Friday, April 29, 2011

Kale's BIGGEST Fan


Happy Friday everyone!! Lord, I feel like this was the longest week in years, and I don’t really know why either! I did not do anything monumental, except make Kale Chips from my idol, Gwyneth Paltrow’s new cookbook My Father’s Daughter (I’ll post the recipe at the end).


Another “big move” this week was that I actually used my gift certificate to get a “Hot Lavender Manicure” during my lunch break! I have been saving this certificate since Christmas for a “special occasion”, which never came; so I decided to be “crazy” and go use it Tuesday during my lunch break! And I must say that I am extremely pleased with my color choice. When I was told to “go pick out my color and wait over there” on this really cute-comfy couch; I had a mild heart attack when my planned color of choice was NOT there (nice-is-nice by ESSIE) or quite more frightening was that there weren’t any OPI or ESSIE colors in the entire place!! So I gathered up all my loose marbles off the floor and put on my big girl pants and choose a color like a dignified adult.  I ended up going with this bright pinkish-purple color by Zoya (top pick of six-year-olds 2010).  What I really like about this polish is that is has not chipped yet, and its two colors in one! In natural sunlight its Bright-PINK, and it “fake” light (indoors) its straight-up purple (GEAUX TIGERS) ! I’m quite pleased and I’m contemplating branching out and buying a bottle of the magic stuff myself!  The Spa was just adorable, and I never even knew it existed! It was called Sweet Lily and it looked right out of the pages of a Southern Living magazine. I just love Shabby-Chic decor!

Natural Light (not my nails)

Fake light Look (I wish these were my nails FIERCE RARRR)





Sweet Lily Spa


I don’t really have much planned for the weekend except to eat like a pig! I’m going to make brownies, pancakes, cupcakes, guacamole, cookies and French onion dip. I’m starting the Dukan Diet on Monday and I don’t want my food to go bad.  This is the diet the newly titled, Catherine Dutchess of Cambridge did before she married William this morning! I just have to say that she was a beautiful bride! She looked spectacular in her dress and just picture perfect, really.  I kills me to be inside today watching everyone “Get Down On It” in the streets of London-Town. Ugh… Its killing me! Only two more hours in my cube of torture! 



Any who, (I use that a lot and I have a feeling I’m using it incorrectly) (Parentheses too) negative people are getting on my nerves today! I’ve heard:
                1. Why would I care about someone’s wedding I don’t know?
                2.  With everything going on in the world right now like the tornados this is what they consider “Top News”
                3.  I wasn’t that impressed with her dress.
                4.  I wonder how much it costs tax payers to pay for that?

Ugh…  I just can’t take it! Why do negative people always have to drop buckets of negativity on something fun and exciting! Yes, I understand that there are terrible things going on in the world right now and the Royal Wedding shouldn’t be the only news of the day, but I’m sure if you flip through you’ll find networks delivering the stories your little negative hearts desire.  I just feel if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all. Just like my Mama taught me!! Like, what do these people think they are accomplishing by acting like that? I believe Reece Witherspoon said it perfectly when she said, "There’s so much happening in the world—and life is hard for a lot of people—and it’s a beautiful moment and I think everyone needs a little break to say, ‘Oh, wait, there’s happiness,’ and it’s worldwide,".  Way to go Reese!! Pump up the positivity!!



I’ve been trying not to let negative people affect me so much. When they say something negative it makes me think something negative in my head too! It’s just a vicious circle.  Last week, when I went to confession I had to wait in a line of chairs for my turn with the priest and this woman sat down next to be and “bitched” the whole time. She was ruining my “examining of my conscious” time, and making me pretty pissed off. She was huffing and puffing ! Why is this taking so long? I’ve been here for an hour! Gosh, she took FOREVER... bla… bla… bla… and looking for me to agree with her! I was getting really annoyed and she was ruining my time with God and making me think “bad thoughts” WHILE I waiting to confess my sins!! It was insane!! After she said her 98th comment to me I finally said, “patience is a virtue” and that shut her up for a tit.  When I finally spoke with the priest, I brought it up to him that when negative people say something, it just riles me up that they are sooo negative! He was just like don’t let it bother you and don’t eat ! Easier said than done, but I am working on it.  I guess I should practice the whole “Pie” analogy a little more. (Reference Post: No You Cannot Have My Pie).

Alrighty, well I guess I’m going to go. Hope you all have a swell weekend, and PUMP UP THE POSITIVITY!  

Last Minute Thought: What do puppies dream about? I mean I’ve been watching these Shiba Inu puppies and I can’t help but wonder what their dreams consist of? When Stells dreams, I know that she’s dreaming of chasing a ball through a big green yard. I just don’t understand what these puppies are dreaming about because they have no memories or life experiences to dream about. So are they dreaming about the womb or dreaming about the two seconds they wake up to change positions? I don’t get it? Woof! http://www.ustream.tv/sfshiba



Kale Chips

1 Bundle of Kale
1-2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
Salt to taste

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Step one: Wash and dry kale (salad spinners work magic)
Step two: Rip bite-size pieces of kale from stems
Step three: Add olive and mix in bowl with hands to make sure the pieces are evenly coated
Step four:  Spread out on cookie sheet
Step five: Sprinkle with desired amount of salt
Step six:  Bake for 10-20 minutes

They are very light and have the “taste” of a potato chip! I love them!  Nom… Nom… Nom… ENJOY!

Kale is the King (or Queen) of veggies!! Not only is it one of your best sources of beta-carotene, one of the antioxidants believed to be a major player in the battle against cancer, heart disease, and certain age-related chronic diseases, it also provides other important nutrients.

Kale also posses other important carotenoids that help keep UV rays from damaging the eyes and causing cataracts.
According to recent research results, kale is an incredible source of well-absorbed calcium, which is one of the many factors that may help prevent osteoporosis. It also provides decent amounts of vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B6, manganese, and potassium.

Lastly, kale protects you from damaging free radicals. Its folate and B6 team up to keep homocysteine levels down, which may help prevent heart disease, dementia, and osteoporosis bone fractures.

Okay… Done being KALE NERD now!! Happy Friday!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Spring has finally, SPRUNG!

How do you do? I do fine… Like the title says “Spring has finally, SPRUNG”, and I could not be more happy about it! It’s getting to be uncomfortable in the apartment; which is annoying, but I will say it makes me get up and go work out in the morning because its cooler at the gym. Ha ha ha… Any who, last night we had a “Roomies” dinner outing, which we haven’t done in forever! The last time I think we went was around this time last year when we went to this psycho (fun) sushi place where they rang a gong every time someone order a sake bomb (which was a lot). Don’t get me wrong, we eat out a lot, but it’s just never just us three. We have friends, boyfriends, family members and our favorite neighborhood hobo join us for meals, which is always fun! The more the merrier I say!  


Actual Photos of gong bangers @ the Sushi Place


Anyhow, we decide to spend our first gorgeous Spring evening at Poco, located at 3rd and Avenue B.  Last night’s weather conditions were amazing; it was about 70 degrees and there was a “cool breeze” rolling through and we were lucky enough to scored a sweet little table outside on the sidewalk.  The dinner-meal-deal for the night was $35 dollars for unlimited sangria (white or red) and two tapas of choice!  I choose the red sangria (naturally) and the other two went with white. However, I will say the dinner sangria was not as strong as the brunch, which gets you “black out drunk” (No I do not have a drinking problem). 

White Sangria (nasty lychee)

White Sangria (mine not pictured)

 Then we each selected our two tapas and decided to share. While we waited for the food to come out we enjoyed the evening with great conversations and great sites to see. For example, there was this girl that had conjoined toes like Kevin Costner in Water world, and we also saw Luis Guzman from How To Make It In America walk by our table with his “home dogs” (it was quite sweet).

Luis

Web foot

Kevin in Water World ( Number 9 Favorite Movie)


Then the food came which was soooo delicious! My favorite dish was the Mushroom Truffle Croquettes.



We started off with fresh baked breads served with chili and almond infused olive oil




Crispy Calamari tossed in honey chipotle aioli topped with roasted piquillo pepper salad & fresh cilantro   


Lobster Mac and Cheese:  Manchego, Parmesan, Asiago Cheese, Lobster Chunks  and shell Pasta Topped With Crunchy Panko




Mushroom Truffle Croquettes topped with truffle aioli drizzled with truffle oil



Cheese Plate: Asiago, Manchego and Cabrales blue cheese with apples, grapes, fig jam, honey & toast points




Pan Seared Scallops served over sautéed spinach with black pepper gnocchi and a sage brown butter


Skirt Steak And Manchego Cheese Lollipop accompanied by sweet onion jam & cilantro pesto


Anyhow, that was my night last night and dinner was soooo delicious and such a great time! If we added up everything that we got and divided it by three our total would have come out to $60  per person with tax and tip included! I love meal deals!!!! I cannot wait to go back to Poco for mussels night!!  Have a Happy Hump day Y’all!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Weekend Challenge

This weekend Brett came up for Easter Weekend and the City and I documented our Saturday with a picture taken every thirty minutes... I also added a few from Easter Sunday for fun. Hope you enjoy!

Coffee!!


Happy Plate!

After Trader Joe's (Starting to Rain)

Lime Light Shopping

Stells

Becks

Easter Gift from Brett! Abita Strawberry!


Just listening to the rain...

Guac Time!!!

Magic Bullet!!! Too much garlic...

Gramercy Park

Watching "Top 20 Pranks"

Gretch with Becks.. Shes not poser like a gangster. He's just the Dark


Nap Time


Squash

My little Helper

Burning Bush and Moses (classic)

Hair do for beautiful "Curls"


Out for the count

Stells in her nook?

Its hot

End result... Not so much!! Bad 80s Hair

Brett: Not so much..

Time for Bed!! The end of the Challenge!

Peach Margarita at Bone Lick Grill

Love the tree in the background

Eggs Beni and Cheese Grits!

Beautiful Oaks in Central Park... Feels like home

You again...

Me at Easter Brunch!

Bretty wants to play..

Upper East Side

White Wine Spritzer!