How to 1/8 a Recipe

Something I've always enjoyed is cooking. (Well, post-College that is, believe me, I didn't know how to make Kraft Macaroni and Cheese until I was 22)  Cooking is a great stress reliever for me.

I loved cooking back on Davis with my roomies in Richmond, but lately all of the recipes I've wanted to make are for 8 servings.  8???  How do I whittle that down in half, and then in half again?  It's not easy, and right now my freezer is OVERFLOWING with individual size portions of different meals I've made since living on my own again.

I am trying to get back on the cooking bandwagon, though.  This past week & weekend I spent a lot of time in the kitchen.  I used my cast iron skillet for the first time and made Turkey burgers.  I learned a little bit of a lesson in that I needed cooking spray, but they turned out pretty great anyways!

6 Turkey Burgers for 1 

On the weekend I love to make breakfast instead of my normal daily breakfast of either cereal or oatmeal, so this weekend I made a breakfast banana casserole.  It's just the right amount of food and gives me a special breakfast to enjoy for 3 more days.

Love making this Banana Casserole!

Enjoying a bite post-5 mile run (I promise I don't look like this normally)

I also made lasagna from scratch.  It was good, but I'll be honest.  I have a lasagna recipe from Real Simple that I've been making for years.  It's 5 ingredients, takes no time to put together and tastes better than all the work put into a REAL lasagna.  Good thing this tasted so good since it made enough to feed a high school basketball team.

LOTS of prep work goes into making Lasagna

Leftovers to last me who knows how long!

I can't believe it's JUNE, but I'm so excited for Summer in Nashville.  I've got lots of super fun things planned for the next few months and can't wait to share the stories!  First up is a trip to Atlanta to visit one of my best friends from Richmond.  Atlanta is a quick 4 hour drive and I can't wait!!!!

"I just can't turn and walk awayyyyyyy"

Last Wednesday started out like every other typical Wednesday.  I woke up & went for a run (okay, that's actually not typical these days, let's be real) and then went to work.  Nothing special to see here.

After work I was invited to an artist showcase with some friends who are in "the biz" at a local bar called The Basement.  Giving that I had nothing planned that evening, I decided to go.

I had never been to The Basement before so I allowed myself a lot of time to find it and planned ahead to probably drive around a lot looking for parking.  I was right to have done that and after about 15 minutes and turning around about 6 times I finally parked.  I walked about 100 yards towards the bar before finally turning back around because I was not comfortable with the fact I had just parked in what was SURE to be a crack house.  Found a space a little closer and walked down a pretty sketchy alley to finally get to this bar.

Artist showcases are awesome in Nashville.  Unknown artists come and sing about 3-4 songs, usually in small bars, really intimate.  I went to see an up-and-coming artist named Jesse Lee.  Get ready y'all.  She's awesome.  Just wait until you hear her song "Hotel."  You will love.

During the showcase I happened to be chatting with my friend in "the biz" about the fact that Sister Hazel was in town that night.  He goes, "Oh yeah, that's right.  They texted me."  (Oh they did?)  10 minutes later we have VIP tickets to the concert that night.  No biggie.
(Well known fact: Sister Hazel is my jam.  I've been going to see them in concert since I was 14 years old.)

I love when a typical Wednesday turns into VIP tickets to one of the best 90's bands of all time.
Enjoy this little ditty / Flashback to 1998:

"Just Kickin' It" - Kickball Recap

Okay y'all, apparently I suck at blogging.  I used to be so good, but alas I always meant for this to be a place to share fun stories with my far-away friends & family so I'll keep trying to be better about it as long as you want it!

I felt a little recap of my Kickball adventure was in the cards, so here goes:
Team Name: It took me until the 4th week to learn that every time I got a text about "JKI" it was referring to the team I was a member of.  JKI = Just Kickin' It.  Good to know.

Team Dynamics: People were friendly, we drank beers during the game, all is good.  However, I'm not so sure my fellow female team members really "got" me.
Most of the girls played with the intensity of this picture:

I mostly played with the intensity level of these girls:

Kickball Lingo: During my first game, I was "up at bat" and some guy from my team comes over and whispers all sly: "Bunt it to 3rd." My Response?  An even slyer whisper of "I don't know what that means....."

Next Steps: I think I gave it the good ole' college try, but I'm terrible.  (And everyone knows I don't take well to things I'm not good at.)  I'm proud of myself for branching out and trying something completely out of my comfort zone, but my kickball days are over.

Missin' everyone lots & lots so hope all is going great with everyone!
xoxo

50 yard line seats

I could tell you the long story about how I ended up on the 3rd row, half-court at the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.  As you know, I'd pretty much go to anything but when Ohio University is playing Michigan in the NCAA Tournament...it's a win-win.  Especially when #13 OU beat #4 Michigan. Sweet, sweet Victory.

Pictures say it best for this one!

Half Court seats baby!

OU cheerleaders

Yes, my dad took a picture of me a D-love on TV... (embarassing)

Ohio wins 65-60!

My boy, Cooper (#5...of course)

Such a great time!!!

Kicking a ball can't be that hard...right?

When I first decided to move somewhere that I didn't know a soul, I promised myself I would give every opportunity a try.  No matter what.  So.....I'm now on a co-ed kickball team. (Somewhere my mom just fell off her chair laughing.)

At my previous work place if someone had asked me to be on the kickball team, I would have rolled my eyes, laughed under my breath and said, "Um, absolutely not."  [Something important to keep in mind here is that I was NEVER asked to be on the kickball team.  It was this ridiculous secret society and I think you had to actually give a vile of your blood to be asked onto the team.  No thanks.]

But Nashville Natalie can't say no when someone asks her to do something that involves co-eds, fun, drinking and just general having something "to do."

Look for me in about a month - I'll be the one on crutches with a hot pink cast on my arm (or leg, or ankle, you pick).

The last time I did something "sporty" I fell off a swing-set and ended up in this wheelchair.
(c. 1989)

Too bad they don't have grown-up Pom squads
(c. 2001)

Lost in Space

Sometimes I have a love-hate relationship with Nashville.  My "hate" is usually in the form of me being lost or something to do with the (lack of) driving skills of Tennessee drivers.

I seem to sometimes forget that I don't 100% know my way around here. I guess it's a result of living in the same city for practically my entire life.  I never had the problem of walking out the door and not knowing where to go.  I basically knew how to get everywhere in Richmond.  And the places I didn't know, I could figure out.  [Note to self: Always double check where I'm going before I leave the house.]

In the last 5 days, I have been lost in East Nashville 3 times.  I've basically wasted a whole tank of gas being lost in East Nashville.  Making the same wrong turns each time.  I LOVE East Nashville (think Carytown meets The Fan meets Church Hill - Cute old houses, awesome restaurants, a little sketchy)  It's awesome.  I just need to flipping figure out how to get there and how to get around there.

Last night I FINALLY went to dinner at Rose Pepper, a Mexican restaurant in East Nashville that EVERYONE had been to except for me.  The first thing out of everyone's mouth when I told them I was going here was, "You have to get a margarita."  First of all, I drink margaritas for a living, so uh yeah, I'm going to order a margarita regardless.  But yes, they're amaaaaaazing here.  ah-ma-zing.  Second thing out of everyone's mouth is "You have to get the queso."  You must not know me.  Queso and I are besties.  But there is some sort of crack they must put in it at Rose Pepper.  Delish!

Allison & Draper outside of Rose Pepper in East Nashy

We followed dinner with drinks at a new'ish bar called 308.  You'd probably drive by and never stop in, but it's a cool bar with fancy drinks.  Definitely will go again.

& no Friday night is complete without stopping in mid-town.  Sometimes it's SO FUN living in a "College town."  Except for when I find myself standing in line to get in a bar called "Losers."  That's when it's time for this granny to go home.

Sometimes I pretend I'm in college again. Thanks, Vandy!

Nashville, I really do love you.

The Devil in the Junior League

A couple of years ago my mom read a book called "The Devil in the Junior League."  I think she was secretly trying to push me towards never joining any Junior League.

Whoopsie.

I'm officially a provisional member of the Nashville Junior League.  I'm looking into getting "letter shirts" made for my new adult sorority.

Really people, it IS all about volunteerism.  I swear.  (Well, that and paying for friends.  How else do you expect me to meet people?!?) :)