Chics and Salsa

Austin, Texas

The Good

- Margaritas...on the rocks...a proper way to end a week....BIG girl style....
- Having the transmission specialist tell me my transmission was in excellent working order even though my car bucks like a bronco...
- I planted my raised container garden!!! Grow my pretties!! I fully plan on purchasing an apron and collecting tomatoes into it a la Belle while I sing, ear drums be damned....

The Bad

- Ear infections and weak immune systems...sigh...There is not enough vitamin C in this world....
- Having the transmission specialist tell me that my motor is really bad..."really horrible", as in about to bite the dust...off to the regular mechanic I go, who by the way is Australian and super awesome and has a horseshoe mustache kind of like this...
- I took Ducky out on Monday, and, per usual, he starts going bezerk when strangers start making eye contact...one man pipes in "Maybe he's just upset at the sparkly collar he has on..." Well, I NEVER...lol

The Ugly

- The gentleman that bent down and barked at me at the mall. Sir, I AM A LADY! I only respond to whistling....and caterwauling....
- The three car pile up that occurred right in front of me on Tuesday because someone tried to run a yellow...in the rain....

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Dress: Target

Shoes: Gifted

One of the things I love the most about Texas, that bright shining sun. I have traveled to places (which will remain nameless) where the sun seems a bit shy...no, not here....the sun is so bold it feels like you're an ant under a magnifying glass...The only logical solution is to wear shorts and dresses and spend as much time as you can either indoors or by a river/pool, so that is where you will find me this weekend. In a pool somewhere with a large straw hat...the cool kid with a large perimeter of water completely vacant around her.

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Okay...so the last time I experimented with a recipe I found on the internet, things did not turn out as well as anticipated. This time, I am giving this recipe a B+.

I offered my brother-in-law some burgers for lunch. He politely declined saying he was full. Later, I found out he had not eaten lunch.

Black Bean Burger

Ingredients:

Chipotle Mayo

3 tbsp light mayonnais

1 tbsp canned chipotle in adobo sauce

Black Bean Burgers

16 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped into tiny pieces

3 cloves garlic, chopped into tiny pieces

1 jumbo egg

1 tbsp cumin

1/4 to 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp hot sauce

1/2 cup quick oat

8 slices of whole wheat bread

1 tspn of butter

4 slices of sharp cheddar cheese

Directions

Seed the bell pepper and chop it up finely with the garlic. You can use a food processor instead. I just so happen to love to pretend I am Bobby Flay...

Rinse and dry the can of beans. Add them to the food processor. Alternatively, you can use a glass cup and smoosh them manually. That's a word, right?

Combine all the vegetables. Add the spices, eggs, oats, and hot sauce.

Form your patties, place them on freezer paper, and freeze for two hours.

Heat up a skillet, toss on the butter, and cook your black bean burger patties. Good luck flipping these suckers. What I found worked best was cooking each patty one by one, and when it came time to flipping them, flip them onto your freezer paper covered hand in order for them to keep their shape.

Toast the bread you plan on using. Mix the chipotle and mayonnaise. Spread on the bread. Layer the patty on top of the cheese and mayonnaise. Enjoy.

The main reason why I give this recipe a B+ is that I had to McGyver a way to flip them over without them falling apart. They are actually kind of tasty. Or as tasty as black bean burgers could be. They don't really look too appealing, but that's my fault. I have limited cooking skills. I only cook to remain alive. I am the legend that single handedly took out the entire family with food poisoning for one grand birthday feast. Mad cooking skills. You are welcome older sister.

If you decide to try these, please approach with an open mind. These are not whataburger replacements....and if a small woman innocently offers to share dinner with you please say yes. Remember she is not above sneezing in the containers you packed for lunch tomorrow.

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I think I am not alone when I say we have all seen a dress like this:

http://img1.etsystatic.com/006/0/6886059/il_fullxfull.353985889_kq8s.jpg

These dresses are a dime a dozen at thrift/vintage stores and while I am a lover of all things cheap and get such a kick from finding amazing things for pennies, puff sleeves do not look well on about 90% of the population...although I have seen some drop dead gorgeous, model-looking ladies WORKING these on the street. Because a model I am not, whenever I see these, I make an ACK sound and walk away-- that is until I saw a blue, gold studded Liz Claiborne dress. It was lined and fit me perfectly, except for its puffy sleeves made me feel like I could flap my arms and fly. For about five dollars, my seamstress chopped off the sleeves and instantly upgraded my dress into a modern piece. Next time, I think I will keep a small cap sleeve, but for now, I love this dress. I really wish I had taken pictures of what it looked like before.

Dress: Liz Claiborne- Thrifted via Goodwill

Shoes: Guess via Ross

In other news, I am thinking of firing my little assistant...He runs around like he has ants in his pants. I know this isn't Vogue but some degree of professionalism would be nice...

Link Parties:
Six Sisters' Stuff

Mine for the Making

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On the 20th of this month, almost ~~twenty~~ nineteen years ago, my parents brought home a tiny creature. I was told that I would be meeting my new baby sister...but the being they unwrapped had huge bulging eyes, spiky thick hair and tiny arms and legs...not at all like the Gerber baby I expected. A few gray hairs (mine) and some growth spurts later, my baby sister is now a soon-to-be ~~twenty-year-old~~ nineteen-year-old computer science/political science double major (NNNEEERRDDDD...) Fun fact: My little sister never cries in movies. I can be found crying in anything from a sad song to a moving commercial. One fateful day, we sat down to see King Kong. Girl could not stop crying for about ten minutes after the movie ended...haha...love her....

Anyway, it's her birthday and I get to celebrate it with her!!! A whole weekend of cake, cupcakes, tubing on the river and other girly nonsense. I. CAN'T. WAIT. Because I love to decorate, I have thrown around a few ideas. I am pretty much set on the desserts for her, given that she very specifically said she wanted chocolate cake and strawberry cupcakes. I am using these photos as inspiration.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5475803936_5d39730da9.jpg

http://www.recipage.com/images/user1453/1332781697/recipe_image.jpg

Decoration inspiration:

pink ballerina birthday party flowers and ruffle cake with topper

Who are we kidding...it will probably end up looking something like this:

I don't care that she is going to be twenty! I will be throwing a pretty princess party for her...Stay tuned...

UPDATE: It has been brought to my attention that my sister will be turning nineteen instead of twenty....boy is my face red...