Last night at promptly 10 p.m. we played our first softball game of the season. By 10:35 p.m. it was over. Our team is not very good. So, instead of crying or throwing my glove down, I came home and mixed up a batch of pink salsa to console not only my spirit by taste buds as well.

This recipe comes from the nightly snacks that are served in cabana at camp. It tastes like fresh, smooth comfort in my mouth. Do not think that you can simply buy the canned version because it is not as good. Homemade recipes taste better, hold more satisfation and are easy. Don’t wimp out, even if you are down by 20 in the second inning.

Oh, I also ate this for breakfast this morning along with Sunny D straight from the bottle. yum.

Pink Salsa
for a few

Ingredients

• two 8 oz. packages of cream cheese (room temp)
• one 16 oz. jar of salsa (whichever heat intensity you prefer)
• one lime

 

Tools

• large bowl

• food processor (optional)

Steps

• in a large bowl combine the cream cheese, salsa and the juice from the lime. (You can use the food processor to do this but a fork works just as well. I was lazy and didn’t want to clean the processor post salsa, so I mashed the ingredients around with a fork.)

• refrigerate for a few hours

• do not eat it all at once by yourself

Links

Even though we lost, I did not allow myself to pig out in sorrow. Here are some tips to avoid emotional over-eating.

I think Katy Perry is ace and you should too.

What can world flags tell us about the country they represent? More than you thought.

How can we struggle against the economy? Ask MetaFilter.

Here is a video clip of an interview with Lee Pace for Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day. If you’re like me you will get really close to your monitor when you watch it.

Thrift store board games. I have loved thrifting for years and would call myself a seasoned thrifter but Aaron somehow manages to beat me every time. He taught me that when entering a thrift store your #1 stop should always be in toys. Why? Because the toy section is full of childhood nostalgia and possible future fun! Over the weekend we made our weekly visit to New To You and found two old board games that we now adore. One is called Vampire Hunter and the other one is called Clever Endeavor. We played them both last night and we had a lot of fun. So for some awesome board games, I recommend the thrift store over the toy store any day.

Video chatting with my sister. I finally got her to download the newest version of instant messenger so that we can stare at each other awkwardly and giggle. It’s lots of fun. Being 6 hours away sucks when you can’t see your sister everyday. Video chatting brings my happy world a little closer together.

Every picture of an lolcat. ugh. I’m kind of ashamed about this, but those crazy cats just make me giggle non stop. They are especially great to use on a dreary, rainy day.

Mineral makeup with SPF included. After seeing my sisters insane sunburn, I am very happy that my daily makeup contains an SPF. Even though it is only SPF 15, a little sun protection is way better than none. I have very fair skin and burn easily so any chemicals that will battle those evil UV rays are allies in my makeup bag.

• Go to www.flickr.com
• Type in your answer to the question in the “search” box
• Use only the first page
• Copy the html and paste for the answer.

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What School did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Who is your favorite Disney Princess?

7. Favorite drink?

8. Dream vacation?

9. Favorite dessert?

10. What do you want to be when you grow up?

11. What do you love most in life?

12. One word to describe you?

13. What do you dream about?

Friday

• slept in
• did a lot of nothing
• went to Wal-Mart with Jenna & Stacy
• had dinner at Brad’s
• highlighter party at Brad’s

Saturday
• tried to sleep in
• watched 2 episodes of MADE
• went to the post office to pick up a package
• went thrifting with Aaron
• had quesadillas for lunch at my place
• food shopping with Aaron & Dave
• heled make and ate an amazing mediterranean feast
• watched Star Wars 4 & 5
• TV
• sleep

Sunday
• cleaning
• KDPi induction
• homework
• nap

Not so productive this weekend, but as always we had a lot of fun. At this point I dont want to do anything but nap, but I have to go to Baker for KDPi induction and there is homework that must be done.

• Also, I’m hardcore lusting after this Ed Hardy sweatshirt

A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Yesterday was the first genuinely warm day that we have had in Athens since fall quarter and as a result, I did not feel like doing any serious cooking. When I got a dinner text from the boy I began thinking of tasty meals that could be made quickly and with the least amount of heat as possible.

It was around that time when I remembered watching a video over at The Pink of Perfection about black bean tacos. Perfect! My pantry was accurately stocked and ready to go for such a dish. It was really simple to make and tasted amazing.

After Aaron had finished 3 tacos, Aaron told me that he had previously doubted my ability to make a delishas meal with no meat. HA. Doubt me, whats wrong with you? I still adore him even so.

Black Bean Tacos

for two

Ingredients

• 1 14.5 oz. can black beans

• 1 14.5 oz. can sweet corn

• flour or corn tortillas

• chunky salsa

• sour cream

• 1 cup instant white rice

• shredded cheese (mexican blend)

• 1 small lime

• 1/4 tsp lemon pepper

• dash of salt

• few shakes of pepper

Tools

• small sauce pot

• can opener

• large bowl

Steps

• in a small sauce pot follow box instructions to cook the rice

• open the can of beans and the can of corn, drain both

• in a large bowl combine corn, beans, the juice of the lime, salt and pepper

• when the rice is done stir in the lemon pepper

 

• microwave as many tortillas as you need for 15 seconds each (depending on your microwave)

• assemble tacos and prepare for a fiesta in your mouth

 

Luigi’s real italian ice. I picked up a glorious box of this frosty goodness on a whim at Save-A-Lot last week. The box comes with two flavors; mango and pina colada and they are both my favorite. The pina colada tastes like white smarties, which happen to be my favorite! I love italian ice because it satisfies my sweet tooth, it’s refreshing and a perfect warm weather treat.

Pandora. It’s like magic. Wonderful music magic. I’m sure most people already know about this site, but I’m still going to talk about how much I love it. I go through phases of listening to Pandora because I tend to forget about it. When I do remember that it exists, I usually fill the slots with my favorite bands and let it play while I do work, cook, skim blogs or read. My current line up consists of: The Format, Morningwood, Paramore, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and MCR.

Two weeks ago when Aaron and I were in Akron we made our first conjoined large purchase; Rockband. Romantic right? Anyway, ever since we set it up all of my free time has been devoted to practicing the drums or acting as lead singer and rockin’ out with the guys. The hardest part is keeping the right tempo on the drums and remembering to hit the foot petal for the bass drum. The guys all have trouble with singing, but I’m there to help them out

Another treat that I am currently loving, the Dairy Queen Blizzard of the Month, the Tin Roof Brownie Blizzard. I honestly have no idea why it is called the tin roof blizzard, but that does not stop my mouth from loving it! It’s vanilla soft serve with chewy brownie chunks, chocolate covered peanuts and a fudge swirl. Yum.

 

• What makes a good photograph? Ask Metafilter.

• Maybe this guy thought he was fighting Dr. Robotnik…

• This couch would be perfect for Elmer the Patchwork Elephant

• How to become a shadow

• 8 Alternatives to potato chips at StartCooking

• Backstage at The Little Mermaid with Sherie Rene Scott. She is my favorite!

• 5 reasons why Dexter would be a good (and attrictive) business man

• Is having it all an impossible dream? Reinventing the Wheel

 

I found this music video on NOTCOT when we were partying in Dave’s room on Friday night. The video is really cute. It makes me wish that I had a sweet Lego pirate ship when I was a kid. The song sounds a lot like Murder By Death, which makes me like it even more.

Athens is beautiful today! Aaron and I sent his cousin on her way home this morning then we wet his parents at Bob Evans for brunch. I had stuffed strawberry pancakes that were less than amazing, but we still had a nice time.

The rest of my day should be spent reading and finishing my education homework, but I might pass it up for a nap in the sun. Big surprise

 

Over spring break plans were made for Aaron’s parents to come visit us on campus for a weekend. Well that visit happened to be this weekend and Aaron’s apartment was not exactly a saucy dwelling. The guys rushed around and cleaned a little but Lauren, Aaron’s cousin who was also visiting this weekend, got stuck cleaning the kitchen.

For every student living on or off campus, parents are bound to show up sometime and they expect to see that you are not living in your own filth (even if you are). Here is a how to run down for cleaning your space and making it parent acceptable in the shortest amount of time and with the smallest amount of effort.

On Campus

If you are the lucky occupant of a smaller than small, cinder block walled living space called a dorm and your parents are on their way to visit, then this is the how to for you. You are probably stuffed in to a tiny room with two plus people and every single thing you could bring from home. This equation can only equal one thing: a mess. If cleaning your dorm is 100% unbearable, bribe your roommate into doing most of the work by offering them a six pack and get to cleaning.

• Clear out all alcohol and drug related items

Your parents probably suspect that you have them but they definitely do not want to face the reality that you do.

• Take out the trash

Seriously. Even if it’s your roommates turn to do it and your stubbornness has lead to a mountain of trash crawling up the wall, just suck it up and take out the trash. All of it.

• Open all windows

Ventilation is key. Even if it’s the middle of winter and there is a crazy blizzard blowing outside, cracking the window and allowing some fresh air to circulate in your stuffy, rank room will make a huge difference.

• Clear off all seating

That is just polite. You may make your friends stand around awkwardly when they come to see you, but your parents are probably paying for the room, your stuff, your food, your clothes, tuition and gas money. Give them a place to sit.

• Stash anything in the gross/crusty/smelly category into the closet or under the bed

I know this isn’t really cleaning, but only so much can be done in so little time in a small space. Take advantage of the closet door and stuff as many things as you can behind it. Your padres will never know.

• Make your bed

Comeon, its not hard, it looks good and your mother will be so proud. Also, beneath folded covers is a choice hiding spot for dirty clothes, X rated pictures that you have temporarily ripped off of the wall, random bits of paper, and porn.

Off Campus

For those of us who have graduated from the dorms and are now living in off campus apartments or houses, cleaning for the parents is more important than ever. If you have your own room there is no longer a roommate to blame and a messy house will lead your parents to doubt your capacity for being responsible. When they call your cell to let you know they are getting off of the highway, it’s time to make a mad dash and clean your space.

• Follow the dorm room steps

It won’t take very long and you probably have more space to stash stuff in your apartment/house.

• Do the dishes

If you are lucky enough to have a dishwasher (and it happens to be empty) your job is easy. Just round up all of the dishes from your place (I collect water cups at my desk) and load them into the dishwasher. Don’t worry about turning it on, as long as last weeks dishes are tucked away and out-of-sight, that task is done.

• Put out the pillow/throw/night light/candles that your mom gave you

Do not make the mistake of thinking that she will forget that decorative draft stopper that she gifted you for you birthday. She will expect it to be displayed and used properly the second she walks in your front door.

• Make the bathroom presentable
This could mean different things for different abodes, but do whatever you need to do to make your bathroom clean enough for your parents to use. Even if your toilet doesn’t get cleaned more than once a quarter, try to make it look like it gets cleaned every week.

Related links:

How To Clean A Dorm Room Quickly

How To Intensely Clean a Dorm Room