Sunday Social and Sayings

Hey y'all,

It's been a while since I have done a Sunday Social linking up with Ashley and Neely. This week's focus is all about food and since I love to eat I feel as if this week is perfect. As usual, I will include a few inspiring pictures and quotes to start your week off right!

1. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
My mother's beef stroganoff. It is to die for! It is the one meal that everyone wanted for their special birthday dinners. I have tried many other versions of beef stroganoff but no one makes it  the right way. 

2. What is your guilty pleasure/comfort food? Mac and Cheese is my number one comfort food but guilty pleasures: chocolate, pizza, fries, grilled pineapple, sourdough bread, Dr. Pepper, Fanta & Coke mixed, Haribo gummi bears.

3. What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten? Everyone thinks I'm strange for eating Nacho Cheese Doritos with Cottage Cheese. I also eat Ranch with everything including turkey at Thanksgiving. I also eat French Fries with mayo thanks to living in Europe and my favorite kind of ice cream is chocolate with strawberries and gummi bears. Pretty much I still eat like a little kid.

4. What foods do you avoid at all costs? Lots of them. I am a really picky eater so here is a short list of things I refuse to eat: seafood (except for shrimp), cooked vegetables(except for corn, green beans and grilled zucchini), most asian food(I don't like lots of the sauces) and spicy food.

5. What meal reminds you of childhood? My mom stayed at home when I was young so we had lots of good home-cooked meals. I would have to say I love my Mom's apple pie, lasagna, meatloaf, fresh baked bread, tacos, homemade pickles and salsa, pork chops & sauerkraut, and so much more. That is one bright point of currently living at home while awaiting my stellar career is having my mom here to cook amazing meals all the time.

6. Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it. Mine would probably be my mom's Caesar Salad. It is so simple and quick to throw together to accompany any meal and if you add chicken you are set as a complete meal! It was also great because there is one bowl we always make it in my family so if you see the bowl you know salad is on the menu.

Caesar Salad:

1 head of Romaine Lettuce(washed and torn into pieces)
1 tablespoon of Lemon Juice
1 1-minute Coddled Egg
1/3 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2-3 cloves of Garlic crushed
1/2 teaspoon of Pepper
Anchovy paste (can be omitted)
1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
1 cup of croutons.

In a large salad bowl mix the garlic, pepper, lemon juice and egg, after rubbing anchovy paste in the bowl (we never use the anchovy) Add the olive oil slowly while mixing to combine. Add the lettuce and toss. Then add the parmesan cheese and croutons and toss again. Enjoy.

What could be simpler?

Sunday Sayings.

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I hope you all have a wonderful start to your week! Also, don't forget to keep entering my 100 Followers Thank You giveaway HERE.

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

Monograms Monograms Everywhere (A GIVEAWAY!)

Hey y'all!

I'm so excited that I finally have everything together for a lovely thank you giveaway to YOU! My followers and readers are fantastic and I am blessed to have met so many of you through blogging (YAY FOR OVER 100!). Now if you are anything like me you are a huge fan of having your monogram on anything that moves. Here are just a few of my monogrammed pieces that hang around my room:

Land's End Tote

Graduation Cap and my paddle from my Big

Senior Bar Golf Visor

Acrylic necklace from roomie jCm for Graduation

Random Js from my apartment decor in college

My ring from my parents for my 22nd!

Tervis Tumbler(small)

Tall Tervis with my circle monogram

21st birthday present from jCm.

My beautiful Koozie from Leslie

And since we all love monograms you have a chance to win a monogrammed baseball hat(and a few of my favorite things to be revealed later)! Here are a few pictures of mine (it's white with the interlocking monogram and light blue/teal thread). It's perfect for those days when your hair does not cooperate.

Off for a run!

Now here is how you win. In ONE comment please write your entries:
1. You are a follower of Preppin' Postgrad(mandatory)
2. Go to southernmonograms' store on etsy and tell me the hat color, thread color and type of monogram you would love.
3. Tweet or blog about the giveaway and include the link to this post(one entry each: one for twitter and one for a blog post).
4. Tell me one thing you like or would want to see on my blog.

Good luck! YOU HAVE UNTIL 11:59 EST Friday August 17th to enter!

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

Ps. This is not a sponsored giveaway. All items will be purchased by me!

HAPPY NATIONAL BOOK LOVERS DAY!

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Hey y'all,

Today is the all important National Book Lover's Day if you have even glanced at my blog you know that I am a HUGE book lover. You can see my overflowing bookshelves and the fact that I currently have over 10 books out from the library and spot me as a book lover. To celebrate this holiday I figured I would share some of my favorite authors and their respective genres. Feel free to share your favorites and any book suggestions in the comments!

Now I have read a lot of books but my favorite genres are paranormal romance, historical romance, teen lit, chick lit, and 19th Century British Fiction. So I figured I would share a few of my favorites in each genre since it is next to impossible to cram in over 500 books to just one favorite.

Paranormal Romance.

I love Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter's series. It combines Greek mythology, Atlantis and vampires. I know that sounds like a lot but each of the individual books are captivating, different, and continue the plot as a cohesive series.Book 1:

Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking the evil that preys on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power?

That is my existence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minute of it.

Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: an accountant. She’s smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal.

My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Now I find myself wanting  to believe that love and loyalty do...

Lynsay Sands. The Argeneau Family combines Atlantis and Vampires into a witty series about one family and a meddling mother. It is a lot of fun to see the family grow and learn about the various Aunts, Uncles and Cousins all connected. Book 1:

That hot guy tied to Lissianna Argeneau’s bed? He’s not dessert—he’s the main course!

Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there’s another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sign of blood… an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Her mother thinks she has the perfect solution, and serves up the therapist on a silver platter (or at least a wrought iron bed). Of course it doesn’t hurt that this psychologist has a delicious looking neck.

What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that? Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger’s bedroom pretty quickly—once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor find true love with a hemophobic vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal?

That’s a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into… if he can just get Lissianna to bite.   

Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark Series combines Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies, Valkyries, and all sorts of other magical beings into the city of New Orleans in a series about co-existing between humans and immortals and the balance of good and evil. 

The first novel:

The Warlord

Nikolai Wroth, a ruthless vampire general, will stop at nothing to find his Bride, the one woman who can “blood” him, making his heart beat and filling him with strength. Coldly interested only in the power his Bride will bring, he can hardly believe when Myst the Coveted awakens him body—and soul.

The Seductress

Famed throughout the world as the most beautiful Valkyrie, Myst has devoted her life to protecting a magical jewel and to fighting the vampires. Wroth provides her with the perfect opportunity to torment her sworn enemy—for with his new heartbeat comes a consuming sexual desire that can only be slaked by her. Denying him, she flees, struggling to forget his searing, possessive kiss.

The Hunt is on…

She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen her enchanted jewel, giving him absolute power over her. Now that she’s his for the taking, he intends to make her experience first-hand the agonizing, unending lust she subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Nikolai realizes he wants far more than vengeance from Myst and frees her, will she come back to him?

MaryJanice Davidson. The Undead series begins with Betsy Taylor turns 30, gets laid off, is killed by an SUV and wakes up dead all in the same week. The vampire community is convinced she's their prophesied Queen. But she's not having any of it—she's got shoes to buy! And now the undead world is being turned upside-down by a Bela Lugosi throwback and her subjects expect her to take care of it! Why didn't she read the handbook? But her would-be consort, Eric Sinclair, is (annoyingly) ever-present. If only he wasn't so tall, dark, gorgeous...and undead.

Historical Romance

Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation Series. Nothing ever goes right for Eloise. The day she wears her new suede boots, it rains. When the subway stops short, she's the one thrown into some stranger's lap. And she's had her share of misfortune in the way of love. So, after deciding that romantic heroes must be a thing of the past, Eloise is ready for a fresh start.

Setting off for England, Eloise is determined to finish her dissertation on two spies, the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. But what she discovers is something historians have missed: the secret history of the Pink Carnation-the most elusive spy of all time. As she works to unmask this obscure spy, Eloise has more and more questions. Like, how did the Pink Carnation save England from Napoleon? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly escape her bad luck and find a living, breathing hero of her own?

Teen Lit.

There are too many series to count in Teen fiction that I have loved but here are a few:

• Anything by Meg Cabot
• The Hunger Games
• Harry Potter
• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
• His Dark Materials/The Golden Compass
• Gossip Girl
• Daughters of the Moon
• A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Blue Bloods by De La Cruz
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• The Named/The Dark/The Key
• A Wrinkle in Time Series
• The House of Night Series

Chick Lit.

Similar to Teen Lit I read so much chick lit I will just list some of my favorites:

• Sophie Kinsella
• Jodi Picoult
• Nicholas Sparks 
• Beth Harbison
• Jill Mansell
• Hester Browne
• Cecilia Ahern

Classical Lit.

I hope all of you book lovers get a chance to pick up a book today to celebrate!

Peace and Blessings,

jDl

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Officially a Postgrad

Hey y'all,

It's official. I have received my diploma in the mail and it has found a home in my graduation present from my parents, my diploma frame.

 YAY for seeing the Old Well and Old East with my diploma. Now to find a job so I can hang up this bad boy.

I can't believe my four years at UNC are summed up in this small piece of paper. YAY for my B.A. in English.

Peace and Blessings.
jDl

ps. Thank you all for the lovely comments, thoughts and prayers for my family while we grieve for my grandfather. We are blessed to know that he died peacefully in his sleep and was in his 90s. Thank you again.

Life Lately: Family Loss, A Birthday, Shopping & More

Hey y'all,

I'm sorry to go missing again for a while but it was due to the loss of my Grandfather Wednesday night. I needed to spend some time with my family especially my grandmother. After spending time grieving Wednesday I was luckily able to see my best friend for her birthday (and my half-birthday) since she was down for the day from DC and apartment hunting for her adventures as a TFA teacher for the next two years.

aMl, my Mom, and I last summer.

So for her 22nd birthday/graduation I got her (and myself) the updated version of the BFF necklace. Enter Kate Spade's Bridesmaids Idiom Bangle in gold. With the outside stating "birds of a feather, two of a kind, perfect pair, partners in crime, peas in a pod, and sidekicks" it was the perfect present and whenever I look at it it reminds me of our great relationship and seven years of friendship!

My "This is the year" in silver from Christmas from my parents  and "Best Friends Ever" in gold Idiom Bangles

This past weekend was also the worst weekend in retail in the state of NC--TAX FREE WEEKEND. While it is nice to not have tax on school supplies and clothing right before school starts, those of us who work in retail have Black Friday like days all weekend (Yes I worked all three days). I did take advantage of the no-tax though by purchasing a pair of my favorite Jeggings (Target's Mossimo Denim Legging is what it says this year, last year it just said legging) which I love since they have real pockets, button and zipper so not your typical legging.

My Favorite Jeggings

I also scored a few pairs of Nike Tempos (Norts) since Dick Sporting Goods had a buy one get one half off and I even found some on clearance.

On clearance for $24

 So I think you now understand while I have been MIA.


While I was spending time with my family I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Michelle and Melanie.  This is actually my 4th and 5th time being nominated for this award which you can read all my random facts here and here so I figured I would just answer the questions they posed me.

Questions from Michelle:

1. How many siblings do you have and where do you fall in the lineup?
I have 3 siblings. Two sisters and a brother. I am #3 of the 4.

Baby Sister, kDi and I

The girls. Baby sister kDi and older sister SDe at my English Dept. Graduation.

My brother (the oldest of us) and I after main Graduation

2. What is your job/what is your career goal?
I currently work in retail at my former summer job but I am searching for a job in either higher education administration or art museum administration. 

3. What is your favorite thing to do on a Friday night?
I love a good night in watching Say Yes to the Dress, a romantic comedy and a run to grab frozen yogurt with my friends. I also love a good night out at a bar talking and dancing mixed in with those nights in. I haven't had a lot of time fun now that I am back in my hometown but maybe sometime soon I will be moving out and finding some fun.

4. Do you have any secret talents?
I don't think so. I read pretty fast, played clarinet from 6th-12th grade, paint watercolors, and danced ballet from the age of 2-10.

5. What is your favorite TV show?
This is so hard since I am a TV junkie. Some of my favorites are the Vampire Diaries, Private Practice, Suits, Castle, New Girl, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Hart of Dixie and many more.

6. Who is your favorite band/artist?

I am a huge country music fan. Some of my favorite songs right now are:

Kenny Chesney "Come Over"

Luke Bryan "Drunk on You"

Big and Rich "That's Why I Pray"
The Band Perry "Postcards from Paris"

Gloriana "(Kissed You) Goodnight"

6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
This is really hard considering I have loved living in Europe. However, I love the South and being close to my parents so I would probably say a large city in the South like Dallas, Atlanta, Charleston, etc.

7. What is your favorite event to watch in the Olympics this year?
I love Swimming since I was a competitive swimmer when I was little and only stopped in middle school since I stopped loving the pressure. My other favorite events are gymnastics and diving.

8. What is the number one thing on your bucket list?
Another hard question. You can read my 30 before 30 list here. But probably my biggest thing would be to fall in love, get married and become a mom.

9. Is there anything you are deathly afraid of?

I have a fear of heights and refused to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower but other than that my biggest fear would be getting cancer since I know it runs in my family.

10. Do you play any instruments?

I played the clarinet throughout middle school and high school but haven't played it since. I also can play the piano a bit and sing. My entire family (apart from my mom are musically inclined. It's a trait of my Dad's side)

11. What is one book you would recommend?
Hardest question ever as an English major. 

I did just finish The Selection by Kiera Cass. Here is the Goodread's description:  For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined 
In my opinion it is similar to the Hunger Games Triology with the dystopian society with a mix of the Bachelor finding a love amidst a large group of women. Two of my favorite quotes from the novel are "...true love is usually the most inconvenient kind" and "no, I'm not choosing him or you. I'm choosing me."

Questions from Melanie:

1. What is your favorite cereal?

I am not a huge cereal person but when I do eat it my top cereals would be Berry Berry Kix, Reduced Sugar Frosted Flakes, and Cocoa Krispies. I was never allowed to have cereal with marshmallows or lots of sugar when I was young and since that I love less sweet cereals.

2. What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was really young I thought I was going to be a teacher. In High School and half of college I was thinking of becoming a book editor. But now I am back to loving the arts and education in an administrative perspective.

3. If money, education, or conditions were no object, what career would you want to have?

A stay at home mom. Really. My mom stayed home with us and I loved it. Other great careers would be wedding/event planning, charity coordinator, museum curator, and so much more. 

4. Who is your celebrity crush?

I did a post on my top celebrity crushes HERE (photos included ;) )

5. What store is your favorite?

I love small boutiques like Vestique, mixed with Target, LOFT, Marshalls, J.Crew, T.J. Maxx, Old Navy, and Nordstroms. 

6. If you could only eat one animal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

7. What season is your favorite and why?

Fall and Spring are tied. I love the weather of both of them and the clothing of scarves, cardigans and boots in the fall and sundresses in the spring. 

8. Where do you want to retire?

No idea. That is a long, long way away.

9. What is your favorite scent?

My favorite perfumes are Kate Spade Twirl, Coach Poppy, Ralph Lauren Romance, and Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy.

10. What app is your favorite?

I don't have a smart phone. GASP. My parents are anti-smart phone for their children (especially my mom, she is of the opinion that a phone is a phone and my Dad loves technology and has an iPhone but doesn't have a ton of apps.)

11. What is your dream car?

Audi TT or BMW 5 series sedan.

Thank you Melanie and Michelle! Since I have been awarded the blog award already and multiple times I decided not to nominate other bloggers but feel free to check out these wonderful bloggers!

I'm planning on keeping up with posts for the rest of the week including my 100 followers giveaway later this week!

Peace and Blessings,

jDl

Guest Blogging over at A Midwest Collegiate

Hey y'all,

Since I have been gone from my blog for so long it should be a treat to read two posts in one day! Head on over to the lovely Christine's blog to learn all about my Favorite School Supplies just in time to stock up before you go back to school.

Did I miss anything from my list? Want to join my School Supply Swap?

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

Vacation Update & 100 Followers

Hey y'all,

Sorry it has been forever since I blogged. I spent  a lovely few days in Wilmington, NC followed by watching as much Olympics as I could between work and the internet decided to die for a few days. So here is an update of what I did over my mini-vacation (I am nicknaming it the vacation of good food and wine).

Monday. I planned on leaving Monday morning but an emergency babysitting job came up so I ended up leaving a little before noon which worked out just fine. It is a really nice drive to Wilmington from my hometown and not too long. So I arrived at my friend jHl's (or Jessie, we call each other twins since she is one day older than me and we practically have the same name) apartment in gorgeous downtown Wilmington. I don't know if it is just me but I love historic homes in beach towns. The beautiful architecture and rich colors make it so special. Jessie had to run to work a little after I got there which I understand as a college student that money is important. So I spent time reading, taking a nap after my drive and playing with the dogs she was pet-sitting (Twinkie and Cupcake). After jHl came back from work we ran to Sweet & Savory for dinner. I have known Jessie since the 8th grade and she is one of a handful of individuals I still keep up with after High School. It is so funny because even though we took completely different paths we have had some of the same experiences in college and our conversations are so natural as if we haven't been apart. I know we both have grown a lot in college but it was great to see her and share what is going on in my life and hers. After dinner we ran to Harris Teeter (grocery store) for some wine and ice-cream before heading back to her place to watch You've Got Mail.

It was Jessie's first time having Moscato and I converted her!

TUESDAY.

Enjoying the beach view!

We got up early (9am) to head to Wrightsville Beach! It was the perfect weather and the beach was not crowded at all (well except for a good number of surfers and there were a few close calls) and the water was the perfect temperature. I wish I could live on the beach but after a few hours of conversation, reading, people watching and a walk down to the pier we decided to pack it up and low and behold an hour later I realized I had a horrible sunburn on my back (yes I wore SPF I just burn too easily and am now starting to peel a week later). After going back to the apartment, Jessie had to run to work again, which was a-okay since my grandlittle, sGc, lives in the area and we met up to explore downtown Wilmington. It was great to see her since she left right after school ended to study abroad in ITALY! I loved looking in all the adorable shops and catching up on European adventures and comparing how we loved Europe. It was great to have another connection and I was sad when our time ended (I will just have to visit in the fall since they all start to move back to Chapel Hill THIS WEEK!!!!). A couple of hours of reading (no TV or Internet in the apartment) and cuddling with the dogs Jessie was back and we ran out to dinner at Fat Tony's and then to the wine bar The Fortunate Glass.A perfect Day ending in the movie Penelope.

OOTD After the Beach

Beach waves and Webster for Target Tank

Hanging out with my g-little, sGc with the USS North Carolina in the background/

The adorable cupid pouring wine etching on the glasses at The Fortunate Glass

The adorable decor in The Fortunate Glass.

WEDNESDAY.

A quick run to a local coffee shop and more conversations about boys, life, friends, and our futures was followed by a jaunt to the mall to grab a few things. After lunch at Ruby Tuesdays, Jessie was back at work and I was in the apartment reading and waiting for one of my little sister's friends to arrive since she was coming into Wilmington for a concert. We ran to dinner at Flamming Amy's (suggested by my grandlittle) and then Jessie came back from work with cupcakes in hand and together they went to the concert(it wasn't my cup of tea) so I stayed in drinking Moscato and watching Chick Flicks like The Wedding Date, Music and Lyrics and Letters to Juliet all while packing up to return home.

The dogs would never sit still for a photo. Oh Well.

THURSDAY.

I was planning on leaving pretty early in the morning but a last minute decision for all of us to have breakfast together meant not leaving until after IHOP. I arrived home in the early after noon blessed to have spent time with someone I know I will cherish as a friend for years to come and having lots of wine, relaxation, good food, and good company. And we never took a photo together, me and Jessie, whoops.

WHILE I WAS GONE I REACHED 100 FOLLOWERS! If you can't tell I am excited, thankful and so blessed by each of y'all and I am currently working on a giveaway as an appreciation for all of you! I hope it will be ready by Friday so be on the lookout!

ALSO TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER MY BACK TO SCHOOL SCHOOL SUPPLY SWAP! Enter HERE

I hope you all had amazing weeks last week! What were your opinions on the Opening Games? Any Olympic Decisions you disagree with(gymnastics)?

Peace and Blessings,

jDl