Friday Favorites

Five favorites and four letters ... T.G.I.F.

What a long week this has been (I feel like I say that every week lately?!).  Excited to catch up on some sleep, shows, laundry, and relaxation all weekend :)

ONE

Broad City on Comedy Central.  I guess I am a little late in the game for picking this show up (it is on its second season), but it is hilarious and a great show to binge on.  Episodes are only about 25 minutes long so you can get through them pretty quickly.  These two chicks are hysterical and remind me so much of myself and some of my friends (but only sometimes).

TWO

My friend Alicia gave me this Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream when I visited her in NYC a few weeks ago and I have just started using it this week.  I think it's too early to tell if it is minimizing the bags under my eyes, but I am hoping continued use will be effective!  I have the WORST bags under my eyes so I love trying products to help get rid of them.  This cream is super lightweight and you only need about a pea-size amount each morning and night.  Standby for updates as to whether I think it is working or not.

THREE

Luna Peanut Butter Cookie Bars... yum!  I was in search of a new bar so I picked up a box of these last weekend and only have one left!  I have an obsession with peanut butter but for some reason never had tried these before.  I have tried other flavors of Luna bars in the past but wasn't crazy about any of them so I sorta steered clear of Luna bars for a while.  Happy I am back on board with them now!

FOUR

The new Les Mills Body Pump release!  Some of you may know that I am a certified Les Mills RPM instructor so I really like some of the other Les Mills programs.  Body Pump launched this week at my gym and I already have taken the class three times because I love it so much!  The music is great and the workout is kick-ass!  If you are looking to try a Les Mills class, check out their website here to find clubs and facilities in your area that offer LM programs.

FIVE

The McCarren Tote from Madewell.  I can't convince myself to splurge on this bag just yet, but I am keeping my eye on it online.  Such a great everyday tote that I may have to treat myself to this spring :)  Oh, and you can get it monogrammed -- bonus!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and ends January on a stellar note.  Cheers!

Super Bowl Snacks

Ever since the Ravens broke my heart in the playoffs a few weeks ago I have been turned off to football pretty much.  Once the Ravens are out, I lose interest.  And I would be lying if I said I had any interest whatsoever in watching the Super Bowl this Sunday night.  New England v. Seattle - wow, who could have guessed that?  I guess I'll be joining every other AFC fan and rooting for the Seahawks solely because that means I am rooting against the Patriots.

BUT, with the Super Bowl comes fun parties, and with fun parties comes ... FOOD!  No one is really looking forward to the game - everyone just wants an excuse to gorge on snacks loaded with what I like to call the "three Cs:" calories, cholesterol and carbs.  I mean, is there anything better?!

I have been stumbling upon a lot of articles, blogs, recipes, etc. lately about Super Bowl snacks - some of which I would not dare show up to the house of anyone whom I would like to be friends with again (umm, buffalo cauliflower wing pizza with tofu blue cheese spread - no thanks).  In case you are scrambling for something to bring to a friend's house that won't get you banned for life or made fun of until eternity, I have picked five snacks that I think will make you everyone's favorite friend after Sunday (at least until next year).

1. Buffalo Chicken Layered Nachos

First, You Will Need ....

• 8 tortillas
• 4-5 oz. shredded chicken (I recommend buying a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and shredding that -- the chicken is so tender)
• 1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese
• 1-2 oz. crumbled gorgonzola
• 1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce (Frank's is the best!)
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions
• avocado for garnish
• olive oil for spritzing

Then, You Will Need To ....

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
2. Cut the tortillas into wedges and spritz with a little olive oil.  Bake these for 10 minutes.  Once they are finished and golden brown, spread them along the bottom of a glass baking dish.
3. Top this bottom layer of chips with a few handfuls of the shredded chicken and cheeses.  Then sprinkle scallions and pour some wing sauce all over that layer of yumminess.  How much sauce you want to use is up to you!
4. Continue layering with chips, chicken, cheeses, and sauce until the ingredients are gone.
5. Bake for 5-10 minutes until the cheese melts.  Drizzle additional wing sauce over top and garnish with avocado.

2. Bacon, Bratwurst & Beer Cheese Potato Skins

First, You Will Need ....

• 6 slices bacon
• 6 medium russet potatoes, washed and scrubbed
• 2 teaspoons canola or vegetable oil
• 1 white onion, thinly sliced
• 1 (12-oz.) bottle beer
• 1/2 lb. bratwurst
• 8 oz. (about 2 cups) grated cheddar cheese 
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• Kosher salt & pepper

Then, You Will Need To ...

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with foil and lay the bacon flat, making sure not to overlap.  Bake about 14-18 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until bacon is crisp.  Once finished, set the cooked bacon aside on a paper towel-lined plate.  Drain off some of the bacon grease and set aside in a small bowl. 
2. Place the potatoes on the same baking sheet and brush with about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.  Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes, or until tender. 
3. While your potatoes are baking, cook the onions: heat 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onions and cook for about 4-5 minutes, stirring until softened (but not browned).  Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 20 minutes, until completely tender and browned.  Add 2 tablespoons beer and cook, stirring occasionally, until mostly evaporated.  Season to taste with a pinch of salt & pepper and set onions aside in a bowl, covering them with foil.
4. Using the same pan, add the bratwurst and another 1/4 cup beer.  Cover and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, turning bratwurst occasionally, until almost cooked through.  Remove bratwurst from skillet and slice it into thin discs.  Return the cut pieces to skillet and continue cooking, covered, until cooked through.  Keep bratwurst warm until potatoes are ready to be stuffed.
5. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm 1 cup beer until gently steaming and simmering.  In a medium bowl, toss the grated cheddar cheese with the cornstarch and then add to the beer, one handful at a time and stirring constantly.  You want the cheese to melt and stir in entirely before adding the next handful.  Continue until all of the cheese/cornstarch mixture has been stirred in.  Reduce heat the medium-low and mix in the dijon mustard.  Keep cheese mixture warm until thickened, stirring occasionally.
6. When the potatoes are tender, remove them from the oven and allow them to sit and cool for a few minutes until you can handle them.  Cut them in half, lengthwise, and scoop out the insides.  You want to leave about 1/4-inch of the potato in the skins.  Brush the inside and outside of the potatoes with some of that leftover bacon grease and place them skin-side-up on the baking sheet.  Return to oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until edges begin to brown. 
7. Remove the potatoes from the oven and again allow them to sit for a few minutes until they are cooled enough to handle.  Fill the insides of the skins with the melted cheese mixture.  Top with the caramelized onions and bratwurst slices.  Crumble the bacon and sprinkle on top.  Enjoy!

3. Sriracha Macaroni & Cheese Cups

First, You Will Need ....

• 1 12.9-oz. box of macaroni & cheese, cooked according to the package instructions
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup sriracha
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 bunch scallions, greens only, coarsely chopped
• 20 Ritz crackers, crushed to breadcrumbs

Then, You Will Need To ....

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.  Note -- you can use a regular muffin tin but you may just have to bake the cups a little longer.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni & cheese, shredded cheddar, beaten egg, sriracha, and scallion greens (all but about 1 tablespoon to save for garnishing).  Mix everything together until combined.  Divide mixture evenly among the muffin cups.
3. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter.  Add the Ritz crackers and stir just enough to coat them with the butter.  Remove cracker crumbles from heat and sprinkle over the muffin cups.  
4. Bake about 15 minutes, or until the macaroni & cheese is set and the crackers are lightly browned.  
5. Remove the muffin tin from the oven and let the macaroni cups cool almost completely before taking them out of the tin.  Carefully use a rubber spatula (or something else gentle) to free the cups from the sides of the pan. 
6. Drizzle with a little sriracha and serve 'em up!

4. Soft Pretzel Bites

First, You Will Need ....

For the pretzels:

• 1.5 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 package active dry yeast (2.25 teaspoons)
• 3 oz. unsalted butter, melted
• 2.5 teaspoons Kosher salt
• 4.5-5 cups all-purpose flour
• vegetable oil
• 3 quarts water
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
• coarse sea salt

For the cheese sauce:

• 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup milk (at least 1%)
• 8 oz. grated cheddar cheese

Then, You Will Need To ...

1. Combine the 1.5 cups water, brown sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix until combined.  Let sit for about 5 minutes. 
2. Add the salt and 4.5-5 cups flour and mix on low speed until combined.  Increase speed to medium and continue kneading until dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3-4 minutes.  Remove dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead with your hands into a ball. 
3. Lightly oil a medium bowl with vegetable oil and add the dough.  Slowly turn the dough around the bowl to coat with oil.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot for about an hour, or until the dough doubles in size. 
4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
5. Bring the 3 quarts of water to a boil in a small roasting pan over high heat and add the baking soda.  
6. Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface.  Divide dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4-4.5 oz. each.  Roll each piece into a long rope, about 22 inches in length.  Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces to make the pretzel bites.  Boil the bites in the water solution in batches - about 15 or so at a time - for about 30 seconds.  Remove from the water with a large slotted spoon and place bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Make sure the bites aren't touching, leaving about an inch or so of space in between.  Brush the tops of the bites with the egg wash and liberally season with salt.  Bake in the oven for about 15-18 minutes until golden brown. 
7. Remove bites to a baking rack and let sit for about 5 minutes.
8. While the bites are cooling, prepare the cheese sauce: melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add the flour and cook for about a minute.  Gradually whisk in the milk and stir until the sauce becomes slightly thickened.  Remove from heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until it is all melted and smooth.  Season with sale & pepper to taste.
9. Once the bites have cooled down a bit, serve with cheese sauce!

5. Bacon-Wrapped Buffalo Chicken Jalapeno Poppers

First, You Will Need ....

• 1 lb. cooked ground chicken breast
• 1 packet ranch dressing mix
• 1/2 cup hot wing sauce (again, Frank's is the best!)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 stalk celery, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 12 large jalapeno peppers, cored and seeded
• 6 strips of bacon, each cut in half

Then, You Will Need To ....

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl, combine the chicken, ranch dressing mix, wing sauce, oil, celery, and pepper and mix well.  Take about half of the chicken mixture and place it in a ziplock bag.  Cut a small hole in the bottom corner of the bag (to use as a pastry bag).  Set aside.
3. Remove the tops of the jalapenos and scrape out the seeds using a corer.  Using your makeshift pastry bag, squeeze chicken mixture into each jalapeno.  Once all jalapenos are filled, wrap each pepper with 1/2 strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick.  Place on a baking rack elevated on a baking sheet (this will allow the bacon grease to drip away from the pepper) and cook for about 20-25 minutes.

New York Wrap Up

I had such a fun visit to New York City last weekend!  I tried to document as much as I could throughout my trip so I can share with you some of the places I enjoyed (mainly restaurants of course).  

Saturday: I took the Bolt Bus from Baltimore to Penn Station in Manhattan and it was surprisingly painless.  I worried about the bus being super crowded and feeling claustrophobic for three hours, but I was pleasantly surprised that that was not the case.  The trip was a breeze -- a little more than three hours up north with one pit stop along the NJ Turnpike and very little traffic.  Plus, the bus driver was a total riot and kept me very entertained at such an early hour.  If you ever plan to make the trip from Baltimore to Manhattan, I highly recommend booking your ride with Bolt.  $48 round trip -- can't beat that!

After we made our way from Manhattan to Astoria (where my friends live) our first stop was at The Shady Lady for brunch.  (Side note: I couldn't find their direct website anywhere on Google but that link profiles their menu).

Favorite things about The Shady Lady: Drinks - AUCD mimosas, bloodies, sangria, beer, and rail drinks for an hour-and-a-half for $20.  If you choose this option, sit at the bar.  The drinks were flowing there because you have most of the bartender's attention (rather than waiting for your server).  Food - Back to Bed Macaroni & Cheese and a side order of brussel sprouts.  I know some people are totally averse to brussel sprouts (I am not one of them), but these were amazing.  Baked with apples and bacon and served piping hot.  As for the mac & cheese, unfortunately, I was unable to sample it (thanks for nothing, celiac), but I can tell you that this thing looked and smelled unbelievable.  I saw several of these dishes come out of the kitchen so I am not surprised this is a popular menu item.  Just to get you daydreaming a bit about what "back to bed mac & cheese" is, here's a picture ...

Yes, that is macaroni & cheese with bacon baked in a skillet with a fried egg on top.  Holy so much yes.

Dinner on Saturday night was at Tru, also located in Astoria.  I started with the signature cocktail, which was some incredible mixture of cucumber, basil, mint, and vodka.  It was delicious!  As for food, I didn't get too adventurous at Tru mainly because my friends had told me such wonderful things about their salads and I really wanted to try one of those.  I stuck with the caesar salad, which I know is pretty generic, but I really enjoyed it!  The salad was big and tasted delicious.  For "dessert," we ordered a cappuccino with Kahlua & Bailey's - definitely worth the pricey $9 (an extra $4 for the liquor add-ins).  I highly recommend giving Tru a shot if you are around the Astoria area.

On Saturday night we bounced around a few places in Manhattan which were pretty fun.  I cannot even begin to try to explain where we were because I get so lost in that city, but part of me thinks we were somewhere around "midtown."

Sunday: although the weather was miserable when we woke up Sunday morning, we were not going to let that stop us from having a great day.  We had plans to hop around a few bars in Astoria and catch the football games in the afternoon.  First stop ...brunch!

Brunch was at Oliver's, a pretty cool craft beer place in Astoria.  I opted for lunch food rather than brunch, but my friend ordered the buttermilk chicken sandwich pictured below.  I couldn't try it because of all the breading, but it looked fabulous!  I definitely munched on some of the sweet potato fries and the sriracha ranch dip was addictive (we ordered extra).  The drink specials during brunch were pretty good too -- $3 mimosas and bloodies until 4pm.  Not quite the bottomless that we had at The Shady Lady, but still a pretty fair deal!

Buttermilk chicken sandwich

Me and my friend Alicia at Oliver's

We headed across the street from Oliver's to Raven's Head Public House to catch the first football game and obviously ordered more food.  Not before I ordered a pumpkin & vanilla martini though.  Unsure what motivated me to order such a fancy drink on a Sunday afternoon, but it was pretty good.  I only had one, and probably won't ever order another one, but it was fun to switch it up a bit.  About halfway through the football game we decided to order some nachos to pick on and they were out of this world.  Piled high with lots of fresh toppings and the cheese to chip ratio was spot on.  I like to consider myself a nacho connoisseur and order them as often as possible, so I have fairly high standards and expectations for my nachos.  These ones were really yummy and baked in the oven so I definitely approve.  We didn't do the brunch deal, but their special is bottomless mimosas (and maybe bloodies too but can't remember for sure) for two hours for $15.

A few of the creative cocktails at Raven's Head.  My drink was the "Pit & Pendulum."

The next stop on our Sunday bar crawl was at a place called Break.  Break is the ideal spot for watching any sports.  The place is huge and almost half of the top floor is filled with pool tables and flat screen tvs.  I am not a big pool player, but on Sundays you can play for free which would be a lot of fun.  The place was pretty crowded but we were able to snag a high top in the bar area for some drinks so we could catch the end of the late football game.  I imagine Break draws a pretty great crowd on Sundays during football season.  Can't say anything about the food because we didn't order anything, but everyone around was snacking so I assume that is a good sign.

Our final stop was at Sweet Spot and this is where I think I put myself over the edge.  We tried to sit in the front bar area, which is super spacious and looked like a lot of fun, but it was packed up there so we settled in at a table in the back.  The restaurant was almost completely filled and there were plenty of tvs around to catch the game on.  We ordered some wings (which were delicious) and then splurged on dessert and ordered red velvet cheesecake and peanut butter pie.  A great end to a busy day!

Overall, my trip to New York was awesome and I can't wait to go back and explore again.  If you ever are around Astoria you definitely should check out some of those places I mentioned.  Here are a few more snaps from my time in New York:

View of NYC from my friends' rooftop

Met up with some other college friends in Manhattan

Wouldn't be a trip to NYC without a stop at Times Square

I have several trips planned in February so look forward to hearing more about my adventures.  Hope you all had a great weekend .... Cheers!

Friday Favorites

Happiest of Fridays to all of my blogger friends!  What a week this has been.  I am looking forward to a relaxing night with my mom tonight before I head to the Big Apple tomorrow morning to visit some friends for the weekend.  

Here are my five favorite things from this week.  Hope you enjoy!

ONE

My incredible group of spinners who worked their asses off this week (as always).  I had a busy week of teaching spin -- taught five times over the last few days -- and the guys and gals who came out each day were so inspiring.  Thanks for making my day every time I see you guys!

TWO

Rodan + Fields Micro-Dermabrasion Paste is amazing.  I received this a few months ago and use it RELIGIOUSLY.  This "jar" seems to last forever and definitely is worth the price.  My skin has never felt so smooth and soft as it does after I use this stuff.  If you are looking for a consultant for R+F, I have the perfect one for you -- let me know!

THREE

It has been a little while since I have posted a song as one of my favorites.  Discovered this jam a little while ago and am really into it.  You probably recognize Ella Henderson as the chick who sings "Ghost" that is blowing up the radio these days.  Hopefully this will be her next hit!

FOUR

How awesome were Amy and Tina on Sunday night at the Golden Globes?  I really enjoyed watching the show and listening to their narratives throughout.  Thought their George Clooney joke was one of the best!

FIVE

Ok, so I don't actually have any of these MantraBands, but I just discovered them this week and really like them!  I think these would be a perfect gift for someone special, and they come in silver and gold -- awesome!

I can't wait to post about my upcoming weekend in New York City once I am back.  Until then ...Cheers and have a great weekend!

Tavern on the Square

Initially, my intent with this blog was to write about happenings and experiences in Baltimore (mainly), but I sort of lost sight of that and began sharing seriously random things the more I got into it.  I want to make an effort to share my favorite restaurants, bars, shops, and hangouts around the area with the hope that those of you who are local will try them out as well.  

On Friday night I met up with some friends in Canton at a bar/restaurant called Tavern on the Square.  I have been there several times in the past but it had been a while so I was excited to try it again.  The first thing that attracted us to Tavern when we were deciding where to go was the happy hour: Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. food is 25% off and drinks are 50% off!  Honestly you really cannot beat that.  Even if you can't make it for the happy hour pricing, I found most of the items on their menu are reasonably priced so it will be worth it. 

We ordered some drinks and decided to order a few appetizers for everyone to split.  The appetizers we ordered were: crab tater tots, fried guacamole and chips, and black bean hummus dip.  First thing I have to say about these dishes is that they are huge portions!  There were four of us and we were not able to finish even one of the dishes.  So, if you check out Tavern be sure to keep that in mind.  

Here are my personal thoughts and opinions about each of the dishes...

Crab Tater Tots - oh my lord, amazing.  I mean, you can guess exactly what these are from the name, and it's pretty hard for them not to be incredible.  A pile of tater tots smothered in creamy crab dip, baked in the oven with a layer of melted cheese and sprinkled with some Old Bay seasoning on top (of course).  They were incredible - not too rich and the perfect amount of crab dip was spread across the tots.  This is not something I typically order when going out, but I am certain I will be getting these again next time I go!

Fried Guacamole and Chips - I had to ask our server about this one because I was a little perplexed as to what exactly "fried guacamole" is or means.  Here's how it works: they make the guacamole from scratch, mold it into a "ball" and roll it in a thin layer of crushed tortilla chips, then flash fry the "ball" for a few seconds and serve it up surrounded by fresh chips.  This dish is difficult to explain without you tasting it, but I absolutely loved it and found it so creative!  The guacamole was slightly warm and crunchy on the outside but then cold and so fresh in the middle.  There also was some fresh homemade salsa mixed in with it which added a little extra spice and flavor.  Loved this dish!

Black Bean Hummus Dip - honestly was not super impressed with this dish.  The dip was fine, but it really did not have a ton of flavor that made me go back for more.  It was served with a side of fresh vegetables (which were soggy and weird), pita chips and tortilla chips.  I think the other girls liked the dip more than I did, but this definitely was the dish we ate the least of.  

Overall, Tavern was a really fun time - drinks were great, food was delicious, atmosphere was fun.  If you live in Canton, I am sure you frequent Tavern (at least that is what I hear from my friends on that side of the pond).  If you don't live in Canton, go check it out during happy hour and make sure you get those tots!!

Cheers to good food with great friends!

Friday Favorites

I admit that I have dropped the ball completely over the last few weeks with my Friday favorites.  Fridays were extra crazy/busy around the holidays, and then I came down with that terrible virus going around which really knocked me out.  I finally am feeling better now and am ready to get back to it.  As promised, here are five of my favorite things from the past two weeks:

ONE

"Chunky Yet Petite" Necklace from Pink Pineapple Shop.  I have shared my love for PPS before because I love all of their accessories.  I picked this necklace out a while ago and showed it to my mom but forgot about it until I opened it on Christmas Day!  I already have worn this necklace probably five times since I got it because it goes with everything.  I recommend following PPS on Instagram (@pinkpineappleshop) because every so often they offer amazing sales/deals and that's usually how I find out about them. 

TWO

Another piece of jewelry -- Arc Ear Jacket Earrings from Baublebar.  These were a gift from my roommate for Christmas and I am totally in love with them.  Never would have thought to pick these out for myself, which makes them even more special.  And, she got them in my favorite color (purple) so I can rock them for Ravens games!!

THREE

This article: 14 Surprising Ways Life Actually Gets Better After 25.  My best friend sent this to me on Monday and it could not have come at a more appropriate time.  Every single one of those is so true.  Definitely am bookmarking this one to read whenever I find myself in a funk. 

FOUR

Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in "Crush Begun" (05).  My friend let me borrow this over the weekend and I already went and purchased some for myself.  Lately, I have been into the "statement lip" with bright colors, but have not been able to find a brand/product/color that works for me all around.  This stuff stays on for hours (even when drinking and eating) and the color is perfectly bold enough.  I picked up some at CVS for $9!

FIVE

This amazing purple infinity scarf (another Christmas present!).  Wish I could tell you where this is from so you could pick one up, but I got it as a gift so I am not sure where my friend purchased it.  I am loving infinity scarves this year and this one is soo warm.  It has been perfect for me this week with the blistering cold temperatures we've been experiencing.  Plus, I absolutely love the color and can wear it with my Baublebar earrings as I root on my Ravens this weekend!  

Cheers to a kickass weekend, but most importantly a RAVENS WIN on Saturday!

College v. Post-Grad Life

When I was in college, I basically felt like it never was going to end.  A few words to describe how I felt: invincible, unhealthy and carefree - to name a few.  And then, I graduated ... sorta.  I did graduate college, but only to embark on my next journey: law school, which basically was college all over again (in many ways at least). 

Well, I learned that life after college (and/or law school) is not as glamorous as I maybe had hoped or expected it to be.  Everything - yes, everything - changes.  

1. Hangovers

Holy.Hell.  In college, my hangover used to last only about as long as it took me to shower and get ready to start drinking again the next morning.  Now, I am flat out on my ass for an entire day coping with a hangover, which actually feels more like death.  Functioning?  Bye bye.

2. Friends

Friends go from being across the hall or down the street to across the country or even the world.  You actually have to make a seriously concerted effort to get a plan together to see them, and that probably only will work out once or twice a year, if you're lucky. 

3. Weekends

Let me tell you how they went in college ... 

Friday: early dinner at Klondike Kate's (I'll have the fried chicken salad with extra honey mustard, please.") with plenty of drinks to get the evening started.  Then off to the mostly random pregame where I would indulge in copious amounts of whiskey before leaving for the bar(s).  Once at the bar, why not chug three AC Slater's and a few more shots - the night is young!  Oh, the bar is closing?  Whatever, doesn't mean the night ends there ... Margherita's Pizza and a pit stop at 711 for some chips for the win.  A sloppy stroll back home and I usually would end up in bed by around 2:30 a.m.  Oh, and that's just Friday.

Saturday: sleep in until about 11:00 a.m., then repeat above, except start drinking about eight hours earlier.  Why?  Because there probably was some sporting event going on on one of the 72 ESPN channels that we could pretend to be interested in.  The only standard: blackout sometime in the afternoon and continue drinking through Sunday morning. 

Sunday: kickstart Sunday Funday with brunch ("omg! bottomless mimosas and bloodies!!"), followed by another day of pretending to be interested in whatever sporting event was happening on TV.  Sometimes we called it quits semi-early on Sundays, but sometimes we didn't.

Fast forward to my weekends post-grad ...

Friday: Thank God it is Friday and the million ounces of caffeine consumed throughout the week worked again!  4:30 p.m. has taken on an entirely new meaning.  Now, I pray for 4:30 to arrive so I can get home and into my sweats before it gets dark out.  The only thing I'm going out for on Fridays is to meet the Chinese delivery guy at my front gate.  No shame here!

Saturday: rise and shine, it's 7:30 a.m. and I already feel like I have overslept.  Thoughts going through my mind at this point: Target will be packed if I don't get there by 9 a.m.; how early is the dry cleaners open on Saturdays?; gotta get to the post office by noon; let me make my grocery list first; did I make an appointment for my oil change?; quick, put laundry in before one of my roommates beats me to it.  The list goes on and on.  If the stars are aligned, I might go out on Saturday night, but it ain't like a Saturday in college.  Classy dinner with a few glasses of wine, Irish goodbye, and then in bed by 11:30 - check!

Sunday: I'm hungover, despite only having three or four drinks the night before.  I feel like hell, look like hell, and probably decide to munch on the leftovers from my late-night snack the night before.  What's in store for the rest of the day?  Sweatpants, socks, crockpot, and my couch - alone.  Then, the scaries start to set in.  I realize I have to work tomorrow and simultaneously convince myself that "I am going nowhere in life" and "need to figure my shit out."  I think I'll go to my parents' house tonight for dinner. 

4. Dating

Standards for guys in college: is he hot, tall and down for a DFMO?  Things I look for now: is he at least bearable on the eyes, a little bit taller than me, does he have his shit together, is he advancing in his career, and, if so, why the heck is he single?  Something obviously must be wrong.  Bye bye high(er) standards.  Oh, and I can be flexible with some of these things ...

5. Eating 

My diet in college consisted of a steady rotation of pizza, wings, DP Dough, mac & cheese, and Home Grown's grilled cheese.  Ahh, to have a young metabolism again.  Now, the only pizza I'm eating is made with some disgusting, yet "healthy," cauliflower crust and I'm only ordering wings if they're grilled.  Hello, no fun Alison. 

6. Commuting

What used to be a ten minute walk to class now is a 45 minute drive to work.  I also have to "factor things in" now before I leave, such as traffic, weather, school breaks, and stopping for gas.  Ugh. 

7. High Alcohol Tolerance

HA!  Should have just said "alcohol tolerance," because even that seems like a lofty goal these days.  I used to imbibe unhealthy amounts of alcohol in college and handle it like a c-h-a-m-p.  Earning the nickname "Shotskis" was not an easy task.  Now I just pray I can come up with enough excuses to get out of doing a shot for someone's birthday or whatever we are being forced to celebrate.

8. Fridays

Pretty much follows #3 (Weekends), but the days of giving absolutely zero fucks about work on Fridays are long gone.  Everyone knows the "college work week" (and I use "work" very, very loosely) starts Monday at about 10:00 a.m. and ends on Thursday at about 4:40 p.m.  Post-grad Fridays are spent making sure I finish up everything for Monday morning so I don't have to bring work home over the weekend.   Usually this means I pretend to be productive until about noon and then blankly stare at my computer screen for the rest of the afternoon. 

9. Spring Break - or really any break

Used to be the most important week of the year - the week everyone looked forward to the second the spring semester began.  How would I describe it?  A week filled with debauchery, inebriation, sexual defiance, and a hell of a lot of fun.  Now, spring break doesn't even exist.  Nor does a month-long "Christmas" break (or, if you went to the University of Delaware like I did, the seven week break from mid-December through Valentine's Day most definitely is a thing of the past).  For a split second, I wish I could go back to a wild spring break, but then soon realize that the likelihood of me being able to persevere and hang for more than two days is slim to none.  

10. Days Off

MLK Day?  Sweet, I can treat my Sunday like a Saturday and my Monday like a Sunday and start drinking an entire day earlier.  Now, I struggle with just getting through all of the tasks on my to do lists before the day is over. 

11. Money

Didn't really have any in college and don't really have any now, so no difference there.  But in college, whatever cash I could come up with went towards alcohol or food.  Now, I have to save money for "important" and "adult" things, like bills, rent and a 401k - who even knows what the heck that is anyway?!

12. Bedtimes

I sometimes think I wake up at the same time now as when I used to go to sleep in college.  I never "planned" on going to bed at a certain time in college, let alone shared it with anyone if I did.  Now, you know not to text me past 9:00 p.m. because that phone is on "Do Not Disturb" and I am well on my way to REM.  

Now these, my friends, are serious post-grad problems.  Cheers to growing up!