Wanderlust

I've been feeling all bogged down and itchy to get away. Not travel away. Away, away. Away from nursing school and home selling, away from police work and gas prices. Away from people and rudenss. I wish I could just wish my way to a place with land and trees and animals. Where work is gardening, and cooking. Where meals are occasions. Where there's wine and laughter. Where there's stars.

I think we need a commune.

Back to Black

I miss my long hair. I don't regret cutting it and donating it, but I miss it. And I'm tired of my straight bob. So I went back to black. I like the contrast of my black hair with light skin and blue eyes, although one of my teachers asked me if I was feeling well (note to self, don't forget blush). My hair stylist decided to scare the shit out of me by telling me that if I ever wanted my hair a different color that it would have to be bleached out. But then I remembered that this is not my first rodeo with black hair and that every other time I've dyed it, it naturally fades away until my hair returns to normal.

I've also been curling my hair again. I feel it gives a bit of a vintage vibe and it's that little difference that'll help me get through the growing out phase. I desperately wish I had the photo of my grandma that my grandpa keeps next to his bed, so you can see her in all her dark wavy haired pin-up-esque glory. I also bought some fake eyelashes, although I'm not wearing them in the photo above. And some red lipstick. What? I'm going all out.

27

Today I turn 27. I've been noticing small signs of aging lately. My skin is drier, my metabolism is slowing, my back hurts after a long day in clinical. I'm not worried or sad about these changes, just noticing. I have no qualms about getting older, but if there is anything I've learned from caring for the sick, it's that life is unpredictable, and there are no guarantees. It reminds me of the way I want to live my life and the things I still want to accomplish. 

Travel more

Exercise

Get up earlier (a little)

Spend more time with friends

Forget how it "should" be

Watch less TV

Live in the moment

Read more books

Be less cheap

Entertain more

Stop trying to be perfect

Spend more time outside

Be more independent

Here's to 27.

Image via Rifle Paper Co.

This Week in Photos 2.19 - 2.26

 

Classic Mac and Cheese

Mike and I went to Michigan to visit my brother A.J. and his wife Kristin to help with their new addition Anna Marie. One of the things we did for them was cooked dinner each night that we were there, so that they didn't have to worry about planning and making dinner for guests. We decided to make some good old fashioned Macaroni and Cheese.

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1 lb pasta

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

4-5 slices colby jack recipe

1/2 cup cubed ham, bacon of pancetta (optional)

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

panko bread crumbs (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Bring a pot to a boil and cook pasta for about 8 minutes. While pasta is cooking, bring a small saucepan filled with the 2 cups of milk to a simmer. 

Heat a deep saute pan over medium heat, add ham and cook until browned. Remove ham from pan.

In the same pan add the 4 tablespoons butter (this amount can be deceased depending on the amount of fat in the pan after cooking the meat). 

Once butter is melted, stir in the flour and whisk until combined and no lumps remain. Add the warm milk. Mix until a white sauce forms (congrats you just made a bechamel!). Add the shredded cheddar and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce thickens. 

When pasta is finished cooking, drain and put it back in the pan. Add the cheese sauce, the ham and mix well. Put half of mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish or cast iron pan. Place cheese slices on top of mixture. Add the rest of the mixture on top of the cheese slices and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake for about 20 minutes.