You know your go-to recipe? The one you always have ingredients on hand for? It's the recipe you can whip up on a moment's notice to feed some unexpected guests or take to party to wow your friends.

My go-to recipe I stole. This is a recipe I got from my very best friend. He made it for me a few times and it's so simple that I made it for him one night as a surprise and BAM! now I make it all the time. So delish - I never get tired of it. 

unofficially called ooey gooey layered bean dip goodness

In a deep baking dish (preferably with a lid) layer (this is the order I put them into the dish, but I think it's really neither here nor there) the following ingredients:

• package of cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat)
• can of well-rinsed low sodium black beans
• jasmine rice (I cook a 1/2 cup ahead of time)
• can of well-rinsed Rotel (tomatoes and diced chilis)
• 1/2 -1 cup of frozen corn
• can of vegetarian refried beans
• layer of pickled jalapeños 

Then sprinkle the top with your choice of cheese. We recommend mexican, pepper jack or cheddar. Cover your dish and place in a 375 degree oven for 45 minutes - long enough for it to get ooey gooey with bubbly cheese on top. 

I eat mine in a bowl with sour cream or avocado (if they're ripe) and salsa. You can eat it with chips or dig in with a fork. And, it's best accompanied by a Corona & lime. 

Don't know what to do when enjoying such goodness?

I've been watching Game of Thrones (Season 3 starts at the end of this month). Or blog reading - today The Wunder Year that I first read about on Lululemon's blog. The idea of wear yoga pants every day for a year sounds both amazingly comfortable and terrifying (um, spandex in public??). 

Enjoy!

This is Day 11 of 100 Days of Blogging.

It appears as though the sun has retired for the day, so I won't be going back outside. It's chilly here. Also, it's pollen season aka Erin has to take Sudafed everyday season. C'est la vie.

I just read a recipe for Toasted Coconut Mocha Frappuccinos. Gimme.

It's the Food + Wine Festival this weekend. It makes me want things with truffle oil.

Speaking of delicious things. Today my foodie friends and I had a new specialty donut from our downtown donut shop, Glazed. It was Pear Blue Cheese Cabernet. Ohmygoodnessgracious. It's their finest work yet. Although, I am still trying to get my hands on the Strawberry Champagne selection. Mmmm. (Photo Credit: Gabe!)

ANYWAY.

This morning I got up and made French Toast, (vegetarian) bacon, and coffee for breakfast. I've been to yoga, downtown, and two grocery stores today. I cleaned my ktichen and bathroom and have started on dinner. I swept my porch and watered my plants. Now, I need to hop in the shower and clean up my room - change sheets, dust, the usual. 

Then relax. Read a book/some blogs. Watch a Game of Thrones. And go to bed early so I can get up early to have Sunday Brunch before work. 

That's my weekend plan. How about you all? What have you been up to?

And hey - does anyone else visit multiple grocery stores in one day? Today it was Trader Joe's and Publix. Sometimes I throw in Harris Teeter and Whole Foods. But its rarely just one. Maybe I'm a nut.

I find my days off go to quickly and are often filled with things to get done rather than any sort of relaxing. I think that's how it is for everyone though. I think remembering to be thankful for the simple things is what will get us through. 

PS. In the middle of this blog I got distracted by the newest episode of New Girl on Hulu. I guess that's the sort of thing that can happen on days off!

This is Day 10 of 100 Days of Blogging. 

Tgif.

After two busy work days, I'm glad it's Friday. And I'm happy to have Saturday off.

Work. Yoga. Happy hour with tacos & beer. What more could a girl want?

I went to a new restaurant tonight. Mex 1 Coastal Cantina in West Ashley. That place was hoppin! Our waitress was great. The chips and salsa were great. The happy hour specials were pleasing. It was a great experience, but I would certainly suggest getting there early for a table - even to grab a seat at the bar!

Now I'm home with wine and Gilmore Girls. I ask again - what more could a girl want?

Probably scones. I think I'll bake them tomorrow. Coconut scones.... Yesss.

I'm excited about sleeping in, drinking coffee, doing yoga, grocery shopping and watching Game of Thrones. I suppose I'll clean my bathroom, too. Meh. You have to do something responsible on your days off.

What do you all do on your days off?

PS. I highly recommend integrating yoga into your life if it's not already there. You can start here. It's a great thing to do on a day off!

This is Day 9 of 100 Days of Blogging.

It was one of those days.

The days where you cancel your things for the evening and sit at home drinking tea instead.

So what if I'm a 75 year old trapped in a 27 year old body?

Except I ate half a container of Pringles for dinner. That's a 27 year old thing to do.

Oy.

This is Day 8 of 100 Days of Blogging.

Today, I went to work and left with the full intention of buying a new television when I left. (Decidedly, Game of Thrones would be much better viewed on a 39" Magnavox than on my 13" Macbook Air.) However, Target had other plans for me. SOLD OUT. Womp. I wandered around purchasing necessities like bobby pins and toothpaste while throwing in some impulse purchases like easter candy and a lavender candle. (I don't live near Target anymore, so this doesn't happen often. Promise.)

I was feeling a little dejected on my way back to James Island. I even looked at a few TVs online when I got home. (While eating the somewhat average frozen yogurt my freezer "helped" me produce last night. Try try again.) Since, I knew I was going to have to consult my consultants before choosing a new TV, I walked away and decided to give my evening a boost. Here we go. Pictures included.

I practiced my yoga headstand! It was a success. My skills with TimerCam were a smidge less successful, so this is as good as the documentation gets. Also, here are 10 Reasons to Do a Headstand Everyday.

I was hungry after all the shopping and head standing, so I made myself some baked onion rings and roasted asparagus for dinner. Lightly sprayed with coconut oil and sprinkled with crunchy sea salt and garlic pepper. I outdid myself.

And since no American meal is complete without dessert, I got started on these Cadbury Mini Egg Blondies. I didn't actually eat one yet, but I know it's going to be more amazing and fattening than I can even imagine. Easter candy baked goods. Nom. Maybe that's why it's my second favorite holiday.

And, finally, I did a little Pinterest work. I placed a magnet strip along the shelf in my bathroom, covered it in washi tape and made it the new home for my bobby pins. Hopefully now I will always have one when I need it!

My dejected late afternoon has turned into something productive and delicious and it's finally time for Game of Thrones.

And I don't even mind that it's on my Macbook Air.

This is Day 7 of 100 Days of Blogging.

xo.

The rain finally let up today and I could see the sun come shining through the clouds.

Isn't that how life can be?

I wouldn't call today the best day. There was a lot of rain. There were also a lot of hiccups at work. Nothing too overwhelming, but I got to come home to a lovely dinner and my first foray into ice cream making on my own. Enter Coconut Vanilla Frozen Yogurt. Unfortunately, it's still freezing. Yogurt is a breakfast food, right? I'll put raspberries on top. Those are healthy for sure.

Today, I also learned what HBO stands for - Home Box Office. Who knew? Everyone, but me. That's ok. I've been keeping up with it's show GIRLS. Lena Dunham is quite the talented lady - writer, director, actress. She's also the cover of Rolling Stone. (Finally! I've been getting a free subscription for a year and this is the only issue I've been interested in reading.) And, speaking of HBO, I watched my first episode of Game of Thrones tonight. I can tell it's going to be something I continue to watch despite the foul ending of this particular episode. 

You know what I love? Fresh flowers. I was just thinking about them earlier. I'm happy I have my little orchid in the window. 

You know what else I love? The kitten that lives on our carport. Her name is Snickers and she's so adorable that I often want to scoop her up and bring her inside to cuddle with me. That's sort of like saying I often want to stop breathing from a sudden allergy attack. Such is life.

Sometimes I wonder if we're looking at life wrong. (Certainly we are as a majority.) So much focus on work and money, but are these things that truly make us happy? Are we happy because money brings us a certain level of comfort? I wonder if we could get away with less of the work and the money and still have the same amount of happiness. That idea could lead to quite the paradigm shift.

That's a good word. Paradigm. You know what is another good word? Synergy. I think the first time I read these words was in the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. (I was a very motivated, self helped youngster.)

Funny how I ended up here - in this blog post (in the smallest sense of the thought).

I think that means I've come full circle for now.

This is Day 6 of 100 Days of Blogging.

Dear Rain,

That's enough.

Love,

Erin


This Day 5 of 100 Days of Blogging.

Today has been lovely so far.

This morning we went to Black Magic for Break Fast Breakfast! I had egg whites with tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and feta. AND a pumpkin chai made with almond milk. It was so delicious. Of course, it was followed by a walk down the pier to talk to strangers and watch the waves.

After, there was garden supply shopping. Cilantro. Lavender. A mini orchid. And so many seeds! I am going to make my thumbs green if it's the last thing I do!

Then I went grocery shopping! It's been awhile and I spent a lot of money! I bought practically everything in the produce section. And treats for the cat (Snickers) who lives outside - I got her to eat one straight out of my hand! When I finally got done putting away all of my purchases, I made a DELICIOUS smoothie - strawberries, blueberries, peaches, bananas, cranberry juice, spinach and vanilla yogurt. And while I was sippin on that, I whipped up a batch of Whiskey Walnut Blondies for the brother.

And this where you find me now. In between dirty dishes and episodes of Gilmore Girls. Before yoga class and before my work meeting this evening.

I'm not sad my juice cleanse is over, but I'm glad I did it. I feel lighter and like it was a good restart. My body is still trying to figure out everything I put into it today, so I'm being careful, but I'm ready to start cooking! (Who thought three days would feel this long??) I'm going to make all sorts of nonsense this week - sweet potatoes, burrito bowls, avocado & corn salad, brussels sprouts, and there is going to be RAINBOW carrots with hummus. Ooooh - maybe this Farmer's Market Skillet! I'm so thrilled about food!

Well, that's all I have for now. I'm going to make my way back to the kitchen to clean up! And then outside to sweep my porch. Such a domestic goddess today... What are you all up to this weekend??

This is Day 4 of 100 Days of Blogging.

xo.

Last night, I saw Silver Linings Playbook and I LOVED it. Please do yourself a favor if you haven't seen it yet.

Today is my final day of juice cleansing. I hate it less today. I also ate a handful of almonds. I don't feel bad about it. I'm so ready to be eating again though. I think that I'll definitely be thinking more about what I put into my body after this. I don't believe in forbidding food groups, but everything in moderation.

I have today off from work. It's been raining all.day.long. James Island turns into a lake when it rains this much. So, how does one spend a rainy day off? I went to yoga, cleaned, read a few pages in my new book (The Fault in our Stars), visited with the brother, and watched reruns of Kourtney & Kim take Miami. Don't judge me. I got a lot done today - I deserve trashy tv shows. And tonight, I'm going to bake with a friend. No, I won't eat the cookies, but I will tomorrow. Hooray!

My life is good. My life is calm. And I like it this way.

(This just in - Kim is drinking Pressed Juicery juice on the show. I'm just saying.)

Also, I had a dream last night that I went back to San Diego. I was visiting my lovely Megan, drinking coffee in the sun, eating fish tacos and tanning on the West Coast beaches. I need to go back.

I also need coffee, sun, fish tacos and the beach. I NEED SUMMER! Haha. I'm a desperate woman.

Oh hey, I'm going to learn run again. Glo Run in May! Yay!

This is Day 3 of 100 Days of Blogging.

xo.

I hate juice cleansing. I miss chewing and things that have salt. I don't remember hating this last time I did it, but I've been informed that I did. Note to self: Don't do this again.

Yesterday my juice didn't come until 1pm because the company accidentally used the wrong address. I tried to patiently sip on hot water with lemon until I ran out to greet the FedEx man. Literally, I was waiting on the porch for him.

I immediately ripped open the box and started guzzling a bottle labeled "1".

Juice 1 is a Green Drink consisting of kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple and lemon. I was satisfied.

I got all of my bottles put away in the fridge and went about my day and the rest of my juices.

Juice 2 is a Citrus Drink consisting of grapefruit and mint. That's all. I love it. Tart, but refreshing!

Juice 3 is a Roots Drink. I feel like that says enough, but I'll tell you the junk is made of carrots, apple and ginger. I abhor ginger and this drink.

Juice 4 is another Citrus Drink. It's a blend of pineapple, apple, lemon and mint. It's good, but very sweet. Yesterday I drank it straight up, but today I mixed it with water to cut it a little bit.

Juice 5 is a repeat of Juice 1. Liquid salad. Thinking of it that way makes it difficult to stomach. I'll try not to do that tomorrow.

Juice 6 is the savior! Ah! Vanilla Almond Milk. This delight is made of almonds, dates, vanilla bean and filtered water. I add about 1/8 tsp of cinnamon to it and shake it all up. This is my favorite. I wish I had tried the chocolate one now because it's sort of like a healthy and delicious melted milkshake.

Mmmm. Milkshake.

Anyway, in addition to these 6 juices, I have Chlorophyll Water and Aloe Water. Chlorophyll water is to keep you extra hydrated. (Because six bottles of liquid is not enough.) Also, it tastes faintly of grass. The Aloe Water is to, um, keep you moving. It tastes like cucumber water.

Yesterday, I gave away Juice 5 since I had begun so late in the day. Today, I'm drinking Juice 6 before Juice 5 because I'm dying for some substantial.

So, what is the lesson I've learned from all this? When you go on a cruise, don't have hourly ice cream and don't visit the pizza bar.

That's certainly not to say I only did this cleanse because I felt bad after a week of vacation eating habits. Cleanses are an excellent way to reset your body and mind. Also, I've spent a lot of time trying to decide if I should go back to my vegetarian ways. I've done a lot of learning about vegan cooking. I'm reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and articles like Carnivorous Vegetarian to try and figure out the healthiest and tastiest way to eat. I want both.

Although, right now, I would settle for anything that involved chewing.

But if you all have thoughts on the matter, then I would love to hear them. Right now, I'm going to take a little nap and then go see Silver Linings Playbook with one of my loveliest friends.

This is Day 2 of my 100 Days of Blogging.

xo.

It's that time of year again. Spring is coming! It's time to get out of the winter funk and into the summer fun. I'm a little more on board with the idea because I just came back from Florida & a cruise, but I promise - it's coming. (The groundhog didn't see his shadow, so it must be true!)

It's also that time of year where I do a crazy things like only drink juice for 3 days. Eh? Right. So, my Pressed Juicery 3 Day Cleanse should be arriving shortly. 3 Days. 18 Bottles of Juice. Lots of yoga. This should all amount to a healthier and happier, post-cruise Erin. (Because you can't really say no to 24 hour pizza and ice cream.)

Internal spring cleaning leads to external spring cleaning. And all sorts of cleaning usually leads to new ideas, crafts and resolutions. Maybe spring is the new New Year? Probably not, but I will tell you spring is my best time of year. I'm excited to see what it holds. The people in my life are very motivating, too. I'm sure they're going to make 2013 the best spring/year yet!

Speaking of motivating ideas, my friend Mandy is doing 100 Days of Blogging as a challenge for her creative juices. I've decided I would also like to take part in a challenge such as this. Why? My blog is something so dear to me that I've let fall by the wayside. I'm hoping this challenge will jumpstart me back into it. It doesn't have to be big or incredibly insightful. I just have to post. Consider this Day 1. 

Well, now I have to start cleaning. I have quite the to-do list today:

Yoga. Pick up Recycling Bin. Go to Goodwill. Go to Costco. Get a mani/pedi. Clean out my car. Clean the house. Start reading The Fault in Our Stars. More Yoga.

Busy busy little bee. I'll see you all here tomorrow!

Today an older man wearing candy cane pants gave me a thumbs up.

That's what I call holiday cheer.

I'm pretty busy right now. (Eating the funfetti popcorn I just made.) I know I'm preaching to the choir, so please remember to enjoy your loved ones this holiday season. Let go of the things that haven't happened yet or you can't control. Have an eggnog and carry on.

I love you all dearly.

Let's reconvene after Christmas. Deal?

In 2008, this happened. Worth noting: 2008 was the WORST. For everyone. I don't need to go into details, but I know all of my friends agree. So, I'm not saying that Olivia was a mistake because I loved her dearly. However, I put A LOT of money into her: clutch, catalytic converter, timing belt, ac. At this point she needed even more: head gasket, mirror, reverse light wiring, right blinker wiring, some sort of air filtery thing, brakes, two new tires. I just wasn't able to provide for her in her old age. I had to let her go. 

What's a girl to do?

Cry a little. Spend a little. Get angry. Buy a new Prius C. (The C stands for Clearly. Just kidding. It stands for Cute. Still kidding. It actually stands for City.)

Yep. I bought my first BRAND NEW CAR. I affectionately refer to her as Lady Grey at the moment. She gets a lovely 53-60 mpg. She has a sexy magnetic grey teflon coating, too. It's a weird experience to drive a hybrid, but it makes me feel oh so economical and environmental. 

Let's talk about what happens when you buy a brand new car. You have to haggle. I was able to do much less haggling since USAA had done part of it on my behalf, but let me tell you - it's hard to not back down and say let me have my shiny toy now, please. Also, it takes FOREVER. I got there about 10:45 and drove away with Lady Grey around 2:30. I had not properly nourished my body for that. I wasn't thinking straight. Luckily, the dealership is right next to Chipotle. Thank heavens!

So. Yep. I have a new car and a new car payment, but I also have peace of mind. No broken things that aren't under warranty (4 years and 60,000 miles are covered). All of the lights work. No control panel beeping and flashing. The anxiety of a dying car far outweighs the anxiety of a new car payment. 

*sigh of relief*

Do any of you drive a Prius? I'm so happy to be a part of the Prius family now. I notice them everywhere I go! 

(And never fear! Floyd - my fearless pink flamingo - who has been with me since the Pontiac station wagon has found a new home in the Prius C!)

"Tis the season for giving! Right?" 

I'm drinking coffee, burning a mahogany teakwood candle, and waiting for the Sears delivery truck.

Sears delivery?! Um yes. For my dad's birthday/Christmas (because he doesn't like us buying things for him at all), he is getting a new mattress! My brother and I decided that 27+ years was too long to have the same mattress, so on Black Friday I made sure to catch a good deal and pay for the delivery. It's a big day.

Also, buying things like mattresses as gifts for the people I love makes me feel like an adult. A mattress is a very adult thing to buy - don't you think?

You know what else is very adult? Budgeting and buying a new car. I'm learning how to do both of these things, too. I just got off the phone with the Toyota dealership - I'm going Friday to test drive a Prius C.

I am so adult right now. Wish me luck!

"Of course you save money on gas - a Prius runs on granola and hugs!" - J Cov

I read this post today. So helpful.

Today has been such a blessing away from people - away from my head.

Spending so much time alone is amazing for reflection.

And a walk with a wonderfully long standing friendship is also good for reflection.

Thanks to this lady:

I'm not excited about going back to the real world, but I've got all sorts of good on my side.

My tree is up! The holidays are in full swing! Please don't remind me that it's less than a month (and one paycheck) until Christmas. I will cry. Again. Because I've certainly cried a few times already in the last two weeks.

People often go around saying "when it rains, it pours" but you don't really understand what that means until it happens to you. Because WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS. And a lot of the raining and pouring is the anxiety that comes from all the other raining and pouring, but boy oh boy. It is tough.

The holidays are my very favorite time of year. They are full of surprises, gifts, crafting, baking, drinking(!) and cheer. And stress. Work stress. Dating stress. Family stress. Financial stress. My car is breaking stress. I need to get my teeth cleaned stress. I need to workout stress. What do I buy stress. How many days do I have to work in a row stress. Stop asking me questions stress. People are getting sick stress. How the eff do you expect me to craft that stress.

Because when it rains it pours.

So, what I'm trying to do is... Put less stress on myself. I mean HELLO it's coming from all over the place as it is - just give yourself a break! Am I right?

I am. I know I am.

So, it's a day off today where I'm running around - errands, appointments, crafting, baking, trying not to blame myself for the rest of the things sitting on my list. LET IT GO. Hmph.

I forgot to buy glitter today.

The good news is that it will all be over soon (which is sad because this is the time of year you're supposed to slow down and enjoy time with your loved ones). The good news is that you'll get it all taken care of (in due time). The good news is when you feel you're starting to slump there's always coffee.

Two pots a day is not too much.

The best news is that while you're crafting/gifting/baking you can make this Killer Granola from Shutterbean!

I mean, seriously, double the recipe. Triple it if you want to use it as a gift. Add Cinnamon. It's delicious. Pour soy milk and blueberries over it. Mix it with raspberry preserves and plain greek yogurt. It's amazing! 

And if the granola fails (which is won't) then do what I do and make a nice hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps, grab a book (Currently reading: The Night Circus) and turn off your internet/mobile devices.

Happy Holidays, friends. You can do it!

It's raining here. And, as much as I dislike the rain, lying in bed listening to it hit the roof and the trees has such a calming effect. It could be that I'm still in bed that's so calming, but I'll let the weather win this one.

I have to go to work soon, but if I didn't, I'd stay all day in bed - reading a book or watching Harry Potter while drinking hot tea. Ahhh.

What do you like to do when it rains?

It has certainly been awhile since I've blogged. This morning I read a little over 100 posts and decided that I should post my own - you all are so inspiring!

So, what's up party peeps?

I'm currently in the middle of a weeklong vacation. I spent four days out of town. Today will be spent with one of my very best friends watching Gilmore Girls and eating cheap Chinese food to celebrate her birthday! And then I have A VERY LONG TO DO LIST.

Move GIANT TV
Laundry (it's really never ending)
Dentist Appointment
Bare Minerals/Finish Line/Tanger Visit
Grocery Shopping - because I cannot live on oatmeal alone.
Change all the light bulbs in my car that are burnt out
See about fixing my driver side window
Bake something. Anything.
Take care of my fish, Cohen
Get car washed. Inside & out.

That's just a bit. A bit of what needs attention. I'll get it done. Fo sho.

Anywho. That's life. A very long list of things to do. And, if you're very lucky, then it's accompanied by some fantastic people. Sometimes you'll cry. (I've done that a lot recently.) Sometimes you'll be smile. (I've done that a lot recently, too.) And both of these things are good. It's all perspective, I suppose.

Enough of this. I have a to-do list to take care of.

xo.

I will GO TO YOGA on Thursday & Saturday. And it will make me feel AMAZING and accomplished.

(I'm writing this here, so it's public and I can't back out. It's a mind game.)

At the beginning of the year, I was going to yoga probably three times a week. I loved it so much that I wrote a blog post about it. I am in a totally different place than I was then. My worry & stress levels aren't the same. I have new people in my life who like to support me through that. I have different work and life responsibilities. But I want my yoga back. I also want my sexy arms back.

It's a win for everyone.