Tag: friends

Weekly Wrap Up

Lauren2 Comments

Hi. Happy Friday! How was your Mardi Gras? How was your Valentine’s Day?

It’s no secret that I adore both of this weeks holidays. And sorry if you’re one of those “Valentine’s Day is just a Hallmark scam” people, but I totally buy into all the mushy hearts, cards, chocolate and love that’s all over on Valentine’s Day.

As for Mardi Gras? What do you mean you don’t celebrate?? After experiencing Mardi Gras in New Orleans last year and seeing just how big of a deal it is there, it actually baffles me that my mom grew up there and now lives somewhere that barely recognizes that it’s a holiday. I bet that was a shock when she first moved here.

IMG_2449

I won’t lie, I listened to New Orleans Jazz radio and watched live stream of Bourbon Street basically all day. Then I went home, made étouffée and pretended I was in the Big Easy.

IMG_2452

We even made our own shrimp stock and the étouffée passed my mom’s judgment, so I felt pretty good about myself. Except when I thought about how much butter was in there. Then I felt less good about myself. 🙂

IMG_2442

IMG_2451

I celebrated Valentine’s Day by dragging Joey to the gym with me at 6 AM, enjoying lunch at a new-to-us restaurant and making margaritas for Hannah and I.

IMG_2466

IMG_2476

I know Valentine’s Day is marketed as a couple’s holiday but for me it has always been about ALL the love in my life. So I’m happy to spend it with all the love in my life, friends, family and margaritas included.

IMG_2462

**********************

Do you get really into Valentine’s Day?

Do you like Cajun food?

If you had to choose: chocolate or alcohol?

Super Bowl Weekend Things

Lauren2 Comments

This will probably come as a huge shock to anyone who knows how much I don’t care about football, but I love the Super Bowl.

Not because of the actual game.  On Saturday night I had to ask Joey who was even playing.  But more because of the commercials and the food and the beer and the Beyonce.

MjAxMy1mMDBjMzIzZTBmYTVmZTE3  

But the whole weekend in general was pretty good.  There was a lot of party prep going on, which I was totally okay with.  Except the part where I spent a couple hours in the kitchen, making Jell-O shots and chili and washing dishes and my back felt like it was going to break.  I will never be a professional chef.

I was in a spring cleaning mood on Saturday.  Wait, it isn’t spring yet?

IMG_2381

For years, a giant pile of torn out Cooking Light recipes has been floating about at my parents’ place and on Saturday morning, I sipped a cup of hot tea, watched a new episode of the Pioneer Woman and ripped out all the bookmarked CL recipes I had.  I am my mother.

I also cleaned out and shined up all my jewelry.  So exciting!

IMG_2394

What I don’t have pictures of, but did occur, was some beautiful Colorado weather and an outdoor run.  I basically thought I was going to die as I ran up the final hill back to my apartment but I was proud of myself when it was all said and done.

IMG_2397

This weird snack plate made it into my mouth at some point, between cutting onions for chili and mixing gelatin with condensed milk for Jell-O shots.  And I coerced Joey and my family to go out for burgers on Saturday night.  Weird how Larkburger happened to be right next to Smart Cow.

IMG_2408

Oh.  And I finally watched Saving Private Ryan.  I thought it was really good but it was definitely one of those highly-acclaimed award-winning movies that you see once and then never really need to see again.  Those just aren’t the kinds of movies I like to re-watch.

As for the game.

IMG_2406

We had lots of chili.

IMG_2414

And lots of Jell-O.  I think we still ran out before half time.

IMG_2412

And our chili bar rocked.  Frito pies, chili mac, chili dogs, chili cheese fries, nachos and toppings galore.  I think Jenn and I were the only ones to eat my veggie chili and I don’t even care because that just means I get all the leftovers.  Also, I accepted a million compliments on the chili Joey actually made.  Whatever.

IMG_2418

And guys!  Beyonce?!  Come. On.  I don’t even know what to say except…FIERCE!  If you ask me, she was the clear winner of the game.

So what I’m really trying to say is, I had a good Super Bowl weekend and I hope you did too!

**************************

What did you do for the Super Bowl?

What was the non-football-related highlight of your weekend?

Best Super Bowl commercial??  As usual, it’s too loud and I’m too distracted to fully pay attention to any of them, so I have to go back later and re-watch them all.