{catching up}

Mercy.  I don't even know where to start.  I've at least survived 3 days of a new week.  But boy do I ever have my eyes set on Friday.  I think I have more than earned my 3 day weekend after so many extra shifts and extra hours put in last night.  It was another rainy, awful weather day here in Georgia yesterday and when you add a morning doctor's visit {getting that annual check up out of the way}, the blur of working so many days in a row while trying diligently to address some items at the office I have put off {and items I am also having some difficulty with} a run wasn't in the cards at the end of the day.  

I shuffled out to my car in the rain, hit the Starbucks drive through to get a nonfat chai tea latte and meandered home to get Hogan out and have some much needed quiet time.  There's a lot to be said about sitting by the fire, enjoying some magazines, and working through a bit of laundry in your own solitude.   

But, let's not dwell on rain and work and other such things. Let's hit some high points for this week...

- I got two super sweet notes.

- Came home to find my Sephora order safely on the doorstep and not blown away by tornado-esque winds.

- I finally finished the last of that blasted cornbread. 

- I have a warm, cozy home to return to every evening. 

-It stopped raining for a bit right before bed so I could get Hogan outside. 

- I have dinner plans with some of my favorite girls after work today.  If that can't get me through a Thursday at work, nothing will. 

On another note -- where the hell did January go? How are we already one month into 2013?

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

What I'm Loving Wednesday

The Single Gal has been doing such hard work these past weeks. Let's pat her on the back. I fill her with lots of empty promises these days, but I have a good excuse (IMO). I'll decide if I will divulge that information later. I know y'all love cryptic things. I've been pretty happy with some things lately so I thought I would do one of these post for you.

Laura Mercier Mineralized Pressed Powder

The Single Gal recommended this powder to me. I've actually been a MAC Studio Fix gal for years and I had a Sephora gift card to use from Christmas and I ordered this. I'm pretty impressed. The color is great and it lasts most of the day without touch ups. I don't have time for touch ups anymore. I need more hands than the octo-mom lately.

Kendra Scott Carly Stud Earrings

I was searching for a birthday gift for my seriously stylish friend so naturally I deferred to Kendra Scott. The Single Gal and I are huge fans of the Danielle earrings but my friend is a mom also and her son is a few weeks older than the twins. Once those little hands start grabbing things dangling earrings are their first choice. I must say I may have to put these gems on my birthday list. This is the slate color I got my friend but you can choose from many color choices as they are part of the Color Bar.

Starbucks Dark French Roast

This stuff is my go to coffee and the only thing I prefer to drink. I'm particular. I always lug my personal coffee maker to our annual beach vacation because I do not trust what is waiting for me. Mr. Coffee is not where its at for me. I'm a Cuisinart girl. I like my coffee bold. Turtle and I pick up a giant bag of this from Costco and we grind it pretty fine on the coffee machine since it comes in bean only. I'll tell you a funny story about that. We started going to Costco maybe 6 months ago. We only buy a few things there and I wanted to buy the coffee but it only came in beans. I didn't want to have to grind coffee everyday so we tried different things which where all vomit in my opinion. One day the skys opened up and angels sang and we realized that there were coffee grinder machines after check out where you can grind the whole damn bag. We're special like that.


If you need me I'm either taking #1 potty, feeding some small person, changing diapers or putting pacifiers back in their mouths.

The Housewife

In the Kitchen with The Single Gal {mexican fiesta + cornbread}

It's been a bit of struggle to get my mind around posts that aren't random as hell these past two weeks.  But really, this post is brought to you as someone who has worked 13 of the last 14 days {and by the end of this week I will have worked 18 out of the last 19 days!} and let me tell you -- it has been hard to fit in all my other normal activities, appointments, etc. I hope that I will feel a lot better about all of this once I get my paycheck Friday!

I really wanted a home cooked meal and a night at home after a dinner out Friday night but after my other cooking failures the last two weeks {those obvs didn't make it on the blog} I really needed a new recipe that had like zero chances of coming out badly.  Random -- I get really emotional about cooking.  I put so much into and I get so sad if it doesn't turn out right.  So I googled some enchilada recipe and decided to jazz it up.  The original recipe was from the Kraft website or something on All Recipes.  Since I made some necessary additions, I felt it only appropriate that I changed the name of dish. 

{single gal enchiladas}

1 cup low fat sour cream 

1 cup tomatillo salsa

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tsp of oil

3 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts

1 (4 oz) can of green chiles, drained

1 can black beans, drained

1  1/2 cups mexican style shredded cheese

8 (6 inch) flour tortillas

1 avocado, chopped

{Directions}

1. heat oven to 350 degrees F

2. mix sour cream and salsa until well blended.  

3. cook and stir onions and garlic in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat for 4-5 minutes.  Stir in chicken, 1 cup of sour cream mixture, chiles, black beans, and 1/2 cup of cheese. 

4. spoon about 1/3 cup of chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla.  Roll up.  Place, seam side down in 13x9 inch backing dish sprayed with cooking spray.  Top with remaining sour cream mixture and cheese.  Cover. 

5.  Bake 15-20 minutes or until heated through. 

6. Top with chopped avocado and serve! 

A few things -- I love cornbread and I thought that I would make it tex-mex and have some with dinner.  But really I just wanted cornbread.  You don't have to make that part.   These were SO easy {mainly because I bought a rotisserie chicken rather than even cooking one} and SO good.   The least y'all could do is humor me and make them.  And also tell me how great you think they are, too.  Oh, and if I weren't so busy I would have taken a picture...but it didn't even enter my mind that night.  

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

{What I'm Listening To}

If you live in the Atlanta area you are no stranger to the sad state of our radio.  Other than The Regular Guys Morning Show on Rock 100.5 and the country stations we are doing some seriously awful Top 40 plays on constant repeat.  It's super annoying.  Seriously.  

We have previously visited the fact that I am not one to call myself a music guru or anyone that can even be classified as being "in the loop" but I did see something on Twitter about a group called {The Lone Bellow}.  

Here's what I know: They are from Brooklyn.  County based.  Apparently creating a lot of "buzz" (media people love that word don't they?). 

Admittedly I have not bought this album {for shame!} but I spent some time listening to it on Spotify and I would have to say they are pretty darn cool.  If you like The Lumineers or Alabama Shakes these people are probably for you. 

What are you guys listening to these days? Please share.  I'm getting desperate.  Like rip-the-radio-out-of-my-car desperate. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

{Smitten}

This morning I'd like to introduce you to a cookbook I've been dying over for a couple of months.  Actually, we can introduce a new blog while we are at it -- because The Smitten Kitchen has definitely found its way to my favorites bar.  I've been meaning to write about this for a while but couldn't because I was waiting to send this cookbook as a gift to Little {I know, I know, super late birthday, super late Christmas}. 

Deb Perelman's blog is noted to feature recipes from items that most people actually have in their kitchen already.  Also, lots of praise from Pioneer Woman has been listed so it has to be good, right? Girl doesn't get those recipes pinned every 5 seconds for nothing. 

I found The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook on Amazon for around $22 because it was on sale! If you have a chef in your life with a birthday coming up or want to send it to someone you love "just because" I highly recommend this one.  

What are you cooking with these days? 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

What If...

...

It's been a crazy week here at the Single Gal household.   I've been asking the dog and The Housewife some serious questions about life and love.   And spending the rest being completely afraid of so many things that I have been praying about falling into place.  

{My apologies for this vague post.}

~the single gal~

5 Daily Gratitudes

I hope that I have mentioned before how my friend C has started the excellent weekday tradition of sharing our gratitudes for the day over email before we get to the daily grind at work.  It's a super fun and special thing and The Housewife and I have been doing it with her for years and we have spread it to some of our friends as well.  

We share little things, big things and everything in between.  I love reading what all my friends are happy about every day because it makes me happy, too. 

Free Printable 

{5 Daily Gratitudes}

1. All of our lovely blog readers

2. Sunshine in Georgia after so much rain.

3. Haircuts

4. Quiet Sunday mornings at home

5. Eyeglasses 

What are you grateful for today? 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions: Crossfit

I finally got up the guts to go to a Crossfit class on Saturday. A new location opened up close to my home and it's now potentially feasible for me to get to class a few nights a week. I've heard so much about Crossfit and know two people who have done it before. I must admit, after hanging out with plenty of Ironman competitors and great distance runners, I was pretty intimidated to even go. I emailed Coach D on Thursday and told him I would be by to check things out and one of my good friends who knows the Crossfit gang around here agreed to meet me there as well. I'm glad I emailed the Coach prior because I almost chickened out and didn't go. I mean, have you guys seen the Crossfit Games on ESPN before? I know everyone is not in THAT kind of shape but still.

So I decide to show. Nobody likes a "no call, no show" as the Single Gal and I always say. I went. I worked out, hard. I'm not even sure of the last time I pushed myself that hard in any type of fitness class. It was great. I was having a Legally Blonde moment of endorphin high from working out. I felt like a new person and more like my old self. Everyone was super nice, welcoming and encouraging.  Now, it's quite a chunk of change on top of maintaining my current gym membership but I'm going to give it a go for a few months. I'll take some before pics and maybe I'll do a before/after thing. Maybe.   I'm still not sure if things are going to go back to their original places. Sigh. Nothing will happen just sitting on my bum that's for sure.

Coach D told me to come back Monday night. So.....I guess I'm going back for more torture tomorrow.

The Housewife

Roswell Restaurant Week

One of my favorite areas to eat and hang out is just outside of Atlanta.  If you haven't been to Canton Street lately then get up sometime over the next week and go because it's Roswell Restaurant Week {January 19th-27th}.  All the restaurants in the area will have special menus and other fun stuff planned over the next week.  Also, don't over look one of my absolute favorites, Oak Street Cafe which is a little off the main drag but worth the trip especially because they have their own parking lot {a great thing in Downtown Roswell for sure!}. 

If y'all don't want to take my word for it, several of these places have been written up in Southern Living magazine and we all know that's the gospel down here. 

*image from roswellrestaurantweek.com*

Here is the link where you can find all the information for participating restaurants.  There are lunch and dinner specials.  

Based on what I could see I'd highly recommend Vin25, Greenwoods, Salt Factory Pub, Slate Table and Tap, and Table and Main for dinner.   The Fickle Pickle, Plum Cafe, and Roswell Tap are all great lunch options. 

~the single gal~

Color Obsession: Punchy Pinks

I don't know if it's because Valentine's Day is approaching or what but lately I am even more obsessed with all things pink than I am on a normal basis.  I thought I would put together my list of current "pink favorites" for you all today! I need these bright, happy things with all this rain and gloom we still have upon us in the South.  

I've been trying to pare down my make up bag in an effort of some beginning of the year cleaning and I've realized I will need some new blush soon. Normally I would never think of betraying my NARS Super Orgasm.  Normally.  But apparently I'm not feeling normal.  So, I may betray my standard. 

Obvs this is still NARS blush just in {Desire}.  You can get some here. 

I've been really good about keeping up my manicures during the week and if I find some extra cash this little bottle of joy will be mine. 

Essie "Knockout Pout" found here. 

Probably need this for Valentine's Day lounging at home with wine. 

Wildfox Big Pink Heart Sweater {sadly sold out}

And, not gonna lie...still coveting this JCrew pink bow coat. 

find here

Happy Thursday! Hopefully your day is bright and fun! 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Catching Up

Just doing a Single Gal check in today! Life has been randomly busy for a January -- I usually take some time after Christmas to hibernate due to the holiday whirlwind.  I'm also doing that thing where I already have several things booked for February?!

A few things...

 - I've been pretty good about less time on my phone.  Definitely a lot better about not having it out during work and taking a night or two to leave it upstairs when I get home as well.  I am really hoping to create a habit that way it won't be so darn difficult and to not feel like I am missing anything -- because really, I'm not. 

- On the "no frivolous spending" front -- January was actually going to have a lot of expenses prior to financial focusing for 2013.  However, I have an opportunity at work to grab some extra shifts for much needed cash {which I normally don't as a salaried employee} so I worked last Sunday and plan to work all this weekend and maybe even all next weekend.  This will have me working around 21 days in a row, but they are only doing it through January and I think I may actually end up with a little extra cash.  However, with all that work things are going to continue to be busy this month. 

- Speaking of finances -- how is it already time to file taxes again? Oy. 

I know I have been MIA lately -- I am going to work hard not to be MIA the rest of the month even with the weekend shifts.  I am also going to try not to let them make me ornery and grumpy.  If I say something mean, don't take it to heart. It's probably because I'm just tired.  

Another thing - I have more to catch you up on! Really.  My cousin set me up on this blind date right after Christmas - we will call him Blind Date.  More on this experience later. 

I had a hair appointment this week so I feel like a new and better person already.  

Also - if you are in the Atlanta area - what is with all this rain? I feel like its rained so much the last 6 weeks.  I can't deal. My hair can't deal. The dog can't deal.  Enough already! 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Restaurant Review: Local Three Kitchen + Bar

Elise and I were able to schedule time for our last brunch of 2013 the last week of December and I wanted to do a follow up restaurant review for you guys because I adored and loved the new place we tried! 

We met up around noon to try out Local Three.  I first heard about Local Three from a friend of mine who had a fabulous dinner there sometime last year and it was put on my ever-growing list of places to eat in Atlanta.  As always, I figured what better time to try them out than for Brunch. {So predictable, I know.}

photo source here

photo source here

Basics:

Three dudes own it that are local to Atlanta.  They have a philosophy on food as follows --  People Matter Most, Local Is Priority, Seasonal Makes Sense, Authenticity Rules, Quality Governs, Delicious Trumps, Pretense Stinks, Comfort Feels Good, Appreciation Tastes Better, Prudence Sustains It All.

If you are super into food you can scroll to the bottom of the following link to check out this video that blogger The Hungry Southerner did for them on their approach to food  and a video of their space.  

What I loved:

-They do a brunch buffet for a set price of $19.93. 
 
-The way the set up the buffet is they have you enter through the kitchen and you get to walk back on the line and pick out whatever you want. Super neat experience in my book. 

-Since it was a buffet I got to try pretty much everything on the menu which made me pretty happy since it was my first trip. 

-We had great service.

-They have a beautiful space.

-Everything I ate was really, really delicious. 

Middle of the fence on the following:

-Bottomless Mimosas - I loved that they had the option, but it was a little pricey at $16 odd dollars. {It was obvs a bargain for me and Elise because we may have had more than a few but only because the price of a single mimosa was harsh.} Form your own opinion. I just usually find bottomless bevs at places in Atlanta for less. 

Here was my only complaint - it was a bit hard to find.  It's actually located in the middle of this huge condo + living area off of Northside Drive so you can't see it from the street {so my GPS was telling me to turn and I'm looking at nothing resembling a place to eat} and you have to take an elevator from a parking deck down to a lobby building and then roll through this hallway to find the door.  Not terribly difficult and definitely not a deal breaker, its just that I wasn't prepared to wander around in the cold.

I would absolutely love to try this place for dinner.  I imagine its really great for dates, catching up with your girlfriends, etc.  I linked above so you can find all their menus and read their story.

Love you. Mean it.
~the single gal~

2013 Blanket Statements

{or resolutions, intentions, etc.}

I truly hope that you are all enjoying a wonderful and happy 2013 already! Even if I don't make a lot of resolutions or goals for a particular year I like to always try to think that it will be my best yet. As someone who is in general a "goal setter" and obsessive to-do-list-maker I really like to set a few large/yearly goals this time of year.  I usually do a pretty good job of working out most of them.  And even if I don't reach my ultimate goal, all I ask is that I look back and see some forward progress. 

Like any year, 2012 was filled with lots of highs and lows.  I have two beautiful, healthy new nieces.  I had to leave a job that I loved.  But I found a job at a new place that I love.  I went through {still going?} a devastating break up.  I went to the beach for a whole week {never vacation that long}.  My best friend got married! People I love had babies. I got another year with Hogan. I had some scary moments at the vet with Hogan.  I had to spend a ton of money on my little car.  I ran my best ever half marathon. I ate at a lot of wonderful new places.  I spent way too much money last year.  Went on some bad dates.  Went on some great dates.  Spent lots of great days with my family and friends.  I am definitely interested to see what 2013 has in store for me.  I am ready for the good and the bad {hopefully lots of good though!}

   

So, here are a few blanket statements I am going to devote some time to in 2013: 

devote less time to my iPhone 

there is absolutely no reason at all for me to carry this phone around the house, keep it on my desk all day at work, and check it obsessively for texts, calls, emails, twitter, etc. there is a time and a place for correspondence and calls, not to mention that this time i am wasting could be spent more productively on things like blogging, reading, having a conversation in person with a good friend, quality time playing with Hogan and walking him, or enjoying my own company without interruption. 

getting real about frivolous spending

the last year or so i devoted myself to working harder to religiously make and look at my budget.  i now do it habitually, but i am a real failure at making sure i am habitually saving money or habitually sending extra to my student loan or being completely prepared for an expensive vet visit.   this is something completely within my control and it needs to happen. 

obviously there are going to be set backs and i have already realized january will be an expensive month.  i want to remind myself that this is nothing that will repair or happen overnight and stay the course.  i'm not going to lie - i already succumbed to the new year's lilly pulitzer sale.  not a good start -- but i am determined to regroup. 

 read more non-fiction

obviously The Housewife and I are huge readers.  but i would like to make a more serious effort to get some non-fiction on my new kindle paperwhite and expand my horizons and try new things of the literary persuasion. 

to have more patience

i get it from my father.  i am terribly impatient and hasty and grumpy sometimes.  i want to work more on being calm and patient and not getting fed up with the universe in the span of 5 seconds when something doesn't go as planned or the way i wanted it to go.  

What are y'alls intentions or blanket statements? What non-fiction have you read that you loved or enjoyed?  Someone send me some savings tips and unsubscribe me from all emails involving JCrew and Lilly Pulitzer. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~ 

Stream Of Consciousness

I keep promising the Single Gal that I will blog and she knows I am such a liar. Hoping to prove her wrong this morning. This will just be my random ramblings though.

The twins are 2 months old and they have finally been sleeping about 4 to 4 1/2 hours at night which is a godsend. Poor Harper has her first cold thanks to the Christmas Plague of 2012 -thank you pre-school germs. Turtle is the only one left standing (and Hadley). What can I tell you about life with twins? Um....we fill that diaper pail up in less than a day. Harper is on Zantac because she was spitting up like she was in the movie The Exorcist. We switched her formula to Enfamil AR which also curbs spit up but constipates the hell out of her. A constipated baby is not fun, especially from 2:30 am to 5 am. Word. It's hard to take them to the doctor's office by yourself.

Turtle has been home over the holidays and it felt like he was home for a month and I forgot how to take care of three kids two and under by myself. Cue the Housewife holding on to his leg and begging him not to go to work on Wednesday. I paid him back with some online shopping yesterday.

The Single Gal must feel sorry for our lack of sleep when she volunteers her services on a Saturday night to help with the babies so I can sleep off the sickness I have. Turtle maintains I didn't have the flu but I say F you to everyone and I had a touch of the flu. Or it was the WORST cold I've had in my whole freaking life. The urgent care peeps called for a follow up yesterday and I'm pretty sure my questions about the cough syrup lead the chick to believe I'm some crazy housewife with a hydro codon problem. What? I still have the damn cough and I'm about to run out of meds. I tried not taking it and that lead me down a bad path of hysterical hacking before bed.

#1 is completely hysterical. She knows Turtle and I drink coffee so she says funny things like, " I need my coffee." Or "I dreamed about coffee." The Single Gal really loves it when she tries to tell people Hogan bit her. I don't even know where she gets this stuff. She has to "tuck in" her toothbrushes and toothpaste in their drawer at night. They need a blanket and pacifiers; not to mention good night kisses. I will seriously have to video now that I have an iPhone.

I am glad J Crew is offering free shipping and returns on their swim lines this year so I can find the appropriate one piece to wear this summer. I'm not sure my stomach will ever be the same even after I lose weight and tone it up. Only time will tell. Turtle promises me my boob job and tummy tuck in a few years. I know, I'm vain. Whatev.

Babies are crying. I promise more pictures soon. Harper is a godzilla baby and looks like she will eat her petite sister any day now.

The Housewife

Happy New Year!