May 4th marked my one year anniversary with Georgia. A lot has happened in that year, but I can safely say that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
The Big Bang!
5 JulIf you follow me on any other social network, you probably already know that I suffered a nasty concussion on Sunday. However, I’ve yet to go into true detail about what happened and all of the confusion around it.
My boyfriend, Rene, lives in NY, but when he was last in town I was able to meet his family who I now love as if they were my own. So even though he’s far away, last Sunday I went out to Elliot Key with his family on their boat. We had a really great time and even made plans to return on the 4th of July since everyone was going to be off of work, but everything changed on the way back to the Marina.
I was standing up on the way back, holding on to a metal pole, chatting with Aunt Betty. The ocean was very calm and flat that day so the ride wasn’t rough at all, but thanks to a fellow boater, we got hit with a wake and then suddenly, BANG! I don’t recall the actual impact or the pain right after, but I do remember Betty holding up one of the legs to my sunglasses, which had shattered right off of my face and everyone telling me I had to go sit down while I kept saying that I was fine.
The next thing I remember is Lauren, Rene’s sister, pulling up to my driveway in my car, dropping me off at home. I remember getting out of the car and waving bye to her and the family in their truck. Then the next thing I recall is giving my uncle the keys to my car so he could repark it, him asking me if I was “Drunkiepooh” and me saying yes.
Next thing you know it’s Midnight and I wake up in my bed with a massive migraine, wrapped in a towel, with another towel on my head, thinking “WTF??”
I woke up the next morning, after 15 hours of sleep, thinking I had blacked out from alcohol, even though I only remembered drinking 3 beers, which is child’s play to me. I got ready and went to work, driving really afraid and with a hazy mind and vision that was a bit off. I felt like crap and I didn’t know why. I called my mom and had difficulty expressing myself, like I had a delay in my speech. I wrote an email to Rene’s mom apologizing for having been trashed and if I misbehaved in any way, but she responded almost confused with why I had sent that. She said I had barely drank at all and that I was far from drunk. That I was totally ok, but she had Lauren drive my car for me because of my hit to the head; And that’s when it all made sense.
I called my doctor’s office and they had told me to get there as fast as I could so my mom left work at took me there. I had no idea how bad this all was until I was at the doctor’s office and the Nurse ran out to get the Doc mid-story in a bit of a panic. He explained to us how my “drunken” behavior was a neurological reaction to the impact and suggested I go to the ER to get a CT Scan due to fear that I could have some swelling or bleeding in the brain.
Thank goodness there was none of that and I was able to go home, but not without being prescribed some major pain killers and with orders to rest and not even attempt driving until Saturday. I just feel extremely lucky that I made it through everything without any major damage. Many people have died from these kinds of incidents so for that I’m grateful. Now I just need to make sure to be extra careful whenever I go on the boat again and stay far away from metal poles! No more concussions for me!
Recipe: Bacon, Mushroom and Chicken Pasta Alfredo with Garlic Bread Crumbs & Italian Margaritas
23 JanToday I was eager to cook something simple yet full of flavor. I decided to go the Italian route by choosing pasta Alfredo and garlic bread. I honestly could have made it easy on myself by tackling the Alfredo Sandra Lee-style (Semi Home Made) with a pre-made sauce, but wanted to challenge myself by making it from scratch for the first time. I’ve also been watching a lot of Chopped and was inspired to use some left over hot dog buns I had in my fridge for the garlic bread instead of using more obvious choices. I had to take the garlic bread idea one step further though. I wanted to process the bread into crispy and flavorful crumbs. And of course, as a Bartender, I wanted to marry this meal with the perfect cocktail.
Now, after having made dinner, sitting down and reflecting on it, I really wish there was hidden cameras in my kitchen. I was running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. I burned my garlic bread crumbs so I had to create a new batch of garlic spread and start all over again in a mad dash.
Well, I’ll stop babbling now and get to the good stuff. Below you will find photos of the finished products and the recipes (all modified by me to my liking). The photo of the meal was indeed taken by me, but the Italian Margarita photo is not mine. I was not able to rim the glass with sugar due to lack of counter space and the bread emergency and I forgot to buy an orange to garnish it, but the Margarita photo below is what it would have looked like had I done it right.
BACON & MUSHROOM ALFREDO SAUCE
1 Pint Half & Half
3 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Flour
3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
1 Shallot, Minced
1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated
1/4 Cup Parsley Chopped
1/2 Pound Bacon, Cooked and Chopped
1/3 Cup Baby Bella Mushrooms, Chopped
2 Tablespoons olive oil (maybe a little more)
Salt and Pepper to taste
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in flour until well-blended. Add half and half.
Stir sauce over medium-low heat. Do not allow sauce to boil or stick to bottom of pan. Reduce heat if necessary. Allow sauce to thicken (about 20 minutes), stirring frequently.
In a separate saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sautee mushrooms, shallot and remaining garlic until translucent and tender. Do not brown.
When sauce is near desired consistency, add Parmesan cheese. Stir to melt cheese for 2 minutes. Toss in most of the bacon and parsley (leave some to top your dish), salt and pepper to taste and mushrooms. Stir for another 1-2 minutes. Remove sauce from heat.
GARLIC BREAD CRUMBS
1/2 Cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter, Softened
2 Large Cloves of Garlic, Smashed and Minced
1 Heaping Tablespoon of Freshly Chopped Parsley
Salt and Pepper to taste
Splash of Olive Oil
Bread of Choice
Simply mix all ingredients together. Ideally make this early on and refrigerate so that the flavors develop and really penetrate the butter. Soften again before applying to bread.
To create the bread crumbs, use any bread of your choice, and make sure it’s sliced fairly thin. Cover bread in garlic spread place on baking pan and broil. All breads will vary in time so just keep your eye on it. As soon as it looks toasted, pull out of the oven. Chop the bread into smaller pieces and grind up in a food processor until chunks have become crumbs.
Place crumbs back on baking pan and put back into the oven. This shouldn’t take more than 3 minutes. Be careful not to burn.
FINISHING TOUCHES
The chicken was seasoned with salt and pepper and sauteed over medium heat in olive oil with fresh garlic and shallots.
I chose to marry the chicken, sauce and pasta together before plating. Once plated I topped it with the bread crumbs, remaining bacon and a little bit more of chopped parsley for an extra burst of color.
ITALIAN MARGARITA
1 oz Amaretto (Almond Lequeur)
2 oz Sweet and Sour Mix
1/2 oz Tequila of choice
1/2 oz Tripel Sec
Sugar for Glass
Garnish with an Orange Slice
Top glass with ice, poor in ingredients, shake and serve. If you want to get fancy, rim the glass with sugar and garnish with an orange slice.
If you’ve never rimmed a glass before, the easiest way is to get a slice or lemon or lime and squeeze it around the rim of the glass. Then tip glass into a small plate with sugar. Pat the rim around on the side to make sure the sugar sticks all around the border..
So now that we’re all done, I just have to say that dinner came out sooooo incredibly delicious and I’m quite proud of myself. And though I think these recipes are perfect as is, I’d like to know if any of you would do this a little differently? Are any of you inspired to give this a shot for yourself?? Comment to let me know and come back and comment again with pictures if you do!
-Emily Sixx
It’s a Shore thing…
30 OctI know Halloween is not actually until Monday, but I decided celebrating it a little early, along with the rest of the world lol
This year I decided to be Snooki from MTV’s Jersey Shore. But I wasn’t just ANY Snooki, I was Daytime Snooki! The one that wears furry boots, big hats and sunglasses. I got a little creative and altered the glasses myself as well as the the shirt. I clipped on some fake red hair, glued on some fabulously tacky nails and of course, coated myself in about six layers of spray tan.
Now, being that I’m only 5 feet tall and was in character a lot of the night, my costume was a smash! People would flip out when they saw me and kept stopping me to take pictures with them. I felt like a celebrity! I totally loved it!
Here are some photos from last night’s adventure 🙂
How I Became an Online Dating Addict
20 OctThis week, instead of giving you the 101′s and ABC’s of online dating, I’d like to take a different approach and share my story with you; The reason behind why I became so enthralled with it all and why it works for me. And in order to do so, I must start from the beginning:
As a senior in high school I was quite the character, to say the least. I was an Honor Roll student, 1st Lieutenant in the JROTC, crazy about live Punk and Ska shows and addicted to the internet. I don’t quite recall how I came across my first online dating site, but I do remember what it was called; “Face The Jury.”
On this site you would post photos of yourself with a short bio and other members would judge you on a scale of 1-10. Personally, my score always ranged between an 8 and 8.4 (pats self on back). I don’t believe that FTJ was ever a traditional online dating site, but it is indeed how I met my first internet crush. Obviously, I don’t really need to go into much detail to say that we did not quite work out, but we are still very close friends to this day and I do not regret one second of it.
Shortly after that experience I was introduced to Myspace (another non-traditional online dating site) and little by little I started making new virtual friends and meeting them in person. I dated a few of them, again nothing really worked out in the long run, but my experience there was just a warm up for what was in store for me in the future.
It wasn’t until a few years later that I really started to get hooked. Up until then, I saw online dating as a reliable source, but by no means was it my priority since I would go out several times a week and party like a mad woman. I would meet men in person everywhere I’d go thanks to my “life of the party” attitude and being an extreme extrovert. But this all would soon change.
I’ve always been the type of person who’d jump around from industry to industry, earning me a very diverse resume, but in 2009 my career change went from one extreme to another. I went from being a Trusted Agent with Homeland Security to becoming a Bartender.
Bartending was something I had always been interested in and as soon as I became certified I landed an excellent job at an Irish Pub. I worked Thursday – Monday nights and only had Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. Of course all of my friends had normal jobs and stayed in on my nights off and I refused to date any customers, so my chances of meeting men in person went down-hill.
What was a girl to do?? Well, this girl jumped back onto the Online Dating Wagon and joined Match.com (for the third time, but this time I went in for the kill)! As soon as I joined my inbox was full of emails from men complimenting me, asking me out on dates and some even borderline professing their love for me. Of course, I milked this to the extreme. I was getting to know men from all walks of life and from all over the world; Cuba, Venezuela, Italy, Bavaria, Austria, India, and much, much more.
I immediately started going on dates on my days off or before my shifts started on the weekends. On a slow week I’d go on two dates, but my average was four to five dates a week, all with different men.
Now, I know some of you must be thinking “What a little slut.” Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but that would be far from the case. Sure I was talking to and dating multiple men at once, but most of them did not make it past that first date, and even less made it past a second.
So, with such little success, why did I continue to date this way? Well, I saw it as a game of numbers. If you go on enough dates, you’re bound to meet at least one man that could shine and stand out amongst the others; Aside from the fact that it was just all around fun and exciting.
Mass online dating also helped me figure out exactly what kind of man/qualities I’m looking for. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those girls who walks around with an unrealistic checklist entitled, “The Perfect Man”. There is no such thing as perfect, but dating at high volumes did help me narrow it down to the most important traits in a short amount of time and help me realize that I should never settle for anything less than what I know I deserve. And I’d much rather be single and happy than to be in a relationship with someone I know is not 100% meant for me.
Once again I find myself single and with a complicated schedule. This time I am able to meet men on the random if I wanted to since I have weekends off. However, I have now become really stand-offish when it comes to meeting men at bars and other public places. I honestly do prefer the method of reading a profile and getting an insight on them before engaging in conversation.
It’s like skipping through the B.S. of first impressions. Your first impression for me is what you have to say for yourself to the world; a general insight on you. Not what you think I might want to hear according to where you meet me, what I’m wearing and/or what I’m drinking.
online dating is what I’m most comfortable with, and has yielded the best results for me. It’s something I enjoy and don’t plan on quitting any time soon…Unless I meet my Prince Charming, of course! Until then, I’m hooked and it can only be to your benefit!
This entry was originally posted by me at Singles Warehouse
Dear Mr. Seductive
17 OctA friend of mine recently introduced me to a website called iSeduceWomen.com. Now, when she first told me the site’s name I thought “What the in the…” and of course I had to go check it out for myself. The site is just one page, very clean and very simple. It describes itself as being “For the man who digs women. From a woman who digs women.”
Not yet intrigued? It continues to read “Seduction is not about sex. Seduction is not simply a carnal venture. It’s about appreciating, celebrating, and reveling in a woman on every level and in every way.”
So of course I signed up for the mailing list and since then have been receiving daily messages from a Mr. Craven Moore with advice on none other than the art of seducing women. And I must admit, every day I grow more and more intrigued with this said Craven Moore.
“Dear Mr. Seductive,
Be patient.
Seduction isn’t about sex. It’s about pleasure.
Pleasure in sexual tension. Pleasure in stalking your prey. Pleasure in waiting patiently for the kill.
Take your time. Point out how much you love the building tension. Move in close, but let her come to you.”
What?!?! This is so sexy!!!!
“Dear Mr. Seductive,
Gauge her naughty level.
If she’s proper, don’t be insulting. If she’s a freak, be REALLY freaky.Dare to be different.
Have tricks up your sleeve.Do something to her that NO ONE has ever done before.
She’ll tell your friends (and hers) about it.How far are you willing to go to be a legend?”
I for one will not be using this information to try to seduce women because I am a man-lover to a fault. But I can most definitely say that I love this idea and I think every man should be reading these little bits of advice. I don’t necessarily agree with all of them, but they are, for the most part, pretty on point.
“Dear Mr. Seductive,
Make sure she knows how hot she is.
Infuse her with confidence. The more attractive she feels, the more she’ll want to take her clothes off.”
Need I say more? I think not! Spread the knowledge ladies. Let’s get these men back on track!
You’re welcome!
-Emily Sixx 😉
Online Dating 101: Safety First!
13 OctThe arguments against online dating are numerous, to say the least, but the most common one I hear about has to do with a woman’s safety. And as much as I’d like to say otherwise, unfortunately that’s an argument that will not be going away any time soon thanks to our fear-driven media and society.
Could it be that the thirty year old Chiropractor you’ve been chatting with for the past month might actually be a fifty-seven year old ex-convict with a taste for blood? Anything is possible! But I believe it is much more likely to look out the window right now and find John Cusack holding up a Boombox playing “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel.
Did you look?? No Cusack Boombox serenade? I thought so!
Now, I’m not saying to throw caution to the wind and not take any precautions when meeting someone in person for the first time. You most definitely need to be careful and I would like to share a few tips with you in order to make your first physical encounter a safe one.
Tip #1: Make sure you have a recent photo
Before even agreeing to meeting anyone in person, you need to be positive that they are who they claim to be on a physical level. Make sure to have them send you a photo through their phone doing something you’ve requested, like making them stand in a particular pose or holding up a piece of paper with your name on it. If they claim the camera on their phone doesn’t work suggest they web cam with you. If they cannot do either, I would suggest not moving forward with the date.
Tip #2: Meet in a public place
Always make sure that your first date with anyone you meet online is in a public place; mall, bar, restaurant, etc. Whichever one you do, make sure it’s somewhere relatively busy where there will be a lot of eyes. No matter how cool a person may seem via email or over the phone, do not ever go to their house or one of their friends’ parties or anything of the sort before you really know who they are. Though some men may be great actors, for the most part your gut instinct and the chemistry you may or may not share with that person will be able to guide you in deciding whether or not that can happen on a future date.
Tip #3: Cover your steps and have a back-up plan
Never go off on a first date of the online kind without letting someone know where you will be. Advise someone of the exact location, time, the name of the person you’re meeting, and if possible send that someone a picture of your date. You can never be too sure and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You may also like to consider having a back-up plan. Let this person know that if you text them with the safety word (i.e. “Turtle”) that it is their cue to call you in a panic and demanding you come help them out with something immediately.
Tip #4: Always carry protection
For the ladies with a dirty mind, no, I am not talking about condoms! Even though that is something you should always carry, you should not be getting down and dirty on your first date!
What I am talking about here is personal protection; Pepper Spray, Pocket Knife, Taser, or whatever is legal in your part of town. Personally, I’ve always carried pepper spray on me. It’s on my key chain and ready to rumble if there is ever a need for it. Granted, in the seven years that I’ve made this part of my attire (and I do replace them frequently for freshness sake), I have never had to use it. I’ve come close, but it’s never had to be done.
At the end of the day, ladies, we all need to be careful. Never assume that anyone can be trusted until they have earned your trust. Following each of these steps will definitely assure your safety, which is key. Whether or not the date is an overall success is totally up to your chemistry and the powers that be!
This entry was originally posted by me at Singles Warehouse
Label Whores
9 OctWARNING: It’s not a personal attack on anyone in particular and really doesn’t have anything to do with people who make lots of money!
Obsessing over labels has never been much of an issue for me. I could only assume it’s because I was not raised in a particularly well off family, but for that I am grateful. I’ve learned to be able to tell the difference between a want and a need, even though I’ll admit, sometimes it’s hard. But in the end I’ve always managed to get by making the right decisions.
Now, for the people a little more financially fortunate I can see where it’s totally normal for them to spend $300+ on a purse or on a pair of shoes (even though it makes little sense to me). Money spent is relative to the money that’s made, but what blows my mind are those that are struggling on a daily basis going above and beyond to be able to say they own a “Louis” or whatever other Foo Foo name is hot at the moment. I’m not here to bash the labels themselves, because after all, it’s nice stuff…The clouded judgement some people have in regards to these labels thanks to our materialistic society is what I’m going after.
At the end of the day, is it really necessary to spend the majority or sometimes all of your money on something such as a purse? A purse is something that’s meant for you to store your belongings in, and of course, your money. But what is the point of having a purse if you have no money to store in it? I personally used to work with someone who would complain every day about how she didn’t have enough money to buy diapers and food for her baby, and how she couldn’t afford anything more than what was on the dollar menu for lunch, yet every week she’d come in with a new fancy bag and super expensive shoes. The worst part is that she’d brag about her new items and how much they cost.
REALLY?!!?!?! You’re going to let your child starve and walk around in dirty diapers, but go and buy this crap that you don’t even need just to feel some sort of social validation?!?! I don’t know if to be disgusted with society for making her think this way or just with her for being so weak!
What brand shoes, purse, jewelry, and/or clothes you wear does not define you. You are no more and no less the person who you are inside with or without these material things. How can some people think that in order to be cool they have to spend and exuberant amount of money on items that are nothing but a want? The cutest part about it is that they could find these items for a fraction of the cost if they were just a little patient and shopped the right way (Outlets, Ebay and Craigslist are a girl’s best friend!).
I’m not trying to say that anyone is stupid for falling into the label trend, but I am saying that at the end of the day, you’re spending way more than what you really need to be spending on things that don’t really matter. Instead of spending $500 on a purse, spend $85 and actually start a savings account with the difference. What about setting that money aside for your children or future children? How about taking a little weekend getaway? Memories with those you love last way longer than any material thing.
We all have our opinions…It’s what makes the world go round, and this is mine.
That’s my rant of the day…I’m out!
-Emily