Closet

I know it's supposed to be "casual Friday". I know that with graduation this weekend and the Beavers in the College World Series, I should be wearing head-to-toe orange and black. But I just bought pink pants and I am pumped to try them out. I fished this blazer out of the back of my closet - I've been neglecting it. And it all turned out to be a not-so-casual Friday.

Sorry for the awful that is my phone camera lately!

Blazer: Forever 21

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack

Pants: Forever 21

Shoes: Payless

Necklaces: Forever 21 

Watch: Urban Outfitters

Bachelorette Invite

My friend Kari's bachelorette party is coming up and her sister is going allllllll out for the party. We are going wine tasting in Napa Valley and she's even making matching t-shirts (I promise, they are not those obnoxious "Last fling before the ring" shirts - barf). She asked me to put together an invitation postcard to send out to all the girls. I still haven't heard back on whether or not she approves *cough check you email, Sara cough* but whatevs, I like them so they are going up here:

I pretty much copied and tweaked the design on the the FRONT of the card from an Etsy invitation (so if you want to buy these for your own party click over to her wonderful shop here). The back is all from Yours Truly's noggin right here. Kari's favorite color is pink (like seriously, she's obsessed) so I tried to make them as obnoxiously pink as possible. As you can tell, I also tried to show off the "Wine" theme of the weekend. 

The party IS a little spendy so we wanted to include what our checks cover on the back so people know what they are getting themselves in to. And a little itinerary is always fun. Kari's bra size isn't on there because the girl has mondo ta-ta's and you have to special order her bra's from Europe (just in case you were wondering). I did all this using Microsoft Publisher and grabbing random backgrounds and silhouettes off the internet (so hopefully it's legal to put it up on a blog...).

Closet

Ever have one of those *ahem* weeks where you aren't feeling yourself and you hate everything that you try on? And then, there it is - that one magical outfit that, just for today at least, doesn't make you feel like a cow. Well I have 1 1/2 of those outfits. Yes, they are pretty much exactly the same except different colors.

Yes, thank you, I am PAINFULLY aware that this outfit is strikingly similar to the last outfit post. I'm having a week okay? So lay off...

Scarf: Forever 21

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack

Pants: Nordstrom Rack

Boots: Nordstrom / Steve Madden 

Bracelet: Forever 21

DANCE DARES!

Are you outgoing? Are you looking for a fun night out - that ISN'T just like all the others? Ellen DeGeneres is really a genius, I have to say... and Emma stone is amazing. Here is where we got the idea. DANCE DARES! The object is simple enough: dance behind someone without them catching you.

So a couple weekends ago Husband, Molly, Jessica and I decided to head on down to the University's Battle of the Bands and try it out. (MUCH easier to do a dance dare when there is music playing - and in the beer garden). We got about 20 videos but I'll only share the 4 best here:

The beauty of this first one is that Husband is getting Jessica - and this whole thing was her idea. The first victim of the evening: 

The second gem is Jessica getting the beer garden security guard: 

I was lucky enough to nab a guy that was REALLY into his pool game (later at the bar): 

And Molly had a FABULOUS routine behind the bar patrons: 

Clearly, we are not professional dancers! I know this may sound like a mean prank but you would be surprised how many people think it is HILARIOUS - especially your victims. We made lots and lots of friends that night. The worst reaction we got was just "what are you doing?" Try it, like it, live it. 

Closet

So I realize it is June and for most people that means summer. But I live in Oregon. While it might have been the NICEST spring we've had here in a long time, it is still June *in Oregon* and only about 68 degrees here. Therefore I don't feel weird about wearing this lovely scarf that my mommy bought me for Christmas!

Scarf: gift from my Mom - but I think she got it at Fred Meyer

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack

Pants: Nordstrom Rack

Boots: Nordstrom / Steve Madden

Watch: Urban Outfitters

Spicy Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese

Soooo, NORMALLY I try to eat healthy... but every now and then you just gotta have some soouuull food (or your husband demands some artery clogging goodness). This recipe I kind of 'frankenstiened' together from several mac 'n' cheese recipes I found online. I don't want to brag (but I totally do) that my food snob step-dad pulls one of these every time we mention my mac 'n' cheese; and SEVERAL of my male cousins bug me to make it about once a week. So - if you're looking for a way into a man's heart, make them this hot mess of delicious!

Ingredients: 

• 16 oz. macaroni - I reccommend some long, spirally kind vs. normal elbow macaroni. It's waaay more fun and delicious!
• 1/2 c. (1 stick) of butter
• 1/2 c. sifted flour - although I have never actually sifted my flour because I am lazy - but it doesn't seem to make a difference
• 4 c. milk - I use 1%
• 2 - 3 Tbsp hot sauce - I use sriracha (rooster sauce) and I don't measure, I basically just squeeze a whole bunch in until it the sauce turns a healthy pink
• 16 oz. cheese - I usually buy a pre-shredded 'mexican' blend
• 16 oz. bacon - pepper bacon is awesome for this
• shredded parmasen - for topping
• bread crumbs - for topping
• fresh ground pepper - to taste

Ooooomigawwww BACON!!

How To Cook It: 

• preheat oven to 350 degrees and place bacon inside so it can start cooking while you prep the cheese sauce
• cook macaroni and set aside
• in medium saucepan melt butter over low heat
• add flour and stir consistently until smooth 
• turn to medium heat and add milk, stirring consistently until thick (about 10 min)
• add hot sauce, stir until mixed evenly
• hopefully at this point your bacon is finished cooking (I usually get a helper to pull this out of the oven and chop it all up. Like so...

Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!

• add pasta, bacon, and cheese - mix until cheese melts and pasta is evenly coated
• pour mac 'n' cheese into 9"x13" baking dish
• top with parmesan and bread crumbs according to taste
• bake in the preheated oven @ 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes

BAM! You're welcome.

(Sorry, I'm not usually this arrogant about my recipes but we literally just ate this and I'm still on a bacon high)

Salad Rolls

If you have ever made sushi - and ENJOYED it - you will love making these lettuce rolls. If you have made sushi before and HATED it, then pass up on this recipe because the basic process is very similar. If you've never made sushi before, I suggest you try it because it's super fun! Lettuce rolls are a good jumping off point because you get to understand the basic sushi rolling principles, but you don't have to deal with the obnoxious rice (and outrageous "sushi grade" fish prices).

An additional bonus: these bad boys are packed with healthy greens. So if you've been feeling bad about your food choices lately, worry no more! Just be careful to go easy on the peanut sauce!

Ingredients:

• spring roll wrappers - roughly 8 inches in diameter (but it doesn't really matter, however big you want to make them)
• extra firm tofu - cut into... logs? 1 cm by the length of the box - does that make sense? 
• fresh mint 
• fresh basil 
• 2 - 3 carrots - cut into thin strips
• 1 cucumber - cut into thin strips
• 1 avocado - cut into thin strips
• 1 head of lettuce - only the leafy green top part, break off the hard white end
• Thai peanut sauce

How To Make It:

• Have a wide, shallow bowl (I use a pie pan) of warm water on the counter. Place a clean dish towel under your work surface. Dip rice paper rounds into the water for just a moment and then place on the dish towel. Dip another rice paper round and place it on top of the first (these suckers are kinda flimsy and will break when you roll them if you just use one). 
• Center a lettuce leaf on top of the stacked papers. About one third in from the edge closest to you, arrange a few of the basil and mint leaves lengthwise across the lettuce. Top with tofu, carrots, cucumber, and avocado. 
• Be careful not to overstuff the roll. 
• Lift the bottom edge of the rice paper up and over the filling ingredients and then roll it once to form the roll. 
• Then fold the sides in (burrito-style) and continue to roll the paper and fillings into a tight roll. 
• Repeat until your rice papers are gone.
• With a SUPER sharp knife, gently cut your rolls in half - diagonally for style - and serve immediately! (The rice paper will try out and become chewy if left for too long - like an hour). 
• This makes about 10 rolls.