...these are a few of my favorite things

22 and making a way for myself while enjoying all things great in life

[jeep]

[nstella]

love this

[nstella]

Putting my Pinning to good use

Something I've always wanted to do was make a meal from scratch using all fresh ingredients--it's actually on my bucket list weirdly enough. Being from a traditional Italian background, pasta and cheese are two of my core food groups, so it only felt natural to try my hand and some homemade pasta and ricotta cheese. I did the one thing that any girl would do when she need a recipe--I headed to Pinterest. I found a recipe for eggless cavatelli, and whole milk ricotta. Both required only a few ingredients, and I had most of them already so it was super simple. The ricotta was just buttermilk, whole milk, and heavy cream (super lowcal...right?), took only about 15 minutes to make, and was so creamy and rich and just awesome. YOU NEED TO TRY IT! Now the pasta was a different story. It's not that it didn't turn out good, I think it has a lot of potential, I may have messed something up along the way because it turned out pretty tough and chewy. The dough was 2 parts AP flour, 1 part semolina flour, and 1 part salted water, but you were supposed to mix it together a certain way and knead it for a certain period of time and yaddah yaddah yaddah. Anyways the pasta didn't turn out exactly has planned, but my pasta making days aren't over. I'm determined to get the recipe right so I can be an old Italian grandmother who makes fresh pasta! The pasta took a lot longer to make than the ricotta because it was super time consuming to cut and roll out, but it wasn't difficult at all, just tedious. After I had made the two main components of my dish, I took some tomatoes that I had picked up from the farmstand yesterday (Jersey Fresh!), and sauteed them down into a thick sauce with garlic and fresh grown basil from the backyard. All in all the meal was a success, and I got the added satisfaction of checking something off my bucket list. 

[nstella]

Slipped into my old habits again..

I completely forgot I had a blog...again. It definitely is going to take some getting used to posting regularly, and it doesn't help that I'm going through the tough transition of college life to real world. It's like coming off a 4 year high, and I'm not handling it well...Anyways, I've been trying to keep myself busy and productive--exercising 4 times a week, brushing up on my french, reading, and when I find myself finally getting into a routine, I mess it up with something like a trip to DC or Atlantic City, and then I fall into an unmotivated slump of watching New Girl episodes obsessively on Netflix, or Diners Drive Thrus and Dives. It's clear I'm going places...I have been applying to countless numbers of jobs up and down the eastern seaboard though, so keep your fingers crossed! I am beyond ready to be a productive citizen and earn a living...you can only watch reruns for so long.

[life1nmotion]

[nstella]

I'm obsessed with this decor. I love the rustic, cozy feel and it looks perfect for fall/winter

[nstella]

"How to Be Richer, Smarter, and Better Looking Than Your Parents"

Unfortunately, I am not the wizard who can provide you with this secret, but Zac Bissonette can. I began reading this book a few summers ago when my mom had bought it for me and subtly put it on my pillow, because like many other college students, I was dead broke. I'm now reading it for the 2nd time because it pretty much became my bible when it comes to managing my finances, and it's a super easy read. Zac puts things in terms that even the most financially inept person could understand, like Roth IRAs, 401 (k) plans, and he even provides tips on how to save money during everyday transactions, such as buying clothes, groceries, and cars. Do yourself a favor and spend the $12.69 it costs to get this book from Amazon, because I promise you, if you are anyway like me and are feeling uneasy about your financial future, this will definitely put your mind at ease.

[nstella]

Source: Meghan Rodgers

"A bad day in Paris is still better than a good day anywhere else"

[nstella]

hoppin' on the blog bandwagon

Well after several failed attempts to create and upkeep a blog, I've finally made the commitment that this blog--this is THE one. The one I will spend the rest of my years with dedicating, and pouring my love into day after day because I am determined to make it last. I also kind of just wanted a space to collect my thoughts and keep a running tab of all things awesome. I like to describe myself as a free spirit, but not quite a hippie. I am incredibly into artistic expression, nature, and traveling and I often find myself crafting, yearning to be outside, or dreaming up my next trip--sometimes all at the same time. I am very into health and remaining active, and I enjoy a nice run several times a week (even though I never thought I would after being a competitive athlete for the majority of my life, and had been conditioned to believe running was punishment). I appreciate a good yoga class, and I like staying fit in general, whether its through a nice ass kicking by Shaun T and Insanity, or a quick pickup game of whatever sport. And to round it all out, I've recently become infatuated with cooking, and I've developed a minor obsession with local and unique food, all while trying to teach myself French on the side.

It's evident that I love to stay busy, and try to express myself in any and every outlet possible, so naturally, a blog was the next step. Along with photography--I think I'll try that too...