The only source of knowledge is experience

I've moved

2008-08-29T14:27:00.000-04:00

Come find me over at www.rhodeygirltests.com !!!!!

Egg Frittata Muffins

2008-08-29T12:54:00.005-04:00

Last night PB decided to drive here so he could miss today's Labor Day traffic. Even though he wasn't going to arrive until 1 AM, I was so excited I couldn't sleep, so what did I do? Cook, of course! (Well, after vacuuming and polishing my floors and rearranging furniture).

My inspiration was the "savory turkey bacon egg white mini quiches" I saw on seebriderun.com a few weeks ago. Caitlin has a great concept here.. throw a hodge podge of your favorite egg ingredients into muffin tins and end up with a delicious, healthy, and BEAUTIFUL meal. ohh and it was SO easy! I picture myself making these for my next brunch for sure!

Here's my version:

Egg Frittata Muffins
Serves 2
Calories/serving: 269

Ingredients:
4 Eggs
2 Egg Whites
1 ugly garden tomato, diced
4 big basil leaves, chopped
2 oz goat cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Beat your eggs + egg whites in a medium size bowl (add a little water or milk to make them fluffier)
3. Add the tomatoes and basil leaves and mix together.
4. Fill each muffin tin 2/3 of the way up.
5. Sprinkle goat cheese over the top of each muffin.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, and then broil for 2-5 minutes until the cheese is nice and golden brown.

My version made 8 muffins. I wanted a big protein punch since this is our lunch for today and I know we aren't having any protein at dinner (it's homemade pizza Friday!). If I were to do it for a normal lunch I would probably have used a little milk instead of the extra 2 egg whites.

I just heated this up for 1 minute in the microwave and they were to die for. Also, like Caitlin mentioned in her post here, the possible combinations are endless!

Next time I would use a little shredded mozzarella on top, but I didn't have any on hand.

Cheers!

My banana bread is sad.

2008-08-28T16:06:00.004-04:00

This is what happens when you get too excited over banana bread and don't let it cool in the pan first:

And this is the solution to lots of smooshy banana bread chunks... just add fresh peaches + vanilla ice cream:

And if you're wondering why this picture is blurry, it's because I only use my iphone now for blogarific pics, sorryyy.

Feeling penguiny

2008-08-28T10:42:00.003-04:00

I miss PB SO. MUCH. right now. I can't even stand it. Last time we saw each other was our engagement party TWO stinkin' weeks ago! And that weekend was filled with family, friends, and the celebration of US so obviously I am feeling so very loving after all that. I can't wait for tonight or tomorrow when he gets here!!!!!!!!!!!

Things I am loving about PB today:

1. that the Buena Vista Social Club album reminds me of him even though we've never listened to it together. He always tells me about this one job during his DJ Trig days where he played the whole album from start to finish during a dinner.

2. that he doesn't get mad when I use my funny voices the entire time we are on the phone!

3. that he is working super hard today so that maybe, just maybe, he can come here tonight and work from my office tomorrow. That would be so super fantastic.

4. That he makes kick @ss pizza dough, and is experimenting with adding whole wheat flour to make it more Rhodeygirl friendly.

5. that he often sends me pics of his meals, just to show me a. how good they are and b. how good he is taking care of himself (no fried foods on his plate!).

6. that he loves me so much!!!!

I am so obsessed

2008-08-27T13:38:00.003-04:00

I AM SO OBSESSED WITH THE FOLLOWING:

mr. and mrs. luggage tags (hello HONEYMOON)

mr. and mrs. beach towels. (so CUTE- it is a towel for two, no joke)

just got married bathing suit (where can i find a classy one?!?!)

I saw Mindy Weiss' new store products in the $10 wedding magazine I bought for no reason last night... well the pictures were just so pretty!

https://www.mindyweiss.com/store/p51/love_is_in_the_air_mr_and_mrs_luggage_tag_set/
https://www.mindyweiss.com/store/p70/mr__mrs_beach_blanket_with_love_is_in_the_air_tote_bag/

WHY AM I SO OBSESSED WITH ALL OF THIS RANDOM WEDDING STUFF?!!?!

I am total getting sucked down the dark hole of the wedding industry.. SAVVVVEEE MEEEE!

The Week of Parties

2008-08-27T09:25:00.004-04:00

Party 1: V's baby shower. made cupcakes
Party 2: Girls' night (with my high school friends)
Party 3: Tonight, 2 of my best friends coming over for dinner.

Parties 1 & 2: Completed.

Having my high school friends over for dinner was loads of fun, and not too much work either.

Here was the menu:

Appetizer:
Sea salt pita chips + store bought hummus

Dinner:
Grilled chicken
Grilled eggplant
Steamed zucchini
Baked fries
Pasta with fresh mozzarella and garden tomatoes

Dessert:
Little dollops of ice cream with peaches soaked in wine and a bit of sugar

It was really simple to put together because I did almost everything the day before. Pick up the ingredients from the market, marinate the chicken and veggies, clean the house, cut up the peaches to marinate, and set the table. Then when I got home from work the day of all I had to do was cut up the potatoes, fire up my amaaazing panino maker (read: indoor grill! thanks PB!!!), bake the fries and zucchini, cut up the mozzarella and tomatoes, and cook the pasta.

The tricks to a successful party are simple:
1. Plan ahead. Start thinking about your menu a couple of days ahead.
2. Prepare as much as possible the day before. That means going to the market, making sure your house is in tip top shape, setting up the table, and prepping the foods that can be prepped.
3. Clean up as you go along. This makes the cleanup at the end of a party so easy and fast. And with an open kitchen like mine, I NEED that area to stay clean!
4. Marinate your veggies and meats from the day before. I swear that food just tastes SO MUCH BETTER when it has had the proper amount of time to marinate.

My simple dinner table:

The eggplant on my panino maker. I cooked the pasta and cut up the mozzarella and tomatoes while this grilled.

The main meal all set up on my platter:

Close up of the zucchini:

Close up of the pasta:

The peaches (the vanilla ice cream is hiding at the bottom):

PB- jealous?

Market Shopping Week #3

2008-08-26T08:37:00.002-04:00

I imposed a weekly budget for myself at the supermarket. I really could spend more, but I really want to try and not be wasteful. So the goal is to reduce my spending as much as possible while keeping my cabinets more empty (instead of say, 3 open boxes of kashi crackers) and using up everything I buy.

I only could Monday breakfast through Friday lunch as my weekly budget, since I can never anticipate what my weekend will be like... dinner out, going to Philly to see my boy, wedding meetings in prov which = weekend lunches out, you get the idea.

Week #1 I spent $20, and used a lot of the stuff in my cabinets
Week #2 I spent $30, which included nothing too expensive, I guess I just bought more.
Week #3 I spent, er, $70!!!!! I couldn't believe it. And, I went back last night for a couple of forgotten items and a new mop which I never should have bought from the market, and spent another $30. Ew.

Here's why I think I spent more:
1. I made those cupcakes on Sunday which required a few $$ items that I don't normally stock in my kitchen
2. I had 5 girls over for dinner last night, and I really wanted to cook a nice, fresh, healthy meal.
3. I bought a bunch of Smartwaters, which is my beverage of choice at work, along with hot tea and seltzer water. I tried using a reusable water bottle but the water just tastes funny to me, even in one of those Sigg ones. At home I drink out of my Brita.
4. The blackberries were $4.99 a pint, but they just looked so amazing so I bought 2.
5. I bought a stupid mop from the market since Target and the other good stores are like 20 minutes away and I was really excited to polish my floors.
6. I went to the market hungry. 'nuff said.
7. My PhillyBoy is coming this weekend and I must have yummy goodies for him! Wraps and lettuce and cheese and veggies.. all of his favs

Is anyone else as inconsistent in how much they spend/week?

The cupcakes were a total success!

2008-08-24T20:54:00.010-04:00

It doesn't take a lot to make a simple recipe looks gorgeous and fun (and like it took forever to do...). I took one of Giada's strawberry mascarpone filled cupcakes and tweaked it for my own needs, since my pregnant friend is allergic to strawberries.

I subbed blackberries + raspberries for the strawberries, made the cupcakes from scratch instead of from a box, and used store bought frosting instead of the lemony icing since I wanted to decorate the cupcakes! V is having a boy so making little oceans with a rubber ducky on each one was so perfect.. But, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

The cupcakes going into the oven:

The filling ingredients, which I made while the cupcakes cooled:

The cupcakes filled (some of them overflowed. The trick is to be VERY GENTLE when filling the cupcakes through the bottom with a pastry tip):

The decorated cupcakes in my new cupcake caddy! Just have fun with a pastry tip + ziplock bag acting as a pastry bag:

The finished product, all set up at V's house before her shower:

My friend's half eaten cupcake. See the yummy creamy center?

And, just for fun... my matching gifts! I wrapped the high chair in a ducky bag, and then put lots of little gifts in her baby tub and wrapped them in cellophane!

You don't need to be a trained pastry chef to make an impact. Just have fun, and think creatively, and your baking project will be a success!! I only wish I had saved a cupcake for myself....

Babies R Us

2008-08-22T10:36:00.002-04:00

Babies R Us is a scary place if you don't have kids. The people working there seemingly disappear right when you need them, there are 35 different kinds of each thing, and so many items off of your friend's baby registry is sure to be discontinued by the time you get there, even if she just registered a few weeks ago.

I was in there yesterday trying to buy my friend's gift. The idea was to buy one big ticket item (her high chair) plus her baby tub filled with lots of the small stuff that no one had bought yet. Boy was it frustrating! I figured out their numbered/color coded system pretty quickly, but you would think the aisles are in order of number right? Wrong. The infant care aisle 2 was next to 15, and it just got worse from there. At one point I was looking for a 3 pack of burping towels (happy I don't have kids jsut yet) and my friend had registered for some by koala baby with little bears on them. Of course they were not in the section with all the other burp cloths. Nope, they were with all the bibs. What gives? When I was frantically searching for the aforementioned burp cloths I got so frustrated that I just stood there and seriously almost started crying.

Anyway, I got it done in less than 1 hour... only about 58 minutes haha. I decided that since she is having a boy and she LOVES cupcakes I am going to make vanilla cupcakes with a raspberry blackberry mascarpone filling, in cute ducky cupcake liners with more of the filling on top and a little ducky icing decoration on that. Really cute I think, but with adult flavors. I will post pics when I make them! The plan is to make the cupcakes tomorrow, and while they bake I will wrap up the presents (I will post that too) and then on Sunday morning before the party I will fill and ice the adorable little cuppy cakesss.

Help! Dessert idea?

2008-08-20T13:23:00.001-04:00

I need to make a fun dessert for my friend's baby shower this weekend! Something not too too difficult, but nothing plain like brownies. I want to impress! Maybe something in a mini form since it's a BABY shower?

Ideas please!

Grocery store shopping

2008-08-19T16:15:00.004-04:00

I have been trying to spend less money at the store each week, especially since I end up throwing away a lot of fresh produce, or not having room for boxes of snacks etc. I started a few weeks ago and now spend less than half of what I used to spend ($75/week). I guess my eyes were always bigger than my stomach!

Now I spend between $20-30 buying mostly organic stuff, but even the regular fruits and veggies are more expensive than in other places.. for example our bananas last night were $1.19/lb, and I read on a blog that someone just bought some from WHOLE FOODS for $0.39/lb. where is this magical place? I will add that my goal is to spend <$30 for Monday-Friday because it is simply too hard for me to buy food for the weekends with my love PB in my life.. although I HAVE been known to stick a half used package of english muffins in my travel bag hahaha

Anyway, here are my tips:

1. Think out your meals in advance and try to use the same few items to make a few different meals for the week.
For example, last night I had pasta with ground turkey, artichoke hearts (from pantry) and sundried tomatoes (pantry) with a teeny sprinkle of feta cheese. Today for dinner I am making mini turkey, spinach (from freezer) and feta burgers on mini bagels with a sliced tomato. In only 2 days I already have found uses for the ground turkey I bought and the feta as well. Tomorrow for dinner I will probably make a turkey version of KEFTA, baked ground meat with onions + parsley, topped with sliced tomatoes. Then I will be done with the package of ground turkey without wasting it all or having to eat the same meal a few days in a row.

2. Don't be afraid to freeze food!
I made a batch of brownies last week as my cousin had her boyfriend over for dinner, but two girls can't eat a whole batch themselves (well, usually) so I just froze the rest in single serving portions that I will take out when the craving strikes. This leads me to my next point...

3. If a food you eat OFTEN is on sale, buy a few!
When the english muffins are buy 1 get 1 free I obviously take my free package, but there is no way I can eat 2 packages before they go bad so I simply freeze the second package! Works like a charm.

If you have any other tips, please feel free to share them with me!

Our Engagement Party! Part III

2008-08-18T10:56:00.003-04:00

The blessing of the rings ceremony (at the beginning of the night. It makes our engagement official in the church)

PB dancing with the group

My Rhodey girls!!

PB and I... loveeee

Our Engagement Party! Part II:: The Fun!

2008-08-18T10:55:00.003-04:00

The boys singing "my my myyyyyyy Sabrinaaaaaa"

Men's dance

PB + Best man singing (or pretending to sing actually)

PB and I dancing

The best man and I dancing during the vodka dance

Our Engagement Party! Part I: The Decor

2008-08-18T10:54:00.002-04:00

Appetizer table

The bars

Table decor

Homemade love cocktail napkins

Farro with Zucchini, beans and tomato

2008-08-10T19:19:00.003-04:00

Tonight I made a nice farro dish. Farro is a grain that is similar in texture to barley, but looks more like spelt. It is used primarily in Italy (I think), but it is now easy to find in most health food or international markets.

It is super easy to cook with, and while it is as versatile as rice, it is also much nicer in texture.. chewy, nutty, and just amazing.

Here's what I made with it tonight:

Farro with zucchini, beans and tomato
serves 4 (~300 calories/serving)

Ingredients:
200 g farro
1 medium zucchini, chopped and lightly sauteed
1/2 large tomato, diced
100 g cannellini beans
100 g red kidney beans
a bit of fresh basil
2 tbs olive oil
s + p

Cook the farro as per the instructions (about 40 minutes total between the soaking time and the simmering time). In the meantime, prep your veggies and beans.

When the farro is done, toss it with all of the other ingredients. THAT'S IT. It is really that simple. I enjoy it both warm, at room temp, and out of the fridge. The way I cooked it tonight it is really light, but if you want to make it even better, add some feta cheese, grated parmigiano, or fresh mozzarella.

It is a great recipe to make in the summertime when you want to load up on all of summer's best vegetables but don't feel like staying in the kitchen too long.

Enjoy!

My love for Nutella will never end.

2008-08-08T13:49:00.002-04:00

For our one year anniversary/backwards anniversary PB gave me some gorgeous flowers and a jar of Nutella. He sure does know how to win me over!

Anyway, I am kind of stressed out/tired/feel like I am getting a cold so I decided to cheer myself up with this:

P.S. Yes, that's my desk, and yes, I do have a huge ipod player taking up half the space haha

My ring!

2008-08-05T12:38:00.002-04:00

Just used my iphone to take a pic of my ring (which has been resting on my finger for a good three months now!!!)!!

iPhone

2008-08-05T11:23:00.002-04:00

GOT MY IPHONE!
GOT MY IPHONE!
GOT MY IPHONE!
GOT MY IPHONE!

mwah!

I am really excited, can you tell? It is probably the coolest little gadgety thing I've ever had (I'm usually not into such things)... and I am in lovvvvveee.

And without further ado, the wedding song so far...

BOUGHT MY DRESS!
BOUGHT MY DRESS!
BOUGHT MY DRESS!
BOUGHT MY DRESS!
PICKED THE FLOWERS!
PICKED THE FLOWERS!
PICKED THE FLOWERS!
PICKED THE FLOWERS!
GOT MY IPHONE!
GOT MY IPHONE!
GOT MY IPHONE!
GOT MY IPHONE!
LOVE MY PENGUIN!
LOVE MY PENGUIN!
LOVE MY PENGUIN!
LOVE MY PENGUIN!

When I get really excited about the wedding I start singing this song... and there is a little jumpy dance to go along with it too, but I won't make you suffer through a video of that, it's a little crazy I'll admit.

The last of being a wing-girl, drinking like there's no tomorrow, and meeting weird guys.

2008-08-01T13:27:00.002-04:00

Today I gave away the last of my independent, pre-PhillyBoy life. After college I started going out on a schedule... Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays. Like clockwork. My girl "LetUsLove" aka Looly and I had our scene, and we loved it.. Sometimes our petite friend would come down from Mass and join us, and sometimes she opted to hang with her bf (ironically, also known as PB). Those were some great times, some scary times, but mostly, fun and carefree!

While I still hang with my girls and have a blast, things have changed. I am getting married and therefore there is no more flirting, giving away my number, or partying until the wee morning hours. I am really happy about this.

I am not, however, happy about giving away my V.I.P. card.

A really interesting place downtown charges a $10 entrance fee, and being the punks we are we, never usually stay more than one hour and therefore HATE paying to get in. Since I knew the owners they gave me a VIP card that gets me and a friend in for free, and into the VIP area as well. I loved this card. It is the one thing besides my license that always made it into any purse, and I loved the cute zebra motif on it (srsly).

Anyway... back to the point. Today, I relinquished that card to my friend Hubbs. She isn't single either, but since I am moving to Philadelphia soon (< than a year.. eep!) I really have no need for it anymore.

Au revoire VIP card!

Strategy is Everything.

2008-07-30T09:19:00.002-04:00

I have a chapstick strategy. I bet you are all jealous.

There is a chapstick in every prime location in my life. by my bed, at my desk, in my wallet, in my toothbrush drawer, in my fiance's bedside drawer, all the primo locations! That way I never have to suffer through the discomfort of chapped lips.

jealous yet?

What's in my fridge?

2008-07-29T15:07:00.002-04:00

Yesterday after work I bought the following from Stop&Shop to have for meals for the week:

2 ears of corn
1 eggplant
1 zucchini grilled (by me yest)
1 package wrap-itz whole wheat tortillas
1/2 lb sliced mozz cheese
1 red pepper grilled
1/2 bag leftover lettuce
leftover carton of eggs
1 loaf of pump rye bread
2 english cucumbers
1 package light multigrain english muffins
1 sweet potato
1 can black beans
lite syrup
1 package of kashi waffles (never had them before)
1 small container strawberries
3 single serving yogurts (1 vanilla chobani, 1 plain chobani, and 1 vanilla stonyfield farms)
4 bananas

In house I have oatmeal, pb, 2 small potatoes, 1/2 box of Kashi Mightybites and some other stuff that a pantry might have. Actually, all my cabinets are full right now, but I guess I don't make use of everything often enough.

How much do u spend on groceries/week? My new goal is going to be < $50 for ALL food from monday-friday including dinners out with my friends, but excluding Friday night dinner. the grocery shop above came to $39 and it is more than enough food for me, and I can even have friends over for dinner if I like (I think I overbought. I blame my hungry belly at the time).

Any tips on maximizing my $$ at the market? I always overbuy and underuse.

The weekend of weddings

2008-07-29T12:57:00.004-04:00

This weekend PB and I went to TWO weekends, hence, the weekend of weddings. Both were super fun and very different! Here are a few pics of us!

Saturday's Wedding in Manhattan

Sunday's Wedding in Fair Lawn, NJ (please forgive the frizzy hair + shadows)

at the end of the summer I might do a post with a pic from each of the weddings we've been to this year, just to show how crazy it is!!!! PB's group of friends is just at the end of the marriage stage, and my friends are just started, so it is weddings, weddings, weddings! So fun!

Congrats to all!!!

Zucchini Panino

2008-07-28T21:59:00.002-04:00

Fact: Panino = 1 sandwich, panini = more than one sandwich

I was craving veggies + good bread so I decided to make a simple Zucchini paninO for dinner tonight, and boy did it hit the spot! Here's the easy peasy recipe:

Zucchini Panino
serves 2

Ingredients:
1/2 zucchini, sliced lengthwise
2 oz sliced mozzarella
4 pieces of your favorite hearty rye bread (like the kind PB buys me in PHL)
olive oil or olive oil spray

Directions:
Heat your panini maker (pm).
When warm, spray the pm lightly with olive oil.
Grill the zucchini slices for about 3 minutes total (3 minutes each side if you are using a regular grill).
Take the zucchini off the pm and put aside.
Spray the pm again with olive oil.
Assemble your sandwiches (1 slice of mozz and half the zucchini on each).
Put on the pm and grill for about 5 minutes until the cheese is nice and melty and the panino has those nice grill marks.
Put on a plate, slice in half, and enjoy!!!!

Yum! I had mine with 1/2 a serving of terra chips and a sliced cucumber on the side. it was amazing.

Happy Anniversary (Backwards!!!)

2008-07-25T11:40:00.001-04:00

Exactly one year from now PhillyBoy and I are getting married! Yah! I am so excited!!

These are the things we have decided so far...

Life:
-I am moving to Philadelphia!!! Not sure about work yet, but I will still work for my dad for a few months until the office can run smoothly without me. It's not easy to lose 1 employee when you have less than 10!!!!
-We redid his(our) bathrooms! pics to come soon, I swear!!!
-I joined PB's church. My grandfather is a minister but his church doesn't really exist in the U.S. and PB is really involved in his so I was confirmed there 2 weekends ago!
-We are in love, we respect each other, we have very similar values. I can't wait to be his wife!

Wedding Details:
-Future Husband: Booked! And he's amazing.
-Ceremony: Booked! And it's a perty church too!!
-Officiant: Booked! the bishop from D.C. he's awesome!
-Venue: Booked!!! The Westin, baby!
-Flowers: Booked! Flowers by Semia. She is freakin incredible
-Band: Booked! Well, sort of. PB has the details worked out.
-DJ: No idea, but we don't want someone expensive, he will just be a filler for when the band is taking a break or we want a slow song!
-Dress: I bought it!!!!!!! Priscilla of Boston, and I'm in love.
-Bridesmaids' dresses: Picked, and they are coming with me to Boston in a few weeks to try them on and order yah!
-Photographer: Booked! LifeFusion. Marina and her husband did my brother's wedding and they were oh-so-incredible!
-Videographer: We have no idea yet. Someone cheap, yet efficient preferably.
-Engagement party: in a few weeks! Hosted by our parents, but planned by us. A little more work than I would have wanted, but I am psyched!
-Tuxes: No idea, but I just bought PB one yesterday so if it fits he might wear that!!! Gotta love SYMS!
-Wedding guest list: errrr, let's not go there just yet.
-Jewelry: I hope to wear some of my mom's jewelry to have something of hers on me. Semia suggested putting a piece in my bouquet as well, and I think I really want to do that. Any way to remember my mom will make me feel better I think.

I am really excited to marry PB and start our lives together. The wedding is just the topping on the cake (which, by the way, we are NOT having).

Funny Things My Dad Says

2008-07-23T15:53:00.000-04:00

My dad said:
"And they put their foot to the wall!"

He meant:
"He put his foot down!"

My dad said:
"square and fair"

He meant:
"fair and square"

My dad said:
"Anybody have anything that could go into the throat?"

He meant:
"Does anyone have any snacks?"

That last one is my favorite, for sure.

He is not from this country, can you tell? :)

Snacks

2008-07-23T15:14:00.000-04:00

If I eat a snack I wasn't planning on do I have to count it?

Because, er, I don't.

Thanks for the (unplanned) biscotti + iced coffee PB!!!

Wedding Florist

2008-07-22T15:39:00.000-04:00

So PB and I met with a florist last weekend to discuss our ideas for the wedding decor and such and let me tell you: I AM SO EXCITED!

I haven't been too in love with anything yet (we are getting married at a specific hotel only because of its capacity and location and not because we LOVE the venue). But. I am extremely excited to work with our florist. I hope that everything pans out with her and that the "vision" or whatever comes to fruition because in my head it is going to be so pretty!

And! It is a really big sign that PB is really happy about it too. And it is awesome that she was willing to rethink our quote to make it less expensive.

And... I am happy! :)

Greenheads

2008-07-21T15:28:00.000-04:00

from http://www.brigantinerowingclub.org/Misc_home/greenhead.html

"Moving and dark objects are most often attacked."

I guess having tan skin + dancing around the pool = greenheads' favorite meal.

I know bugs are hungry, but why must they eat ME?!?!?

2008-07-21T11:12:00.001-04:00

Had a great weekend by the shore with PB and my friends Hubbs and John (and PB's friends too!!)

However, I came home miserable. Why's that? Well, after a great 60 minutes by the pool (no time for the beach on Sunday), I went inside to find myself COVERED in bug bites. My friends? They had None.

I guess I must have the tastiest blood? Anyway, it was even worse all night. I didn't sleep and when I woke up my thigh looked scarily huge. I thought it might be from all the ice cream. kidding. those stupid bites swelled to crazy proportions.

I called my doc and what did she do? Prescribed serious steroids. I can't take those for some greenhead bites!!! So I am sitting here at work, suffering. BTW- what are greenheads anyway? Anyone know the technical term?

Major grouch today grr.

P.S. my flight from PHL-PVD was on time today, however I got a nice cup of hot tea this morning in the airport, put it down for one second, and spilled the entire thing. All over my dress. And my feet.

HAPPY ONE YEAR!

2008-07-18T15:13:00.001-04:00

Today is PB and my "official" one year anniversary... here is how this date became ours...

I was on my way to Greece with my girlfriends and while on the plane PB and I were texting back and forth...He had just left Providence from visiting me for the night. This is the convo we had (I hope PB doesn't kill me for posting this!!!):

Wed July 18th
Sabrina (aka RhodeyGirl)(2:14pm): U made it?
PB(2:21pm): Yeah sweetie. Literally just landed.
PB(3:03pm): They lost my bags – f****ing US Airways.
Sabrina (3:05pm): No you're kidding! Did they find them?
PB(3:07pm): I am in their office now – nothing even came off the belt from my flight – I swear, these people are messed up.
Sabrina (3:08pm): No one got their bags?
PB(3:10pm): Other people did – they think because the flight is full mine got put on the next flight.
Sabrina (3:11pm): Oh no I'm sorry sweetie. I hate incompetent peeps. If no no liquid law u could have brought as carry on.
PB(3:12pm): I Needed to smell good for my special friend.
Sabrina (3:13pm): Maybe we need a better term than special friend.
PB(3:14pm): ☺ We do. What did you have in mind?
Sabrina (3:16pm): ???? ☺
PB(3:16pm): Ha ha no ideas?
Sabrina (3:17pm): I have one…
PB(3:18pm): I wanna hear…
Sabrina (3:20pm): I'm shy.
PB(3:21pm): That's ok ☺ You are making me smile – cause I feel like we are thinking the same thing.
Sabrina (3:24pm): Is it rushing too much?
PB(3:28pm): If you feel rushed, I don't want that. But I know how we feel when we are together – and that no one else is on my mind. I don't want you to rush anything. I feel so secure with us – the title thing didn't really weigh on me.
PB(3:32pm): But to give you a short easy answer – I personally don't feel rushed. I want you to feel secure that you have me to yourself. ☺
Sabrina (3:32pm): I want you to be mine.
PB(3:34pm): I want you to be mine too. It excites me more than it makes me nervous and it makes me smile. And I don't feel that way very often.
Sabrina (3:34pm): So?
PB(3:35pm): So you want an Armenian with a baseball booty to be your boyfriend?
Sabrina (3:36pm): Yes. You. Is that ok with you?
PB(3:38pm): Yes – more than ok. I'm honored and so happy. This has been so easy – and such an incredible surprise in my life.
Sabrina (3:39pm): I agree! I just got butterflies. Haha
PB(3:40pm): Do you know how happy you made me? This is surreal!
PB(3:41pm): I am waiting to wake up! haha

Ahhhh just reading that over again makes me fall in love even more!! I was so shy (totally not me) and we were just so... young haha. Is that weird because it was only a year ago????

Anyway, happy 1 year PB, I can't wait to marry you! (in one year and 1 week, exactly)

Rolls with Jam aka Crepes aka "omlette"

2008-07-18T08:41:00.000-04:00

Growing up my brother and I (and my cousins) always begged my nonna and/or mom and auntie to make us "rolls with jam". They were our FAVORITE and seemed so special because they would make them out of a few simple ingredients in just a few minutes. Nonna always rationed them out to us (2/kid) so that my brother could have the majority of them (like, at least 6) since they were his ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. Nonna calls them "omLETTE" and we always called them rolls with jam. I made them recently for my fiance's friends randomly one night and they kept raving about them and saying they understood why he was marrying an Italian girl (and running so much to burn it off haha- 4 people ate a double batch in about 5 minutes!!!!).

Here's the basic recipe:

Rolls with jam
(yields: 4 huge or 8 medium ones)

Ingredients:
4 heaping tablespoons of flour
2 flat tablespoons of sugar
1 egg
pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of lemon zest
"approximately" 1/2 cup milk (add as needed to reach the right consistency)
butter for frying
powder sugar to decorate

Filling:
apricot jam, or Nutella

Directions

* Mix all ingredients in bowl
* Heat non-stick skillet to medium-high heat
* Melt butter in pan (1/3 teaspoon for each roll, just enough to spread in pan)
* Pour an almost full ladle of batter into the frying pan and immediately swirl the pan to cover the entire surface evenly with batter
* Cook until edges loosen and bubbling begins (approximately 45 sec.-1minute- the edges will turn up)
* Flip. After about 30 seconds remove from pan and spread a thin layer of jam or Nutella over one half and roll up
* Sprinkle with powdered sugar
* Finally, eat as many as you can :)

Tips:
- The batter should be realllly thin. Add enough milk to reach that consistency.
- If you like things a little sweeter you can add a capful of vanilla extract
- Don't worry about the first couple looking not right... for some reason the first ones are always yucky!
- If you don't want to use butter use SOMETHING (Smart Balance, etc) because it makes the crepe brown nicely and helps the batter to be distributed evenly (slick pan)
- Any kind of milk you have in your fridge is fine.
- Don't be afraid to adjust the batter after you see the first couple cook.. I usually add a little more milk if the crepe looks a little flat.
- Don't add too much batter to the pan. One small ladle is enough- you want these to be really thin!

My favorite classic combos:
1. Low sugar apricot jam (it has little bits of peel in it and is just amazing)
2. Nutella + banana slices
3. Nutella on its own
4. Orange marmalade
5. Strawberry preserves (not my favorite at all).

These really make a big statement when stacked next to each other on a nice tray and sprinkled with powdered sugar.. your guests are sure to love them!!!

Good luck, and enjoy!

My motivation is back....

2008-07-16T11:12:00.000-04:00

lifestyle

I can't decide if it's the fact that I got injured or that PB and I got engaged, but I lost my motivation for quite a while there (engagement + injury happened the same weekend).. No, I did not gain any weight, but I didn't lose any either. I have been hovering around the same place, but I just feel... *icky*. I feel so much better when I eat really well and exercise at least 4 days a week for an hour each time. So, that's what I am going to do. If I lose any weight in the process, it will just be a bonus.

It seems that once I am on a roll I can stay that way, but once I skip a workout or eat a little too much dessert I fall into this habit of skipping workouts and eating desserts.

The tips are simple and straightforward:
1. eat what makes me feel good (yes, maybe a chocolate once in a while but I feel so much better with lots of fruits and veggies!)
2. Drink lots of water
3. Do some fun activity (running/kickboxing/etc) a minimum of 4 times a week, including 1 hardcore circuit.

The ultimate goals....

I have lost 10 lbs since February (going from a size 8 to a 4/6) but I would like to be a solid, loose 4. I know that numbers don't count and yadda yadda, but can't I have a goal? I know that if I lose about 5-7 lbs from where I am I will be at a weight that I will want to maintain for life.

Also, I would like to be able to run 3 miles with PB at HIS pace without having a near heart attack.

And last.. like KellyT (thanks for the inspiration), I would LOVE to be able to do on, solid pullup. I am close to it (I can do a few with the "help" on a 3) but not quite there yet.

I know just a few days of this will make me feel superb, and I can't wait to get there and then keep it going!

In other news...

celebrations

PB and I are celebrating our engagement in exactly 1 month from today in Philadelphia! I am super excited! I have a really pretty dress (still need shoes) and as of right now about 93 people have RSVPed yes! It is going to be a blast! Our friends are DJing it and we are renting a margarita machine to go alone with our lemon/lime look. It has been such fun planning it (no stress as it's just the engagement party) and I can't wait! I bought the cutest stamp that says "all you need is love" in this cute writing and I stamped all of the cocktail napkins with is. Also I bought pretty citrus orange and lime green fabric ribbon in cute designs and PB and I tied them around the silverware (clear plastic) and big yellow dinner napkins. After the party I will post pics for sure!!!!

life with PB

PB has been here since Friday and is here until tomorrow afternoon, then I fly down with some friends on Friday to go to the shore for the weekend which = the first time we will have spent an entire week together (7 days in a row). It is so fun!!!! Last night we went to the market, he worked at home while I cooked, we had a nice dinner, watched some tv and did engagement party stuff. It is so cool to get to see him like that!!! I can't wait to be married.

A surprise ruined

2008-07-10T09:04:00.000-04:00

I couldn't mention it on here because PB reads, BUT... I was PLANNING on surprising him in Philly yesterday for dinner, then flying back in the morning.

I bet you think I am going to rave about how fun it was to surprise him and yadda yadda, but it did not happen. I got to the airport and all was well. My hair was blowdried nicely, I was wearing a cute dress, and I had his gifts. Then the delays began, due to weather in Philly. First a one hour delay, then 2... still I waited. I thought better a quick dinner than none. Finally we boarded the plane, and took a tour of the tarmac... go to ANOTHER gate, and get told to get off the plane as we won't be leaving yet. Wait another hour when they say it will be two more hours for an update, not even a departure time. That's when I started crying in front of the flight attendants. How mortifying. I called my dad, and he picked me up. And thank goodness I did.

Late last night I called SW just to find out what happened to that flight (as I was so devastated that I couldn't surprise my boy!). Turns out they took off and then the weather was so bad and the airport so backed up that they had to go straight to Pittsburgh, leaving the Philly passengers stuck until this morning. Therefore, I made the right decision to go home.

At least I tried. :(

Happy Birthday PhillyBoy!!!

2008-07-09T08:53:00.001-04:00

PB turns 29 today!! Happy Birthday! I love you!

Turning into my mom (it's a good thing)

2008-07-02T16:18:00.001-04:00

I just wrote a whole long post about my mom, decided it would make me too sad to reread later, and deleted it.

Instead, I will tell you the story of how my parents met!

My auntie Daniela was dating my Amo (arabic for Uncle) Victor. Victor lived in the states while Daniela lived in Trieste, Italy. He wanted my aunt to meet him in Milano for a couple of days while he was on business, but she wasn't allowed to go unless she brought my mom (Alessandra). So! Victor decided to bring one of his brothers with him to keep my mom company (plus my dad needed some new Italian suits!). The day the sisters were to arrive, my dad (victor's brother) was getting a haircut in the hotel salon. He saw a beautiful woman with long blonde hair walk in, and he said to himself "if that is the woman I have to entertain for the next few days, I am going to marry her!"

Anyway, that night he discovered that it was, in fact, her!! They hit it off immediately. At the end of the evening my dad wanted to keep talking to my mom to get to know her, so he asked my aunt if he could take my mom out to a cafe down the street. My aunt said NO! There was a bar in the hotel and so she told him that they could sit right there and talk as long as they wanted. So they did. By the end of the night they were in love and wanted to get married. I am not joking.

The next day my dad bought my mom a promise ring. They were all walking around and my mom pointed to a ring, saying it was beautiful, and my dad went in and bought it for her. I still have it. They extended their trip a few more days, and always said it was the most magical week all four of them have ever had.

It truly was a story of love at first sight.

MY DRESS!

2008-06-27T08:05:00.000-04:00

What did you think I was going to POST A PICTURE OF IT?!? No way!! PB reads this, guys!!

But, I FOUND MY DRESS!

Went shopping with my aunt (my mom's sister), my nonna, and my aunt who is in town and leaving today. We had two appointments to try on dress, and we went to the nicer place first. I took three dresses into the room, and the first one I tired on was the perfect one. I never thought I would be sappy or girly and be giggly about my dress, but seriously, I am!!! I love it so much!!! It is so so so so beautiful!

AND we found the bridesmaids dresses too! And since we are buying everything there we are getting a 15% discount on them!

I can't wait to marry PB in that dress, party all night, and then live happily ever after!

Contractor Communication

2008-06-26T08:43:00.001-04:00

Is there any point to talking to our contractor every day if I can't understand what he is saying? It has been a hard few weeks trying to design PB's bathrooms(one day mine too) for the big renovation project. Anyway, we are now almost at the finish line for the guest bathroom (all that's left is tiling, grouting, adding light fixtures and other fixtures) and so the contractor and I have become bff's.

It's 8:44 AM and he just called me to tell me the grout color I picked (online, without seeing it or comparing it to the tile in person) is not only a teeny bit yellow but is a special order so he will buy a different one if that's ok? That's all I understood. The conversation lasted a solid 5-7 minutes and that was all I could deduce!

Why is it then that I insist on trying to be assertive and in control? I could tell he was asking my opinion on something so I clearly and strongly said "Sounds great. Why don't you do that" but in reality I have no idea what he said!

Anyway, this is the project so far...

before:

midway through the project:

you really can't tell what's going on but I can haha! the before pic is the inside of the shower (ewwwwwwwwwwwww) and the second pic is the new tiling before grout and before painting the wall beside it. Monday I am going to post the final before and after pics for your pleasure!

and a pic of Miami, just for fun. I like to call this picture "windy hair"

Sabrina's in Philly

2008-06-23T09:47:00.000-04:00

Well, I just got back from another weekend with PB in Philly, and boy did we have a blast! We had another fabulous weekend together, but that story is for another day!!

Today I ask... Have you ever had such a delicious meal that you can't stop thinking about it afterwards?!?!

On Saturday PB and I got up super early and he took me to Sabrina's in South Philly. This place serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but is most well known for its breakfast! We got there right before the morning rush (which is the reason we woke up early!). I ordered whole wheat pancakes (yep, you read that right!) with strawberries and bananas and a small fruit cup on the side. The pancakes were AMAZING. Seriously the BEST pancakes I have ever had! I begged PB to take me again on Sunday but he told me too much of a good thing will ruin it for us. waaaa! Therefore, we made a deal to go back THIS Saturday! I can't wait!!

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Weird-o

2008-06-20T08:38:00.000-04:00

So, I work for my family. It's my dad's business, and all but 2 employees are family. Our office is an old bank that my dad bought years ago, and it is not some huge space. It is about the size of a pharmacy store (but 2 floors so twice the size). We all work as a team sort of, and we kind of just ask questions out loud as we chug along since we work in an open space.

That being said, why is it that I always have to bring my cell phone with me when I go down to the restroom? If I ever forget it I get this sick feeling in my stomach like something bad is going to happen. Am I scared of the lower floor monsters? Am I scared I might pass out in the bathroom? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

Am I the only one that has such weird, unbreakable habits?

Engagement Party plans updated

2008-06-18T13:10:00.000-04:00

church hall- booked
caterer- booked
app + dessert menu- still to be finalized
dinner- finalized
music- booked dj
centerpieces- lemons + limes in Anne's vases
tablecloths- borrowing
margarita machine- BOOKEd!
invitations- mailed out
dress- BOUGHT! yay!
shoes- still need
flight down and back- booked
disposables- ordered
alcohol- still to be bought and finalized
waiters/bartenders- lined up
transport for my family from hotel- arranged

it's going to be so fun! we have pretty much done everything we can do up to this point!

bathroom renovations started yesterday at PB's condo.
doing our registry this sat. fun stuff.
other wedding stuff- waiting for response from westin for contract!

When I knew PB was The One

2008-06-17T07:42:00.000-04:00

Last summer I went to Greece with my girlfriends... it was only a month after PB and I met, and he sent me off with a nice bag full of snacks, books, and a journal. I wrote all about my trip in that journal and when I am in the mood to write I still use it....

On that trip on July 23, 3007 I wrote this:

"I can't get (PB) out of my head. I really like him and I know it might be crazy to say this but I think he might be the One. I can seriously see a future with him, and my heart smiles just thinking about him."

And now I spend my days thinking about our wedding and our future together....

Crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy!

We met one year ago today...

2008-06-16T10:47:00.000-04:00

Happy Anniversary Nadine + Dave! Thank you for inviting both PB and I to your wedding so we could meet!!! Best day of my life. I will never forget your anniversary!

Today marks exactly one year that PB and I have known one another! Yay! I am so happy!

What a difference a year makes

2008-06-11T08:52:00.000-04:00

July 2007, in Greece

June 2008, in Providence

More exercise, better food choices, love, and sleep have helped me lose > 10 lbs!

Donations!

2008-06-10T11:00:00.000-04:00

Want to make a donation to a worthy cause but are tight on money? (and therefore want to get something else out of it besides the good feeling of helping someone?) There are lots of charities that help you do that!

My favorite is for the Special Olympics of Rhode Island, to which I make a donation every year. I LOVE magazines but I always feel guilty subscribing to them. The Special Olympics of R.I. sells magazine subscriptions at a very low rate, and 12.5% of the cost goes to helping them train! Last year alone they raised $7,000!

Anyway, I just signed up for Cooking Light and National Geographic. I would have spent that $79.90 on something else anyway, so might as well let part of that go to helping my fellow Rhode Islanders!

I encourage all you magazine subscribers to do something similar! You get a great rate, PLUS some of your money helps some organization (google your local area for groups that are involved in this.. I googled "donation + magazine + subscription" and got lots of hits for different charities!)

Follow up to Monday, May 19th.

2008-06-09T23:38:00.000-04:00

On May 19th I wrote about my goals... here they were:

1. only eat when hungry
2. choose the healthy stuff
3. no mindless snacking (which started up after my injury- annoying)
4. Plan ahead!
5. Get enough rest
6. Listen to PB and actually take care of my ankle i.e. ice it, elevate it etc..

How am I doing following them? Not bad actually! I am choosing the healthy stuff but not being afraid to have the junk when I know it is all that will satisfy me. The mindless snacking has completely stopped (thank goodness). I am still having a tough time resting enough and planning ahead- I think after this last crazy week I will begin to do better though!

It has been almost 5 weeks since I fell and hurt my ankle, and I haven't gained a pound. Boy, does that feel good! I have also stopped counting calories for a bit to see how I do listening to my body in a normal, natural way. So far, so good! I felt a little yucky last week but that was just because I had too much fun in Miami!

Other stuff..
1. My dance studio is doing a company show in March, and I want PB to do a salsa number with me!! What can I do to convince him to do it?!?! (he is an AMAZING dancer!!)

2. My air conditioning in my condo is working again. A lot of cities in RI are canceling school tomorrow because the temps are supposed to reach 108 degrees!

3. Work is super busy and I have to leave early all week for dance recitals and I feel really bad.

4. I haven't been to the grocery store in about 3.5 weeks besides to run in for one or two ingredients. NEED TO SHOP!

5. I picked a date to go wedding dress shopping!!!! PB's mom and sister and my aunt and moh are going to take me in july!!! (everyone but my aunt lives out of state). I am really excited!

6. I am feeling really positive about my body now that my ankle is starting to feel a bit better. I can't wait for it to fully heal!

7. All of the food/exercise/healthy living blogs inspire me every single day, and for that I thank you all!

8. I have nothing else to say. time for beddddd!!!!!!!

The Saga of the Ankle

2008-06-09T13:32:00.000-04:00

I think that the sadness I was feeling over my injured ankle has finally passed. It is still too soon to run or dance (wa, wa), but at LEAST I can (mostly) wear high heels, and I can do the elliptical without wanting to scream.

It is still pretty swollen and is not going down at all, but again, I am lucky to be able to walk and do the elliptical and wear cute shoes!

That's the latest update. I can't wait til I can run and swim again, hopefully soon...

and Wedding Season begins...

2008-06-09T08:59:00.000-04:00

Friday was my cousin's wedding! We all had an AMAZING time! Here are a few pics:

my maid of honor (cousin) and I!!!

the bride and groom!!!

PB and I!

PB and I being silly :)

The cousins!!!

The weddings to come are:
6/14 Bri's wedding in upstate NY
6/28 Kristine's wedding in PHL
7/26 Jim's wedding in NY
7/27 Garen's wedding in PHL
8/16: OUR ENGAGEMENT PARTY IN PHL!!!
8/30: Amir's wedding in ?

That plus all the bridal showers, bachelorette parties, beach parties, wedding planning, PB + RG family meetings (our dads have met but now it is time for everyone else to meet!!!), bathroom renovations, life planning, etc etc etc is going to = a busy summer!! I am SO EXCITED THOUGH!

Then this fall is KC's wedding and Julie's too!! I can't wait!

Did I mention I am seriously in love with PB?!? We had such a fun weekend!!!!

Does $13 water really taste better?

2008-06-02T08:27:00.000-04:00

I just got back from Miami!!!!! What a fun week Mzoof (best girlfriend) and I had!!

I am too busy to post a long blog about it, but a few things to note:

1. water by the pool cost $13 a bottle- did it taste better? I think not.
2. Miami looks much cooler in the movies than in person. It was a little dirty!
3. Famous people can be really stuck up/feel entitled (i.e. the old folks that took our table!!!!!)
4. Dinner at Opa (the Greek restaurant) might have been the most entertaining and fun dinner I have ever had- all due to the environment! Dancing on tables? Belly dancers? a DJ while you eat? pitchers of sangria? it was a GREAT time!
5. "Luxury Suite" in Miami does not = the same thing it does elsewhere in the world. Read: tiny
6. Our hotel was hopping! We stayed at the Shore Club, and it was a party every day and night!

A few health things to note:
I wore spf 30 on my body and 55 on my face at all times, and yet still am noticeably bronze and golden! We even took before and after pics to prove it haha! Sunshine really does a body good. I feel refreshed and relaxed.
I am currently reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It is really informative and inspiring. It has pretty much changed my life. Where can I find local, organic, produce + meat around here?!?! Whole Foods has a few options, but I wonder where the best Saturday morning farmer's market is?! Going to have to start searching! It is so true that we have forgotten about seasons- it is really strange to be able to have fresh asparagus all year round and strawberries etc etc etc- those veggies and fruits waste a lotttt of fuel and contain a lot more chemicals to keep them "fresh" than we think. More on all this later, I am only on page 80 in the book haha!

Last:
Absence really makes the heart grow fonder. I miss my PhillyBoy so much that my heart aches. We officially met on June 16th last year... so we've known each other for almost a year! I can't wait to see him. It has been 2.5 weeks. WAY. TOO. LONG. I miss him!!!! T-4 days til he arrives for my cousin's wedding! yay!

Pet Peeve.

2008-05-25T18:48:00.000-04:00

I can't STAND grammar errors and poor spelling. It drives me nuts and makes me want to scream!!!!! The things I hate the most....

-when someone does not use AN before words that begin with a vowel. example: A apple and not AN apple... drives me bonkers!!!!

-when someone spells simple words incorrectly over and over and over again! examples: tomatoe, supposably, and many many more

-when someone uses the wrong word because it sounds like another word.. (what is this called?) example: effect vs. affect

In other news, I am having a FABULOUS lazy weekend.. packing for Miami, shopping, lounging and enjoying the sunshine!!!!!

Part 2: wedding vendors stink.

2008-05-23T14:13:00.000-04:00

Luckily I got in touch with the boss at the hotel and everything is going to work out. I sure did panic for a second though!!!! She is going to meet with us the next time PB is in town, and I am going to email her some of my notes on what we want before then.

Fwew. I feel better!

In other news, I have been eating dinner earlier lately and as a result I am famished when I wake up! I had my lunch at 11:30 today!!!! so funny.

Wedding vendors stink

2008-05-22T09:24:00.000-04:00

Woah. So it's been 12 days since the girl at the hotel where our reception is has replied to my emails, and I had this bad feeling in my tummy. I called them, and the girl we were working with DOES NOT WORK THERE ANYMORE! oh. my. goodness. So no one has been receiving my emails and we are waiting right now to make sure they held the date for us still since we hadn't signed any contracts yet! ugh!!! So I am just sitting here waiting.... in suspense. We had already negotiated hardcore with this girl for cheaper prices on everything since we are having 350 people and a breakfast the next morning AND our rehearsal dinner the night before the reception. So now we will probably have to do it all again... as I am sure she did not leave on good terms. Had she left on good terms I am sure she would have emailed us to let us know who would be taking over.

such bs!

Happy Birthday Nonna + Wanie!

2008-05-21T14:42:00.000-04:00

My cousin turned 25 last week, and Nonna turned 86 today!!!!

Aren't they both so beautiful?!

Happy Birthday!!!

Ridding yourself of unneeded sugar.. forever!

2008-05-21T11:42:00.000-04:00

A lot of people I know want to reduce the amount of sugar or sugary things they add to their tea, coffee, and yogurt. But, how? I have a surefire way to get rid of it all!

Story: I used to drink iced coffee extra milk, extra sugar, my hot tea with milk and sugar, and my plain yogurt with lots of honey and mix-ins. Now I drink my iced coffee with a splash of milk and once in a while a splash of sugar free hazelnut syrup, my hot tea completely plain, and my yogurt plain- with fruit, not sugar/splenda/honey etc.

How I did it: It was a bit of a long process, but totally worth it. All it requires is using a little less of the substance (sugar, milk, honey, whatever) until it is down to zero or almost zero. If you do that realllly slowly you will not even notice the difference, and before you know it an iced coffee with extra milk and extra sugar will taste disgustingly creamy and sweet to you!

Example: Hot Tea (since it was the hardest habit for me to break)
When I started drinking tea regularly I drank a cup of it with 2 teaspoons of sugar and whole milk. Below is my progression to tea without anything added in.
Start: 2 tsp sugar and whole milk
then...
-2 tsp sugar and skim milk
-1.5 tsp sugar and less skim milk
-1 tsp sugar and only a splash of skim milk
-.5 tsp sugar and a splash of skim
-2 equals and splash of skim
-1 equal and splash of skim
-1/2 splenda (splenda was new then so I used it) and splash of skim
-1/2 splenda
-NOTHING.

Now if I have sweetened tea it tastes wayyyyy too sweet. However, I will say that with my yogurt once in a while I will add a couple of chocolate chips to make it more decadent.

If I could do it, you can do it too!

Nonna's Diet Tips

2008-05-20T14:57:00.000-04:00

My nonna is like a second mother to me. She is in town from Trieste, Italy. She used to live with my family 6 months out of the year, but now she only comes for a few months at a time... She is turning 86 this week, and doesn't look a day over 70.. seriously. My grandmother is beautiful, strong, independent, and has the most beautiful skin in the world. Also, she has maintained a beautiful figure all these years.. And she doesn't hesitate to tell me how. Nonna is not a fan of all this "dieting". She thinks that it has gotten out of control and she thinks that's why Americans are fat! But that's for another discussion... Today, I would like to share Nonna's diet tips (diet as in how to maintain a healthy, strong, lean body by what you put in your mouth day in and day out for your whole life).

1. Eat everything, but not too much of everything.
2. Don't eat huge meals, but rather eat smaller meals throughout the day.
3. Get up from the table without having a "hard stomach" (hard to translate that word from her dialect)i.e. get up from the table like you could still eat more.
4. Reserve sweets for very special occasions and not as a daily indulgence.
5. Don't be afraid of carbs! Eat something carb heavy at lunch and a protein + veggies for dinner..
6. Don't eat too much cheese. (she thinks cheese should be an indulgence and you should only add a little to your pasta or meal and never just eat it straight up with crackers)

A sample of what Nonna eats in a day:

Breakfast (right when she wakes up):
-Espresso or coffee with milk and no sweetener
-A brioche or crossiant with just a tiny bit of jam to sweeten it

Morning Snack:
-Half an apple with some yogurt (she swears the yogurt makes the apple AMAZING haha)

Lunch:
-80-100 grams of pasta with some kind of sauce and a teeny piece of bread.. examples of sauces are: a small eggplant sauteed with some olive oil and spices, or a baby can of tuna with the oil left in it, or fresh tomatoes sliced with basil, or some homemade tomato sauce with some peppers tossed in, etc.
-Seltzer water

Afternoon Snack:
-the other half of her apple

Dinner:
-a piece of chicken or lamb, or steak, or pork or or or (about 3-4 oz)
-a very large salad with olive oil, salt, and lemon. Sometimes she adds an egg or some artichoke hearts or some other kind of fun addition
-And water, maybe mixed with a little wine

Nonna always emphasizes quantity (not too much) and quality (the best). I find her tips very helpful, and take the fact that she is 86 without a single health issue besides diabetes due to age to be a sign that she must be doing something right!!

**Let me just add a few comments. My grandmother thinks I am beautiful, yet always finds the need to give me diet tips (yet pushes me to eat more haha), and style tips (although I wear my cutest outfits around her haha). She makes me laugh, because those two topics come up in every conversation we have haha. Also, she thinks that on special occasions we SHOULD indulge, because that is the best time to do it- when surrounded by people we love, celebrating something beautiful. And she always believes that one should really enjoy his/her meals, and to therefore eat everything, but in small quantities.

Inspired!

2008-05-19T14:18:00.000-04:00

I am totally inspired by Linz from loveofoats and Chandra from her many names, same blog blog haha!

Since I injured myself after the half marathon I have been nothing but a Moody McGee! Without my daily runs I feel lethargic and always have this weird appetite. I am not hungry but I have this weird feeling in my tummy and I want to eat everything in sight! It is SO WEIRD!

I am going with my best girl friend to Miami in 8 days and I want to feel good and look good- as I had been before my stupid fall at the half marathon!

So my goals starting RIGHT NOW are:

1. only eat when hungry
2. choose the healthy stuff
3. no mindless snacking (which started up after my injury- annoying)
4. Plan ahead!
5. Get enough rest
6. Listen to PB and actually take care of my ankle i.e. ice it, elevate it etc..

Even without the exercise I should be able to keep in shape!!! What's up with this bad eating these last 4 days?! I feel yucky even though I know I am still losing weight! I need my runs!

2 Sardines in a beautiful bed?!

2008-05-19T11:25:00.000-04:00

PB and I are trying to figure out how to decorate his/our condo when I move down there.. I totally LOVE my furniture (and it is much nicer than his- sorry PB) but there is one dilemma...

the bed.

When we get married we will obviously be sharing a bed. And I have a LOVELY bed. But... it is only a FULL. When I was doing my bedroom I didn't think I would have space for a queen and I didn't imagine finding PB, so I just went for the full.

Is that way too small of a bed? Will we be fighting for space and blankets and comfort? Does anyone else sleep 2 to a bed in a full?

We could just buy a new bed, but mine was custom made and I reallllllly love it. If the full is a no go, then it will be demoted to the guest room.

Thoughts?

tapdancingbrain?!?!

2008-05-15T15:11:00.000-04:00

So, PB has decided to really enter the blogging world. I made him change his blog name because he is such an honest and open guy and I wouldn't want just anyone to be able to google him and find him! (Is anyone else as neurotic as I am about this? I think with me it is tough because I will be searching for jobs in a year and the kind that I want won't be too happy to see my blog!!)

Anywayyyyyy... he needs some lovin' and encouragement! Feel free to stop by and say hello!!!

tapdancingbrain.blogspot.com

P.S. Can you tell he loves penguins? and, er, happy feet? What a silly fella!

Annoying little habits...

2008-05-14T14:13:00.001-04:00

My friend H and I went for a little ice cream after searching here and there and everywhere for vases for the engagement party. While perusing the flavor board (chocolate peanut butter frozen yogurt vs. soft serve swirl) we noticed a cute little older couple getting in line behind us... and then slowly creeping forward until they were practically on top of us. As in.. I could feel his breath on my shoulder, smell his breath, if I turned around I would have been able to kiss him on the lips without moving an inch.

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

Have people no sense of space? He and his wife (but mostly he) were TOTALLY invading our personal space area. I understand in the States we have a larger personal space requirement, but, seriously?!?!

It took everything in my power to not freak out.

PB = ???????????????

2008-05-12T14:37:00.000-04:00

PB and I just registered at.... what else? PB! haha!

I normally don't spend money at Pottery Barn because I love too many other stores but I just FELL in love with the Emma Collection there. I have been looking for a classic, beautiful white dinnerware set for a year, and alas, I have found it! And right in time to register! And my PhillyBoy says he loves it too! Hopefully, he is telling the truth!

I just did it online since we won't have time to go use the gun together in the store! Not sure what else we will register for besides the amazing KitchenAid mixer and maybe some linens for the bed and table, and towels. We pretty much have everything we need I think?

We could REALLY use a new bedroom set since his is yucky and old and mine is only a full (we will use mine in the guest room). But... I don't think it is appropriate to register for something like that! way too much $$$ We might end up doing it in the end anyway so we can get the awesome post-event 20% off!!!!

From PB we registered for:
12 dinner plates
12 salad plates
12 soup bowls
12 cereal bowls
12 teacups and saucers
16 mugs (we drink TONS of tea and hot water)
sugar bowl and creamer
teapot
water/iced tea pitcher
salt and pepper shakers
cake stand
serving bowl
fruit bowl
2 serving platters

Are 12 settings too much? Too little? We have TONS of family and I host parties all the time but I think 12 was a good number?

I don't want to ask anyone to buy me anything and I am NOT going to, but... well... I really would love to be able to buy all this stuff for 20%! AND if someone DOES want to buy us a gift at least hopefully they will find this registry!

Wedding Stuff Part 1 of a ZILLION!

2008-05-09T12:05:00.001-04:00

PB and I have been engaged for 8 days! And, of course, being the virgo that I am, I have already gotten a wedding binder put together as well as lots of other stuff. We are meeting with the priest as well as the reception venue today, and picking out engagement invites tomorrow- We are on a roll! I think this blog will have lots of wedding stuff until we get married, because it is all I can think about!

The biggest things happening in my life soon are:
1. My nonna is coming from Italy and will be here Thursday! She lived with my family for 6 months of every year until I went to college. Now she comes for about 3 out of the year. I love having her around.. she is like a mom to me!
2. My cousin is getting married on June 6th! gonna find a dress tomorrow!
3. PB and I are having our engagement party at the end of the summer!
4. PB and I are getting MARRIED yipee! Next July...
5. I am moving to PHILLY! I can't wait to get married and live with my soon-to-behusband!

Lots of other stuff too for sure, but these are the biggest and most exciting to me right now!!!

P.S. I made inspiration boards for the engagement party and wedding but I can't figure out how to convert them to blogger friendly so I took a junky pic with my cell phone!!!

The engagement party is going to be at our (PB's) church hall in PHL. White tablecloths, heavy duty disposable plates, vases with whole lemons and limes, and homemade napkin rings (made by my future MIL and I!!!). The food will be Middle Eastern... kebab, pilaf, bulghur, grilled veggies, salad, hummus, olives, baba ganoush, and ??. Penguin Lemontinis! Buffet style. PB's friends are going to take care of music.

My inspiration for the wedding reception is the beautiful bird of paradise flower. It was my mom's favorite flower, and I love the bright, summery, happy colors. I love the memories that flower has for me. PB loves the idea too.

Roses!!!!

2008-05-06T10:47:00.000-04:00

I am awkwardly icing my ankle at my desk while I work, and someone just came in with a delivery for me.. what a special delivery it was! roses!

from PB, of course! It's the first time he buys me roses! And he sent them from my favorite place! And they are the people we are hiring for our wedding!

yayayay! I'm so in love...

what a sweet man!

My fianceeeeee just posted this on craigslist

2008-05-05T14:20:00.000-04:00

Cox Rhode Races (Providence, RI)
Reply to: pers-668647389@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-05-05, 12:42PM EDT

To the asshole who tripped my fiance because he thought that those 2 seconds made a difference in his marathon time - I want you to know that she sprained her ankle, scratched her three day old engagement ring, cut her hands, and cut her knee severely - all because you don't know how to run in a pack of people. The least you could have done was to stop and see if she was alright.

Thank you to the wonderful people who let us use their cell phones/umbrellas and who actually showed that there are good people in this world.

To the pathetic jerkoff who felt that it was appropriate to pass someone and run two inches in front of them, you are actually very lucky I didn't see you.

* Location: Providence, RI
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 668647389

he makes me laugh, and smile. too funny!

Sundays are the potholes of life. Half Marathon Results.

2008-05-05T09:34:00.000-04:00

Is big, amazing news always followed by bad news?

So the Half Marathon was yesterday.... It did not go so well.

We got there early, waited in the horrendous bathroom lines, tied and retied our shoes, and were ready to go! It was downpouring, but we were there to do it! We started and went up the first hill and turned to the right. PB high fived me and said wow this is going to be so much fun! He did a "ring check" where I made sure my ring was still on and let it sparkle in the rain haha..

Well... about a quarter to a half of a mile in someone tried to get in front of me.. (I would like to add that he was a major jerk- he pretty much pushed me, in a way) I was only looking straight ahead... not to the sides.. I stepped to the side and... stepped straight into a deep, wet, pothole, and fell flat on my face. Yep, I'm not lying.. this really happened. I tried to get up, determined that I could keep going, but I couldn't even move. My fiance (=D) scooped me up and brought me to the side so no one would trample us... and the ambulance came (I'm still not joking)

Four hours later and I left the hospital with a sprained ankle, crutches, tons of abrasions on my left thigh, a bruised and cut up knee, and cuts and bruises on my hands (and I scratched the band of my engagement ring! :'( ) I am taking it today to be polished (and resized).

I am SO upset. About 12 weeks of preparations and training for what? A stupid injury from a stupid pothole.. It kind of said to be future husband.. This is what you're in for, baby!

P.S. It was so ridiculous that we were actually cracking up by the end, unless that was the painkillers they gave me? Who knows.

P.P.S. PB (my FIANCE) was so amazing! He scooped me right up like Superman and brought me to the side, and he really took care of me. He is so amazing, I am even more in love with him. (Sorry we couldn't do the race PB!!!!)

Engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-02T07:48:00.001-04:00

Edited to add.. the proposal!

so how did it happen?

PB was picking me up to go to dinner with his dad, my dad, the bishop, and a few other friends. He was running late (30 minutes!!!) so I told him I would meet him at the restaurant but he insisted he needed to freshen up a bit first! I offered to meet him outside but he INSISTED on coming in. So he rushed past me with his suit jacket all crumpled up in his hands (obv hiding something, but I didn't know what!). He went upstairs and I followed him up there. He closed the bedroom door and then came out a second later and went into the bathroom and asked me to get his cell phone for him from under the pillow in the bedroom. So I did, but I knew something weird was going on because why would his cell be under the pillow all of a sudden? So I lift up the pillow and see a ring box, opened, with the ring showing.. I freaked out and slammed the pillow back down on top of the box and his cell haha! He crept (is that a word?) into the room and asked me if I found "it"? I said ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod (x about a zillion) and he ran over with the ring, got down on his knee and said "Sabrina, Will you marry me?"

Of course I said yes and started crying (which, by the way, I told myself I was NEVER going to be one of those girls that cried!!!) and we hugged and said some nice things to each other (sorry, personal just for us!) and finally I got to look at the ring.. It was kind of hard to see it through my tears though! I was so so happy! oh, and it is so pretty!

So then we headed off to the restaurant and had a LOVELY dinner!

He was going to wait and ask me at the end of the half marathon but he was way too excited! I am happy he didn't wait because now we get the whole weekend to celebrate and have fun! And I love how it was so simple, and so... us! It was so perfect...

Side note: He asked my dad a couple of weeks ago when he had lunch with him and one of the artists... and my dad said something like... If it was not ok then he would NEVER have allowed her to go to Philadelphia (to visit)! And that he loves PB! :)

So now we are engaged and I am already working on the guest list and meeting with the Westin coordinator tomorrow so that we can get things rolling! I think either July 11th or 25th of next year (2009). I'll let you all know for sure next week. I wanted 7/18/2009 which would have been our exact 2 year anniversary but unfortunately the Westin is already booked that day and I really want to have the reception there as it fits all of the criteria 1. in Providence 2. a hotel since lots of people are coming from Philly 3. has the capacity for our guest list and 4. is pretty!!!!

Oh and in case you were going to ask... I AM GOING TO MOVE TO PHILADELPHIA! You are all going to have to come and visit! I am not going to move until we get married but I am so excited!!!

I can't wait to be married and I can't believe I can now say "ohhh, yes, my fianceeeeee" and soon enough HUSBAND! I found the right man, and I am so excited we are starting our life together!
**********************************************************************8

Remember how I said something good was going to happen because my mom gave me a sign?

Well, it did!!!

PB and I got engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy, and so in love, and I am so excited to marry him!

More details later/tomorrow, have lots to do!

I'm so happy!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy One Year Anniversary!

2008-05-01T08:57:00.000-04:00

oh, how time flies!

I have officially been not only a condo owner, but living IN my condo for one year! With a roomie too!

In honor of such a beautiful anniversary I thought I would share a couple of pictures of my bedroom, as it is today... *note: PhillyBoy's sutff is under the bureau :( It has no other home and HAS to go there boohoo!

A really bizarre thing to note... I have a few pics hanging to the left of my bed.. one of them is my mom, cousin and I... and it must have fallen RIGHT before I took the picture... which is weird because whenever something really good is about to happen something happens with that specific picture (not to be too spiritual in this venue but my mom passed away 7 years ago and I feel like she gives me lots of signs of her presence in different ways.. this is one random way)... weird. wonder what's coming?

Also... see the penguin on my side table? It was PB's when he was a little guy (little penguin? hehe).. he gave it to me! cute, ay?

Half Marathon Tips

2008-04-28T10:21:00.000-04:00

This is the big week! PB and I are tapering as the Half Marathon is this Sunday! It is finally here.. It feels almost counterproductive to run so little this week, but I know it is the right thing to do! It is making me feel kind of yucky though!

Does anyone have any tips for us for the day of the half and how to make it through strong and in one piece?!?! any and all tips would be appreciated!!!!

Phillies Phanatic!

2008-04-25T07:31:00.000-04:00

As promised, here is a pic of my friend, the Phillies Phanatic, and I!

Jealous?

Addicted to Scrabulous!

2008-04-23T10:07:00.000-04:00

Does anyone have Facebook? There is a new application called "Scrabulous" which is- you guessed it- an online version of Scrabble. You can play any of your friends!

PhillyBoy and I ran games allll day yesterday! Whenever we had a break from work we would take our turn and let the other one know it was their turn. I lost of course, as it was one of my first times playing.. but I will beat him soon enough!

It is SO ADDICTING!

8.46 miles!!!!

2008-04-23T08:54:00.000-04:00

Yay! The HM is only 10 days away I can't believe it! Time flies when you're having.... fun.

My run yesterday was the best one yet- definitely the boost I needed after my horrendous weekend! PB and I decided to do between 8 and 8.5 (separately)... I was going to stop at 8 which was right in front of the market, do my shopping and then walk the last .5.... well, I was having such a blast and was in such a groove I just ran the whole way and, er, drove to the market after!

It took me about 85 minutes when all is said and done, so I am guessing I did 10 minute miles? I used mapmyrun and it said 8.46 but I bet I was a little off :)

I only have 2 long runs left before the HM... let's hope they are as fun and successful!

Menu Planning Mondays!

2008-04-21T15:32:00.002-04:00

After seeing others do this in the blogworld I am going to try it too! Let's see if I can keep up!

Monday: Grilled chicken and asparagus. veggie filled salad
Tuesday: grilled salmon, risotto with peas and mushrooms, steamed spinach
Wednesday: leftovers from Tuesday's dinner
Thursday: WF tuna and avocado roll. WF salad bar
Friday: pizza and salad Fridays with PhillyBoy

Check out other delicious weekly menus here: http://orgjunkie.com/

If I could have anything, what would that be?

2008-04-21T14:28:00.000-04:00

Have you ever thought- I mean really thought- about what you want out of your life? I know what is important to me, but I am just learning about what I love, what I want, and about how I will achieve that.

A few of things I know...

-I love being in sunshine. I love exercising under the sun even more.
-I am proud that I have muscles, and I want to be more fit and in shape.
-I love really good food... healthy and tasty to be more precise.
-I want to travel to both new and old places. I want to see the world.
-I really enjoy being a hostess and having all types of parties. I want to be better at doing that.
-I love FAMILY and all it represents. I want to have a big ole' family with lots of kids and I want to stay close with the family I have now.
-I want $$ to do the things I like to do. I want to always be able to afford nice (nice-ish) things and good food and a home and travel expenses and to send my kids to college.
-I don't want anyone I know to ever go through any type of serious illness, and I want to do everything I can to be as healthy as possible.
I want PB to me in my life forever :)

I am sure there is lots more but that is what I could come up with for now...

What do you want?

Phillies Phanatic!

2008-04-21T11:10:00.000-04:00

I went to my very first real baseball game... not the PawSox or another minor league but a REAL MAJOR LEAGUE GAME! Phillies vs. The Mets! We had Diamond Club seats, and had such a fun time... and the Phillies won!

oooohhhh.... but the best part of all! The Phillies Phanatic! My friend G overheard the bartender telling some little kids that when the green guy was done he would be coming through that area to leave, and G hurried over to us to let us know! I got so excited! We ran (RAN!!) inside and practically trampled him over! and, yep, we got a picture!!!

Yayayayay! I will be posting it soon!!! He was so funny.. when we ran up to him he kind of yelled a little and laughed hahahaha! we were so much crazier than the little kids!

Rest Day!

2008-04-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

15 Days until the half... eep!

Today is supposed to be a rest day which I am thankful for as I took PB to the train station at sunrise this morning, got to work at 6:45 and am leaving at 4 to go to the airport to fly down to Philly! I feel guilty though! Yesterday morning's run was so easy and relaxed and it is making me feel guilty that after such an easy run I am taking a day off! Oh well, I guess tomorrow and Sunday's runs will make up for it!

Schedule this weekend:
Saturday: 6 miles easy- with hills hopefully
Sunday: 9 miles at "race pace"

I had only ONE glass of wine at my dad's gallery night last night, and I was wasted! I didn't realize how much running like this and eating less/healthier would impact me! also, I am sleeping beautifully- better than I ever have!

that's all for today.. happy friday, and enjoy the sunshine!!!

ooohhhh... p.s. i just had the BEST smoothie- 1 banana, 100 g strawberries, 50 g blueberries, ice, water and 1 oz of fage! srsly delish.. all I needed was to be sitting on the beach enjoying it!!! can't wait for beachtime!

For Romina...

2008-04-17T11:06:00.000-04:00

This is a pic of.. you guessed it.. Berlusconi! It is from Carnevale in Viareggio in 2004, and his pants kept going down and up... it was the best float besides the Bush one!!!!

can anyone identify the other folks?

here's the one of our president...

Sunshine Run + PB Here + Accident!

2008-04-17T08:46:00.000-04:00

PhillyBoy came into town last night (for Gallery Night tonight!).. he got in late and was hungry so after I fed him we went to bed = very late! it was SO hard waking up to run before work, but we did it.. not one of our best... 6 miles in 59.5 minutes ewwww. it's ok though, we were exhausted! we DID have a nice convo though, and the sunshine felt really nice!

I am going to take him to lunch at Cafe Luna this really cute place in Garden City (a small shopping center in Cranston)...

This morning when we were walking out the door (he was taking me to work so he could have my car).. I did the worst thing ever! I dropped my oatmeal! and it was in a glass container! I was so so so sad, but he cleaned it up for me and LUCKILY I had one more serving at the office! My day wouldn't have been the same without it!

That's all for now. happy thursday!

p.s. i am already all packed for philly this weekend!

New dress! Roomba Ronald! Clean cabinets!

2008-04-15T15:20:00.000-04:00

A. I bought a new dress. This makes me happy.

I am probably going to wear it to my dad's art gallery (soft) opening on Thursday, that is, only if PhillyBoy can make it!! If not I will save it for a nice dinner with my boy....and it will be perfect for summer events such as bridal showers, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and fun summer dinners!

B. I bought a Roomba a month ago, and boy oh boy do I love it! I seriously only have to vacuum the little nooks and crannies in the kitchen- Roomba Ronald takes care of everything else! I haven't had to do a serious vacuum since acquiring him.. I have, however, had to take him to the Roomba doctor (i.e. Dr. RhodeyGirl) because he sometimes gets stuck in my heat vents.. the little guy will simply never learn!

C. I finally did Friday's planned big kitchen cabinet cleaning.. oh how beautiful they look now! I wish I had taken some before pics... but I did take an after pic of one of the cabinets!

before: picture a reallly messy cabinet full of spice bits, cans everywhere and things just generally out of place and not in order

after:

p.s. I am not posting a pic of my new dress until Thursday bc PB reads the blog and I don't want him to see it! classy and cute dress- will post next week!

Help!

2008-04-14T14:18:00.000-04:00

EDITED TO ADD:

We have decided to make:
Apps:
-Pita bread and baby carrots with homemade baba ganoush
-Armenian string cheese, crackers and kalamata olives
-raw almonds in water (when you leave them in water for an hour they plump up and are sooo delish!)

Entree:
-Penne with ground turkey, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and fresh mozz
-Spinach salad with fennel, orange segments and toasted almonds
-Big loaf of italian bread

Dessert:
-ehhhh maybe nothing or some fruit?

*************************************************************************
PhillyBoy and I are going to have a few of his friends over this weekend for a relaxing night... with his Wii...

Here is what I have planned so far for food:
-tortilla chips with salsa, guacamole
-pita/carrots/pretzels with baba ganoush and hummus
- ????????????????

what else can we make that is easy to make, easy to clean up, and is a picky, fun food? we are not doing an all out dinner, but we need to provide fun snacks!!!

unless we do a simple dinner instead?
-penne with ground turkey, artichokes, sundried tomatoes and fresh mozz
-a big salad with toasted almonds, fennel and orange segments
-bread with olive oil

help! which should we do?!!? and what are other easy things to make?!?!

19 days until the half marathon...

2008-04-14T08:42:00.000-04:00

I am starting to get really nervous. yesterday's run was supposed to be so easy... just .25 miles more than last week's long run... 8.25 miles. then why did it feel so so so hard?!?!?!?!

I was cruising along until mile 6 where I seriously had the worst side stitch/cramp/whatever they are called these days. I almost yelled out in pain- I actually doubled over in pain and had to stop for a minute. There was a guy walking on the street and he was pretty freaked out- asked me if he should go get his car to take me home.. I wasn't going to give up so easily! So I walked for a minute or two, trying to stretch out that area, lifting my arms above my head, trying everything.. and started to jog again. I was doing ok until the end of 8 miles... my legs just couldn't do it anymore. It was the first time I actually felt muscle fatigue. They didn't want to move! I headed up the last hill (that annoying .25 miles left!!!) and stopped halfway, walking the rest.

How am I going to complete a half marathon if I couldn't even finish my 8.25 miles in a strong way?!?!?! It was the first time I had felt such frustration and sadness. What do I do?!?! PhillyBoy and I decided our goal is to finish the half with an average 10 minute mile pace. I don't know if I can do it.

I haven't had any major struggles at all so far, even though I have never been a runner... and I haven't had any side stitches either!

thoughts?!!? i'm freakin out!

Fridayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

2008-04-11T14:25:00.000-04:00

I haven't been so thankful it's Friday in a long time.

Plan tonight (in order):

get sushi to go
put on sweats
lay on couch and watch tv/eat sushi/read book
and... later

REORGANIZE KITCHEN CABINETS! I've been a little shopping crazy for cute serving bowls etc lately and now we have no room! Must reorganize!

and... THAT'S IT! doesn't it sound like a great, relaxing evening?

I can't wait!

Happy Friday!

Poor Little Squirrel!

2008-04-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

On Wednesdays I literally sprint out of work, rush home, clean my tupperware, change for the studio and zip over to class so my girls don't have to wait too long (I teach dance 1 night a week).

Well, yesterday afternoon I get home and there is a squirrel in my roomie's parking spot, and a cat attacking him! I jump out of my car and start walking towards the fight zone and the cat rushes off- the squirrel doesn't move... I call my roomie because I don't know what to do, is he alive is he dead? and she tells me to toss a little stone nearby to see if he'll move. I do that and the squirrel (I named him Charlie) sort of hop hops away... his tail was all bloody! well, he continues to sort of hop hop every few minutes so I call the local police station who gives me the number for the EP (what does that stand for, environmental something but what?!!). I call them and they say it will be about an hour because their guy dealing with a situation.. I go to teach dance, I come home and still the EP hadn't come... and Charlie was laying on his side on a rock... dead. :( poor Charlie! I was so so so sad! None of us (my neighbors had come home at the same time I got home from work) wanted to touch him before to bring him to the vet down the street because squirrels are known to bite and have rabies, and we thought we could trust the EP, but apparently not... I didn't think I would be so sad, but I was... Poor little Charlie.

I left my heart in Firenze.....

2008-04-10T08:53:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I have these pangs in my heart because I miss my mom, or I miss PhillyBoy... but other times it is because I miss.... Florence.

My junior year of college was by far my favorite year of school, probably because I spent 8 months of it in Florence, Italy. I left in the middle of January, and came home a few days before fall classes began.. what an experience it was! I felt like I finally learned who I was and what I wanted; I became completely independent; I saw, felt, tasted so much! I always felt at home in Italia because not only do I speak Italian fluently but I have one of those looks that can blend into a lot of different cultures (which is funny because although my mom was from Italy, moving to the states in the 1980's, she was a BLONDIE because she was from the north.. but I have olive skin and therefore everyone always assumed I was Fiorentina anyway haha)

So yesterday I realized that I picked up more than a few habits from my time in Italia...

When I was studying abroad I couldn't always tell the difference between the Italians and the stranieri (foreigners), that is.. until the spring came! During the first days of sunshine all the stranieri would be in their flip flops and short sleeve shirts and new spring jackets, yet the italians would remain in their winter boots and coats. Yesterday the sun was shining. it was 60 degrees! and I saw SO MANY PEOPLE in short sleeve shirts and capris... and of course I chuckled to myself as I walked by them in my winter boots and fleece... without even realizing it, I still had some of my habits of my time abroad.. four years ago....

so funny the things we remember, the habits we pick up...

How our story began...

2008-04-09T16:02:00.000-04:00

have I seriously never written the story of PhillyBoy and I?!?!?! I think it is such a good one too... but of course I am biased!!

Two summers ago I had to go to Philly for a friend's engagement party... she is from RI but her future hubby is from Philly. So my dad, bro, his fiance at the time, and I went! So at one point I went to go sit down and I noticed a table of 3 really cute guys. They were kind of checking me out but I just kept to my business (texting like crazy with my then bf who was at a wedding back home). Then.... two of the guys got up, leaving me and this one guy sitting a table away in each other's line of sight (talk about AWKWARD). So anyway, he ended up coming over to me and we chatted for a looong time. He never asked me for my number or anything though! I was like, weird I totally thought he was flirting? Anyway, that was that, I went back to little Rhodey and went on with my life. (note: I found out later a few things.... 1. he had his DE bar exam that Monday so he was totally sober, totally stressing, and was just stopping by the party out of respect for the couple 2. his friends got up because he was being too lame to get up and talk to me, therefore forcing him into the situation 3. his friends teased him for the entire next year for not "sealing the deal" and getting my number).

So fast forward to this couple's wedding day... I had sort of remembered PhillyBoy but I didn't remember his name or what he looked like, mostly I just remembered that he had awesome eyes and had talked my ear off. Anyway... I was sitting next to my sister-in-law at the church (my brother and her had gotten married that dec!) and there was this really hot altar server I kept staring at during the mass (I felt seriously guilty for staring btw). I kept pinching my sister-in-law and whispering to her that it was so unfortunate that the hot guy on the altar was becoming a priest because he was sooooooo hot (I didn't know that in the Armenian church altar servers are adults and therefore had assumed he was a priest-in-training haha!) I pinched her a ton of times during church (totally inappropriate)

At the cocktail hour I see church boy with a stiff drink in his hand and he nods at me with this kind of cocky nod and says "Sabrina, right?" with this hugeeee smile! It was PB! A couple of minutes of awkward convo and we found out we were going to be seated at the same table (coincidence or planned, I still do not know!) so of course I was excited by then!

When I got to my table there were only a couple of people seated so I sat and coyly put my purse at the seat on the left and my placecard at the seat on the right (psycho move, I know....). PB's cousin came and asked to sit next to me, then his friend T did the same, leaving no room for PB! T offered me a drink, and right after he got up to get me one PB sashayed on over, picked up T's pacecard and said "who is sitting here? T? (tossed it to the next seat and said) he'll understand!" (what a punk!!!!)

So that was that... We TOTALLY hit it off and danced/chatted the night away... at the end of the night he wanted to go out for breakfast but all the places in RI close at 2 (at least the good places) so I rounded up my cousins to meet up at my condo for a late night snack (I wouldn't go to my condo alone with him, didn't want to give him the wrong idea- it was honestly just that RI late night spots close early!!!!). We all had snacks, then at like 4:30 in the morning I drove him back to the hotel where the wedding had been. It was such a fun night.

And so my love/hate relationship with Southwest was born..... oh, whoops, I guess I should say.... and our love story began.....

here's a pic from that first night... don't we just look meant to be?

Office Meals

2008-04-09T09:08:00.000-04:00

Am I the only one that eats both breakfast and lunch at the office? (And my afternoon snack!!). I typically get in around 7, and at 6:30 I am just not hungry. So I open my office, get settled and eat my breakfast at my desk. I actually really enjoy those few minutes of eating breakfast, doing non-work stuff on my computer, and generally settling in...

This is what my morning breakfast looks like these days... steel cut oats with a small banana, a teeny berry smoothie (berries, ice and water), and an earl grey lavender tea yum yum!

I really miss PB. We won't see each other this weekend because he is going to L.A. with his friends (lucky guy to go to such a warm place!) but then we get the next FIVE weekends together yipee!! So our schedule now goes...

weekend off, philly, philly, providence, providence, philly (half day work that friday bc we are going to a friday wedding!), then TWO weekends off ewwwww... can you guys tell I am missing him?!?!?!

Here is a pic of us last month....

we need to take more pictures of ourselves! we have been taking tons of pics of our cooking "experiments" but not enough of us whoops!

T-24 days to the half marathon!

Battle Lemon!

2008-04-08T08:43:00.000-04:00

We didn't take as many pics of our battle this time, but we had way more fun! We decided to prep as much as possible on Saturday night so that on Sunday we could be more relaxed and have fun with my cousins..

Here was the menu:

Apps:
PB: Greek Lemon Soup
ME: Spinach salad in parmigiano frico cups with lemon dressing

Entree:
PB: Lemon and Herb Risotto Cake
ME: Lemon Spaghetti

Dessert:
PB: Lemon Cookies with french vanilla ice cream and candied peels
ME: Vanilla lemon cupcakes filled with strawberry lemon mascarpone and topped with vanilla lemon icing. served with raisin lemon macaroons.

We forgot to take pics of the final product!

But... here are some random pics from the day...

all the ingredients plus us!

making a mess

finally finished the cupcakes!

parmigiano cups, lemon cookies, and candied peels

the final table
]

the ballot!

Dinner Party on Friday!

2008-04-07T20:26:00.000-04:00

The dinner party with some of my friends from college was so much fun!

Here was the menu:

Apps:
carrots and hummus
cheese and crackers
homemade pizza

Dinner:
a simple mixed greens salad with tomato in a homemade lemon olive oil dressing
grilled chicken
grilled eggplant, zucchini, and portabella mushrooms
tortellini in a cream sauce

Dessert:
coconut macaroons (it was my first time making these!)
chocolate covered strawberries
fried ricotta balls

and I made 2 pitchers of sangria yummmmm!

here are some pics....

He's gone.

2008-04-07T09:35:00.000-04:00

It's just getting harder and harder. The goodbyes this morning really stunk! Two weeks apart before I get to see him again.... I miss him already and he just left!

At least we had an AMAZING weekend!

Friday night's dinner party was a success- pictures to post tomorrow.

AND! Battle Lemon winner is/was.... ME!!!! I will also post these pics later/tomorrow along with the menus!

Hope these two weeks fly by....

Fried Ricotta Balls

2008-04-02T13:07:00.000-04:00

Growing up my mom would make fried ricotta balls with raisins as a treat once in a while.. On Easter I asked my auntie to teach me to make them.. so recipe in hand we made a huggggge batch! Here are the pics from start to finish....

**The Ingredients**

**The Dough**

**A Big Batch Frying**

**A Little Fishie!!**

**My Plate With Some Strawberries**

**One of the Serving Platters**

**Me, The Chef, Tired, but DONE**

**A Bunny Who Laid Some Eggs!!!!!**

P.S. They are soooo delicious but way filling since they are fried etc but, again, sooo delish!
P.P.S. Want the recipe? Just ask!

April Fool's Part II

2008-04-02T12:52:00.000-04:00

I made a calendar for PB's office. Note: He is a LAWYER, yet of course I put lots of funny pictures and some cute romantic ones (no smooching of course!). I made a copy for myself too, and every time I look up to check a date in April I just laugh all over again- seriously!

here is the April pic spread:

the pic on the left is from New Year's Eve and PB is making a really weirdo face. The pic on the upper right section is me pretending to be one of the copper monkeys.. but the best one, in honor of April and April Fool's, is a pic of PB's long ago desired replacement guinea pig... Spike.

Am I cruel for putting a picture like that in his romantic calendar? hahahahaaaaa

In honor of April Fool's Day, I will tell you this story.

2008-04-01T09:46:00.000-04:00

PhillyBoy kept a diary for a long time growing up, and wrote in it faithfully every single day. Being the organized guy he is, every day had the same format: He gave each day a percentage rating, and ended each entry with Goodbye!

A few months ago we came across his box of old diaries, and he allowed me to read them. Well, boy oh boy was he a cute kid!

Sometime in March of his 11th? 10th? year his poor guinea pig Curly died. PB was so sad. That day had one of his lowest ratings (80%- such an optimist!) and he said his day was only bad because Curly died and he was sad. He continued by asking "Why did God have to do this? What is this, out with the old, in with the new? Why did Curly have to $%^&$ #$%^&&*^$# die?" (prob all the curse words he knew). Poor kid. Felt so bad for him.

I only felt more sad for him when I read his entry for April 1st of that year.

It read something like... "100%. Today was a great day. My parents got me another guinea pig and I named him Spike. APRIL FOOLS!" The poor guy was so sad about missing his guinea pig that he april foolsed his OWN DIARY!

The poor little guy.... I wonder if he ever recovered from losing Curly.....

Goodbye!

Ahhhh Finally

2008-03-28T10:04:00.000-04:00

So these two weeks will FINALLY come to a close. Of course, we have less than optimal conditions- I have a nasty cold and feel really lousy, but I am REALLY looking forward to landing in PHL and having some TLC from my PhillyBoy.

This day is creeping by wayyyy too slowly! Let it be 7 pm please!

Miss my PhillyBoy/Case of the THURSDAYS

2008-03-27T15:52:00.000-04:00

waaaaaaa

is it wrong to admit I'm a little jealous of Jessica and Jesse and their new living situaion? Totally not jealous of their engagement... I am super super happy for them and I can't wait to hear more stories about their love story and planning their wedding etc.. but I am SO jealous that Jessica gets to see him for long periods of time in a row, even though she then has to NOT see him for a long time when he is on tour and such... does that make any sense?

so it got me thinking... which is easier to handle when in love?

my situation: I get to see PB 3 out of 4 weekends from Friday night through early Monday morning and once in a while for 1 night during the week....

their situation: They get to see each other for worknight AND weekend fun for a few days/weeks/months in a row and then have to resort to video chatting for days/weeks/months..

honestly.. i can't stand either!!!!! I guess it is good because it causes me to keep my independence and my friendships (jessica do you feel this?) and yadda yadda yadda but when will it end? When will we get to see each other almost every day and night?

I guess I am just feeling penguiny because I haven't seen my boy in a couple of weeks.

Jessica- if you are reading this. You are one VERY strong ragazzina!

So ANYWAYYYY Congratulations to J&J for getting engaged yipee! and congratulations to me for getting to see my boy in just ONE DAY read: ONE DAY!!! yay!

Not to toot my bf's horn but....

2008-03-17T14:04:00.000-04:00

his chicken cheesesteaks last night were AWESOME! seriously- THE. BEST. SANDWICHES. EVER.

he cut up chicken breasts and green peppers and onions into tiny little pieces, marinated the whole thing in olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, then cooked it on the stove, threw it on a whole foods baguette that was cut in half lengthwise with some provolone on the bottom and shredded mozz on top, and then baked for a few minutes.

I never knew I was dating such a chef?!?

It is making me REALLY NERVOUS for Battle Lemon on April 6th! I better start thinking up some rad recipes!

His talents abound! First he taught me how to properly bleach a white shirt, now he is making homemade chicken cheesesteaks?!!? What will he think of next?!?!?!?

Hey There

2008-03-13T08:14:00.000-04:00

So I was going to wake up at 6 and do my run before getting to work at 8, but I was cold/lazy/sleepy/whatever.com so I decided to get up and go to work early instead (and run at my normal hour of 6 PM)! I've been here since 7 which means I can blast the music until everyone else gets here..it is 8:15 AM and no one else is here yet- just the way I like it.

I always try to be the first one in because I can get SO MUCH DONE before the phones start ringing and my colleagues/family start asking me to help them with stuff.

Anyway, the playlist this morning is "2007 Summer" and man am I loving it! "Hey There Delilah" just came on and although the song was way played out last summer it totally reminds me of the days when PB and I were falling in love, and I was feeling crazy for falling in love with a boy from Philly, so far away from little Rhodey, and I would pack for 5 hours before going there to be sure I had just the right outfits to look super cute, and I would gossip with my friends all night about the cute things he did or did not do (mostly did), and could it be I'm already in love?!? (I was)

I love that feeling.

Miss him. 1 more day.....

Chirp Chirp

2008-03-04T09:31:00.000-05:00

The birds are a-chirpin' on this sunny day

hip hip hooray!

I think it means..

spring is on the way!

yay!

Errrr... just a Little Bit Cooky.

2008-02-29T15:12:00.000-05:00

I kinda just realized I'm a little bit cooky... here are some of the reasons why:

-When I go to Philly to see my Philly Boy and we grab panini from DiBruno's, I always have to steal a handful of knives to bring back to RHODE ISLAND so I have enough plastic knives to cut up my bananas with at work (we can't find boxes of just plastic knives alone and therefore have tons of forks and spoons around but no KNIVES!)

-When I pass someone or have to walk around someone/something instead of just stepping around them I have to step-tap (as in bring my left foot to the other in a tap) and then proceed. totally whacko.

This is the one that really just put me over the edge....

-I am going to Philly today, and I am still too full from lunch to have my organic pureed pumpkin-fage 2% mix snack, but I KNOW that the second I get through security I will be hungry and will want it...(and dinner is not until 8). So, er, I just called Southwest regarding the specifics of the TSA no liquids policy, and found out that if my snack is in a 3 oz container I can bring it through security.. All of this info including the actual prep took about an hour. All for a little yogurt... (it is now packed in two individual teeny containers, then in the quart sized ziploc, and I have packed a paper bowl and a plastic spoon to mix and eat with)

So, like I said, I'm just a little bit... cooky.

Penguin snuggles!

2008-02-22T09:08:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke up early as usual, fixed my bed right away as usual, took my usual shower, and headed into my room to get dressed. What a surprise was there waiting for me!

I looked at the freshly made bed and who was there snuggling in it?! My new penguin family!!! They have been SO domesticated that they are no longer used to cold weather and such great amounts of snow, so they just HAD to get into bed to get warm and snuggle up!!!!

How cute!

Happy Friday everyone!

Trashy hot

2008-02-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

How do I find a "trashy hot" outfit in my closet when I come from a conservative, Christian family and have only classy clothes in my closet?!?! A 2nd floor Nordstrom dress just WON'T DO for Atlantic City!

So I guess I will dig into the College Bin. Or... wear leggings with a cute longish top/dress and hope it passes for cute, even if it's not "trashy hot".

Oh, the drama of picking out outfits for a weekend away!

In other, related news...

Every Thursday night before Philly I make the same list of scribbles on a junk piece of paper right before bed...

Ipod with headphones
Retainers (ew, I know)
Cell phone
Cell phone charger
Medicine
Hair elastics
Book

You would think by now (~8 months in) I would have this list memorized and wouldn't need to jot it down!

A New Family

2008-02-19T12:40:00.000-05:00

When I came home from work on Friday for lunch with PB, I found a family of penguins greeting me at the door, looking for a home...

Each one had his own theme, and each one had a little gift for me... picture frame, flowers, a book, chocolates... what a wonderful surprise!

They asked if they could hang out in Cranston for a while... of course I said yes!!!!

Here they are, awaiting my arrival:

Weekend Triggles

2008-02-19T10:00:00.001-05:00

Well this lonnnng weekend has been awesome!!!

Thursday night = my awesome tag team surprise
Friday after work = gym, dinner date on the hill, dessert at Pastiche (YUM!)
Saturday = 4 mile run, relax time, dinner and games with the college friends at Dave & Busters!
Sunday = SIX mile run!!!!, breakfast with dad, lounging, family dinner night
Monday = work, sneaker shopping, homemade dinner and fun tv!
Today = work (hopefully leaving early to enjoy the sun!!!) 4 mile run with my hun, dinner, and goodbyes :(

But boy oh boy have I been lucky!!!! about 5 days with PB!!!!!!! Like a mini vacation, or a bit more like real life. SO happy. I guess this is what it would be like if we lived in the same state!!!

Sometimes the long distance really stinks, but then I get surprised with little bits of extra time, and it makes it all better!

Philly/AC this weekend! He leaves tonight, and then I get to see him in just 2 and a hlaf more days yipeeeeee!

Un Regalino Per Me!

2008-02-15T15:36:00.000-05:00

I just bought myself a little present (or 2.... ok, or 3!)

A realllly fun short but classy dressy dress for my date tonight!
A realllly fun short but trendy dressy/not dressy dress to wear with leggings!
A realllly fun simple black business casual dress for the spring etc!

SO excited!!!! And all of it was not only on sale but with an added 30% off!!!!!

My dress for tonight is ruby red/maroony, and it's SHINY!!!!!

can't wait!!!!!

The only source of knowledge is experience

I've moved

Egg Frittata Muffins

My banana bread is sad.

Feeling penguiny

I am so obsessed

The Week of Parties

Market Shopping Week #3

The cupcakes were a total success!

Babies R Us

Help! Dessert idea?

Grocery store shopping

Our Engagement Party! Part III

Our Engagement Party! Part II:: The Fun!

Our Engagement Party! Part I: The Decor

Farro with Zucchini, beans and tomato

My love for Nutella will never end.

My ring!

iPhone

The last of being a wing-girl, drinking like there's no tomorrow, and meeting weird guys.

Strategy is Everything.

What's in my fridge?

The weekend of weddings

Zucchini Panino

Happy Anniversary (Backwards!!!)

Funny Things My Dad Says

Snacks

Wedding Florist

Greenheads

I know bugs are hungry, but why must they eat ME?!?!?

HAPPY ONE YEAR!

Rolls with Jam aka Crepes aka "omlette"

My motivation is back....

A surprise ruined

Happy Birthday PhillyBoy!!!

Turning into my mom (it's a good thing)

MY DRESS!

Contractor Communication

Sabrina's in Philly

Weird-o

Engagement Party plans updated

When I knew PB was *The One*

We met one year ago today...

What a difference a year makes

Donations!

Follow up to Monday, May 19th.

The Saga of the Ankle

and Wedding Season begins...

Does $13 water really taste better?

Pet Peeve.

Part 2: wedding vendors stink.

Wedding vendors stink

Happy Birthday Nonna + Wanie!

Ridding yourself of unneeded sugar.. forever!

Nonna's Diet Tips

Inspired!

2 Sardines in a beautiful bed?!

tapdancingbrain?!?!

Annoying little habits...

PB = ???????????????

Wedding Stuff Part 1 of a ZILLION!

Roses!!!!

My fianceeeeee just posted this on craigslist

Sundays are the potholes of life. Half Marathon Results.

Engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy One Year Anniversary!

Half Marathon Tips

Phillies Phanatic!

Addicted to Scrabulous!

8.46 miles!!!!

Menu Planning Mondays!

If I could have anything, what would that be?

Phillies Phanatic!

Rest Day!

For Romina...

Sunshine Run + PB Here + Accident!

New dress! Roomba Ronald! Clean cabinets!

Help!

19 days until the half marathon...

Fridayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

When I knew PB was The One