Thing's I need

So my roommate Courtney will be heading back up to Canada in July. Her boyfriend and family are both there and she want's to go back to the so called "motherland." Plus her Visa will be up by then. I'm kind of sad we have been living with each other for 3 years going on four and well were like a little family. We work so well together as roommates, mostly because we have entirely different schedules. All to say she will be taking some important things with her when she goes. I basically own everything in my house as far as all the furniture and even most of the Kitchen things, but I was wondering around my house the other day and noticed that Court has some pretty key items that a home needs to be furnished with! So here is a list of things I need to start getting a few at a time and storing away so I can be prepared when Court makes the big move. 

So things I need...

-Vacuum (Kinda Important)

-Coffee Maker-- Cuisinart 12-cup coffee maker (VERY IMPORTANT)

-Williams-Sonoma 3 set of mixing bowls in white

-Silverware 

-Bamboo Dish Rack w/ Utensil Holder Crate & Barrel

-White Draining dish from Crate & Barrel 

-Tea Kettle 

-Tea Pot 

-White Kitchen Aid Mixer

-TV stand from Target in Cappuccino (to match my table)

-Some new Black and White wall hangings

-The new Macbook (just for me)

Chili for a Crowd

This is a great recipe that feeds a crowd of people! I've made it several times for my friends and it's always a hit! I choose to leave the pumpkin seeds out, but you can add them. It's great for rainy winter afternoons and it's fairly cheap to make as well. I also serve Cornbread Casserole with it as well as Whole Wheat Crackers. Hope you enjoy! Let me know your thoughts!

1 tablespoon olive oil 
2 onions, chopped 
2 bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 
4 cloves garlic, chopped 
2 pounds ground beef 
1 6-ounce can tomato paste 
1/4 cup chili powder 
2 teaspoons ground cumin 
2 12-ounce bottles lager beer 
2 19-ounce cans kidney beans, rinsed 
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes 
Kosher salt and black pepper 
Corn bread (store-bought or from a mix) 
Toppings (such as sour cream, radishes, scallions, avocados, jalapeños, cilantro, Cheddar, and toasted pumpkin seeds) 

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 6 to 8 minutes.

Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

Add the beer, beans, the tomatoes and their juices, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with the corn bread and toppings as desired.

 

Yield: Makes 8 servings 

Double Tall Sugar Free Vanilla Non-fat wet Cappuccino Please?

Double tall sugar free vanilla non-fat wet cappuccino is my beverage of choice these days at my local Starbucks. Isn't it nice with all the disappointments that each day may bring, you can always count on your drink made just right at the nearest Starbucks. I'm a big fan and promoter of supporting Starbucks. I used to work for them and wish I still did because it was my most favorite job I've ever had. 

Anyways, I was there tonight meeting a good friend for coffee. It's always a pleasure to walk into a Starbucks because even if you don't know the person behind the counter you still feel like your an old friend. It's very rare that I find myself not having a conversation with the Barista making my drink. In fact my favorite Starbucks would have to be the one in Fairfax, VA located right on Main St. It's two stories and they make my cappuccino perfect every time. Longest recorded time spent in that Starbucks is 5 hours. One day I was up there for work and staying with an old friend who apparently was taking a rather long nap so I couldn't get into his house. It didn't get me down though I just went down the street to Starbucks. I had my book with me so it wasn't a problem. It was a rainy afternoon, perfect for a good cappuccino and a long book. I stayed there reading and sipping while looking out the window for 5 wonderful hours listening to Matt Nathanson on my iPod. It was a good day to say the least. 

I enjoy spending time in Starbucks. I could get lost in a good book sipping coffee for hours and not care what time it was when I'm there. I'll be there tomorrow again! Looking forward to my cappuccino. 

Real Simple Closet

I got home the other day walked into my closet to drop off my coat and purse and decided it was in much need of a cleaning out. So I did just that. I made a Goodwill pile and cleaned everything out that I haven't touched in the past year and made much needed space for all my new winter clothes. I felt so productive and organized after cleaning out my closet that I thought to myself I need to rearrange my room. So I did that as well. After 4 hours it was completed and well needed. Everything has a place and I walk in to my new room feeling great about my accomplishment! Plus my room has so much more space and is easier to navigate though! I now have a defined reading nook with all my books and papasan chair in one place! It makes such a difference. 

Censorship

It's around us everyday. It's at our jobs, in our personal life, it's on the streets, and in our very own homes. We have to watch what we say, what we do, who we are, who were around, what we wear, what we watch, and who we trust. 

To me this is a very frustrating part of life that I am currently trying to overcome. Let's just say where I work doesn't allow for freedom of speech. It doesn't allow for freedom of life at least the way I see it. Some might be ok with the way that things are ran here, but I have a more Liberal approach on life. 

So this leads to CENSORSHIP. 

Censorship is the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable, harmful or sensitive, as determined by a censor. The rationale for censorship is different for various types of information censored. 

I hate censorship. I thought we lived in a place where freedom is a privilege. Well for me it's not. I feel like I am constantly crossing my T's and dotting my I's to make sure I am doing everything right. It's exhausting and rather hard to live up to. Some might say well you moved there. Yes I did. I would agree with you, but I wish it would allow for more freedom. Where I could write what I want to write about and not be scared that the wrong person will get ahold of it. Or do what I want and not have to look behind me. Or say what I want and not have to pay attention to who's listening. 

My current job takes a rather harsh judgement towards people when it comes to the individual being real. I'll go a step further in saying they think inside a box. It seems to me that there is a rather large group of people here that would agree with me, but would never side with me in order to stay "hush hush" about things they do according to where I work, which in my view aren't horrible things in the least. I just think it's ridiculous constantly living your life in a box because you are forced to according to someone that tries to play the role of God. My God has a more gentle approach on the specific issues that I am covering. My God walks with me everyday and has never condemned me for anything that I have done. Even when I've thought my worse thought he reacts in a rather loving and forgiving matter. 

I'm not saying that God would let me get away with murder, but I just feel that I am constantly being censored, watched, or looked down on for my views on certain issues, my reactions to something, or my outlook on life. I'm a rather free spirt, which worked well for me when I lived in CA, but here I feel like a bird with no wings. 

I think that Lynchburg is soon to be a distant place for me. I need to move on and see what else is out there and what's awaiting me. 

So I can spread my wings and not look behind me.

Seattle

So I called my friend Brit the other night just to stop by her place for a few minutes to catch up and we got to talking. I was only expecting to stay for a bit, but I soon found myself booking a flight to Seattle. The last year or so I have lost my spontaneity. I used to be a free spirit that could run with the wind, but that seems to go away when you "Grow Up" or you start dating a person who expects you to think inside a box. Well I decided to think out of the box I have been living in for the last year. So I convinced Brit let's buy the tickets right now and the rest will fall into place. We both need a jump start in life and this could be it. When you are in a relationship with the same person for so long you start becoming them. Well at least that's what's happened to me. Dustin not being spontaneous at all did not approve of this little stunt that I pulled, but I am quite pleased with my spontaneity. Thus, I am returning to Seattle a place that captured my heart once and will sure not let me down again. 

Seattle. I was able to visit Seattle this past summer and spend some time in this beautiful city that I instantly fell in love with at first sight, while on a work trip. I was on the plane coming down through the clouds when I look out the window and this picture is what I saw. I couldn't describe how beautiful it looked. It was endless.  

I have a great friend in Seattle. Her name is Jordan and we've been friends for 10 years or so. I would call her my political friend. She is currently studying at The University of Seattle Law School. She know's the ends and outs of the city and I can't wait to reconnect with her. Last time she took me to all these quaint little areas of Seattle with the cutest Boutiques, which of course I love. Plus we have the best time together talking about God and life. Conversations for hours about deep influential things over a cup of coffee. I think I am most excited to return to a Cathedral she took me to last time I visited her. It was by far the most Spiritual thing I have ever experienced. I often return to that church in my mind and feel God moving in my heart. It was an Episcopal Church, a 9:30pm service where 12 men would sing hymns in the most beautiful Cathedral I have stepped foot in. All sorts of people filled the room. Some standing, hippies laying on the floor, business men on their knees. I felt comfortable knowing no one was there to judge me. We were all there for the same reason. To hear the sounds of Heaven open up. And that's exactly what we all left with. For some, this might be a Sunday evening event, but for me it was so much more. It was God peering thorough my broken heart and giving me a sense of joy that I had been missing. 

This trip means a lot to me. It's more than just returning to my favorite city; it's reconnecting with myself. It's the independence that I have lost. The happiness that I have buried away. It's going back to that Cathedral where I experienced a God I had never known. It's walking the streets of a city so vibrant. It's running in the pouring down rain. It's the sense of wonder. 

It's the essence of me.

Work, Work, Work

Pigeon Forge, TN is a white trash version of Myrtle Beach, SC. 

I might get a lot of bad rep for saying that, but it's true. I hate it for all you fellow Pigeon Forgers, but not my choice to be here. I'm on a work trip here in the TN mountains with a co-worker of mine otherwise known as my twin. We look alike, but not related. Anyways, the one thing I will take away from here is the best hotel I have ever stayed at. We arrived late Friday night and somehow Hilton managed to mess up my reservation. I have been staying with Hilton for almost 2 years now. I'm a Gold member and have never had a problem. So I am not going to complain at all especially, when they bumped us up to a suite, which is more like a house at the top of the hotel. Well actually more like a cabin, since were in the mountains. This place is awesome. I would almost come back to Pigeon Forge, TN just to stay in this hotel. Plus they have 2 Starbucks, which you should know I LOOOOVE! Also, they have Tanger outlets!!

So let's talk about this. My colleague and I went shopping at the Tanger Outlets and visited Banan Rebublic and let me just tell you, I got the best pair of butt jeans ever!!! Plus I got one of my favorite perfumes and a sweater for $60, which if you frequent BR you're looking at over $60 for just one shirt! 

Dave Matthew Tickets went on sale today. I'm going!!!

I'm going to work now...