Living Together + Battling Self-Consciousness...

{Source - The 23 Most Relatable Hannah Quotes from Girls}

The act of being self conscious for me has always been sheer panic mode. For example, there was an incident that I will not go into specific details about on Sunday night in the condo where a plunger would be needed...If I blushed I would have been crimson times the magnitude of the sun. Oh did I mention this happened at 11:45pm on Sunday night. So Craig and I piled into the car and I'm trying to hold in my "How could this happen, I'm so embarrassed, &/or can cold weather affect pipes and things".  I did the holding back poorly and when the CVS up the road did not have a plunger, I lost it. This lil embarrassing episode that happens to EVERYONE then became a story. We had to drive 15 minutes to the only 24 hour super market in the next town to buy just a plunger in our pajamas. How does this tie into be self-conscious? Well...I now have a fear of something going wrong every time I go into the bathroom...Not good.

Upon moving in together and living together, besides our quirks, Craig and I are encountering a lot of things we are self-conscious about as individuals. Accidentally leaving underwear on the floor, everyone farts but when your lying in bed there can be issues, washing your feet after you take off your work shoes because they smell, um not realizing that you smell, quietly realizing that you haven't washed your hair in 6 days and wondering if the other person noticed, and not walking around naked at all. 

My condo is basically one big room and then a kitchen off to the side in another room and of course a bathroom. It's small. There isn't much room for privacy for either one of us but such close quarters are multiplying the intensity of our self-consciousness. Perhaps it's because we are both only children where we haven't been jaded by always having someone else sharing a bathroom or changing near us or I don't know...maybe we are just not as comfortable with ourselves as we appear to be. 

Girls Season 1, 2012 - Hannah & Adam

When two people don't live together and date it's so easy to show the best of you. Craig is now seeing me try on 4-5 outfits before our date and I can't imagine how frustrating that can be for a man who just slapped on a T-shirt and called it a day. I feel self-conscious when I don't wear a bra because I have a voluptuous chest, from harmless comments I'm extra self-conscious about my weight these days, I've had a cold and every time I blow my nose I feel weird that he might find it obnoxious, when it's that time of the month is a whole different animal and yes, the plunger incident when I didn't know how to properly use it. But this is NOT one-sided. Craig washes his feet when he comes home from work and he secretly does it, he's told me he feels self-conscious around me when he breaks out with acne, and a lot of other things but I'll keep his privacy from here. All this self-consciousness is a scary feeling of vulnerability that makes me nervous. But it really shouldn't...should it? 

Craig and I have known each other for the past three years but sometimes it honestly feels like it's the first week or month. Having these moments of insecurities is making us see a more raw side of the other person and I hope it's for the best. There has been no fights about all of this, but I thought it was an important topic to share of something I'm going through in the living together process. I've been showing him the real me and when I'm curled up reading a book and he kisses my cheek just for the hell of it I know everything is okay. =)

Nothing is perfect and one day I knew I'd have to take the make-up off...

If your living with a significant other, how do you handle your self-consciousness & insecurities around them? 

I'd love to hear!

Lena Dunham as Hannah in Girls, Season 2

52 Lists: Week 10 - List the Ways You Can Cleanse for Spring

{Source}

This week's list couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. The whole upper Northern Hemisphere is gearing up to dust off their tank tops, skirts, shorts, and summery dresses and what better way to prepare but do a good Spring Cleaning...Body, Mind, and Soul.

MOOREASEAL'S 52 LIST PROJECT: WEEK 10 

~ List the Ways You Can Cleanse ~ 

My Week 10 List

This list was shorter for me and honestly I'm glad because I feel smaller lists are more do-able when it's this specific of a topic. Spring Cleaning is something I'm desperately in need of doing and it's going to feel so good when it's completed. I can't wait to take that afternoon walk at lunch and feel just a little bit more free because I'm at a better more cleaner frame of mind. It's a great goal to work for. 

Here is my Week 10 List:

1.) Remove ALL my winter dark clothes from my closet

2.) Finally cut all those coupons to de-clutter my desk

3.) Do a Liver Cleanse 

(They scare me a bit, but I don't have a gall bladder so it's an important thing to do)

4.) Drink more water, smoothies, and healthy juices

5.) Open my mind to new adventures

6.) Take a walk outside as many times as I can

7.) DO NOT BACK-PEDAL in PAST DECISIONS I'VE MADE...

8.) FORGIVE & FORGET

9.) Organize my photos & images on my computer

10.) Eat Cleaner & Less Processed Food

11.) Put my guard down and mentally tear down my walls. 

12.) Buy more Organizational Furniture

13.) USE EVERY SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER BEFORE I BUY ANYTHING NEW!

14.) Go through every box of trinkets and mementos.

15.) Eat More Fiber

16.) Learn how to throw things away...

{Source}

My Challenge for the week will be actually starting at Ikea for some organizational furniture first! Also I can grab some fat free frozen yogurt on my way out! hehe. =) 

What would be on Your List? What Ways are You Going to Cleanse for Spring?

I'd love to hear! 

Once again, Linking up at MOOREASEAL'S 52 List Project!

Rainbow Cupcakes for St. Patty's Day!!

My Rainbow Cupcake with Edible Glitter 

I'm almost a 100% better so I thought I'd share something fun with you all today for the upcoming St. Patrick's Day holiday! My cupcake class I used to teach unfortunately did not run this semester but that doesn't mean I can't give you awesome people some ideas for future cupcake creations!  During last year's class, everyone kept asking me for a St. Patty's Day cupcake idea that was not a shamrock or a plastic cupcake topper. I saw a pin on Pinterest  had to try it out with my own spin! =)

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE RAINBOW CUPCAKES WITH GOLDEN CLOUDS:

1. Cupcakes

2. Green Butter Cream Icing

3. White Butter Cream Icing

4. Wilton Yellow Color Sprinklers - Edible Glitter (Use craft store coupons!)

5. Airheads Xtreme Sweet/Sour Rainbow Strips (At Supermarkets or Candy Stands)

6. Wilton Tips - #17 for the Clouds & #195 for the Green Swirl (Pictured Below)

These Tips are sold very inexpensively at craft stores like JoAnn's, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, um...AC Moore... as well as the plastic pastry bags!

Step #1 - Bake a Cupcake

Step #2 - Using Wilton Tip #195 Pipe out a Green swirl on the bottom of the cupcake covering the entire top.

Step #3 - Cut Strips of Rainbow Candy 

*Make Sure the Strip is Large enough to go deep enough into the cupcake and still have a rainbow arch over the green icing. Use your own judgement. 

Step #4 - Bend the Strips of the Rainbow Candy

Step #5 - Carefully place the bended candy strip onto the cupcake. It is helpful to make these with FRESH cupcakes so you can easily push the hard rainbow candy strip into the cupcake just a little bit to anchor it. 

Step #6 - Using Tip #17, pipe out the clouds at the base of the rainbows...Have fun with this too! You can make them extra fluffy or not! =)

Step #7 - Add as much Edible Gold Glitter as you'd like! 

Me with my Finished Rainbow cupcake from last year! 

Honestly...that's it! One of my students even made a little bit of Bailey's icing to use for the clouds so it was just a touch of boozey goodness. 

I hope you all enjoyed my little demo! 

ARE YOU MAKING ANY SPECIAL THIS WEEK FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY? 

I'd love to hear!

Oh and this was the ORIGINAL PIN I took my inspiration from: 

{Pin} |  {Source}

My [Untitled] Short Story or Novel - PART IV

{It's crossed my mind that I will never get my feet off the ground if I don't get these ideas out of my head and onto paper or onto this lil blog of mine. This is a story that has been in my "Saved" documents as "New Story" for months...If I have deadlines I will write more...Please join me every Sunday as I continue my tale...}

 To Read the Other Three Parts Click HERE

{Source}

Darien grabbed Molly's wrist and moved her behind his back before she blinked an eye. She crashed into his back unexpectedly, which mimicked a steel door. The woman standing in the doorway gasped and took a step back at the blur of movement. Her hand instinctively went to rest on the regulation pistol assigned to every collector. Each pistol had a copy of the owner's handprints edged into the handle to ensure no mistaken identities ever happened. This pistol was hers and she knew how to use it.

"Mr. Wilson, please do not make this anymore difficult then it has to be. You've reached your allotted time slot. You must come with me." The woman declared sternly. Her instructions echoed loudly deep within her skull, muting her loudening and nervous heartbeat.

"There seems to be a mistake. I have one more week almost to the hour. Your fucking calculations are wrong lady. Tell Griffin he's off!" Darien stated through gritted teeth. Molly's ragged breathing was too loud for him to pick up this collector's thoughts. Changing his tone he murmured without turning around, "Molly, baby, please go to your bedroom. Don't ask questions." Darien heard Molly's breathing, but no answer.

Molly's lungs were pinching and she tasted the coppery taste she knew all too well. Darien knocked the wind out of her when he slammed her into his back. His movement was too quick, too sudden. She clutched her chest above her quivering breasts to try to calm herself down. She would not allow herself to have a panic attack now. But they were kissing a moment before? Molly heard muffled voices, the word vampire, and shook her head to erase the scene. She twisted her wrist in Darien's grip to see their intruder.

A young looking blonde woman with a tailored suit stood in her doorway clutching her hand on her left side pocket. The woman's ice colored eyes were fixed on Darien and she had a clipboard in her right hand. Her sneakers ruined business look of her outfit. She must need them for running, Molly thought.  Running from what?

"Molly, please go to your room. There is a situation I have to deal with right now." Darien spoke again louder with a rumble of anger piercing through his words. Molly sidestepped to stare at that man she's only known a few weeks. A blush to his cheeks was receding right before her eyes as if his skin was soaking it up like water. She looked at him like she had never seen him before. The handsome square jaw face was drawn straigh, his eyebrows were furrowed with visible rage, and his bright blue eyes were encased with dark circles that couldn't have been there a minute ago? Were they?

"I would listen to Mr. Wilson, Miss. Our matter does not concern you." The woman said, turning her focus to Molly. She then returned to staring down Darien. "Perhaps one of your skills would come as great service at this point in time Mr. Wilson."

Before Molly could retort her opened mouth was silenced by Darien's words, "You don't know me lady. Your so smart huh with your little clipboard. Does it say how many collectors I've been through? You can't fool me with your learned responses. It's all the same. I know every line you will read. That's what you are huh? And Sneakers too? You must be fresh off the diving board huh?"

Finally finding her guts, Molly squinted her eyes at the woman. "Who the fuck do you think you are, anyway? You think you can barge in here and for whatever reason take my boyfriend? Where the hell is your search warrant or arrest papers? If you take one step over that threshold I will call the cops before you can run to car."

Darien tore his predator like gaze away from the collector and turned towards Molly. Her act of protectiveness warmed his soul and tore it a little further apart. He had found the one he needed. The one who would step forward in the darkness and bring him light. The one who would make it stop. He glanced behind her at the perfectly placed sofa a few feet from where she stood. The collector began to speak but Darien's ears heard static. 

Molly screamed when she felt the ground fall out from under her. In her peripheral she thought she saw the woman step back with a pistol in her hand and Darien's hands thrusting forward in front of her, but the moment of free fall was cut short by the leather couch slamming into her back. She fell into a seated position, but her head snapped back and the her head of curls were not enough to brace her head from hitting the wooden plank behind the sofa cushions. The faint coppery taste was stronger now...turning into straight blood. Darien couldn't have pushed her...he couldn't have, her mind searched but when she opened her eyes blur was all she saw, then darkness. 

--------------------------------------------------------

I've decided this will be the prologue...Novel to follow...

Steam, Onions, & Spicy Mongolian Sauce Does the Trick!

When you get sick twice in 6 months you know something has got to change. Sorry for falling off the face of the earth a little bit, but some point on Wednesday I got really sick. Writing and reading blogs is one of my favorite past-times, but sometimes you have to take care of yourself and step back from the computer. I hate being sick...anything from a sinus infection to a cold makes me miserable. I hate having that one nostril that is clogged...Ugh!! I could literally throw a vase across the room I hate it so much.

Yesterday I was done...I know your supposed to wait it out when it's a sinus infection but it was 2am and I knew I had to be up this morning by 7am to get a cavity filled. (Oh yes, something else to drive me crazy). I got out of bed and did what I tell other hypochondriacs like myself NOT to do...I googled how to clear a stuffy nose. I fear neti pots so that was out of the question, but I knew I could boil some water, I happened to have an onion, and this Williams Sonoma Spicy Mongolian Stir Fry sauce. *Insert Lightbulb Above my head*

Somewhere in the madness of my tip-toeing not to wake up Craig and petting the cat so she wouldn't meow at my craziness, I made this concoction of an assembly line: Put my head over the steam for a minute, inhale onions for another, and then take a spoonful of Mongolian Sauce. No joke...FINALLY my left nostril was CLEAR after 3 days of miserableness. Thank God!!

I don't know if I was just at that hump of when I should start to feel better, or this medley really works, but yes I'm finally starting to feel better. My face is numb from the shot of Novocain for my tooth, my lips are swollen like a blowfish a little bit from it, but I can breathe out of both nostrils!! So what to do now?

I think I touch my face too much...I'm going to be extra careful not to do it and make sure I keep an extra jacket in the car because with this up/down weather I don't want to catch a chill. Spring really needs to get here...ASAP!!! =)

Here are some posts that I really enjoyed this week as well...

Weekly Links

One of my favorite Food Blogs called, How Sweet It Is, made the most delicious looking thing. Angel Food French Toast...it looks mouth-watering good! See Post HERE!

One of my favorite Weight Loss Inspiration or rather Healthier Living Blogs, Infinite Life Fitness, did a very inspiring article EVERYONE SHOULD READ! See Post Here: Truth About Weight.

A blog I found recently, which seems to be a lot of people's favorites called Vmac + Cheese, has been doing this pretty awesome series called "The Man Behind The Blog". I'm absolutely loving what the boyfriends and husband's think of their leading Blogging ladies! What's interesting is she even asks what they would blog about if they had a blog! Click above link for posts...

The imaginative lady over at the blog, Design Love Fest, shared Four Awesome photo shoots showcasing Benefit Cosmetics where she was styled into her Dream Jobs...I just loved everything about them! See them All HERE! My favorite is the jazz singer!

Oh and if you need a laugh check this Hilarious video posted on A Cup of Jo about Goats yelling like Humans. It will seriously crack you up!!!

Living Together + Quirks...

Movie Still from Take This Waltz, 2011

When Craig and I met, I was 24 years old and he was 28 years old. That's 24 years of quirks and bad habits that have built up for me and 28 years of quirks and bad habits built up for him. To be honest, in the almost 3 years of dating and becoming best friends & of course boyfriend/girlfriend, there is NO WAY they could have all surfaced in the 3-4 nights a week we hung out together before living together. No Way! Some of his quirks I knew about, especially his weirdness about eating chicken, and equally he knew some of mine, like I hate that sound of metal forks or spoons banging on anything ceramic aka a coffee mug, but I think we subconsciously were hiding the really bad quirks we both didn't want to admit we have...

Well, in a studio apartment there can be no hiding anymore.

Some of my quirks...

- The cat bowls/dishes cannot be washed even if it is licked clean in a sink full of dishes

- I'm always cold

- I mispronounce words frequently or use them incorrectly

- I am a pack rat & will keep even in a napkin if it's pretty

- Every opened bag of chips/bag of salads MUST have a clip...I don't believe in just folding the top over.

- I don't put the cap on the toothpaste.

- I have a tendency to put bowls of little things everywhere.

- I stay in my day clothes until I go bed. 

- I have the messiest car EVER. 

- Any form of metal banging on ceramic drives me crazy...like banging a spoon on a tea cup. 

- I don't roll the toothpaste from the bottom....(Craig added that as he entered the bathroom just now to brush his teeth)

Some of Craig's quirks...

- He has to look at the Expiration date on EVERYTHING! Even if we went to the store a week ago. 

- His chicken must be completely de-tendoned & de-fatted or he won't eat it.

- The second he gets in the house, he is changed into sweatpants.

- He uses powder within in the shower, not out of the shower, so the shower drain clogs up.

- He folds over potato chip bags or salad bags and artfully places them in the refrigerator so the folded edge won't spring up. 

- Even though he wakes up a 5:45am, somehow he is still out of the bathroom  at 7:45am every morning. I don't get it...

- He never puts his glasses away when he puts his contacts in. 

- At night, he likes his face cold, but his body warm?!?! 

- If I make any form of noise, he asks, "What's the matter?"

Movie Still from Take This Waltz, 2011

Writing out these so-called Quirks has got me thinking that maybe they aren't so much quirks but it's just us really getting to know the real people that we truly are. I'm trying to get Craig to stop putting powder or corn starch on in the shower and I promised to remember to take my long hair out of the drain after I wash it. He promised to put a clip on bags of chips as long as I put a bowl of them somewhere in which he can find them easily. I've taken over the job of putting his eyeglasses away each morning after he goes to work, and he's taken the liberty of tenderly telling me that is not how you say this and that word or phrase. It's a process...

He's a camel who drinks A LOT OF WATER so I make sure there is always bottled water in the house. He bought me a lil insert to put on the toothpaste that rolls it up for me (he got it out the closet just now). I promised not to remove the eggs from the carton and put them in my Anthropologie ceramic egg crate, so he will be able to see the expiration date when the time comes. (I use it for earrings now.) If I make dinner he does the dishes, and vise versa. 

It all is working with good days and "Oh, I didn't know you didn't like that?" days. I keep saying I think we've dated long enough that we are able to talk about things that drive us absolutely nuts, but I really think it's true for us. We are not fearing the quarrel about is the sour cream good a day before it's expiration but embracing it...(I think it's still a little nuts but don't tell him =P). Relationships are balances and we are continuing to work on this quirk balance and really get to know each other! But I will say that the quirk he has about cuddling with his cat at night is the cutest thing ever! Don't tell him I wrote that though! =) 

How Do You Deal with the Quirks of Your Significant Other? 

Or Are They Deal Breakers? 

Movie Still from Take This Waltz, 2011

52 Lists: Week Nine // List The Places You Want To Go...

{Source} - MOOREASEAL's 52 List Project

Watch the sunrise on a tropical isle

See the pyraminds along the Nile 

Just remember darlin', all the while

You belong to me... 

 - Dean Martin Oldie Song, 1952

Each one of MOOREASEAL's 52 Lists becomes my new favorite. No lie, this morning Craig asked me where I would like to go on vacation. Of course, in current situations I think a nice long weekend trip to Phoenix, Arizona to visit some friends will do us a lot of good...but where else would I DREAM of going...Well there is definitely a list of other places I want to go one day and things I want to see.

"Whatever they say, you can never have too much earth..."  

- Michael ("Angel" movie), 1996

My Week 9 List =)

I missed last week writing out the list, so I went to back to writing out my lists in my lil notebook! I wish I had the power of teleportation because there is way too many places I want to go!! My bucket list is seriously too long. Once upon a time, due to a depressed ear drum, a doctor once told my mother I could never be a stewardess because there was too much noise and all the ear popping. Every since that day I heard that, I've wanted to be a stewardess and travel as many places as possible. I didn't account for a fear of flying though...Woops. I'm slowly getting over that fear so maybe, just maybe, some of this week nine list will be a possibility in the future! I hope!! =)

Easter Island, Australia, the Egyptian pyramids, Manhattan as often as possible, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa just to  name a few places....

Some of Other Places I Want To Go To:

- I want to go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans

- I want to go to Space and see the Stars

- I want to see Fall Out Boy in their Welcome Back Tour!

- I want to go on an Alaskan cruise through the glaciers

- I want to go and witness a flash mob or dare I saw participate? =P

- I want to go to a picnic in Central Park

- I want to go to all the places Craig tells me about that he's travelled to...

(His father was a bus tour guide)

- I want to go to more Broadway Shows

- I want to see the rain in Seattle

- I want to go to the Dominican Republic and look up my grandmother's family

- I want to go to the Vatican to see the Smoke Ceremony when they elect a new pope

- I want to see the Alamo in Texas

- I want to visit the West Coast of the U.S.

- I want to see as many "World's Biggest" as possible aka the world's biggest ball of twine. =)

- I want to go on a Hollywood Backlot tour

- I want to go to this year's NYC Comic Con 

And the list will continue...

More of my handwritten Week 9 list

The CHALLENGE of this week's list will be to actually plan my Phoenix vacation!! =) I'm already excited!!  

WHERE ARE THE PLACES YOU LIKED TO GO? 

HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY OF THE PLACES or DONE ANY OF THE THINGS I'VE LISTED? 

I'd love to hear!

Once again, I'm linking up at MOOREASEAL 52 List Project Week Nine. =)

Now She Knows...In The End, There Was Truth...A Relationship Post.

Scott Pilgrim vs The World, 2010

The Boy Next Door...

2008..."You do know Chloe, that Chris only dated you because everyone else was taken. Julia was with Allen, Danielle with Rick, and then there left you. He choose you by default. We all thought you knew..." The first relationship that I could ever call a relationship that was my ushering into basically everything was long past done and in a coffee shop I heard those words as matter a factually as if someone told me they did their nails that morning. I hadn't known this "truth" but it slammed every memory I thought was special enough to still remain friends with that boy next door named Chris. I refuse to be in his presence...he is completely removed from my life. 

The Gray Eyed Spanish Boy (Mentioned here) 

2008...The instant messages kept coming at weird times all through the night. He would ask me to come down and see him. I thought it was over after he called me the wrong name that steamy night in my car. I knew it was over. The messages and the text messages slowly were waning, but still there. Myspace was still around, and I scanned his pictures for "Emily", the name he called incorrectly called me. It was a friend's girlfriend he said that was in trouble and on his mind blah blah. I scanned every picture...nothing. One day, his profile picture changed. I saw the gray eyed boy who I feel doesn't deserve to be called a man have his arms around a pretty red head. I clicked on the picture and read the caption. My girl, Emily, and me.  There was the "Truth" I needed to move on...

The Mess

2012...It had taken me a while, but I had walked away LONG AGO...A Halloween I've mentioned here years earlier, gave me that feeling it was my time to go. I heard the truth a thousand times but couldn't let the words seep in. Meeting my current boyfriend pushed it all away gracefully, but a party last summer sprung the anger and resentment back. A girl 6 years younger than me, drinking for her first time, caught my arm on the way to the bathroom and told me she knew of my ex and I. She recognized me from the pictures on his Facebook way back when... She confessed that she was apparently another girl my ex was seeing at the same time as me... After everything was said and done with him I found out he had a girlfriend in those last few months in addition to this young girl in front of me that summer day. This girl last summer knew this information too. I said the Truth from my own lips. "Cathleen, we were pennies with that mess of a man. One out of many. The girlfriend was just another penny too. Do you want to go back to being a penny? Being worth one cent to him? Huh?" It was one of the cruelest but truthful things I've ever said to someone, but I needed to say it for my own benefit as well. My answer was no and Cathleen looked up at me and said, no, she didn't want to be a penny either. I hope that was the truth coming from her.

Scott Pilgrim vs The World, 2010

My Best Friend and Her Situation...

My best friend went to the convention that her ex of 2 months would be there too. I wrote about it HERE. I suggested her not go, to just let the relationship end. Well, she saw him... Oddly enough I didn't hear from her not even once during the convention. I really expected to go in there as an emotional bodyguard and just create a buffer or something to help... Not a peep. Finally I called her. 

She had dumped her boyfriend of 6 years because she couldn't support a more than capable man anymore. She grew to hate his laziness, his smoking, his lack of ambition, and his lack of desire to change his spiral of  unproductiveness. Her and I said hello on the phone and I didn't say one more word before she poured out the truth from pretty much her soul. She didn't want to realize that all the words her ex had said in the breakup to her hoping to change her mind were all lies. She didn't want to tell me the truth that she paid for his convention. She didn't want to see the truth that her ex was smoking again and didn't have a job yet. She didn't want to think that things were never going to change for him.

 But she spoke the truth, hoping that the person who is her ex, her ex-friend, does one day straighten himself out. So do I. But she couldn't wait to find out. She also explained she had to go to the convention to see if things had changed. Maybe he could have at least gotten a job...But no. I told her how incredibly sorry I was and I'm so disappointed in my her ex as friend of his too. But this is not my battle. She saw the truth she needed to see and now she feels a weight of guilt she unfortunately has felt for the past 2 months lifted from her...

I'm going to go see her for her 28th birthday in 3 weeks. I think a total girls night out is definitely needed. Hopefully it's a happy time! I hope so! =)

Scott Pilgrim vs The World, 2010

I Can't Cook, Therefore I Go To Free Williams Sonoma Demos!! Part II

Williams Sonoma Demo - Fresh, Fast, & Fabulous!

This weekend, inspired by the sun shining, I adventured to another absolutely FREE Williams Sonoma Demo! I actually found on their website the links to their past demos and the worksheets handed out with the recipes and tips for all of you to check out. Please Click HERE. This week's theme was Fresh, Fast & Fabulous and a lady who looked WAY too much like Frances Mcdormant from Fargo instructed us on how to make a Risotto and an Italian Bean & Pasta Soup! 

To be honest I never knew what a Risotto was except that it had rice in it up until yesterday! I knew Chef Ramsey yelled about it on Hell's Kitchen but I have never made it or tasted one. I'm a changed woman...No really! A Risotto by definition is a dish of rice cooked in broth with added vegetables or cheese. It was so delicious and it was made with Aborio rice and they used a slow cooker with risotto setting to literally make the dish within a half hour. I don't have a slow cooker so I'm pretty happy the recipe that was shared had directions for regular cooking. I think I will have to try this out in the near future as well!

Here is the recipe that was made: RISOTTO WITH LEAKS & SUGAR SNAPS!

The only difference is that the instructor used Asparagus instead of sugar snaps...It is still hard to find fresh vegetables in this time of year! She didn't use tarragon and honestly I don't know what that is...I should have asked her...

Williams Sonoma Demo - Yes they gave us a large portion to try! 

The other dish that was demoed was an Italian Bean & Pasta Soup. To be honest, I am not a fan of beans in any way shape or form. I know, it's like "How could you not?!?"  Ironically Craig is not a fan of them either. But I have to say I slurped up every bit of the sample and even asked for a second helping. I'm really assuming it was the Breville pressure cooker they used to make them so tasty. I have no patience to soak dried beans every in my life. 

Here is the Recipe that was made: Italian Bean & Pasta Soup.

I'm not sure if I would ever make bean soup, however the instructor gave us all a very useful tip:

If you are making ANY  SOUP with a PASTA in it, COOK THE PASTA FIRST IN A SEPARATE PAN!!!  If the pasta is cooked with the contents of the soup it could soak up all the flavor... The also added again that if you are going to go through all the trouble to cook such a fine meal, whether it a risotto or a soup, make sure to use great flavorful ingredients. Your time cooking is worth it! =)

It's such a great demostration...She even measured everything in front of us!

There wasn't as many tips and steps compared to the ravioli one I went to last week, but it's a completely eye-opening experience seeing a recipe done out live. Sometimes on cooking shows the chefs don't measure, there is a time clock, or a ridiculous ingredient that really makes the TV shows just for entertainment purposes. It's hard to know what a pinch is or a dollop sometimes! Luckily, these Williams Sonoma instructors really do measure everything out and GIVE YOU ALTERNATIVES to the recipes too! It's such a free little treat to watch these demos! =)

Have you Ever Made a Risotto??? Do you like Beans Enough to make a Bean Soup??

I'd love to hear!

*All photos in this post were taken by me*

Pleased To Meet You March!

{Source}

Hello my favorite month!! It's a close tie between March and April, but March wins the cake! 

Why, you ask?

Well, March is always the start of something new. This morning, after a horrible week at full of deadlines and stress, I felt the sunshine on my face and had a lil kitty purring all snuggled up with me in bed. My boyfriend was softly snoring on the other side of us and the sunshine was covering him too! The sun after all the grey is Chicken Soup for the Soul, literally. Remember those books? =) 

In March, I always manage to see the first blue jay that has come out of hiding, the daffodils spring up even though I know no one has planted them here or there, the winter coats start coming off, I think we start seeing the Canadian geese (Yes, I'm in NY but they are everywhere) sitting on some fresh eggs just waiting to hatch new lil goslings, and pastel colored everything start reappearing in the world. It's wonderful and it makes me so happy!!! It pushes my seasonal effectiveness disorder right out the window...Craig's too!

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Besides the seasons changing, there is so much I have in store for March here on Ergo. 

So much!

1.) My best friend's "Cinderella" Bridal Shower which I'm helping to plan on the 23rd!

2.) My other best friend's 28th Birthday is on the 30th! We are going to take Manhattan by storm and spend some time pretending to be tourists! 

3.) I've decided to put a lil more time and work into this Blog and start having series each week! Right now it will be the 52 Lists each Tuesday, started by Moorea Seal and a Living Together Series, which I've had so much positive feedback already in! It's hard to live with someone for the first time! =)

I'm hoping to start a cupcake series too every two weeks! Oh and my story...my untitled story will be present as well!

4.) There has been new developments in my Diet...Yes I said the "D" word that I'm finding is going to explain my unsuccessfulness. I don't know how I didn't see it before! But stay tuned!

5.) I'm hoping my cousin will announce his baby news soon, so I can share it with the world. My cousin is expecting a baby with his new wife and doesn't want to tell anyone yet....Well he told our grandmother so I hate to say...the cat is out of the bag!! She told everyone! lol =)

6.) OH and Easter is in this month!! I always remembered it in April, but oh well! =)

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It's a brand new day and I can't wait to embrace it! I think I'm going to catch another Williams Sonoma demo at noon today too! It's quick recipes with this upcoming seasons vegetables!  It was so much fun last week! Craig and I, also, have his best friend's birthday tonight ahh I gotta go!! =)  Too much to do!! Have a great weekend everyone!!

PLUS,

BTW, If your looking for a new Spring dress, please check out eShakti!! They are offering Ergo Readers 20% OFF all orders until 3/10/13 with the Code: CHLEMNERG!!! They have beautiful dresses and other clothing items that can be CUSTOMIZED!!! I just received a sample dress from them, which I post about next week and it's gorgeous! I love it! Quality fabric choice and they even customized the length for me! Go check them out and remember 20% OFF!