Tzatziki Yummy

I'm really trying to be a good blogger, but I hadn't felt inspired to write about anything lately.  I guess it's because I've been spending every single second before school starts doing something that I won't be able to do once 7:30-6 something rolls around (school+coaching). However, today I went to the Race Street Pier, which I've done a couple of times throughout my residence in my new 'hood, and it totally made me at peace and relaxed and I felt the urge to blog. See below and you will understand :p

 

 

As far as this actual post, I'd like to talk about one of my all time favorite foods and the fact that I finally bought a food processor and can make my own! So for something that packs a punch of 23 grams of protein and only 130 calories in one serving, nothing really beats Fage Greek Yogurt (Total 0%). Nothing that is..unless you make it into Tzatziki Sauce.

All summer of been munching on pitas with either tzatziki or hummus and for whatever reason it finally dawned on me that clearly I wasn't a good cook if I haven't attempted to make my own. So I went out and got a basic Black and Decker food processor. I followed this recipe for Tzatziki Sauce and was very happy with my first results. However, I would advise, as some of the reviewers of this recipe do, if you are trying to create Tzatziki with a food processor I would suggest only processing the other ingredients and then folding them into the yogurt. I clearly was too excited to try out my processor for the first time to heed their warnings. I used the 17.6 oz Fage Total 0% and the taste was excellent. But, because I made the mistake of processing the yogurt, it was definitely runnier than I would have liked it. Even though it isn't the perfect consistentcy, the taste is impeccable and I now have a dipping sauce/spread packed with protein and yumminess. If you don't own a food processor get one, I double dog dare you. It's next use of course will be making hummus. <33

3 Things I've been loving about Summer and will be taking into Fall...

1) Foldable sunglasses

Credit: http://www.sunpocketoriginal.com/

Credit: Laura Dougherty, media.patch.com

 2. Al fresco dining












3. 1970s Teal-Green Giant Road Bike

1) So I bought my first pair of "sunnies" in early June. Sunpocket is a former French skiing/surfing sunglasses brand of the 70's that was relaunched in late April and is now a Swedish brand. They make sunglasses that literally fold up and go in your pocket. It took a while for the glasses to come, but the Sunpocket rep, Anton, that I spoke with via email, assured me my sunnies would arrive as promised and they did. I opted for the Sunpocket II Shiny White ($65.00): Sunpocket Webstore. I would totally suggest buying the retainers (I bought pink with these) because as functional as it is to have them hang around your neck, it also creates a nice necklace accessory as well! *See photo.

Other brands with these foldable sunglasses started to become popular this summer ranging from the American Eagle ($6.99) lowest priced/unreliable: AE Online to the more expensive RayBand Wayfarers ($155.00) Ray-Ban Online. I've heard Urban Outfitters has actual Sunpockets in their stores and one version is available online: Sunpocket Vintage Folding Sunglasses. I would definitely suggest stocking up on a few different pairs so you can rock this trend into fall and even bring them out on the slopes come Winter!

2) When the weather is nice out, why would you ever stay inside? That's my philosophy as far as Summer dining and I'll definitely be taking that same motto into Fall. Down the shore in Brigantine, New Jersey it was a great to be able to go straight off the beach and onto Laguna Grill's new outside deck which opened July 4th weekend. If you want a last taste of Jersey Shore craziness and don't feel like going all the way to Seaside, Whitebrier's (Avalon) Saturday happy hour can you give you that same feel. The inside sweltering hot/beerfoaming/fist-pumping is nicely contrasted with the relaxed outdoor seating and half price sushi. But this happy hour isn't for the meek at heart--be prepared to fight your way through a crowd inside and maybe witness a bro-brawl outside.

Back in Philly, Media has an amazing "Dining Under The Stars" (photo above) every Wednesday through the end of September. They close off State Street, place tables in the streets, and provide live entertainment. If you can't wait til Wednesday for your al fresco dining, a delicious Media restaurant that provides rooftop dining is the Asian Fusion, Azie. Also, if you are looking for another good roof-top dining spot, you can head over to University City, and check out City Tap House. Be prepared for a UPenn college crowd come fall, but the 60-beers-on-tap, updated regional bar cuisine, and beautiful terraces with firepits, overlooking Walnut Street, make it worth it. Lastly, if you haven't made it to the Piazza at Schmidt's in Northern Liberties yet this Summer for their 104.5 concert series, make sure you check it out come fightin' Phils playoffs. It is a great spot to grab some lawn chairs, have some outdoor refreshments, and watch the game on the big screen. (I'd also five-star recommend a PYT burger, and an adult shake!)

3) That's my new bike Betty. I actually bought her in good old Berks County, PA at Spokes. I got her for only $120 and was pretty excited to find a great condition (they think 70's) roadbike, with the awesome teal green color. This way I can use her to get around the city, and if I choose to do some tri's come next Summer (it's always a long-term goal but never happens)--she'll be the perfect transition without having to pay the grand price tag. I suggest investing in a good helmet. Mine actually cost about $40 (more than 1/3 the bike) but everyone keeps saying when it comes to your head it is worth it. I guess so. <33

Chevron Changes

I think I'm ready to share my blog with others after effectively making new changes to my studio. Like a lot of fellow D.I.Y.ers I wanted to incorporate the amazing chevron stripes in some way in my new place. I opted to try the daunting task of taping the stripes off and then painting over them with my chosen color of Behr's Heron Blue. I decided to use a flat paint because I figured the flat blue/grey color would allow the stripes to pop in their off white creme color that the walls were originally painted.

Here's how I did it:
1. Measured 6 feet up on my wall with a measuring tape, marking off spots about every 6 inches or so (yep totally eyeballed this--no level or anything) and then matched the points.

2. Decided a "pattern" would be easist, so I had a leftover particle board backing to a frame and used a kitchen knife to score the board on either side to change it from a rectangle into a square pattern. Note: a triangle pattern would work better if you have an exacto knife--I didn't so I went with the easiest shape.

3. Went across the entire wall lining up the points of the square (held like a diamond) to my line.

4. Took scotch blue with edgelock painters tape and lined over my triangles.

5. Orginally I thought I could just lower my 6 foot line by an inch and a half because that is the width of the painters tape; however, after I did that I could tell that my white and blue lines would not be even. It turns out I had to go 2 inches below my original 6 foot high line because I think it's due to something with the hypotenuse of the triangle and it being longer than the width--don't ask me I wasn't a Trig expert--but basically lowering your line 2 inches will work if you use 1.5 in. tape. I then repeated the previous steps 2 more times to create 3 taped off lines.

6. Painted. Waited. Peeled. Beautifulness.

I really can't believe it worked with my first time EVER painting a wall. I guess my go big or go home philosophy works with painting as well. If you decide to try this, it will take a while to measure and tape off, but I am really excited with the overall effect. The chevron stripes have made my studio feel so much bigger by using the 3 lines. I stopped with 3 because I felt more would be overwhelming, but if you have a bigger space, it definitely wouldn't hurt to do more.

Summer's Sweetness

So here are my six favorite photos from the whole 100 that I captured using Hipstamatic. I'm going to have to stop using the app or my phone won't have any more memory--it's addicting because everything turns out beautifully!! Currently, I'm in the process of painting a wall in my studio in Behr "Heron" blue. It's a darker blue/gray combo that I chose from my inspiration of houses down the shore that are painted this color. I have a lot of bright photos, paintings, and other artwork to hang so I feel like the contrast should work really well. Ohhh, and the largest challenge, I'm taping off chevron stripes. Will post the finished product as well as a how to when it is complete!

Resurgence of Vanilla Heaven

So after a VERY long hiatus from my rookie attempt at blogging I've decided to come back to it for a few reasons. Firstly, throughout the Spring/Summer I have had the opportunity of perusing through http://gingersnapjordan.blogspot.com/ and http://www.themessiekitchen.com/, two amazing blogs by two awesome ladies that I've had the opportunity to become friends with at PSU. In wanting some inspiration for quick recipes, I've gathered ideas from both of these blogs. Secondly, in my past two years as a teacher I have strayed away from my writing quite a bit. I have definitely done my fair share of writing lesson plans, and grading papers, but really haven't reached for any form of self-expression other than creating new curriculum and xc and track workouts. Lastly, I just moved out of my townhouse in Manayunk and now have all of my belongings in my new studio in Pennsport. I feel that trying to turn a studio into a nice new home will be a challenge with the space that I am working with, but will be perfect for do-it-yourself blogs. So the goal of this re-incarnation of my blog will not be simply to write, and comment on life, but to share: my new place's makeover, little delight recipes I come across, new fun apps or programs (for my techie side), and any other of life's vanilla heavens that I decide to share. I'll try my best to stay committed to this and update my blog from the 2000s of it's early existence. <33

P.S. for a fun Summer app check at Hipstamatic, it's been around for a few years, but nothing beats the beachy scenes that I was able to capture at sunrise today. Will post my favorites later:
http://hipstamaticapp.com/

We're Gonna Have a Good Day

Can't stop listening to Nappy Root's "Good Day"

"We're gonna have a good day and all my homies gonna ride today and all these mommies look fly today and the only one we wanna do is get by today heyyy, we're gonna have a good day and ain't nobody gotta cry today cause ain't nobody gonna die to u save that trouble for another day heyyy we're gonna have a good day"


It's sad but sometimes I feel you can convince yourself into believing anything..hmm.

Watched Big Fish last night:

"Now, there comes a point where a reasonable man will swallow his pride and admit that he's made a terrible mistake. The truth is, I was never a reasonable man. What I recalled of Sunday School was that the more difficult something became, the more rewarding it was in the end."

I'm trying to convince myself of that as well.

Yes dear, it is hard & you can do hard things.

I guess I'm a horrible blogger. I haven't updated in forever--even though there has been so much to write about.

Firstly, I decided to do the Professional Development School so this entire year I am actually student teaching at State College High School. I figure, this way I will know whether or not teaching is truly for me, or if I should go the whole broadcast/communications route. Hmm..I don't really know how to rate my first bulletin board..maybe a C?

"Yes dear, it is hard and you can do hard things"

is actually from my one mentor teacher; I'm working with two different teachers and two different grades (9&10). She explained to our students that yes, her class will be tough, but she believes in them. She told the class how her mom used to tell her this as a little girl and it really got me thinking.

I feel too often we dismiss that which is hard. For myself I know that running a 6k of cross country is one of the toughest things to do each weekend and half of me can't wait for the fall to be over; however, I know each time when I actually put myself out there and try to do those "hard things" I'm making myself not only a better runner, but a better person. Very cliche but true. It's the whole Emily Dickinson quote:

"success is counted sweetest to those who ne'r succeed."

If everything we do in life was a walk in the park, then we wouldn't even count our successes as successes they would just be every day commonalities.

So I've had two pretty awful meets. If I'm able to put a race together before the end of the season I know it's going to mean so much more. It's like the weather in State College. It's just so crappy most of the time, but when it is actually nice we all realize it.

On the other hand, I realized yesterday how much I take my parents for granted. They are in Punta Cana for their 25th wedding anni and for the first time EVER I didn't get to talk to them after my race. I was a mess...well..and still kinda am and can't wait for them to come back!

So basically to bring this full circle, yes life is hard. But you know what? It's the hard times that make you appreciate what you truly have.