five things that are making me happy right now

1. My sister is coming to town this Thursday, and just knowing that fact is making me ridiculously happy right now. (i do wish that Christina was coming with her but beggars can't be choosers)
2. Starbucks. Coffee. Is making me super-duper-awesomely happy right now. Not to mention super coffee-buzzed.
3. Running. That's right, running. I went running twice last week and just LOVED it. I'm not running marathons or anything, but it was a really good release, that's for damn sure. 
4. The Beautiful Creatures series. I just finished the 1st book and can't wait to rip through the 2nd. 
5. My fur babes. I mean, look at them. 

MISSING MOJO, have you seen it?

My mojo has gone missing. It just got up and walked out on me and I'm just not sure where to find it. I looked under my bed, in the trunk of my car, everywhere and I just can't find it. I'm not really sure what you're supposed to do when your mojo takes an unannounced vacation. Are you supposed to post flyers? Call the police? Or wait patiently at home for its return? Right now, I'm working on replacing it with a new one.  I think its the best thing to do.  Finding a new mojo is no easy thing though. It involves a lot of reevaluating. It involves trying to find joy in the day-to-day. It involves going to the gym (since I found my old mojo there last time).  It involves seeing a life coach again. In short, it involves a lot. At least I know that I'm on the path to a new mojo, it's just taking a while to get here, I guess. Patience is something that I've never really learned. I want things NOW. I want to feel like my normal, confident self again. I know that my new mojo will come in time, I just hope it's not too long before it arrives. Do you feel me?

I don't want this post to seem all sad and depressing, I do know how blessed I am, I really do. I have so many wonderful things and people in my life. I just need to focus my energies on what makes me happy and that's the bottom line.

XO.

New Apartment: The Bedroom

Well, things are still a MA-JOR work in progress around here but here are some pictures of the tres-comfortable (and hopefully tres chic) bedroom. I have to say, that my interior design inspiration mostly comes from this girl (I want to literally steal everything in her apartment--no joke on that one). I've also realized that I seriously heart white with accent colors. My Mom is always pushing me to incorporate color and I have say that I like my colors just the way they are THANK YOU VERY MUCH! ;)

I have some seriously plans for that HUGE blank wall behind our bed, but I'm not sure if I want to hang some wall art or to create some sort of headboard. The possibilities are ENDLESS ya'll...well not entirely endless since we can't paint. But you get my drift.

Well, enjoy....

I'm Back & Oh, Hey, A Recipe

I'm back and I'm better than ever, hey now, hey now Katie's back!

Life has been pretty crazy for this here girl and I want to apologize to all five of my readers for taking such a long break from blogging.  The good news is that my apartment is starting to look lived in! AND, work is settling down! AND it was 70 yesterday and today! All good things man. All good things. 

Well now that we got my return announcement out of the way, lets get down to business. As you know, this girl loves a good, easy recipe. And I have to say that I've found my match in this Mushroom Paprikash recipe. I've made it several times since discovering it in my beloved Vegetarian Times magazine...and boy-oh-boy does it hit the spot. So easy, so delicious. I always make it a day or two before I want to eat it. The extra time chillin' in the fridge really makes the flavors BURST. 

Here's what you need:

- 1TB olive oil
- 10oz Mushrooms
- 1 bell pepper (I use 1/2 of a red pepper and 1/2 of green)
- 1 onion diced
- 1/2 c. broth
- 2 TB flour
- 2 TB paprika
- 1 TB cayenne pepper
- 15oz crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 c. water
- 1/4 plain greek yogurt
- Cooked, buttered, egg noodles

What you do:

Heat olive oil over medium heat and add mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes

Add peppers and onions to mushrooms and cook until onions are translucent (about 3 mins). Be sure to salt and pepper the veggies!

Add broth and cook for 2 minutes.

Stir in flour, paprika, and cayenne. The flour will coat the vegetables! This is what you want, the flour will help thicken this stew later on.

Add crushed tomatoes and water and let the sauce/stew/whatever cook for 15 minutes (or until its thick enough for you).

Add greek yogurt right before serving.

Serve over buttered noodles! And enjoy!

XOX.