How I Feel About The Olympic Coverage

Give NBC a break, people. 

Except for that Today Show Missy Franklin promo, I think they've done a pretty good job of not showing information before it's shown in prime time. In fact, I've laughed at the 'look away' warnings I see during the day online and on the broadcasts.

And stop complaining that other countries are watching free via YouTube and we have to pay for cable to watch live streaming (#firstworldproblems). This sh*t is expensive and someone has to pay for it. I don't know how the other countries afford it. I don't know how it all works. But I support television networks year round - not just when a show comes out that everyone is talking about or when Ryan Lochte is swimming for gold. I don't feel bad for you. Stop thinking everything can/should be free.

We need to face it. Everyone is consuming news/entertainment (I'm not sure which the Olympics qualify as) differently. Some people want it all live and streaming and as it happens. Some people only want to see it in prime time. NBC is trying their best to cater to both crowds.

What would you have them do? Create two websites? One with 'spoilers' and one without? What about the obscure sports like weight lifting or canoeing or skeet shooting that aren't shown in prime time? Are we to never discuss those results because they weren't shown at an optimal time? Those only get prime time coverage if Americans win gold. 

And what's really a 'spoiler' anyway? It's already happened.... how long before it isn't a spoiler anymore? If I choose not to look up/watch USA Men's Gymnastics until I have free time on Wednesday, is it really NBC's fault that I found out they failed miserably in the finals?

Oops... spoiler.

(Sorry I'm not sorry.)

Went to a Wedding (Vol. 3)

Forgot to take many pictures at Sarah and Cory's wedding this past weekend, and the ones I did try to take all came out blurry and un-blogworthy. Boo. This group shot (borrowed from a friend on Facebook) is pretty awesome though. I love it.

A heartfelt ceremony in Ferguson, classy reception at Windows on Washington, a stunning bride, a happy couple and great friends. A great way to spend a Saturday night.

{what I wore: H&M dress (pictured here), cluster earrings from J Crew, gold/diamond bangle from Swirl, stacked rings from Target, nude pumps, Revlon Fire & Ice, Essie East Hampton Cottage}

Nothing beats...

... a rainy morning.

So thankful for that rain we had on Sunday morning. I woke up after a night out partying at a wedding, and assumed it was like 5am because it was still a little dark out. Nope, 10am (nothing beats sleeping in, either). I let Maverick out and stood on the back porch a minute before waking up the boy and telling him it had rained. All three of us went out on the front porch for a minute before crawling back into bed. 

And then, spent the entire day on the couch watching the Olympics. Coffee was drank, PB&J was ate, naps were taken. It was perfectly lazy and I love it. 

image via Pinterest

Views, Lately

 {a DIY wedding in KC}

{the Muny, Aladdin}

 {movies on Art Hill}

{ballgame for the 4th}

Lazy Weekends

... spent with this guy on the couch are the best. 

Drinks, Lately

 {latte from Mud House}

 {pina colada slustard from Spanky's}

{watermelon basil lemonade at Tower Grove Farmers Market}

Ever had one of those days...

... where you have so much on your mind from the night before, it makes it hard to think about anything else?

Last night, we went out for sushi at Cafe Mochi and then walked down the block for gelato. I love South Grand, by the way.

And then, we went to look at a house for rent over near the Botanical Gardens. It's... perfect. Big bedrooms, lots of living space for couches/TV, a lot of character, hardwood floors, fenced in backyard, affordable. I should love it. And I do.

But it's not in Soulard. And I've become so attached to that neighborhood. And as much as I love South Grand/Tower Grove/Botanicals, I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave Soulard behind.

Muny 2012: Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Reasons I know I liked loved Joseph...:

• It was the first time all season I was humming the songs at intermission and on the ride home... and I didn't even know them. Also, I may or may not have rocked out to the soundtrack on Spotify the next day at work. 
• In general, I've found all the dancing sub-par this season, but not this week. It was the first time I was watching and thought, 'Man, I miss dancing.'
• Justin Guarini didn't wear a shirt for most of it. 
• I smiled. A real genuine smile. And I laughed. Not like, a little chuckle or 'ha. clever.' I legit laughed. (Hint: Stick around for the FULL finale/curtain call. Most fun I've ever seen had on that stage.)
• I was in my car by 10:20! I love quick shows. Especially after the marathon that was Dreamgirls. 
• I teared up. I know, it's weird. But sometimes really good musicals (or commercials or songs or articles etc) get me choked up. Out of no where. It doesn't even have to be sad or anything. Anyway, last night, when the Narrator took her bow, I just got a lump in my throat. It was that good. 

Now - be warned. Joseph... may not be for everyone. It's a sort of over the top 70's/80's musical from Andrew Lloyd Weber, like Jesus Christ Superstar. It has no dialogue, just song after song. It doesn't have elaborate sets or costumes. It has modern references and is adapted for every staging. Some people don't like musicals like that. In fact, I usually don't. But I love this one.

You've got Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday left to go see it. Don't miss this one.

Eats, Lately

 {churro ice cream with chocolate syrup and sprinkles... for dinner}

 {damn, my boyfriend can cook}

 {yogurt, granola, blueberry}

{brunch at Wildflower}

Navy & Mint

navy Jason Wu top. mint jeans. silver Merona sandals. All from Target. 

I Love/Hate the Internet

My desktop last week. Look at all those open browser windows. Yikes. 

Five-Minute Cake Batter Ice Cream

Now THIS was quite the experiment. As you may or may not know, July is National Ice Cream Month. Also, it's hot. And, I'm not a great baker. 

So, when I set my mind on making dessert Thursday night, I was looking for something cold, easy and of the ice cream variety. I saw this recipe for cake batter ice cream made from bananas on Pinterest and decided to try it out. 

It's vegan (not that I care about that). It claims to take 5 minutes. And all you needed was bananas and a  shitload bunch of extracts. 

Here's the recipe, along with a nice little graphic from SheKnows:

Ingredients:
 5 frozen bananas
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon butter extract (I used 'butter flavor')
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon maple extract (I used 'maple flavor')
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons agave nectar (find it in the baking aisle near sugar and spices or by the honey)
2 tablespoons sprinkles

Directions:
 - Peel five bananas and cut them into bite-size pieces. Place the bananas in a freezer bag and place the bag in the freezer until the bananas are completely frozen. (uh, I forgot to peel/chop them before freezing. That would have made things easier.)
- Place the frozen bananas in the bowl of a food processor. Process the bananas for about two minutes until they are smooth.
- Add two tablespoons of vanilla extract, one teaspoon of butter extract, one-quarter teaspoon of almond extract and one-quarter teaspoon of maple extract.
- Add one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda.
- Add two tablespoons of agave nectar.
- Place the lid back on the food processor and pulse five to ten times until the ingredients are well combined. Add two tablespoons of sprinkles. Place the lid back on the food processor and pulse once or twice to mix the sprinkles into the ice cream. Serve immediately or store the ice cream in a sealed container in the freezer.

A couple of.... comments. 
It turns out more like a banana milkshake than ice cream. I did freeze the leftovers, so I'll let you now if that is more ice creamy. Also, the original recipe is 'vegan', but if you don't really care about that.... I think it would be really good with some chocolate and/or peanut butter chips mixed in!

Stuffed Zucchini

I've been on a zucchini kick lately, craving it all the time. Blame it on summer, blame it on Pinterest. Whatever. 

This zucchini side dish (that I made to go with my Honey Garlic Pork Chops) was really easy, really good and really versatile. I made it in the oven, but think it would be good grilled, too. And you can add almost anything into the stuffing you want - different cheeses, veggies, seasoning, even bacon or chorizo, which would make it more of an entree! 

Ingredients: 

2 zucchini

1/2 tomato

1 onlion

thyme

garlic

curry powder

sour cream

parmesan cheese

butter

Directions:

- Cut the zucchinis in half and scoop out the inside with a spoon, making a boat. The insides actually come out pretty easy, like a pickle. Set the boats in a buttered baking dish. 

- Chop up the zucchini 'guts' and throw in a bowl. Add chopped tomato, some thyme and garlic. 

- Sautee some onion and when it starts to brown, throw in some curry powder. Supposedly, curry powder gets bitter when overcooked, so only cook for about 20 more seconds before transferring the onion/curry mix to the bowl with your other stuffing. 

- Add a spoonful of sour cream to the stuffing mix and stir it up. 

- Dish the stuffing into your zuchini boats. Top with some shredded parmesan cheese and place in an oven preheated to 400. 

- Cook for 20 minutes or until the top starts to brown. 

Like I said - pretty easy, tastes really good/fresh, and you could add almost anything you wanted to the stuffing mix! Also, I had extra stuffing, which I kept and am going to add some avocado to make a creamy salsa! Yum!

Original recipe via Kayotic Kitchen

Also pictured: Honey Garlic Pork Chops. 

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Time for another adventure in cooking with Danielle! This time, Honey Garlic pork chops!

I'm only capable of cooking three kinds of meet - chicken, catfish and pork chops - so I like finding recipes like this one that just add a little zing beyond the usual salt/pepper/garlic mix. This sauce was so good and could be used on other meats (or even veggies), too. Plus it is super easy and uses ingredients you probably already have at home!

Ingredients: Honey, Soy sauce, garlic, Pork chops (I used butterfly cuts)

Directions: Simple... mix the honey, garlic and soy sauce in a bowl. I didn't use the exact measurements, just eyeballed it and got it to a taste I liked. Coat the pork in the mixture and place in a buttered pan. Cover and let cook a minute or two, then flip and pour some more of the mixture on top. Cover again until down cooking. Then use any excess sauce in the bowl/pan to pour on top of your served pork chops.

Also, if you have time, I'd recommend putting your mixture into a Ziploc baggie with the pork chops to let it marinade for a few hours. The taste will soak in and taste awesome!

 Recipe via Spark Recipes

Also pictured: Stuffed Zucchini.

July Birchbox (and then some)

I'm probably the worst blogger on the planet because I have failed to tell you all that I signed up for Birchbox.... three months ago. 

Yes, that's right. Three boxes have come and gone and I'm just now telling you about it. In case you missed the bandwagon, Birchbox is a monthly subscription that (for just $10/month) will send you a box of beauty goodies. It could be nail polish, perfume, hair accessories.... anything really. It's basically a bunch of free samples and then you can usually get the real thing on their site for a good deal. Click here to learn more and sign up. 

In each box, I've had a couple of things that I've actually liked/used. Haven't bought anything from them yet, but I'm considering it. Here's July's box.....

{Oscar de la Renta Live in Love perfume, Boscia green tea blotting linens, Eyeko liquid eyeliner, Birchbox exclusive earbuds, Jouer luminizing moisture tint, Larabar}

I haven't really tried any of this out, but I'm intrigued by the eyeliner (even though it is purple) and the blotting sheets (I'm oily). Also... I like treats. So the Larabar is a win. 

I don't have pictures of my May or June boxes, but took some snapshots of some of my favorite items that were featured:

{Stila one step bronze - June}

I've been using this instead of my usual foundation for days out on the weekends. It gives a nice little shimmer and feels light and dewy. Plus... perfect travel size for my upcoming trip to Florida. 

{Color Club Foil Collection - May}

I didn't think I'd love this gold, but it really does have a nice bronze/gold metal finish - perfect for Tiger tailgates!

{theBalm's Stainiac - June}

This shall be known as the lip stain that turned me on to lip stains. I love it. It gives a really nice punchy red, like you just drank Kool-Aid. 

Also, not pictured, is a Luna Bar I got in June.... because I ate it. 

Went to A(nother) Wedding

... and wore (something like) this.

The only one of these items I actually own is the printed maxi from Alloy. I paired it items very similar to these - my wedges and gold/bronze stacked rings were from Target ; bronze teardrop earrings and navy clutch from Mom ; gold/diamond bangle from Swirl ; and a pink/coral Revlon nail polish.

Muny 2012: Aladdin

+

that scene from Ten Commandments where Sephora's sisters dance for Moses (why isn't this clip online?!)

=

There are two versions of this review - the polite, I-go-to-the-Muny-once-a-year-or-so review, and the nit picky, high expectations, seen-too-man-shows-at-the-Muny review.

First, the polite version: 

It was a really great show. Enjoyable. You'll laugh, for sure! Really on point pop culture references (people who complain about this - and yes, I heard you complaining about it after the show - obviously don't remember the original movie that was full of them). It's fun for kids AND adults. The set design is absolutely gorgeous. Seriously. And there are a few 'Muny magic' moments that really set the show apart. 

Now, the nit picky version:

• The three friends, one of whom was played by the amazing Francis Jue, outshined Aladdin and Jasmine. By like, a million. (To be fair, I think Jue outshines everyone.) They were better dancers, better singers, more entertaining. To be honest, I wanted Aladdin to ditch Jasmine and do the band with them, too. 
• The Genie is just a guy playing Ken Jeong playing Genie. 
• The voice that they cast as the Cave of Wonders was terrible. Have Ken Page do it! Or another strong male voice. I was not afraid of that giant tiger-faced cave. 
• The show, in general, felt amateur. Some of the acting was terrible (by the guards, attendants) and everyone was flubbing their lines. Rough. 
• Some of those 'magic' Muny moments just didn't do it for me. The Genie's entrance was cool, but took way too long to get him to the stage (and why did you save all that smoke for the 2nd act?). 'Prince Ali's' parade needed more energy. Wave those banners, get some ribbons waving in the air, bring the camels back out! The lighting for the magic carpet was terrible and looked like they were just floating against a wall of black. And that would have been an awesome time to use your new LED screen! With mountains or something moving in the background to make them look like they were flying! Plus, I'm not impressed with your camels because (a) they were on stage for about 2 seconds and (b) I've already done that. Psh. 

The kid's show is becoming my absolute least favorite. People are showing up when it is already three-songs in. People are getting up in the middle of the show. Kids are crying, yeling during the show while they are at the concession stand and bathroom. Parents are starting their mass exodus to get to the car and beat the traffic during the second- or even third-to-last song. And to the tween girls that so rudely marched to their seats during the National Anthemn instead of standing still and showing some respect... yeah, we saw you. 

10 Summer Day Must-Haves

I've had a 'summer must-haves' post sitting in my queue for nearly a month now... waiting to be finished/published. I was hoping for more pool/lake time to justify needing 'summer' items at all, but unfortunately, that hasn't happened. I've only been to the lake twice, and haven't been to a pool at all (which is sad, pathetic, and depressing).

But I have been spending a lot of time at kickball and softball games, the farmers' market, brunch and front yard parties... so I thought, what the heck. Let's roll with it.

Here's what I'm actually obsessing over (so far) this summer.

{lightweight tanks like my pink one from Old Navy)}

{Suave Dry Shampoo with Keratin. Seriously, I tried 3 other brands before settling on this kind. I love it!}

{wayfarer sunglasses}

{navy and white stripe dress. I have this one from Old Navy, but it's out of stock. Sad face.}

{printed shorts like these from Target}

{Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Lotion. Sub out your usual daily lotion with this - you'll get a tan and smell like coconut!}

{Arnold Palmers}

{camel-colored sandals like these from Target to match everything}

{a cross body bag}

{a can koozie. I've been keeping an Emporia State one in my purse at all times. Has come in handy on multiple occasions.}

Love These Two

This Week {7.6.12}

 {front yard parties}

 {arnold palmers}

 {new blazer from Shade}

 {a little Moroccan... in a Mexican restaurant}

 {summer scarves}

{bathroom art}

Breakfast Diaries

{yogurt + banana + vanilla granola}

Been trying to get in the habit of eating breakfast more often. So far, it's consisted mostly of granola bars, oatmeal or a bowl of Kix... but this week, I decided to step up my game. Brought a container of yogurt and granola to work everyday and grabbed a banana at home. Mixed it at work and viola! Breakfast!

Leopard, Lately

Just noticed a trend lately.... That's all. 

the trend: leopard flats from Target. 

{1. red jeans and gold watch from Target. striped cardigan from Old Navy.} 

{2. black jeans from Target. white tee by Hanes. jacket from Ann Taylor.}

{3. striped dress from Old Navy. white cardigan from Target. black and white link necklace from J Crew. }