Nostalgic Songs

There are just some songs that when played unexpectedly, hit you like a ton of bricks....a good ton of bricks. Bricks full of memories. It doesn't always have to be happy memories, just memories of a time when things were different. I feel like music does that to us. It takes us back in time easier than any form of memory. Some songs that give me the tingles every time I hear them and why:

Wake up Little Susie - Simon & Garfunkel.

Every single day when my mom would wake me up for school when I was a kid, she would sing this song to me and substitute my name in for Susie's. When I was really little I didn't even know it was a real song! I thought she made it up. Then I heard it on the radio and was confused when Susie was being sang to!! I miss seeing my family every day and anytime I hear this song it takes me back to being taken care of by my mom!




K-Ci & JoJo - All My Life

This song reminds me of dances that I went to in middle school. This song was played at every single dance. I never missed a dance and looked forward to them almost every week! So many memories of getting ready with my friends (unfortunately involving lots of glitter, butterfly hair pins, crazy colored eye shadow...etc). Anytime I hear this song I immediately remember being in the Fire Hall at the dance hoping to get asked to dance.




Dean Martin - That's Amore

This is the song that I relate to my dad. Growing up he taught me every word of this song and we would sing it over and over again. (He is a fresh off the boat Italian). I have specific memories of him asking me to sing it to my family at holiday gatherings. Even better, he would call into the Italian Radio show Sunday mornings and dedicate this song to me.




Somewhere Over the Rainbow - IZ

So the reason I love this song so much is because "The Wizard of Oz" is my absolute favorite movie. As a kid it was the movie that I would watch multiple times a day. IZ performs this song just as beautifully as Dorothy. Sometimes when I am stressed at work I sing this song to myself and it calms me down. I want to go to Hawaii because of this version. Side note - IZ passed away and this is the video dedication to him. He has tons of beautiful songs.

George Mason Memories

So I started out this post being songs that make me feel nostalgic and why. However, when I was trying to find a video of George Mason University's Green Machine (band) playing "Livin' on a Prayer" I came across all of these other videos. GMU was one of the best choices and experiences I have ever made...especially being there for the Road to the Final Four in 2006. Front row on the floor seats in Indy at the Final Four, front row student section seats for the entire regular season and for the best game in history. If you were there you know, the UCONN v. GMU game will forever hold the number 1 spot as the best basketball game I will ever go to. Beating them at the buzzer in OT to go to the Final Four. ahhh I get tingles every time I hear the song "Livin' on a Prayer", we sang that song all year long. If you didn't go there, you probably won't relate, but if you went to any college you know the nostalgia you have for the memories. Enjoy!

Zucchini and Nutella Swirl Muffins

Recipe Description

A light, moist and earthy muffin with a decadent chocolatey top! A great way to use up a garden full of zucchini.

Preparation Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine the flour salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Whisk well and set aside.
Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl and add the egg; beat in.
Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture until just combined. Stir in the zucchini and lemon zest.
Use a ¼ cup scoop to evenly distribute the batter between the muffin liners. They should be 2/3 full.
Dollop 1 teaspoon of Nutella on top of each scoop of batter and swirl with a toothpick.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Check the centers with a toothpick. The toothpick should come out clean before removing the muffins from the oven.

Ingredients

• 1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1 stick Unsalted Butter, Softened
• ¾ cups Sugar
• 1 whole Extra Large Egg
• 1 cup Shredded Zucchini
• 1 teaspoon Fresh Lemon Zest
• ½ cups Nutella

Photo, recipe and information from Tasty Kitchen

Better off Ted

Thanks to Netflix we've come across shows that we had never watched or even heard of! My new favorite find is "Better off Ted". It was an ABC show starring Portia De Rossi. The premise of the show is a group of employees that work for "Veridian Dynamics" - a research and development firm that comes up with impractical inventions. "The series has received critical acclaim, with particular praise going towards its witty and satirical humour." It only last 2 seasons, but seriously hilarious. Check it out!

Photo courtesy of tvshowsondvd.com



"This is why I'm Broke"

If you're like me and absolutely get lost in the SkyMall magazine on flights, you'll love This is why I'm broke! It's full of things that I think I need...want...no, need. Perfect for gifts, too.

Some of my faves:

Gameboy iPhone Case:

Arcade light switch:

Camera Lens Coffee Cup:

Custom Made Bobble Heads:

Titanic Ice Cube Mold:

Nose Shower Gel Dispenser (my nephew would love this):

Old Leather Laptop Bookcase:

Star Wars Lightsaber Chopsticks (my brother owns these):

World's Largest Gummy Bear:

Portable Camping Shower Bag:

Corn Dog Maker:

Designer clock:

Whiskey Ice Cube Stones:



Luckiest People Alive! (key word...alive!)

My brother found this awesome video:

Everything's better fried!

One of my high school friends posted this picture of a deep fried cheeseburger on Facebook the other day. This experience is from Korzo Haus in NYC. One of her friends made a good point, what's with the apple slices? I guess fries would have pushed this meal over the caloric edge!



Of course, this caused me to investigate other foods that are deep fried. Check out this top 25 list from Listgalore.blogspot.com

1. Macaroni & cheese



2. Oreos


(image credit: happy via)
3. Dill pickles



4. Pizza


(image credit: Slice)
5. Coca-Cola


(image credit: Willrad)
6. Chocolate chip cookie dough



7. Pop-tarts


(image credit: nadja.robot)
8. Spam


(image credit: erin.kkr)
9. Mars Bars


(image credit: obscene_pickle)
10. Brownies



11. Apples


(image credit: sadaqah)
12. Macapuno (shredded coconut)



13. Cheesecake


(image credit: Willrad)
14. Cheeseburgers


(image credit: chotda)
15. Cadbury Creme Eggs



16. Eggs



17. Bananas


(image credit: sentochihirokotohoumi)
18. Corn



19. Cheese curds



20. Peaches


(image credit: manthatcooks)
21. Tofu


(image credit: avlxyz)
22. Strawberries



23. Olives



24. Ice cream


(image credit: Jinworks)
25. Jam sandwiches

Whew!!

Well I'm returning from my two weeks of vacation. My vacation was spent redecorating, refinishing, repainting, repriming, recleaning, redoing, and reenergizing my boyfriend's house! He and his roommate definitely live in a bachelor pad (the pool table in the living room was the give away). However, with the help of our parents, he and I put some color and life back into the house. It looks BEAUTIFUL! Check out the pictures below!

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen After: Painted the wall green, painted the cabinets white, new flooring installed and some curtains and area rugs! (the tin backsplash is going to be installed today)

Downstairs bathroom before:

Downstairs bathroom after! Painted the wall green.

Family room before:

Family Room after! Pained the yucky wood paneling. I have since put in curtains.

Backyard before:

Backyard after! Painted the fence white, did landscaping, and restained the deck.

Upstairs bathroom before:

Upstairs bathroom after! Removed carpet from walls, installed a shower, installed a new floor and new toilet.