Creepy Crawlies

One of the hardest things, still, for me to adjust to out here:

The Bugs.

Attention Plates and Palates Lovers:

For those of you who love Plates and Palates as much as I do, this is a happy day! I've discovered a recipe (Thanks, Mom!) that resembles my favorite Lemon Chicken Tarragon Pasta Salad. It's not the exact replica, but for those of us who because of circumstancese can no longer get there but once or twice a year (if we're lucky) to taste of this delectable pasta salad, this recipe will more than suffice. So here it is! Enjoy!

Lemon Chicken Tarragon Pasta Salad

1 1/2 cups light mayonnaise

2 T fresh squeezed lemon juice- I used more

2 t lemon zest

Salt and pepper to taste

2-4 T minced fresh tarragon leaves

About 3 cups dry bowtie pasta, cooked and drained

1 1/2 - 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

2 celery stalks, diced

3-4 green onions, sliced

1/2 cup slivered almonds, roasted 5 minutes in oven at 350 degrees

A big bunch of red grapes, sliced in half

Stir all together and chill to let flavors blend. Enjoy!

What a beautiful day

...to stay inside all day and write a 20 page paper.

Any takers so that I can go outside and enjoy the weather?

Love grad school. :)

Time Saver Tip

For all you ladies out there who, like me, have to use more than one tube of mascara daily, I came up with the best solution: numbering them! I can't even begin to explain the amount of time I save in the morning. No more needing to open each one to compare freshness and decide the order of which one comes first. Just look at the number, open, apply, and repeat in order.

It really is a miracle! You should try it!

It's Golden!

Highlights from my golden birthday:

Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with Kirb

If you haven't had their avocado eggrolls- to die for!

All the gifts from Kirb- she knows me well- shiny lip balm, perfume, scarf, earrings, "to do" list- what more could a girl ask for?!

Opening the fun package from the fam

socks!

Kell taught me how to make hats using this loom when I was home. I had so much fun, that she sent the loom to me so I could keep making them. So nice.

They even sent me sour watermelons! Yum.

I got some new down pillows, too! And it's a twin pack- you know what that means...I have an extra pillow for a guest just waiting to be used...hint hint. :)

And then Jana sent me a package....

...with the most adorable cupcake wrappers

...so naturally I made cupcakes!

Aren't they cute?

And then some friends from school went to dinner to celebrate. Fun fun!

And I received the greatest news that I'm going to have another nephew!

And I received so many cute cards, texts, and calls to make it such a great day. Thanks to all my wonderful family and friends for making my day so special! It was the best golden birthday I could've hoped for.

This Is The Place

So, I've been trying to get to this for a month now, but just finally found a spare moment. Take a look at my cute home!

The exterior

Yes, I have a fireplace in my room. How cool is that?

And I have a sink in my room, too!

Snowpocalypse, Snowmageddon, or whatever you wanna call it...

In case you haven't heard, 30" of snow hit DC this past weekend! Since DC can't handle the effects of a storm this size, me and my roommates have been completely snowed in since Friday.

View of my patio outside my room- look at the accumulation on the gate and chair!

A common site

Yes, I lucked out and had the garage this week...but look what I had to shovel in order to get out

Kirbie and I enjoying an ice cream cone

Naomi, Lisa, and Adriel just taking it easy in the park

After our fun in the park, Kirbie rolled out her beauty parlor and gave everyone haircuts!

Wait for it...

Ta da! Lisa's new do!

Wait for it...wait for it...

Naomi's do!

And now, just a few pointers from this experience.

Lessons learned from Snowpocalypse 2010:

1. Be prepared. When DC weathermen predict a storm this big, be sure to stock up on food before the night before the storm. I went the morning of and the shelves were empty and the lines went to the back of the store.

2. Be Resourceful. Grocery bags are a great substitute for boots.

3. Be strategic about who you get snowed in with. People with skills are important to have around. I mean, we had great cooks, great hair dressers, and great entertainers. Next time we'll be more prepared and make sure to invite at least a masseuse and a snow shoveler.