Last night David (my boyfriend), and I somehow ended up making a test run of mac and cheese for thanksgiving dinner AND making breakfast for dinner. (we made a mess out of the kitchen...then we cleaned it up like responsible adults *yay us*) 

I was looking at recipes on pinterest the other night and i came across this picture of Mac and Cheese that looked sinfully delicious. (no really, it looked amazing). It was one of those baked Mac and Cheese dishes (straight to your hips dishes)!

So, I braved the grocery store yesterday (it was an absolute zoo!) 

Anyways here's what I picked up for this mac and cheese: 

 

1 box macaroni elbows

2 blocks of Kraft cheddar cheese (the one pound block) 

1 Stick of butter (melted)

1 Can of Evaporated milk

Bread Crumbs 

Salt and pepper to taste 

Step one: You want to put the macaroni noodles on the stove to boil 

Step two: Cube the cheese 

Step three: Melt the butter 

Step four: Combine butter and Evaporated milk in a bowl. 

Step five: Preheat oven to 350F 

Step six: When the noodles are tender stick them in a baking pan, combine the evaporated milk and butter with the macaroni (mix it together) Then add the cheese cubes and mix well. 

Step Seven: Sprinkle bread crumbs, salt, and pepper to taste onto the top of the noodles.

(this is what it should look like prior to baking) 

Step eight: You want to bake the dish for about 45 mins at 350F 

(when done baking this is what it came out to be....I as a little too generous with the bread crumbs!) 

The dish is absolutely delicious!! If you wanted to make a creamier mac and cheese you can add blue cheese crumbles and a Velveeta to the mix!) 

And for kicks and giggles here are some of the breakfast for dinner photos! 

(this is Edgar he is the special pancake of the bunch) I was on the struggle bus when it came to flipping the pancakes. 

I ended up making enough pancakes to feed an army! 

Then of course I had to make a breakfast face with my food because I am in fact 12. 

Do you have any good recipes for me to try? 

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo 

Melissa 

Hey there lovelies! I hope everyone is looking forward to Thanksgiving and black Friday (or just thanksgiving). A best friend and I are going to go shopping on black Friday because we can!

So, I know that I have been a little missing in action recently and real talk it's been because I haven't thought of anything worthy to post. I didn't want to just post ramblings (like this), but I am because this is me. (take it or leave it folks!)

Anyways, I don't know about you, but this semester has been the semester from down under. I can not tell you how interesting this semester has been. I have a Professor that can't answer any questions you ask him, one professor who called me obsessive compulsive because I am organized, an ex-Scientologist, and a normal professor who works for a local news paper. It's basically a cluster of what in the world is going on. Somehow I managed to somehow make it out alive.

Anyways, this is going to end up being one of those odd out of no where posts because *you only live once*.

I have lots of fun things coming your way this upcoming of weeks! I need to clean my room like no bodies business and do tons of laundry so that's what I will be up to tonight because holy moly me oh my....this girl needs to give her room and clothes some TLC.

I also ran a significant amount today, a mile makes me hollah! (I tried, don't judge me)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful rest of their morning. See you kittens tomorrow!

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo
Melissa

I should totally be studying because guess what I have a pretty exciting two weeks coming up....buuuut, here I am blogging because I am having one of those inspiring moments. I don't know about you but 2013 has been one of those years where everything happens, good and bad (I know the year is not over yet..but thus far its been one heck of a life roller coaster). I know a lot of my closest friends have grown this year but I didn't realize how much I had grown this year until I was sat studying and all of the *aha*moments happened.

So thus far this is what I have learned 

1. It is okay to fail, we all fail at something, somehow in our lives. 
2. No. Is a complete sentence. 
3. Sleep is golden, it's rare when in school but it's golden. 
4. Self confidence will get you farther in life than no self confidence. 
5. We are all a little weird (even those people who put on normal masks)
6. Eating cookie dough is a good coping mechanism but comes with great consequences a week later when you step on the scale. 
7. You can't be loved until you love yourself 
8. Redbull smells really bad.
9. Self respect is something that not many people have. 
10. We are all fighting battles 
11. It's okay to cry (no, seriously, its okay)
12. Once you can laugh at your mistakes or your failures it shows you can grow up and move on. 
13. Listening to advice is vital when you ask for it. 
14. Not all criticism is bad. 
15. Running is actually easy once you get over the fact that you're running. (I know it sounds weird)
16. People are great but sometimes we all need "me time"
17. Some people won't like you, sucks for them, you're awesome
18. Social media is great but can interfere with what's in front of you, put it down sometimes and enjoy the moments. (this coming from a phone addict) 
19. Ugg boots are socially acceptable in all situations when it's cold out. (they are cute little fuzzy moose feet hugging your feet...tell me what is bad about that) 
20. Miley Cyrus is probably doing some sort of drug.
21. Foam fingers are meant to stay foam fingers. 
22. Knee surgery sucks. 
23. Going to college we are paying to be stressed out and freak out...but it's okay because eventually it will lead to a job. 
24. Sometimes you have to create your own family. 
25. It doesn't matter if someones blood related or not if they love you unconditionally they are family. Family doesn't have to be blood. 
26. Yoga pants and leggings are pretty much glorified sweatpants and I love them
27. The best friendships are the ones where you can sit around and do nothing 
28. We all need help sometimes. 
29. We all have emotions and feelings, just because you may have more emotions or feelings than another person that doesn't make you crazy. 
30. The people who want to stay in your life will make an effort to stay. 
31. If you have a bad day, close your eyes count to ten and start over. 
32. Chipotle makes everything better 
33. Lattes from Starbucks that aren't Caramel Macciatos are pretty much weight gaining machines. 
34. Calories don't count during your birthday week
35. It's okay to get upset with someone as long as you can then talk about it in a mature manner. 
36. Skinny Caramel Macciatos fix everything as well. 
37. Distance can make the heart grow fonder (in relationships and friendships)

Okay so I think this list could go on forever but I'll leave the rest of the list for the real, end of 2013! 

What have you learned so far this year? 

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo

Melissa

Happy Tuesday my pretty people! I know I mentioned back when I first got my iPhone5 that I love phone cases. Well, that love has grown and let me tell you something I am beginning to think my phone is better dressed then I am half of the time *all the time*.

Recently I have been lusting over some phone cases and I thought I'd share!

So say hello to this purrfect phone case, I found this gem on Friday and it's talking all the will power for me NOT to buy it. (send help)

How adorable is this Kate Spade cat phone case?!?!? I mean I am already sold with this gem  - just need to go buy it. ...like right meow! 

\This phone case is a bit of a splurge. I like how classic and sophisticated this Tory Burch case has. Real talk, its kind of perfect for all year round use. 

Currently this fun and flirty Kate Spade case is on sale at Nordstrom. I am just loving the cute saying and the fact that the back of the phone case is reflective. 

And finally this elepahntastic phone case matches my planner. I have been meaning to go buy this phone case since I bought my planner but I have just been miss forgetful! 

Which phone cases do you like??? 

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo 

Melissa

Okay, I know we do it basically involuntarily however, we occasionally forget to let our lives breathe. This past week was kind of a week from down under (and not Australia). I was a super stress monster for most of the week, I was anxious, irrational, and basically one big pile of oh dear god what is going on in my life. I was getting all jumbled up with what was going on in life that I forgot to breathe, to take a break and give myself credit.

We all do it, we all forget to take a step back and realize that there is a big picture. I was freaking out over exams, events, my life, and oh more exams and projects. I was getting myself all worked up over things that have easy solutions. So, after an eventful weekend of a fun party, my car breaking down on the highway, and a relaxing Sunday, I sat down with some music and I broke out my Lilly Calendar and I made a list *actually 3*. But, I prioritized my semester and my life.

So what I am going to do for you is give you some help if you are feeling like you are a stress monkey or if you feel like you have a struggle bus ticket (round trip, for life).

1. Figure out what is important to get done and prioritize it .. I know this sounds silly but sometimes we forget to realize that there are things that seem important that are actually
2. Realize that if it is school OR work there is always tomorrow. 
3. Use some sort of planner (and don't neglect it)....personally I live off of my planner and I'd be a lost puppy with out it.
4.  Sit down on a Saturday or Sunday night and plan out your week ... I am that person I plan out things in advance I like to know whats going on in my life.
5. Talk it out ... Friends are always here for you and if you are still in school or if you are working odds are someones riding the struggle bus too (...at least we aren't alone?)
6. Go treat yourself and take a couple hours to relax ...I personally took four days to relax...I still went to all my classes but I spent the rest of the time out of class giving myself a mental break (it was so worth it).
7. Make lists!!! (okay, obviously I am a bit list obsessed) But, real talk they help so much....even if you have one for every aspect of your life for the week ahead. They work folks, I am telling you!

People get busy, life gets hectic, sticky, messy, crazy, stressful, ect. However, what we forget to realize is that there are many ways to tackle a busy week. I have found it's all about having a positive attitude and realizing that I can put anything I put my mind to when I just breathe and realize that I am the list queen.

Stressful weeks and Bad weeks come but what's most important is how we deal with them!

How do you remember to breathe when it comes to your life?

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo
Melissa

Apparently we have all somehow convinced ourselves that having feelings means we are some form of crazy. That having to ask for a favor now means you are inconvenience, needing a shoulder to lean on is now meaning that you are needy, and crying can mean you have some ulterior motive/or your trying to manipulate, if you have a bad week that you some how think people are going to leave you. (now, I realize that we all haven't felt like all of these-- but I know that everyone has experienced at least one at some point in their life).

So, I am here to tell you that it is okay to have feelings and cry and ask for favors, because guess what, we are all human. Yep, we all breathe, we all have hearts that beat, but we also all need someone to help us up from time to time. The miracle of it all is that there will always be someone to help you. 

Somehow or another (especially for girls) we have convinced ourselves that if we have feelings that we are being needy or crazy. (now, lets get something straight, there are actual crazy people in the world...you know the people I am talking about). But, 9 times out of 10 you are NOT that crazy person. You are a human, a person with feelings, a person who needs another person from time to time. 

Recently I have been struggling with this concept, like, what on earth do I do when I have a bad day, I don't want to trouble someone else with my issues - and I will occasionally downgrade what's going on so that I don't have to bother someone else. Personally I have struggled with all of the things listed above. Partially because I don't want to lose what's important to me (but who does), and I don't know how to talk about it sometimes so I just go around in circles until I let it out.

However, I realized, it's okay to let people know whats going on, it's okay to ask for help, and it's okay to fall down. 

Because we all fall down, we all mistakes, we all have bad days/weeks/months/years. However, what we need to realize is that those who love us and care for us, they will stick around, and by needing another person to listen, or to be there for you. That DOES NOT make you needy, it makes you human. We all have our issues, our quirks, or our difficulties. 

Don't be afraid to ask for help, however once you get the help, move on, close your eyes count to ten and start a new day. I hate to say this but hey kids, we only live once so why live it on the struggle bus (too far?....oh well!)

Just because you have feelings, emotions and needs doesn't make you crazy....it makes you human! 

Have you ever struggled with any of the things listed above? Let me know! 

Keep Calm and Carry On

xoxo 

Melissa