The Other White Meat

What is a pig’s favorite karate move?  A pork chop! That’s high comedy right there. Tip your bartenders, folks. I’ll be here all week. There’s a reason for all this pork talk. I tried a new recipe out for dinner, and it was a success. The taste of the meal definitely had a Fall/Winter flavor to it, so make it before it gets hot outside again!

Ingredients:

• Package of butterflied pork chops
• 6 cups water
• ½ lemon
• Rosemary or thyme
• ¾ teaspoon Salt, plus additional to taste
• 1 cup Chopped Pecans
• 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
• 4 Granny Smith apples, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
• ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper, plus additional to taste
• 6 ounces Goat Cheese Log, crumbled

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place pecans on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes or until golden brown. If you’re using a small amount of pecans, you don’t need to bake them beforehand.
2. For the stuffing: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the apple slices, brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Sauté until tender. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Add the chopped pecans and goat cheese.
3. Spoon the stuffing into the chops. Season each chop with rosemary or thyme, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.
4. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sear each chop in extra virgin olive oil.
5. Place chops on a baking pan and bake for 20-30 minutes

I made couscous with the pork chops. The couscous I used was Sundried Tomato & Basil flavored and was just a store brand box. It only took a couple minutes, and tasted really good.

We’re all homos…homo sapiens

I want to talk about Macklemore’s touching performance at the Grammys. I cried like a baby.

As a supporter of gay rights and everyone’s rights, it made me really happy to see couples of every size, color, gender, whatever getting married. What a celebration of LOVE. Love is a human experience. Everyone should get to celebrate it. I’ve read and heard some people saying he shouldn’t have used that as a platform to push gay rights on the public. My response to that is he was performing his song, which was a top song of the year. The performance was pretty much the literal meaning of the song. It’s not like the song and performance were not related. Also, he was celebrating all kinds of marriages. Stop trying to rain on people’s parades, and just be happy the world has love in it!

What was your favorite part of the Grammys?

Grammy Fashion

The 2014 Grammys did not let me down! Of course, before the grammys, I watched the live red carpet coverage to see what people were wearing. Like everyone else, I had my favorites, and my not so favorites. To stay on the positive side, I only want to talk a little about the ones I did like.

I loved Chrissy and John’s looks. He looks dapper and well tailored, and she looks stunning. I love a metallic dress almost as much as Taylor Swift loves flesh colored dresses. I think her styling is great and not too over the top. She let the dress make a statement.

I think Ciara is rocking that pregnancy glow! She looks beautiful while showing off that growing bump. I just wish she would have fixed her hair.

Every year, I am so happy to see Katy in something whimsical yet elegant. I like how literal this dress takes the Grammys.

I know I’m going to get some flack for this one, but OH WELL. I like how over the top Kacey’s “mariachi chic” outfit is….or maybe I just like saying “mariachi chic”! It was cute with her performance set, and the boots light up. Tacky? Yes. Loveable? YES! Embrace your inner Southern child….you know you wanted light up cowboy boots when you were little!

Oh. mah. gah. One of my absolute favorites! She killed it in this dress. I think she looks way better in it than the runway model. The way it changed colors when the light hit it just right was stunning. Her curves make it oh so sexy too. Can she wear her hair like this more often. It looks great on her! Go Rita, Go Rita, Go!

Of course, I have Taylor on my list! TYPICAL, I know. That dress was awesome, though! That’s a heavy material. Kudos to her for being able to stand up in it. Her figure looks perfect in this dress. I’m more and more jealous with every letter I type. As much I like this dress, I wish she would mix it up a little. I can’t remember the last awards show where she didn’t wear something red, metallic, or flesh colored. Take a fashion risk…you’ve earned it!

Other than John Legend, my favorite male outfit had to be Macklemore. I love this color, so I am a little biased. It looks great with his skin and hair and was tailored pretty well. I can’t lie. I want this jacket for me. I will totally rock a velvet dark teal jacket!

SNOW DAY!

Stay warm and try to enjoy the snow a little!

Valentine’s Day for the Single Person

Let me start this by saying, “WHO CARES!?”. Who cares if you are single during Valentine’s Day. You don’t need to explain or justify why you’re single. There’s nothing wrong with it. Everyone walks their own path. Just be you and celebrate the day if you want. Embrace your independence. Choose to look at this day like it is less stressful for you. You don’t have to worry with a gift. Try not to get irritated with those who are openly sharing the love, unless they are trying to pity you for your singledom. If that happens, feel free to unleash the fury. Here are some ideas for the single person celebrating or not celebrating Valentine’s Day.

1. Go out with a group. It could be a mix of single friends and couples or strictly singles. You could do dinner or host a dinner party. A movie is hard to do as a group, but if you can all agree on a movie, go for it.

2. Treat yourself. Get some candy or chocolate you love. Get a massage or a pedicure. Do something YOU love. Who cares what anyone else is doing.

3. Enjoy a night in. Most of us are always on the go, so a night in could be a real treat. For once, there’s no pressure on you to come out. Stay in and relax. Have a glass of wine or bourbon and watch that crappy movie you love that you’re ashamed to tell anyone else about.

4. Get physical: Interpret that how you want, but I mean go for a run or a hike. Try yoga for the first time. Focus on you and that resolution you still haven’t dedicated yourself to.

5. Go out. Whether you’re alone or with friends, get out and have some fun. Go to a local dive bar or a karaoke club. Somewhere that is a people watching mecca. There are usually plenty of bars throwing Anti-Valentine’s Day parties. If that’s the attitude you have towards it, then go to one of those places.

6. Show love to your family. Get some little gifts for your nieces or nephews and make their day. Depending on how close you are as a family, you could use this as an opportunity to spend more time with them. If you aren’t planning on doing anything and want to help, you could offer to babysit/corrupt the younger generation. That family member will appreciate it big time!

This day isn’t meant to single people out. It’s about love despite how commercial it may be. Don’t feel alienated. You are perfectly fine with being single every other day, so don’t let other people’s love get to you. Just embrace who you are and enjoy the day no matter what.

Ideas for Valentine’s Day: For Him

Similar to my post “For Her”, if your significant other wants to celebrate V-day, then celebrate it! Who cares about the reasoning. It’s a day to show some love, and the world could use more love. Here are a few ideas for the man in your life.

1. Old stand by: heartfelt card (just be careful of what you write in there if you just started seeing each other)

2. As we all know, men love when someone cooks for them. Cook him his favorite meal or if you are domestically challenged, eat at/order from his favorite restaurant

3. Go with him (without complaining) to do something he enjoys: a ballgame, a concert, golfing, or whatever tickles his fancy.

4. Go to the movies and sit through that action film you know he wants to see or watch one in the courtesy of your own home.

5. They work hard too so show him some love with a back massage or a foot rub.

6. Depending on the length of time you’ve been together, give him a picture of you or both of you for his desk.

7. If he is like most guys, he doesn’t like to have a bunch of stuff in his pockets when he is out and about. Get him a phone case that doubles as a wallet. Plus, I bet you can fit your ID or credit card in there too! Double win!! This one in the link is $40. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FN8CSYU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FN8CSYU&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwshopstylec-20&ascsubtag=880686182&tag=wwwshopstylec-20

8. If he has a hobby, buy a book for him to get him more excited about it.

9. Purchase something from his favorite sports team or from memorabilia he may already have.

Even though they act tough, guys still like to be shown attention and love. Let him know he is your valentine, just don’t overdo it if the relationship just started.

Ideas for Valentine’s Day: For Her

Valentine’s Day is approaching! I know there are mixed emotions about this day. Regardless of how you feel, if you are dating someone who enjoys the symbolism of this day, you need to acknowledge it. You do not have spend a fortune to show some love. Here are a few ideas for the special girl in your life!

1. pick an activity she really enjoys (one in which you don’t usually choose to participate) like the aquarium, go see a musical, go hiking together, or shopping at the local flea market.

2. Go on a date. Sometimes, time is the most thoughtful gift. Go see a movie, a ballgame, or go bowling.

3. Take a cooking class together. You get to do it together, and you can take credit for cooking her dinner. It’s win/win!

4. If you don’t want to leave the house, you can do a movie night or cook dinner for her. You could turn the house into a “spa” by giving massages.

5. If you want to give more of a physical gift: There’s always the obvious jewelry, flowers, or chocolate. If you want to think outside the box, you could get a favorite love quote of hers framed to hang in the home. She will eat that up!! If there’s a certain color she loves, buy her a little clutch in that color. 

6: If she has a new hobby, buy a book to help her get more into it.

7. A gift she will love: order a photo book from Shutterfly with pictures of you two. If you need pics, you can always use ones you have posted on social media. It’s super thoughtful and shows your commitment, which SHE. WILL. LOVE.

Don’t overthink it. Just give something that shows you’ve listened to her and are interested in getting to know her more. The thought behind a gift speaks volumes.

Be productive

Make today productive and make it count…..Beyonce would!

Selfie Inception

Yes, selfie inception! A selfie within a selfie. We decided to make it a thing while drinking bloody marys on a riverboat. Try it! It’s fun!

Tips for future maids of honor

My maid of honor did an amazing job on my Bachelorette party! I loved her as a friend before, but now I appreciate her even more. She really made the weekend feel like it was all about me! Selfish, I know, but it felt really nice. She was made plans and was organized. We went out, we shopped, made me different bach accessories for each night, got foot rubs, took a brunch river boat, ate amazing food, visited the site of American Horror Story, got a voodoo candle with enchanted charms in it, had a great bridal shower, and had a fantastic time the whole weekend. In comparison to the boys, our weekend seemed so much better and more about the occasion. Theirs just seemed like a weekend of drinking on bourbon street. Even my fiance was jealous of my maid of honor and how special she made the hen party! My advice to others would be to make the bride to be feel special and like the party is truly all about her. Pick activities she would enjoy, not just things you like. Make detailed itineraries if you can. It makes it easier with a big group, and gives people less opportunity to come up with rogue plans. This post is to thank my MOH, Kali, for all the time, money, and effort she put into making the bachelorette party amazing. Everyone should have a friend like her, and I can’t wait to celebrate with her at the wedding. Have you ever been to a really great bachelorette or bachelor party? What made it special?