Spring Cleaning.

Happy Leap Day!
I don't really understand why we have Leap Day, but it's here again after a 4-year hiatus. I mentioned yesterday that I wanted to do a post on closet organization and paring down, and since today would be March 1st, AND the fact that it is supposed to 60 here today (???), I thought today would be good. Spring is coming, my friends, and though there will still be some chilly days ahead I'm sure, but why not do a little Spring Cleaning????

I've had a couple boxes of clothes in my basement that I've tried to get rid of by letting girls in Delta look through it when I was moving out of the house last year and also taking it to Plato's Closet. They took about 7 things, which didn't help me much. So, they have been sitting in my basement since then, waiting to be donated or just thrown out. But I can't throw anything out because some of the clothes are really cute and in really good condition! I just don't wear them anymore!
After I cleaned my room, I decided it was time to go through my closet yet again and weed out a few more things. Not only will I have more space, but now that I work at The Limited, there are certain things I can't wear to work and thus won't be wearing much of at all anymore. Yes, I did manage to find many things that I a) haven't worn in over a year, b) haven't worn in the last year, or c) bought them within in the last year and have only worn them once or twice! Pathetic. So, I took 'em out.

If you're anything like me, however, getting rid of clothing can be difficult. Not only is there the amount of money you may have spent on something, but there's some kind emotional attachment between a girl and her clothes. And you think, "Well, I may need this for that one specific outfit that I just might wear one day." So, you keep it. And it sits there. And you STILL never wear it.
So that being said, don't just go crazy and start throwing things out, you don't have to do that. But have a thought process when going through your closet! Here are some tips for getting down to what you need:

1. Go through your closet and try on things. If it doesn't fit perfectly, you're never going to wear it, even if it's cute. You will want to keep it because it's cute, but don't fall for its charms, because something that doesn't fit YOU right should not be in your closet. Trust me, because I've done this. And I never wore said item of clothing. Just give it to someone else and buy a new version of it that fits you!

2. Automatically take out anything you haven't worn in over a year. That seems impossible, but trust me, you know you have a few things you keep that you think you'll wear one day but you never do.

3. For anything you have worn in the past year but maybe only a few time (and therefore you are on the fence about it), have a good friend come and help you make your decision. Chances are, they know exactly what you wear and therefore know what you don't wear. Your friend can give you an outside perspective and really let you know what you wear and don't wear. If you're with them a lot and they have never seen that certain blouse or skirt, maybe you never wear it and therefore should get rid of it.

4. Really think about what you wear now and not what you wore a few years back and still hold on to. I tend to gravitate towards skinny jeans, simple tees and pretty blouses, and blazers. I am obsessed with blazers. They are the only jackets I really wear. So I had to get rid of some other really cute jackets that I had but never wore because I always reached for that blazer.

5. To save space, buy "hanging shelves" from Walmart or Target. I've had mine since I moved in to my freshman dorm, and boy did I need it then, and I've needed it a few more times since. It's a set of vertical cloth cubbies that can hang on your closet pole, and really really helps if you have a small closet. I have jeans folded in one cubby, other bottoms in others, and sweatshirts folded in the others. That way, all of my nice tops and skirts and such can be hung up in the rest of the closet!

6. Another way to save space and de-clutter your closet is to take out seasonal items and store them somewhere. When Spring is really here, I am going to store my puffy jacket, pea coat, and winter scarves and hats in a box and put it in my basement because I don't want to have to shove them aside whenever I'm trying to find something to wear for warmer weather. I'll probably put my sweaters in that same box, too! And same for when it's cold again - switch out your shorts, tanks, sundresses, etc for those sweaters and jackets, and everything will be much simpler and easier when you're getting dressed.

7. For shoes, either get a shoes rack to sit on the bottom of your closet, or one that hangs over your door. I have stuff on my door, so I just line up my pretty high heels and boots at the bottom of my closet so I can see them, and store flats and sandals and the heels I don't wear as much in a 3-drawer bin that sits next to my desk. If you can, put shelves in your closet as a better way to display them. I would love to put a big shelf above my closet rack, but I'm too lazy, haha.

8. When you've weeded out what you don't want or need anymore, organize your closet in sections. I did it by the article of clothing (dresses, skirts, sweaters, etc.) and then by the color of those items within that category. For dresses and skirts I did it a little different. I organized my dresses by what kind of occasion I'd wear them for (cocktail, formal, casual) and I organized my skirts by the volume and length of the skirt. So that means full, knee-length skirts together, pencil skirts together, shorter full skirts together, and then short and tight skirts together. Voila.

So yes, I did follow my rules and was able to weed out some super cute cardigans that are basically brand new because I've worn them about 5 times put together but could never get rid of them because I just love cardigans. Which is why I bought them in the first place, because yes, I do wear cardis a lot. However, I don't know why I bought a light orange one like the one I had from h&m. I never wear orange. I guess I just thought I needed one in every color of the rainbow?? Who knows.
This wasn't a huge pare-down because the bigger one was last Fall. There were some seriously cute things I decided to get rid of, and even though some of them were still in boxes in my basement, I never actually wanted to wear them even though I had the opportunity, so I knew my decision was right. I had some more friends come by my house to look through my boxes of clothes and was able to get rid of a lot of them that way. I don't mind donating them, but I love that I can actually see them being worn on other people! That makes me feel better about getting rid of my clothes because I know someone who needs them and wants them is wearing thiem. Today, I will be taking the rest and donating them to people that need them even more then my friends and I do.

So I challenge you to do some Spring Cleaning and go through your closet! Trust me, it will make your life easier because you won't have as many things to decide on when you're trying to figure out what to wear. Your clothes won't be crammed together and you'll actually be able to see all of them!

I hope this post helps someone... good luck cleaning your closet! :)

Lesser-worn items (nice dresses) are kept in the back.

My hanging shelves and pretty shoes all lined up.

Feelin' Good.

I love that the restaurant is closed on Mondays because, well, we all know how Mondays can be. Instead of being bummed out and tired with a whole week looming ahead of me, I get to relax and do whatever I want and go to my voice lesson and actually enjoy Monday. This weekend was nice because all I had to do on Sunday was sing in church choir in the morning and then had the rest of the day off. After working doubles all week and a super busy night on Saturday at the restaurant, the 2 days off were wonderful. And I got so much done! I cleaned my room, did laundry, organized my closet, got some groceries, cooked, baked a cake, worked out, and relaxed. I tried a new recipe from Pinterest for crock pot chicken tacos and I highly recommend it. This recipe is literally 3 ingredients. Yes, 3. And I always love a crock pot recipe because all you do is throw everything in, turn on the crock pot, and forget about it for hours. Except you can't forget about it because the scent of delicious food cooking wafts up the stairs and into your room and basically fills up the house and smells amazing. It made a tooon of super juicy, seasoned shredded chicken so I put some in a container to freeze for later and then had just enough for me for the week in the fridge. I have all the toppings for delicious soft tacos which I will probably be eating all week but I don't care because they are SO GOOD.

So as I sit here drinking coffee on my "Monday" morning, I am feeling totally optimistic. I usually do, but there's something about the productivity of my weekend and the sun shining through my window that makes me feel even more so. It also may have to do with the fact that I can say that Nick literally comes home next week. AHHHH. So excited! So I am ready to tackled this week and then the next so I can see him! But I am also ready to tackle this week because this is my first full week of serving on my own and my first shift at The Limited is this Friday! Woohoo! Gotta make that money.

Yeah, I know this post is a little random, but I'm just happy with my little life right now. This week is supposed to be beautiful, too, so everyone be happy and have a fantastic week! And be on the lookout for a post about organizing and paring down your closet. Since I did that yet again yesterday to my own closet, I thought it would be a good thing to post about!

Happy Tuesday!

And the Oscar goes to..

Last night marked the 84th annual Academy Awards. Like most people, I love movies. There's something so great about living in an alternate reality for 2 hours that I just love. And I love all kinds of stories, whether it's a romantic comedy that is super cheesy and wouldn't happen in real life, or a supe rreal drama about real people and raw emotions. As a singer, acting is not my strongest point. Being in opera workshop and operas has made me much much better than I used to be and not as nervous about it, but it's something I will continue to work on while also working on my voice. I enjoy it a lot now that I've actually gotten to do it more, but I envy the stars in the movies for their talent. I wish I could be as good as them!

Not only do I love the fact that the Oscars are all about the movies, but I also love that the Oscars is the night where celebrities pull out their very best fashion. Some have been going to pre-Oscar parties all week and have to look great every night, but they always save the best for last! Here were my favorites:

 

Ellie Kemper in this sparkling, copper Armani Prive number.

 Natalie Portman in vintage Dior Haute Couture.

 Best Actress winner Meryl Streep in Lanvin. I was so happy she won!

 Best Supporting Actress nominee Jessica Chastain in lovely Alexander McQueen.

 Presenter Milla Jovovich in a stunning, one-shoulder Elie Saab gown.

 Best Supporting Actress winner, Octavia Spencer, in a super flattering Tadashi Shoji gown. She looked so good!

 Penelope Cruz in Giorgio Armani. I love the blue!

Stacy Keibler in beautiful, gold, Marchesa.

 Judy Greer in this unique Monique Lhullier. I love the gold down the front and the cut is amazing.

 Angelina Jolie looking super sexy in Versace.

 Sandra Bullock, stunning as usual, in an amazing, low-back Marchesa. So beautiful!

 Cameron Diaz in Gucci.

 I love Emma Stone! And I love her in this Giambattista Valli.

 Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward couture.

 Michelle Williams looking oh-so classy in Luis Vuitton.

Gwyneth Paltrow looking super sleek and chic in all white Tom Ford.

Which were your favorite gowns from the evening?

Happy Birthday to my Fiancé!

I was able to sneak this picture of him at a castle in Scotland.

What a cutie :) After-dinner espresso in Italy.

Today, Nick turns 24! He's not so thrilled about it (he thinks he's old), but my excitement for his birthday (and all birthdays in general) surely makes up for it.

Where do I start? How much I love him? How wonderful of a boyfriend and now fiancé he is? How much I respect him as a person? How excited I am to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him???

I could go on.

I am so so thankful that this man was born 24 years ago, and I am so glad that our paths crossed and we fell in love. I cannot believe how blessed I am to have him in my life! It really feels like he was made for me. I tend to be a very anxious and easily stressed out person; I am always always worrying about something. Nick is not like that. At all. He is living proof that stressing out and over analyzing does nothing at all, because he does none of that, and life still happens and things work out. He balances me out and knows how to calm me down. Just being around him has a relaxing effect on me, and I know that with him, I will be safe and I know that I will be taken care of for the rest of my life.

Not only that, but I am so blessed that we share the same passion of music and singing. I have been able to be in choir, symphony orchestra, and opera with him because we both play instruments and both sing. Last year we were in Millikin's production of "Cosi fan Tutte" together, and it was so nice to spend every night at rehearsal with him. Our choir also took us to Europe together last summer, and we stayed after and traveled around (and got engaged). I am so lucky to get to share all of that with him, and I honestly can't imagine being with someone who wasn't a musician and didn't understand it and appreciate it in the same way. I feel like our relationship can be that much deeper because music is just another way that we can connect as a couple for our entire lives.

As I've said before and could say again and again and again, Nicholas is an amazing man, strong inside and out, so kind and caring, talented, and makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the entire world. I know I am lucky to be his fiancée and to have the kind of love that we have for each other. We've been together for almost 6 years, and he still gives me butterflies and makes me giddy!

So baby, even though we can't spend this day together, I hope you have a wonderful day, and I can't wait to celebrate with you when you are back in 2 weeks!

Being silly.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Exactly 2 weeks from today, my fiancé, Nicholas Benjamin Ertsgaard, will be BACK in Decatur. And he's staying!!!

That is in 14 days.

Or 336 hours.

Or 20,160 minutes.

But who's counting???

Oh wait. I AM.

I have not seen this man in person (Skype does NOT count) since Thanksgiving break. November 26th to be exact.

So that means that by the time he gets back, it will have been 3 1/2 months since I've kissed him, touched him, hugged him... ANYTHING. Let me tell you, it's not fun. And before I saw him for that week in November, I hadn't seen him since September 5th - the horrible day that I dropped him off at the train station in Springfield and watched him get carried away down the tracks. Seriously, it was HORRIBLE.

This isn't the first time we've done long distance, so we got used to it again pretty quickly, but it doesn't mean that it hasn't been hard. Especially since, if this is even possible, I feel like I love him even more than a few years back when we did distance the first time around! Not only that, but we're engaged now and trying to plan a wedding! I hate that I can't have him by my side when we talk about wedding plans; everything has been through a computer screen. I thought we were done with distance for good when I came to Millikin, but obviously sometimes things happen and you can't control them, so he moved to Texas to be with his family. This act reminded me why I love him so much and why I want to marry him - he is so caring and such a good person. So after a week of him being gone (and being seriously bummed out), I came to terms with the fact that, yes, he was in fact gone, and got used to it.

Once I got used to it again, things were better, and I had school to distract me, but there were still some really tough moments. There has always been those two sayings about being apart from someone: "Out of sight, out of mind" and "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Luckily for us, the latter is true. It has every time, and this time, it's made us even stronger as a couple than before. I have no doubt that we will be able to get through anything in our marriage because we've already had to deal with some hard stuff as a couple. And being apart for so long makes you never want to take anything for granted. Ever. Even the simplest things, like waking up and giving each other a kiss, cooking together, or laying in bed watching stupid tv and eating popcorn. Everything matters, and everything is wonderful.

It's almost hard to believe that there is only 2 weeks until he comes back - it seems too good to be true! Our original plan was that he was going to stay for a teaching program this Spring and would be visiting this weekend for his birthday weekend! And then I wouldn't have seen him again til Spring Break or even until May when my lease is up! But I'll take 2 more weeks of not seeing him and not spending his birthday with him if it means that he'll be back with me for good :) And then we can celebrate all of the special occasions  we haven't been able to be together for, and I will have the peace of mind in knowing that this time was in fact, the very last time we will have to do long distance. He's mine for life, now! :)

<3

Five Things.

Driving through Chicago. Taking this picture through the window made the buildings look a little wonky.

The weekend in Chicago was exactly what I needed before I started this busy week at work. I'm on my last double-shift of the week today (thank goodness) and tonight is my last night of training! Tomorrow night, I will be in charge of my own, two-table section. Yippee! I can't wait to be making tips - I never have cash on hand, and now I always will! Plus, I will be able to replenish my bank account every few days, and that is definitely nice. I'm also really looking forward to having Sunday and Monday off, too, when I can take naps, probably bake something, and catch up on my shows :) Happy Friday everyone!

I got to go shopping in Jordan's closet. She was getting rid of some stuff, so I jumped at the chance to take home this Banana Republic skirt, Zara blazer, shoes perfect for work (I only have sky-high stilettos, not so great for being on your feet all day), and this adorable bag! Thanks Jordan :)

Getting my server's apron and book.

Red Velvet Cheesecake from work. Aaaaaaa-mazing.

Somehow my coffee tastes better when it's out of my Portland mug :)

Afternoon Tea.

 

Yup, this is me, fresh outta the shower, no makeup, wet hair, and lookin' so so good.

I don't normally drink tea, but I needed a between-shifts pick-me-up and my coffee supply is getting low. That, and I need to not drink as much coffee in general, since it has more caffeine and thus is more dehydrating (not so good for the voice). But, in the morning, tea just doesn't cut it. Not enough caffeine!

This week of double shifts and server training is going well and I'm enjoying it, but I get off at night after my second shift and I am soooo sleepy. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I didn't get a ton of sleep over the weekend and made the 3 1/2 hour drive to Chicago and the drive back within 3 days. Driving really takes it out of you!

I know it also has to do with the fact that, as a server, there is a lot to think of at once. I'm pretty good at multi-tasking and remembering small details, but I'm thinking extra hard as I'm shadowing because I want to make sure I really get everything. Especially the computer stuff and cashing out and all that. And yesterday (day 2 of training) I already started taking drink and food orders and using the computer. Today at lunch, I pretty much did everything as my trainer followed me at a distance and supervised as needed. That really is the way to learn. Needless to say, you are always going and there is always something to do to make sure your customers are happy, and I want to make sure I do everything right and know as much as possible before I'm let loose with my own two-table section on Saturday night!

So I have to go back again tonigh tat 5:30 and have yet another double tomorrow. Doubles, as I said, can be tiring, and your day is kinda shot, but what else do I really have to do? Nothing haha. At least there's just enough time to get a run in, like today, shower, and eat something before going back!

Welp, that's pretty much my life right now. Eat, sleep, work. Buuut I can't wait to start making tips on Saturday!

Happy Thursday!

I'm a big girl now!... Sorta

Oh, the life of a college graduate. You apply all over, anxiously wait for replys, land a great job, and you live happily ever after.

Not.

Being a college graduate is not at all what you think it's going to be. But of course, high school and college also weren't what I was told it was going to be, especially since most of my advice came from tv and movies. Y'know, where they have a straightforward degree like law or business or whatever, and they get a plush job within weeks of being done with college. Yeah, that's a good one..

LUCKILY, I have a few friends that are older than me and that graduated before me. Some went straight to graduate school for something very specific and did get a job after that, but most took time off. Which is what I'm doing. And most are still not doing exactly what they want to be doing.

It really sucks in this day and age, because now everyone and their mom goes to college. And now it's more acceptable even to go to college for things that people don't deem necesary - like art, music, and theater. When our parents went to college, it was so much more straightforward, and people did what was practical. Also, not everyone of them was going to college, so having just your bachelor's degree was like the coolest thing ever! So, they got jobs right out of college because there weren't as many people qualified.

But we are raised by our parents and given everythigng they wished they had but didn't. And then they tell us we can do anything we want and support us in anything we want. So we go to school for what we really love. There was nothing else I wanted to spend 4 years doing besides music. Nothing at all. I didn't even consider anything else because I knew I wouldn't be happy, and my parents were ok with it.

But then I go through and decide that I don't want to be a music ed major, but I just want to be performance. Yikes. The parents  weren't so sure about that, but they went along with it. But they understood that it was importan to me to really just focus on singing and performing, and they supported me.

So here I am, a college graduate of about 3 months, and it's most definitely not like the movies, especially since I'm a music major. and especially since I opted out of the possibility of teaching in a public school.

But I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm living with my good friends and surrounded by good friends here in town and  am working hard at 3 jobs, thankfully one of which actually involves singing.

One of my jobs is at the restaurant, and since I have only been working 2 weeks I got my first paycheck yesterday. Was it outstanding? No. But I went across the street and opened my first checking acount away from my parents. And I ordered checks. And next week I'll be paying my rent on my own.

By no means am I where I want to be, and no, working at a restaurant is not my dream job. I am excited that I'm training as a server this week, yes, because I'll make tips and can make some decent money, but I don't want to be doing it the rest of my life like some of the people I work with. However, because I am a music major and want to perform, it kind of comes with the territory. It seems that anyone's dream of being a performer involves waiting tables at some point. Most people I know would absolutely hate that life. They want their degree and then they are getting a "real" job, whatever that means. And they probably will make salary, and that is wonderful.

But for me, it's different. They may love what they do, which is great, because they can actually make money right out of college! But for me, what I love just takes me on a different path in life and I'm ok with that. I have to be. After all, I've always loved a challenge, and this being financially on your own thing is sort of a challenge. But I'm taking it head on.

So no, I don't have a "big girl" job. I hope to one day. But right now I'm so happy to be doing what I'm doing, because I know it's just another step towards my goal. It may take me longer to get there, but I'll do it. And with these jobs, I'll save for graduate school, and my wedding, and still even then I'll probably be waiting tables or doing who knows what else? But it will be all of MY hard work that got me there. And as long as I have people in my life that love me, that's all that matters.

So I'm going to be excited about my checking account, and excited when my checks come with my name on them. Because to me, that's being a "big girl", even if I don't have the job to go with it. And I couldn't be happier.

Chicago!

Ok, so, I totally and utterly failed at taking lots of pictures while I was visiting the Windy City. I think I got distracted by the fact that I was back and getting to see one of my best friends, Miss Jordan Yentz! Let me tell you, it felt so good to drive away from Decatur on Saturday morning, and even better when I got my first glimpses of the high-rise buildings on the horizon! 

I made great time and actually found a spot to park for free! I lucked out because there really wasn't anything until I went around the block a few times. Jordan didn't want to talk too much and wanted to get out and do something so we walked around the area where she lives. It is the cutest apartment and the cutest area. It reminds me of Portland, just flat, haha. We got the best sandwiches EVER at a wine and cheese shop, Pastoral. Mine was fig and black tea preserves, goat cheese, almond butter, and apple slices on wheat. Can we say amazing? Then we walked to Argo for a place to eat our sandwiches but also to get some of their delicious tea. I just got loose leaf tea but they have really yummy tea lattes. Jordy's best friend, Grace, was also in town, and it was great to see her as well. She needed to find a present for her sister, so we went to a t-shirt store called Threadless that I had never been too before. They had some really silly shirts, like this one, haha. After a quick stop in Ann Taylor Loft (where Jordan found a super cute sweater with faux fur on the collar for $5! Yes, $5), we headed back to her apartment for a Disney movie.

Jordan wanted to chill out a bit and get ready for her big night, so Grace and I met her family (and apparently all of her family friends) at one of my favorite restaurants, Greek Islands, in Greek Town. SO DELICOUS. The saganaki cheese is my jam. After we headed to CCPA for the recital. Jordan did an AMAZING job and looked beautiful doing it. She ended with a hilarious performance of "Glitter and be Gay" from Candide. So. Funny. She's such a great performer!

Jordan performing. Love that dress!

Jordy and I.

Grace and Jordan.

After the recital was the "after party" at Miller's Pub down the street and a not-too late night. We were all exhausted, and we also had to get up for brunch with her fam at Eleven City Diner. Somehow our party of 12 got seated almost right away despite it being so busy, adn the food was delicious.

The rest of Sunday consisted of napping, watching Boy Meets World, tea, arranging all of the bouquets Jordan got into vases that took over her apartment (and smelled amazing), and watching the HP marathon on ABC Family. All in all, a great weekend, even though it was a short trip. I love the city and miss it SO MUCH. It was great seeing old friends and professors, and it was nice to catch up with them. And I am so happy I could see Jordan's recital! I'm so glad we've been able to remain close since I left Roosevelt 3 years ago, and she has been a wonderful friend.

I hope you had a great holiday weekend!

Five Things.

Millikin's opera opens this week! I went to the dress rehearsal on Monday. It was so great!

Even though my days are basically the same now that all I have is work, my weeks have been pretty good. Monday I got to do a little baking and saw one of the dress rehearsals for the opera which opened last night. It was great to see all the wonderful opera folk, and they did a marvelous job. I wish I could go to an actual show this weekend, but I have work and then I'll be in Chicago! If you are reading this and you go to Millikin, go see the opera! It's funny and everyone sings wonderfully! Do it!

I also got back into the voice studio on Monday. It was good to see and talk to my teacher, Terry Stone. He is an amazing voice teacher, and I am so lucky that he will keep working with me this spring. It was only a half hour warm-up, but it felt great to get back to work. I have definitely taken a break since my senior recital and Vespers and then after choir tour as well (plus Vespers and choir tour aren't really conducive to vocal health after awhile anyway), but I'm ready to tackle my new repertoire that I can use for grad school auditions next year!

Tuesday was Valentine's Day, which meant a super busy evening at work, but it also meant candy from my boss and flowers from Nicholas :) They came literally right after I left for work, but they were waiting for me when I got home later that night. So pretty! The rest of the week involved more work, cooking good food, and me getting really excited for my little outing this weekend. I'm so excitd to go to Chicago tomorrow! I've never made the trip by myself, but it should be fine. Me and my little Honda will just cruise right along. I love driving that car.

The view from my window after it snowed Monday night. So peaceful and pretty.

Valentine's Day nails :)

How cute is this lipstick pen? My boss was handing these out along with candy if we wanted it.

The beautiful flowers from my fiancé. I love him so much!

Happy Friday! I probably won't be back here until Monday or Tuesday, but I hope to get lots of pictures from my trip! Have ag reat weekend!

Kale obsession.

So I may have mentioned somewhere along the line that I like food. A lot. And cooking (and especially baking) is very therapeutic for me. There is just something about making something and then eating it that I love. I love it even more when I get to drink wine while in the process ;)

I love to cook, but I haven't been doing much of actually making recipes lately becuase I'm cooking for one, and let's be real, it's way easier to just make myself the same things over and over again: grilled cheese (or some variation of grilled cheese) and tomato soup, pasta with different toppings, homemade pizza, veggie (and super cheap) dinner of black beans, rice, and some sort of frozen vegetable....

Nick and I cooked a lot together, and he is so good at just thinking of out-of-the-box flavors to throw together into something that is just delicious. I can do that, but he's just better at it. So needless to say, I just do the same things because I know I won't have too many leftovers or any leftovers at all. With this lame-o cooking rotation I have had going on, I also buy frozen veggies because I'm kinda lazy. And I also didn't want produce to go bad (Though I realized, hey, I could just buy fresh produce for each week... who'da thunk?? haha). Thanks to my vegetarian sister, however, I was introduced to the wonders of kale over Christmas break.

It. Is. Delicious.

It's this dark, leafy green that is a little bitter when raw, but when sautéed, it is so so soooo good. Though I've heard they are great for juices and smoothies!

So I've been buying kale in bulk each week and making it. It's a great way to get nutrients that I'm definitely not getting with some of the other things I eat, and it is so easy to cook up every couple of nights! I either cook just enough for one meal, or the whole bunch and have it ready to go in the fridge for the rest of the week.

To prepare, you will need:

• olive oil (for the pan)
• minced garlic
• 1 onion, chopped (optional)
• 1 bunch of kale (or more if you need more)
• salt and pepper to taste

Heat up about a tablespoon of olive oil in the pan over medium heat. Add your minced garlic and let it get tender. I like a lot so I put a lot in.

Next, add your chopped onions. You don't have to have onions, but I like them, so feel free to leave them out if you want. I also added diced tomatoes on this particular night because I had some in the fridge I wanted to use.

While the onions, garlic, and tomatoes are sautéeing a little more, rinse and pat dry your kale. Then, cut into ribbons, as shown. I leave the leaves on the stalk for a little more texture. Don't worry, as you cook it, it won't be tough.

Throw the kale into the pan and stir around a little bit.

After a few minutes, cover the pan so the kale cooks down, sorta like spinach. You can do this for however long you want, it just depends on how you like to eat it. The longer you do it, the more wilted it will be. I like it when it's a little bit darker of a green color but still has some crispiness to the stalk. When it's done sprinkle a little salt over it.

Serve with whatever! It makes a great side for anything. I chose to go veggie this night and eat it with couscous and black beans. Yum!

Happy cooking!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yes, I did it again..... I baked.

The Valentine's brownie cupcakes from last week were demolished, so of course I had to bake something else just in time for the big day :)

These are just red velvet cupcakes from a box (still delicious), but with my homemade cream cheese icing on top. You can find the recipe from this post for the icing. Delicious. I made the frosting at 10:30 last night, and for some reason it just didn't taste right.... that is until I realized it was because I forgot the vanilla extract. Woops! Note to self: don't make things late at night when you are tired and haven't even eaten dinner yet. Thankfully I realized it before I threw it out and the crisis was averted!

I finished them off with a sprinkling of pink sugar sprinkles. Yum!

Besides eating these cupcakes today, I plan on skyping my fiancé, hopefully taking time for me and working out, and then it's off to work at the restaurant for one of their busiest nights of the year! I'm actually kind of excited to see all the cute couples dining out. Love is just so wonderful! :)

What are your plans for the Day of Love?

Music makes the world go 'round.

In case you were not aware, last night marked the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. I have always loved watching the Grammys growing up, because back then I thought that I'd be there one day as a country singer! Though my singing dreams have changed from mainstream to the classical world, I still love the Grammys and I rooted for my favorite performers last night. And hey, maybe I will get a Grammy for classical voice, much like the amazing Mezzo-Soprano, Joyce DiDonato, did last night for Best Classical Vocal Solo! A girl can dream!

I love the Grammys for the music, but like any awards show, I also watch to see who will wear what! I was not disappointed (well, I was by some)! Here are some of my favorite looks from the night. First off, the men looking dapper!

Adam Levine, looking handsome as always.

Blake Shelton. Love the gray and black!

John Legend and his fiancée.

One of my ABSOLUTE favorites: Adele in Giorgio Armani. Her hair and makeup completed the retro look. Stunning.

Carrie Underwood in a beautiful Gomez-Garcia sparkler.

While I'm not a fan of the blue hair, I'm definitely a fan of Katy Perry's blue Elie Saab gown.

Now this is what we look for at the Grammys. I've seen it on a lot of Best- and Worst-Dressed lists, but I like it. Fergie wearing John Paul Gaultier couture and looking super hot. She's got it and is definitely flaunting it! I don't think I would have liked it on anyone else!

Rihanna looking sexy in a black Armani number.

Julianne Hough in Kaufman Franco.

Miranda Lambert's curves look amazing in this gold Atelier Pavoni gown.

Taylor Swift looking mature in this beautiful Zuhair Murad. Wonderful.

Aside from the fashion, the show itself was pretty good. There were two amazing performances in honor of those who have passed: Alicia Keys and Bonnie Rait sang a duet in honor of Etta James, and I was brought to tears by Jennifer Hudson's simple and moving rendition of "I Will Always Love You", in memoriam of Whitney Houston, who passed much too soon on Saturday afternoon. The world of music lost two very innovative and inspiring singers this year already, and they will be greatly missed, but what better way to celebrate them and their careers, than at the Grammys?

Other stand-out performances and moments for me included:

• Bruno Mars in his lovely gold jacket
• The tribute and reunion of the Beach Boys with Maroon 5 and Foster the People 
• Coldplay's performance
• Taylor Swfit singing "Mean" where she changed the words at the end to: "Someday I'll be singing this at the Grammys" (and for which she received a standing ovation from the crowd!)
• Bon Iver for winning Best New Artist!
• Paul McCartney for obvious reasons
• ADELE. Everyone was on the edge of their seats for her comeback after vocal surgery, and I think it's safe to say she did not disappoint! She sounded like herself again, and belted out "Rolling in the Deep", all while looking damn fine. Not only that but she took home 6 Grammys, including Album of the Year. She deserved every single one!

Though some performances were better than others (sorry, Nicki Minaj, I'm a fan, but I did not like whatever was going on onstage), I love the Grammys in general just for the fact that you can see people's dreams come true right there on tv. The Grammys can really change a singer's career in one single night. Not only that, but I just love how the Grammys bring together all genres of music and we can see and hear how music has changed and evolved over the decades. Music really has no bounds, and though some artists aren't necessarily my favorites, it's amazing to see what they have done with music and what others can potentially do with music. Music can heal broken hearts, create joy in the world, and change people's lives, which is why I love it so much. I only hope that one day I can do that with my singing!