Day 11: 11 in 2011

Day 11: What you are looking forward to in 2011

I have a feeling 2011 might be my favorite year yet? I'm really looking forward to..

My sister Julie visiting Newport Beach!

I can't help but laugh...maybe it's all the stuffed bunnies she's posing in front of? haha redic.

Celebrating J's birthday in San Diego watching the braves play

He informed me that he had planned his birthday weekend and all I needed to do was show up.  Right on. I'll sneak in a few surprises.


Celebrating our 1st year of marriage!

Among many other great things this year, I am very excited to celebrate this gal all year long...

this is how she looks most of the time :)

In October she is marrying one of the BEST guys I know...

Best of all, I get to be a part of it...

I've known her since kindergarten. She's my reality touchstone. She doesn't let me get away with anything. We have been sorority sisters, roommates, partners in some serious crimes, bridesmaids and the best of friends..My post college years especially would have been so much different without her. Let's not talk about it. She and her hubby to be have been together 8 + years. They are a serious example of two people that were put on this earth for each other. They are funny, energetic, loving, kind, great friends of hubs and I and really they are just good people yall. I am so excited to shower her with all sorts of greatness this year. She deserves the absolute best and definitely a great party!

I hope everyone has a very happy and blessed 2011. This challenge has been so great and I' m loving all my new blogs that I'm following!

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Day 10: 11 in 2011

Day 10: Favorite Girls Night Out Activities

Well, I may be partial but I think I have the best girlfriends in the world. They are such an important part of my life. I can't get enough girls weekends in my life . We are a big, close group that definitely knows how to have a great time. I wouldn't have it any other way.

First, my favorite girls....

my bach party

Liz's bach party

December engagement party hostesses

summer fun 

                                 

                                            Liz's wedding

cheers!

rehearsal dinner

Soooo when we get together....

I can always count on a trip to get manis 

A bottle or two of wine and some great hilarious convo's

And our favorite favorite has to be margaritas and mexican!

Since I live on the other coast we don't get to see each other as often. When we do, it makes me so very happy. They mean the world to me and I love them. End of Story.

  

Day 9: 11 in 2011

Day 9: Favorite thing to do on a cold winter day/night

 I swear by these mulling spices, they make your house smell so great when they are working their magic..

We love to put them in cider BUT the best thing to do on a cold night is put them in a bottle of your fav vino....it's warm, spicy and so delicious

Of course if it's cold you need to be sitting by one of these. We got really lucky that we got a wood burning fireplace out here. Not many places we looked at had them.

Then all I need is a cozy blanket and my hubs to make it super great!!

And if it's cold during the day, and I want to stay warm inside, AND drinking vino at noon isn't appropriate then this is my dream..

A board game, hot chocolate and a roaring fire...in an all white room of course. Lovely.

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!