It's Been Awhile

As of late I have been extremely busy, only to be getting worse as the semester goes on. I'm struggling to find time to blog about anything substantial, so I thought I would revisit Roots and Rings for a 10 on Tuesday post for old times sake.  These posts are fun and easy and I'm not sure if anyone really cares at all, but at least I don't feel so bad about not posting for over 5 days!  So enjoy your Tuesday, and enjoy reading about my produce preferences in this week's set of 10 questions ;)

I'll return soon with updates and substance. Happy Last Day of January! (eeek)

1. What’s your variety of apple?
Pink Lady. Hands down.  I am an apple connoisseur, but this is the Queen of all apples. PInk, crisp, sweet, delicious, and expensive. They are practically dessert, I just wish I could afford them year round!


2. Do you prefer Long-English or Field cucumbers?
Those long-english guys freak me out. 


3. Tomatoes – Delicious or disgusting?
Delicious!


4. What’s one fruit or vegetable that you can’t stand and why is that?
My least favorite fruit/vegetable (I'm still not exactly sure what they are classified as with that pit in there...) are olives. YUCK YUCK YUCK. I don't know why, just can't stand them.  I think they are one of those things that you either absolutely love or absolutely detest. Detest, I do. 


5. What’s your favourite way to prepare veggies? (Grilled, boiled, roasted, sautéed, etc.)
Mmmm I loved grilled veggies. My favorite summer meal. 


6. Sweet potato pie: Love it or hate it?
There is nothing not to love about sweet potato pie. 


7. What’s your favourite “style” of French fry? Wedges, shoelace, curly, crinkle-cut or other?
Love me some waffle fries!


8. What’s your favourite fruit-pie filling?
Apple :)


9. When you were a kid did your parents make you sit at the table until all your veggies were eaten off your plate?
No, but my mom tried to enforce the "eat three bites of everything on your plate" rule before we could leave.  My grandfather instilled that one upon her, and although I absolutely hated having to try everything three times even, I will probably torture my children at the dinner table the same way.


10. Do you drink veggie & fruit juice blends (such as V8, etc.) or make them yourself?
I love the Naked drinks! Green Machine is awesome, but has way too much sugar than necessary.  I really want to make my own green juice but I don't think I have a strong enough blender for like, an entire head of lettuce.  One day... 

Ten on Tuesday

Another 10 on Tuesday post hosted by Roots and Rings. Enjoy :) 

1. What’s your favorite television show  for each day of the week?
I only watch Parenthood on Tuesdays, and Modern Family on Wednesdays, but if time allowed for it, I would love to get into some of the shows my friends are always raving about on Thursdays.  My two-show limit suits me, though. On Tuesdays I cry during the 10 o'clock hour, emotionally connecting the characters of Parenthood, and on Wednesdays I laugh so hard my abs hurt by between 9:00 and 9:30 when the funniest show since FRIENDS airs, Modern Family. 

2. How many times do you wear your jeans before you watch them?
Depends which jeans, and depends what I do in them.  Jeans I wear to the preschool are generally washed after one or two wears depending how sick/sandy/muddy the children are that day.  Typically I try to get 2-3 wears out of most of my jeans.  


I read somewhere that LEVI's recommends going six months before washing their jeans. SIX MONTHS?!! Is that not the most absurd thing you ever heard? I imagine my jeans would fall to my ankles with the weight six months of grime would add to denim. 

3. What is your favorite pasta shape?
Penne.

4. Do you read newspapers?
Only when I'm at my parent's house. At school I don't have time to read newspapers.... sad, I know.  I keep myself updated via Twitter updates throughout the day and the Today Show stays on in the background when I'm getting ready in the mornings. 

5. Do you sleep in socks?
Those who know me know that I hate when my feet are hot any time of the day. Therefore I abide by very strict rules prohibiting UGGS and socks whilst sleeping. I'm getting claustrophobic just thinking about that, actually. 

6. Favorite genre of movies?
 I don't know, I'm a big movie person. I like a lot of movies. Is it OK if I don't want to tie myself to one genre? 
(But if I had to choose, I guess comedy.)

7. How do you feel about wrestling?
I feel .... fine? I don't know. I was the wrestling "stat girl" in high school which was fun and weird at the same time.  As for professional wrestling like WWF (does that even still exist?) I feel absolutely nothing. Never watched it, probably never will. 

8. Should men pluck their eyebrows?
Um, yes. Who wants to look at a furry unibrowed man? Not this girl. 

9. Do you have dimples?
I have one single dimple on my right cheek. My sister does too. The boys in my family have one single dimple on their left cheek. Weird, huh? 

10. Do you like to camp?
Can you picture me in the wilderness with wild animals and no electricity nor running water for any amount of time? I think not.  Although I do really enjoy camp fires, and water sports, and the occasional hike, as long as I can be put in a bed surrounded by more than flimsy fabric walls afterwards.  

Ten on 11/1/11

Being that this Tuesday is one of the most fun dates to write down all year (any one else thoroughly amused everytime they write 11/1/11 today??) i think it should only be a requisite that I link up for Ten on (this remarkable) Tuesday.

1. What is your favorite month?
This is tough. I think June because it marks the beginning of the best season of all time: Summer. And also I was born on the first day of that month, which is also pretty spectacular.  And don't forget school ends in June which is always exciting. 

2. What is the best candy to get while trick or treating?
Almond Joys! Don't hate. Growing up, I was the only kid in the neighborhood who liked the sweet coconutty goodness of Almond Joys, so when it came time to dump out our pillow cases trick or treat bags and make wagers for fair candy trades, I felt like I hit the jackpot with the amount of blue and white wrappers that would end up in my pile by the end of the night. ;) 

3. What kind of pen do you use?
I prefer black ink, and the most fluid, clear, and professional my writing ever looks is when composed with a Sharpie Black Pen. For day to day use, however, I'll always grab my Bic Ballpoint Atlantis - classic - High quality, maximum comfort, with a retractable ball point.  Yes, I do believe that makes me nerd.  

4. You go to a new Italian restaurant, what is your go-to order?
You mean aside from my favorite food in the whole world, Pizza?  Ha. Probably any sort of chicken with a balsamic or wine sauce.  If it's not on pizza, I try to stay away from anything too cheesy.  

5. If you could choose to have any celebrity’s hair, who’s would you choose?
Jessica Simpson's. Of course. 

PS- How WONDERFUL is it that her and her luscious locks are FINALLY reproducing?!! <33333 

6. What’s your favorite board game?
Scattergories! A phenomenal game of categories and word play. Despite the fierce competition, including, but not limited to, mild verbal abuse and pen flinging, my family and I play every year on Thanksgiving. One of the many reasons I look forward to Thanksgiving as one of my top favorite holidays of the year! 

7. Do you know how to play poker?
Well when I was about 8 my grandfather taught me how to play 5 card poker.  I've since forgotten but I was quite the card shark back in grammar school.  Thanks for the life lessons, Pop. 

8. What do you think about Old Navy commercials?
I think they are colorful, creepy and quite unnecessary.  And that's that. 

9. What hurts worse- a stubbed toe or a paper cut?
Paper cuts tend to hurt worse for me considering I am a compulsive cuticle picker. Especially when I am nervous.  At C's last football game I picked my cuticles to the point of blood dripping down my thumbs.  Imagine having a paper cut on top of that?! No me gusta.  

10. What’s your favorite kind of pie?
My favorite is probably classic Apple Pie. As with most sweets, I'm not picky; although, cold fruit is always more preferable.  

Ten on Tuesday - Travel Style

1. You’re packing for a week long vacation, do you pack ahead of time or wait until the last possible minute to pack?
Considering it takes me for.ev.er. to pack - I am compulsive about trying on every single outfit before it goes in my bag - I start packing a couple days ahead of time but usually don't end up finalizing until the very last minute. Neurotic, I know.

2. Are you a light or heavy packer?
Anyone that knows me can answer this question.  C had his family buy me mid-sized Vera Bradley luggage bags for my birthday this year so that I would stop bringing a large rolling duffel bag to go visit him for less than an entire weekend. (I've since kept my rolling luggage for only longer trips, but that doesn't mean I don't bring all 3 of the bags I got for my birthday. Sorry I'm not sorry C.)  So yes, I am an over-packer.(And yet somehow I still never have exactly what I want to wear...)

I'll never get rid of my rolly. 

But I LOVE my new tote, use it for everything!

3. What are your favorite road trip snacks?
Pull and peel twizzlers, diet coke, and some monster trail mix (preferably with an overwhelming chocolate to any other ingredient ratio.)

4. Do you take any reading material along?
Yes! Usually light reads like Glamour or People mags if I'm driving. My heaviest reading of novels is usually done while traveling by plane, however. I definitely prefer reading over listening to my ipod on flights. 

5. Do you prefer to drive or fly to your vacation destination?
Fly, please! 

6. What is your favorite time of the year to take your vacation?
Let's be real here, I'll take a vacation any time of the year.  Although I think a trip to a warm sunny beach in the middle of a frigid mid-atlantic winter is ideal. Too bad I never do that...

7. Where is your favorite place to vacation?

Hmm..again, not picky. I love Disney World in the fall.  And I obviously love the Jersey Shore in the summer. But I think the ultimate vacation was during my study abroad trip; a long weekend in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Costa Brava was breathtaking, exciting and totally relaxing. I almost didn't come back. 

With my beautiful friends in the crystal clear waters of Costa Brava

8. You are vacationing in the mountains, what is your favorite thing to do while there?
In the winter? Snowmobiling and skiing! And snuggling with hot chocolate afterwards...ha. 
In the summer? Water sports on the lake for surrrre. 

Hunter Mountain 2010

9. You are at the beach for your vacation,  do you like to take it easy on the beach or play all day in the water?
I do my best to lay out as long as possible for ultimate bronzing, however, when I'm with my cousins I could play in the water for HOURS. 

10. While your on vacation do you prefer to eat out every night or cook some of your own meals?
We usually eat out for dinner but pack our own lunches.  This past summer I went to Cape May with loverboy for a long weekend, and if you know my boyfriend, you know our first stop was at the grocery store.  We got enough food to make sandwiches and snacks for lunches on the beach, fixings for a gourmet breakfast on our last morning, and then ate out every night for dinner. :) 

Now that' you're all off day dreaming about vacation, enjoy your Tuesday! 

Link up!

Ten on Tuesday

Linked up @ Roots and Rings today for the 100th Ten on Tuesday! Enjoy :)

[one] How do you take your coffee?

Through an IV. Just kidding. But really, in heavy doses on ice. Skim milk unless I’m feeling Starbucks fancy and want some sort of sweet espresso treat. 

[two] Do you prefer soft or crispy chocolate chip cookies?

I’m not picky when it comes to chocolate chip cookies. But homemade definitely over store bought, and I guess chewy usually reigns over crispy. Especially if crispy means burnt. But like I said, I ain’t picky. 

[three] Do you wear a belt everyday?

Hardly ever. 

[four] What is your favorite color combination?

Tiffany Blue and White because there’s always something even prettier inside ;)

... Just kidding, Green and Gold (high school pride, baby!)

.. Just kidding, again. I think anything paired with SPARKLE is to die for. ;) ;) 

[five] Do you like sour candy?

Upon occasion. I’ll usually pick sweet over sour, however. 

[six] How often do you do laundry?

Once a week. 

[seven] Did you ever wear braces?

For four and a half long years from sixth grade to tenth grade.  I got them taken off just two days before my Sweet Sixteen and in all my pictures I still didn't know how to smile properly without them. In every photo I gave one of those awkward trying-too-hard-to-cover-your-braces grins even though I was officially brace-less.  Awwwkwarrrrd. 

[eight] Are you good at Roman Numerals?

This is a funny question. Yes, I suppose? I know them, unlike my sixth graders who looked at me like I had 5 heads when I asked them to label the headings in their outline with Roman Numerals. It’s going to be a long year...

[nine] What is your favorite form of social media?

Twitter!!!!! Tweet Tweet @maggie_yel 

[ten] How do you feel about chin dimples?

I’ve actually never considered my stance on chin dimples until this very question. I guess they’re alright. I mean, I feel nothing negative toward them. In fact, I think John Travolta’s chin dimple is quite becoming. 

Ten on Tuesday

Because sometimes dreaming about a vacation is not just okay, but completely and unquestionably necessary. 

1. What is your dream vacation?
I’m torn between sharing two of my “dream” vacations; one is a cruise through the Mediterranean (with an extended stay on the Greek Isles), and, because I’m not quite ready to venture to the turmoil of Greece if this dream becomes a reality any time soon, I dream of island-hopping in Hawaii with my handsome boyfriend. 

2.  What has been your favorite trip so far in your life?

My 7 1/2 week journey through Spain and Rome last summer. I “studied” for five of these but really I explored the magical city of Barcelona during the week, sunned on its beaches, expanded my Spanish language and had more fun traveling than I thought was possible for the capacity of individual weekends. I left a nervous American traveller, and came back a knowledgeable explorer, a confident voyager, a proficient Spanish speaker and a passionate writer.

3. If you and one of your best friends could go anywhere in the world for one week, where would it be and why?

Hmm good question. Even though I’ve already been there, I’d say Barcelona. The shopping is fantastic. There is a beach. There is rich culture. Good food. And I have some knowledge in the language. Sounds like a perfect girls week to me. 

4. Have you ever booked a trip using an online deal? How did it go?

Um, no. I’m not very travel (or tech) savy. I leave that up to my travel partners typically. 

5. What’s your favorite thing to do while you’re on vacation?

Bronze. 

6. Have you ever missed an opportunity to take a trip that you regret?

Usually when I have an opportunity to take a trip, I take it. So I guess not really. 

7.  You travel far away from home and get stranded with no way to buy anything, what’s the one thing you can’t live without?

Honestly, my cell phone. I need connection to family and bf .. and twitter. So yes, my smartphone needs to be with me. 

8.  What’s one of your favorite traveling memories?

Ahhh two words: Costa Brava.  See this post for reasons why.  ALSO watching Spain win the world cup IN SPAIN. 

9. All included resort or backpacking? Why?

All included resort. Because, do you know me? 

10. Are you more of a lie on the beach kind of person on vacation, or do you prefer to see the sights?

I am a hardcore sun bather, but I really do appreciate sight seeing.  But I dedicate sight seeing to, lets say, two-three action packed days so I can relax in the sand the rest of the stay. ;) 

One of my favorite beaches in Alicante, Spain.Take.Me.Back. 

Ten on Tuesday ... Would You Rather ...

This week's "Ten on Tuesday" was painfully thought-provoking and made me seriously question my values. I went back and forth between posting and deleting this for the sake of my sanity. I decided to post out of pure curiosity to the reactions of others. Plus "Would You Rather" is my favorite game to play with my friends - just ask Lauren.  

(Feel free to comment or link up!) 

WOULD YOU RATHER....

1. Eat chocolate covered grasshoppers or this freaky squid thing?
I'd probably eat anything covered in chocolate. No joke. 

2. Never see another movie or never watch TV again?
Ah! I think ... I ... would ... never watch a movie again?!!? Tough one. Can I watch movies on TV? 

3. Be a superhero with a lame power or a supervillain with an awesome power?
Be a superHERO with a lame power.  If you're not a hero, you're a zero. That's what I say (at least now I do.)

4. Eat only salty snacks for the rest of you life, or only sweet snacks?
Only Sweet snacks!!!!!!!!!!!! Sweets are my diet's demise. 

5. Never read another book or never hear another song?
Oh my gosh. This is worse than the movie/tv debacle.  I. Um. would rather never read another book ?!?!?!!?! That's terrifying to say. I just can't imagine not ever hearing another song again...how depressing would that be?  Although I would probably become an ignorant dunce if I never picked up another book. Maybe reading the newspaper and online articles and blogs would suffice. Oh my Lord I think I just started sweating. I need to stop thinking about this and go pick up a paperback.   


 6. Be a whale carcass remover or a sewer inspector?
Well isn't that a pleasant thought?  I don't know ... I can't imagine a whale carcass remover would have an awful amount of jobs to take care of.  Sewage on the other hand seems much more demanding. Although I hate animals, and probably carcasses, although I've never had to actually touch one.  Let's go with the former anyway.  

7. Have no electricity or no running water?
No running water. Maybe it would be good exercise to go fetch me some good ol natural H2O. 

8. Be a dog or a cat?
A dog. The life of feline lethargy is seemingly boring.  Also, people love dogs. I love to be loved. 

9. Always be hot or always be cold?
Always be hot!  Especially if that means I'm getting a tan.  I have a sickness, I know. 

10. Be forced to watch all 3 High School Musicals on an endless loop, or the Twilight movies?
Who's forcing me to watch the Twilight Movies?! I'd choose the Cullen Family over those singing teeny-boppers any day. Even if they are the poorest actors in America. 

Ten on Tuesday

Here's another random assortment of questions I felt obliged to answer more for my own entertainment than anyone else's. Enjoy, and happy Tuesday lovebugs xo 

1. What temperature do you keep your thermostat on during the day?


72ish? I think? All I know is that there's a sign on our thermostat in our apartment that tells us the "do not go under 70 degrees. unit will freeze." So I guess it never goes under 70. 

2. What temperature do you keep your thermostat on at night?


Same? I don't know I'm not apparently picky. A good blanket is my best thermostat. 

3. In a canister of mixed nuts, do you pick out certain varieties and leave the others?


I hate Brazilian Nuts. Otherwise I'm no nut snob. 

4. What is your favorite kind of M&M?


Hands down, Peanut. 

5. How do you buy books? (Amazon, bookstore, new, used, electronic, etc)


Amazon for text books. Used book stores or Barnes and Noble if I'm feeling wealthy that week for personal books. 

6. How do you like your eggs cooked?


Don't love eggs, but when I eat them I like omelettes with lots of veggies and salsa or scrambled with pork roll ;) 

7. Can you whistle?


Sadly, no. 

8. What common word do you always misspell?


knowledgeable. I actually just surprised myself that I spelled it correctly that time. It usually takes me two or three tries to get that damn red squiggly line to disappear.

9. Are you afraid of flying?


I don't like to fly in the rain.
(Friends reference, anyone? anyone?) 


But seriously, no, not at all. I actually love flying. 

10. How often do you go shopping?


Too often. 


I'll shop for anything. Clothes, gifts for others, books, groceries. I'll take any excuse to shop.