Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Here in Salt Lake the high's have been around 15 degrees.

That's right people. 

We are talking c-c-c-c-c-old!!

It's a production just to go to the store. I have to give myself a pep talk to even walk to my car.

So.

Freaking.

COLD.

And, to me, weather like this means one thing.

SOOOOOUP!

Delicious homemade warm soup.

One of my all-time favorites is Broccoli Cheddar. I love Broccoli, and it makes me feel good about myself to eat a vegetable...honestly, it doesn't happen enough. And WHO doesn't love cheddar? In my opinion, the BEST cheese out there.

Nom nom nom.

This recipe was adapted from the blog Skinnytaste. 

It turned out wonderful and will make your house smell awesome!

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

1 onion, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 cup milk

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

4 cups broccoli florets, chopped into pieces

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese

1 tbsp parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Chop onion, celery, and garlic in a food processor.

In a large pot, melt butter. Add chopped vegetables and saute on low heat until soft, about 5 minutes.

Add flour, salt and pepper to the pot.

Add chicken broth, milk, and potatoes and set the heat to high until it comes to a boil. Cover and cook on low until the potatoes are soft, 10-15 minutes.

Add broccoli and parmesan and stir well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Cook uncovered until broccoli is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add cheddar, stir well and remove from heat.

Serve and enjoy!



Fancy Friday: Wavy Hair

I am both blessed and cursed with my hair. Sure, it's thick, it's long, yatta yatta yatta. I hear it often, you're so lucky, I wish I had that....but I don't think most people understand that this type of hair come with a SCROLL of issues.

With the amount of time I have invested in my hair in the last ten years, I could have written a novel to rival the Potter series, sailed around the world mayyyybe four times, and parented and raised the next President of the United States. 

Seriously.

NOTHING is more time consuming. Ask my husband.

For example: When I want to curl my hair, I need an HOUR at least. Comfortably, 90 minutes. None of this, I get up at a normal time and decide, "Oh, I think I'll look cute today." 

No no no nooo...I have to set the alarm and make an extra pot of coffee.

An hour may not seem like much, but try holding your arm at a 90 degree angle above your head for an hour.....you'll get the idea.

So, to combat the time issue (because, let's be honest, my sleep is becoming more important than a pretty do in the morning), I've looked into no heat styling. It's easy, faster (since the styling part take place whilst I'm "zzzzz"-ing), and healthier!

What could be better??

I've tried several styles and waving is definitely a fav of mine.

I used to wave my hair when I was younger. 

We're not talking the sexy beach waves found on every page of the Victoria's Secret bikini catalog....oh no....all of you know what I'm talking about. 

Envision 1999....YOU know what I'm talking about. 

It was either sectioned off pieces that were crimped (yikes), or the bigger waves that were hairsprayed within an inch of their lives. My hair could have got up and walked around by itself.

Ah, high school.

Yay.

Well, although the style may have changed, I still hold a fondness for the wavy look.

What d'ya think?

This will work with long and short, thick or thin hair....however, I will say, if you have shorter hair consider braiding the hair looser....you don't want to look like you had a war with the electrical socket and lost. 

Just sayin'.

You can also change it up with the number of braids you use. However, for my hair I find that two works best.

All you need are:

Two elastics...Woot! Simple!

K, the one skill you need is the know how with a french braid.

Wait! Wait!

For those of you who IMMEDIATELY said, "okay, well I was excited until she brought that up...guess I'll head back to pinterest..." give me a few more minutes.

I PROMISE.

French braiding is NOT. HARD.

It's very similar to curling your own hair, in that, was curling your hair a breeze the first time you attempted it? If you're like me, you ended with more burns on your fingers than curls in your hair.

Like french braiding, it just takes a few times practice. Then you get the feel of it.

AAAAaand, it DOESN'T have to look pretty. Remember? The only one who'll be mocking is your pillow.  If there are lumps, whooo caaaares?



I usually shower at night, so I let my hair air dry until it's just damp, and then french braid it...easy!

Here is a link for some step-by-step instructions on french braiding:

French Braid tutorial

*Hint: for those of you that have bangs, I find that braiding them in is better...this means you have to start the french braid pretty high on your head.*



Go to sleep, and the next morning, spritz your hair with hairspray BEFORE you take the braids out and let it sit for a few. Then, unbraid your hair:

Loosen the waves with your fingers...don't do it too much though, or you'll pull the wave out of your hair a bit.

Once you've got your hair the way you want it, spray with some hairspray, and ta daaaaa!

What to Read Wednesday: Matched

I finished the novel Matched by Ally Condie last night...thought I'd write a review in case this book happens to be on anyone's summer reading list. 

Soooooo, perhaps you've heard of a little known story called The Hunger Games. 

Ahem.

Girl lives in totalitarian society.

Girl likes boy from childhood.

Girl is put in situation controlled by society.

Girl hates the totalitarian society.

Girl decides to become a rebel.

Girl meets boy who's allll about being rebellious.

Girl decides she likes him better than first boy.

Together they change the world.

Ahh, Hunger Games in a nutshell. It's become the standard for any dystopian novel out there.

To begin with, I really really wanted to like this book. I loved Hunger Games, and I actually was incredibly fascinated by dystopian society novels long before it became so trendy.

Thank you Suzanne Collins for making these so much more accessible to me.


However... This book? I was kind of disappointed. I won't give away or spoil anything in this review, so please feel free to read this with both eyes open.  And yes, that WAS a Taylor Swift reference.


It begins following the life of Cassia Reyes, a young girl who strives for perfection living in the Society. She's a model citizen who has reached her Matching age. In this society, teens are matched by the governing body to their perfect genetic complement (basically, arranged marriages).

Cassia is Matched and couldn't be happier with her partner. That is, until, she watches the video the Matching department put together for her about her partner.... And someone else's face appears. (whoops)

This begins a chain reaction of events that challenges everything Cassia knows and trusts about the Society....


This is where I'll stop with the story so as to not spoil anything. 

And for those of you who immediately freaked out because I DID give some background, well, that info is on the back of the book. 

Anywho, the book invokes a love triangle (what teen flick doesn't these days? Thank YOU Stephanie Meyer) and a headstrong female lead. While I did like the characters, the Society itself as well as the plot was just too, umm, routine for a dystopian novel.

Nothing really stood out for me.

In addition, I don't know about you, but I could NOT put down Hunger Games. Every chapter had something. Sooo many cliffhangers. Awesome-ness.

Matched dragged. There weren't hardly any climaxes and the ones it had weren't that exciting.


I just realized I'm writing this with a gloomy face and sad eyes. People, THIS is how disappointed I am.


So, that's it. That's where it stands.

Matched is a trilogy and I DO plan on reading the second and third book (I have a thing about that, I'm weird...trust me, Twilight was my Everest).

I'm open to the idea that the story will pick up.

And, I will say, Ally Condie did leave the ending at a "new beginning" or "new phase" in the characters' lives, so you never know. 

This could could blow all other teen flicks out of the water. 

I'll let you know...but until then, what do you think? Any reactions to this book? Am I off my rocker?

Share your thoughts!


Xoxo
Alicia  

Fancy Friday: Straightener Do

I have ALWAYS loved to do hair. But, the older I get, the less time I have to devote to extravagant dos...

Let's be honest, the snooze button has replaced a LOT of the "do" time.

Yup, happens.


I recently discovered the "technique" of curling hair with a straightener...however...

Ummm, let's just say, my hair isn't the most consistent when it comes to that type of curling. My friends insisted, "Ohhh, it's sooo easy! Took me ten minutes!"

Bahhh.

NOT. so.

I have since dummed down the curled hairdo to a flipped ends style. I kind of stumbled upon the technique accidentally (in a curling attempt fail...ahem), aaand went with it. I was late for work.

Less formal than curls. It's more of an, "I just stepped out of the wind and yes, my hair looks like this" look. Works.

And all you need:

Boo.

Yah.

I will say, this works MUCH better with layers. The more, the better; gives it more body. It also works well with shorter hair. 

And now:

Start with clean hair, completely dry. 

Pin up the top layers. Get 'em out of the way.

Section off a 1-2" portion of hair.

Theeeen, start as you would, straightening your hair. As you near the bottom of the sectioned hair, turn the straightner up until the hair is wrapped around the straightener. Like so:

Don't stop pulling as you turn it, keep it moving so as not to burn your hair. NOT the end goal, people. 

For those of you who have tried the curling technique, yes, this is very similar. Only difference? You don't turn the straightener until you're about a few inches from the ends. 

See? Ta daaa!

Flippy hair!

Repeat this, working your way until all layers are complete. 

Sooooo many layers. Eeesh.

When you're done, spritz with some hairspray, add some body product if needed, and voila!

Until next time!

xoxo,

     Alicia

Meet Alicia!

Hey there! Welcome! My name is Alicia...I'm 1/3 of the blogger team at this establishment.

I'm pleased to meet you! I hope you stop by often!

About me:

I'm a twenty-something old... a Utah girl...born and bred...brunette...

College graduate, yay for University of Utah...I bleed red...BA in Psych...haven't used it yet...one day, when I return to school...I never want to stop learning...

Die-hard broadway lover...Phantom of the Opera is THE best.

Ever... I challenge you to convince me otherwise...

shower and car singer only...but I LOVE to sing...my loofa probably hates me...

ballet dancer, not so much anymore...love all fine arts...

ice skater....jumps suck, spinning is awesome...perfectionist...analyzer...

I love amusement parks...especially roller coasters...

skier, I'm from Utah, I think it 's in a contract somewhere ;)...love the mountains...any season...

aspiring runner...always working on farther, longer...

stubborn as can be...picky eater...I rival children on that one...aspiring baker...not always pretty, but it usually tastes good. I'm working on the aesthetic part...sugar OBSESSED...my children will one day hide their Halloween candy from Mom...opinionated...political moderate...

Shutterbug...I take it to an annoying level...my camera and I are BFF's...

I'm a complete amateur, don't know what I'm doing...I just press buttons ;)...

legal assistant...a good job...not my career, though, I want to be a nurse...

I love kids...want kids, one day...

Make-up and hair lover...all things girly, really...Scrapbooker...card maker...

all things Crafts, YAY!...

home decor...I've only owned a home for five weeks, but i'm slowly learning to decorate...

LOVE books...they take me on so many adventures...

family and friends are the most important thing...I'm a wife...newlywed...

I'm not kidding, the wedding was four weeks ago...love my husband,

he is my partner in crime in everything...makes me smile...

Aaaand, a former dry cleaner's employee...oh yeah...

where I met two amazing young ladies...

and through high school...college...first kisses...

sooo many, "but do you think he REALLY likes me??" conversations at 1 am (my curfew)...

graduations...first loves...campfires...picture excursions...

emails...laughs...tears...

we have been separated by geography, schools, and life,

but have remained great friends.

Please stay a while and follow us on our latest adventures!!