snow weekend & biscuits

well, the minute my boss closed the office, i threw clothes in a bag and drove the semi-treacherous roads to murfreesboro. glad i left when i did, as we got the most snow i think i have ever seen in my twenty-three years and of course, we southerners freaked. if i hadn't have gone home, i would have been going stir crazy by myself all weekend. southerners don't really do snow. at least this girl doesn't. (well, we like how it looks, some of us just don't drive well in it.)

i spent the weekend snow-birnating with the family, zoo and all. and i couldn't have been happier. it was the perfect "get-away, detox" weekend. not sure why i felt like i needed a 40 minute trip down the road, but i needed some home-home time. and that i got. cabin fever much? we played tapple (harder than you think), watched a few movies (don't waste your time with sleeping with other people), did at-home facials, and cooked to our hearts content. and of course, some snow time was in order with the 5+ inches blanketing everything. stella couldn't get enough of it.

sunday morning brought a good ole southern breakfast, complete with mama's homemade biscuits. i've had a lot of biscuits in my lifetime, and i must say that my mama's hold their own against some of the best. the key she says? "white lily flour. its the lightest, fluffiest and best." and the recipe? just the tried and true one on the back of the white lily bag. it may be nothing out of the ordinary and a southern staple, but when my mom makes it, there's nothing better and it's something special that i treat myself to.

mama's homemade biscuits

2 c White Lily self-rising flour

1/4 c shortening

2/3 - 3/4 c buttermilk

1. preheat oven to 450 degrees. 
2. place flour and shortening in mixing bowl. cut shortening into flour until well incorporated. 
3. stir in just enough buttermilk until dough leaves the sides of the bowl.
4. turn dough out onto a floured surface. gently knead two or three times. roll dough out until it is about 1/2 inch thick and cut with a biscuit cutter. 
5. place biscuits onto prepared sheet and bake 15-20 minutes until golden on top.

i think sometimes you need to be "trapped" (though i don't think that's the right word) with your family. it reminded me of times long gone, when we were little and school was out and all we wanted to do was have snowball fights and make snow cream. there were little cares because there was nothing you could do if you wanted.

it was snow much fun. but now that i've had my white snow fix, i'm ready for my toes to be in some white sand.

xoxo,
clp

case of cabin fever

safe to say i have a case of cabin fever! i have left my apartment twice in the past 5 days... and yesterday's outing was short-lived, as i almost took a tumbled on the sheet of ice that was once the sidewalk and almost had a panic attack trying to drive home because of the road conditions. clearly, i'm a southerner at heart and its just best for me to stay put!

i don't want to sound like i am complaining about being cooped up though. i have been much better off than most. one friend of mine is going on 56+ hours without heat. not much of the fun snow day you imagine when something like that happens. i have actually been pretty productive too. barre3 online and the workout room downstairs have been lifesavers for me! it has been a bit of a whirlwind for me since about last wednesday. between the job fair, interviews, mom and dad being in town (thank goodness for that much needed reprieve) and the chaos of snowpocalypse, having a few days to get everything sorted and organized has been nice. i have also done some online shopping dreaming of spring days and warmer temperatures. needless to say, cabin fever isn't nice on my wallet or my waistline (i certainly put the "fat" in fat tuesday... and i made zucchini-banana bread muffins yesterday)!

today i am *carefully* (that's for you mom) headed home-home after my exam for a much needed break from knoxville. i need my stella and sapphire, my mom and dad and even my big brother! if the weather plays nice, i plan to have a little nashville jaunt with my daddy tomorrow for a job visit and some shopping! maybe a new spring shopping guide will come soon!

i walked outside this morning to get my early AM workout on and was blasted with 2 degree weather. that being said, i hope all my readers are staying safe and warm during this winter weather! bundle up in your cutest ski-cabin-lodge apparel, cozy up next to a fire and brew yourself something warm! i am  looking forward to the warmth of my fireplace at home as well as being surrounded with the warmth of my family! take the extra time you have this week to be with the ones you love and warm your heart!

xoxo,
clp

p.s. the first wave of pitchers and catchers report today and 22 days until spring break!

snow days & lilly

well, the world may have come to an end as we know it. UT actually cancelled all classes today. that never happens. thank goodness they did though! we have a good 5 inches of snow on the ground, with snow still flurrying about! i don't totally mind it today since i really don't have anything that i really have to do (with the exception of working out - which i will do at my apartment complex's clubhouse). still, i am ready for some more normal temperatures and weather here in tennessee!

on my to-do list tomorrow is one main thing: visit the new lilly pulitzer signature store opening in knoxville! i am so excited to have an all lilly store here in knoxville! and as a bonus, they are going to have an exclusive knoxville print murfree scarf! it even has neyland on it! needless to say, i will be at palm village at ten o'clock sharp tomorrow! (and by the way, lilly added some new arrivals to the online site!)

it is also new york fashion week! so many things going on! i always love looking at the runway shows and seeing what is on the horizon for the coming season. though they are showing for fall 2014  (which could still be worn right now), i am looking forward to this years upcoming trends! i have looked at kate spade, j. crew and tory burch's fall presentations so far and am in love! i feel like fall is very asian-influenced and designers are definitely into texture and deep jewel tones. activewear is also appearing more and more in collections! 

even though today is a snow day, i still need to be proactive and stay on top of my assignments! many of my professors assigned online work to do because of the snow so i am off to work on that some! later i am hoping to read my vogue magazine and enjoy the snow from inside my warm apartment! as i said last night, stay safe and warm everyone! 

xoxo,

clp