On to the fab and drab choices of the week (*note: I missed last week. Give me a break - my whole routine was thrown off because Ben was out of state.)

1. Fresh salsa. My great friend Letty introduced me to this yumminess awhile ago. She sent over her recipe after I begged and pleaded with her to share the secret of this delicious chip dip (ok, maybe it wasn't that difficult - she's pretty nice ;)). This recipe is great for two reasons: one, it tastes amazing. Duh. Two, I can eat an entire bowl full and not feel that guilty because the vegetables are fresh (tomatoes? onions? That junk is healthy!). Because I'm feeling especially generous today (and because, again, Letty is super nice), I'm going to share the recipe. Grab some Tostitos and have your self a little fiesta:

Ingredients:

-4-5 large tomatoes (not roma) - diced

-1 large white onion - diced

-1 full bundle of cilantro - chopped

-the juice of one lemon

-diced jalapenos (to taste) -*sidenote...you can buy pre-diced jalapenos in a jar, if you prefer

-kosher salt (to taste)

-pinch of sugar

-1-2 T olive oil

Mix all ingredients with a large spoon - do NOT put in a blender. The flavor is even better once it sits in the refrig over night. Enjoy! :)

2. Shark Week. I hesitated adding this to my list because I received a lot of flack last week from some members of my loving family (not to name any names...*ahem*BenandCallie*ahem*). But I decided, bump them! (That's right...I'm bringing back the elementary school trash-talking) I love Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, and I actually think it should be a monthly installment. These past few days, I unleashed my inner geek to learn all about some of the deadliest animals in the ocean. In my defense, this stuff is fascinating and super educational. I'll stop before I really do sound like a complete nerd (too late?). Well, if you want to know how to react if a Tiger shark is stalking you in the water, just hit me up.

3. Aveda. Their products, their institute, their vibe - I love it. Aveda leaked it's way into my life once my fabulous friend Shirley started working for an Aveda-based salon in Tallahassee. In fact, I'm so hooked, I decided to enroll in the Orlando Institute. More details to come on that...a whole separate blog post, probably. :)

4. Beach days. The beauty of living in Florida? Throw a rock in any direction and hit a beach. I love the beach. I'm a total sand and ocean girl, and I think I always will be. I certainly appreciate the mountains, but something about the beach just draws me in. Maybe it's that I-can-just-lay-here-and-soak-up-sun-with-no-responsibilities energy. I had a chance to hit the beach last week and I did plenty of sun soaking and responsibility avoiding. I have the tan lines and a full inbox to prove it.

5. Plaid. It really does seem to be everywhere right now. And I'm totally loving it. Plaid is just so fun and diverse; it can be professional, or eclectic, dramatic or subtle, depending on the colors and ensemble. The pattern is sporadically gracing my closet. The latest item added? This cute top, in "Vintage Bleach." :)

1. Your husband leaving the state for 9 days. Ok. I know that's not really a normal "drab," but it does kind of suck. I already griped about it in a previous post, so I'll spare the whining, but I'm glad that he's back. He had a blast in California (so much that I wasn't sure he'd actually get on his plane), and I'm happy for him. But being out of touch for extended periods of time is not my favorite thing in the world.

2. Tough decisions. As mentioned, I enrolled in the Aveda Institute of Orlando. This is a huge step for me, and very exciting, but also comes with some major changes. Shifting life isn't always easy (or ever easy, really), and the unknown is usually a little nerve-racking. Again - another post, another day. :)

3. Woody's BBQ. Being from a small town, I appreciate hole-in-the-wall establishments, and smaller chain restaurants. That being said, I usually have no qualms with Woody's BBQ (one of those smaller chain restaurants). The menu is simple, and the barbeque is good. However, during a recent visit, my opinion was altered. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich; not an overly complex food item, right? Well, my chicken was burned. That's putting it nicely, I think. It was like pieces of ash in my mouth. I hate complaining about food, because I feel like one of those people who...well...complains about food. But the burned chicken along with the less-than-hospitable service was a little disheartening. Oh well. I'm willing to give Woody's another run. Just not that chicken sandwich.

4. Facebook. Yes, I spend way too much time on Facebook like any other average user. And yes, the hours I waste can certainly be considered "drab" on their own. But that's not my gripe this week. It's those flippin' application invites. The vampire wars and pirate shenanigans are fantastic if you're into that sort of thing, but I'm sort of....not. Yet, I always get a billion invites to partake. And I always ignore the invites. It's a vicious cycle.

5. Cheap razors. The other day, I used a razor that didn't have a conditioning strip. I might as well have rubbed my legs with sandpaper.