Merry Christmas

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Is this thing on?

Oh look- I'm alive! However, I do not intend to write a blog about not blogging- I don't like those! What's new around here? Travel: I went home twice in the last 3 months- once for my sister's 30th birthday and once for my 10 year class reunion. We went to South Carolina to visit Joe's family over mother's day weekend as well. We also spent a night in Kansas City at a historic hotel after a night out with friends at a fondue resturant- yum! Joe is about to head back to SC for a week to help his parents with some home renovations- such a handy man! School: I am headiing back to Columbia tomorrow to start my 4th semester of doctoral work at Mizzou. The prep has been tough for me this time around, but I a just going to keep whacking away- nose to the grindstone. This strategy has a way of working for me. Work: Higher Ed is alwasys exciting. Lots of good work to be done every day! Not going to lie- things are nuts around here- hence the lack of blogging. If you're feeling nuts too, might I suggest the folllowing.... 5 Things you Should Shamelessly Try and Subsequently Love: 1.Call me Maybe- so bad, yet so good! A song has not stuck in my head like this one for a long time! 2.Easy set pool- RoMo is too hot for this Minnesota girl to go outside w/o being immersed in h2o! 3.The Bachelorette- is it just me, or are none of the guys a good fit this season? 4.50 Shades of Gray- What woman isn't reading this book? 5.Pick a recipe- replace the most unhealthy incredient with Greek yogurt- bada bing bada booom.

Regal in RoMo

Hello February!  Time flies when you're working like a hard-working person.  After 4 weeks of doing the full-time work, full time school thing, Joe and I were ready to get out of dodge.  So, yesterday, we hit up the St Louis Art Museum.

 I was pretty impressed with the collection; they have over 30,000 pieces from all over the world including some the most famous, Monet, Van Gogh and my personal fave, Winslow Homer.  After a few hours of strolling through the gallery we went out for a late lunch at a Tuscan Grill and then saw a movie.  I have to recommend The Descendants.  It has been nominated for several Oscars, so don't just take my word for it.  This film had the capacity to be a total sap-fest... but, instead it turned out to be funny and intriguing in an awkward sort of way.  Definitely the antithesis of sap- take your husband! 

 On the way home, we stopped at Trader Joe's and I got a Pomegranate and some blood oranges.  I had never tried either.  The pomegranate was great- if you need help figuring out how to eat one, look here:  http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/25/how-to-eat-a-pomegranate/ 

As for the blood oranges, I am sad to share that in the event of a blind taste test,  I am quite confident I could not distinguish the difference between a blood orange and a navel orange... oh well!  They are pretty. 

I meant to share these next shots a while ago.  Here is my dear nephew, enjoying his very first solid food!  Rice cereal.  What a cutie- he did great.  It is funny to watch someone try food for the first time.  If you look close, you can definitely see and expression of "oh my, what is this?!" 

On a final note, I must expose you to this video.  I swear I was born in the wrong decade...  David Bowie- you're so fly...

I Resolve

Are you a New Year's resolution maker?  For whatever reason, this year, I have  been giving my resolutions a good amount of forethought.  However, at this time, it has been determined that I'm lacking gumption for dramatic or glamorous changes this year.  After all, I'm in the process of getting the letters D and R in front of my name, which has the capacity to suck up most of my drama and glamour on any given day.  For this reason, my resoutions are few and simple.  I, Katie Jackson, do solemly swear to pack my lunch at night, Sunday through Thursday. 

January 1st, I shall be eating this:

http://www.flatoutbread.com/pbj-with-sbg-flatout-wrap/ 
and this:

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1EOZjC330qmSLhleqlRajR7eN9kyAXcBeBCkYShWsTBY