throwback thursday: vol for life

its no secret that my family's blood runs orange. we have had the same season tickets for longer than my parents have been married. i have been to more UT games than i can count and sang "Rocky Top" more times than should be allowed. our family tailgates are in my opinion unlike any other and they have become part of the tennessee tradition for me. now that i am a student at UT, football games have become even more fun. there is nothing more fun on a saturday than dressing to the nines with your orange and white and gameday pin, tailgating, then singing rocky top at the top of your lungs with your friends in the student section.

some of my favorite memories are from days spent on rocky top. and since it is throwback thursday, i thought i would share some of my favorite pictures from years past and last season.

the first home football game is just two days away and campus is buzzing with excitement for this season. everyone is looking forward to seeing what butch jones has in store for 2013. the past few years have been a struggle so everyone is hoping for a winning season. i am a vol for life, now and forever.

the crockpot stayed out today for another delicious meal. i have been craving eggplant so i picked one up and the store the other day to do something with. after perusing many recipes (have you seen my pinterest board - ridiculous) i came up with this recipe. i added in lean ground beef but you could leave it out completely or use ground chicken or turkey. it turned out really tasty and i have enough for leftovers!

crockpot eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes

1 eggplant, sliced

1 zucchini, sliced 

1 can italian stewed tomatoes

1 can diced tomatoes

1 clove minced garlic

1/2 pound extra lean ground beef

italian seasoning, pepper, basil, etc. to taste 

1. brown meat in pan. drain excess oil. 
2. place all ingredients together in crockpot. adjust amount of tomatoes and seasonings to taste. 
3. cook on low for 4-6 hours.
4. serve topped with feta or parmesan, alone or over noodles, quinoa or polenta. 

i ate this along with a salad. for dessert, i am warming some strawberries and raspberries in the oven that are drizzled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon! 

xoxo,

clp 

wednesday night supper

mondays and wednesdays are my long days at school so i try to make something that is relatively easy for dinner and doesn't take a ton of prep time. i have a feeling that on mondays and wednesdays this semester, my crockpot will be my best friend. tonight for dinner, i made crockpot salsa chicken tacos. this is one of my favorite meals and i have made it a variety of ways. i change up the salsa or add different spices and veggies depending on what mood i am in. this recipe is nice and easy because you just dump everything into the crockpot, turn it on warm and when you get home, dinner is ready!

crockpot salsa chicken tacos

1.5 lbs raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts 

1 (16 oz) jar salsa of choice

cumin, garlic powder, etc. to taste

jalepenos, onion, cilantro, etc. to taste

tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese for serving 

1. Place all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. When ready to serve, drain excess liquid and shred chicken. add more salsa if desired.
2. Serve with hard or soft taco shells and dressings of choice. 
3. Serves 4-6. 

i have made this with whole foods's peach mango salsa and it might be my favorite variation. i also added in cut up peaches to the crockpot to add more flavor. i am anxious to try the recipe with pineapple salsa, which i think i may do next time i make these! tonight, i just used regular salsa. i am making some guacamole and a version of Shape Magazine's creamless cilantro corn.

i have my first overnight visitor tonight at my apartment! my brother is working in the area so he is sleeping on our couch! i was already looking forward to seeing him this weekend for the football game, but this is such a nice surprise! i always love spending time with my big brother and his surprise visit was a great way to top off my wednesday.

xoxo,
clp 

first meeting OOTD

since labor day is upon us, i am desperately trying to wear all my white and super-summery clothes. i am a stickler to the no white after labor day rule. i just can't bring myself to wear white bottoms, white dresses, white shoes or super white accessories after labor day. i guess its the old southern woman in me?

last night's meeting was formal so i decided to wear one of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer shifts. though its not completely white, i won't wear it after labor day. this is one of my favorite dresses i own and it classic Lilly. though you can't see them in the picture (that is horrible quality, sorry!), i wore some Tiffany & Co. turquoise earrings that matched the dress perfectly.

lilly pulitzer shift dress, j. crew espadrilles, 

marc jacobs watch, lily and laura bracelet, alex and ani bracelet

i am finally getting into a routine here at school. i am certainly missing my family, but i get to see all of them this weekend which i am quite looking forward to. as usual, i have been cooking up a storm but haven't had the chance to blog any recipes! i promise i will soon! tonight i am taking advantage of not having any homework tonight and parking on the couch.

xoxo,

clp

gamma chi gifts

this year i was asked by our vice president of recruitment to be in charge of gifts for our gamma chis during recruitment. if you don't know, gamma chi's are members that have disaffiliated with our chapter for the recruitment period to serve as a sort of counselor/mentor for girls going through recruitment. we are not allowed to communicate with the gamma chi's at all during recruitment and retreat in order for them to remain unbiased to the PNM's. since we miss them so much, the chapter gives them gifts to show how much we love them during recruitment week. i immediately said yes when cassie asked me to be in charge of the gifts because i knew how much fun i would have shopping and making crafts for them over the summer. i had a budget of course but i feel like i did a pretty good job with the gifts! the gamma chis receive their gifts after the conclusion of each round at what is known as roll call. roll call happens three times so they get showered with gifts three times!

the first round of gifts were for the pool girl! i put a beach towel, beach ball, sunscreen all in a little beach pail. i also threw in a clif, bar, peanut butter crackers and some cookies along with their new letter shirts to round out the day!

roll call #1 gift bucket

roll call, sha-boom, sha-boom

the second round of gifts for the gamma chis had a little bit of everything in them. in an adorable reusable shopping bag, they each got a movie, an AXO tervis tumbler, popcorn (the good kind that has its own bowl!), movie theater candy, their chapter philanthropy round t-shirt, gum and mints, a diet coke, and a "hangover cure" goody bag (filled with tylenol, travel size toothpaste, travel size shower stuff, etc.). i also baked them some cupcakes and had the entire chapter sign posters saying how much we miss and love them. 

roll call #2 gift bag

cupcake towers for the lovelies!

the last round of gifts i put in a bucket. they received their bid day shirts, senior tanks if they were seniors, skit round nametags, goldfish, water, fruit snacks, crackers, a UT pom-pom, power-t face tattoos and a lily and laura bracelet. i also mod-podged lilly pulitzer paper onto their first initial and made them UT themed coasters. for a treat, i iced lyre and power-t shaped sugar cookies for them!

roll call #3 gift bucket 

power t and lyre cookies

anxiously awaiting getting to see our gamma chi's 

our beautiful gamma chi's after skit round

last roll call in TBA

i actually had a lot of fun preparing gift baskets for the gamma chi's this summer and i hope they enjoyed each round's gifts. however, as fun as it was, i am glad to have my sisters back! not being able to talk to them was super difficult, especially in class. they are now back where they belong: the lyre lair.

xoxo,
clp

september j.crew favorites

its always a good day when the j.crew catalog comes in the mail. i always want at least one thing on every page and the september issue i received the other day is no different. once again, j.crew's styling choices are unrivaled and jenna lyons and her team have put together some of my favorite combinations yet.

these are some of the pieces from this most recent batch of new arrivals that i hopefully will be adding to my closet in the near future! they will be perfect for later fall weather and they pair perfectly with clothes i already have. (all images from J. Crew)

scalloped cutout silk top in octagonal dot

quilted jacket

fluted skirt in double crepe

tie-waist tweed mini

stripe necklace tee

tweed-front merino sweater in graphite

collection satin mini in quartz jacquard

deco pendant

coral tweed jacket

majesty peacoat

FACE stockholm nail polish in bronze face 

well, recruitment has come to an end. today was bid day and we got the best pledge class in all of sorority village! all 54 new members are gorgeous and we are so lucky to have them in our chapter! it has been a long and exhausting two weeks but all the work paid off. tomorrow starts a new semester's routine with the first full week of classes and saturday brings college football so i am off to prepare for the week ahead!

xoxo, 

clp

whirlwind of a week

well the first week of junior year (if three days qualifies as a week) has come to an end and i am glad it is over. it has been a whirlwind of a week. thankfully it is the weekend and i am hoping to let myself relax some and rest.

yesterday was a busy day despite having only one class. i would rather have none at all but one at 12:20 on a friday is nothing to really complain about. i did get to spend two hours of my friday afternoon at the genius bar getting them to install windows on my mac (oh the irony). though it took way longer than i expected, they did get my computer to run all the programs i need for class. i was there so long that i lusted over a kate spade phone case so long that eventually i convinced myself i just had to have it.

this morning i woke up and went to power hot yoga at Real Hot Yoga here in knoxville. i love going to hot yoga. not only do you sweat out all your body's toxins, but it also gives you a great strength workout and is a nice break from cardio.

i also made a trip to another one of my favorite places, Trader Joe's. i like grocery shopping at trader joe's because they offer healthy, organic foods at a lower price point than what you find the same products for at larger supermarkets. while they don't have absolutely everything on your shopping list, they do have a great selection of produce and their brand is top-notch. they also sell things that are exclusive to only their stores, such as their infamous cookie butter (which i have yet to try but am going to soon). today, along with many fruits and veggies, i picked up some of their frozen tamales, ravioli and their layered hummus, all of which i have heard are excellent. trader joe's is definitely one of my preferred places to grocery shop.

at the grocery store, i try to buy only what i know i am going to eat. i plan my meals out extensively so i don't waste any food, especially since i buy so much produce that will go bad. meal planning also helps to control your budget and helps with weight management. i find that i spend less because i buy only what i need. meal planning helps to manage weight because you see exactly what you are eating. though it can be time consuming and isn't as flexible, it has more advantages than disadvantages.

today is the last day of formal recruitment and i am quite excited for bid day tomorrow! not only will things get back to normal, but we will get our new pretty little lyres! since i have been on the setup committee i have not seen how the rounds are going firsthand, but i hear that alpha chi omega is a force to be reckoned with! i look forward to seeing who will be wearing our letters!

i made myself breakfast for dinner tonight! this was a quick and easy meal that came together in less than thirty minutes. i didn't want anything too heavy tonight so i fixed zucchini corn cakes with a fried egg, turkey sausage and added a sliced tomato and some watermelon and cantaloupe on the side. the recipe makes just enough for one, but can easily be doubled.

zucchini and corn cakes

1 large egg

2 tbsp + 1 tsp milk

2 tbsp + 1 tsp whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup corn kernels (i used canned)

3/4 c grated zucchini

1/4 c chopped onion

pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, etc. to taste

tabasco, if desired

goat cheese or feta cheese, if desired

1. Stir together all ingredients in mixing bowl until combined. 
2. Drop batter in 1/4 cup measures into heated skillet (sprayed with PAM!). Cook until browned on both sides. 
3. Serve warm, topped with cheese or tabasco hot sauce if desired. 

(adapted from Whole Foods Market)

today is one of my most favorite person in the world's birthday. my sweet, sweet grandmother is celebrating another year of her fabulous life. she, like my mama, is one of people i look up to the most. her life has been nothing short of admirable and i hope i can be half the woman she is. she is the source of my red hair which i am now and forever grateful for.

my mawsie, as she is affectionately known, has always been my biggest fan. the time i spend with her is time that i cherish the most. i know she is always just a call away when i am in knoxville or a five minute drive from my house in murfreesboro. so, happy birthday mawsie and here's to many more years of you! 

xoxo,
clp

p.s. coming tomorrow: favorite september arrivals from j.crew!

first day recap

what a first day back to school it has been! i feel like i have walked to africa and back and am so happy the day is finally over. i know i will sleep like a baby tonight.

the first day of junior year started out with one of my absolute favorite breakfasts: peanut butter banana oatmeal with strawberries. it is so easy to make and keeps my full through the morning until lunch.

peanut butter banana oatmeal

1/2 c old-fashioned oats

1/2 c water

2 tbsp low sodium better'n peanut butter

1 banana, sliced

other toppings of choice (nuts, dried fruit, berries, etc.) 

1. Combine oats, water and peanut butter.
2. Microwave for 1 minute, stir.
3. Microwave for 45 seconds, watching closely (you don't want the peanut butter to get too hot or the oats to spill over). Stir. Repeat until desired thickness is reached (oatmeal will thicken as it sits). 
4. Top with banana and additional toppings! Enjoy! 

all ready for school! 

all my classes this semester are diving into my major, supply chain management (logistics), and my minor, retail and consumer science. i am really looking forward to taking these classes. i am most excited about my fashion and culture class, for obvious reasons! whats even better this semester is that i have girls in my sorority in every class! i love having friends in my classes so i am never alone! the only downside to this semester's classes is the amount of books i had to purchase. i think i sold my soul to the UT bookstore (or rather my parents' souls). 

today's workout was also a favorite of mine! to get a break from the usual cardio machines, i decided to do a nice little bike ride on the spin bike. i slightly modified the ride from one of the MAC trainer's rides that has become one of my favorites. the workout is a pyramid that always leaves me worn out afterwards! the ride begins with a warm-up then a set of intervals that are repeated and end with a warm-up and adds up to a 45 minute workout. 

spin pyramid

5:00 warm-up with resistance

:15 run in hand position 2

:15 seated sprint

:15 standing climb

:15 standing climb sprint

:30 2-count jumps

:30 run in hand position 2

:30 seated sprint

:30 standing climb

:30 standing climb sprint

:30 2-count jumps

1:00 run in hand position 2

1:00 seated sprint

1:00 standing climb

1:00 standing climb sprint

1:00 4-count jumps

2:00 run in hand position 2

2:00 seated sprint

2:00 standing climb

2:00 standing climb sprint

2:00 8-count jumps

1:00 run in hand position 2

1:00 seated sprint

1:00 standing climb

1:00 standing climb sprint

1:00 4-count jumps

:30 run in hand position 2

:30 seated sprint

:30 standing climb

:30 standing climb sprint

:30 2-count jumps

:15 run in hand position 2

:15 seated sprint

:15 standing climb

:15 standing climb sprint

cool-down until 45 minute ride is completed

we also got a preview of the family portraits i posted about a few weeks ago that Angel Pardue took! i am anxious to see the rest of them! i really like the one of the six grandkids. 

(photo credit Angel Pardue Photography Facebook) 

after such a long, busy day (i didn't even tell you have of it) i made one of my favorite 30 minute meals,  broccoli chicken mac and cheese, and fixed a salad to go with it. of course i modified it for just me but i highly encourage you to make the original recipe. the only thing i change is adding more broccoli and less shells. here's the link to the delicious broccoli chicken mac and cheese from iowa girl eats. she has a great collection of healthy recipes you should browse through! **update 4.14.14: this pasta is just as good cold too! great to make and take!**

this turned into a much longer post that i intended so i am going to stop here! this red-head is worn-out and ready to call her mama! 

xoxo, 

clp

2 recipe tuesday

today is my last official day of summer. i know its still hot outside and summer isn't really over, but once classes start, it just isn't the same.

i am loving being able to cook this year while at school. yesterday i made cupcakes and homemade icing and it was just so fun! tonight for supper i am making one of my family's favorite recipes: upside-down salsa cornbread. i modified the recipe from the original i found and instead of the jiffy cornbread mix, i used my great-grandmother's cornbread recipe. no cornbread compares to her cornbread. phillip absolutely loves it when i make this upside-down salsa cornbread. i am tweaking it a bit since it is just me eating it tonight rather than a family of four, but i am going to post the recipe i use when making for more than one person.

upside-down salsa cornbread

prepared cornbread recipe (not cooked), below
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 lb extra lean ground beef (93/7)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 bell pepper, seeded and cut into rings
1 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese or cheese of choice
1 can diced jalepenos, drained
1 (16 oz) jar salsa (I use Pace Picante Salsa Medium)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 
2. Make the filling: heat oil in an 10.5 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot. add ground beef, onion, chili powder and garlic salt. Cook until beef is no longer pink, stirring frequently and breaking up large clumps of meat. Remove the meat mixture from the skillet and drain any excess fat. Place meat in bowl. 
3. Stir cheese, diced jalepenos and salsa into cornbread batter.
4. Spread 1/2 of cornbread batter in the skillet.  
5. Place bell pepper rings in a single layer on top of the cornbread batter. Spoon beef mixture over the layer of batter and bell pepper rings. 
6. Spread remaining cornbread batter evenly on top of beef mixture.
7. Bake until golden-brown, about 35 minutes. 

(adapted from myrecipes.com)

granny's cornbread recipe

2 cups self-rising cornmeal

1 egg

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. while the oven is warming up, place a crisco-greased cast iron skillet in the oven to heat up. 
2. Mix together ingredients.
3. Pour cornbread batter into heated cast-iron skillet, spread evenly.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden-brown. 

to change the recipe for just myself, i made the regular cornbread but made muffins instead. in two of the muffins, i stirred in diced jalepenos, a spoon of salsa, and some shredded mexican cheese then baked them. i then cooked the meat the same as the original recipe but added the bell peppers to the skillet. to serve, i crumbled the muffins some, then added the beef and pepper mixture and topped with more salsa. i call it the "single-lady upside down salsa cornbread." to accompany, i made guacamole and used sliced jicama as chips (jicama is the best dipper!). 

the original recipe is an easy meal and serves a family of four perfectly. black beans also go well with it if you are looking for another side dish or to serve more people. you can also top it with sour cream and more cheese if desired! hope you enjoy!

xoxo,

clp

happy birthday mama!

i am my mother made over and i couldn't be happier. she is my best friend in the whole entire world and there is no way i would be the person i am today without her. i don't know if she knows it or not, but she is the woman i strive to be. she is my role model for all aspects of my life. she works extremely hard at her demanding job and still maintains a healthy marriage and family life, a challenge many cannot do. she always puts others before herself, especially her children and i couldn't be more thankful. i know i am the reason she has to color her hair because of the hard times i have given her but without her, i would not have made it through my first years of college. we have had our ups and downs, but if i turn out to be half the woman my mother is, i will be on the right track.

"all that i am i owe to my mother." -george washington

today is my mama's birthday and i hate that i can't be at home to celebrate. missing birthdays is one of my least favorite things about being away at school. so, from knoxville i am wishing my mom a very happy birthday with many more to come. may this year bring health and happiness to you!

xoxo,
clp

apartment living

i am finally all moved in and decorated (for the most part)! i cannot tell you have long i have waited for this day. dorm life was not for me and i loved living in the beautiful alpha chi omega mansion (which some of recently nicknamed the Lyre Lair - which i am loving) but i think living in an apartment will be much more suitable for me. move-in went as well as could have. there was a lot to do but everything got done except a few cosmetic issues. here are the highlights of the weekend and the finished product!

mom got trapped in the back seat after the publix and target run...

dad the handy-man got stuck after fixing something under my bed...

living room

breakfast area

my room

closet

and the bathroom! 

i am so happy with the way everything came together in my room! i had a vision for it all summer and this is about as close to the dream as i could get! none of it would have been possible without the help from my mama and daddy! i definitely got the luck of the draw with those two. i am absolutely exhausted from moving this weekend and from recruitment. i gave my body a much needed break from working out. tomorrow starts a whole new week with exciting things happening so i am hitting the hay early tonight! 

xoxo,

clp