The Buttoning of The Cardigan

So the other day I was trying on what seemed like thousands of outfits for two presentations I had to give. I was so frustrated becasue it was getting cold, and I wanted to be warm but did not just want to wear pants. I tried on a black pencil skirt with a blue top, and wanted something over the shirt...so I pulled out my ever trusty Cardigan! Well, I thought intially it looked great, then I decided to get ambitius so I buttoned the top button...immediately I could hear the "grandma" and "Momma Sam" comments come screaming through the mirror. So I quickly changed the button to a few from the top...still something did not seem right with this look...this is when I experience my revelation.

The chosen button on a cardigan to be buttoned completely says if you are going with the grandma look... or the chic teacher. That day I really tried hard to be chic teacher, and I really think I succeeded.

Plus, pair any great cardigan with some chunky jewlery in a contrasting color, and a scarf for an aditional layer and you are set! (The Cardigan in the Pic is a perfect example of aweome buttoning and great jewlery!) Anyone can wear a cardigan and look great. How can you wear your cardigan and create your own style???

Black Friday

Today i decided to venture out into the madness of Black Friday. My first stop was Target. I looked at the clothes, the jewlery, and then home furnishings, and was absolutely unimpressed! I thought that for sure there would be a great deal, on something...but NO! So with my money still unspent, I went to DSW to see if there were any great shoe finds....and NO GREAT SHOES. I was completely diappointed and then thought jewlery could cheer up my mood. Charming Charlies was right next door so I went to see if there was any jewlery I couldn't live without. I looked at a few rings and some bracelets but then decided that there were no amazing deals so I left.

Shopping on Black Friday was a complete waste of time for me, I hope that your experience was much better! But I did want to talk about a great find...considering it is Fantastic Finds Friday!

I was shopping at the Hill Country Galeria and found these amazing reusable shopping bags at Bath and Body works. Not just grocery shopping bags, but shopping bags. They are totally cute, very earth friendly, and only $2!! They fold up and button so they are easily packed into any purse or bag, and are made of nylon so they will not rip or be ruined. This was my fantastic find of the week!

I used my bag and got a compliment! Be responsible, save the earth, and look great while doing it!

Tasty Tuesday: Chocolate Chip Cookie Style

This weekend I was totally in the mood to bake, so I decided I wanteto try my hand at chocolate chip cookies. I came across this recipe and it was fantastic. It makes the softest, greatest cookies I have had in a long time! And they are HUGE! A perfect recipe for the holidays! I hope you enjoy!!!

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Roomorama?? Yes Please!

I am hoping to move to Washington DC after I graduate to intern at the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. Housing in DC is crazy and so I was researching some different options for a cheep room. I came accross Roomorama and Air Bed and Breakfast. http://roomorama.com/ http://airbnb.com/

These two websites are listings of rooms or even just beds in people's homes in hundreds of cities across the world. You can search by price, location, room size, amenities, and more! A great way to travel inexpensively and meet interesting people!

Wanna go to London??? You get the tickets, I will find us a room! LETS GO!

Trendy Thursday...Haagen Das Frozen Yogurt

So, I had my wisdom teeth out on Monday and wanted something tasty and cold, and I remembered my roommate had gotten this frozen yogurt from Haagen-Dazs: Vanilla, honey, and granola (See Delicious Pic to understand the pure amazingness of this yogurt)

GLEE!!!

If you did not get the chance to see Glee last night, it is quite imperative to your happiness as a human that you see this show. Anyone with a best friend, a special person in their life, a group where they find their happiness, I encourage you to watch the last 10 minutes of this outstanding show! It will truly make you smile, and will make you miss your someone.

Speaking of someones, I want to share a little about my best friend Miss Kristie Dugas. Kristie is the most generous, open, loving, funny, creative, willing, talented, and beautiful person that I have had the great chance to grow close to. We have been good friends since our senior year of high school, and have been inseparable ever since.

Freshman year of college we lived together at St. Ed's and I have so many funny memories with her. From parties, to boys, families to friends, and everything in between. Kristie and I would stay up way past our bedtime, laughing and talking in the dark of our cosy room. Those are the moments that I will not soon forget. From those moments until now, Kristie and I have a friendship unlike any other. I don't know how much I believe in meant to be's and fate, but I truly believe that she was put in my life for a reason, and for that I am eternally grateful!

Watching the show last night, and hearing the last song "Lean On Me" was so perfect. We all need someone to lean on, someone who we know will always be there, and someone who knows we are there for them too.

I hope that you will tell your someone how much they mean to you, and that you are ALWAYS THERE FOR THEM TO LEAN ON! I know that most of us have many people who we count on and who we will always be there for, and for those people, in my life you know who you are, and THANK YOU!

The link below will take you to Glee's "Lean on Me," and I encourage you to listen, then make a phone call or send a text message!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OsBkoCirrk

Free Holiday Decorating Class with Potter Barn

Click the link below for a great opportunity with Pottery Barn and Co- Sponsored by Real Simple Magazine.

FREE Holiday Decorating and Entertaining Classes!

Sunday November 29th or Sunday December 6th.

Hope to see you there!

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2 Free Issues from Real Simple Magazine

Check out the link below for your two free issues of real simple magazine! What a great way to recieve Holiday decorating and recipe ideas! Hope you enjoy!

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Its Totally Tasty Tuesday

I found this recipe online because I had purchased Swiss Chard and wanted a great recipe. I loved this dish. I was spicy, but fresh and a really quick meal! It made great left over too! Hope you enjoy!


RECIPE

Greek Greens Penne(Serves 2)
Ingredients:
1 pound Swiss chard
½ pound penne pasta
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 cloves thinly sliced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup water
salt and pepper
1 cup canned tomatoes
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Separate the Swiss chard stem and leaves. (The leaves cook faster than the stems.) Rinse and drain each. Cook pasta in boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain.
Prepare chard mixture while pasta is cooking: In a large skillet, over medium heat, stir together red pepper flakes, garlic and oil until garlic is golden. Add chard stems and ¼ cup of water. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add chard leaves, ¼ cup of water, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and cook covered for 3 minutes.
In a large bowl, toss the penne with the chard mixture and Parmesan cheese. Serve with additional Parmesan, if desired.

Happy Birthday Max!

My little brother turned 21 today! Happy Birthday Max!! Stay Safe!

A Theme?

So, I think that during certain days of the week I want to follow a theme. For example:

Sunday -- Simple Sundays
Monday -- Mad music Mondays
Tuesday -- Totally tasty Tuesdays
Wednesday -- Wacky, weird Wednendays
Thursday -- Too Trendy Thursdays
Friday -- Fantastic Finds Fridays
Saturday -- Sweet, Sultry Saturday

I think this adds a completely new dimension to this blog about me!

My Family

I want to start this session of thoughts sharing with introducing my family. I am the oldest of 5 and would not want my life any other way. Each of my siblings is unique and loving and special to my life. I live in Austin with my brother Max (21), but my sister Lucy(18) is living in San Diego, and my youngest siblings, Gabrielle(16) and Simon(14),are in Lincoln with my mom, Martha.

Being from a large family is simply amazing! I have so many funny memories of camping trips, halloween costumes, vacations in the van, and christmas seasons playing mario kart racing and eating nachos. you could say our family is unique and quite eccentric, but we wouldn't be the Bruckners if it was any other way.

I think that pictures are such an amazing representation of our lives. I hope to include pictures from my life that will add some color and help express who I am!

Getting back to the thought at hand, my family is great! They are all coming to Austin for my graduation, which will be a future post, and I could not be more excited. As I grow older and live away from them for longer, I have learned to appreciate the people they are and what they mean to my life.