Sail Away

I love these nautical rope necklaces.

I think they would be perfect with a bright, lacy top!

Here, here, and here on Etsy.

KitchenQuest 2010

Shug and I have finally been able to get a few cabinets to replace our old creaky creepers.

After having our hearts set on natural wood cabinets we realized that with our wood floors, our decision to go with butcher block counter-tops, and the fact that solid wood cabinets cost a million dollars more than our budgets will allow,

we

went

with

white

IKEA

cabinets.

A tiny part of me is sad about this, but then I look at our remaining KitchenQuest 2010 budget I forget all that particle board and laminate distaste I've been raised with and settle into a contented haze dreaming of the rest of my bright, white kitchen in its glorious completion.  I've been lurking on Design*Sponge for inspiration and mental fortification.

Mind you, this project is far from completed, and seeing as we started this project in March, I'm guessing we may have a completed kitchen by Thanksgiving.  *Fingers crossed!*

The quest continues.

Source.

Priority Smackdown

Sometimes,

you have to leave the laundry where it is,

turn your phone off,

put the homework away,

order takeout,

and love on your sweetheart(s).

My house is a mess.

My jobs are crazy.

School is ridic.

That's ok.

I'm looking forward to spending time with my sweets.

What are you doing this weekend?

Recipe of the Week: Skirt Steak Fajitas

I'm in school. And lawd knows there is little disposable income left to spend on filet mignon or tenderloin cuts of meat.  To save money and have less of a carbon foot print, we eat vegetarian or vegan most of the time...but every once in awhile, momma needs some STEAK.  No, that is not a euphemism.

But since prime cuts of meat are usually spendy, we've been finding ways to make the tougher (and cheaper) cuts of beef downright appetizing.  What makes meat so stinking chewy is the fibrous connective tissues that bind the muscle together.  If you attack these "bindings" with a few different weapons, you'll be enjoying some tender fajitas in no time!

Skirt Steak Fajitas
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 pound skirt steak, brought to room temperature
1 Vidalia onion, thickly sliced
1 bell pepper, cleaned and thickly sliced
Salt and pepper
Juice of two limes
Extra virgin olive oil
2 or 3 tablespoons of adobo
Warmed corn tortillas
Crema mexicana
Shredded pepper jack cheese

You are going to need two saute pans for this concoction, so if you have just one big one and one medium sized pan like I do, start the onions sauteing in the large pan over medium-high heat.  While those are working, heat the medium saucepan with a little olive oil in it until the oil starts to smoke a little, season both sides of the steak with salt and pepper and place in pan. Don't move it around!  You want to sear the juices in and caramelize each side, so the meat will release when it's ready!

Add the peppers to your large pan and flip your skirt steak.  Let this side sear and when it's ready flip it one more time and reduce heat to medium.  Let it cook for 2-3 more minutes and then remove from pan and let it rest on a plate.  Squeeze the lime juice in both sides if the steak and tent with aluminum foil.  Add the adobo to the onion pepper mixture.  After the steak has rested for 5-10 minutes, using a sharp knife cut it thinly across the grain, if you cut with the grain the pieces will be chewy.

Add the slices of meat to the pan and give it a quick toss to coat in adobo and warm through.  Serve immediately on the tortillas garnished with cheese and crema mexicana if you want!  Enjoy!  

I wish!

I really really really wish this were a show I could watch. So much better than The Hills!

P.S. Language is NSFW.

Guilty Pleasure #34 and #126: Quirky Love Stories...and Mandy Moore

I'm not proud of this.  I'm rather embarrassed about this, actually.  I've tried to hatehatehate quirky love stories for a looooooong time.  It was relatively easy until Amélie came along.  Then it was over.  Like super over.

Since my resolve was obliterated my Mme. Amélie Poulain, now just about any old movie can come along and, if it has a great soundtrack and the characters are lovably flawed, I'll love it. Hook. Line. Sinker.

Dedication was a random Netflix pick and I was ridiculously surprised at how much I looooooved it.  And there was that Mandy Moore thing.

Ok, let's get this straight: I think the music she has made and probably will make in the future is VILE.  Have I ever heard more than a few seconds of one of her songs and fight the physical need to shiver like when you pee sometimes?  NO.  But. I DO think she's a pretty alright actress.  Case in point: Saved!.  She's that weird mix of hot girl next door and approachable girlfriend, guys LOVE her and girls aren't threatened by her.  And I think she's a pretty alright actress.  There. I said it again.

Go watch Dedication and let me know how guilty I should feel about these issues I have!

Humdinger.

New mantra to go with the new job:

Because resolutions are gonna be few and far between....

Via Etsy.