Day 8: 11 in 2011

  Day 8: Favorite Healthy Snacks

These are my top 3 favs....

     Wasa Flatbread with a 35 calorie wedge of Laughing Cow Cheese.... yum! You can add chopped anything on top and it's so filling and good for you. If you haven't had Laughing Cow it is so unreal good! It comes in individual wedges, in a lot of diff flavors, perfect for  a single serving!

Second, I can not eat enough pistachios. I know they are higher in fat but it's a good fat. They can help keep you heart healthy and can help fight cell damage caused by free radicals in your body. Yah! Also, for an easily entertained gal like myself, its kinda fun to have to work for your snack by getting them out of the shells right? Maybe burn a few calories too!

Third, if you are into granola and want to try making your own, this is the best recipe I've ever had. It's packed full of seriously good stuff. It's from {this} fabulous site called Oh She Glows. She has a ton of great health tips and really great recipes. Her blondies also look amazing.

pic via {here}


Head on over to {Oh She Glows}  to get the recipe if your interested! 

I hope everyone is having a great start to the weekend and doing something fun!! 

Day 7: 11 in 2011

Day 7: Favorite Memory of 2010

First of all, Happy Friday Yall! I am so excited for the weekend!!

This was definitely the year of memories for J and I and in the end we loved every single second of it. We started so many new chapters, closed some others and had the most incredible time. Of course I loved seeing J graduate law school, getting married!, our engagement party, my showers etc. etc. But the best single MOMENT of 2010 was this one.

We had just had the wedding of a lifetime; packed up our lives and all the wedding gifts into a moving truck ( thankfully driven by a great company), loaded our cars on another truck, signed the lease on our house in SoCal, said goodbye to our family and friends; we had closed the door on our east coast life for now.  We had a long day of flying down to Aruba and when we finally got to the resort we immediately changed and went down to the beach. We were relaxing in the water when it hit both of us... we were done. We were done with the long distance, done with the planning, done with school. We were finally married, together, with our whole new life in front of us. We could just be. It was the best feeling in the whole world. We were over the moon and so excited. It's those really simple moments that I'm loving these days.

On a fabulous side note, Thanks so much to sweet Meghan for the Stylish Blogger award! Head over to her blog {here} and check her out, she's so much fun!

I can't believe the challenge is almost over! 

Kit and MJ, it's been such a blast! 

yes, please

I would cook 3 meals a day, 365 days a year, for as many people as I could in any of these kitchens

drool.

Day 6: 11 in 2011

Day 6: Best Organizational Tips

I am about as qualified to give organizational advice as I am to perform brain surgery, which I assure you I'm not. Sometimes I function under the organized chaos theory at home from time to time. At work I was a meticulous filer, list maker, planner etc so at home Im a little more relaxed? That's my excuse and I'm sticking too it. Never dirty, just sometimes a little dicey. I will leave you with a tip that is really helpful if you cook a lot like me.

First of all, if you need to organize anything in your home, including parties, Martha's got you covered. Head {here}to get a list for lot's of things around the house!

Spices

I used her spice list to start building our spice collection. I buy 2 or 3 every time I head to the store, normally based on what I'm cooking for dinners that week. Also, keep a list taped to your inside cabinet of all the spices you have, in alphabetical order. That way you always can just reference a list and see what you have or need for a recipe. It's so helpful because even though my spices are in neat lines I can't read all the labels at one time. 

Eventually, my spice rack will look like this obviously.

{here}

   That's really all I've got for you today. The only other tip we live by around here is using a dual laundry basket where whites get put it one section and darks in another so I never have to sort clothes before I wash? Lame I know.  I'm hoping I can learn some things from you fabulous gals!

It's almost the weekend!!

      

Day 5: 11 in 2011

Day 5: Places you hope to go this year

I would love to go to Hawaii maybe for a quick summer vacation? We are 4 ish hours away by plane so we could do a few days to get away over a long weekend. I really could go for a tropical drink and a beautiful sandy beach.  

Nothing better than a Pina Colada in hand with your feet in the ocean!

Since we are new to the area I would love to explore some CA scenes and sites. Im thinking maybe Big Bear Lake? I would also looove to drive the Pacific Coast Highway from Newport to San Francisco, Napa etc. It takes a long time but it would be such a blast to stop at some beach towns along the way. 

Big Bear; We could do some hiking and bed and breakfasting

            

A stretch of gorgeous California coast!

Can't wait to see where you all are off to this year!

Day 4: 11 in 2011

Day 4: Favorite Leftover Recipe

Bonjour! There are so many ways to go with this. You should know this about me: I have a thing for grilled cheeses, cheese toast, eating a baguette with a slice of cheddar,  and I've even have been known to eat Parmesan straight off the rind in chunks. You could say I like cheese. And mayyyyybe a carb or two. So, whenever there is leftover baked or spiral ham and I  have no idea what to do with it AND I don't feel like a regular sandwich, I head towards a Croque Monsier. Just a fancy name for a grilled cheese, with meat, heavy on the cheese. It is a serious favorite! (EmB this post is for you)

You can make them a few different ways. I was investigating the topic a few years ago after ordering one off a menu in NYC and  I just knew I could count on my girl Ina for a good recipe. Plus, I keep 90 percent of these ingredients in the house at all times so it easily can be whipped together. Seriously, yum. It's warm, rich, comforting and just plan genius.  If I wasn't in a food coma from all the chili I ate last night I would make one for breakfast.

You'll need: ( this recipe makes 8 sandwiches so plan accordingly)

2 tbl unsalted butter
3 tbl all- purpose flour
2 cups hot milk
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
a pinch of nutmeg ( whatever that means to you)
12 ounces of Gruyere cheese, grated ( about 5 cups); sometimes I use Swiss if thats what I have but Gruyere is the BEST
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
16 slices white sandwich bread with crust removed ( or not, whatever mood your in)
Dijion mustard
8 oz sliced baked ham ( really whatever kind you have and how ever much it takes to make a sandwich)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

"You've died and gone to heaven" sauce that goes on top:
    Melt the butter over low heat in small saucepan and add the flour all at once, stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Slowly pour the hot mil in the butter- flour mixture and cook, whisking constantly until sauce is thickened. Off the heat add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of Gruyere and the Parmesan and set aside.

Sandwich prep:
     Toast the bread either in oven or the toaster will work just as well. Lightly brush one side of each sandwich with mustard, add a slice-ish of ham to each and divide 1/2 of the remaining Gruyere among the sammies. Top with another piece of toasted bread. Slather the tops with the cheese sauce, sprinkle the rest of the Gruyere on top and bake for 5 minutes. (I would put them on a baking sheet before you go sauce slathering). Finally, put them under the broiler for 3-5 minutes until the top is golden, brown and bubbly amazing-ness.

  I can't wait to read everyones leftover recipes because to be honest I don't love leftover anything so I'm hoping you gals can teach me a thing or two :)

On a side note....you know what my favorite thing to do with leftover books is??? 

Make one of these to hang over my fireplace. I've still got some pages to put in and tweak but I am loving it!!

(I found the idea over at Living with Lindsay, she's one clever gal with so many great ideas!)

Hope everyone is having a great start to their week!

Day 3: 11 in 2011

Day 3: Favorite Workout tips

I thought about this for a while and you know what it boiled down to? (for me at least) Do whatever you LOVE to keep you active. If you love to run, run. If you love to kickbox, kickbox. If you love to dance for 40 minutes while cooking dinner in your kitchen while jamming out to the Bob Seger station on Pandora sipping a Diet Coke, then so be it.  I'm pretty sure "Old Time Rock and Roll" burned about 500 of my daily calories last night. Well maybe 450 since I harnessed my southern roots and added a splash or two of bourbon.     

Somedays, I feel like running around Back Bay; other days a leisurely walk to the beach will cut it, but I try to stay moving. In my recent years I have become a serious "mover and shaker" if you will.  I attribute it to my years in the sorority house where spontaneous dancing was the norm and my time living in Manhattan with Kate, where our apartment was a 24/7 dance party. Not kidding, wish I was sometimes, I would have gotten more sleep.  In fact, Kate and I have a choreographed dance to the above Risky Business song which yes, I was re-enacting in my kitchen alone while cooking chicken... (I proudly rocked both our parts). Anytime I'm getting things done around the house I dance. I have had exactly 1.5 years of formal training. When I was 5, I was in a "you're all cute so it doesn't matter how you dance we won't kick you out" ballet class; then in 6th grade I decided to enroll in a 6 month after school dance program. Let's just say that the 5'8, 70 pound, large head and foot middle schooler that I was didn't find that it came naturally. I'm certainly not the worst one out on the dance floor but it's not always pretty. However, thats what makes it fun and exercise right?

Direct quote from my sweet husband's toast after we cut the cake: "...I'm going to wrap it up now because I know all my new wife wants to do is dance"  

Just think about how many calories were burned and how much working out was done in all these pics :) 

Our wedding was one big sweaty dance party. And we loved every second of it.

The gal behind the boogie in my shoes... 

This is a more realistic picture of us on a normal basis...

 Doesn't everyone love a good conga line? I know I do. 

So really, do something you love. You'll stay motivated and confident while rocking the step machine at the gym, lifting weights or even rollerblading.

PS. If any of you ever see me rollerblading, stop me immediately. I get confused where the brakes are. They aren't my strong suit. But, if KC and the Sunshine Band's "Boogie Shoes" comes on, you know where to find me.

Day 2: 11 in 2011

I am seriously LOVING this challenge! Head on over to Kit or MJ's fabulous blogs and link up!

Day 2- Favorite Holiday Memories

I am so blessed that I really have the BEST memories of Christmas growing up. My parents always did it big and made it very special for my sisters and I.  I have so many memories that  I love; getting our tree, listening to my parents wrap presents Christmas Eve; sitting on the top of the stairs Christmas morning, I could go on all day.  If I had to pick one memory.......cookies and beer. "Huh?", you're saying to yourself. A little back story if I may....

   My dad was a lobbyist and government affairs guru for a well-known beer company for 30 years before he started his own consulting firm. He headed up the government side and traveled all over working on distribution laws, import and export taxes etc etc. He works hard, sometimes wears cowboy boots with his suit,  and knows everybody that he runs into at the capitol when sessions in. That being said, he's a beer guy and as a matter-of-fact not a milk guy. So, when he and my mom had us girls they opted to give Santa a break from his usual milk and cookies. (I'm sure my mom had nothing to do with this decision actually haha). Ever since I was itty bitty we have always baked cookies for the big man and left them out on Christmas Eve with a nice cold bottle of  beer. It was always our "thing".  Since my dad hates milk I think he just preferred to sip on a beer while assembling our wagons and Barbie dream houses and what have ya. Regardless, we ALWAYS got a hand written note from Santa thanking us for the beer and telling us how much he enjoyed the break from milk. We have the BEST pics of us as kids with the cookies and beer. And you know what, when my oldest sister had my first niece, you better believe Claire posed with a brewskie in honor of her granddaddy.

Now, I realize this might not be a great message to send to kids in some people's opinions. I promise, we went to church and Catholic school. We were good kids and had great parents. We were never allowed to drink the beer. My dad assured me Santa was very responsible. They taught us about the dangers of drinking and driving etc. We all turned out well adjusted... for the most part :)

Mom's mid-laugh, we all think something is hilllllarious, dad thinks it's funny to not smile in pics (the other choices he was making hysterical and unusable gestures and faces)  and I was in between hair colors.  Plus, my poor brother in law Ben sometimes wonders what he got himself into. This is an actual Christmas card we sent out about 3 years ago...inside message reading "Oh what fun it is.." You can say that again. 

Now the hard part is selling this idea to hubs. I guess I've got a few years to work on my argument. Maybe milk and a little beer? For a fun pic to send to the grandparents?  But, I can guarantee when he's up late assembling toys for our kids he's not going to ask me to grab him a glass of milk from the fridge :)

I am loving reading everyones posts!! What a great idea Kit and MJ!

Some recipes to kick off the new year...

Now ladies, if you are starting the year on a health kick I would maybe just look at the first recipe because the second one is bad, reallllly bad, but in the BEST possible way! After all our holiday traveling, which was delayed a few days and just plain crazy becasue of the east coast snow storm, we opted for a nice dinner at home on New Years Eve. We desperately needed some down time! I was dying to make a recipe I saw in this months Cooking Light.

Lobster Risotto

You'll need to get:

4 cups fat- free, lower sodium chicken broth
3 ( 5-ounce) American lobster tails ( I bought 2 larger tails and cooked them according to oz's. It took longer than it called for)
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1 cup uncooked Arborio rice or other medium grain rice
3/4 cup frozen peas

Prep:

Bring broth and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Add lobster tails; cook for 4 minutes ( or according to weight of your tails). Remove lobster from pan;cool for 5 minutes. Remove meat from the cooked tails, reserving shells. Chop meat. Place shells in large zip-top plastic bag. Coarsely crush shells with mallet or heavy pan. Return crushed shells to broth mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook covered for 20 minutes. Strain shell mixture through a sieve over a bowl, reserving broth; discard solids. Return broth mixture to pan and keep warm over low heat. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium saicepan over medium-high heat. Add rice to pan and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly. Stir in one cup broth mixture and cook for 5 minutes or until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly ( I mean this, you really can't walk away). Reserve 2 tbl spoons of broth mixture for later use. Add the remaining broth mixture 1/2 cup at a time stirring until each portion is absorbed before adding the next. Remove from heat, and stir in lobster, the peas, 2 tbl butter and reserved cooking broth.

Phew! I know those directions are long winded but its pretty simple once you get going and there aren't many ingredients to work with. Plus, you don't need a side dish since it's so filling. Just cut up some french bread to go with and your done! I will say that risotto isn't for the easily bored or distracted, I was constantly stirring for about 35 minutes. Get a glass of wine and it goes by faster! It really was amazing though, so worth it!

Pic via Cooking Light. I am not talented enough to take pictures, drink wine AND stir risotto at the same time. Yet.

Now onto the most ridiculous recipe ever...



Apple Dumplings


Now this is straight form the Pioneer Woman. That being said, she never ever posts something I don't love. Seriously, all I can say is click on " Apple Dumplings" above to be sent to her site and the recipe. Mountain Dew, butter, sugar, vanilla, apple slices, wrapped in crescent rolls = hopped up apple pie in a bowl. Don't let the ingredients scare you, just make it! If you're feeling guilty about all those yummy things in one place then you can go the route I do. Diet Mt. Dew, low fat crescent rolls and half the recipe. Still amazing every single time. You'll love it. If you don't just mail the leftovers my way and hubs and I will finish it off for you. (I wish I was kidding)

Pic vie Pioneer Woman herself. Mine did not look like that. 

P.S I did not make both of these in the same night. My stomach would have exploded!


PPS. Happy cooking/baking/eating!!

11 in 2011

Happy 2011!! I can't believe how fast 2010 flew by! It was filled with so many wonderful things for hubs and I, but we are excited that 2011 will be hopefully milestone free. We covered getting engaged, graduating law school, taking and passing the bar exam, finding a house in CA, getting married, honeymooning, moving cross country and getting our new west coast life started in 2010. See what I mean about the milestones?
Sooooo to kick off the new year I'm linking up with MJ and Kit for the 11 in 2011 challenge. They have so many fun topics and it's a great way to get know all these fabulous blog ladies. Head on over to link up and join the new year fun! 

Day 1- New Year Resolutions

Although I do want  to be more active, eat better, be a better wife, sister, daughter and friend, I'm keeping it simple this year. I just want to enjoy our new life. Stay positive, look for the good and enjoy this time with J.  I love these years where it's just us, out here, together without pets or kids. Trust me, I know I will love that phase of our life too but for now we can just enjoy doing what we want, when we want, and make the most out of this new adventure. There's so much to do and see out here and nows the perfect time to do it all!

I hope everyone has a great start to the new year!  We are s starting off ours by enjoying just some of the fabulous things that Santa left under our tree :)

Fab ankle boots with a heel built in! They look flat but give you some lift!

Shout out to my fabulous MIL :)  ( who reads this blog from her cool new Ipad) she found this dress I blogged about at Nordstrom and it was waiting under the tree!! I was beyond surprised! Im obsessed with it. 

 Already finished it. Really loved it. Don't judge.

Cutest Kate Spade sun hat with sunglasses built in for reading on the beach!

Such cute and comfy slippers!!

Yah for grills!! As one of our gifts from my parents, we got a box of fancy grill spices with money  to go pick out our dream grill!!!  Since J has some time off today we are headed to Home Depot to pick it out!

Have a great rest of the weekend!!