New Tunes Tuesday April 17, 2012

Here’s a few of my favorite tunes right now. What are yours?

Miranda Lambert – “Over You”

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I love this beautiful  and haunting song.

Greg Laswell featuring Sara Bareilles  – “Come Back Down”

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Pretty stoked for Greg Laswell’s release in just a few days of “Landline”. I think Greg and Sara (yeah we’re on a first name basis!) have amazing harmony. If you’re in Houston (or anywhere within a day’s drive) – check out Greg Laswell at Dosey Doe on Thursday, May 24th. Click here for tickets. Oh! I forgot to mention (no I didn’t) — my amazingly talented and good friend, Shellee Coley, will be opening up for him!  This is a dream come true for her and I couldn’t be more thrilled and proud!

Andy Davis – “Hush Money”

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Andy’s incredibly scucessful Kickstarter campaign gave way to his newest release, Heartbreak Yellow.  The whole album is awesome, but Hush Money is the essential, piano-driven Andy Davis jam that I fell in love with years ago. If you “donate”  your email address to the cause, you get a 10 song download for free of previous hits.

Gotye – “Somebody That I Used to Know”

“Making Mirrors” is still available for download on Amazon for five bucks!

Eric Church – “Springsteen”

I think everyone can relate to the magical way the right melody can conjure such strong memories and emotions.

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Messy Jessy Cooks : Going Greek for Dinner! January 21, 2012

If you know me, you know how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE Greek food. I got adventurous this past week and tried to re-create my own little piece of Greece in my kitchen.

When I was sick last week I started to explore Pinterest. I’ve put this off for a really long time because I don’t need another “time suck” in my life right now with all that’s been going on.

I found this Chicken Gyro recipe on a board and decided to try it. It was so delicious and easy to make. I love tzatziki sauce (cucumber yogurt)!

I also experimented with making a Greek Couscous Salad that was so light and AMAZING! (If I can say so myself!)

This was a really healthy and fresh meal that was definitely a nice change of pace!

Here’s the recipe for the Greek Couscous Salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 box of Israeli couscous (looks like little balls)
• 1-2 finely diced tomatoes
• 1/2 finely diced cucumber (You can use the other half of your cucumber from making the tzatziki sauce)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup artichoke hearts
• 1 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped
• 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 4 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup feta cheese

Cook the couscous according to the directions on the box.

Mix oil, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar, and oregano to make the “dressing”.

Mix in the “dressing” with the couscous.

Add veggies and feta cheese.

You can serve warm or chilled.

This definitely tastes better the next day once all of the flavors have marinated with each other.

Opa!

$#!+ Girls Say December 19, 2011

I’m a HUGE fan of Zooey Deschanel! She’s so quirky and funny!

I just discovered her site http://www.hellogiggles.com It’s makes me proud to be a girl — go check it out.

There’s a video on there $#!+ Girls Say which is hilariously true! If you like you should follow them on twitter.

Goodbye to You – Apartment 122 October 24, 2011

We officially closed on our new house this past Friday and have spent all weekend painting.

Today we are officially moving.  We’re saying goodbye our apartment and hello our to our new home.

Here’s a post from last summer and some things that I definitely will NOT miss about apartment living and a few that I will.

This weekend’s agenda April 15, 2011

My travel buddy and co-worker Kristy left tonight to fly back home to the US and my new travel buddy/co-worker Beth got into town late last night. Last Sunday (my first day in India), we did a little sightseeing, but Kristy wasn’t feeling all that well. We went to the Red Fort in Delhi, Lotus Temple and had a short-lived shopping trip at Dilli Haat. I didn’t take a ton of pics, actually I had more pictures taken of us by locals. (That’s a whole other story)

Up on this weekend’s agenda:

Saturday – Kingdom of Dreams

Looks exciting, huh? My thought is this will be like Vegas meets India, highlighting some of India’s culture, arts and crafts, food, and entertainment. Beth and I will see a Bollywood-inspired musical and explore all the “Kingdom” has to offer.  I’m sure I’ll take a lot of pictures.

Sunday –

We’re taking a trip back to Dilli Haat, the open air ethnic market featuring goods from all of the states within India. This is your last call for any souvenir requests from India – scarves, trinkets, purses – let me know! Confession this will be my fourth trip to Dilli Haat and I’m feeling like a bargaining pro.

Our co-workers and friends from the office have arranged an evening out for us at a local “club” – Suburbia. Dinner, unlimited drinks, music, and dancing for only 650 rupees (about $14 USD) – yes please! The only thing good about working this crazy schedule is being able to fully enjoy Sunday, because I don’t have to be at work until 5 pm on Monday night.

Sorry I’ve been behind on the blogging. Not really a lot to report except that I’ve been working. I’m sure I’ll have much more to blog/talk about after these weekend. I can hardly believe this is my first and last full weekend here in India. This week has gone by so quick!

Home Sweet Home February 16, 2011

I’m not home yet, but in just a few short days I will be. I’ve had an amazing time here in India. I’d come back again and in fact I will – in April : ) It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I get to do twice!

Here’ s a few things I’m looking forward to the most about being home:

• Being able to drive myself around. While having a driver to chauffeur you around everywhere has been nice 90% of the time. There is a certain freedom about being able to go wherever you want, whenever you want. I love scenic drives in my car by myself singing along to my favorite songs.
• Working 9-5. Well at least something a little more normal than 5 pm to 3 am.
• Seeing my friends and picking up on life together!
• I know I dedicated my previous post to this, but I’ll say it again. A home cooked meal!
• Not fearing for my life when I plug something in to an electric socket or having to use a converter. Which sadly leads to my next thought…
• A NEW Flat Iron!!

Last but definitely NOT least — seeing JT in person without pixelation and sound delays (Skype!) He has been amazing and supportive (would expect anything less?!!?) the whole time I’ve been here! I don’t know if I could have gone and stayed here for three weeks without his love and support. Also – can’t wait to see how many things he did/didn’t do on my “Bachelor” list.

 

Ahh… Home Sweet Home

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Inquiring Minds Want to Know… February 9, 2011

 

I’ve already gotten a few standard and strange questions about my time in India. What is it you’re dying to ask??

Send me a question and I’ll answer in an upcoming blog post!

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The Bachelor February 4, 2011

No I’m not talking about the show that most of my Glide-Crawford girls still watch and I’ve recently succumbed to due to lack of viewing choices! I’m talking about the love of my life who happens to be a “bachelor” for three weeks while I’m out of the country. I’ve spent a lot of time talking about me and my adventures and wanted to dedicate a special post to you JT!

I’ve been brainstorming a list of things that he probably will or won’t do while I’m gone. I’m wondering how true my predictions are?!

• Have a PlayStation “play date” with Jason.
• Enjoy having a quieter house!
• Eat his favorite “bachelor” meal at least once if not a few times.  Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese and Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks.
  Yep – I’m not eating any of that “yummyness” so he has to wait for me to be away to eat it!
• Play at least one round of golf, weather permitting.
• Still watch “The Real Housewives” even though he swears he won’t!
• Eat at least one package of raw cookie dough.
• Forget to turn the heat up before leaving for work at least once a week!
• Have a crazy cleaning session the Friday night before I come home. However, he will probably not dust.
• Run out of clean underwear and have to use his “emergency” pair.
• Take Lola out every day and spoil her!
• Drink a few more glasses of Drambuie than normal.
• Make multiple trips to the grocery store because he doesn’t make a “meal calendar” like I do.
• Use the dryer as his “iron” to get the wrinkles of his clothes.

I love you and can’t wait to see you in 15 days! I’m so thankful for your support and our Skype chats!

“Flat as a Pancake” February 3, 2011

You know how some memories from childhood stick out so much that you can remember them like yesterday??

I remember taking a family vacation to Atlanta when I was probably about nine. We did the World of Coke, Fernbank Museum, Stone Mountain and few other touristy spots. I have so many great memories from that trip to the “big city”. Sampling Coca-Cola from around the world, seeing dinosaurs, but one thing I remember most is a little bit of wisdom my dad shared with me. He said very matter of factly “Jessica – You are not in South Georgia any more. These people here in Atlanta are not going to stop for you when you cross the street. You can’t just cross anywhere you want. You have to cross in the intersections, when the traffic light says you can cross and you better look both ways twice before crossing. Because if you don’t, a car will run over you and you’ll be as flat as a pancake”. I’ve thought about that “lesson” may times since then and most recently yesterday.

The ride to work is an “adventure” to say the least. The streets are filled with people walking, bicycles, rickshaws, trucks hauling goods,  motorcycles, cows, taxis, tractors, “three-wheeler” motorized taxis – all while there aren’t any “real” lanes of traffic. It is pretty much wherever you can squeeze you can drive. If someone gets impatient, they will pull out into the other lane of traffic with cars coming head on. This is what scares me the most! There’s a lot of honking, but it’s not “angry” honking. No real road rage here like there is in the US. I am also more grateful than ever for my tax dollars that help keep our roads in really good shape!

 

The "three-wheeler" - this one is actually only half full

I try not to look at the traffic and vehicles that are all trying to get to their next stop as quick as possible. I have total trust in our driver.  He knows what he’s doing and there’s NO way I’ll attempt to be a back-seat driver! There are so many different sights and smells on the side of the road to take in on the ride.  Today we saw a boy who was probably twelve years old skipping down the road. He was playing a game by throwing some dried berries up in the air and kicking them down the road. He even kicked the berries all the way through the intersection. I about had a panic attack for this kid because he completely oblivious and  I was sure he was going to get hit by something! “Where is his Mom or Dad?”  and “Is he even paying attention?” were all thoughts running through my mind.  wonder if his mom or dad ever gave him the “flat as a pancake” talk? If so, he was being a typical twelve-year-old boy and was completely unaware of his surroundings!
But he made it through the intersection and I did too!

Local roadside market

I was talking to one the managers here and he said a car without a scratch or dent is bad luck : )

To love, honor, and cherish!

Happy Anniversary to one of the couples I love, respect, and admire the most!

Mom and Dad – you are both amazing examples of what it means to love, honor, and cherish each other through any circumstance. I’m wise enough to know you’re not perfect, but love each other through and in spite of the imperfections. The love you’ve not only shown to each other, but Rachel and me, our broader family, and circle of friends and community is quite miraculous.

I love you both and here’s to at least another 32 years!

You make 32 years look good!