...until the Royal Wedding! Yes, I'm totally and completely into it. I even convinced my friends to have an early morning watch party. I offered to host, but we decided to go with the most centrally located apartment since people will have to jet off to work. Luckily on the east coast, the wedding begins at 6am so it's not terribly inconvenient.
I cut up a ton of fruit last night for a fruit salad, we'll have a egg and potato casserole, scones and muffins. And of course, lots of coffee, some champagne and some sparkling apple cider so we can toast the celebration!
Cheesy I know, but it's such a once-in-a-lifetime event (well, unless Harry marries Chelsea Davy in a couple of years...)
Though I will admit, the media hype is a little out of control- my friends at Good Morning America have been broadcasting from London all week in anticipation.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Happy Easter!
Once again, I have pulled my favorite Peeps Diorama images from The Washington Post's contest. Here is the full slideshow, but below are my personal favorites. Interesting that most of my favorites this year are movies.
Inception
The King's Speech
E.T.
The Wizard of Oz
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Peeps buying iPads!
The Muppets
Noah's Ark
And The Flintsones
Friday, April 22, 2011
For my dream house
If I ever build or design a house, I want a little spot like this; how inviting and awesome does that look?
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Rulebreaker
Everyone who knows me knows I like to follow the rules. I sit in my assigned seat at concerts and sporting events, I get to the airport 2 hours early. I try to be a good citizen and I don't like being "in trouble." However, there are 2 pretty big rules that I enjoy breaking.
I like to take my own wine to the movie theater. First rule here is "no outside food or drink" - though the theaters in NYC are super lax on this rule. I've walked in with a starbucks cup in hand with no problem but I have memories of seriously hiding candy in my purse in CA. The 2nd rule is a little bit more serious; the open container law. You're not allowed to just drink anywhere in the city. Again, they're a little lax on this one, but I also know people who have gotten tickets.
It all started when a friend and I went to see Ratatouille after work years ago. We picked up little bottles of red wine, asked for the free water cups at the theater and we were all set. Other friends and I definitely took a full bottle (screw top) wine to see Sex and the City. There was mini wine at Julie and Julia, another screwtop bottle at Morning Glory. And this past weekend, mini bottles at Scream 4. I'm sure there were others, but they don't stand out in my memory.
My theory is that if you were meeting a friend after work, you'd probably get a drink, maybe have a happy hour appetizer. If you meet that same friend after work for a movie, you'll probably get some candy or popcorn so you might as well have the wine too.
I suggested to the last guy I dated that we take beer to Harry Potter and call it butterbeer but he is apparently even more of a rule follower than me because he said no way. In hindsight, that was probably a good call as the theater that night was packed and it's harder to be discreet when it's crowded.
So, basically, until I get caught, I fully intend to keep sneaking my own adult beverages into the movies when appropriate. I think it makes the whole experience just a little bit better. :-)
I like to take my own wine to the movie theater. First rule here is "no outside food or drink" - though the theaters in NYC are super lax on this rule. I've walked in with a starbucks cup in hand with no problem but I have memories of seriously hiding candy in my purse in CA. The 2nd rule is a little bit more serious; the open container law. You're not allowed to just drink anywhere in the city. Again, they're a little lax on this one, but I also know people who have gotten tickets.
It all started when a friend and I went to see Ratatouille after work years ago. We picked up little bottles of red wine, asked for the free water cups at the theater and we were all set. Other friends and I definitely took a full bottle (screw top) wine to see Sex and the City. There was mini wine at Julie and Julia, another screwtop bottle at Morning Glory. And this past weekend, mini bottles at Scream 4. I'm sure there were others, but they don't stand out in my memory.
My theory is that if you were meeting a friend after work, you'd probably get a drink, maybe have a happy hour appetizer. If you meet that same friend after work for a movie, you'll probably get some candy or popcorn so you might as well have the wine too.
I suggested to the last guy I dated that we take beer to Harry Potter and call it butterbeer but he is apparently even more of a rule follower than me because he said no way. In hindsight, that was probably a good call as the theater that night was packed and it's harder to be discreet when it's crowded.
So, basically, until I get caught, I fully intend to keep sneaking my own adult beverages into the movies when appropriate. I think it makes the whole experience just a little bit better. :-)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Meal Planning/Food for the Week
I've been really good the last month to six weeks (and probably longer, but I can't remember that far back) about planning my meals for the week, making one trip to the grocery store on Sunday and prepping lots of fresh fruits and veggies so that there is no excuse not to eat them. The plan helps me not waste food, usually that happens when there are too many leftovers and not enough time to eat them, as well as eat better- if you have food at home to make, takeout or frozen food isn't as appealing. I know...this is all common sense, but it helps me get my act together.
The funny thing though is that I really only make my plan from Sunday dinner to Thur lunch. After that, I usually don't know what is going after work, with friends, etc. And the weekend often has at least one meal out with friends, sometimes two, and sometimes takeout and a movie.
The other funny thing is that the weekly meal plan usually has the same few dishes over and over. If I have a package of english muffins, I'm having english muffin toast every morning. Made a big batch of pasta; pasta for lunch every day. I used to marvel at my mom who would eat the same healthy foods for breakfast and lunch and I thought it seemed boring. This was when I was in high school and college though and there were soooo many choices of things to eat, including having the ability to go virtually anywhere for food. I guess this is a sign that I've really grown up since I not only have the same thing over and over, but I've planned it that way. Also, a hazard of living alone and cooking for 1.
I'm sure this is boring to most, but in case you're curious, here's my food plan for the week:
Sun: southwestern chicken pasta (only planned dinner)
Mon: whole wheat flat bagel, yogurt with strawberries and blackberries, southwestern chicken pasta, cucumbers, radishes, watermelon, salmon and roasted asparagus
Tue: whole wheat flat bagel, yogurt with strawberries and blackberries, southwestern chicken pasta with cucumbers and asparagus, peanut butter crackers (pre-tennis snack), panini and watermelon
Wed: whole wheat flat bagel, yogurt with strawberries and blackberries, southwestern chicken pasta with watermelon and cucumbers, panini and pretzels
Thur: whole wheat flat bagel, yogurt with strawberries and blackberries, maybe pasta for lunch...TBD, may be sick of it, alumni event for drinks/appetizers
I'm bored just typing all of that so kudos to you if you read through it all and even more so if you thought, yum. Haha.
The funny thing though is that I really only make my plan from Sunday dinner to Thur lunch. After that, I usually don't know what is going after work, with friends, etc. And the weekend often has at least one meal out with friends, sometimes two, and sometimes takeout and a movie.
The other funny thing is that the weekly meal plan usually has the same few dishes over and over. If I have a package of english muffins, I'm having english muffin toast every morning. Made a big batch of pasta; pasta for lunch every day. I used to marvel at my mom who would eat the same healthy foods for breakfast and lunch and I thought it seemed boring. This was when I was in high school and college though and there were soooo many choices of things to eat, including having the ability to go virtually anywhere for food. I guess this is a sign that I've really grown up since I not only have the same thing over and over, but I've planned it that way. Also, a hazard of living alone and cooking for 1.
I'm sure this is boring to most, but in case you're curious, here's my food plan for the week:
Sun: southwestern chicken pasta (only planned dinner)
Mon: whole wheat flat bagel, yogurt with strawberries and blackberries, southwestern chicken pasta, cucumbers, radishes, watermelon, salmon and roasted asparagus
Tue: whole wheat flat bagel, yogurt with strawberries and blackberries, southwestern chicken pasta with cucumbers and asparagus, peanut butter crackers (pre-tennis snack), panini and watermelon
Wed: whole wheat flat bagel, yogurt with strawberries and blackberries, southwestern chicken pasta with watermelon and cucumbers, panini and pretzels
Thur: whole wheat flat bagel, yogurt with strawberries and blackberries, maybe pasta for lunch...TBD, may be sick of it, alumni event for drinks/appetizers
I'm bored just typing all of that so kudos to you if you read through it all and even more so if you thought, yum. Haha.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
More Kitchen Adventures
Like any food lover/cook, I can never settle with only making the recipes I know I like and come out successfully. How boring would that be? I am always finding new ideas and recipes that I want to try and i mix them in with my standbys.
One thing I decided to try to learn to cook recently is steak. Around Valentine's Day I saw lots of recipes for romantic steak dinners for two. And even though I'm just a one, I studied them and thought- "I could do this."
Next trip to Costco, I found a 4-pack of Filet Mignon for $21.49. That is just $0.50 more than the small Victoria's Filet at Outback, which I will admit I have ordered for delivery when I was really craving a steak dinner.
So I thought, I have 4 tries to cook this steak correctly and it is equal to the price of eating just one steak at a relatively inexpensive steakhouse (by NYC standards at least).
Attempt number 1 didn't go very well. I combined about 4 different recipes and had a plan to make the meat and some sauce. Well...the meat didn't cook enough and the sauce smoked up really badly and basically evaporated in the pan. But lessons learned; more cooking time, no sauce.
Attempt number 2 was better.....but the meat turned out a bit overcooked. I like a medium rare steak and I think after the frustration of having to keep cooking the meat after my sides were ready the first time, I was generous in cooking time. It was also a slightly thinner filet.
Attempt number 3 should have been a success; in theory, all I had to do was combine the lessons learned from 1 and 2. Yeah....still ended up with slightly undercooked meat. And this time, I felt like it was under seasoned as well.
So, the infamous 4th filet is in my freezer and I'm torn. Do I aim to make the perfect steak OR do I try an awesome sounding beef wellington with Gorgonzola cheese recipe? And even more importantly, do I buy more steak on my next Costco trip or do I regale it to restaurant-only food? (and yes, I actually do have "restaurant-only" foods like hamburgers and buffalo wings).
One thing I decided to try to learn to cook recently is steak. Around Valentine's Day I saw lots of recipes for romantic steak dinners for two. And even though I'm just a one, I studied them and thought- "I could do this."
Next trip to Costco, I found a 4-pack of Filet Mignon for $21.49. That is just $0.50 more than the small Victoria's Filet at Outback, which I will admit I have ordered for delivery when I was really craving a steak dinner.
So I thought, I have 4 tries to cook this steak correctly and it is equal to the price of eating just one steak at a relatively inexpensive steakhouse (by NYC standards at least).
Attempt number 1 didn't go very well. I combined about 4 different recipes and had a plan to make the meat and some sauce. Well...the meat didn't cook enough and the sauce smoked up really badly and basically evaporated in the pan. But lessons learned; more cooking time, no sauce.
Attempt number 2 was better.....but the meat turned out a bit overcooked. I like a medium rare steak and I think after the frustration of having to keep cooking the meat after my sides were ready the first time, I was generous in cooking time. It was also a slightly thinner filet.
Attempt number 3 should have been a success; in theory, all I had to do was combine the lessons learned from 1 and 2. Yeah....still ended up with slightly undercooked meat. And this time, I felt like it was under seasoned as well.
So, the infamous 4th filet is in my freezer and I'm torn. Do I aim to make the perfect steak OR do I try an awesome sounding beef wellington with Gorgonzola cheese recipe? And even more importantly, do I buy more steak on my next Costco trip or do I regale it to restaurant-only food? (and yes, I actually do have "restaurant-only" foods like hamburgers and buffalo wings).
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Economic Recovery?
I have a thought that maybe the economy is recovering better than we thought.
My gauge for this: The Charlie Sheen "tour". People pre-bought tickets for this debacle. And the price range in NYC is $90-$130 per ticket before fees. Granted, I've heard rumors that ticket prices are being reduced in response to how terrible it is, but still.
If people have this kind of cash to spend, they need to quit their bitchin' about how much gas costs or what you have to pay to go to a major league baseball game in the summer.
My gauge for this: The Charlie Sheen "tour". People pre-bought tickets for this debacle. And the price range in NYC is $90-$130 per ticket before fees. Granted, I've heard rumors that ticket prices are being reduced in response to how terrible it is, but still.
If people have this kind of cash to spend, they need to quit their bitchin' about how much gas costs or what you have to pay to go to a major league baseball game in the summer.
Monday, April 4, 2011
New Toy!
Okay, I did not really buy myself toys, but for a kitchen lover like me, going to Crate&Barrel on a Sunday afternoon is kind of like taking a kid to the toy store. So much to look at and so many temptations!
However, I had a list of a few things I was going to get and I stuck to it. I got an email blast the other day featuring these bowls:
My dishes are a pink and green and my living room has some light green colors in it so I'm always on the look-out for accent pieces, serving dishes, candles, etc that work in both rooms. Thus, these little green bowls are perfect for fruit or dips or whatever...so I bought two.
So happy with my purchases!
However, I had a list of a few things I was going to get and I stuck to it. I got an email blast the other day featuring these bowls:
As a part of this "Cinco Collection"
My dishes are a pink and green and my living room has some light green colors in it so I'm always on the look-out for accent pieces, serving dishes, candles, etc that work in both rooms. Thus, these little green bowls are perfect for fruit or dips or whatever...so I bought two.
And since I was going to Crate&Barrel, I had something else that's been on my list for awhile but I just haven't gotten to the store and been compelled to purchase.
It's a great over-the-sink cutting board with colander. Since I end up chopping fruits and veggies near the sink anyway because they're drying nearby after being rinsed, might as well utilize the sink as a counter and not have to pull out a separate drainer/colander. And here it is in action:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
