Where I Share About Shoes and Carrot Fries....

I really loathe people who are always saying they are sooooooo tired/exhausted because really that's just something that real life throws on us at times.  I won't go there because I know that everyone out there is tired.  It's fine.  It's sometimes the nature of being an adult.  Mostly I do like being an adult.  Mostly...

I won't bore you with how much I worked already this week but I will have a small celebration here for some recognition from my manager at our team meeting this week.  Snaps to him for the nice bottle of wine that came with it (we love wine at this house).  I also found out that I have a small bonus coming in August -- which after not getting a raise this year -- it could be all of $100 and I would still be ecstatic.  Even if it will be sent to grown up things like paying off debt or my Roth.  Or that pesky medical bill from a doctor visit in March that I'm ignoring because I hate high deductible plans (note an adult thing I do not like). 

I digress.  To fun stuff.

• I made carrot fries on Sunday! It was easy and I really liked them.  If it helps sway anyone Matt advised me that even he liked them and carrots normally make him "dry heave" (what is it with men and vegetables?). 
• I would like to bake this sometime soon.
• Recently purchased these shoes -- I really wanted the Vince Allison mules that everyone has but many thanks to the blogger that linked the super similar  Shoemint Miller mules Kohl's. They are pretty much just alike.  

Really I want to stay home and drink coffee in a summer Thunderstorm tomorrow morning. I will say it's super nice that we have a short week and even get to close up early tomorrow.  We have a super low key Fourth of July planned and I'm really excited about it.  Catching up on cooking, reading, working out, and lake time! 

Catching Up + Thanksgiving Recap

Happy Weekend everyone! I have to say -- I only had to work 2.5 days last week and even though it will be a complete nightmare to go back to work until the wedding I have had the best time off.  I really think that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday -- the food is great and it just seems more low key and less stressful than Christmas.  I came home from work and started baking early and finished a book by the fire.  It was heavenly. 

First -- we started off the holiday with our half-marathon! I have not run the Atlanta Half course in several years and they have changed the course since I ran last time.  We had a really great race but I was battling some cramps and being depleted around mile 11 (mainly because we were speed demons right out of the gate) and The Housewife left me to finish a bit ahead.  With all the hills on this course it made the back half of the race very tough so I was still very happy to finish just under 2 hours and 15 minutes.  We hit some really great splits -- if only I could have held them the last 2 miles. 

I immediately came home and started cooking before a trip to my Dad's.  I tried two new recipes this year -- the chocolate mousse pie above and a butternut squash + kale gratin.  I got both recipes from Martha Stewart Living and they were all a hit.  The gratin was really easy and while the pie had a lot of steps none of them were too difficult. 

Friday I had a lazy day and when Matt got home we went to a local farm here in Alpharetta to pick out our tree.  I loved our small tree last year and wanted to get another small one -- but I wanted to up my game and get a flocked one.  They are definitely expensive but if you get a smaller one its not as hurtful to your bank account.  Also -- if we return the stand ours came in we will get a $30 gift card. If you are in the Atlanta area I highly recommend supporting local for your Christmas tree and nursery needs with a trip to Scottsdale Farm.  

Saturday was my final dress fitting and watching the GA v GA Tech game with the fam.  It's a nice tradition -- but I like it a lot more when the Dawgs don't lose.  Also -- I've been living in this plaid shirt from JCrew -- I am obsessed.  It's 30% off today if you care. 

So far today I've happily cancelled my Fly Barre reservation, had copious amounts of coffee by the tree, and am determined to finish up Christmas decor today while also trying to read 8 library books that are overdue.

Happiest of Holidays to all of our readers! 

~the engaged gal~

Sunday Review

I kept telling myself I would blog this week but things got kind of crazy when my sweet neighbor went into labor early Wednesday morning.  This matters because both her and her husband don't have family close by and they asked me to let the dogs out when her time came.  Cue me being pretty late leaving for work through Friday morning. Thankfully we are still in summer traffic season here in Atlanta so I wasn't actually late for work any day.   Had a pretty chill work week but felt stressed and irritable for some reason so that will explain the giant photo of Pinkberry lunch below.  It just seemed totally necessary for survival by Friday afternoon. 

Gus and Gizmo.  My babies for the week! I pretty much want to steal that little black pug.  Not even going to lie. 

Originally planned for a Saturday lunch with Elise but after looking at the rain report we decided to run up to JCT Bar after work Friday night for some angry mussels and fries.  We had long chats over rosé and walked around Westside Provisions and even had our first Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams treat.  

We walked around Star Provisions to window shop and peeked into that pesky Bacchanalia which killed me a lot inside because GOOD LORD I want to eat there so badly! It was a super nice evening and not too crowded I think because there was a 30% chance of rain -- which of course meant a nice breeze on the patio.  It did rain but we were there early enough to get one of the tables under cover on the back patio of the bar.  It was a super night with my wonderful friend.  She makes me laugh hysterically on the reg.  I only wish my wit were as sharp as hers. 

I'm still really trying to save money but finally gave in to replacing two of my throw pillows because the yellow and gray silky ones from Target were full of coffee/drink spills and dog drool.  I couldn't take it anymore.  I kind of feel like Chevron is played out but these were pretty much my only option after several trips to Homegoods the last few weeks.  It's not like Domino Mag is coming to shoot my town home anytime soon so I just bit the bullet in the name of cleanliness.  Also - don't look too closely at the Ikea sofa that so clearly needs to be replaced judging from the ALL THE STAINS on the cushions.  Le sigh. 

This morning Matt and I actually slept until 7:30.  I walked the dogs and then got back in bed to watch The Open with him under the covers until we dragged ourselves downstairs around 9 to make breakfast and coffee.  This NEVER happens.  It was soooooo nice.  I never allow myself to lay in bed -- there just always seems like there is too much on my list to complete before heading back to work. 

As far as the photo -- I know you like that butter wrapper in the pic right? It's Sunday -- my preferred cooking/baking day of the week so I jumped up and made some blackberry scones this morning.  Wow.  I could sit down and slowly eat through all of them today alone.  Grabbed the recipe here -- note I cook everything with almond milk these days so I subbed that in where the recipe called for regular milk.  Also, don't freak out about smushed blackberries because hey -- what can you really do about that when trying to roll out your dough? 

Happy Sunday! What are you up to? Baking? Reading? Nothing? 

~the engaged gal~

Sunday Randoms

Hope you are all taking it easy today.  Thought I'd put together an easy little post of pictures and links to quick Sunday reading that I saw this week. 

......

this post by Liz at Sequins & Stripes on bringing out some color is inspiring. I have been wanting to winterize my white jeans for a long time but I'm not yet brave enough to even attempt it. 

made these bacon wrapped smokies again for 3 Putt and we took them over with a cheese plate for dinner with The Housewife and my brother-in-law

looked at a bunch of pictures on Pinterest of Paris...

Also really loved this post by Erin Gates from Elements of Style on French style. I made some real notes.  I feel like my love of black and white tops with jeans and pumps renewed all over again.  Her blog is great and so is her instagram. Ok I want to be her. 

as a coffee lover I am kind of obsessed with coffee cups. this one and this one really caught my eye this week. 

coffee cup #1 from Etsy

coffee cup #2

.....

Also wondering if I will make it to Sunday yoga today...

~the single gal~

Mid Week Round Up

Well, I had been really good on the no shopping thing but Black Friday and Cyber Monday did get me a little.  Dropped $45 online with Old Navy and finally found a decent camel coat thanks to a tweet from The Love List's Jess Graves for Cyber Monday where H&M was having 40% off.  In my dreams I ordered another beautiful coat from JCrew also...but that is not to be. (I mean really! The cost of some of them could get me halfway to Europe.) 

Meet my new frand (well, frand that hasn't shipped yet). Regular price $79.95 with 40% off and I think free shipping.  It was probably the best deal  I would find on a camel coat and I got too scared to wait until after Christmas.  Let's hope it fits.  Sometimes I worry they run a bit small.  Don't let me be broken hearted next week when it arrives, Little Baby Jesus. 

coat found here

I think I made a successful pot roast...I loosely went with this recipe from Martha Stewart on Sunday and had some pretty good results.  Confession, I pretty much used a ton of wine with a little water because I forgot to buy chicken stock and ain't nobody got time to go back to the store after you have already been.  I also skipped the onion and used lots of rosemary.  Do with that what you will. 

I also finally took the time to upload some photos and order them form Shutterfly.  I've been shameful about sending off pics of me and 3 Putt, me and The Housewife, my mom, me and my little sis on her wedding day, etc.  It was time.  Most of my pictures are pretty outdated that I have floating around the house.  

If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that I did embrace my small Christmas tree on a table idea.  Working on this post.  Maybe I get The Housewife to bring her fancy camera over here. 

Hope you aren't all getting dragged through the mud at work like I am this week.  Le sigh. It always happens after a long holiday weekend.  We are almost there! 

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions: {Cookbooks}

Ever since I mailed that damn Smitten Kitchen cookbook to Little A and had the chance to thumb through it on my visit I have been dying to have it for myself.  And that is just one among a few others. I tried some homemade bread yesterday -- not sure how I like the recipe or how it turned out.  It tastes really good -- it just didn't puff up like I wanted.  Guess I need more practice.  And Lord do I have to find someone to eat all these experiments besides myself! I could gain 5 pounds alone on that bread and I have a feeling the second loaf is going to turn into bread pudding by the weekend. 

Here are a couple cook books I've been thinking of ordering.  What do you like to use? Any favorites? Something I shouldn't be living without? 

The Lee Brothers have a new one out -- The Lee Brothers Charleston Kitchen.  And really I might need one of their other books, too? 

I know I would probably really like this one as well. 

find here

I am also a big fan of Ina.  Who doesn't like The Barefoot Contessa?  I saw a recommendation from another blog saying that this one of her books was a good one.  I feel like she legit does a lot of entertaining so I would trust her with some easy but elegant recipes.  Maybe not for me to make, but I'd like to grab the book to see if I could. 

Happy Monday everyone! 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Unscheduled Programming {Monday Thoughts}

I'm not feeling particularly over the moon about anything lately so you guys just get a regular post tonight.  You know -- the ones with a bunch of random stuff  that's in my head.   This is mainly because 3 Putt and I had a rather long and drawn out Sunday Funday so I wasn't as prepped for the week.  But no harm there.  A homemade breakfast, a long walk with Hogan, beer, bowling, French food, Operation Smile, and afternoon naps are just as important.  

Y'all 3 Putt surprised me this weekend with concert tickets!  Alabama comes to The Fabulous Fox Theatre in May.  I die.  Seriously.  He was supposed to go too but he already found a schedule conflict so I have been ordered to bring The Housewife instead.  She can buy me a beer to thank me later.  Or 3 Putt, rather.  

How much do I love this photo? The Housewife and I have also purchased tickets for New Kids on the Block when they come with Boyz II Men (did I do that right?) in June.  Let's just say its an intense summer concert season for us already.  Don't hate. 

Alabama

Also...I can't stop thinking about these two items of clothing.  Like I want to wear them together.  Or separately.  Either way they are on my mind.  I don't even know that would it would look good as a combo but I'd like to try.  But I am pretty sure this skirt from JCrew Factory already sold out. Blah.  I dislike being poor. And having to pay taxes {I'm sure I'll complain about that more later}.  

Ever since making those cinnamon rolls the other day all I want to do is bake.  Like I want to just stay home from work and bake.  All day.  If I could do this I would be making some of these Pinterest desserts I have been drooling over.  

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Chocolate Pistachio Sandwich Cookies

Chocolate Bread Pudding

How is your Monday? What's on your mind? 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions: Cinnamon Rolls

This weekend I made some cinnamon rolls and I really just can't stop thinking about them. I know making them from scratch seems like a lot of trouble but the recipe I use really is simple.  I got the recipe I use from my friend Caroline -- her lovely mother in law, Carol would make these.  Seriously -- I tried another recipe one time that ended up with cinnamon rolls being thrown into the garbage.  This one works.  Trust.  If there is one thing I'm not messing around with it's food.  

Carol's Cinnamon Rolls

4-5 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 envelopes yeast

1 Tsp salt

1 cup milk

2/3 cup water

3/4 lb butter

2 eggs (at room temp)

 

- place 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt into large bowl

 

- place milk, water and 1/4 cup oleo into pan. Heat until very warm

 

- place milk mixture into flour mixture

-add eggs

 

- add enough flour to make dough elastic

 

- place dough in greased bowl and let raise until doubled

 

- after dough has risen, roll into a square shape

 

- spread butter over dough then sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon

 

- roll and cut into 1 1/2" to 2" pieces

 

- place into greased pan

 

- refrigerate 2 to 24 hours

 

- when ready to bake let rolls sit out for 10 minutes and bake at 350 degrees until brown

 

Powdered sugar glaze: powdered sugar, very little milk and pat of oleo. Blend and place on rolls when still warm. Add flavoring.

here is my photo journey...except I forgot to take one of them out of the oven! Sorry! 

Dough after it has had time to rise/double. 

The rolling pin of all Single Gals - can o' beer. 

All rolled out with the good stuff for the middle. 

And now rolled up. 

Ready for the fridge until time for breakfast! 

Seriously try these! The best part is making them the day before and just popping them in the oven the next morning and enjoying them with friends and family! 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

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~

{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~

In the Kitchen with The Single Gal

Just checking in mid-week! We had family Christmas on my Mom's side of the fam this past weekend and I finally got in the kitchen for what seems like the first time this holiday season {I shamefully only went to Thanksgiving at Mom's loaded with champagne. Didn't make a single thing!}.  I tried two new ones that I really liked and wanted to share with y'all before Christmas.  

I don't have a standard recipe for Mac and Cheese. Usually I try a new one and keep looking for one that I just love. But until last week I hadn't really found one.  It's a lot of trouble buying 6 freaking cheeses and trying to work that one Giada made on The Food Network.   Normally, I steer a bit clear of Martha Stewart recipes because some seem difficult or a bit more complicated than I am looking for when I am ready to make something.  But I bit the bullet and tried her recipe for perfect mac and cheese.  I have to say, it was really easy and it it was incredibly delicious.  The only thing I would change is to add tomatoes but since I knew my group wouldn't be into that, I opted not to this time around.  It really may be perfect, though. 

*photo from the pin i found on pinterest*

Here is the link for Perfect Macaroni and Cheese.

It's also not likely that I will turn down the chance to try any recipe that involves Pillsbury Crescent rolls.  So, I also attempted a new dessert/breakfast item -- Nutella Cream Cheese Danishes.  These were very easy!  I recommend making them for people when they can eat them right out of the oven although they aren't terrible when zap them in the microwave for 10 seconds if you can't make that happen.   The one thing I found when I doubled the recipe was that I had a lot of leftover filling and even had a bit too much in my dough ring.  As a result, I didn't pinch the sides closed well enough and some of the filling came out and they were open on one end, but obvs still tasty. 

photo credit - also found on recipe link

Here is the link for Nutella Cream Cheese Danishes.

What is your favorite Macaroni and Cheese recipe? Or dessert? 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

As God As My Witness...This Single Gal Will Never Go Hungry Again -- Well, Not This Week Anyway.

First off, many thanks to The Housewife for keeping the blog up and going for basically all of
October. This last month has been incredibly busy with training/complaining about training,
social activities, family stuff, etc.

I have been going non-stop for the last few weeks -- and I am exhausted.  Not
Scarlet O’Hara I-Lived-Through-The-Civil-War exhausted, but pretty close. I haven’t
been able to properly devote as much time as needed to my training this month
(Dear. Jesus. When. Can. I. Stop. Training. And. Run. This. Race. OMG.) 16 miles on the pavement this morning and our last 20 miles next week. We are in our training “peak”and it hasn’t worked out well with all the family activities, engagement parties, birthday parties, and squeezing in much needed time with The Housewife and our girlfriends that all ended up happening in the month of October. I tried my best to be everywhere and pretty much accomplished that goal.

So this weekend I gratefully fell into the black hole of “I’m {Happily} Not Leaving the House
(Except to Run and Maybe Go To Starbucks)” syndrome...or, we could dub this weekend -- “The Weekend I Finally Made Stuff from Pinterest!”

Since I am sick of microwaving almost all my Single Gal Meals I happily dusted off the crock pot and actually made a real meal (I am just as shocked as you are, trust.). One that I might be able to finish by Friday.

{chicken taco chili}

 

I ate this while having several severe heart attacks during the GA/FL game on Saturday. It
needed more chili powder and maybe some Tabasco to really get a good flavor, but since this
was my first try I’ll call it a sloppy win-- just like The Dawgs had this weekend. Georgia played some seriously sloppy football but thankfully ended up with a W.

And if you are wondering what I will be eating the rest of the week...

I also snagged this recipe off of Pinterest as well to try this weekend:

{pumpkin scones}

I am not sure why this picture is blurry.

 

Ok, these mis-shaped triangles of goodness don’t exactly look like they fell out of Southern Living Magazine, but they were delicious! And, as this example shows, no matter what they look like just throw them on a fancy plate, drizzle them with spiced glaze and ta-dah! 

Scones aren’t always my favorite because they are kind of crunchy and can be a bit dry but the spiced glaze really adds a lot to this fall pastry.  My house also smelled wonderful this morning while they were baking away in the oven.

{currently reading}

And, for those who may care about literature I also finished the book Dracula In Love by Karen Essex and managed to get more than halfway through a new book, The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen on my Kindle this weekend! I might even finish it tonight!!  I am not huge on book reviews so I have just linked them up to Amazon for your perusal.  I enjoyed/am enjoying both but they weren't/aren't 5 stars or anything.  

I love cooler weather where you want to cuddle up with the dog and your chicken taco chili and read all day!

Love you. Mean it. 

~Incredibly Productive Single Gal~