Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Stunts, Sandy, Reality

Tuesday, October 30, 2012
In preparation for hurricane Sandy we decided to spend the weekend in Pittsburgh visiting friends and Bruce Springsteen.  It was my first time at a Springsteen show and it was amazing! Four hours long.
              
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. 
It was such a fun weekend, even though things did get a little awkward when our friend tried to play a very personal, very private tape (sex) to a complete stranger.  I think my friend, the gender shall remain anonymous, suffers from either too much confidence, a need for constant attention or a lack of self awareness. Perhaps all three but I sometimes suffer from the need of constant attention and the worst I've ever done is take mirror pictures and post them on instagram.  I will now refer you to urban dictionary for the definition of stuntin, specifically the last entry.  Make of it what you will.

Cathedral of Learning. University of Pittsburgh. 
It turns out that we did not prepare for Sandy at all and yesterday we were lucky enough to find flashlights at the dollar store (that burnt out after 5 hours). It appears that Frankenstorm came and went and I hope that everyone was able to stay safe. We lost power for 7 hours but thankfully no flooding or any damage to our family and friends in the area.

Dealing with the aftermath (no work) I discovered a new show this morning on Bravo, Million dollar decorator, and the only thing I could take away from this show is that they're very judgmental. It's starting it's second season, so I guess it's not new but it's new to me.  I've only watched one full episode so maybe I'll give it another chance. Where did all these reality shows come from and all on Bravo? So I guess they're trying to compete with E!, the food network and HGTv. What? The food network and HGTv have legitimate shows! Let's make sure their ratings don't go down. Oh, on another reality show note. Did anyone know that the TV Guide network plays their own reality show? The Shores. It's a Hills knock off. I couldn't bare to watch it for more than 15 minutes. The plot seemed juicy with affairs and what not and it takes place in Cape Town, South Africa. As I'm reading this I realize I may start watching it. The "acting" was pretty bad but maybe it deserves a second chance.  After all, don't we all?


Saturday, October 27, 2012

Give me s'more

Saturday, October 27, 2012
I haven't posted a recipe in a while so here goes!

I was recently in Tampa for a week and I stayed with my wonderful friend Z and her sister, N. May I just say that N is amazing. She takes care of her home and her cutie little girl and she is super creative so she makes a lot of art projects. She recently made her own lamp shade!

She is one of the best cooks and she's only 29. Anyway, she bakes a lot too and while we were there she made us s'more cupcakes. Delish! I told her I wanted to make some so she gave me the condensed "semi-homemade" version . . . Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Graham crackers
Chocolate cake mix
Butter (or butter substitute)
Semi sweet chocolate chips (the kind you can melt)
Kraft jet puffed/marshmallow cream
Cupcake liners
Eggs n oil for the cake mix

Pre-heat the oven at 350 degrees

1. Put the graham crackers in a ziplock bag (about 4-6 crackers per 12 cupcakes).
2. Smash them up.
3. Melt 4 tbsp of butter in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds.
4. Mix the butter into the graham crackers work it in with your hands if you have to.
5. Line the cupcake tin with the liners.
6. Place about half a tbsp of graham crackers (or more if you'd like) on the bottom of each cupcake.
7. Bake crust for about 15 mins
8. Take it out once golden brown.
9. Mix cake batter.  Follow instructions on package.  Pour the batter over the graham crackers ( fill the cupcake tin about 75% full with the batter.)
10. Bake for about 15-20 mins or until done. (Mine were done in 15)
11. Once the cupcakes are done let them cool
12. Melt about 1 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave (now be careful here if you have never done it before chocolate is super sensitive). Microwave it for 30 seconds at 50% heat *
13. After 30 seconds take out of microwave and stir. If not ready keep melting at 10 second intervals.
14. Take a fork and carve a little hole in the middle of the cupcakes.
15. With a spoon or a piping bag pour the melted chocolate in the middle
*Alternative step* or to make it super easy just bake the chocolate chips in the middle of the cupcakes.
16. Spread the marshmallow spread over the cupcake
17. Drizzle melted chocolate and crushed graham crackers over cupcakes.

* Check the chocolate chips because they won't look melted.  You have to stir them. 

Done!

And now the pics . . . .


 



Monday, October 22, 2012

Grade Pending

Monday, October 22, 2012
I spent the weekend in New York city. I've been 9 times but every time it's like the first time ever.  I live in Northern Virginia in a suburb outside of DC so we took the Vamoose bus out of Bethesda, Md and 4 hours later we were in the city.  I went with a friend for a girls weekend.  It was a lot of fun.  The Vamoose bus is great, clean, fast and easy and only $80 RT.  It was raining cats and dogs when we arrived.  We got soaked but luckily we were able to check into our hotel, The Kitano, early.  We were able to name our own price a few days earlier on priceline.com and paid less than half the price.  Awesome! We unpacked, rested and headed out to lunch.  Hmmm, where to eat? We decided on ramen.  Delish.  Not the instant kind though the real kind.  I turned to my handy, dandy yelp app and we found a place with 3.5 stars and only 0.5 miles away.  We wanted somewhere we could walk to.  We walk to the place and behold there's a health inspection grade of . . . PENDING.  Now, we are really hungry at this point . . . super hungry so we decide to eat there.  Now, in my head I kept thinking "I've eaten random street food in Mexico, it can't be much worse."  Granted the last time I ate street food in Mexico I was sick for 36 hours.  We did not get sick and the food was really good.  Thank Goodness.  I will not post the name of the restaurant because I don't want to call them out but never, ever, ever eat a place in NYC that has a grade pending.  Ever.  I looked up what a grade pending meant and you don't want to know.  You don't wanna! We then walked to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).  It's Target free Fridays from 4 to 8 PM.  Why Target free? because it's sponsored by Target.  It gets pretty crowded but we did not have to wait in line long and we didn't have to pay the $25 admission fee so I thought it was great.  We started at the top floor and worked our way down.  After MoMa we walked back to our hotel and got ready to meet my friend for dinner.  At this point we had walked a total of 3.5 miles all day so we decided to cab it to Teodora, an Italian restaurant in Midtown.  It was really good!  I ordered the spaghetti and it was so light and refreshing.  I know! Usually Italian food is heavy and creamy but not here.  It was so good and has a yelp rating of 4 stars.  Can you tell I love yelp?  We then took a cab back home and passed out.  We were so tired.  The next day we woke up and took the subway to the financial district to century 21.  Yay! We had pizza for lunch at a pizzeria next door and it was pretty good.  I love pizza so as long as it doesn't taste like cardboard it's good for me.  We shopped for 6 hours and all I came out with was a leather like top and underwear.  I found the most perfect Dolce and Gabbana lambskin jacket for $349 but it had ink on it! I did a quick google search on my phone on how to remove ink and it turns out it's nearly impossible to do so, so I put it back.  Sad face.  I also found the most perfect leather and lace Jason Wu blouse but it was $800 and V would have not been happy with that purchase.  I also fell in love with a pair of wide leg silk Rochas trousers but a size too small!  No bueno.  We then walked 1.2 miles to Piperlime.  Yes, they have a store.  It opened in September.  I bought a dress and a skirt.  We then walked to a vintage shop but it was closed.  We took the subway back to our hotel and got ready for dinner.  We had dinner reservations at Balthazar at 11.  I know late but I called 2 days before for a reservation and it was the only time available.  I love Balthazar so I took it.  I had the duck confit.  The next day we woke up walked to a diner for breakfast and then walked 1.2 miles to a thrift shop where I found a Yigal Azrouel leather top for an 1/8 of the price.  We then walked back to our hotel to grab our bags and walked to the bus stop and by 6:30 I was home.  All in all it was a great little weekend.  The next time I visit I've decided to only shop at Vintage stores. Can't wait!!!

And now some random pics . . . really random



Beautiful day
View from our hotel: Chrysler building
Thrift shop
Grand Central Station
Random beauty store display
Trash and pigeon 
Our neighborhood
Our hotel


Different view of the Chrysler bldg. daytime





Random fruit/veggie stand in the city :)

Century 21 and a limo




Thursday, October 18, 2012

Filomena

Thursday, October 18, 2012

It was my first time at Filomena last night.  I know right? A D.C. staple (it opened in 1983) and I hadn't been.  I loved it.  The inside reminded me of an Italian restaurant you would see in the movie Goodfellas.  I ordered the Linguine Cardinale, Bill Clinton's favorite dish.  For dessert strawberry cheesecake.  It was delicious! Bring your appetite because the portions are huge! Amaretto and Sambuca are served to the guests at the end of every meal with three coffee beans to represent health, happiness and prosperity.  

And now the pics . . . 

OOTD: Hugo Boss velvet blazer, Zegna shirt, Diesel Zatiny jeans, Ferragamo belt and shoes.
OOTD: J Crew top, burlapp skirt, suede booties, aqua necklace



Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Once upon a time . . .

Tuesday, October 16, 2012
October 17, 2009 was the day.  Sometimes I look back on that day and wish I had a prettier dress.  I wish I had a nicer venue.  I wish I was 10 lbs lighter.  I wish the tequila wouldn't have ran out . . . etc. etc. but then I realize that none of that mattered then nor will it ever matter because on that day I married my soul mate.  What?! sooo cheesy, but true.  I could have gotten my period on my freaking wedding day I wouldn't have cared because the thought of not spending the rest of my life with V is enough to send me to the crazy house.  For reals.  I watch the notebook and I cry every single time and I pray and I pray that I never forget.  She forgot, she forgot every single time how much she loved him.  How can you not recognize a feeling, an emotion, a connection?  It breaks my heart.  My mom used to say that the reason why our parakeets died so close of each other was because they were soul mates and they could not live without each other.  I found my parakeet and I've never been happier.  Happy Anniversary babe!

And now the pics . . . . Our Greek-xican wedding took place in Houston, TX.

some of my favorite wedding pics

Perfume: Creed Love in White.  Shoes: Jimmy Choo

     

Our Venue: The venue formerly known as Paraiso Maravilla

My bridesmaids

The groomsmen


A little piece of D.C.

I loved my flowers!

I loved my cake!


Dancing the night away! Lazaro dress.





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