Category Archives: friends

Dreams of a New Year!

     Happy New Year! Now that I have my resolutions securely down and written in stone (or in a really pretty notebook), I’m ready to share! FIRST though, I’d like to share some of the “Morning After” quotes that I heard at work today:
1. “Did anyone else wake up miles from their house and not know how they got there?”
2. “Anyone have a great story about last night?” “I do, but I can’t share it…”
3. (In reference to someone’s bruised cheek and split lip) “What happened to your face?” “I don’t know yet. I’m waiting for someone to text me and tell me.”

Yep. Happy New Year.

     NOW for my resolutions!
1. Only try NEW beers when out – unless from a local brewery, like Ladyface, Island Brewing Company, etc… Gotta support the local breweries!
Bonus points if I try beer that scares the CRAP out of me – haha, get it? Weasel Crap Beer!
2. Spend more time with family and friends.
My GORGEOUS parents!
The lovely Tanya.
Serenading Dan.
Sleepy Malachi – who is being lame and flying off to France for six freaking months.
Sweethearts Jenny and Boa.
Grayson the Thoughtful.
Beautiful Allie.
Plus TONS more. It’s a year to focus on what’s really important – the people in my life.
3. Get back outdoors and HIKE!
4. Eat more vegetables, whole grains and olive oil!
Kitchen Sink Salad contains all of this!
5. Quit my retail job.
Seriously, it’s hazardous to my health!
I know I said I was putting in my two weeks notice last week, but I chickened out when I told my sweet coworker and saw the look on her face. I’m such a people-pleaser.
6. Travel more!
Stormy Arizona deserts.
Bee parts.
Me on the road = Ecastatic!
7. Drink more Monstas!
Cuz they’re DELICIOUS! And good for me. And stuffs…
8. Spend more time in the kitchen.
And spend more time out back, with this amazing view!
I need to get back into my apron and start cooking, STAT!
9. Attend more blogger meetups!
Need I say more? No, no I do not.
10. Join the Homebrewers Association, as well as the local homebrew club, and BREW IT UP!
Beer is good! Beer is good! Beer is good! And stuff!
(Lyrics from an actual song)
11. Start my new website and blog. That’s right, I’ll be heading up an actual website this year, as well as changing the name of my blog! I’m hoping the transition will be easy for you, but there’s still some time to get used to the idea before I officially move. EXCITED!!!

     There you have it – a sampling of my resolutions! I have a few more, but decided that twenty feet of pictures was probably more than people could handle as it is. I hope you had a blessed beginning to your new year, and that you’re as excited for what’s to come as I am!
Happy New Year! Let’s make it worthwhile!

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Filed under Arizona, beer, blogger meet-up, friends, green monster, hiking, homebrewing, Island Brewing Company, kitchen sink salad, Ladyface, Morning after, NEW WEBSITE, New Year, retail, Weasel Crap Beer

Summer Filming: Day 8

     Yesterday was my last day on set. So sad!!! We had a 9am call, had to wait while camera got set up and after shooting a few scenes in a musty basement, had lunch.

Spinach salad with strawberries, corn with zucchini, linguini mac and cheese and some kind of chicken.
     It’s been a long haul, but we wrapped around 7pm. Crew had to clean up and get everything packed away in the truck, then we all went out to Haven Gastropub in Orange.
Pulled pork sandwich with pommes frites and housemade ketchup!
Warm apple-cabbage slaw on top of the pulled pork. Happiness!
Chelsea and Coco.
Scott (with his awesome new haircut ala Jenny) and the Chelsmeister.
Boa, Jenny and Ryan.
Malachi, deep in thought after some deep, introspective film talk.
     The past nine days have been some of the most incredible of my life. I’ve made amazing friendships that WILL continue, and I have fallen in love with these people. 
     For now, I’m back to work and taping auditions, but I’ll be keeping these people and memories in my heart and mind to keep myself going through my retail days. Either way, I’m LOVING my life!
Best nine days. EVER!

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Filed under friends, happiness, Haven Gastropub, short film, Summer Campbell

Arrogant Bastard Riding a Fat Tire!

     FRIDAY! I’m having the most amazing Friday night ever –  it involves homemade foods and brews. What else could a girl ask for? I’m such a homebody.

     The day started off early with me prepping for work. I was feeling extra lazy, so I decided not to make the Green Monster and have some frozen waffles instead.

Two of Trader Joe’s frozen blueberry waffles with agave-maple syrup and a HUGE mug of coffee!
     My roommate was blending up a Monsta for herself as I was headed out the door, watched as I longingly stared at the blender, and added some extra spinach for me. She put it into a to-go coffee mug with a straw sticking out, and I drove out to work, happy to be sipping away :). Roomie, you be amazing! No pictures, because I was driving, and that would just be unsafe.
     Work was very mundane. I read. A LOT! I read about 100 pages of my book before lunch. I headed out midday, prepared to try something different, but ended up getting the usual mini-spicy tuna roll with brown rice. I was planning an amazing meal of fried, syrupy, double-fried foods, but decided that my body would prefer something boring and healthy rather than artery-clogging.
     I got home, ready to enjoy my Friday night with some friends. We started with an old classic.
Fat Tire! This beer holds some amazing memories for me. Every sip is a link to my past :).
     I spent about an hour sipping and reading the last few chapters of my book: The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I am officially done! This book took longer than normal because I haven’t had enough free time, and now that I’m done, I’m very bummed. Does that ever happen to you – you feel really depressed because you’ve finished a book that made you feel like you were part of the story? This is an AMAZING book! It’s so well-written and riveting! I’ve been recommending this to everyone I know – including you! Tell me as soon as you’ve read it!
     Next came dinner! It was a Friday-Grill night! We started with the remains of the jalapeño-cheddar bread from Great Harvest.
Left: a mix of onions, zucchini, red bell pepper, olive oil, salt and pepper. Right: Jalapeño-cheddar bread brushed with olive oil.
     The bread was a success! Although, it’d be pretty difficult to ruin this, even if you burn it, as I have before. Personally, I think a little charcoal makes it taste more rustic.
Those jalapeños were put into the bread WHOLE. No seeds were removed! This bread is torture. Amazing, delicious, painful torture!
Those grilled veggies were placed on a whole-wheat pizza crust, which was topped with provolone cheese and fresh basil. Ridiculously healthy and ridiculously happy :).
     I tried out a beer that I had tried before, but didn’t really like. Arrogant Bastard – loved the name, hated the taste. However, with my newfound appreciation for beer, I decided to give it another go.
This beer is VERY fragrant – almost perfume-y. It has a floral scent, a clove flavor and a very BITTER aftertaste. I had my last sip half an hour ago and I’m still tasting the bitters. Blech. Not my cup of tea – or glass of beer. The bottle and cap make it a little better:
“You’re Not Worthy” – To see the bottle description, go here! It’ll make your day :).
     After dinner, we listened to some music and just enjoyed the peaceful night. This party will be ending early for me. I have to get some sleep so I can be awake and alert for another day at work – I need to refuel my bank account after the extended weekend hanging out with my cousin. I hope you have an amazing weekend!
Which part of Arrogant Bastard is your favorite? Mine is definitely a tie between “Do” and “Not”.

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Filed under Arrogant Bastard, beer, Fat Tire, Friday, friends, grill, waffles

A Complete 180!

     Isn’t it amazing what a few hours of sleep and one GIANT Monsta can do?

They’re baaaaaaack!
     Sorry for the bummer post last night, but sometimes you’ve got to have a bad day to make you contemplate your life and the future and get real deep into your soul to think things through. Today, I woke up feeling a million times better, AND I had ingredients for GMs again! I made a big one with 3 cups of spinach, 3/4 a cup of unsweetened soymilk, half a banana, 1/4 a cup of frozen cherries and lots of lemon juice. I slurped it down with a big smile on my face :-D. It really helped me start the day off on the right foot.
     I still had a full day at work ahead of me, so I had to fuel up.
My usual: an omelette made with one egg, 2 teaspoons of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 2 teaspoons of goat cheese and a handful of wilted spinach.
     The one thing I really hate about working on Sundays is that I can’t attend church. My entire day is sucked away by the schedule, so I tend to feel a little spiritually unfulfilled and bummed out. Today, however, I had a good prayer session beforehand, PLUS my friend Vicky (the one who helped me create a spit to roast the Zsu Zsu pet on) got to come over and work with me! When I’m at work I generally read…. I mean, focus on my work…. but we girls spent the time cracking ridiculous jokes and laughing until our sides hurt, then wandering the store and making up errands to run – one of them being See’s Candies for some chocolate energy. 
     I only had one mug of coffee this morning before I had to run to work, so that had to be remedied as well.
A small (I learned my lesson yesterday) ice blended mocha with soy.
Look at the spirals! I felt like a creative photographic genius at this moment.
     My friend Griffin’s birthday was today, and he was stuck working. The poor guy deserved a break and a celebration, so Vicky and I took him out to lunch. There was one place neither of them had been, and I just happen to be a big fan, so I led our little group to Lazy Dog Cafe. First things first:
I had a 16 oz. Lazy Dog Honey Blonde draft beer. My lunch required a lighter brew so it could complement the dish rather than overwhelm it.
I chose the Hawaiian Ahi Poke.
This was, in one word, HEAVEN! The fresh tuna, creamy avocado and spicy Wasabi on top of the crispy wontons simply melted in my mouth. I may have drooled a bit while I took this picture…

     The birthday boy chose a simple cheeseburger and a glass of Merlot – good mix, right?
Simple and delicious!

     Vicky was craving a BLT, so she went with the classic chicken club sandwich.
BACON!
I think she liked it.

     Griffin made me swear on pain of death that I wouldn’t mention that it was his birthday to anyone at Lazy Dog. Oops, my bad…
Free ice cream!
He pretended to be irritated, but I didn’t hear any complaining while he ate!
Their mints be awesome! Why do I look like I’m going to suck your blood, you ask? I blame my latest vampire book, Insatiable by Meg Cabot, which I finished last night.
     The rest of work took a long time. It was the most fun day I’ve had in a long time, but still seemed to creep by. Vicky and I grabbed some tea samples and sat on the couch to recuperate. I read my latest beer book: Michael Jackson’s Beer Companion. No, not the late pop star: the beer genius. I’ve added it to my favorites to the right –>
     When I got home, the roommate had made a healthy taco salad.
Pardon the guacamole: it was squeezed from a plastic bag. This was a toasted corn shell covered with refried beans, taco-seasoned turkey meat, Tofutti sour cream (dairy-free, baby!), spicy guacamole and a big handful of lettuce.
     I chatted with the roommates about life and their day of freedom, read some wonderful comments from YOU guys, and decided to blog before I got too zoned out. Tomorrow I have the day off until work at 6pm, so I’ll finally be getting back on the trail for a hike, and if I have time, taking a long bike ride to stretch out my legs. It’ll be nice to get my heart racing again – this time from exertion and NOT from too much caffeine.
     This week, look for more cooking, fancy beer tasting, exercise and happiness! I have something amazing on the schedule for Friday! I can’t wait to share it with you!
Happy eating, Happy Sunday, Happy life.

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Filed under beer, birthday, friends, Griffin, Hawaiian Ahi Poke, Lazy Dog Cafe, Michael Jackson, Sunday