The Cow Who Wanted to Be a Hamburger (But I didn't want it to!)

If this blog were a saucepan...

It would be hanging out on the back burner.

:-/

Life has taken over!!!

By the time I've returned from work and settled in for the evening, I'm too tired to type! I want to veg with my roommates or read about your lives!                            

So for now, a picture post is going to have to suffice (with a few words sprinkled in here and there!)

In the past week I've...

Moved across the country

(Don't you love this map? It's hanging in the living room of my friend, Elaina's apartment...I want one!)

Eaten CAKE

SERIOUS CAKE!

Yep, I tried it! AMAZING. The wheat didn't bother me too much either! How could it, when you're tastebuds are experiencing moist, chocolatey euphoria?

Birthday partied!

Elaina turned 23, so we celebrated with champagne mimosas at POV, located on the rooftop of The W Hotel.

_{(their picture, not mine!)}

SWANKY digs, eh?

 _{With my new roommate, Jen!}

_{With the birthday girl}

Check out the views we enjoyed of the Washington Monument...

_{(The pictures don't do it justice!)}

And the White House...

What a fun night!

This week I also...

Ate an EXPENSIVE salad with a plastic fork

 _{Grilled Tilapia Salad}

Why did this order-at-the-counter salad cost me $25?

Because the guacamole and salsa "extras" were $5 each! That should be illegal!

It was tasty though. And you better believe that I got my money's worth...Every morsel of food in that picture was consumed! 

Next time I eat at Surfside, I think I'll bring my own guacamole!

Rekindled my relationship with Amy

The secret to taking this tamale pie from good to GREAT is adding cheese!

 

No food shot here because, well, the Mattar Tofu meal isn't easy on the eyes. I'm awarding Amy's an award for the least visually appealing, yet most delicious frozen entrees!

Bought ground beef for the first time in YEARS

Can't beat that price! (And don't fear, it's organic)

(By the way, I carry this notepad in my bag!)

I was planning on making a taco salad with the meat, but before I got to it, I spotted an ad for the DC Shorts Film Festival. This is one of the featured films:

 

Just watch it. :-)

After viewing the video, I just couldn't do it--I couldn't cook the poor cow.

I WILL be using that ground beef though, because this month I am dedicating myself to a strict grocery budget. I'm joining Alycia's Fresh Eats on a Dime Challenge, which means I'm committing to three weeks of "cheap eats."

According to Alycia, the premise behind Fresh Eats on a Dime is this:

"A mission to prove that healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive! Anyone can afford it – even you."

Alycia has set her budget at $35/week, however living in the center of a large city without a car makes it difficult for me to bargain shop at stores like Walmart and Target. For that reason, my weekly grocery budget for the rest of the month will be $50. I'll be posting my receipts and pics of my groceries, as well as the meals I create with them here. I'm excited to share them with you!

I hope you all had fantastic Labor Day weekends!

Do you have a budget-friendly recipe you'd like to share?