Studded

I do not have many talents.  I want to be talented so bad. I work really hard to be talented but often fall short.  So, when my thoughts of wanting to design clothes entered my head I tried to sketch.  That didn't work.  Then, I was like maybe I can just sew.  That has not been going too well.  But I did have a thought maybe I can take baby steps.  I decided to first enhance pieces before I totally make them!  Therefore, I went to M&J Trimming and bought some enhancers.  I am definitely on to something here...

I am patting myself on the back.  

The Meat Pie- Year 1

Behold the recipe for the meat pie.  O yes- this year marks year one of me making the pie.  In previous years I would hope that one of my mom's friends would drop one off so I can immediately stick a fork into it.  But, this year I was in command.  

It is basically a sodium sandwich.  The pizzagaina is cheese, egg, and three types of meat.  We used sausage, hot Italian ham, and salami.  It is magical.  

Most people say you can only have a little bit.  I usually always exceed the little bit amount and have a lot bit.  I have so much of it over the week prior to and after Easter that I am good for the year.  I than have patience the whole year until the week before Easter again.  

That is an "M" you see in the middle of the pie.  I claim my work and possessions.  

Happy Easter!!

California Ruffle

Do you ever have pieces of clothing that you can remember exactly everything about the purchase?  I do- on almost all my clothes.  Almost everything I have bought myself was a huge decision.  I am not being dramatic-although maybe I am. But, I know there are other things in my life that I need to save my money for (i.e. a house, a wedding), and there is other people who go without or that I should buy something for.  So, every purchase is like a big deal.  That and the fact that when I buy I really have to love it. This is probably why I do not own a lot of basics.  Basics are boring so therefore I don't love them.  Take a black blazer for example.  A plain black blazer- not interested.  A black blazer with gold studs on the collar and pockets- loving it- gotta have it!  

This shirt is something I hold dear to me, (again dramatics may be a little bit).  I bought this the first time I visited San Diego.  I fell in love with the city right away. Since then I have always said San Diego is like a Hoboken on the beach but better.  Everyone is young and their main concern is to have a good time.  I bought this shirt in La Jolla. It is now 5 years old and looks as good as it did when I first got it.  

I feel happy as when I was there in store when I put it on, every time.  The shirt is enough to carry an entire outfit, with the bold color choice of purple, the print being so fab, the ruffle being subtle, and the high shine buttons- just right with a muted pant and sweater combo- like I did here for work.  

 

Foodie in Chi-town

The man & I are big food lovers.  We appreciate a good meal that is both presented well, by plate, taste, and server.  We have had plenty of bad experiences with waiters and waitresses, so we put emphasis on the wait staff when deciding on going back to a restaurant or not.  I can go on and on about the waitress who threw  a fork at us after kindly asked or Mary, the brute, from Delaware but I won't.  I want to encourage readers to get to Chicago- now!
First, we could not believe how inexpensive the flight was.  We are from North Jersey and round trip it was $300.  We kept checking to see if both our names were on the itinerary, then if the tickets were in fact round trip.  It all checked out so it really was just $300.  O'Hare is Continental's hub airport, which keeps the cost down, (I think- but it did sound factual and good). Then we get there and everyone is INCREDIBLY nice! Again, we are from the tri-state area so niceness is not the first reaction to a new comer.  After we got settled in my friend's apartment we went out for the night.  The first stop was a bar, in the heart of the city.  Well, it's not some dingy place in NYC where 12 people can sit and 200 others are packed in like pickles.  This place was half the size of a football field with a downstairs, that had-get this- CLEAN MULTI-STALLED bathrooms- another thing rare in the NYC nightlife. Drinks were almost half the price than in the big city. Needless to say everyone was feeling good that night.
We are explorers so the next day we went out to- what else?- explore! We start the day early and right so the first stop was to explore an eatery, of course.  I will now take you to Hannah's Bretzel's.

The above mouth-watering image is prosciutto, arugula, goat cheese, with truffle oil on pretzel bread.  We still curse ourselves for not getting one for the plane ride. 

I am not a fan of deep dish pizza but in Rome do what the Romans do. We tried Lou Malnati's.  A little too much bread for my tasting but it wasn't poison. I come from New Jersey where Star Pizza is the only pizza.

We went to Coco Pazzo for dinner.  I didn't feel like traveling with the cam-cam but it was very good.  They had polenta and that is always a good sign. Our taxi driver from the airport was actually once a cook there and told us about it, and even drove us by it, without the charge.  That is something no taxi driver in the tri-state would EVER do- not one that I have met, anyway.  

The next day we went to Chicago's Greek section.  We went to town on this one. Melted cheese for an appetizer, stuffed peppers & pork, on the bone, for entrees.  

One last time with breakfast at Cafe Tempo.  Presentation goes a long way with me because if they are taking the care into then they are most likely taking that much care into the taste. Below picture perfect...

Let me conclude in saying that we did not travel to Chicago for just the food.  To keep from gaining an enormous amount of weight when we were there we did walk- alot! Also, the temperature was Artic cold, so I'm sure we burned a few cals trying to keep warm.  My advice go to Chicago- put some money on the Cubbies & eat some food!

Little Ones

There comes a time in most people's lives where they want to be come parents...  I have not gotten to that time yet.  When I used to babysit the kids were  cute for a short stretch of time.  Then when the fighting begins and God forbid they should be told to go to bed then all hell breaks lose.  

But, in these recent months very close family friends have had a baby and my future sister-in-law recently popped one out.  I now think of this time in my life as a transitional period, where I cross over from avoiding the room where children are in, to making that the first room I visit, and probably where I will stay the remainder of the day.  

Now don't get wrong from the time I was little I always wanted to have a family.  I just knew that you had to be careful with babies and I am not the most gentle of people.  But, as I look into my nephew's little eyes and     adore his little nose or look at little Christian smiling as he bounces around and pulls himself up I know there is something in me that is changing.  
             
Maybe by the time I get married and we are a year or two I will fully want to commit.