{fashion} ootd - night out with the girls

I love summer. White jeans are my absolute favorite right now!

Apologies for my super messy bed..... oops!

Jeans: TJMAXX
Top: Vestique
Wedges: Ralph Lauren via Marshalls
Necklace: New York & Co. Outlets
Watch: Anne Klein, gift
Bangle: Alex & Ani, gift

What is your favorite summer trend?

xo, Jen

{recipe} egg-white omelet

I am probably the least picky eater you will ever meet.

However, I hate two things in this world.

Cottage cheese & plain eggs.

The cottage cheese thing is for obvious reasons.

Who ever thought it was a good idea to create a substance

that looks like chunky yogurt but tastes like salt?

I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND!

On the other hand, I have always had a love/hate relationship with eggs.

I had a bad hard-boiled egg once and have never been able to eat

them plain ever again. Scrambled eggs? Nope. Over-easy? No thank you.

Hard-boiled? Do not make me feel queasy.

I do really enjoy quiche and egg-white omelets, but only when I am in the mood.

I guess I can only eat eggs junked up with veggies (and lots and lots of cheese).

In the pursuit of healthier breakfast eating than just straight carbs,

(I'm looking at you cereal, toast, and grits!)

I decided to try to make my own egg-whites omelet.

My first attempt failed miserably.

That's right... I pretty much have no idea how to cook eggs.

I can cook for hours in preparation for a party, and prepare

a pork tenderloin, but I am completely hopeless in the kitchen

when it comes to breakfast food. Whew. Confession time!

I found a base-recipe on Reader's Digest's website & realized how wrong 

I was doing everything. I am so glad that they finally were able to teach me the ways

of omelet making. I liked this omelet so much that I didn't even have to smother it in 

ketchup like I always do with whole-egg omelets. 

I can finally make a breakfast that is healthy & easy that does not involve yogurt or oatmeal.

Winning.

Egg-White Omelet:

Recipe adapted from Reader's Digest.

Ingredients:

* 3 large egg whites -or 9 tablespoons if using packaged egg whites, like Egg Beaters.

* 1 teaspoon water

* 1/8 teaspoon salt

* 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

* 2 sweet baby peppers, seeds removed & diced

* 1 tablespoon onion, diced

* 2 slices canadian bacon, diced

* 2 tablespoons shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

* cooking spray

Directions:

1. Whisk egg whites, water, salt, and pepper together until frothy. Toss veggies, canadian bacon, and cheese 

    together in a bowl and set aside.

2. Lightly spray small skillet with cooking spray. Heat on medium for about a minute. Pour egg mixture into

    pan, and cook until eggs begin to set on bottom. You will be able to ease the eggs up with a spatula.

3. Spread filling over half of omelet, leaving a 1/2-inch border, and reserving 1 tablespoon of filling for a

    garnish. Lift up omelet and fold in half, slightly off-center so filling peeks out. Cook 2 minutes. 

4. Slide omelet onto plate & garnish with remaining filling. ENJOY!

xo, Jen

{life} recently + exciting news!

I took a little blogging / computer break for the last few weeks.

My daily schedule M-F:

Wake up at 6:15 to get ready for work.

Work from 7:30-3:00 at summer camp.
Take a siesta from 3:30-4:30.

Go to the gym  from 5:00-5:45.

Make dinner around 6:00.

Hang out with my roomies and watch TV.

Pack my lunch for the next day.

Read my kindle.
Head to bed around 10:30.
& then do it all over again.

My life is a joke. baha.

I'm sorry for going MIA! 

I am going to try to start posting more again.

I do have really exciting news though.....

{credit}

I am making moves to move to MADRID, SPAIN.

I am still trying to figure out my departure date, but I am going to move

there with a friend from my hometown to teach English for a full year. :)

I am soooo excited to start this adventure.

My blog will likely transform as I recount all 

of my travels and adventures within the next year.

Ah. Europe, here I come!

xo, Jen

{recipe} chocolate chip cookie vanilla cupcakes

Sometimes you just really need a cupcake and a cookie.

Hello beautifuls.

These bad boys came to be after getting home from sushi night while watching Bridesmaids with my roomie.

Girls night much!?

I am not even going to take credit for these beautiful cupcakes whatsoever. All I did was smoosh some cookie dough down into the cupcake liners before my roommate poured some of her homemade batter into them. I also let her frost. She is the cupcake master!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bottomed Vanilla Cupcakes:
Recipe by: How Sweet It Is


Cookie Layer Ingredients:
- One tub of refrigerated cookie dough - we cheated. :)
- If you want to make some homemade dough check out Jessica's recipe.

Cookie Layer Directions: 

1. Line a muffin tin with liners and give each a quick spritz of non-stick spray. Using a spoon also sprayed with non-stick spray, press about 1 1/2 tablespoons of cookie dough into the bottom of each liner.

Cake Layer Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup milk

Cake Layer Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.

3. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add half of the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the milk. Once mixed, add remaining dry ingredients. Using an ice cream scoop, drop batter on top of cookie dough mixture. Bake cupcakes at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.

4. After letting cool completely, frost your cupcakes with this frosting recipe. The best way to frost cupcakes without a piping bag is to scoop all of your frosting into a ziploc bag. Zip bag up tight, pushing out all air. Next, cut a small area of the bottom corner of the bag. Pipe your frosting beautifully! :)

Go into sweets coma forever.

Enjoy!

xo, Jen

{life} happy june!

We are halfway through 2012 already! 

I cannot believe it.

2012 has taught me a lot so far.

January was for new beginnings.
February was for sisterhood retreats and social events.
March was for celebrations & disappointments.
April was for the end of 21 and last college activities.
May was for graduating & scary future talks.
June will be filled with summer camp & discovery.

I can't wait to see what the next 6 months brings. :)

Have a great weekend!

xo, Jen