Hey Guys. It has been quite a week!
So I’m in the thick of studying for my comprehensive exams in mid August and then the unthinkable happens…
After close to six years, my Macbook decided to stop ridin’ with me. When I opened it Thursday night, I saw a flashing folder with a question mark. After a quick Google search and some failed attempts to trouble shoot on my own, I scheduled an appointment at the Genius Bar for the next day. After telling me my computer was considered “vintage,” so they couldn’t repair it, they let me know it was likely a hard drive issue. They then gave me the name of an authorized retailer where I could take it to get fixed.

I called the retailer for an estimate and they told me that they would have to run a diagnostic test on it first (which costs $55 and would take 2 business days) before they could give me an estimate. If I wanted it expedited to 4 hours that would be an additional $75 (go figure). Assuming they would charge the same amount as Apple, when you add the diagnostic test with the hard drive replacement, and a new battery (which I’ve known I needed for several months now), the bill just keeps getting higher.
At this point it doesn’t make sense to put 300+ dollars into a “vintage” laptop, especially when new issues seem to be surfacing every few months. It’s time to get a new one, and although my wallet is silently weeping, I cannot complain. Six years is a long time in the computer world. It got me through my senior year of college, a master’s program, a fellowship, and two-thirds of the way through my PhD. I was hoping we could make it all the way to the finish line, but I respect the hustle. Let’s have a moment of silence, shall we.


Speaking of super expensive purchases, this dress set me back a whopping 7 dollars (plus tax). Gotta love Ross. I don’t go often, but a couple of weeks ago my sister and I went to one and I found some really cute and (incredibly cheap) stuff, including this dress. It’s light enough and cute enough to go out and run errands in, while being comfy enough to sleep in (which I have).
| Necklace: World Market, Shades: Target, Clutch: BCBG via Amazon, Dress: Ross, Denim Top: Topshop, Cuff: Old Navy, Sandals: Steve Madden via Macy’s |

In the midst of all the craziness, I ended the week with a smile. I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and some truly amazing people in my life.

I hope you all have a wonderful week:)

Ingredients:






I had such high hopes for these. Based on the name alone I expected to love them. Sweet potato and cinnamon?! Check and check. Upon first taste, however, I was underwhelmed. After trying them a few more times they did grow on me. Unfortunately, it never grew to the “I really like these” level. It only got to the “I can tolerate them so I’ll finish the bag to avoid wasting money” level. They’re not that sweet, so if you want a sweeter snack, look elsewhere. In fact, they’re pretty bland. I barely detected any cinnamon (or sweet potato for that matter). One serving is 26 crisps for 100 calories so you get a good “caloric bang” for your buck. Let’s talk about the really important stuff though, like it’s nutrients. Each serving has 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein – not amazing but better than nothing. To its benefit, it is low in sugar, sodium, and fat. With one bag having 3.5 servings and costing $3, it boils down to about $1.17 per serving. Since it’s middle of the road in terms of taste, nutrition, and cost I would pass on these.






Once the sweet potatoes are done roasting, add them to the ground turkey and black beans.
Scoop out 3/4 cup of the scramble into the bell pepper halves.






The brunch was fabulous. They do a brunch buffet which is a win for anyone who has trouble deciding on a dish at restaurants (raises hand – ooo me, me!).


To start with, I kept it simple and used it for baked chicken and roasted sweet potatoes. It was such an incredibly flavorful yet simple meal.





