save money.

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  7 months ago
• Stephen and I have just recently gotten hooked on Mad Men, watching all four seasons in about 6 weeks or so. I like the series because it is more cerebral than visual; Stephen described it well when he said, “Even after the show is over, I’m still thinking about it. That’s a good show.” Topics of thought that have arisen from themes in the show have made it onto my neverending list: “things I want to write papers about after I graduate.” I love the traditional gender role representations, but also the less than subliminal variation from those roles: Don’s maternal and sentimental side; Betty’s longing for freedom and adventure amidst her suburban prison.

  I know I’m late in the game to this phenomenon, but I wanted to share my appreciation and fascination with these characters. 

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  7 months ago
• 

  through my wheeling and dealing (aka couponing) I was able to snag the items in the picture for a mere .31! these items have a retail value of $16. after not couponing for a year, i’ve recently started dabbling in it again, and it really is a rush. any other couponers out there? I’d love to set up a coupon swap!

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  7 months ago
• I think that sometimes we can get lost in our lives. In the midst of what I feel could be a mid…err…quarterish life crisis, I find this to be true. This season of my life is filled with uncertainty: will I finish grad school? what will my career be? when will we start a family? what will I watch on the DVR this weekend? No, but really, life is pretty stressful right now. 

  Those who really know me, know that I tend to use music as a self-help tool. When I’m feeling happy, I like upbeat music, chill music for those times, and when I’m feeling a little blue, I like to indulge in some not-so-happy music. Today was one of those days. After receiving a less than pleasant comment on a paper I turned in less week, breaking some bad news to someone I love and dealing with a certain monthly visitor, I thought I should give myself permission to throw a pity party—and it lasted about 3 and a half minutes. Alright, seven minutes; I had to listen to this song twice to get the full effect.

  The song I linked was originally done in a much more upbeat tempo by Tears for Fears, but I prefer the Gary Jules version. The video is beautiful, and I’m just a sucker for pianos. The lyrics for the song do not express exactly how I feel (I don’t really want “no tomorrow” or ever consider a good dream “a dream in which I’m dying”), but I do know that sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the monotony of life and feel invisible. But, I also know that it is up to me to incorporate meaning into my life, so there is always a nice bright light at the end of my tunnel. 

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  7 months ago
• 

  i having been surviving seven mornings out of seven on this stuff. because my nearest Starbucks location is at the airport (not convenient for my grab and go routine) i have opted for a more diy approach. thanks to the uber talented and witty blogger Pioneer Woman for giving us permission to be our own baristas. here is the recipe on her site, but here is my version which lasts about one week in our house with the hubs and i both partaking daily:

  8oz coffee (i use starbucks house blend or morning joe blend which can be found at Homegoods)

  4 quarts cold water

  2 pitchers (preferably with lids and that you don’t mind if they get coffee stained)

  • grind coffee beans, measure 8 oz, put in one pitcher.
  • fill pitcher with 4 quarts water
  • stir. let sit for 8-12 hours.
  • use a strainer lined with a coffee filter positioned over the second pitcher.
  • pour the contents of the coffee and water filled pitcher through the strainer on top of the other pitcher.
  • Refrigerate. Serve daily. Or hourly.
  • I like 1 Splenda and 1 T half and half per 16oz.

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  8 months ago
• living room wall revamp:

  frames-IKEA

  lamp-shade from Anthro; base from Walmart long, long ago

  artwork-won in a blog from this artist; Anthro tissue paper

  framed playing cards-scrap of Liberty of London fabric, two vintage playing cards (referencing our anniversary on 3/12) and a Target frame from long, long ago

  whippet statue-found on craigslist.org

  vintage piggy bank-gift from my grandfather when he went to Korea

  pink dish, floral tray and dresser (repainted)-thrift store finds

  the cost of this project was free because I just snagged these items from other places in the house. gotta love that!

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  8 months ago

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