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6/24/11

My Therapy

People take stress out in different ways. Some exercise. Some paint. Some play video games. Some "insert your activity here". But me? I cook. I don't even like cooking, but when I'm stressed? I become a chef in the kitchen.

The other day my stress-o-meter (yes, I just said that) was at max capacity. There happened to be potatoes in the fridge so I decided to sit and peel them. Stop laughing at me. When I was done peeling, I felt a lot better but then I had another problem to solve. What the heck was I going to cook with four large peeled potatoes? I couldn't make baked potatoes because, lets face it, baked potatoes suck without the skin (in my humble opinion). I don't have a masher, so mashed potatoes were out. Then by chance I saw someone over on the Scary Mommy message boards post this recipe:

4 (omg, perfect!) peeled, cubed potatoes
3 peeled/chopped carrots
1 chopped onion
butter
salt/pepper
1/3 cup EVOO

Put all ingredients in a casserole dish, then bake at 450 for 75 minutes (or until the potatoes and carrots are soft and onions have caramelized).  Note: I put the chopped potatoes into a gallon ziplock bag with one packet of lipton onion soup mix, a little water, and olive oil. I shook the bag up really well to make sure all the potatoes got covered and then let it sit in the fridge over night to absorb flavor.

And voila, a perfectly delicious side dish. I think I should get stressed out more often.

Right before being put in the oven.
But, you can't have a meal of just a side dish, so I had to come up with a main course. I decided on Cumin Chicken:

4 Chicken Breasts
2 tsps ground cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp EVOO
salt/pepper to taste

Cut chicken breast into 1-2" pieces. Mix all seasoning together in gallon zip lock bag. Add the (uncooked) chicken into the bag and shake until all chicken is covered (I let it sit in the fridge over night also). Then cook with oil in skillet over medium heat.

Ready to cook!
The finished product.
This is probably my favorite meal I've cooked so far. So delicious!!! That's what I tell myself anyway, because lets face it, nobody wants to believe that they spent all that time cooking for it to suck.

6/21/11

Office Space




This is hands down my favorite movie I've watched off this list so far. I was laughing the entire time and was actually sad I hadn't watched it sooner.

I even told someone that they had a case of the Mondays yesterday (and laughed).

17 down...73 to go....

The List:

12 Monkeys
A League Of Their Own
Airplane
Akira
Aliens
American History X
Animal House
Best in Show
Better Off Dead
Big Trouble in Little China
Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure
Blade Runner
Blazing Saddles
Boondock Saints
Bull Durham
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Caddyshack
Casino Royale
Clerks
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Daze and Confused
Deliverence
Evil Dead II
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Field of Dreams*
Fight Club
Fletch
Ghostbusters
Glory
Goldfinger
Gremlins
Heathers
Highlander
Jaws
Lethal Weapon I
Life as a House
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
My Blue Heaven
Naked Gun
National Lampoon's Vacation
Office Space
Pale Rider
Planes Trains, and Automobiles
Platoon
Policy Acadamy
Porkys
Predator
Primer
Pulp Fiction
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Rainman
Rambo: First Blood
Raw Deal
Red Dawn
Reservoir Dogs
Robo Cop
Run Lola Run
Say Anything
Scarface
Sixteen Candles
Spaceballs
Stand By Me
Star Wars: A New Hope
Star Wars:Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator: Salvation
The 6th Day
The Big Lebowski
The Breakfast Club
The Godfather
The Golden Child
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
The Goonies
The Jerk
The Karate Kid
The Natural
The Professional
The Shining
The Three Amigos
The Usual Suspects
The Warriors
Top Gun
True Lies
True romance
Unforgiven
Untouchables
Young Frankenstein

Is this your first time following my Pop Culture Challenge? Read what it's all about here.

6/20/11

Celebrating Fathers Day in Dominica

Dave has played an enormous role in PJ's life since the time he was 2 years old and still in diapers. He's now almost 4 and growing like a weed! So, to show our appreciate and just how much Dave means to us, we surprised him with a little Fathers Day celebration.

While waiting at the bus stop to go to surprise location, we passed time by taking a few pictures:



After getting his picture taken a bunch, PJ decided he wanted to be the photographer (and he did a pretty good job if you ask me):

Being goofy.

By now I'm sure you're wondering where this surprise location was. I decided on.... *drum roll please*.... a resort called Red Rock. We ate at a restaurant right on the beach. 

 Dave (on left) and PJ's (on right) footprints in the sand.
Closer view.


Getting ready to sit down for dinner.

Dinner in paradise.

Without the flash.
Getting ready to head home.


The final surprise was giving Dave this card that PJ made:

Those are all of PJ's answers (written by yours truly), signature and colored heart.

You mean the world to us, Dave. Happy Fathers Day!

6/17/11

Big Trouble in Little China

I'm having a *hanging my head in shame* moment because it's been four months since I've knocked a movie off of my Pop Culture list. I've come to the realization that this is going to take me ten years, but I am determined to get through them all!


I was itching to watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off last night and see what all the hype is about, but icefilms.info failed me. Normally (almost) every movie or tv show is available to stream there, but the audio for Ferris Bueller's Day Off was messed up. So, what's a girl to do when she can't watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Watch Big Trouble in Little China... duh!


My thoughts:
  • The man in the first scene has the most ridiculous hair cut. Have you ever seen a China man with hair like that?
  • I finally realized why I hate watching movies from the 80's. Two words: synthesized music. 
  • "I was born ready" Enough said.
  • The ending fights were so anticlimactic.
  • I literally remember thinking that I am going to die from the corniness in the ending scene. 

All in all, I was so glad when it was over. So, what movie should I watch next??

16 down...74 to go....

The List:

12 Monkeys
A League Of Their Own
Airplane
Akira
Aliens
American History X
Animal House
Best in Show
Better Off Dead
Big Trouble in Little China
Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure
Blade Runner
Blazing Saddles
Boondock Saints
Bull Durham
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Caddyshack
Casino Royale
Clerks
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Daze and Confused
Deliverence
Evil Dead II
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Field of Dreams*
Fight Club
Fletch
Ghostbusters
Glory
Goldfinger
Gremlins
Heathers
Highlander
Jaws
Lethal Weapon I
Life as a House
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
My Blue Heaven
Naked Gun
National Lampoon's Vacation
Office Space
Pale Rider
Planes Trains, and Automobiles
Platoon
Policy Acadamy
Porkys
Predator
Primer
Pulp Fiction
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Rainman
Rambo: First Blood
Raw Deal
Red Dawn
Reservoir Dogs
Robo Cop
Run Lola Run
Say Anything
Scarface
Sixteen Candles
Spaceballs
Stand By Me
Star Wars: A New Hope
Star Wars:Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator: Salvation
The 6th Day
The Big Lebowski
The Breakfast Club
The Godfather
The Golden Child
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
The Goonies
The Jerk
The Karate Kid
The Natural
The Professional
The Shining
The Three Amigos
The Usual Suspects
The Warriors
Top Gun
True Lies
True romance
Unforgiven
Untouchables
Young Frankenstein

Is this your first time following my Pop Culture Challenge? Read what it's all about here

6/15/11

Random Pictures

I don't have any significant updates, so random pictures it is!

You never know when you'll randomly come across a roaming cow here in Dominica...

...or be walking home to randomly find a piece of heavy equipment just hanging out.

Dead crabs on the side of the road are common though.

PJ started soccer lessons and is LOVING them.

At home this is his favorite "hang out" spot. Yes, really.


This is the mountain of trash Dave and I compiled after a day of studying. Impressive isn't it?

Doing what I do best: relaxing.


6/9/11

Hell Week

A lot of spouses here at Ross are used to the term Hell Week--and we are currently in the middle of it. What is hell week? The week before the Mini (aka exam, dun dun dun). It entails our significant others waking up earlier, studying later, and drinking more caffeine than you thought humanly possible. There is only one way to study for exams in Med School and that is rigorously. Well, if you don't want to become apart of the drop out statistic anyway.

There is an upside of hell week, though. After the grueling week of study and when the Mini is over and done with, you have at least half a day of quality time with the student (this is a big deal!). Only three more days left...but who's counting?

Good luck on Mini1 all of you 3rd Semesters!!!

6/5/11

Road Trip, Dominica Style

I got a call from my friend around 11:40AM telling me she and her husband rented a car for the day. An impromptu road trip? Yes, please!

We drove by Purple Turtle Beach, Douglas Bay, Benze Pool, through Calibishie and the Carib Territory. We stopped and checked out Red Rock Haven, Batibou Beach, Woodford Hill Beach, a few other beaches (I forgot the names already), and the property that my friends own in the Carib Territory.

The beaches were absolutely stunning, but I think my favorite part was seeing the property! There was every kind of fruit tree (ranging from coffee bean, to star fruit, to sugar cain, to mango) and the view was gorgeous!! Over all, it was a long day (didn't get home until around 9:10PM) but it was so fun and adventurous.

You didn't think I'd end the post without showing pictures, did you?

A couple random snap shots along the drive: 


Pictures from Batibou:
Had to off road to get there but the scenery was amazing!


We spotted a mini waterfall along the way.

Closer view.

Finally made it to the beach!

<3

This forest surrounds the entire beach.


The Property:
The view! My friends are going to be building a house here.

PJ and Joel picking oranges.

Joel about to cut some sugar cain!

PJ's sugar cain.

These are coffee beans.

PJ found some cashews.

Eating some fresh star fruit! 

Pineapple plant!
The property had gorgeous flowers.

 I got a branch of these to plant at my house!

After a while PJ was getting antsy and decided to be a photographer.

This is my stash of fresh fruit which included star fruit, oranges, papaya, plantains, coconut, sugar Cain...and a few others that I can't remember the names of.

Well, that's all! I live on one beautiful island and can't wait to explore more! Thanks again to Joel and Rachel who were kind enough to let PJ and I tag along for the day--we had an amazing time!!!