Tea Mixy

I've been doing this for about a year now, and just started sharing the idea with friends. I've been mixing green tea with Tazo Passion tea. The flavor is bold, fruity, and earthy all at once. It's a great replacement to my "second cup of coffee" (in quotes because its technically somewhere around cup number 5 that I stop). Also a great afternoon warm up!

Wednesday Pizza

Since last night was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent, I made a veggie loaded pizza to avoid any meat. Normally I'm not much of a carnivore- only eating Chicken and Fish- but since I grew up on Pizza and Pasta during days of abstaining for lent, I figured I'd keep the tradition. Last night I used Whole Foods pizza dough, Whole Foods organic pasta sauce and Whole Foods shredded mozzarella. Toppings included carmalized onions, sauted peppers, and fresh basil leaves. I also added a ring of pesto just before the crust (a tip my Uncle Joe gave me), and lots of oregano, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic!

This year- as in the past, I'm giving up my favorite treat: ice cream. It'll be a struggle, but it makes the first cone after Easter really special :-)

A Lovely Night

A few photos I snapped before my Valentine and I devoured our take out dinner from Tangierino in Charlestown. We decided a low key night with a nice meal at home would make the best Valentine's day this year. I set up a little cafe table and used my desk chairs and an old silk red sheet to cover the table. It turned out very quaint and left us plenty of extra to really splurge on an amazing vintage bottle of chateauneuf du pape. We ate lemon chicken with vegetable couscous and Moroccan eggplant. Everything was fantastic! I made red velvet cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese frosting for dessert and my sweetie brought a bottle of dessert wine for us to sip on. It was perfect. 

please forgive the ugly cable wires!

my favorite mirror- made of recycled fashion magazines

our cute little cafe in the corner of my bedroom....

Eu Amo Voce

( I love you my dark eyed sweet one)
Happy Valentine's Day!

Below are a few things that made me feel loved today.

a french manicure I was able to fit in last night

red velvet cupcakes (not yet frosted)

18 red roses sent to the office from my Valentine

Cole Haan OTK boots in Grey Suede- a gift to myself :-)

Spread blush across the sky

Just picked this one up from Nate's Valentine's Day Mixbox: Alexander Ebert Million Years. It'll be on repeat this weekend as my sweetie and I hit the slopes.

Dedicating this one to my valentine <3 

Keep a Friend

Not a new song, just some new feelings for Dr. Dog's  Keep a Friend

Even rich men ask for more,
Well I ain't poor
But I'm a beggar for your love
And enough it ain't enough
You can call me crazy
You can call me anything you like
Even gluttons got to eat,
Well I ain't weak
But I hunger for your love
And enough it ain't enough
Well I'd pawn my heart if I thought you'd break it
Sell my soul if I thought you'd take it
But every smile and conversation lets me know that you're only in it for love
I intend to keep a friend in love
Please remember, I don't pretend in love
Even kings they ask for more,
Well I ain't sure
But I'm a pauper for your love
And enough it ain't enough
You can call me crazy
You can call me anything you like
Even rivers ask for rain,
Well I ain't sand
But I'm a desert for your love
And enough it ain't enough
Well I'd pawn my heart if I thought you'd break it
Sell my soul if I thought you'd take it
But every smile and conversation lets me know that you're only in it for love
I intend to keep a friend in love

Welcome Home Griff!

My roommate Griff, the most adorable and loving little guy, has been vacationing in Maryland for the past few months, and finally came home to keep us company through the long winter ahead! So glad to have him back, and those sweet eyes to greet me when I get home :-)

Isn't he the cutest?

Woopie Pie Wednesday!

We have been having food themed days at work this week to keep us all sane while we are busy with Holiday 11 briefing. Today was Woopie Pie Wednesday! I made these little darlings last night. They weren't as cake-y as I would have liked, but still very delicious! Recipe to be posted. In the meantime here are some photos.

Tabitha's Magic

In love with these heels by Tabitha Simmons on TheOutNet.com

Adorable!!! They remind me of some I'd found in in Hong Kong last year and didn't splurge on....maybe now is the time?

Back to the Blog

The weather is getting colder, and with that comes more baking for me! After a great apple picking trip with some of my favorite friends- I tried a new Apple Pie recipe. This pie is not your traditional Apple Pie, but it has so many of the same elements, just used differently. It was received very well by co-workers and family members, and they keep asking for more.

Here is the recipe for Grandma Ople's Apple Pie:

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie 1/2 cup unsalted butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar DIRECTIONS: 1. Melt butter in a sauce pan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce temperature, and simmer 5 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off. 3. Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes. Side note: I was nervous about the apples in there all by themselves, so I added about 1/3 of the sugar/butter mixture to the apples before pouring them into the pie crust.. Then I topped with the lattice crust, then topped as directed with the mixture. I also added a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to the apples. Warning: your house will smell like heaven when this is baking! Caution: When this first comes out of the oven, its very liquid inside. Allow to cool before cutting! ENJOY <3

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup water 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced