Buy this now.

Actually don't...actually do. I consider myself pretty highly evolved, but I am only a little ashamed to admit that I could live solely on pepperoni pizza and ice cream for the rest of my life. Granted, it would probably be a short life plagued with any number of health issues, but I could do it nonetheless.

One of my favorite jobs I've had was working in a local ice cream shop in high school. I could sample all of the ice cream and make mini-milkshakes to my heart's content! Heaven! My high school metabolism and active membership on the swimming and lacrosse team also combined to ensure I didn't weigh 400 pounds. Double heaven!!

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I've heard of the splendor of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream (of course they came to Nashville after I moved away), but hadn't had the opportunity to try it. But as I wandered the aisles of my local Fresh Market yesterday, I found several pints for $10.99...yep, $10.99 for a pint of frozen yogurt. I consider quality frozen yogurt an investment, so of course I went for it.

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But, oh that frozen yogurt...I ate half a pint before looking up. I got the lemon blueberry flavor, and oh my gahhhhhh. It was creamy and tart and sweet, but not too sweet, and yummmm. Just take it from me and set up a date with a pint of this bad boy.

Happy Friday!

xoxo,

E

ps: I was not paid in any way to do this post, but if anyone wanted to send me a case of the entire frozen yogurt collection, I would give you many hugs.

Resolve and Cheesecake

First, it's my dad's birthday today! Happy birthday, daddy! I love you so much!


Remember that time I stopped blogging for three months and totally missed the chance to be all sappy-sappy about the new year? Well guess what kiddos, it's my blog, and I can pretend it's the New Year again if I want.

When I dusted off the old blog dashboard, I discovered a half-written post about resolutions. It was half-written because my resolutions were half-made, and I was only half-committed to them. It's unfair that the new year comes at such a gloomy, cold, rainy, blah time of year. So, since this is my small corner of the world, I'm declaring March 13 New Year's Day re-do! The weather is getting a little spring-ier, and I'm feeling a little more willing to change out of my sweatpants, break my death-grip on my bowl of mac and cheese, and leave off on my Netflix Instant Queue for a minute.

So here we go...this year, I will:

• Play fetch with my adorable puppy more often because I love him more than I love most people I know.
• Go to the gym more often because it makes me feel better about myself and more confident. Also, Michelle Obama says that I should move at least 30 minutes a day, and not to get political, but have you seen her arms?
• Drink more water because it makes me feel glow-y. I will NOT give up caffeine because I shouldn't have to do that. So there. Also, sometimes the soda water in my vodka drink counts as water. Actually always.
• Go out with friends on Friday nights more often (even when I'm tired) because I always end up regretting staying in around 10pm and get all mopey.
• Cook actual meals (not Kraft macaroni and cheese) for just myself because I deserve actual food and actually like to cook (don't tell my boyfriend).

Gosh, that was a lot of words! If you made it this far without changing the channel to Pinterest, then you deserve a treat!

I made these cheesecake-stuffed strawberries on Valentine's Day, and they were delicious! The recipe is here. You should make them because they're healthy...they have fruit! Make them and be happy!

xoxo,

E

Anybody Out There?

Well hello again bloggy-world! I feel like I'm crawling out from under a rock blinking at the bright lights. Yes, it been about three months since I last blogged...now it's starting to feel like confession. I was feeling a little uninspired, so I took a break.

As I always do when looking for blog inspiration, I turned to my nugget-turned-supermodel (in his mind at least), Gatsby. We ventured up to the Great White North Northern Virginia for "spring" break last week and were snowed in, y'all! Seriously, there were like 2343972 inches of snow. Gatsby trekked through the tundra while my aunt and I watched an embarrassing amount of coverage of the Jodi Arias trial (right?!)

Blazing an intrepid nugget trail

Sniffing around

When you're about six inches tall, climbing out of five inches of snow can be tough.

Seriously, though, thank you to my aunts for a fabulous week...it was just what the doctor ordered! Gatsby and I can't wait to come back!

And to the three of you (my aunts and mom) who read this...I'm back!

xoxo,

E

Who's Ready for Christmas Break?

I'm having one of those days where forming a complete thought is a herculean effort, let alone forming sentences that make sense to 5th graders. It's one of those days where I sit at my desk, stuffing Hershey's kisses in my mouth as I pray for Christmas break to get here already.

Actual conversations that could be overheard in my classroom:
Student: I'm so tired...can I just sit here? (from under table)
Me: Well, if you're going to sit under the table, at least read a book.

Students: Can we play the next game now?
Me (not wanting to explain the rules of the next game): Wouldn't you rather have a rematch of the game you just played?
Students: ...

Me: OK, who's got the answer to #1?
Students: ... (sounds of silence)
Me (tapping invisible microphone): Hello? Is this thing on?

Teacher of the Year material over here, guys.

Just remember...

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Have a happy weekend! I am so excited to be in one of my best friend's wedding tomorrow!!

xoxo,

E

Holiday Gift Guide Round-Up

So it's probably a little late to get in on the holiday gift guide game at this point. We've got 12 days until Christmas, but I always end up second guessing my gift choices at this point. Are they going to like it? Are they going to get it? Is it thoughtful enough? Is it too sentimental?

Leg Lamp, anyone?

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I'm not usually a fan of holiday gift guides because I feel like they tend to be full of useless but pretty things that just seem so holiday-gift-guide-ish. I feel like someone would totally know I copped out and shopped a gift guide instead of genuinely thinking about who I was buying for and what they like.

That being said, this is a holiday gift guide round up. These are gift guides that I either have actually bought things from or have thought "huh, that's a really great idea, if I hadn't already bought that completely thoughtful gift, I would totally buy that" while scrolling through it.

• Emily at Cupcakes and Cashmere has some great gift guides that are so stylish and thoughtful at different price points (under $25 and under $100). Each selection really feels handpicked. I even bought my dad something from her gift guide for men. Actually just look up any of her gift guides; they all rock.

• Dinner A Love Story's 2011 gift guide...the 2012 gift guide was pretty good (come to me, Le Creuset french press), but I really like the idea of receiving Pantone ornaments...so I went with this one.

• As always, Gilt has curated a beautiful and unexpected boutique, this time for the holidays. It has lovelies at every price point, without ever sacrificing style. Get your invite here.

OK, so that was only three. Told you I was picky! I've been seriously coveting almost everything on all these for a little while now, so I had to record them here so I could get back to them in the future! 

I hope you're enjoying holiday preparations...remember, if you're in a pinch, nothing says "I love you" like a Starbucks gift card!

xoxo,

E

Mini Apple Pies

As I'm sure you'll agree, everything is better in mini form. My family likes to joke that I have a mini-life. I drive a Volkswagen Bug, have a four-pound dog, live in a small, one-room apartment...you get it. I just think mini things are so much more fun!

I tip-toed into the mini dessert world with this lovely, and since it turned out so well, I figured I'd give it another go at Thanksgiving with mini apple pies!

So good it didn't make it all the way to the iPhoto shoot.

This treat is another courtesy-of-Pinterest find. I basically followed the recipe, but had to make a few adjustments based on what was in my mom's kitchen. To me, she's the queen of looking at a recipe, realizing we have almost none of the ingredients in the house, and still claiming that we can make the cookies/muffins/coq au vin. Ok, maybe not the last one. She's always right though; they were delicious. So definitely look at the recipe, but then feel free to grab whatever you can find around the kitchen and throw it in a pie crust.

Mini pies get a small cube of cold butter before baking because...why not?

Apples are fruit, and you can eat fruit for breakfast...so...

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo,

E

I'm Alive!

Hello all! I'm still alive! I've never left off with the blogging for so long since I started this blog...which makes me a little sad. Not really sure why it's been so long, but I'm back!

As penance, I'll leave you with this:

Yes, that would be my four-pound nugget dog in candy cane pajamas. Someone is ready for Santa!

xoxo,

E