Roman Raspberry Goodness

Between continuous group meetings, classes, and homework for me and 70+ hour work weeks for JP, life has been pretty busy.  But, this week is my spring break which means although I still have to work and have a lot of projects to work on, I do NOT have to attend class three nights a week or worry about my online class.

So as I'm sitting here on the couch enjoying NOT going to class, I thought this would be the perfect time to share with the world my few blog followers my new found obsession, which I am currently enjoying as I type.

If you have not tried Talenti Roman Raspberry Sorbetto, you must go to your local grocery store (Publix carries this for sure) and fork out the $4.50 one of these delicious little pints costs.  The package itself is simple yet sophisticated, and the taste... smooth and sweet.  The way it glides onto the spoon is half the fun of eating it!

Unfortunately, as I mentioned above, this isn't exactly a budget friendly treat.  That would be why I stocked up a few weeks ago when Publix had them Buy One Get One Free.  Our freezer now looks like it belongs at the Talenti factory.  Unfortunately, these sales do not happen frequently... I think the one prior to the one a few weeks ago was last May!

Note: The Roman Raspberry is my favorite, but they also make gelato which is quite tasty too.  Check out the Double Dark Chocolate.

Professional Bull Riding

A few weekends ago, JP and I went to our first ever Professional Bull Riding (PBR) event.  Earlier in the week, I heard the event advertised on the radio.  JP's parents have really gotten into PBR and have attending the championships in Las Vegas and play fantasy PBR.  As a result of this, JP has been curious about PBR.  So, I knew that we needed to check out the PBR tour while they were in Birmingham.  It worked out really well, too, because JP's Mom was able to be in town to go with us 

I tried to get some good pictures but I don't feel like I was really able to capture the action very well.  If you don't know anything about this sport, which I didn't until I went, the goal is for the rider to stay on the bull for eight seconds.  If they don't, they don't get any points.  This was actually the "minor league" so some of these guys didn't even make it to two seconds!



 

 



Overall, it was a fun experience.  I think my favorite part, though, was getting to wear a cowboy hat!

Make it Eight Straight

 

 Alabama and Auburn have football.  Samford has Step Sing.  A few weekends ago I met up with a few friends to attend Samford's Step Sing for my eight year in a row.  The first four years I participated, and I have attended every year since I graduated.  So before I update you on my recent weekend, let me give you a little of my Step Sing history...

2004- Freshman Year
My first Step Sing experience we were Bond Girls.  We sang James Bond songs and had choreography that was awesome enough to win Best Choreography.  We also got second runner up!  Unfortunately, at that time I did not have a digital camera so I have no photos on my computer.  But, to give you an idea of our costume, it was a bright blue and looked just like the ones from the following year except they did not have fur around them and looked really good.

2005- Sophomore Year
This year our them was Dreams.  We sang songs such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Dream On."  Our costumes as you can see weren't the most flattering and didn't do good things for us when we were on stage.

 

 2006- Junior Year

We had quite a revolutionary show this year- Phi Mu Goes Live which was based on Saturday Night Live.  We had three characters- Mary Katherine Gallagher, Spartan Cheerleader, and Ashlee Simpson (remember the lip syncing ).  I was actually on the Step Sing committee this year and was in charge of costumes.  It was quite the task since there were three different costumes!  Again, I don't seem to have any good pictures.

2007- Senior Year

My final Step Sing as a participant our theme was Phi Mu Steps Out of the Box.  We were Barbies!  Of course we sand Barbie Girl along with other songs such as I Feel Pretty, Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend, and Popular.  It was so much fun!

So, back to the present...

My friends and I met before Step Sing at a new restaurant in downtown Homewood, Pinches Tacos.

And then we headed to the show.  I must say, you know you've been to Step Sing eight years in a row when you can relate every show you see to a previous show... "Oh remember when so and so sang that show"- "That is a lot like the theme so and so did our whatever year"...


Step Sing was full of great memories for me, and I love getting to have a reunion with my friends every year to watch it!

Note: You may be thinking "JP went to Samford, and if Step Sing is as big at Samford as you say then why do we have no JP Step Sing stories?"  Well, JP has a different view of Step Sing.  Most athletes don't participate, so being on the track team, JP never participated.  However, he did play a role in a very memorable Step Sing event.

One year as we were walking back to our sorority house after our performance, we were suddenly pelted with water balloons from boys on top of a building.  I remember thinking how immature and stupid those boys were.  At the time I did not know JP, but once I met him I discovered that he, in fact, was one of the boys throwing water balloons at us.

 I will give him credit... he did go to Step Sing my Senior year.

Happy Birthday!

March is...

March is NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH!

The past eight years I have spent celebrating National Nutrition Month.  First as a student, then an intern, and now, over the past 3 years, a Registered Dietitian.  When I was an intern, the theme was Nutrition: It's a Matter of Fact.  We were required to run the promotion throughout the hospital and were quite successful.  We had a healthy option in the cafeteria and had several booths throughout the month with education materials, recipes, and, of course, free samples.  Once I started my job at UAB, I served on our National Nutrition Month committee once and have assisted as needed every other year.

So how can you celebrate National Nutrition Month and it's theme?  Make a conscious effort to think about what you are eating and make sure you have at least two colors at each meal.  Why does this matter?  Each color food has different nutrients.  If you aren't eating a specific color, you are missing out on some nutrients!  A lot of you know what to do to eat healthy, this month make an effort to actually do it!

Don't forget... Registered Dietitian Day is March 9!

Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls

Valentine's Day 2011 has come and gone, but as Proverbs 17:17 clearly states, "A friend loves at all times." not just one day a year.  Therefore, heart shaped cinnamon rolls are just as appropriate today as they were on February 14.

I got the idea over at Pinch My Salt.  Check out her post on these unique cinnamon roles to see the recipe.  She has step by step pictures that I did not take as I was in a hurry.

These really aren't difficult. But, make sure you don't wait until 7:30pm on a work night to start these as they require 1.5 hours dough rising time (note: I skipped the 45 minute rise that is to occur once the rolls are shaped and mine turned out fine).  Additionally, make sure you have the required brown sugar so you don't have to run down to the Piggly Wiggly at 9:45pm, fifteen minutes before they close.