PARTY!

 Flexin' in the Hulk undies... I love this kid!

 Sweet, silly Julian.

 

 gettin' downnnn!

Thanks, Grace!

So I'm generally a pretty happy, easygoing person. 

Don't get me wrong,  I get straight heated when the time is right, but I usually don't just walk around thinking that the world sucks.

But for whatever reason, today I was totally not in a happy mood. 

I woke up normal, and moderately happy.

Then work happend. 

Rain in July.

Got about three disappointing text messages.

And voila! I'm grumpy.

And I really don't like being grumpy.

Being grumpy actually makes me more grumpy because I fixate on how annoyed I am that I'm grumpy, which obviously fuels the fire. 

It's a pretty vicious cycle, really.

So, in order to distract myself, I decided to read my sister's blog , which didn't actually help matters because he content of her latest post is midly depressing and, she has the flu. 

BUMMER.

So naturally, I moved on to my neice Grace's blog, where she had recently shared a few simple things that make her smile.

Not only does Grace alone always make me smile, but so does thinking about the little things that make her smile. 

So, in an attempt to be less bitchy and more smiley, I'm taking a cue from the noble 12-year-old in my life and going to focus on the many, many things that make me happy, instead of the handful of things that don't.

Here goes!

(And these are in no particular order)

First off, Grace 

and her blog

because pretty much everything that she posts makes me smile in some way- whether it be her hilarious, witty or observant rambings, or her always sunny, bright and cheery photos (usually of people that I know and love, which obvi adds to the smile-factor.)

P.S. isn't she freakin' gorg?!

2nd:

Yesterday I picked up my oldest friend Courtnay from the airport. 

I hadn't seen her since April, and she hadn't set foot on the West Coast since January. 

Not only am I super excited to be able to hang with her for the next few days (which includes a whitewater rafting trip in Wenatchee.... whaattt?), the pick-up itself was hilarious and definitely makes me smile!

(Brief recap: we told Court that Taylor had to work so she wouldn't be able to come with me to pick her up. But we lied. Taylor hid in my trunk, and when Court opened the hatch door it was hilarious!)

THREE

My boyfriend's latest Facebook post. (Cheesy, I know.)

But without him even knowing my day wasn't exactly up to par, he sent me a Facebook note saying "Hope yer days goin well shoooga!"

(please ignore the grammatical errors. he sent it from his phone.)

And he's not exactly the Facebook-wall-posting type.

Simply stated, made me smile. 

(Among the many other sweet and hilarious things he entertains me with on the daily.)

four

my dog.

Literally all I have to do is think about his wacky ass, and I'm usually beaming from ear-to-ear, if not completely in stiches. 

Much love.

 Five:

My family, in general.

Not only do I have an intense love for all of my crazy relatives, it makes me smile that I get to see most of them on a pretty regular basis.
From my awesome sister, whom I don't know what  I would do without;

to my sweet and unknowlingly hilarious mom; my goofy, but loving, brother; my even goofier, and equally as loving dad; three impressively adorable/handsome/funny/smart/talented nephews; myriads of unique and enviably talented cousins, aunts and uncles; three out of four grandparents, not to mention all the non-blood-related family members that I hold extremely close - you name it, I got it! 

And I know a lot of people don't. 

Which means I should buck up and smile about it, dammit!

Six:

Nice weather.

Even though we are not experiencing that at the exact moment (see fig. 1 below) when it does pop up (like fig. 1 says it might tomorrow) I know I'll be smiling about it then...

fig. 1

7!

The peanut butter pretzels and chocolate chips I packed for a snack, which I will soon be eating.

AND the hot, homemade soup I am eating currently (I know it's July, but remember, it's RAINING? soup makes sense. and makes smiles).

eight:

the sweet new paint job I gave my bike this weekend

(before)

(after)

nine:

This joke (which I have unofficially dubbed as my 'favorite joke of all time')

What's brown and rhymes with snoop?

scroll to the bottom of this post for the punchline.

10.

It's Thursday, which only means one thing: tomorrow is Friday! 

Which mean's I can bring out the Rebecca Black. 

Saturday comes after that, and then... it's Sunday... and I got no complaints on weekends, people.

So bring it on, pissy mood!

My "things that make me smile list" will totally defeat your sorry ass!

and here's the punchline to number nine:

Doctor Dre, motha effas!

(I know you all wanted to say poop. Don't lie.)

It's PHILLY TIME!

Ever have those days where you just want to come home from work, plop your ass on the couch, and eat something that will put you into an inevitable, yet glorious, food coma?

That's how I felt last night. I will spare you the details, but I was tired, cranky and just plain yearning for some comfort food and snuggles.

This meal was quick, easy and definitely did the trick. 

(At least as far as the need for comfort food goes. Eddie covered the snuggles.)

Philly CheeseFake Sammich, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a classic "salad bar" salad.

So, this probably looks like I put a lot of work into it, but I really didn't.

(Hint: I used instant potatoes and a couple of Bocas from the freezer. Having leftover sliced veggies from the Father's Day Barbecue really sped things up, too).

Here's a loose recipe, if you choose to follow:

Saute some chopped onions and garlic in a little olive oil 'til they are soft.
Add chopped mushrooms and chopped, thawed, Bocas (I used two patties. It served two and had leftovers. Use your best judgment on amounts. It's a Philly Sammich, not rocket science.)
Add a few table spoons of Bragg's Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce/Tamari- whichever you prefer).

Let cook for a few, meanwhile, boil 2 cups water in a pan, add a broth of sorts (veggie bouillon, broth concentrate, pre-made broth - whatevs) season with more Bragg's and some herbs and spices.
I used black pepper, sage and mixed "Herbs De Provence"' (I don't know what the hell that means, but it's a good mix of marjoram, oregano and something else, I think, and it makes a 'mazing gravy flavor).

Add a little bit of that broth to the Philly fixens, then cover and let simmer for a few. Then add some frozen peppers and let it cook till you just can't wait any longer and you want to get your ass on the couch and eat.
Use whatever kind of cheese you like. I slathered two sides of a toasted sesame bun with vegan cream cheese, and it tasted bombdigs.

MEANWHILE, while Philly simmers:

Boil some more water for the instant taters, and then remove from heat and add some instant potato flakes. Stir until it's thick. Add some butter and milk (I use Smart Balance and Almond Milk), stir, and cover 'til your ready to eat.

The gravy is also super easy to make.
I've used this recipe for Thanksgiving a few times, and it always wins over the hearts of all the meat-eaters who prefer mine over the Turkey drippings (can I just say 'ew' to that phrase?) variety.

Heat up a little more oil, throw in some more chopped onions/garlic (If you want. You don't have to). Cook through, then add a table spoon or so of flour. Whisk it up into a roux (clumps of flour) then slowly add the rest of that broth you made earlier to the pot while whisking. It will thicken up.
Too thick? Add more liquid. Not thick enough? Add more thickener (flour.)
Season to taste with Bragg's, salt, pepper, Herbs De Province. WHATEVER you want that will make you some good gravy.

GOOD GRAVAY!

Then grab your fat girl life alert and get your ass on the couch.

(I also recommend saving the dishes for after dessert, but that's totally up to you.)

Birthdays, cont...

And while we're on the topic of birthdays, I have been wanting to post this gem I made in honor of my best friend Rianne's birthday, but I had to wait until she actually received it before posting it up on the web for the world to see.

She's my boo, and we're super gangsta, so this card is legit.

(Plus it shows off my mad Photoshop skillz.)

 (Key: Rianne (top, far left) and me (bottom, far right) embedded in a sea of legendary rappers, hip hop royalty and straight up gangstas.)






For the record, she still has not received this card. After weeks of waiting, I finally got the package I sent her returned in the mail. So I emailed it her a jpeg of my creation in the meantime until I can give it to her in person next month when I visit her in Charleston*. Two months after her birthday. Talk about BELATED! I feel like such a wanksta!



*SIDE NOTE, I will be traveling to Charleston, SC middle of next month to spend a lonnnggg weekend with Rianne, as well as Courtnay, 80 degree weather, Palm Trees and beaches for Courtnay's birthday weekend! Yes, you heard right, Mamma's goin' on vacay!

WOO!