Stop- Motion: OBX

Here's a stop-motion I made of my OBX pictures in the post below.

Song: Icarus by White Hinderland

*CLICK HERE to watch larger and in HD

OBX

With finals approaching and the nasty weather outside, I am daydreaming of summer. Every other year my family goes to the Outer Banks in North Carolina for Thanksgiving. I love taking walks on the beach in the winter because it looks exactly the same as it does in the summer, but there are no people. It is very serene and peaceful....and I am in need of that state of mind right now.

**Check out this interview I did with The Charlestonista! Thanks Kristen!

Mixtape Monday: Brilliant Brits

Eliza Doolittle's anticipated debut album dropped last week, and I have been listening to it non-stop. She reminds me so much of her fun and fearless contemporaries like Lily Allen, Kate Nash, Amy Winehouse, Duffy, and Florence and the Machine. Much like my British Blokes mixtape, these songstresses have a knack at making upbeat, vintage-y lyrics with blunt and hilarious lyrics. Listen to this and you will see (or hear):

1. Skinny Genes - Eliza Doolittle (first song of hers I heard - I was hooked)

2. Moneybox - Eliza Doolittle

3. Missing - Eliza Doolittle (I love the spanish feel of this song)

4. Smile - Lily Allen (her debut)

5. LDN - Lily Allen (so summery)

6. Knock 'Em Out - Lily Allen

7. Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

8. Foundations - Kate Nash (I can relate to Kate's lyrics more than any other artist I know)

9. We Get On - Kate Nash (I think EVERYONE can relate to this song)

10. Crazy for You - Adele

11. Warwick Avenue - Duffy

12. Dog Days Are Over - Florence and the Machine

13. Kiss with a Fist - Florence and the Machine (so feisty)

Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies

Around springtime, carrot cake seems to be the ideal dessert. I've been having this idea of making Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies for a while now and finally tested it yesterday. I was pleased with the results, though its more like a cookie texture than cake.

Here's the recipe:

Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies

1 Box Carrot Cake Mix

1 Egg

1/2 cup canola oil

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup raisins

2 carrots, grated

1 can cream cheese icing (or homemade cream cheese icing)

Mix cake mix, eggs and oil until creamy and smooth. Add in walnuts, raisins and carrots, stir well. Drop neat spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes at 350F. Let cool.

Spread cream cheese icing on back of a cookie and sandwich another one to it.

Enjoy :)

Pride and Prejudice

(source)

(source)

I just saw my school's production of Pride and Prejudice and was delightfully surprised. Being a huge fan of the book and movie already, I was relieved that the theatrical adaptation was completely different and all its own. Each of the actors made their characters, rather than imitate the movie. After seeing it, though, it immediately made me want to watch the movie adaptation, which is one of the most aesthetically pleasing movies you could ever watch.

So lovely.

Mixtape Monday: Summer Sounds

I've been obsessed with Tanaka y su orquesta's "Neu Chicago" since I got it November, but it's summery sound wasn't appropriate for winter. Now that school is winding down and summer is on the horizon, I cant stop listening to this super fun song! The lyrics are simple and wonderfully relatable.

"So you're digging a shallow grave/ For your heart because it won't behave/ I'll grab a shovel, you grab a spade/ And we'll dig that shallow grave"

This playlist was inspired by Neu Chicago - all summer-ready, electronic songs - some even have beachy sound effects :)

1. Neu Chicago - Tanaka y su orquesta (it's also my ringtone)

2. My Girls - Animal Collective

3. New Theory - Washed Out

4. Heaven's On Fire - The Radio Dept. (my favorite song this time last year)

5. Young Blood - The Naked and Famous (I associate 80's influenced songs with summer as well)

6. I'm Going Down - Free Energy (Bruce Springsteen cover)

7. Ten-Twenty-Ten - Generationals (I see this being used in a commercial)

8. Coastal Break - Tycho

9. Take Me Over - Cut Copy

10. All Night, All Right - Tanaka y su orquesta (If you like Daft Punk, you will love them)

11. Stay Close - Delorean (reminds me of the 90's for whatever reason)

12. How Bizarre - OMC (a real 90's song - one of my favorites...reminds me of The Parent Trap)

13. Soak It Up - Houses

14. Aminals - Baths

15. Icarus - White Hinderland

16. Eugene - Cursed Kids

*a cute little video put to the music of Neu Chicago

April Etsy

I've been working on a lot of new paintings lately and finally put them up for sale in my Etsy shop. I did 5 craft shows this school year and was new to the whole business of being a freelance artist - obtaining licenses, paying taxes and such.

I learned a lot and got inspired to create again. It was just such a good release of stress and creativity that I don't get otherwise in my school or work.

Hope you enjoy!

Baked Chicken with Tomatoes and Chickpea Salad

Like I mentioned earlier, I am trying to eat more Mediterranean "style," but for more reasons than just flavor. People in the Mediterranean region are shown to have longer, healthier lives due to the wholesome, local meals they eat. I am trying to incorporate more seafood, whole grain and olive oil into my diet and less dairy (except for greek yogurt and occasional cheese), butter and beef. Olive oil is actually a very good type of fat and can benefit your health, but we wouldn't know that because society tells us to eat this fake low-fat margarine crap that is made up of who knows what. The whole idea of Mediterranean cooking and eating is consuming whole, non processed foods and cooking with few ingredients. Friendly for your health and wallet. I made this dinner of Baked Chicken with Tomatoes and Chickpea Salad a few nights ago and couldn't believe how simple, easy and flavorful it was!

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Baked Chicken with Tomatoes

6 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise

1 - 14 oz can crushed tomatoes

3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan

1 Tablespoon each salt and pepper

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup white wine

In a large casserole dish place chicken in a single layer and top with tomatoes, cheese, salt and pepper. Drizzle with oil and pour wine over chicken. Bake at 400 for 40-45 min or until fly cooked.

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Chickpea Salad

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon minced garlic (I use it from the jar because I hate the way my hands smell after)

1 teaspoon cumin

2 tablespoons olive oil

1-15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 tablespoons capera

2 plum tomatoes, chopped

Mix vinegar, garlic, cumin and oil in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Let sit at room temperature and marinate while the chicken is cooking.

**both of these lasted as leftovers for several days - the salad kept getting better and better!

Charleston, the Beautiful

This video reminds me of just how beautiful Charleston is. Sometimes I can get so caught up in my routine that I don't stop and notice the loveliness that surrounds me. This clip makes me proud to call Charleston my second home.

Mixtape Monday: The Morning Benders

I've been listening to the song "Excuses" by The Morning Benders a lot lately. Its a song that swells into a retro, romantic love song with modern touches layered over it. The rest of these songs have the same sound and feeling as "Excuses" - whether its a pit orchestra or folk music relevant to the country, all these songs make me want to travel, and/or travel to another era.

Let the wanderlusting begin...

1. Excuses - The Morning Benders

2. Scenic World - Beirut (Transcends wherever you are traveling to)

3. You Love Me - Devotchka (I love mexican folk music, especially modernized and done by indie artists)

4. Hospital Bed - Seabear (I imagine a beautiful couple waltzing to this...)

5. Elephant Gun - Beirut (You must see the video to this - embodies what I am talking about)

6. Goodbye Versailles - Hey Marseilles

7. Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear

8. French Navy - Camera Obscura (My anthem last summer...see this video too!)

9. Volare - Dean Martin (A classic....and makes me think of the Lizzie McGuire Movie

10. Postcards from Italy - Beirut

11. Deep Blue Sea - Grizzly Bear

12. Cold War - Morning Benders

Wrought Iron

One of my favorite things about Charleston architecture is all the wrought iron work that make up the gates and fences. They each have a personality and are uniquely their own.

(As you can tell they're my favorite thing to focus on instead of the houses)

Apple Cinnamon Granola

I am now obsessed with making granola and perfect my skills each time I make some. I saw this recipe for Apple Cinnamon Granola in Cooking Light and tweaked it a bit. I was really pleased with how it came out - it was like autumn in a bowl :)

Apple Cinnamon Granola

4 1/2 cups oats

2 1/2 cups Cherrios

1 cup walnuts

1/2 stick butter

2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 tablespoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup maple syrup (I used sugar-free)

1 cup dried chopped apple chips

1. Toss oats, cheerios, and walnuts together in a large bowl.

2. In a saucepan melt the butter and add applesauce, spices, honey, and syrup. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

3. Pour applesauce mixture over oat mixture and stir to coat evenly.

4. Spread even layer in jellyroll pan and bake at 350 about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally until granola is golden brown and dry. Stir in apple chips.

Add this to some Greek yogurt, cinnamon and chopped fresh apples!

Mixtape Monday: British Blokes

Lately I have been really into Two Door Cinema Club - an energetic indie British boy band. Their sound reminds me a lot of their contemporaries, like Foals, Bombay Bicycle Club and Friendly Fires. They all have a unifying sound that combines classic indie Brit rock and a hint of electronic backbeats. They all happen to be attractive and have lovely accents as well...

1. What You Know - Two Door Cinema Club

2. Skeleton Boy - Friendly Fires

3. Miami - Foals

4. Always Like This - Bombay Bicycle Club

5. Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club

6. Black Gold - Foals

7. Signs - Bloc Party

8. Total Life Forever - Foals

9. How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep - Bombay Bicycle Club

10. Like Swimming - Foals

11. Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club

12. I Can Talk - Two Door Cinema Club

13. Balloons - Foals