What I'm Loving Wednesday

I found this on one of the blogs I frequent and love it! So I wanted to share the idea.







I'm Loving... The Royal Wedding Fever. I admit it, I can't get enough of all the shows about William & Kate, the wedding and reception details, the history, and the traditions. Thank goodness for TiVo, so I won't miss a second of the coverage on Friday!








The one below is my favorite...







I'm Loving... The Voice. I have only watched the first episode of the "blind" auditions, but I am really enjoying it so far, and really like a couple of the singers.















I'm Loving... The King's Speech. This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time and highly recommend you check it out!







I'm Loving... The Victoria Secret Pink MLB collection.






Bond is a huge baseball fan and his team has been a Giants fan since 5 years old. I will be purchasing this to support his team...






And this to support my team...






I love this whole line of MLB wear and the collegiate collections. Check them out.

I'm Loving... All my Administrative Professionals. Today is Administrative Professionals day and the ones in my office are so amazing! Here's a pic of the gift they got today...







It's a Tervis tumbler full of tea, coffee, candy and a Starbucks gift card.

What are you loving?

- Posted using my iPad 2

Ten on Tuesday

One of the bogs I like, AdventuresInGrownUpness.blogspot.com, posts this idea of just listing the first ten things that come to your mind. So as I wait for Bond to finish his workout before dinner I thought I would give it a try...

1. Super excited to watch tonight 90 minute Glee! And then downloading the music I can't live without.

2. I was very bad with my eating habits over the Easter weekend and have now been back on track for 2 days, including two good workouts.

3. Our back fence blew down in a day of crazy wind. Bond and the neighbor propped it up as a temporary fix. It looks... Ghetto. We got some estimates and Bond and I will head over to talk to the neighbors later this evening about our options. Bond and I want to go with metal posts instead of the wimpy wood ones we have now...fingers crossed!

4. I need to add a blogroll to Attempt @ Balance. I just need to find the time...

5. There is an arts festival starting this weekend. Bond is on the board of a non-profit and has volunteered to work it's booth at the festival this Thursday evening. I am hoping to go too!

6. Bond has a special lunch tomorrow that doubles as a graduation from his leadership program. Unfortunately I couldn't rework my day to be there. But I am very proud of all his efforts just the same.

7. I have the worst and most random taste in television. Right now I am enjoying Property Virgins, but I have been known to watch many of the shows on the CW and ABC Family.

8. Black Swan came out to rent at red box today! I have big plans to watch it this weekend.

9. Bond's mom gave us a huge bag of candy on Easter, and of course I had already bought some too. So now I have so much Easter candy and I can't stop eating it! (See my prior post on the love I have for Easter candy)

10. I have to admit I am gonna check out The Voice tonight. I am not sure why, but i am intrigued. Is anyone else interested in this one?




- Posted using my iPad 2

My weekend got away from me...

So I was planning to do at least one maybe two posts this past weekend, but all of a sudden it was Sunday night! My weekend in a nutshell....

Friday I was feeling a bit under the weather so Bind and I stayed in with dinner and a movie. We picked up salads and pizza, and Oscar winning The Kings Speech. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. Fair warning that you really have to pay attention to the dialogue to follow the relationship development, so it's not a good movie to watch while multi-tasking or with the kids around.

Saturday I slept in and felt much better. Did a few things around the house, laundry, etc. Then Bond and I went to dinner with his parents. When we got there one of his sisters surprised us by flying in town for Easter weekend! We had a nice long chat over Mexican food, and high tailed it over to some friends to watch an NBA playoff game starting at 9 pm. After that it was home to bed for early Easter service.

Sunday was a rainy Easter morning, but we made it to the 8 am service despite the weather and late night. After service we did some light grocery shopping. Then about an hour talking to one of my sisters on iChat before heading out in the rain again. This time to pick up Bond's Grandmother for Easter brunch with his family. It was a delicious buffet, and I ate way too much! Swear, I gained several pounds in the last 4 days.

It was a lovely Easter weekend, and our first since we got married! I have a busy week ahead of me and already feel drained! So I will be making quick, easy dinners, if I have the energy to cook at all, and trying to get to bed early!

How was your Easter? Did you have a busy weekend too?

- Posted using my iPad 2

First Anniversary

So I haven't written since last week, but I had a very busy weekend! The best part of which was Bond and I's first wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's already been a year.

Since we went out with some friends to watch baseball on Saturday night we didn't do much activity wise to celebrate on Sunday. we did gifts, paper is a traditional option for the first anniversary. I got Bond a subscription to the Wall Street Journal (a paper) and Men's Health. Bond got me personalized stationary. Pictures to come!

Bond did surprise me with breakfast in bed! Then after some normal things...church and grocery shopping, we went to brunch, just the two of us!

Later in the afternoon Bond had a meeting for a leadership group that he is involved with. For me this meant a nap! On the way home Bond called and picked up pizza for dinner. The evening plans included pizza, wine, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (a necessary purchase).

The wine was a special bottle purchased on our honeymoon at the Biltmore Estate, North Carolina. We shared a bottle on our honeymoon and I remember it being really great, which is why we purchased another bottle to bring home. My opinion has changed. After this weekend I think it may possibly be the best chardonnay I have ever had!

For dessert I ordered a surprise from the bakery that created our three tier wedding cookie cake. I got the top of the cake recreated with 6 huge and delicious, chocolate covered strawberries.





It was delicious! Bond gave me the most amazing first anniversary!

- Posted using my iPad 2

Staple Food

I have some foods that are always in my house. These are my staple foods that I can always go to for a favorite quick and easy meal. One of my staple foods is chicken asiago spinach sausage. I discovered them at Sam's, which I love (more on that later). These sausages are also healthy at 110 calories, 4.5g fat, and 15g of protein.

You can put them just about any dish and they are delicious. They ate also great alone on the grill.





My favorite thing to do is slice up a package of 5 links and cook them in a skillet. I cook a box of whole wheat spaghetti and a can of quartered artichoke hearts.









Then mix them all together.




Nutrition/diet info:
Whole wheat spaghetti 1 cup @ 190 calories
Chicken sausage 1 link @ 110 calories
Artichoke hearts 1/4 cup @ 18 calories

Bond likes to add salsa to his, while I add 2-3 teaspoons of grated parmesan. This makes about 5-6 servings depending on your serving size. Since it's just Bond and I, the leftovers are great for lunches!





What is a staple food in you house?

- Posted using my iPad 2

Dark Circles No More

Let me start by confessing I am not a make-up person. I remember I had to get mascara for my high school dance team. We all wore the same make-up as part of our uniform but everyone had to bring their own mascara and I didn't own any. I never really wore make-up until college. Even then it was usually to go out, I would borrow my roommates make-up and have her apply it to prevent myself from looking like a clown. I am not against make-up, I just never got into it so I never learned how to use it.

As an intern during law school I realized I looked so young to the clients they could not take me seriously as a lawyer.  I know... I know... we all want to look younger, but we don’t want to look incompetent. So I started wearing make-up and it did help.  Unfortunately for me I never learned how to pick my colors, choose brushes, or apply the stuff.  My sister who is 6 years my junior has been teaching me ever since.

That brings me to the present, 28 years old, married, attorney, who can barely apply eye liner.  As I begin to explore the complex and completely overwhelming world of cosmetics I am always looking for advice. I find blogs to be a great resource.  My latest find was on http://domestiquette.blogspot.com.

The product is Benefit Erase Paste. 

After reading about it I Googled where it was available in my area…Sophora, one of the scariest places to a cosmetic new comer.  I ended up getting the paste and a brush.  I have no clue if it is the right one, but it was recommended and seemed to work.  

At first I was worried about the price.  Can it really be that great?  But the size is deceiving.   The jar is small, but you do not use very much.   This is what I use for both eyes...

                                    

Once I got home I was not disappointed.  This brightener does a great job!  I have been applying it under my eye, the inside corner of my eye, lightly on the lid, and a bit on the sides of my nose.

Before...

Paste applied to both eyes...

                                   

What do you think? Are you a cosmetic junkie or newcomer?  Any good finds lately?  

- Posted using my iPad 2

Sunday Routine

Our normal Sunday routine is early church, and by early I mean really early, we attend the 8:00 a.m. service. Then Bond goes to the office for the morning and I head to the grocery store. It's great to hit the supermarket early on Sunday. I get there about 9:05 a.m. and breeze through the isles. I am usually home by 10:00 a.m. feeling good since I have already accomplished several things on my todo list.

Once I get home from the grocery store I unload everything and put it away. This leads to a massive fridge clean out. I grab all the left overs and decide what stays and what goes. Then I start on some other "todo's"... get laundry started, clip coupons from the Sunday paper, vacuum, etc. Then it's time for lunch. I try to keep it light and use up leftovers from the week before.

Today I had some left over refried black beans and spinach so I threw it together on a carb balance low calorie tortilla with salsa and sour cream.





It really hit the spot! The great thing about our Sunday routine is that by the time Bond gets home, which is usually just in time for lunch, I have gotten most of my "todo" list done and we can hangout, walk the dogs, take a nap, read, watch sports, basically whatever we want.

What is your Sunday morning routine?

- Posted using my iPad 2

Eat Pray Love

I recently finished Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I had put off reading it because it was so popular. My mother-in-law loaned me her copy. She had loved the book and even thought the movie was pretty good. I normally do not have time to read much between my 2 book clubs so I added it to the ever growing stack of books I will read one day. Then I found myself with 3 weeks before my next book club meeting and nothing to read. So I picked it up.




Once I started reading it I couldn't get enough. The book chronicles a year of the author as she travels through Italy, India, and Indonesia on a quest to find balance. The journey of discovery is wonderfully written as a conversation between friends. I found myself marking pages and passages to discuss, then realized I was not reading it for book club. But I kept marking pages, there was so much I wanted to discuss. The author takes on love, relationships, religion, travel, food, yoga, and more in a way that opens a discussion about the topic with the reader, but does not impose a viewpoint.

My only criticism of the book is how hungry I got reading it, especially when she is in Italy. Other than that I can do nothing but recommend you pick it up immediately if you haven't already.

I have plans to discuss this book with some friends who have already read it, over Italian food and a bottle of wine. I also plan to watch the movie.

Have you read Eat Pray Love? If so do you have any recommendation for discussion topics? Stay tuned for discussion details.


- Posted using my iPad 2

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

I found this recipe in a Southern Living magazine. Mine were not as pretty, but tasted delicious

Nutrition Info for 6 servings

80 calories, 2.4g fat, .4 g Sat fat, 215 mg sodium, 14 carbs, 2.3g fiber, 1.12g protein, 4.3g sugar

Ingredients

3 lbs of sweet potatoes (about 3 large potatoes)

2 tbl extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

First boil the potatoes. After they start to boiling reduce to simmer for about 18 minutes. Drain the water, allow to cool a bit, and then peel. After they are peeled cut into ½ inch thick slices. Mix the rest of the ingredients together and brush onto the potato slices, front and back. Bond put the slices directly on the grill while he did the chicken on the other side. Tip: use some ease to grasp with kitchen tongs to remove the slices so they do not fall into the grill.

I served with grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies. I marinated the chicken for about an hour in a tiny bit of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a spice mix called garlic , and a dusting of cumin.  I used steam fresh frozen veggies, an Asian Medley.

They turned out delicious.  I made enough to serve with dinner and for left overs!  


What vegetables have you grilled lately?

Cedar Plank Salmon

Salmon is one of my favorite fish.  I am always looking for new recipes or way to cook it.  So when some friends gave use cedar planks for our grill I started with salmon recipes!  Never having used wood planks on the grill I went with simple.

Prep
I soaked the planks for about 2 1/2 hours then rubbed one side with extra virgin olive oil so the salmon would not stick.
I thawed 4 salmon fillets.  After I rinsed and dried them, I sprinkled on a light covering of cumin, dill weed, and onion powder.
I rinsed and trimmed fresh asparagus.  Then I placed it in a shallow dish and sprinkled a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil, a good amount of balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper over it to marinate.  I let it sit about 45 minutes in the mix.

Bond is the grill master. No matter how many times Bond shows me how to start the gas grill, or fire place for that matter, I can't seem to remember the instructions. Since I am always worried that I will burn the house down i stay away from the grill. Back to the recipe, Bond placed the 4 planks on the grill and closed the lid for about 5 minutes.  This gets them warm and smoking.  He then placed the asparagus on two planks and salmon on two planks.  The asparagus takes about 10 minutes longer than the salmon.

I served with rice.

It was delicious and health.
Salmon fillet @ 100 calories each
Asparagus @ 27 calories for 1 cup
Extra Virgin Olive Oil @ 126 (

Easter Candy

I must have dessert.  I figured out a long time ago that I need something sweet after a meal, and it usually has to be chocolate!  So I always keep individually wrapped treats in the house so I can limit myself to just 1 (or 2 or 3). 

Lately I have been having Easter candy for dessert every night.   I bought it as soon as it showed up at the local grocery store.  Easter is my absolute favorite candy holiday!  Has been for as far back as I have memories.  Growing up I remember dying eggs for fun and eventually eating them all, but my parents only hid plastic eggs.  So on Easter every egg we found was full of candy!  We also got an Easter basket every year with a small gift and more CANDY!  The bigger candy was usually in the basket, and of course included a chocolate rabbit.

My top 5 Easter Candies:

1.    Cadbury Crème Egg

2.    Brach’s Malted Milk Eggs

3.    Cadbury Mini Crème Eggs

4.    Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs

5.    M&M peanut butter eggs

Are you sensing a theme??? 

What is your favorite candy holiday? and Why?