12.29.2009

Holy Health Kick!!

My New Year's Resolution begins NOW.

I know, two days early, but it's here nonetheless.

To save you from complete triteness, I'm going to spare you the whole "I want to lose 10 pounds" shpeal. Instead my resolution is a bit more generic. I simply want to live a healthier life.

My exercise routine consists of my hubby dragging me to the gym twice a month. That's right. Twice a MONTH. I usually go kicking and screaming and leaving either skipping my way home or throwing up (yes, that happened the last time. Perhaps a 7 minute mile on the treadmill was pushing it juuuust a hair too much for my bi-weekly workouts).

Today I joined the gym. I'm buying a sports bra and updating my ipod. 2010 will be the year I get into a fitness regimen. I don't know why going to the gym 4-5 times a week has seemed so daunting in the past, but I'm ready to do what it takes to make it happen. (This MIGHT very well mean the 5:45am spinning class. EEK!)
My eating habits are already fairly healthy, although I love to indulge in the occasional brownie, cookie or 2+ glasses of wine. I'm going to vow to start bringing my lunch to work more often. Those $10 a meal lunches with co-workers aren't only impeding on my "saving for a down payment" plans but they're also doing my midsection no good.

A starting point will help me track my results and since I've never owned a scale, measurements are my preffered method. 35-28-36.
 
Ok, not terrible. I'd have to say my goal is 35-26.5-35. Reasonable? I think so. Attainable? Better be - and I'm going to work my butt off to find out!

12.22.2009

The Yummiest Roasted Chicken EVER!!!

This is such a delicious meal - perfect for company, or a special date night at home. I don't know why I tend to lean towards recipes that call for so many ingredients, but it's so worth it. The pasta is a citrus take on Carbonara and the glaze on the chicken is out of this world. Trust me, this recipe will not dissapoint.

Lemon-Glazed Roast Chicken with Tangerine-Scallion Spaghetti

From: Rachael Ray

Ingredients
2 lemons
1 (4-5 lb) chicken, quartered (ask your butcher to do this)
Salt and ground black pepper
2 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus some for drizzling
1 whole bulb garlic, top 1/4 inch sliced off plus 2 cloves, chopped
3 small onions, halved
3-4 fresh bay leaves
1/2 11-ounce jar lemon curd (about 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup white wine
1 tablespoon honey

1 pound spaghetti
6 scallions, thinly sliced, whites and greens separated
3 egg yolks
Juice of 3 tangerines
1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
3 cups baby arugula

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Zest the lemons, catching the zest in a bowl, then slice them into discs about 1/4-inch thick.

Lay the chicken pieces onto a baking sheet and season with salt, pepper and a drizzle of EVOO. Scatter the lemon slices, garlic bulb, onions and bay leaves around the chicken and pop into the oven for about 40 minutes.




While the chicken is roasting, make the glaze in the bowl that the lemon zest is in: Add the lemon curd, white wine and honey to the bowl along with some salt and lots of black pepper. Stir to combine and reserve.

Place a large pot of water over high heat to boil the pasta. When the chicken has about 10 minutes left to cook, season the boiling water with salt and drop the pasta. Cook to al dente according to package directions. Save a couple of mugs full of starchy cooking water before draining the pasta. Reserve.

While the pasta is boiling, place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO. Add the scallion whites and chopped garlic to the pan and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Add one mug full of the reserved pasta-cooking water and the cooked pasta to the pan and bring up to a bubble.

While that's heating up, place the egg yolks into a bowl and whisk to break them up. Add remaining cooking water to the egg yolks while whisking constantly to heat them up. Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium and add the egg mixture to the pasta, stirring constantly to incorporate. Add the tangerine juice, Parmigiano Reggiano, some salt and pepper to the pan, and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reserve warm.

When the chicken is done, remove it from the oven. Pour the glaze over the chicken and pop it under the broiler to caramelize the glaze.




Garnish the pasta with the scallion greens and arugula and serve alongside the chicken.

YUMMMMMMMMMMMM

12.15.2009

SimaG Jewelry - must have!

I recently discovered Sima Gilady - after reading about her awesome handmade jewelry on theluxuryspot.com. Being a fan of judaica pieces in particular, I went on etsy to check out this very unique designer. All I can say is LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Sima makes everything from bracelets to necklaces, and everything is customized. I had "Ani ledodi vedodi li" written on mine. This phrase meaning "I am my beloved and my beloved is me" has significant meaning to me as it was my wedding vow, it is written on my Ketubah (Jewish wedding license that hangs above my bed) and is tattooed (in not so "Jewish" fashion) on my husband's under arm in remembrance of our sacred vows.

Sima will inscribe your jewelry with any name or phrase (English or Hebrew) and is wonderful to work with - she responded immediately to my questions (via email). I am very excited to be receiving my necklace soon!


12.11.2009

Infidelity? Just say No!

Given all the recent attention to Tiger Woods and his obnoxiously multiple infidelities, I'm left baffled and wondering why all of these men with wealth, health and happiness (and hot wives to boot!) ruin quite possibly the best thing they had going. Take a look at just some famous women subject to this public humiliation:

Halle Berry - her husband Eric Benet claimed to be a "sex addict"

Christie Brinkley - her husband cheated on her with an 18-year old receptionist!

Brigitte Moynahan - Tom Brady knocked her up and left for Gisele

Ali Larter - who cheats on the hot Doritos girl?! And who cheats during your bachelor party? Way to go Mario Lopez!

Elizabeth Hurley - her boyfriend Hugh Grant picked up a hooker on the side of the street in LA! And she stayed with him for another 5 years


So why do men cheat? A well-known therapist recently did a study and found three major reasons:

- Not enough satisfying sex.

- Not enough affective affirmation.

- Poor communication.



Although my year and a half of marriage by no means makes me an expert (and quite frankly, I don't believe any of us are "experts"), I do believe there are a few necessities in making marriage work:

1. Always make each other a priority - work, friends, hobbies - NOTHING is more important than your spouse knowing you're there for them

2. Turn off the bberry (this sort of ties into #1)

3. Communicate! The old adage is partially true that men don't love to discuss warm and mushy things like "feelings" but when an important issue arises, it is crucial to discuss them with your partner.

There are so many things that make a marriage strong, but if you want to focus your efforts on just a few, eating cookie dough together in your pjs, monthly Brazilians, laughing until you're about to pee your pants and always remaining best friends almost guarantee a happy ending.

12.07.2009

Reproducing and its Repercussions

For those of you who may not know, I hold a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. I studied abroad and graduated in 3 1/2 years halfway due to my pure excitement of getting out in the real world, and half in part to the fact that the days on the payroll were coming to a scary close and money needed to be made - and fast.

Well fast forward four years and here I am. A corporate Marketing and Communications Manager for a $6 billion dollar international company. I travel the country, work with amazing peers and have accomplished many feats in my few years in the "real world." So you'd think I would be content. Think again.

Recently I have had thoughts of going back to Grad School for.... wait for it... wait for it... Journalism! (Shocking, I know) My current employer is actually even willing to help finance my degree. My husband supports me. So what's the problem?

Who will make the dinners, take care of our dogs, clean the house (ok fine - I don't even clean now) and more importantly than anything else I could include in the list, what will happen to our baby making plans? My grandmother (married for 52 years) always told me the key to a successful marriage - "Madela, (for all my fellow yiddish speakers out there!) when your husband comes home you need a hot dinner on the table, a full face of makeup and silence - do not speak to him for at least one hour after he arrives home) Nice in theory, however I've found it hard to live up to my grandmother's advice. My makeup has worn off since it's 6:30AM application, dinner is usually half-ready considering I just got home as well and let's face it, I could talk to a brick wall for hours.

Although not practical in today's dual households, the theory my grandmother had is nice. There is something to be said for creating a traditional home and this is where my cunnundrom occurs. How do you find balance ? How can you work a 50 hour week and be an all star wife (and potentially mom!) How can you think about how you'll design a nursery when you're looking at class schedules for Grad School? How can you succeed at work, excel in school, be a mother, a wife, a daughter and friend, all without letting the ball drop? So now my official "plan" will be figuring out how to combine my goals and achieve what everyone else in this world hopes for - to have it all.

11.17.2009

A Roman Take on Spaghetti and Meatballs

Sundays pre-marriage consisted of me sleeping in bed till 12, eventually dragging myself out of bed to make a bowl of ramen and plop myself in front of the television until around 6pm.
Sundays post-marriage are now fondly spent in the kitchen whipping up something yummy for my husband and I. Although neither one of us are Italian, we have a particular attraction to all foods Italian - hence my recent obsession with Giada De Laurentiis. Her style is classic Italian - and her dishes from Rome never disappoint. This particular recipe is a huge hit in my house. Now please don't be intimidated - I know it's a long laundry list of ingredients but once you put this into your roster, you'll be sure to always have these ingredients on hand. I've made notes where I make my substitutes, but the only ingredient I highly suggest you avoid substituting is the bucatini pasta – it MAKES the dish! Other than that, no matter how you make this dish you will not be disappointed.


Bucatini All'Amatriciana with Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs

Ingredients:


All'Amatriciana Sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces pancetta, diced *I omit*
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes *If you don't like spice, omit*
1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano

Meatballs:
1 small (6-ounce) onion, grated
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus 1/4 cup *I omit*
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus 1/4 cup
1/3 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
1 large egg
2 tablespoons ketchup
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes *If you don't like spice, omit*
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
8 ounces ground beef
8 ounces ground veal *I use 16 oz of beef*
2 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese, cut into 16 (1/2-inch) cubes *I use regular mozzarella*
1 pound bucatini or other long pasta

Directions

For the sauce: In a large heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pancetta and reserve. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and the cooked pancetta. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir in the cheese and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

For the meatballs: Position an oven rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine the onion, 1/2 cup parsley, 2/3 cup Parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, ketchup, garlic, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the beef and veal. Using your hands, combine all ingredients gently but thoroughly. Shape the meat mixture into 16 (1 1/2-inch-diameter) meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Make a hole in the center of each meatball and place a cube of mozzarella inside. Reform the meatball so that the mozzarella is completely covered with the meat mixture. Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes until cooked through.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and place in a large serving bowl. Add the meatballs and sauce. Toss gently and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley and Parmesan.

11.11.2009

Addictions of a Gratuitous Nature

Hanky Panky Thongs
This underwear is the CURE to that annoying little bulge even skinny girls get from skimpy underwear. These thongs lay perfectly and once were only available in one size fits all, yet now they are now expanding their offerings and making them in various sizes. They come in vibrant colors and have both high and low rise fits. I’m also somewhat obsessed with their boy shorts. LOVE! I hear they’ve come out with a new t-shirt line!! Super excited to try those next!






Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products

In my continued effort to make my house more “green,” I’ve recently begun using these products and absolutely love them.

To date, I’ve purchased:

Lavender Countertop Spray- this spray has magical powers. Ever since purchasing my husband magically wants to clean the kitchen. Let me say that again – my husband WANTS to clean. This product smells so delicious (not too strong) and leaves the countertops spotless clean with no residue.

Lavender Hand Soap- I am totally into this hand soap. Bath and Body Works hand soap used to have a large presence in my house, but after discovering this soap I’ll never switch back. It has the slightest lavender smell that isn’t overwhelming but manages to relax me every time I use it!

Lemon Verbena Window Spray - I use this product for the mirrors in my bathroom and our French doors. It works better than Windex and has a wonderful smell to boot.

I would recommend these products to anyone – whether your ultimate goal is to make your home more green or not, you too will fall in love with these products. I‘m dying to try their candles and home fragrances!! Sign up for their e-newsletter and get a coupon for $5 off your first purchase.





Mario Badescu Flower and Tonic Mask

A 20 minute facial in a jar! I’ve been using this product on a bi-weekly basis for about two years after I discovered Mario Badescu Skin Care when I moved to NY (they’re located on East 52nd Street in Manhattan). Don’t live in the city? Fear not! They ship anywhere in the country – if you sign up for their newsletter you’ll often receive coupons for free shipping or free samples of other products. Select Nordstrom stores also carry the line.

The mask feels great going on – similar to the texture of a mud mask – and sits on your skin for about 20 minutes. While it’s drying, you feel your skin tightening and your pores clearing. After you’ve washed it off, your skin will feel clearer and more refreshed as if you’ve just had an expensive facial.

Mario Badescu recommends using the product 2-3 times a week, but I think weekly or bi-weekly does the trick so you can buy it less often.



11.10.2009

Bakerella Cake Balls -

In my quest to find the perfect dessert to make for my dinner party last Saturday night, I stumbled upon the ingenious website of Angie Dudley (aka Bakerella). I remembered seeing her awhile back on Martha Stewart and thought to myself how adorable her mini cupcake bites were.


Were the mini cupcake bites so flipping cute? Yes.
Was it a realistic feat for me to attempt to make these myself? Probably not, but it’s always worth a shot.

So here I go – off to to buy all the necessary gear. My favorite part about Bakerella’s site is she not only gives you pictures each and every step of the way, but she writes out a list you can print out and take to the store with you. Watch out Michaels, I’m armed and ready to shop.

As someone who traditionally doesn’t shop at DIY places like Michaels, I was a bit intimidated at first but quickly got into a groove. I could not find the peanut butter cup molds Angie mentions, so I opted to forgo the cupcake bites in lieu of cake balls (remembering them from her website). I purchased the chocolate melts in white and blue (for the upcoming Hanukah Wine Tasting Party hubby and I are hosting) and then headed over to Whole Foods. I bought the organic chocolate cake mix by Arrowhead Mills then and went to Publix (my last destination for the day) for cream cheese frosting (too unhealthy for Whole Foods to carry).

All the ingredients are on the counter and I feel like I need a nap. No time – company will be here in four hours. The actual “baking of the cake” was the easy part. After the cake cooled, I enlisted the help of my wonderful husband to help me crumble it. We then mixed it with the frosting and shaped them into balls (hubby has now retreated to ESPN on the couch). I continue on.

After the balls have hardened in the fridge for about 20 minutes, I melt the chocolate (hubby is back to eat the chocolate melts) and begin rolling the balls. I decorated them with heart shaped sprinkles I found at Michaels and also took the liberty of packaging up some for our guests – in fun little Chinese takeout boxes from Michaels ($1 each).

All in all, they were DELICIOUS. They tasted like munchkins dipped in chocolate yummyness. Will I be making these again? So sorry Hanukkah party, but these puppies are far too much work – I need at least six months to recuperate!



The Final Product

9.29.2009

Thank you Martha Stewart!!



I made the most delicious cookies last night from Martha Stewart Cookies Cookbook – a perfect combonation of the classic flavors of banana bread and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Usually i'll try to modify recipes to make them more waist-line friendly, but here I played by the rules. It was oh-so-worth it.

Banana-Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies


Makes about 3 dozen
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 large)
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped into 1/4-inch chunks
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (about 2 ounces), toasted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together flours, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined. Mix in banana. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in oats, chocolate chunks, and walnuts.

2. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until golden brown and just set, 12 to 13 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers up to 2 days.

9.24.2009

Radiant Skin is a Click Away!

I’m not one to toot my own horn, however when it comes to skin care, I think I’ve nailed it. I have tried countless skin care lines and finally, about 8 years ago, stumbled upon gold.
The Dermalogica skin care line is designed to accommodate a variety of skin types. My favorite part about this skin care line is none of their products contain artificial fragrances or colors. I happen to be dry/combination and have been an avid follower of these products:

  • Special Cleansing Gel- it smells like lavender and has a unique soap-free formula. I’ve found this cleanser to work wonders on my skin. I use it twice a day and am always left feeling fresh and clean – no unwanted dryness or film left behind. Not surprisingly, I’m not the only one who loves this cleanser. Good Housekeeping Magazine said Special Cleansing Gel is the “secret for getting gorgeous skin.”
  • Skin Smoothing Cream- this moisturizer is GENIUS! It’s a medium-weight cream that smoothes out my skin and leaves it feeling softer than a babies behind. It contains antioxidants, vitamins and soothing botanicals and I swear it makes my skin feel firmer. Kate Bosworth is also a fan! 
  • Multivitamin Power Firm- kick your under eye bags to the curb! Not that I’m condoning a late night of drinking and barely any sleep BUT if you do find yourself in such a predicament, this is the product for you. It doesn’t have the caffeine that some products on the market have, however this eye cream does contain silicones and seaweed extract that firm up your entire eye area and totally helps with dark circles and/or puffiness. I use it twice a day and am completely addicted.


Dry, acne-prone, oily and combination skin unite! I promise this complete line of natural and delicious skin and body care will not disappoint. Check it out now at: http://dermalogica.com/us/index.html#/home




9.22.2009

Where the Magic Happens


I recently decided my bedroom linens from college needed to go. As the demands of work and home life continue, a bedroom "sanctuary" is what I needed. I looked online, agonized over how expensive these freakin duvet covers were and ultimately did what any rational woman would do. I waited until my mom came to visit to take me shopping.



After much debate, I decided on this set from Restoration Hardware. Although it is stunning as pictured, I opted for a chocolate brown quilt under the duvet cover instead of the pictured baby blue... Overall the bed is amazing. The sheets feel like butter (tip ladies- I waited until Macy's had a sale and bought some solid sheet sets for a quarter of what Restoration Hardware sold them for). Although I fondly remember the nights propped up in bed watching TV with a glass of Pinot Noir, I gladly trade under eye bags and dehydration for a blissful nights' sleep.

Much Anticipated First Post!

Hello World.



You might be thinking, "What's the point of this blog?"



The truth is, I'm not entirely sure.



My online habits include reading other blogs, keeping up with current events, looking for new recipes, researching the ideal girls vacation destination, ideas for a romantic night with my husband, and how to effectively juggle all the balls I have in the air as a young, professional, quasi-domestic wife. I've found that existing websites target working women, stay at home wives (or moms), cooks.... but nothing encompasses everything I am.



So I have now set out on a mission. A mission to unite the women of the world that feel as I do. Do I love a good martini out with friends? You bet your sweet tush I do! Do I love spending a Friday night on the couch with my husband? Hell yeah! This blog is going to touch on all aspects of what all of us young women go through. I’ll share my tips of the trade and hopefully you’ll all be sitting back, relating and enjoying. And hey, if that happens to be with a nice dirty martini, so be it!