Passion Tea Lemonade Made by Me

A beautiful long weekend is wrapping up and it couldn't have been any more perfect. I started the weekend off by buying a beaut of a bicycle. I can't wait to get my bell and basket:)

I also enjoyed a lovely hike to Cape Split with the boy as well as lots of BBQ goodness.

Today after spending a beautiful sunny day outside I decided to try to make one of my favorite drinks, Passion Iced Tea Lemonade. It was easy and delicious and just as good as when I buy it for around $4 at my favorite over-priced coffee joint.

Here's what I did:
-boiled about 1L water
-added 2 Tazo Passion Tea bags and let steep for 10 minutes or so
-made a simple syrup by dissolving a few tbsps of sugar in about 1/3 cup of boiling water
-let tea cool to room temperature and then stuck in in the fridge
-once cooled I poured the tea uinto a pretty pitcher until about 2/3 full and filled the rest with lemonade (I used Santa Cruz Organic).
-added simple syrup mixture to taste
-then I planned on shaking it up in a cocktail shaker with ice but I couldn't find mine so I just poured it into a travel cup with ice.

Just Another Saturday

I just wanted to take a moment to share my most recent thrifted finds and one of my go to low-cal, low fat and super simple recipes.  I got these ballin' vintage oxford heels and fun floral blanket at Value Village a few days ago.  Love 'em:)

A few days ago I came home feeling stressed and needed to blow off some steam and was craving something a little sweet.  I made this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffin recipe.  It is really the most simple thing in the whole world and actually quite delicious and not so bad for you.  Normally I just use milk chocolate chips, today just for something different I mixed those and some white chocolate chips...equally delish!

Now here's all ya gotta do to make these babies.  Get two boxes of Spice Cake mix, a can of pumpkin (not pie filling), a bag of chocolate chips and throw them in your mixer.  Mix it all up.  Scoop out using an ice cream scoop into lined muffin tins and bake for 22-25 minutes at 350degrees.  Makes between 24 and 30 muffins:)

Happy Saturday!

It's Been a While.

I haven't posted on here for over a month!  I have been getting really slack.  I haven't been feeling overly inspired but a few fun things have happened and I have gotten a few things done around here.  It also doesn't help that report card time is creepin' up on me and is starting to consume my life.  Due to the fact that I am feeling incredibly lazy, here is the bulleted version of some of the things that I have enjoyed over the past month or so.

• Celebrating my 32nd birthday at a trashy dive bar.
• Being kidnapped and taken to a strip club.
• Trying out lots of new recipes (pumpkin enchiladas, hummus and avocado toast with roasted tomatoes, tomato, mozza & basil appies, sweet potato veggie burgers, rootbeer pulled pork, spicy chicken tortilla roll ups, penne a la betsy and jalapeno poppers to name a few!)
• A little bit of thrifting.
• Some cross stitchin'.
• Some incredible, unseasonably warm weather.
• Time with friends and family.
• Breaking Bad
• The Bicycle Thief
• The Shakedown Combo
• St. Paddy's day with friends.
• Thrifting
• Enjoyed a relaxing March Break
• The Hunger Games Movie
• Wearing bright colored jeans.

Some thrifted stuff and other pics:)

Old crafty "How To" book.

Thrifted beaded/sequined Top Shop tank.

Thrifted cross-stitched pillow cases.

My OneLine a Day journal that I have been writing in faithfully:)

Cross-stitch project.

Thrifted Steve Madden peep toes.

Birthday bling and other sparkly things.

One Chicken, Three Ways, Nine Meals!

I am not usually a cheapskate in the grocery department.  Generally if I want it I buy it no matter what the cost.  I get too much pleasure from food to skimp and not get what I really want.  That being said I am really impressed with my ability to make one little chicken go so far.  Since I am on a bragging about how great I am kick (see yesterday's post) I thought I'd share this too!  I was able to make nine meals (for one) out of one of those pre-cooked, $9.99, rotisserie chickens you get at the grocery store.



Meal 1:  Pretty straight forward...Chicken and taters with salad.  Just those grocery store taters and some salad I had at home already.

Meals 2&3:  Chicken salad sandwhiches.  Chop up some chicken, add a little mayo, salt&pepper, a little cheese if you are so inclined (could also add celery or onion etc.) and slap it on some whole grain bread...easy peasy.

Meals 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9: Chicken noodle soup.  Throw what's left of the chicken in a pot.  Add some water, chicken bouillion, bay leaves, other random spices, and an onion.  Boil it up, let it simmer for a bit and strain off the broth.  Pick the rest of the meat off the chicken...generally not a fan of non-white meat but for some reason it doesn't bother me in a soup.  Throw it back in the broth.  Add some carrots, onions, egg noodles...whatever...let it all cook.  Your done.

I know none of this is rocket science.  Just pretty proud of myself for stretchin' a buck and not wasting anything from that damn chicken.