Locker Room Rant

While this isn’t the typical material we include in this blog, I’m going to go out on a limb here because I feel the need to discuss an aspect of my typical morning at the gym I go to. 

Why is it that people feel the need to treat public locker rooms like their private bathroom at home? Honestly, I know there’s not a whole lot of privacy to be found, but come on! I refuse to change in public and immediately head for one of the changing stalls. I suppose it’s a good thing that some people feel comfortable with themselves and aren’t self conscious, but whoa nelly, there’s a line between openly changing and traipsing around in all your glory. Once I see your business, I can’t unsee it, no matter how hard I try to etch-a-sketch erase my brain of that visual.

There are two people that make me particularly uncomfortable. First, the lady who is very nice, but wants to strike up a conversation when she’s in the buff. Cover your lady bits before you try to make eye contact and speak with me! Please! Just because you have no boundaries with strangers doesn’t mean I don’t.

And the piece de resistance, the woman who has no concept of where she is. This is not your house. You don’t own the place. While I don’t want to see anybody flaunting themselves around, this woman is a special brand of pleasefortheloveofjeebusputsomeclotheson. She stands at the very entrance of the locker room, making it impossible to pass without maneuvering around her scantily clad bum. Am I wrong to think it’s rude to bend over and dry your hair and then stand there for 15 minutes applying makeup sans pants? She’s maybe 55 or so, and wears nude colored undergarments. Even though this happens everyday, it still plays games with your mind when for that split second you think you’re going to get an eyeful of ahhhh! In addition to the camouflage, the elastic has clearly seen better days. If your girls are competing for space with your belly button, you may need to look into more support. Also, if your bra is completely worn thin and you feel the need to bounce around as you collect your things, well, just don’t. Do not.

I don’t think I’m over reacting here. There is a line that can be crossed, no? What’s your opinion…am I a complete prude or is there a complete lack of common courtesy going on here?

Hold the phone. Cutest. Accessory. Ever.

I guarantee you’re going to want one (or more) of these! I got this as a little gift from my cousin, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to buy one for everyone I know. It’s a pretty little red rose with a green stem. The rose flips inside out and becomes a tote bag (a decent size one, too!) and the green stem is the draw string. How adorable! You can go green in style :-) Sorry for the bad pic, but it’s from my cell. It’ll give you an idea, though. If you want to see more, check them out at DCIgifts.com. In addition to the rose, they have adorable bumblebees, lady bugs, and farm animals, as well as some holiday ones, assorted fruit, and planet earth. I wish I would have known about these before Christmas, because I would have got a bunch for stocking stuffers…oh well, there’s always birthdays!

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Chinese Chicken

Okay, all you specialists of Asian cooking/cuisine - clearly this is not an authentic recipe.  This recipe is not actually from China, and it is probably not served in a Chinese restaurant of any kind.  I'm Italian.  I admit it.  I don't know the first thing about using a wok.  What I DO know, however, is that my Gram used to make this for me when our family had our annual Chinese New Year dinner.  Also, I had (real) Chinese food last night, so I now I have a real hankerin' for this.  It's an easy, delicious, do-it-yourself version of sweet and sour chicken.  It's delicious on its own, or with the sweet and sour sauce.  Here's how to make it:

CHICKEN:

boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds)

soft fresh breadcrumbs (go ahead and make your own!)

garlic salt

milk

Cut the chicken in chunks/cubes, place in a dish and sprinkle it with garlic salt.  Cover the chicken with milk, cover, and refrigerate for at least an hour.  Once the chicken has marinaded, roll the chicken in the breadcrumbs and fry them in a skillet until brown, then place in a baking dish and bake covered for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

SWEET AND SOUR PINEAPPLE SAUCE:

Get a large can of pineapple chunks and drain, saving 1 cup of pineapple juice from the can.  In a saucepan, heat the juice along with 2 tablespoons of ketchup, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sugar, half a teaspoon of salt, and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch.  Cook until the sauce thickens, then add the pineapple chunks back into the sauce.

Southern Snowpocalypse

I really should have taken pictures while it was snowing, but I couldn't bring myself to leave the toasty confines of this apartment to go out onto the ice rink/parking lot to take them.  Also,  it was cold.   Hey, have I mentioned that it was too cold? 

So anyway, these pictures were taken on Tuesday, just before I started to try to unbury my car, and a day after all of the snow fell.  Some of the snow had started to melt, but this is a pretty decent amount.  And it is topped with a generous smattering of ice.  Gross. 

Top:  My little car, buried.  Bottom: Kelli, attempting to start her car.  Notice her awesome hat.

Things to do in winter

Go to the zoo! It's practically empty and the animals are so active. This tiger spotted a bird and the intensity on her face is just amazing.

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Holiday Hangover

Is anyone else still feeling slightly exhausted after the holidays?  I know it's been a week since New Year's Eve, but I have to say that all the present buying, travelling, and hoopla kind of took it out of me...and this is how I feel:

Poor Snicky was obviously exhausted after all the partying we did when I was at home for Christmas.  One of my favorite things about her are her little paws - how adorable.  This is how I've felt all week.

Sneak Peek!

In the spirit of keeping my 2011 goal progress going strong, I did some work on my portfolio today.  I have to say, I'm pretty happy with it.  I just need to get some newer ones in there and do Kelli's photo shoot as well.  Oddly, I felt like I had more to choose from than I remembered.   I was definitely very relieved!  Here's a little peek at some of the pictures that will most likely be in my portfolio...



Definitely one of my favorites from Brooks & Adam's wedding in August 2010.

This is from Erin & Jake's engagement shoot, also done the same weekend in August - so sweet!

This was from the first wedding I helped shoot with Monica in February, 2010...it's been almost a year, and I feel like I've learned so much since then.  Can't wait to really get things started!

Rose's 2011 Goals

1. Go to the gym 4 days a week. I might be kidding myself on this one, but I’m going to try, at least for a while. Beach vacation in November, and I would like to feel somewhat normal in a bathing suit. For once I’d like to feel like the whales have more blubber than I do. 

2. Treat everyday like Christmas. Cheesy, yes, but I’m going to give it a shot. If today were Christmas, how would I treat people? I’m going to try to keep the Christmas spirit going and show more kindness, love and generosity everyday. If I can go out of my way to do one nice thing or help one person I normally wouldn’t, I think I’ll be a better person.

3. Every other Thursday, the night before I get paid, I’m going to take out whatever is left in my checking account (after all the bills were paid) and save it. Hopefully this will be around $50 every pay check. If I can do this, I’ll have a little over a grand by vacation time.

4. Not so much a goal as a hope/dream. Same wish I’ve had for the past few years, but to quote Beyonce, if he likes it then he’d better put a ring on it. Dream for 2011: take relationship to next level. Cross fingers, wish upon a star, throw a coin in a fountain, and then promptly come back to reality. Amen.

Jenny's 2011 Goals

In case you're interested...here are some of my big goals for this year.  Keep me accountable!  Also, I am calling them "goals" and not "resolutions" because I am much better with having a concrete something in mind.  Resolutions are really vague sometimes, so it helps me to be more specific!

1. Start my photography business - big big dream, very exciting.  I am already in the planning stages and I just need to work a little more on my portfolio and get some newer pictures in there. 

2. Blog at least twice a week, not including Photo Friday, which clearly I have slacked off.  I blame it on the holidays and the fact that I was most likely either driving somewhere or in a food coma.

3. Cook more!  This blog is mostly about food, and how am I going to keep posting if I'm not cooking?

4. Be more active.  I'm stealing this one from my lovely roommate.  Sitting at home all day is not helping me with anything.  Time to get out and do something!  Go to the batting cages, drive around and take pictures, walk/run at the park, take some classes, whatever.  Just to be more active in my own life!

What are your goals or resolutions for this year?  I'd love to hear them!  Happy New Year!

How patriotic!

I'd like to introduce you to Independence, the rescued bald eagle from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Isn't he majestic?

My new favorite way to use actions...colorized orchids

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