New Year's Resolutions

So this last year has been a busy year. My daughter started school, and I'm back at work until whenever. I want to work in a legal office as a paralegal or legal secretary. Hopefully I will be able to at least find a job as a receptionist this year. While for now still working on call at Macy's.

Although I still have this desire to do something rewarding. Something that means something to me. My daughter's teachers teach them yoga on fridays. Although they do the same DVD I got my daughter so she could learn yoga. I thought I could go and sit and watch their yoga session on fridays. I would love to see how it is. Then I thought well when I was teaching my yoga class - the owner had suggested Yoga Wood studio for a workshop to teach kids yoga. This year I hope to do that. I think teaching kids would bring such joy for myself, my daughter and my son. At least instead of needing daycare for him he could join everyone in their yoga session. Only two years old but he still knows the down dog pose. So I'm sure he would love to jump right in.

Since I've started to think about this - now I've been thinking about other workshops I can take to learn prenatal yoga, and possibly thai yoga massage. A long term goal though is to become a Ayurveda Yoga Specialist through the Kripalu Yoga Center. Ahhhhh but for now one workshop at a time. While trying to be a full time mom and working girl.

Portobello Burgers with Red Potato Fries

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Ingredients
2 Portobello Mushroom caps
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp Mrs. Dash Italian Seasoning
2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 oz goat cheese
2 Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns
2 Tbsp or tsp of pesto
2 leaves of Red Leaf Lettuce
2 slices tomato
3-4 slices of onion



Directions
Whisk together Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Mrs. Dash seasoning. Place mushroom caps in shallow dish. Pour balsamic mixture over mushrooms and marinate for 15 min. Turn them halfway thru. Grill for 3-5 each side. I toasted the hamburger bun. I spread 1 tsp pesto on one half of the bun, and spread 1 tsp goat cheese on other half of bun. Then I had some sliced lettuce, tomato, and onion. And added that on top.

Number of Servings: 2

Red Potato Fries:

I added the same seasonings together and took 2 or 3 sliced potatoes and shook them in a container to coat with seasoning. Then broiled on low for about 10-15 min then broiled on high a few more min. Have to keep an eye on these suckers to make sure they come out okay. Too bad I didn't take a picture! Next time I will!

My Favorite Cosmetics

Here I am...a few days off of work and I'm going stir crazy. I've been eyeballing this Really Red Lipstick from Revlon and decided snow or not I need to check it out. I took a trip to the local sort-of what they call a department store. Or our version of it. I was looking at Really Red and Into the Red....I went with the Really Red today because well I've read more about this color. It is quite possibly my favorite Red so far! So good buy at $5.99! Which has brought me to write a blog about my favorite cosmetics. I love cosmetics. Which means I do love my job at Macy's for that very reason I love cosmetics.

First up: Fragrances. My two favorite fragrances are Estee Lauder's Pleasures and Dior's J'Adore. For years Pleasures has been my favorite just because it's light, romantic and not overpowering. Although in the last year or so my liking for J'Adore has brought me to complete and utter obsession for the smell.

So on to other cosmetics:

Face Makeup has to be Nixie Cream foundation as my ultimate favorite foundation. I put barely any on and I swear I have worn it to work out in and it stays on the entire time. I like to run and I run to wear my entire body is leaking sweat. Yet it stayed on. Although 2nd up for face foundation is Maybelline Dream Mousse Foundation. I barely use any of it and it covers my pores so smoothly I can't believe I have makeup on....Though you just need a little bit. And I mean a little bit. The last few years I feel I've noticed a few more fine lines and bigger pores, and this stuff is almost as amazing as the Nixie Foundation. And for about $7.99

www.nixiecosmetics.com

Okay onto eyeshadows...well thats easy Nixie eyeshadows are by far my favorite.

Eyeshadow & Eyeliners: www.mirabellabeauty.com ( Mirabella Cosmetics) The liners go on smooth, and they last forever. I can't stand when I have to tug on my eyelids to get the liners to go on smooth. And the bronzer liner doubles for a lip liner too. :) It's perfect! They also have overall shimmer powders that are great for highlighting the cheekbones. I almost forgot. Loreal HIP Products are fabulous. The eyeshadows, and cream liners are amazing. Excellent pigment.

Blushes:

Mirabella has two that are my favorites...Milano & Italiana. Also the cream blushes from Nixie and other powder blushes. I seriously have like 7 or 8 of them. Well forgive me like 6 or 7 are blushes and 2 are bronzers. Amazing Bronzers!

Lipsticks:

Nixie Lipsticks! Oh how I love their lipcolors and lipglosses! Trucco Cosmetics Divinyls Lipglosses are fabulous! Origins lipglosses too! They taste like peppermint! Who doesn't like the taste of peppermint ;)
Really Red Matte Lipcolor from Revlon and Rouge Best by Bourjois are my favorite Red's. Trucco has a fabulous divinyl gloss in red. Origins also has a couple. Hot Date lipcolor/gloss....Poppy and Amaretto in flower fusion lipsticks. Ruby Red in the liptints. I have heard Ruby Woo is amazing from MAC but I have yet to try it.

Mascara's: Lash Maxx from Rimmel! My favorite although they have changed the wands which bugs me. Sephora's Fiberwig and their mascara's are wonderful too. I really want to try Dior's mascara's but another day. Oh and Estee Lauder's Sumptuous Mascara is fantastic!

Lashes: So far my favorite lashes are from Ardell. I want to try Makeup Forever's. But they are more expensive and I still have a pair that I'm holding onto for sentimental value for some reason.

Maybe one of these days I'll do a Favorite Skin Care :) Another obsession of mine ;)

Snowy Day In Jersey

Keara wakes me up this morning saying "Mama, look outside! You have to come look!" ...I mumble a question of whether or not there is snow...and what do ya know? She says YES. It's my only day off in a week and all I get is one.I keep looking out the window or go back to bed because I'm resting my eyes for a few more minutes. Years ago I remember moving to Arizona just to get away from the cold. And hey I'm back - well made it through Utah too after Arizona. So I should be used to it right? I absolutely LOVE LOVE New York City! I absolutely cannot be okay with cold weather. My nose runs, my ears start to hurt and I just feel angry and miserable. Like the Grinch. Haha! So since I can't go anywhere today... ( usually I like to go shop or go have lunch somewhere different on my days off, or go to the bookstore and have coffee) ....not happening today. I'm stuck here. In middle of nowhere away from the rest of the world....so how to make the best of it?

First up a big ol' yummy comforting breakfast :)

Sunny side up eggs, and pastrami...but wait my friend gave me some biscuits she made before she left for her christmas vacation home...so we attempt our first ever biscuits and gravy! www.allrecipes.com is the greatest place to go for new recipes, and usually there is an easy one. They all seemed to have sausage in them...which I only have italian sausage. I wonder how that would taste? Maybe I should try it? Not today. It was surprisingly easy! And outstanding too! I feel the need to use the word Outstanding since I have to use it at work all the time..whats a day without the word Outstanding lol..really....

So now that I have had the breakfast of Champions and have my big cup of coffee I'm good to go. I can now relax and search etsy for some more mod dresses, boots, and other various items that I need to have. Okay maybe not need.......but really really want! I think I should find a job at a vintage store...not Macy's.

Obsessing over Vintage

So I've been just looking up Edie Sedgwick and Twiggy and I'm starting to fall in love with the 60's. I guess I have always wanted clothes from each decade starting with the 20's and even liking the 70's and 80's.

So I have been searching for mod dresses on etsy and I have found a few that I absolutely just want to buy! But of course it's not even christmas yet and I still have shopping to do! I just will imagine myself wearing them and maybe even find some other's after the holiday.

I think I could wear all these dresses with some of my black boots....

My Latest Favorite Fashion Finds

There have been certain items I have been searching for lately. It always seems when there is a specific jacket or design of a hat you want you absolutely cannot find it anywhere. I recently purchased a dress on etsy.com and it is so adorable!

But now I don't know what shoes to wear with it and so I'm on a search for shoes that will be totally appropriate. Or boots? I recently bought two adorable pairs of pumps from macy's. One is a Carlos Santana Brand and the other Alfani but in Leopard. I think if the pumps from Alfani weren't leopard I could wear them say in the red. All I can say is I love love this dress! Simple yet pretty.

The one thing I have wanted that I've been unable to find....a Motorcycle jacket. I see them but I guess you have to really feel that particular jacket looks good! Some are too bulky or since I'm petite they just don't fit right. Guess if I was a little taller finding clothes might be easier? No wonder clothes always look good on models- they are like hangers for clothes most of the time. They seem like they would be beautiful on everyone but in reality they could look absolutely hideous. At almost 30 I feel like I finally know when I look at something what will look pretty. I think of all the crazy items I've bought. I remember buying some flare pants at Earth Traders or a store like Earth Traders ( I wonder if that place is still around)...some hippie pants that well let's face it - I have a ghetto booty as the hubby would say. They just weren't flattering. Anyway I'm rambling as usual. So I found a Motorcycle Jacket at Forever 21! So far it's the only one I can find that I like the best! But if anyone happens to find a real leather motorcycle jacket let me know where they all are so I can scope them out!

The next item I absolutely have not been able to find anywhere is a hat like the one Audrey Hepburn wears in Sabrina. I have no idea where to find one like it. Its absolutely adorable! Maybe because Audrey is wearing it. Everything she wore was so classy. I watch her movies and I'm just fascinated by her. I have heard some people say they don't know what was so great about her. I think she was graceful and beautiful without even having to try. She had the most amazing smile.

This last item is one from etsy. It reminds me of how I used to wear my dresses my senior year in high school with a few more embellishments. Quite adorable! And lovely color!

Hopefully after christmas I will be able to have a list and I'm going to the vintage stores in NYC and Brooklyn... Just a couple more weeks!

Tom Kha Gai Soup Recipe

This is by far one of my favorite recipes ever - I add bean thread noodles or rice noodles to make it a whole meal, and sometimes diced chicken or tofu. I found the recipe on another blog...and changed the seasonings to make it a little easier.

Try it! Very comforting!

Ingredients:

2-4 Cans Chicken or Vegetable Broth
1 Can of Coconut Milk ( I really like Whole Foods Organic Light Coconut Milk)
1/2 package of Bean thread noodles ( you may want to break the noodles up a bit otherwise they will be very long :)
Bok Choy ( Sliced into Ribbons)
1 package of mushrooms
1 Lime
1 tsp Garlic Ginger paste ( or to taste)
1 tsp Soy Sauce
Lemongrass ( to taste - Be very careful to only use a little bit if you do otherwise the soup will be very bitter) so this ingredient is optional
Chopped Cilantro ( optional)
Chile pepper flakes ( optional)

Bring Cans of Broth and 1/2 cup of Coconut Milk to Boil, add Garlic Ginger Paste...simmer for about 10-15 min...you can also add the lemongrass here if you like....

Add in another 1/4 cup of coconut milk, bean thread, bok choy, mushrooms, and soy sauce. Cook for about 5 mins to let the bok choy wilt, the mushrooms soften, and noodles to soften. Remove from heat and add the juice from 1 lime, and cilantro, and chile pepper flakes. If you have anyone who doesn't like spicy foods you may definitely want to omit the pepper flakes. The kids love this recipe without it so I see no need to add it when they are around.

When I add the soup to the dishes I use a large serving fork thing for the noodles and I cut them up. If you decide to use the whole package of noodles - it will make it less like a soup obviously. So do as you choose.

I wish I had a picture! Maybe next time I make it there will be one :)

Enjoy!!