Tag: Food

Beginnings

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It’s the beginning of the month and the week for all of us. It’s the beginning of a new house and a new year for me. Sometimes that can feel tiresome and old-hat but hopefully it is refreshing and exhilarating. For my 25th birthday, I gave myself a diet as a present. It wasn’t exactly fun getting here (no processed foods, no drinking, no starches/sugars) but I’m reaping the benefits now (rediscovering my closet/cheekbones). I hope to take the past four weeks of restricted eating into consideration as the diet ends. My goal is to appreciate food more, to spend time discovering recipes, spices, cooking, chewing, smelling and savoring. As much as I’d love to dive into a stack of pancakes and devour a pizza, I’m really craving things like eggs, avocados and cheese. Hopefully the beach in a month will keep my motivation up!

Image Credits: top, bottom

Yummy

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Lately, because of the diet, I’ve been thinking more about food and how much I appreciate it. How much of an event it can be and how I occasionally take it for granted or abuse it. Eating is such an adventure. There are so many natural fruits, veggies, spices to choose from and combine, it’s a shame when we waste our time on processed foods. Although, french fries are sometimes the ONLY thing I want. When the diet concludes (two more weeks!) I am going to make a conscious effort to take more care about what I put in my body. It’s always a worthwhile pursuit. Don’t you agree?

Image Credits: 1&2, the rest

Check it out! One of my favorite healthy/foodie blogs is One Smart Brownie by the lovely & accomplished Carolyn Brown.

A few lovely things

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I have been inundated with new and intriguing things all day today! I am so excited to share…

A yummy new sushi place in Fayetteville: Meiji. Their spicy crab salad ($5) changed my life today! They use only fresh ingredients – mostly local – and are very reasonable!

spicy-crab-salad

Adorable pieces from Maude Shoppe, most under $100!

A very cute new blog: Harper and Harley

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A really exciting workout recommendation. The Brazilian Butt Lift. It’s by the same people as P90x. Apparently the models use it to get in shape before runway shows. Is this worth trying?

Carolyn B.Karen S.

Two SUPER cute guides to NOLA. I love them because they are recommending places that are actually great. I know because I’ve been to them! The Perty South and The Comeback Kid. Seriously, who doesn’t love New Orleans?

All photos via listed websites.

Tomato Pie

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R & I re-created a recipe we loved when we ate with his dad in Lake Village. It’s called Tomato Pie and it’s like nothing we had ever tried. Robert calls it pizza-ish and quiche-esc. We made one for the memorial day pool party and got rave reviews so I thought I would share.

Ingredients

1 flour-based pie crust

4 medium fresh tomatoes

kosher salt, black pepper and fresh basil

1 cup Hellman’s mayo

1 package mexican four cheese blend

Directions:

Slice (and peel if desired) the tomatoes thinly. Mix the Hellman’s and cheese in a separate bowl. Cover the pie crust with a layer of tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and basil. Top with a layer of the mayo/cheese mixture. Add another layer of tomatoes and repeat! It’s quite simple. When you’re ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. The pie needs to sit after baking for at least 10 minutes or it’s very difficult to cut.

Like a pizza, this pie makes the perfect base for all sorts of toppings. We haven’t tried it yet but we’d like to top it with asparagus, prosciutto or add some jalepenos. I would also like to re-work the pie to incorporate an olive oil/fresh mozzarella mixture instead of the mayo/cheese blend.

Here’s the pie before we baked it.

Tomato Pie - Before

And before we dug in!

Tomato Pie - After

Dessert to Dress: Sweet, Sweet Summer

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I don’t know what it is but I am currently feeling the love for sweets. I want chocolate, I want “real” cokes, I want cookies and cakes and petit fours and whatever I can get my hands on. I thought I would try to transition my craving for calories into outfit inspirations. Some of my favorite blogs do ‘Rooms to Outfit’, so I’m going to do ‘Dessert to Dress’

Broidery Cup Sundress

Orange Macaroon from Sucre/Broidery Cup Sundress from TopShop

Fresh Watermelon via Cupcakes and Cashmere/Silk One Shoulder Dress from Forever21

Lanvin Tiered silk-gazar dress

Coconut Cupcakes via C&C/ Lanvin Tiered Silk-Gazar Dress

Fendi Wool-blend strapless dress

Ripe Strawberries/ Fendi Strapless Dress

Chocolate covered Ice Cream Cone via C&C/ T-back Smudge Dress from Forever21

Halston Heritage Asymmetric stretch-jersey kaftan

Grapefruit/ Halston Heritage Asymmetric Kaftan

T-Bags Ruffle-neck jersey dress

Prosecco/T-Bags Ruffle Dress

Paul & Joe Sister Oceane tiered jersey dress

Cotton Candy/ Paul & Joe Sister Tiered Jersey Dress

Bliss

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The other day I was looking at the lovely blog Apartment34. While Erin, the owner of the blog, is off getting hitched she asked some of her favorite bloggers to share the things that bring them joy. Sometimes it’s really good to look at your life and recognize the things that truly bliss you out.

Here mine goes! (In no particular order)

Warm Weather

costarica 001sunshine

Sun-drenched afternoons, midnight swims, baseball games, picnics, sundresses. This girl loves summer.

Girlfriends

My girlfriends mean everything to me.

Food

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Food and the dining experience. Long conversations over dessert and wine. Meals that make you appreciate being alive. Trying a new recipe and knocking it out of the park. Fresh fruit. I believe in eating for sustenance of the soul.

Being a girl

hb mwm

Makeup. Tulle. Smoky Eyes. Sky-high heels. Baubles and bangles and berets and belts. Hair -curly or teased or straight or up. I love being a girl because of all the wonderful things a girl can be.

Reading/Learning

Becoming more aware of the world through the words of those capable of expressing amazing, insightful things.

Everyday Luxuries

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Fresh flowers, laughs, puppies…

Winding down

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Crawling into a clean bed, lounging on a rainy afternoon, sleeping in, the few moments before you drift off to sleep…

Adventure

I’m talking travel, music festivals, float trips, a new thrift shop or restaurant. I try to go on adventures often and whenever possible. It keeps life fresh, exciting and provides great photo opps!

Music

On Deck: The Dead Weather, Department of Eagles, Andrew Bird, My Morning Jacket listen

Music feeds my soul. Discovering a new band or song can make my whole day turn around. Concerts, instruments, singing…I couldn’t live without it.

Merriment

Whether it’s a holiday, a birthday party, a  job well-done or just the weekend. I love to celebrate, drink champagne and enjoy life’s happy moments.

Love



The love of my sweet-as-pie beau, my family, my puppies…love is the thing, you know?

Self Control

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Ok. I realized today that I am going to be physically on the beach in six weeks and two days. I do not feel nor feel that I look fat. With that said, I know I’d look better -5, -10, even -15lbs. I know I’d feel better, I know my clothes would fit better, I know my boyfriend (who lovingly tells me I look amazing) would agree once it was off.

My mom and I are going to Charleston, SC (one of my fave places) to visit my brother who is in college there. I want to get a tan and get lots of cute pictures and wear my cutest summer items while there, not to mention my mom is looking better than ever above age 55. NOT FAIR. If she asks to borrow my swimsuit, I know that will send me spiraling into anorexia but I’m just not sure I want to wait for that.

Here we all are. I think I’m hiding it pretty well but SUMMER IS COMING!

What can I do in 6ish weeks to lose 10lbs? I know it can be done. Question is…am I willing to do it and what is it that I should do.

Goal:

Will also take:

These jeans were loose and are now quite tight. Too tight to wear.

Wish me luck. I NEED IT.

Yummy easy feel-good soup

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2 cans black beans
1 yellow onion
1 red pepper, 1 yellow pepper
1 can corn
16oz chicken broth
Clove of garlic

Sauté garlic & onion in some ex virgin olive oil. Add in chopped peppers, stir. Add the rest and simmer. Salt & pepper to taste.

Courtesy of Shannon Ortego