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Living Outside the Stacks

Navigating through life away from the library

Dec
17

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Some of My Favorite Outfits of 2013 {In the Closet}

Category: In the Closet Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Wow, you guys, this year is rapidly coming to an end and, like every good blogger, it’s time to do that year in review. Normally, I’d wait until the last year of the week but, I think this year, I’d like to take that week just to kick back and relax. So, here goes…

Cream Cardi Citron Tee Denim Leggings and Brown Boots {Living Outside the Stacks}

I remember when I found that cardi at Goodwill, I immediately knew how I was going to wear it: with citron and brown. Seriously, can you think of a better color combination? It’s neutral but still has POP! And I think the wooden bracelet and the fabric wrapped bracelets just add to earthy feel of my outfit.

Faux Fur Collar Gray Cardi and Navy Skirt {Living Outside the Stacks}

This outfit totally made me feel like I’d just stepped out of a vintage ad. I’ve had that faux fur collar in my closet for yeeeears, attached to a sweater I knew I’d never wear but couldn’t bear to part with because of the faux fur collar. Then it finally dawned on me: TAKE THE COLLAR OFF, SILLY GIRL! Paired with a full skirt {thank you again, Goodwill} and those super cool Mary Janes and, yeah, I was prepared to give June Cleaver a run for her money.

Brown Jacket Citron Sweater and Jeans {Living Outside the Stacks}

I like this outfit for two reasons: the blazer and the boots! I’m so not a blazer girl, but this blazer has totally converted me. It’s another Goodwill find. Can I tell you how much I appreciate our donors at Goodwill? They have fabulous taste. And, um, hat tip to the citron and gold that bring this outfit to life.

Denim Jacket Black Tee Brown Skirt and Boots {Living Outside the Stacks}

The hubs and I were grocery shopping the first time I wore this outfit. It almost became the last time. The cashier looked at me and yelled at her friend: “I want her outfit.” Her friend asked me where I got it and as I started to reply, the cashier said: “No, I want to take the outfit off of her and wear it out tonight.” blank stare Needless to say, it was a long time before I went back to that store.

Brown Corduroy Jacket Neutral Scarf Gray Cardi and Denim Skirt {Living Outside the Stacks}

Of all of the outfits pictured, this is probably the one that most closely matches what I wear to work on a regular basis. Again, it’s all the neutrals with the pop of color. And the layers. I just feel all warm and cozy. And incredibly self confident.

My Favorite Outfits of 2013 {Living Outside the Stacks}

What was your favorite outfit of 2013? Did you take any fashion risks?

I’m linking up with:

Please check them out for more fashion inspiration.
Daenel T

Dec
17

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Tip Tuesday: How to Treat Others {In the Church}

Category: In the Church Tags: , , Leave a Comment

Micah 6:8 {Living Outside the Stacks}

Daenel T

Dec
16

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100 Things: Part V {About Me}

Category: About Me Tags: , 4 Comments

100 Things {Living Outside the Stacks}

Are you guys sick of me yet? I think you now know more about me than the NSA….

41. I can bake three things really well: Orange Cranberry Loaf, Banana Nut Bread, and Dried Fruit Bread

42. Seinfeld taught me one thing: if you look really frustrated people will think you’re busy and leave you alone. Life taught me one thing: that does not work on children. Or husbands.

43. Crocheting relaxes me.

44. I had to do so many push ups in Basic Training that the Drill Sergeants called me “Private She~ra”. I kept getting in trouble for giggling.

45. Every summer I re~read Peyton Place and Valley of the Dolls. This is a habit I started when I was in graduate school to help me decompress.

46. I didn’t get the Assistant Director’s job at my library. I think this has disappointed me more than I thought it would.

47. I used to hate dresses and skirts but since I discovered thrifting, I’m obsessed.

48. When I was a kid, I used to say that I was only going to have enough eating utensils at my house for myself because I didn’t want people coming over and getting comfortable. I live in a house full of people.

49.  I don’t sleep well. At all. This often results in me emailing myself work notes at 2 AM.

50. My first car was a custom painted Pontiac Fiero.

You can read other stuff about me by clicking here…

This post is inspired by Katie at Creole Wisdom.

Daenel T

Dec
14

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Cranberry Glazed Chicken {In the Kitchen}

Category: In the Kitchen Tags: , , 2 Comments

Cranberry Glazed Chicken {Living Outside the Stacks}

I should not be allowed to grocery shop when I’m hungry. It never ends well. Or, at least, it almost never ends well. Case in point: I bought a bag of fresh cranberries with the intentions of making Orange Cranberry Bread. Only I forgot to buy the orange juice and the oranges. So the cranberries sat and sat and sat until they finally got to the “use them or lose them” stage in my fridge. I decided to use them. For chicken.

I mean, cranberries and turkey go together like… something, I don’t know, my creativity fizzled after last night’s dinner…

Anyway, I was pretty impressed with the final outcome so I’m sharing the recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken pieces {I used legs and thighs}
  • 2 cups whole cranberries {rinsed}
  • 1/2 white onion {thinly sliced}
  • 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
  • 1 tbs brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup Dr. Pepper {use this to thin the glaze if it gets too thick}
  • salt
  • pepper
  • butter
  • vegetable oil

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Rinse and dry your chicken pieces. I pulled the skinned off. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
  3. Coat the bottom of your skillet with vegetable oil. Melt 2 tbs of butter on medium~high heat. Add onion slices and cook until carmelized. Once they’re finished, put them in the saucepan you intend to use for the glaze.
  4. Add the chicken to the pan that you used to carmelize the onions and brown on both sides. I covered my pan with a lid so that the heat would be retained. Make sure you scrape the bottom of the pan to collect all the bits and pieces.
  5. While the chicken is cooking, add the cranberries, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, and 1/4 cup of Dr. Pepper to the saucepan with the carmelized onions. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until the cranberries have popped. If the sauce gets too thick, add more of the Dr. Pepper. Stir frequently.
  6. Transfer the chicken to a glass dish. Cover with the cranberry glaze, making sure each piece is completely covered.
  7. Bake for 45 minutes.

Serving suggestion: brussel sprouts and rice. Yum!

Let me know if you like it!

Daenel T

Dec
12

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Coffee Talk: Dead Rodents Society, Selfies, and When In Rome… {In the Cafe}

Category: In the Cafe Tags: , 2 Comments

Soooo, it’s been a minute since we’ve had one of these little chats, so let me remind you what Coffee Talk is all about…

Coffee Talk {Living Outside the Stacks}Hi, and welcome to Coffee Talk. In case you’re new here, this is where I share some of the great and not~so~great stuff that I find on the web. Topics range from news stories that leave me scratchin’ my head to DIYs that I think are absolutely clever. And, who knows, there may even be a recipe thrown in here or there just for fun.

So grab a cup of coffee {or tea or whatever floats your boat} and let’s talk…

1. When I was about 11 years old, my stepfather decided to teach my sisters and me how to play chess. These were the pre~cell~phone~text~your~family~or~leave~them~a~message~on~Facebook~if~you~want~to~know~how~they’re~doing days. We were, by no stretch of the imagination, chess prodigies but we enjoyed the game.

As a parting gift, our church gave my parents a marble chess set, complete with carved wooden chairs and a matching table. I fell in love with this chess set and I told my parents that I’d be taking it with me when I moved out. Much to my surprise delight, my parents agreed.

I’ve had this chess set with me for almost 20 years now. It’s survived several moves, curious little fingers, and one determined termite.

Anyway, I said all of that to say this: What the what? A chess set made from taxidermy mice? Yikes!

2. I love a good selfie. Goodness knows, I do. But a memorial service/funeral is not the appropriate time nor place, Mr. President. For the record, I don’t believe FLOTUS was peeved about the pic as news outlets would suggest. I think it was a case of a photographer catching her during a solemn moment and people {mis}interpreting her expression.

3. I know I’ve talked about this before but people are not paying attention. You cannot go over to a foreign country, especially, one in the Middle East and expect that you will have the same freedoms there that you enjoy in the United States of America. The U.S. Constitution does not extend to foreign soil unless you are on a military installation or at an embassy.

Another American has landed in jail for posting a parody video in Abu Dhabi. deep sigh Think, people, when we have visitors to our country, we expect them to follow the norms of our nation, the same is expected of you. Unless the norms involve something weird like performing a line dance to a Miley Cyrus song with your tongue hanging out.

What had you scratchin’ your head this week?
Daenel T

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