4
24
Aug

Awesome Eats // My Top 50

Mac n cheese

When I first saw CNN’s list of the world’s 50 most delicious foods, I was like ughh.  I mean… they got some stuff right.  But damn if it doesn’t look radically different than MY list of the top 50 most delicious foods.

So here you go, internet.  My list of the top 50 most delicious foods I have ever eaten.  AKA: the top 50 reasons I am fat.

I included beverages.  Because… mmmmmmm.

  1. New York-style thin crust cheese pizza.
  2. Lasagna and/or manicotti, but only if it is made by my mother.
  3. Chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing.  Again, only if made by my mother.
  4. Chocolate ice cream.  To go with the cake.
  5. Panang curry with chicken.
  6. Tom kha gai (Thai coconut milk soup).
  7. Veggie sushi with lots of wasabi.
  8. Fried calamari.
  9. French toast, especially when made by my dad.
  10. Bacon.
  11. Goi cuan (Vietnamese summer rolls).
  12. French bread.
  13. Rib-eye steak, medium rare.
  14. Lobster, with lots o’ melted buttah.
  15. Caesar salad, but only when made traditionally.
  16. Red peppers.  On anything.
  17. Warm cinnamon sugar cake donuts, especially from this place.
  18. Squash casserole.
  19. Fried okra.
  20. Peanut butter cookies, but only when made by yours truly or my mom.
  21. Feta cheese.  On anything.
  22. Biscuits.  Southern style.
  23. Honey baked ham.
  24. Caprese salad.
  25. Roasted or grilled asparagus.
  26. Apples.  Prepared in a variety of ways, including as nature intended.
  27. Cheese.  Many kinds, especially cheddar.
  28. Sausage.  All varieties.
  29. BBQ Pork.
  30. Macaroni and cheese, again, as prepared by my mother.
  31. Carrot cake.
  32. Chicken teriyaki.
  33. Fruit salsa and cinnamon chips.
  34. Dr. Pete’s Praline Mustard Glaze over cream cheese, with crackers.
  35. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
  36. Grilled cheese sandwich.
  37. Soysage, egg, and cheese breakfast burritos, but only when made by my BFF, Jen.
  38. Grilled flank steak with my mother’s secret marinade.
  39. Mashed potatoes, only made by me.
  40. Garlic.
  41. Hummus, all varieties.
  42. Beer, almost all varieties.
  43. Fudge, especially when made by my mother.
  44. Chocolate chip and toffee cookies.
  45. Cheeseburgers.
  46. Green bean casserole.
  47. Chicken fettuccine alfredo, especially when made by my bestie Amy.
  48. Fried chicken.
  49. Bowman burgers!  Act like ya know!
  50. SUGAR!  Prepared as candy, many varieties.

What are YOUR most deliciously awesome eats?

xo Em
0
19
Aug

Jetsettin

20110819-062442.jpg

It’s been an exciting few weeks for Team Bowman… traveling hither and yon has the posts piling up. We’re currently posted up in Baltimore with Jeffrey’s old friends from Pensacola. They run a fantastic little record shop. If you’re ever in B-More, hit them up!

Til I return…. xo!
Em

1
16
Aug

Goodbye Diet Coke

Harmful Soda
Via: Term Life Insurance

0
9
Aug

Into the Wild, Wild West

Road Trip!

CC BY-NC-SA  Flickr user: -Snugg-

While it isn’t the first time Jeffrey and I have talked about it, something in our hearts must have clicked right into place on Sunday night when we decided to begin planning our long desired cross-country road trip–FOR REAL.  Before then it was a “one of these days” idea.  Something that we have always wanted, occasionally talked about, and never took any action on.  We have lots of those.  Perhaps we’re just starved for adventure, but we decided that relinquishing the cross-country trip to the “one day” pile was no longer acceptable.

So be prepared, dear friends, for me to spend the next 8 months planning for and postulating about the total AWESOMENESS of the trip that the hubs and I will soon embark upon.  Naturally we’ve got to nail down everything from routes and itineraries to budget and packing lists.  Here is what we’ve got so far:

Logistics

  • Departing ~late April 2012
  • 3 Weeks total
  • 3 days in Portland, Oregon w/my dear friend Jen
  • 3 days in Seattle, Washington w/Jeffrey’s cousin Colleen
  • Camping most nights, 2 nights (at most) in a cabin at a national park
  • Maple Mae as road dog
  • Drivin the Xbox

Must See Sights

  • Badlands (South Dakota)
  • Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse (South Dakota)
  • Sioux Falls (South Dakota)
  • Yellowstone (Wyoming)
  • Glacier National Park (Montana)
  • Mt. Rainier National Park (Washington)
  • Goonie Rocks! (Oregon)
  • US101 down the Oregon/California coast
  • Wine country (California)
  • Redwood National Park (California)
  • Yosemite National Park (California)
  • Sierra National Forest (California)
  • Death Valley National Park (California)
  • Grand Canyon (Arizona)
  • Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

It’s an ambitious trip already.  I CANNOT WAIT.

So, have any of you ever gone on a super-long road trip?  Any tips to share?

xo Em

0
7
Aug

Most Awesome Week Ever // 8.7.11

I’m celebrating the most awesome week ever!

ditching cable for our new roku player // finishing the last full week of my summer internship // secrets & surprises // discovering bill hicks on my roku // jazzin up my linkedin profile // discovering awesome new apps // having a conversation with my puppy // the temps are a’droppin // getting $100 from rent.com // sleeping in & snuggling with my hubby // watching an awesome documentary on the teynbee tiles on my roku // watching my plants grow // adding to my ashtray collection // listening to Jeffrey play on his new Orange amp // discovering the perfect stretch // did I mention my roku player?

What awesomeness are you celebrating this week?

xo Em

1
3
Aug

Awesome Eats // Caprese Pasta Salad

Ever since I read Rachel at Lolling About’s recipe for Quinoa Caprese Salad, I knew I had to make some of my own.  Like everyone with any kind of sense, I LOVE caprese salad.  Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil… what’s not to love?  Mix it with some stick-to-your-bones grain and protein and you’ve got a very well-rounded meal on your hands.

I would have loved to try the quinoa recipe they outlined, but I didn’t have any on hand.  So, here’s my little adaptation with pasta.  And chicken.  Cuz ME EAT MEATS.

yumm

I was too lazy to take any pictures as I prepared this meal, but here’s a picture of the oh-so-delicious leftovers I brought for lunch.  If you’re looking for a meal that only gets better the longer it’s been in the fridge, this here’s your winner.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Ingredients

1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup italian dressing
2 tablespoons olive oil for pan
2 cups whole wheat rotini
1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced
6 oz fresh mozzerella cheese, cubed
1/4 cup fresh basil, sliced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (I guess?)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (I think?)
Black pepper and sea salt to taste (for me, LOTS)

Directions

  1. Cut chicken breasts into 1 inch pieces and place in bowl.  Cover with italian dressing and allow to maninate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Cook pasta according to directions. Let cool.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan to medium-high.  Cook chicken pieces until slightly browned, and set aside.
  4. Slice tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
  5. Toss pasta with olive oil, balasmic vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste.  Combine all ingredients.
  6. Enjoy!

xo Em

0
31
Jul

Most Awesome Week Ever // 7.31.11

Today, I’m celebrating the most awesome week ever.

the smelly neighbors who only shower at midnight moving out // Cleveland turning out to be surprisingly rad // long phone chats on the porch with my bestie // making art // planning adventures with Jeffrey // getting my computer to work… finally! // snuggling with a pile of sheets right out of the dryer // being within 12 inches of rock and roll history // napping // stocking up on produce // meeting our mirror couple // potential work-related blogging project in the works // getting sucked in to Mad Men courtesy of Netflix instant streaming // awesome in-laws

What awesomeness are you celebrating this week?

xo Emily

1
27
Jul

Awesome Weddings // Past & Future

A few months ago I was a bridesmaid matron of honor in the wedding of two of my best friends, Jenny and Jackson. It was my first time in a wedding party where I actually had to do things. Which, in all honesty, makes it a little less fun.  And a lot more expensive.  Just kidding, Jenny… if you’re even reading this!  Some friend you are!! 

No, no, really… I felt very honored to participate.  I’ve known these fools (as a couple) for nearly ten years and it was quite the tearjerker when they finally tied the knot after all that time.  I was kinda rooting for common law, though: a husband when you want one, FREEDOM when you don’t. ;)

Aren’t they just precious?

DSC_0207-1 copy
Fair use, Flickr user: teamburnstar

It was easily the best wedding I’ve ever been to aside from my own.  Great friends + great music + great food + great venue + great afterparty = wicked good time.  AND, THEY HAD A PHOTOBOOTH!

One of the best things about it was that I got to live vicariously through Jenny as she planned her wedding–which was exciting to me because the hubs and I gave up on the wedding we were planning and eloped in Vegas.  Now, I have a chance to live vicariously through another awesome couple–Kelly and Nic–as they plan their upcoming nuptials.  They are the foxy pair in the middle up there.

This scenario, however, is a little different.  These two lucky kids made it to the top ten finalists of the Pensacola Block Party Wedding Giveaway:  a contest in my hometown of Pensacola, Florida giving away $75,000 worth of the city’s best wedding and event services.  Free venue on the streets of downtown Pensacola on Gallery Night + free catering + free photography + free beautification + free invitations + tons of other free stuff for the winners.  The winners who, as it turns out, will be selected by THE INTERNET.

So get ready to get your click on and help my homies out.  As if you needed any encouragement other than my good word, here are the top 3 reasons they deserve to win:

  1. They are O.G. downtown kids.  Grew up and threw up in the streets of downtown Pensacola.  I think it oughta be a prerequisite for tying the knot block party style downtown.
  2. They are both bona fide creatives.  Kelly is a graphic designer and marketing maven and Nic is a musician.  If this is going down on Gallery Night, the bride and groom oughta fit the scene.
  3. These two know how to BRING THE DAMN PARTY.

All you have to do is go to pensacolablockpartywedding.com.  Look for this picture:

And fill out the super short 20 second form with your email address and your vote for Kelly Blackwell and Nicolas Pauwels.

Once you’re done, just sit back and wait for the sugar-sweet internet karma to come rollin on back to you.  It’s just that easy.

xo Em

4
25
Jul

For Real Tho // About Me

Since I just decided to fork over two days of Diet Coke money for an ad for this blog, I figure I ought to do a more descriptive “About Me” post for any potential new readers.  You know, just in case they wouldn’t be able to discern from my posts that I am a 30 year old nerd with great ambitions and little necessary follow-through.  Luckily you, my dear friends and random family members who actually read this, get to benefit as well!

Wha?

So, yeah, my name is Emily and I am a 30 year old graduate student living in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  I am originally from the south and YES, enduring a Michigan winter for the first time last year was probably the worst thing ever.  As you may have guessed, I attend the University of Michigan and you will likely encounter an obligatory “GO BLUE” or two when reading this blog.  Whenever people ask me what I am studying at U of M, I often have a brief anxiety attack before replying with something like this:  “It’s like if all the new hip librarians broke up with libraries and started sleeping with web developers and they had kids who were really into digitizing their old LP’s and crowdsourcing what they want to eat all the time.”  Umm, maybe it would make more sense if someone else explained it.

Anyhow, I spend my days in class, in project meetings, or at one of my part-time gigs in the technology or the digital curation departments. My nights, however… my nights belong to this hunk:

Viva el toro!

And this bitch:

mapes

We spend a lot of time watching movies, sittin on the porch, and cuddling.  Other than all things internet, I enjoy LAUGHING, cooking and baking, reading (mostly non-fiction), drinking good beer, and celebrating the artistic achievements of my friends and family while secretly bemoaning the fact that I have little artistic talent myself.

Also, I have just come to the realization that I am quite self-deprecating.  Hmph!  Learn somethin new everyday.

If there is anything else you’d like to know, do a simple Google search–I’m sure it’s out there somewhere.  If not, feel free to drop me a line at emily dot mahood at gmail dot com.

xo Em

PS – I wouldn’t be a proper southern lady without saying thank you for stoppin by darlin!

 

0
22
Jul

Personal Branding is for Nerds

Personal Branding Formula
CC BY-NC-ND Flickr user: stefano principato

I don’t really want to offend anyone here, but come on… we all know it’s true.  Personal branding is for nerds.  Or marketing and social media professionals…. who are probably also nerds.  The concept has always struck me as so INAUTHENTIC.  Putting all that effort into strategizing exactly how you will portray yourself on the web… why can’t we all just be ourselves?  Isn’t that enough?  What happens when I GROW and CHANGE and EVOLVE in a direction that is not consistent with my personal brand?

BUT, being the nerd that I am, I do see the benefit–especially when it comes to my looming job hunt–of having a strong personal brand visual identity that extends beyond my profile pic and status updates.  So, while I can’t really get behind the entire concept, I do want to be prepared to present a strong, thoughtful, and consistent visual brand on all my “stuff”.  You know, my portfolio, my resume, my business cards, my embroidered polo shirts… yeah, just kidding on that last one.

Since I’ve never really made this kind of effort before, I decided to do a little crowdsourcing and enlist the help of my friends on the web to brainstorm some concepts with me.  I wanted honest feedback on three simple questions:

  • What color do you most strongly associate with me?
  • What three words or personal characteristics come to mind when you think of me?
  • If I were a “thing” (a symbol, a shape, an animal, etc), what would I be?

How did I do this, you ask?  Let me tell you, SurveyMonkey is your friend.  Your free and easy to use friend.  Your free and easy to use anonymous survey tool friend.  I just whipped up a quick survey and shared it on Facebook and Google+.  Lucky for me, people gave a crap enough to respond.

While I’m still digging through the data and trying to reach some conclusions, I thought I would share some of the shining stars I received as responses.  They really are gems.

What color do you most strongly associate with me?

Is awesome a color? Orange.

What three words or personal characteristics come to mind when you think of me?

Sunday morning cartoons.

Loyal, hardworking, boobs.

If I were a “thing” (a symbol, a shape, an animal, etc), what would I be?

Godzilla with long blond hair, and a cute laugh but with a tender side…feeling guilty about eating a school with kids inside, crying at house burnings and such.

A unicorn.

A tigress. (!!! My favorite!!!!)

I swear to god, even though I felt super dorky for crowdsourcing my personal brand visual identity, reading the responses to those questions has been keeping me on cloud nine for weeks now.  I highly recommend that you try it… even if you just want to do it to see what people will say about you.  Everyone loves a narcissist, you know.

xo Em

 

PS – Please note that I hold nerds in very high regard and aspire to great nerdiness myself.  Criticism of personal branding is not in any way meant to offend those that do get into it.  To each his own, hombre.