Ti Amo Thursdays

Hello lovelies! While I am lounging on my couch this cloudy day, sadly it is because I am sick. I had made the decision to do a colon cleanse this last week and am now paying for it. My doctor has successfully scolded me but also gave me some meds to ease the pain. Thankfully, I can still use my fingers to search the web for beautful clothes and accesories such as these:

Mossimo Messenger Bag from Target
Unfortunately, the website isn't allowing me to save the picture in the format I need so you will need to click the link to see this beauty. I was in Target the other night with my husband to buy Black Swan on BluRay when I noticed it. However, we were in a hurry so I was rushed along. Needless to say, I think this is the perfect handbag to take to Vegas in a few weeks and I plan to go back to Target once I'm feeling better.

Athens Air Pleated Pink Tank Top from Lulu's

I really enjoy the softness of this pink tank. This would be perfect for work and play :)

Flowery Ruffle Front Sundress from Forever 21

I just think this is cute and frilly and for under $20, what's not to love?!

I also want to take this time to give a shout out to one of my fellow fashion bloggers: StyleID

She recently gave me a fabulous blogger's award and I can't thank her enough. So if you need another daily blog addiction, please check her out!!!

Thanks to Lulu's and Forever 21 for the pictures. Hope you all have a good weekend!

Manic Monday

Another week.. another manic monday. I am starting to count the minutes until April 15th! We saw Sucker Punch in theatres Saturday and wow.. I am simply amazed. The soundtrack was beyond awesome! So my choices today come from the soundtrack.

Bjork-Army of Me

Ah, Bjork is so crazy. But her songs are so haunting, in a soul searching kind of way.

Emily Browning-Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

I love this song. Its been covered by so many different artists and I love every cover simply because I love the song so much! Emily Browning's voice goes so perfectly with the scene that this song was used for, it gave me chills in the theatre.

Silversun Pickups- Panic Switch

This song isn't actually on the soundtrack, but they used it in the trailers for the movie. Silversun is one of my favorite bands and I saw them in concert a few years back. As I get older, I find myself liking a mellow-er kind of rock and Silversun fills thoes shoes perfectly.

Thanks to YouTube for the videos!



From My Stovetop to Yours

Happy Sunday! Happy New Recipes :)

Pork Piccata
PointsPlus Value: 5
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 tsp table salt, divided

1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, divided (or less to taste)

1 pound(s) lean pork tenderloin, trimmed, cut into 16 thin slices

2 1/2 tsp olive oil, divided

3/4 cup(s) canned chicken broth, reduced-sodium

1/4 cup(s) fresh lemon juice

2 tsp cornstarch

2 tsp butter

1 Tbsp capers, drained

1/2 tsp minced garlic

12 oz spinach, baby-variety

Instructions:

In a small bowl, combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; sprinkle over both sides of pork, shaking off excess.

Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork (in 2 batches if necessary) and cook until just cooked through and golden, about 1 1/2 minutes per side; set aside on a serving plate and cover to keep warm.

In a cup, whisk together broth, lemon juice, cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper until blended. Pour into same skillet and whisk to combine with pan drippings; simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat; stir in butter until melted. Stir in capers and spoon over pork; cover to keep warm.

Heat remaining 1/2 teaspoon oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add spinach to skillet in batches, tossing mixture and adding more spinach as some of it cooks down. Cook, tossing, until wilted and tender, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, a pinch of pepper and serve with pork. Yields 4 slices pork, about 3 tablespoons sauce and 1/2 cup spinach per serving.

We just made this for lunch today for the first time. While I'm not a fan of spinach, the pork was absolutely delicious!

Thanks to WeightWatchers for the picture!

In the Queue

We have taken the leap. We have cancelled cable. So now we entirely rely on our Netflix subscription and the internet to satisfy our tv and movie cravings. On the short list this week:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I just finished the book yesterday and while I was a bit disappointed overall, I would still give the book a solid 3.5 out of 5 rating. I'm hoping the movie does a true portrayal of Lisbeth Salander, since she was my favorite part of the book. I'm highly looking forward to the American version as well with yummy Daniel Craig.

Weeds: Season 1

If you haven't seen this series, I highly (teehee) recommend it! I've watched it through the 5th season and have finally convinced my husband to watch it. Mary Louise Parker is sensational and the storyline constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat, either laughing hysterically or shaking your head in disbelief at the shenanigans Parker's Nancy and Company get into.

Sex & The City 2

Well, what can I say? That I like looking at all of the rediculous clothes these middle aged women get the opportunity to wear? I am not a fan of the show and while the first movie was tolerable, this second one was definitely laughable. I remember leaving the theatre in astonishment of the big head that is SJP. Ugh, I am so not a fan of hers and I apologize if any of you are, but her demeanor and very essence just rubs me the wrong way. Kim Cattrall is always the saving grace for me with her outrageous dialog and sex scenes and again the only positive thing I can say about this movie is the fabulous fashion.



Thanks to Netflix for the pictures!

Ti Amo Thursdays

Yes, yes I know I'm late! My husband got me distracted with thoughts of cruises and beaches and exotic locations.. nonetheless here are my personal picks for the week.

Wrap-around Velvet Zig-Zag Wedge from GoJane

I've had a gift card for GoJane since Christmas and I think I've finally found what I'm going to use it on. Wedges are extremely plentiful this season which is why I love the zig zag twist on the well, wedge! Because lets face it, we all like to stick out from the pack!

http://www.betseyjohnson.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11148487

I apologize but the Link feature doesn't seem to want to work for this one.

Ahh, I adore the whimsy that is Betsey Johnson and this dress is no exception. If I were to ever splurge on designer threads it would almost undoubtedly be Betsey because for one night (hopefully more!) I know I would have an absolute blast in whatever I decided to buy.

And finally, I've been thinking of my next hair color. (I tend to change it often) and I really enjoyed being a redhead last fall so I'm thinking of something along the lines of this..

More so the color of red that is in the root area. I've been the koolaid red before and while its fun for the 2 weeks it lasts, its very expensive to upkeep so I think the deeper red will still give me my ginger fix while being a little more reasonable on the checkbook.

Thoughts??

Hope you all have been having a lovely week. I have some exciting things to post soon! :)

Thanks to GoJane, Betsey Johnson and Google for the pictures!

Photoshoot Inspirations

As a hobby, I do a bit of modeling. Its a creative outlet for me and I enjoy the fashion aspect of it. It's always a thrill to find the perfect outfit then mesh that together with makeup and hair to create this character to portray. I've had a bit of a break from it because of tax season obviously but since that is starting to wind down I've been in talks with a few of my favorite photographers for future shoots and here are a few of my inspirations:

Sucker Punch

I've pretty much ordered my entire outfit on Ebay already. I cannot wait to see this movie in theatres on Friday with my husband. I am so in love with the sexy confidence these girls have and can't wait to put my own spin on it!

Lady Punisher

I've already portrayed Harley Quinn and Maleficent, two of my favorite villains. And as my husband is a huge fanboy of comic books I wanted to take another spin in the comic world. After bouncing ideas off a photographer we both agreed that Lady Punisher would be a huge benefit for both of our portfolios. She is such a bad ass, no?

I also want to do a full day fashion shoot full of my recent favorites in fashion right now.. but I think I've spoiled enough so we will all have to patiently wait for these shoots to happen! :)

Thanks to Google for the pictures!



Manic Monday

One more month and I will be boarding a jet plane to Sin City! I watched Eat, Pray, Love over the weekend which made me extremely reminiscent of my past travels so all of my choices this week are inspired by foreign music artists. Many of which we were exposed to on our Eurotrip last Fall. Enjoy :)

Art vs. Science- Parlez Vous Francais?

This is sure to get stuck in your head for hours on end! :P

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP- We No Speak Americano

Again, just another catchy tune. They played this in a lot of the bars and clubs.

Laserkraft 3D- Nein Mann

We heard this on MTV in our hotel room in Prague. It's from a German group. Extremely odd but again pretty infectious.

Have a lovely week!

Thanks to YouTube for the videos!

From My Stovetop to Yours

Today I bring you another weekly staple from our household and another wonderful Weight Watchers recipe.

Whole Wheat Chili Mac
Serves 6
Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 4

Ingredients:

12 oz uncooked lean ground beef (with 7% fat)

1 medium onion, chopped

14.5 oz canned stewed tomatoes, Mexican-style, undrained

1 1/4 cup(s) canned tomato sauce

2 Tbsp canned green chili peppers, diced, drained

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 cup(s) dry whole-wheat elbow macaroni

15 oz canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained

Instructions:

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion until meat is browned, about 10 minutes; drain off fat. Stir in undrained stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili peppers, chili powder and cumin; bring to a boil.

Stir in uncooked macaroni and kidney beans. Return to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until macaroni is tender, about 15 minutes. Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving.

The Fabulous Way

Instead of using whole wheat macaroni noodles, we use whole wheat rotini. We also switched out the chili peppers for jalepeno peppers--it gives it a bit of an extra kick (if you are prone to heartburn, stick with the chili peppers!) I also don't bother measuring out the tomato sauce and just use the entire can since it is only an extra 1/4 cup and it helps keep the mixture a bit more moist. I also only reduce the heat to medium, because otherwise the noodles don't cook all the way through. But keeping it on a higher heat requires you to stir every few minutes so it doesn't start to stick. It took me a couple of times to perfect this recipe but I suppose that is the joy of cooking: taking someone else's recipe and making it your own :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Thanks to Weight Watchers for the picture!



Ti Amo Thursdays

In honor of St. Pat's all of my choices this week are going to be.. GREEN!

Bird Charm Friendship Bracelet from Charlotte Russe

Can you say adorable?! And to top that, Charlotte Russe is having a 25% off sale STOREWIDE! Get to shopping ladies!

James Jeans Cuffed Petal Shorts from ShopBop

I love the silhouette that these shorts create. However with the not so friendly pricetag I will just be admiring them from my computer screen today!

Two Lips Energy Pump from DSW

It may just be me, but I get a bit of a sporty vibe from these pumps and I really enjoy that. The mesh detailing is a bit of an unexpected twist and for $29.95, these could definitely be a guilt free splurge!

So any fabulous St. Pat's plans? Mine include working til 6, an hour personal training session and then to the restaurant Applebees who is donating 10% of their sales tonight to my brother's baseball team. Whatever you decide to do, be safe and have fun!

Thanks to Charlotte Russe, ShopBop and DSW for the pictures!



Manic Monday

oh boy! So, as a tax accountant I get my taxes in as soon as I can so I don't have to worry about them any longer than I need to. So I've been patiently awaiting our refund and I finally check the "Where's my Refund?" program on the IRS website today. Apparently there is a 6-8 week delay on my return because they haven't updated their system for repaying homebuyer credits. Grr... so needless to say it has been a Manic Monday! But enough personal stuff. I've been listening to "The Smiths" station on Pandora the past few days and ahhh.. I don't know if I can get any closer to musical nirvana. I really love 80s new wave. So all of my songs today are some fabulous covers of 80s songs. Enjoy!

Lacuna Coil-Enjoy The Silence

Originally by Depeche Mode (whom I absolutely freakin adore!) I think I just lovelovelove this song. It plucks the soul strings for me.. can't really explain it.

Deftones- Please Please Please Let Me Get I Want

Originally by The Smiths. Ahh, I love Chino's voice...

Marilyn Manson-Tainted Love

Originally by Soft Cell. I have to admit, Marilyn Manson awakes the inner freak in me. (Don't be so shocked, you know you have one too!) I'm not a big fan of him personally but he has done some truly amazing covers.

From My Stovetop to Yours

How was everyone's weekend? Ours was fabulously low-key and we are going to be making this yummy dish for my family this evening!

White Chicken Lasagna
Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
8 oz lasagna noodles
Two (2) 10 oz cans of Cream of Chicken Soup
One (1) cup grated Parmesan Cheese
One (1) cup finely chopped white onion
Half (1/2) tsp garlic salt
Half (1/2) tsp minced garlic
One (1) tsp butter
Three (3) cups diced, cooked chicken
(1 breast=1 cup)
Two (2) cups shreeded American cheese
(use slices and break them up)
Additional parmesan cheese for topping

Directions:
Dice chicken breasts and onion. Cook together in skillet with butter and minced garlic. Cook lasagna (if necessary). Blend soups, parmesan cheese, sour cream, and garlic salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir in cooked chicken and onions.

To assemble- spray pan with nonstick cooking spray. Alternate layers of lasagna, chicken mixture, American cheese. Do this three (3) times, ending with American cheese. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Cooking-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Uncover and sprinkle generously with parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45-50 minutes. Let stand ten (10) minutes before serving.

The Fabulous Way
My husband adds a tsp of cajun seasoning and instead of using two cans of Cream of Chicken, he uses one can and then one jar of Alfredo sauce. Its DELICIOUS! I love being married to an Italian :)

Ti Amo Thursdays

Another week loves.. whew! I'm tired and exhausted from all of these taxes, I will say this at least 10 more times but I cannot wait until April 15th! So to keep my sanity, I daydream about the day I can shop for these:

Chic Belted Jumper from Forever 21

There are many styles of rompers/jumpers available for Spring/Summer but I adore this simple and flattering silhouette. Nothing too crazy. Just elegant and casual at the same time.

buckled strappy leatherette sandal from GoJane

I'm in need of some plain strappy sandals. I love GoJane and the fact that these are only $15 means they are definitely getting added to my shopping list!

Juicy Couture Beach 'Little Lulu' Halter Swimdress from Nordstrom

I definitely need to go bathing suit shopping asap! I found one a Kenneth Cole one piece I liked at Dillards a couple of weeks ago but it was not nearly as cute as this Juicy Couture one. I may be taking a trip to Nordstrom here soon :)

So what has caught your eye this week?

Thanks to Forever 21, GoJane and Nordstrom for the pictures!



Manic Monday

I got some really good personal news this morning regarding my husband so my songs today are pretty happy and/or sassy! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and enjoy the rest of your week!

Britney Spears- Hold It Against Me

The lyrics of this song scarily remind me of the first night I kissed my husband. (Scary in a good way!)

The Pretty Reckless- Make Me Wanna Die

I am a fan of all things Gossip Girl, except Taylor Momsen lol. I think she's a spoiled brat. But I do really enjoy her band's music and I hate to admit it but the girl can sing.

Enrique Inglesias f/Ludacris- Tonight (I'm Loving You)

Enrique's videos are always hot but WHEW..



I'm hoping my work week isn't as crazy as I think it is going to be but even if it is, this good news will help me through! :)

From My Stovetop to Yours

Today we have one of mine and my husband's favorite dinners. It is a weekly staple and while you may wrinkle your nose at the sound of it; if you like Mexican food, it is a must try!

Here we have...
Mexican Meatloaf
Serves 6
Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value= 4 per serving

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

1/2 pound extra lean gound beef

1/2 pound lean ground turkey breast

2 large egg whites

2 oz cornbread stuffing dry mix (about 1 cup)

1 medium chopped onion

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp ground cumin

4 oz canned green chili peppers, diced

8 oz canned enchilada sauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a broiler pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix beef, turkey, egg whites, stuffing mix, onion, chili powder, cumin, chilies, and half of enchilada sauce together. Shape into an oval with your hands and place on prepared broiler pan. Cook for 1 hour, top with remaining enchilada sauce and bake for 5 minutes more. Slice into 6 pieces and serve.

**The Fabulous Way

We cook our meatloaf in a cupcake pan. Weird I know, but it cooks the meatloaf better and cuts down on the cooking time (only 35 min instead of 60)

Ti Amo Thursdays

Hello lovelies! Hope you are having a good week! Work has been busy busy for me but I still had time to pore my eyes over these beauties:

Zebra Ruffle Slingback Heel from Charlotte Russe

I'm usually not a big fan of animal print. I feel you either have to been under 18 or over 40 to pull it off. But these slingbacks are fabulous and would make an excellent standout accessory to an otherwise drab outfit!

House of Blue Leaves on Etsy

I have to do a bit of open bragging and coddling for this one. My husband is absolutely genius when it comes to crocheting. He started last year with scarves and gloves but has now made his way to clutches and purses! I'm lucky enough to have my own private arsenal at home but if you are looking for something unique and handmade for either yourself or a loved one, please check out his newly created Etsy store! More items will be added soon :)

European Impressions Tour from Contiki

Traveling is ALWAYS on my mind. My goal is to retire in the Italian or French riviera. Europe is simply beautiful and I could go on for days and days about our amazing travels there. So as I daydream at work sometimes I can't help but browse the tours on Contiki's website. Contiki is a tour group geared towards 20somethings which is nice if you don't want to travel with kids or seniors (no offense if you are either!) and offers a no hassle vacation for very decent prices. I won't be able to return to the other side of the pond 'til at least 2013 but I am already looking forward to it!

Speaking of vacations, we leave for Vegas in 7 weeks! I am beyond excited and many of these "Ti Amo" posts that include clothing will end up on my shopping list for this trip. But I am also looking forward to the food, nightlife and shows. Nonetheless I want to look fabulous for all of it so here is to 7 more weeks to find the perfect wardrobe for Sin City!

Thanks to Charlotte Russe, Etsy, and Contiki for the pictures!



Best Dressed: Oscar's

I have yet to watch the actual broadcast (its on my DVR!) but I've seen the red carpet pictures and my personal verdict is in.. and its a tie! I don't know if its because they are both from my favorite of the nominated movies (Black Swan!) or the fact that they are both beautiful and talented women wearing beautiful shades of purple but Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis wowed me. Natalie Portman's Rodarte dress is spectacular and the Tiffany jewels were the perfect finishing touches- she is truly glowing! Mila's Elie Saab dress was a bit unexpected for me. I'm not a huge lace fan but the color and the silhouette were both extremely flattering on her.

So who were your favorite celebs of the night?

Thanks to MTV for the split picture!