Not Interesting

My classes got moved around this week to accomodate the long weekend (President's Day). So, I can't say that much has really happened in that time. Yesterday was so boring for me I actually took a picture of my backpack. It's the same backpack I've had since the beginning of high school. It has lasted through five years of college and my first year of grad school. Which reminds me, I should really wash that thing. I sewed the flag and the gold thingy there at the bottom (musical staff) on there by myself. I can remember when I talked my mom into getting this backpack. I found it through the internet because I really liked the straps (they have yet to deflate). We had to go to a sports store to find it. I was sorta expensive, I remember and Mom gave me this look, the one that says, "Why do you think you need this expensive back pack?" I remember telling her, "Mom, this backpack will last me through college. I promise." And it did. I can't believe I just wrote that much about a backpack. Gawd, I'm boring.


I made a cool dinner tonight, want to see? Here. It might look weird, but it is a stuffed pepper and it is a most definite four out of five noms. I'm not going to post the recipe right now because I'm too lazy to type it out. But it was super good. Be jealous.

I'm going to go read a Mercy Thompson novel by Patricia Briggs and eat peach yogurt. On a side note, while trolling Facebook today, I noticed someone from my high school that already looks like a little old man with no teeth.
I hope I hold up better.

Curses

A pox upon the weather, ice, and my apartment complex's inability to ice this particular curve this morning. More news to follow once we get insurance to inspect the car and then get it fixed. Until then, it's good we have my good old Honda, the Rice Rocket.

Appears to be mostly cosmetic so far, totally not a big deal. I'm just mad about it anyway. (We're fine, by the way, this is a super tiny thing in the grand scheme of things.)

President's Day Rocks

Today was a day free from work and school! Glorious. I started my second week of the Couch to 5K program. I was going to start it on Wednesday, but classes got switched around and I would not have been able to do that, so I did it today. It was ok. I really like the intervals and I'm hoping they will be effective in building my stamina. I'm sorta psyched about actually being able to run with the ability to breath. I'm not looking for it to be easy, but I like this build up.

I didn't take any good pictures today because I have mostly been hanging out in the apartment. I read the rest of a fun book and ran, but other than that I slept in and did homework. Here is a photo for the homework portion, haha!

Great Negotiations. I love history.

I'm actually taking a break from the homeworking at this moment to write this. I'm also chowing down on peach frozen yogurt, and felt the need to take a picture of that too. Nerd.

I expect the rest of the week to be more eventful than today, although I love not having much to do. It's relaxing. I should probably get back to my homeworking, I won't have much time to finish it up tomorrow and it's due on Wednesday! Ah, grad school, you are so fulfilling.

Oh yes, before I go, I would like to pass on the news that my ear is not turning into some strange bubble monster (I have seen this happen to others' cartilage piercings and decided to show you how well mine is doing). I am pleased with my decision to pierce it again. As long as it does not become a bubble monster.

Yes, that little shiny thing in the middle of my ear.

Jungle in There

You know how sometimes you walk into a place with something in mind and the moment you look up from your shoes, something entirely different smacks you in the face? Yeah, HomeGoods did that to me today. I was going to look for a cheese grater that stands on its own and something different to put my scarves in (oh lawd, the scarves), which I did, however, HomeGoods also gave me this:

As soon as you hit the store; BAM, macrame lion.

The elusive beaded zebra.

Wild flora and fauna were abundant.

Animals, in order to save space, will sometimes stack one another.

Elephant demands your attention.

The animal graveyard was a gruesome place.

More animal stacking! What space savers they are.

I'm not sure why HomeGoods had such an abundance of African wild life in their store, but you can bet your bottom dollar I did not purchase any to take home. Although I think the Husband was tempted by the stacked animals. He kept pointing them out to me. His taste is questionable.

SS and an Ear

Heyo! Guess what I did today? Check it out:
Indeed, I had my cartilage pierced again. It hardly hurt at all, which was surprising. I had it done in the same spot I had it last, before it sneak attack dropped out on me and healed over in about two seconds. Stupid thing. Anyway, the woman who did it for me was very nice and did a good job. Thank you, Piercing Pagoda employee, thank you.

Now the only other things I want is for my hair to grow out really fast and possibly a small tattoo to appear in an unobtrusive place for me to look at it. Miracles, go.

Today, being a Saturday, is a Savory Saturday! An SS, if you will. (No relation to the Nazis.) Once again, I cook from the Cooking Light Complete Cookbook and I made an "All-Time Favorite" called Cilantro Rice with Chicken. It was really good (I was relieved, after my last cooking fiasco. I'm always afraid I'll suddenly become a bad cook, and I'm not sure why...). Doesn't take too long to make and has a really nice and simple flavor. And I love cilantro, so that makes it better. I have to give shout-outs to Tominda's Mom for getting me that blender once upon a time, it was instrumental in making the cilantro sauce. Here is the recipe and the pictures to accompany it!

Cilantro Rice with Chicken pg. 321 in "Cooking Light Complete Cookbook"
Rice:
1 tablespoon olive oil

Boil, ya bastad.

2 cups quartered shiitake mushroom caps (I did not use this b/c the Husband and I hate mushrooms)
1/4 cup chopped green onion bottoms
1 (1/2 inch) piece peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces (I used thin chicken breasts, not sure it matters)
3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
Sauce:
2 cups loosely packed cilantro leaves
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped green onion tops
1 teaspoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 garlic clove, peeled (I minced mine, not sure the blender could take it.)
Topping:
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons chopped green onion tops
Cilantro sprigs (optional)

I'm plucking cilantro.

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. To prepare rice, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add mushrooms and next 3 ingredients; cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in rice, cumin, and chicken; cook 1 minute. Stir in 3 cups broth; bring to a boil. Cover and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand, covered, 10 minutes.
3. To prepare sauce, place cilantro leaves and next 5 ingredients in a food processor or blender; process until smooth. Stir into rice mixture. Discard ginger piece.
4. To prepare topping, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add tomatoes; cook 2 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons green onion tops. Place rice mixture in a large bowl; spoon tomato topping over rice. Garnish with cilantro sprigs.

Calories: 339
Nom Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5

I would recommend this, it was pretty nommy!

The finished product. Tastes better than it looks. :)

Me has knife. Urgh.

I gave the Husband one job: take care of the bread. This is a picture of him attempting to mutilate the bread, which apparently translates into "take care of" in the man language. God help me should I ever get sick. (Oh that's funny, you might as well laugh.)

What I Did Today

I went to AC Moore and bought a shadow box. I brought the box home, unwrapped it from the plastic, removed the paper and opened it up. I placed something inside that box. I put the box aside and fetched hammer. I got a picture hanging nail and placed it against the wall. I drove the nail into the wall with my hammer. Then, I put the shadow box on the nail. And this is what is in the box:

I win at life.

TOM TOM.

Why, Lindsey, you may ask, is that a Vessel: The Advent by Tominda Adkins in that shadow box that now adorns your wall? Why, yes, kind stranger who is creeping around asking dumb questions, that is what that is. A Vessel: The Advent by Tominda Adkins, signed, on my wall there. FOREVER. Why yes, it is the most awesome work of art I have ever seen. I am ever so pleased that you asked, creeping stranger, now, get out of my apartment. Lawd.

In other news: I went on a date with that dude I am married to, we went to a neat Mediterranean/Italian placed called Delia's. I would like to share the appetizer with you, because it was FANTASTIC. It was potato and goat cheese balls and they were great. Here is a picture:

NOM Rating: 5 out of 5

Then we went to see a movie; I am Number Four. It is based on a young adult book and I quite like it. I'm going to go stalk around the internets and get some more information on it, then possibly download it to my Kindle. The Husband made a grave mistake when he got me that thing. He should have known better, really. I have a fever, and the only cure is more BOOKS. I bought the book for my youngest cousin for Christmas, I figured then I would wind up reading it. It is now confirmed. I will have to read it. There will be sequels.

I'm going to bed. I love you all. Stay classy.

Dinner Disaster

That picture is of fish. Tilapia. With orzo and spinach. I have been cooking for a while now and I have made a few funky things. I declare the dinner I made tonight a complete and total failure. FAIL.

It was upsetting. And tasted like poo. And that is all I have to say about it.