What I Say & What I Really Mean

I was on the phone with my best friend this morning on my way to school (my favorite place to drive at 7:45 am with standstill traffic because an entire street is shut down) and after we got off the phone I started laughing to myself- yes, this is a regular occurrence. I realize that 70% of the time when I answer somebody's question, or when I ask them a question there are two ways to interpret:

1. What I say

2. What I really mean

Here's a few to start your morning:

When talking about taking the dog out

What I say:"Has Tucker gone out this morning?"
What I really mean: "I'm running late, I haven't eaten breakfast, packed my lunch or brushed me hair. Can YOU please take the dog out."

When my friends invite me somewhere and I ask who is going

What I say: "Oh that sounds fun, who all is going." -Insert group of catty girls here- "I'll talk to Hunter and see what he wants to do."

What I really mean: "Yeah, I'd rather pull my eyelashes out then voluntarily lower my IQ by listening to their conversation."

When Hunter asks me what's wrong

What I say: "Seriously nothing, its just been a long day."

What I really mean: "I'm too exhausted to even know what's wrong but for both of our sanity I hope you can figure it out."

(Boy do I love him for putting up with me when I'm in my "seriously nothing's wrong" moods).

When family asks me how school's going

What I say: "School's good, almost done with my first year. It was definitely an adjustment but its gotten so much better." (This has become a sort of script for me- no need for judgement, people).

What I really mean: "How's school? Really? Please ask me something else. Okay fine, I'll answer. School isn't as bad as it was 11 months ago, it either has something to do with the obnoxious amount of wine I've been drinking every night or that fact I've become numb to knowing what happiness feels like."

(Alright, that one is a little exaggerated. But partially true. And it made me laugh, so there).

When a friend asks me if I want to grab dinner on a Sunday

What I say: "Sunday? That's usually my night to catch up on school work and get ready for the week, how about another night?"

What I mean: "Sunday?! Are you freaking crazy? If you were really my friend you would know that Real Housewives of New Jersery, Dexter, Keeping up with the Kardashians and Princesses of Long Island are on- Shoot, you'll be lucky if I find time take a shower before I go to bed."

Thinking of these actually made me laugh out loud (and hopefully you too), so maybe this will become a weekly post. 

Happy Tuesday!

An excuse to be outside and drink

I've come to the conclusion that Saturdays are the best days (well most of the time). When I was little I used to live for Summer, I think we all did. Then all of a sudden life started going by way too fast and I ended up being 23 and giving all of my time to earning a masters degree (there are still days I wake up and have a quick panic attack, wondering if this is what I'm suppose to be doing. But apparently that's normal. riiiiiight).

Anyways, when I woke up on Saturday I realized the sun was finally out, after 6 days of straight torrential downpour, and I was determined to do something outside. Literally anything outside, especially if it included a few drinks. 

I remembered seeing a few banners in downtown Tampa about the Redbull Wake Open, so I called two of my best guy friends, forced Hunter out of bed (with coffee) and tempted them with some good ol' outside day-drinking festivities. The Redbull Wake Open is a wake boarding competition that took place in the channel in downtown Tampa- there were 36 riders representing 7 countries. It was crazy hot outside, so we stayed two hours, had a few drinks and then went out for sushi and split a bottle of wine. Perfect ending to the day? Yeah, I thought so too. 

The view from the sidewalk. 

Clearly in deep conversation. 

Maurino, Hunt and Jeff. 

 Have I mentioned how happy I am that he finally lives here? really-freakin'-happy.

There's my dad, re-living his glory days of playing basketball. (And my sweet litttle tuck, too. The next airbud I tell ya.)

Hope ya'll had a great weekend

Gouda, Sharp Cheddar, Bacon Mac n Cheese

Before I even mention Fourth of July celebrations on here, I need to share something even more important.

Food.

Well, macaroni n cheese.

Okay, gouda, sharp cheddar and bacon macaroni n cheese to be specific.

I found the recipe on pinterest, but changed it up a little bit. Before you go on, I'm going to warn you... This recipe is really rich, and kinda fattening BUT it is hands down the best homemade mac n cheese I've ever had, and worth every calorie - Just don't think about it, k?

Ingredients

16oz bowtie macaroni, cooked and drained
4 Tbsp butter
2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup flour
1 1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp worcestershire

1/2 cup bread crumbs
1.5 lb gouda cheese, shredded
1/2 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

Instructions

1. Prepare macaroni as usual, set aside until sauce is ready.
2. While the macaroni is cooking, cook bacon and set aside.
3. In large pot, melt 4 tbsp butter over medium-high heat. 
4. Add 2 cup whole milk and bring to almost boil. 
5. Reduce heat to medium and slowly add in 1/2 cup flour while whisking.
6. Vigorously whisk over medium heat for 1-2 minutes (mixture should be thick and boiling).
7. Slowly add 1 1/4 cup cream, while continuing to whisk. 
8. Add in dry 1/2 tsp dry mustard, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, and 2 tsp worcestershire.
9. Reduce heat to low and stir for 3- 5 minutes.
10. Add shredded gouda and cheddar cheese to pot, stir until completely combined.
11. Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture, mix well.
12. Pour macaroni and cheese mixture into a 13x9 dish.
13. Top with 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, and crumbled bacon.
14. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
15. Eat until uncomfortably full.

It feels like Christmas

I feel like I blinked and then BAM, July showed up out of nowhere. The beauty of it you ask? Hunter will be here in three days. I'm talking permanently. I seriously could cry tears of excitement. It's been a long 14 months of long distance, driving back in forth between cities almost every weekend.

Hunt, I just want you to know how appreciative I am that you're picking up and leaving the only city you've ever known to come to Tampa (but don't think I don't know it's just because you want to live with Tuck man again). Regardless, you're the bomb.

These lips are sealed.

It's been a while and honestly it's just because I've kinda been at a loss for what I want to write about.

Food? Sure, I could talk food all day- I love food and it loves me right back.
Tuck? Duh. Lord knows I love that puppy, and his big ole ears melt my heart.
DIY? uhm. Not so much, unless you count the graduation card I made for Hunter.
Which brings me to : Hunter? He graduated and I couldn't be more proud of him.
Family? My sister and her boyfriend got engaged last week... IN SPAIN (relishing in jealousy over here, the good kind). Congrats to those sweet babes!
School? I try to avoid that aspect of my life at all cost, seeing as it consumes 8 hours of my day a day. Let me have my evenings to enjoy some wine, k? K.

I guess what has been on this little mind of mine has been the thought of girls, acquaintances, friends, whatever you want to call them. Why, at 23 years old are they still so mean? Sometimes I just don't know what I want to let out on this little interwebz and what I should just keep to myself.

Moral of this story is I'm choosing to keep it to myself and just be thankful for the good friends I've had just about my entire life and move on from negativity.

Okay, I feel 12908130989 times better now that I got that out. Phew.

Rome, Part 2

Rome, we meet again...

Okay, so maybe this may sound a little weird to some of you but I'm going to say it anyways- finishing up these posts about our trip is making me a little emotional. No, not like crying emotional. More like, "that was the most amazing week of my life how was it already two months ago...why is it over?!" If you've been to Europe I know you understand what I'm saying, or at least trying to say. (Good thing I took over 500 pictures while we were there...)

On our last few days in Rome we drank an abundance of espresso (what jet lag??), ate gelato with just about every meal and finished up our sight seeing. We did the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, and let me just say, they are even more incredible in person. I'm talking mind blowing architecture, with so much history I couldn't believe we were actually there. Hands down the Colosseum was both Hunter and I's favorite, we spent a few hours at each and by the end of the day we were dead tired.

After dinner we got news that the new Pope was elected!! Hunter and I got on the metro and headed straight the St. Peter's Square. Sure enough- white smoke, parades and mobs of people everywhere! Such an incredible part of history and to be honest, I can't believe we were there to see it all happen. 

Side note: I was body slammed by two Nuns on the metro. Hunt thought I was kidding until we got back to our hotel and I showed him the bruises... oh the memories.

At the Pantheon 

 Standing outside the Pantheon

Walking through the Roman Forum, how cute is he?? 

 Our last dinner before heading to St. Peter's Square

Rome, you were good to us. 

Rome, part 1

Rome. 

Truthfully I'm not sure where to begin with this amazing city. Okay fine, let's start with the fact that it was the most incredible place I've ever been and if we would have gotten our passports stolen and had to stay there forever I would  have cried rivers of happiness- think I'm exaggerating? Well, I'm not. Not even a little bit. 

The people were so friendly, the food was to die for and any place where wine is cheaper than water is alright in my book- ya feel me? There were times Hunter and I were walking around hand-in-hand and I had to stop and take in everything around us. Our entire trip felt like a dream, but Rome was too good to be true. Besides getting hailed on. Twice. 

Spanish steps

 

Top of the Spanish Steps

The view from the top: fan-freaking-tastic 

Our rental car. Just kidding, we wandered around lost every where on foot.  

The Trevi Fountain... and no we were dumb dumbs and didn't toss any coins in, ok? 

Bruschetta platter: I'll have one of each today...for breakfast. 

There's the hail, in all it's glory.

This pizza speaks for itself, and it's saying eat me... all of me 

I could honestly talk about Italy all day and I have, numerous times since we've been back but for your sake I'll keep it short. No better place to be lost, wandering around with no idea where your going, in the pouring rain, 30 degree weather, spontaneous hail, sharing a single person umbrella with your 6'2 boyfriend. Still makes me laugh thinking about it. I wouldn't have changed a single thing. Actually, I take that back- I would have bought my own umbrella. It's okay, I still love you Hunt.

Until tomorrow-