Ahhh the longest week in the history of the work world, at least in DC. Anyone else feel that way? Like most of the city is on vacation so no one is doing work but I am saving my vacation days for other things, and every tourist in America is in DC for the week so my commute is longer (STAND TO THE RIGHT ON THE METRO ESCALATORS, WALK ON THE LEFT- people breaking this rule literally add 10 minutes to my morning commute! Wait I think tomorrow's post will be about how to be a good tourist in DC), the highs this week are close to 100 so we are slowly melting to death and I can't think about anything except how excited I am for my favorite holiday: the fourth of freaking JULY! AMERICA! COOKOUTS! ALL THE THINGS!

Ok anyway onto the recipe, this is super easy and a great refreshing summer salad. The chicken and avocado add lots of protein and other stuff to keep you full so it's niiice.

Servings: 2
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, thawed and sliced into strips ($5.00)
  • 3 tomatoes, diced ($2.00)
  • 1/2 red onion, diced ($.50)
  • 1 cucumber, diced ($.80)
  • 1 avocado, diced ($1.00)
  • Optional: 4 slices of bacon, chopped up (we use turkey bacon)
  • 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce of choice (I always use Sweet Baby Ray's, duh)
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • Any other seasonings you normally add to barbecue chicken (we have a grilled chicken rub that I looove and I usually add some cayenne pepper too)

Cook the bacon in a large frying pan. Season this chicken with the garlic power, onion powder, and seasonings of your choice. Once the bacon is done cooking, remove from the frying pan and allow to cool for a few minutes. In the same pan, cook the chicken strips for 15-20 minutes flipping occasionally, until they are cooked all the way through and there is no pink left.

Chop up the bacon and chicken strips, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss. Enjoy! I took mine to lunch the next day, Harrison ate all of his at one time as an after dinner "snack". Typical.

So this weekend one of my high school friends got married in Lancaster, PA. This was my first time in that area and it was definitely interesting, and of course it was a blast to reunite with my best friends from high school. Here's a little recap of the interestingness of Amish Country:

Saturday morning before we left I received a 911 text from a friend who got there the night before that it was impossible to buy booze in the county the hotel was in so I packed a suitcase of the essentials:


The reception was held at a nice country club, this is our attempt at a reunion picture but we're missing tons of people because it is impossible to get everyone in a group picture, even though Katy Kodak over here gets pushy and bossy to try to get one every time:


Took some nice pix on the golf course and I wore my first Rent the Runway dress and loved it (Sachin + Babi):


Bride and groom had their first dance:



After partied at the hotel bar until 3 am (I am getting too old for this)


Stopped at this barn-looking place for some Amish lunch:


With this guy in the front:


Sampled everything from the "Lancaster Favorites" section of the buffet- sidenote: I thought Amish food would be pretty clean, like from the ground and meat and stuff but no. Amish food = heavy cream, butter, milk everything. I tried everything since we were on vacay and I paid for it later.


Tried a slice of Shoofly Pie:


Sat in some traffic...


Most of the town looked like this:


Stopped in to some Amish markets and found some interesting items such as this Poo-Pourri which you spray in the toilet before you doo doo and it supposedly masks any odors...


So no one warned me that there would be OUTLETS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE in Lancaster! LIKE WHAT? This is me in front of the Loft Outlet feeling slightly excited but slightly terrified for what was about to happen to my bank account:


I booked a dog sitter through a site called Rover.com which was recommended by a friend. You type in your zip code and search sitters by people who are willing to come to your house or let your dog stay at their house. We had an awesome sitter named Dana H who sent picture updates all weekend like this one:


We will DEF be using Rover again- it was so easy and inexpensive, and I loved that Andi could stay home. The sitters have background checks and recommendations, and this service is available anywhere. AND if you use my unique link you get $20 off your first booking! Click here to receive $20 off and definitely let me know if you have questions because as a crazy dog lady who feels bad taking advantage of her friends 5 weekends in a row, this is the best possible service.

Linking up today with Biana, Kimberlee, Leeann, Delicious Dish Tuesday, Tuesday Recipe Swap- come play!

BBQ Chicken Salad + Weekend Recap

Monday, June 30, 2014

Yall this summer has turned me into a total spaz- the combination of traveling and happy hours and outside fun things and heat (really this heat makes me feel like a crazy person, I'm like " I CANNOT COOL OFF I CANNOT FUNCTION). So while I usually stick to a strict schedule that includes time for blogging, said schedule has gone out the window and blogging and blog schedules and reading blogs and commenting and all that is just pretty random. Is this even making sense? Am I going crazy? Anyway the other day Kelly just let it all out so I thought maybe it could be somewhat therapeutic to get this tornado of randomness spinning around in my head down on paper (blogger template I mean?). So hop on the crazy train for a tour of insanity aka Lindsay's mind right now:



1. Why does Old Navy take 10 years to ship? Am I just spoiled by Amazon Prime or is this really taking forever?

2. I can't believe I bought a dress off Instagram then scored at the thrift store yesterday on my lunch break. I can't believe I go to the thrift store on my lunch break. My boss goes to Trader Joe's and comes back with bags of groceries during lunch, same thing I guess? I hate when people keep their groceries in our work fridge. Not as much as I hate when people don't replace the paper towel roll though.

3. Why was this breakfast smoothie so bad? I had to chew it.

4. Why am I thinking about cocktails at 8 am? More importantly, why does this happen every day?



5. World Cup makes me think of Europe. Why can't we have siestas? I'm tired of working. I would go crazy without a job though. And be broke(r). I need a vacation?

6. Wait next week is the 4th of July? There's no way

7. How many people are staying with us for the 4th? OH I want to make breakfast casseroles for them.

8. The Mall will be filled with tourists on the 4th do I want to deal with that? I should be a good host and take my friends to see the Mall on the 4th. I've never even done that myself. Why do people suddenly lose their minds and do really stupid things that defy all common sense when they are being tourists in DC? Is the metro going to be running? My quality of life has improved so much since living on the green line.

In the middle of the street though?

9. I'm so glad I ordered TWO sizes up for the Rent The Runway Dress for the wedding this weekend, is my butt really that big? Wait it's not because all the reviewers said they went 1-2 sizes up too.

10. The wedding this weekend is in Lancaster I bet I can score some Amish chocolate covered bacon. But can I score a super early check in at the hotel? Is saying Amish Bacon offensive? Is it Amish people or People who are Amish? Can you say The Amish or is that bad? Amish Americans? No?

11. Why is the hotel in Lancaster the same price as the hotel in Atlanta? Is Lancaster that hot of a destination spot?

12. Am I SO awkward that I literally make every situation awkward or are other people awkward too which makes situations awkward? Or am I just super sensitive to awkwardness?

13. I can't believe what an awkward toast I gave at the rehearsal dinner last week, why couldn't I stop saying the word "weird"? And why do I lose control of my hands when public speaking?


14. The food at the rehearsal dinner was so stinkin good last week, I wonder what was in that pasta dish? Crack?

15. I haven't had lima beans in probably a year. Weird remember college when I ate lima beans every day? And tuna. That was a weird time of life.

16. Aw look at those kids outside my office window- I think they're with a camp! Hi little nuggets!!! I love camp!!

17. Should I quit my job to be a camp director?

18. I miss being a teen camp director. I want to sing camp songs! I wonder if I remember all the words to Princess Pat. I'm going to look it up on youtube. OH the Spongebob song too!

19. OMG remember that ginger kid who was like 16 and in 7th grade so he could still come to our middle school day camp? He drove himself to camp. And once asked me to let him drive the camp bus because he has a license. He was literally 12 inches taller than the other boys. The girls were his height though. I was taller than all the boys forever, and now at a towering 5'4" haven't grown a millimeter since 5th grade. Ha.

20. HA remember when I used to drive a bus for camp. Scratch #17.



21. Is it time for my bachelorette party yet? I wonder how many people will actually be there.

22. I wonder if I could guess what my office mate is eating just by the mouth noises he makes.

23. Mouth noises make me gag.

24. I feel bad for being so unproductive in the summer. Wait but my friends who work for the government get paid twice as much as me and send me youtube videos all day so..?

25. Is it wrong to not even consider intern applications if they are sent from a hotmail address? Who does that anymore? And why are people sending me half filled out applications? Kids these days!

26. Why do some people suck to work with but are fun in real life? Like why do you think you can walk into my office while I'm on the phone and attempt to talk over me to my officemate to the point I can't hear the person on the other end? And why do some people think it's ok slosh yogurt around in their mouth as they are speaking? I mean really some people make me consider going back to #17- at least I could call people out because I was in charge, and I was helping teens learn to not grow up to be gross too. Wait why do I find it easier to work with teens than adults? Is that normal? Do people think I suck? Do I care if they think that?

27. Is Chris Brown going to stay in jail?

28. Why isn't TRL on anymore? Or is it and I'm just old and disconnected? Would Chris Brown be on TRL? Is Ryan Seacrest this generation's Carson Daily?

Remember this one? I think I cried.
29. I wish they would re-run old episodes of TRL, I would watch all of them. I would probably cry. Nostalgia's a bitch sometimes.


FYI I looked up the video. I still got it. This is a repeat after me song! Sidenote: we were waayyy more hype than this but you know..


Linking up with my favorite AMANDA today! Come play!

Friday's Random Thoughts

Friday, June 27, 2014

photo via Getty Images


Is it just me or is it borderline impossible to find time to exercise when the weather gets nice? It seems like it should be the opposite: warm weather = nice to run outside, however it is quite the opposite for me. Warm weather = outdoor drinking season. How is one supposed to go exercise when there are so many patios to be happy houred on, so many rooftops to have drinks sipped on, so many refreshing summer drinks to be consumed? And as our world is so cruel, this is also the season in which I need to be fitting into fun little wedding guest/bridesmaid dresses that I purchased months ago. So here is what I'm working on:

1. Morning Workouts: I know, this really sucks and I never thought I would have been able to pull this one off but I have done it a few times and am working on making it my regular thing. It helps me to read other blogs of people like me who are getting up at 5 am to exercise like Nadine and Meg, I've asked friends to text me when they wake up for their morning workouts (thanks, Elizabeth!) so I'll feel like a total a-hole if I decide to go back to sleep, and I even pull up Instagram inspiration as I'm trying to pull myself out of bed. Anything.

2. Plan Your Week: My Type A self really doesn't mind this one. I have to workout 5 days per week so this might mean working out on Saturday morning before brunch or Sunday after church, plus three more days during the week. I deserve a reward for surviving Wednesdays so happy hour is necessary then, and Fridays are impossible to turn down, so if I'm not going to wake myself up at 5 a.m. then I'm going to stick to my plan.

3. Accountabilibuddies: I don't like working out with other people but I DO love challenges. Signing up for a challenge together or agreeing on a workout plan ("and then we'll get drinks outside afterwards!") is great motivation, and it keeps it social so I don't feel like I'm missing out as much while everyone else is out boozing.

I know I'm not alone in this because a million ecards exist on the topic:






Tell me: what do you do to stay motivated to exercise when there is so much fun stuff to do instead??

Wednesday Workout: Staying Motivated to Exercise During Outdoor Happy Hour Season

Wednesday, June 25, 2014


Ok so I just had the best. weekend. ever. It was one of my best friend's weddings at a campground in Hanson, Massachusetts and it was the happiest, lovingest, most wonderful weekend ever. We all did a program called City Year together in 2008 in Rhode Island, and this was a big huge happy reunion with the people I spent one of the most transformative years of my life and the two of them just love each other so much and it was just a big fat lovefest. And dance party of course. Pix below.

Ok so enough with the mushiness, today's recipe is one of my go-to lunches for the week- the ole taco salad. It's really easy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb lean ground turkey
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1/2 onion, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Pair it with: salad greens, tomato slices, salsa, Greek yogurt, raw onions, tortillas.

Season the turkey with the garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and brown the in a frying pan. Add the black beans (with the juice) and stir together with the meat over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes, or until the juices are absorbed. Add in the garlic and onions for the last 5 minutes. Use as a salad topping or taco filler and enjoy!

So, more about my mushy lovey dovey weekend. The bride (you may remember her as the one who knocked my tooth out in Milwaukee) compeletely DIYed this entire shindig at Camp Kiwanee. We all pitched in and threw together this incredible party. Just look:

Friday we bopped around Boston in their perfect weather- WHERE IS THE HUMIDITY?


Got some mani-pedis and drank a million bottles of  champagne:


Cried through the entire Enjoyed rehearsal dinner:

Don't mind me with the awkward high-5 in the back...
Saturday morning we picked up $200 worth of flowers from Trader Joe's. $200 on flowers. For the entire wedding. This. was. genius.


Transformed the camp mess hall into a beautiful wedding venue:

they got married right in the middle!

I KNOW.
 LOOK what you can do with Trader Joe's flowers!




I MEAN:


Did a lil yoga while the flower girl stacked champagne cups for us:



Took some professional wedding photos:


They got married (no pix because I was maiding), then we had some serious BBQ- PS how awesome are these bmaids outfits? Our skirts were $60 on Etsy. They look so great in the pictures and were perfect for camp wedding!


Then we partied our asses off:

Photo cred to my buddy Nan via Wedpics
Then we had an afterparty with a bonfire, dancing, s'mores and a keg and eventually made our way back to our cabins ( I KNOW!). We got up in the morning to mimosas and home cooked breakfast made by the groom's parents (like what!):


Then we finished the day with a kickball tourney and old City Year games. It was really one of the best weekends ever. And don't fret- I got Amanda (the bride) to agree to write a guest post on alllllll her details so stay tuned!

Linking up today at Delicious Dish Tuesday, Motivation Monday, Wedding Wednesday, Treat Yo Self

Clean Eating Taco Salad + Weekend Recap

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Today we're diverting from regularly scheduled programming to link up with Liz's Be Fearless Project and Kelly's TBT. So, I'm in charge of planning my high school ten year reunion- weird. All this planning and getting in touch with people I haven't talked to in a decade has really had me reflecting on how things were in high school, and while I definitely have no regrets there are things I wish I could let little High School Lindsay know so in honor of TBT and The Fearless Project, here is my letter to my High School Self.



Dear High School Lindsay,

Chill out, man! I know you don't believe this, but all that stuff you spend every waking hour stressed out about will mean nothing. In fact, I'm sitting here 10 years later trying my hardest to remember what it was that kept me up at night and for the life of me can't remember WHAT any of it was, let alone the outcomes. Plus you're going to get to college and run out of f*cks to give, get yourself into all sorts of unbelievable situations (can't even tell you what these are because you'll go into cardiac arrest, plus social media confessions like that lose people their jobs), yet life will still go on and you'll be incredibly happy.

Also, stop being so afraid of failing that it prevents you from doing things. Fortunately your parents are going to push and push until you're able to do scary things by yourself, but for the love of all things holy try to understand that FAILURE IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.

Still got those awkward dance moves 14 years later.

BoyzIIMen, N Sync and BSB will all quit making music- life will go on, you will find other music you like and other artists who "really get you". Oddly enough, Britney, X-tina, and Pink will all still be around and super relevant. And on that note- Pink will be the only one of those lady-stars who doesn't get arrested and lives a fairly traditional family life. This is all very confusing now that I think about it.

Give up on that crush on Lance too, girl. It's going nowhere for more reasons than you think.
Another thing you're not going to believe as you're applying for college far away from all your friends because Dad is pushing you to go outside a 250 mile radius from home (thanks Dad!) is that you will survive without your best friends, and in fact you'll still talk to them almost every day (the amount of free time you'll have in college to do this is mind-blowing to me now) and you and Erin will travel thousands of miles (half of these in the wrong direction) to visit old friends. You'll make friends in college that you can't imagine living without, then you'll move on to other new places and build similar friendships with people and cry every time you move to a new place because you can't imagine life without them either. You are never going to make lots of money but you are going to be so very very wealthy with love and friendships and families that change your life and shape who you are.

Really no caption needed.
This hormonal roller coaster ride of insanity you're on right now is pretty nuts, but stop being such an a-hole to Mom and Dad. They are in fact NOT trying to ruin your life, and they are doing a really really good job. You'll realize this when you get to college with about 15,000 people whose parents DIDN'T do a good job. And you'll also be glad Mom made you work 2 jobs your senior year summer while everyone else was partying save that money up before you left for college, even though you'll find a way to blow most of it in the first few months, as well as sign up for a credit card with sky-high interest that you don't even realize you have to pay because you're an idiot, and you're going to put your Bahamas spring break trip on it and work your ass off the first few years out of college to pay it off and restore your credit. But at least you got a free t-shirt out of it. You freaking idiot.

thankfully you'll learn more about how to manage your hair and quit the tanning bed.

Brad and Jen are going to divorce, and it's going to make you question true love. Don't worry, Beyonce and Jay-Z will fill that void for you in a way that Brad and Jen never could have.

Stop hating your weight so much. You're going to spend the next decade-ish trying to get that body back because teenage metabolism and daily team sports practices with coaches who tell you what to eat don't exist in the real world (on your budget at least).

Team sports, man. 
On the note of body-hate, don't worry about that booty. Kim K, Nicki Minaj, and a whole slew of celebs are going to make big butts cool, and you're really not going to believe this one, but people are going to pay big bucks (and even DIE) to get a big butt. You will thank God for unanswered prayers (please just let me have a flatter butt like all the models, and also that one about marrying your high school boyfriend), and believe it or not, love that butt you just couldn't get rid of.


You're going to learn that you can't control everything so you might as well stop trying so hard now. About 80% of things are not going to go the way you planned despite trying control it all, and there's going to be heartache, loss, love- so much love- challenges, experiences, highs, lows, relationships, and a lot of laughing at yourself. Which is all going to lead to this incredibly happy place by the time your late 20's get here. Every single step and failure and accomplishment and feeling and experience is going to be 100% worth it. Especially the ones that scared you the most to do. So go scare the sh*t out of yourself and do some crazy things.


Love (I think you sign all your notes "LYLAS" actually),
28-year old Lindsay

PS: Mom is right about everything. Literally every last thing. That's probably all this letter needed to say actually. It's infuriating. There's nothing you should do about this because you need to learn things for yourself, but just know- every. last. thing.

Even at age 28 in a city he's never lived in, people are going to still recognize you as Cory's sister. It's fine now though

-

Dear High School Lindsay

Thursday, June 19, 2014