Happy Anniversary!

Today is me and C's 4 year anniversary! I can't believe it's been that long- seems so much shorter! I am so happy to have found someone to wipe my tears, shed my fears, and share in my joys, someone to be silly with, someone to call home. He is my best friend and partner-in-crime. It's been quite an adventure and I wouldn't want it to be with anyone else! Here are just a few things we had fun doing this year...

- traveled to India for 2 weeks for our friends' wedding!

- celebrated Christmas together...in our apartment, with our own tree!

- started our 3rd year living together

- saw the Wailers perform at an awesome outdoor concert

- went to the beach nearly every weekend this summer

- went to the Indo-American, Italian, and San Genarro Festivals

- attended the Parked! Food Truck Festival

- went to multiple baby/ bday parties
- had an awesome 4th of July

- traveled to Florida to see the Phillies in Spring Training

- celebrated St. Patty's Day in Florida with a night time parade!

- went to several Phillies games
- had a vacation with C's parents for the first time
- watched WICKED on Broadway

- snow tubed for the first time!

- C started to teach me how to drive stick shift 
-went on a Reggae Boat Cruise

- we managed through C's surgery and unemployment

- went to the New York Rennaisance Faire

- attended the NYC BBQ Festival
-watched some Roller Derby

- saw Estelle live in concert

-had a Fall Trifecta of Fun

and probably lots more that I'm missing! It has been an awesome year together and I can't wait for more! 

I know he's reading this ('cause he's supportive like that), and I just want to say Happy Anniversary Boo! I love you!!! 

OHP: Weekend Updates Edition

Friday:
Chinese Delivery and DVR. It was perfect really.

Saturday:
I found myself with unexpected "Me Time"... yay! So I decided to try a few things from my Pinboard "Tips/Tricks."

Source: mythirtyspot.com via Dani on Pinterest

You know how even if you wash your towels on the regular, after a while they get a bit... stinky? Well, mine do, so I did this. It worked! (It also made me so grateful that I have my own washer and dryer!) Simply wash your towels once with a cup of vinegar, and a second time with a half cup of baking soda. And Voila! Stink-free towels!

Then I tried working on some carpet stains. The Offenders:

I have no idea what this is. The one on the right looks like rust maybe? The one on the left might be mud.

The Tip/trick:

Source: onegoodthingbyjillee.com via Dani on Pinterest

The Outcome:

Womp womp.

They faded some. But, I think it actually looks worse than before. Will have to try again with a different trick soon.

Sunday:
I had a Mom- and-Me day while C stayed home and rested. We got manis, ate some lunch, and then went to see a chick flick. Pretty perfect for a Sunday afternoon in the city!

Essie's Berry Hard, my new fave red

Source: via Clouds on Pinterest

Watched Pitch Perfect. Honestly, I didn't think it was that great. It was really predictable. But Fat Amy was hilarious! 

Source: buzzfeed.com via Dani on Pinterest

And I kind of want the mixes that Beca created- they were hot!

Then I came home and vegged with C and watched Once Upon a Time, which I am just starting to get caught up on, and some other shows we recorded.

Source: fanpop.com via Arlene on Pinterest

How was your weekend?

linking up with Michelle!

What's Cookin? Italian Sausage and Bow Tie Pasta

I found this recipe on Pinterest and eventually on this blog.  Like I've said before, you eat with your eyes first and when I was searching for a recipe, the one with the prettiest pictures won.  I obviously took my own picture but you get the point.  I changed just a few tiny things about it but you can do that with stews and chilis and they will almost always turn out.  I added less spice than the original recipe called for but you can easily adjust that.

Source: lovebakesgoodcakes.com via Dani on Pinterest

Italian Sausage with Bow Tie Pasta, Spinach and Tomatoes

Yield: 4-6 servings

1 (12 oz.) pkg. bow tie pasta

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 lb. mild Italian sausage, casings removed

½ tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

½ cup diced onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (28 oz.) Italian-style plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped

1½ cups heavy cream

1 cup packed spinach leaves, cut into thin strips

Fresh parsley, minced (optional)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook and crumble the sausage and red pepper flakes over medium-high heat until cooked through and browned. Add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is tender. Add the tomatoes and heavy cream. 

Simmer until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Add the spinach and cook an additional 3 minutes. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce. 

Sprinkle with parsley, if desired. 

Enjoy!

What's cookin in your kitchen?

Do You Meal Plan?

Source: thepeacefulmom.com via Sharon Halimah on Pinterest

One thing that I started doing last year was meal planning. Honestly, this started because of blogging. Yes, I admit, the blogging community changed my life .. for the better! I hadn't even heard of meal planning before. I must have been living under a rock. Maybe it's because my family growing up and my current family consist of two people, and there wasn't much need to plan meals, we just eat whatever we feel like. Or maybe because my mom (and me, now) don't know how to cook (sad, but true).

Source: 9gag.com via Dani on Pinterest

Usually, when I see meal-planning posts, it's by women/wives who have families to feed. And the burden falls on them to create dinner that everyone will like, or at least eat. Since living with C, on my way home form work I was always asking, "What are we gonna do about dinner?" We usually have a meat and some sides in the house as staples, but our list of daily eats seemed very limited. I wanted to branch out. I wanted more! And then, I saw a post about meal planning, and a little light bulb went off in my head... "Hey! I could DO that!" But did I want to? Well, the reasons seemed pretty obvious:

1. It saves money

2. It saves time

3. It's easy

4. I was tired of asking "What's for dinner?" every.single.night.

5. I wanted to expand our repertoire of easy, yummy meals

So I decided yes, of course I want to! The harder part was getting C on board. He likes to cook, but he's used to eating the same things over and over again. (I'm pretty sure his mom had a schedule, meatloaf on Mondays, Roast chicken and baked potatoes on Tuesday, etc.) I was ok with this for a while, but I wanted some variety. But where to find recipes? 

I started with recipes I found in the newspaper and magazines. C liked the idea! WOOHOO! I moved on to Pinterest and recipes on cooking blogs, and viola! I made a recipe binder! Every time I see a recipe that uses foods we normally use in a way we wouldn't normally eat it, I would cut it out (or print it out). I found that we were usually just sitting around on Sunday afternoons, so that's when we plan. We go through the week, and literally write out a schedule. If someone wasn't going to be home, that would automatically be YOYO (Your On Your Own) night. I got C involved by having him write it out, and then I would go through the binder and pick out a few recipes that we had at least some of the ingredients on hand. 

For some reason, I can't turn the pic... sorry!

1. Go through circulars and see what's on sale

2. Go through cupboard/fridge/freezer and take inventory

3. Pick out some yummy recipes via Cookbooks/Magazine/Pinterest/Food on the Table
4.  Grab glass of wine or drink of choice, turn music on 
5. Cook it!

Here is our menu for this week:
Monday: YOYO (your On Your Own!)
Tuesday: Beef Stew
Wednesday: Italian Sausage with Bow Ties, Spinach and Cherry Tomatoes
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: stuffed shells
Saturday: Date Night

I have to say, this is one of the best money-saving ideas I've come across. And we've actually eaten healthier due to planning! We were majorly slacking in the summer, but now we're getting back on track. This has also been a bonding experience for us, because not only do we pick the meals together, but I am also (slowly) learning how to cook (with his help of course)!

Source: wanelo.com via Jeri on Pinterest

The Happiness Report #8

- Hale and Hearty Lobster Bisque soup

- homemade apple pie

- going to the movies

-home remedies

-time to relax

- The Grapes of Wrath video that I first saw at Classy Confessions:

-this website: Humans of New York. 

- Essie's Berry Hard

-red wine

-DVR

What's making you smile this week?

When I Dress Up To Run Errands

Have you ever worn a certain outfit just to run errands? Not going anywhere special, just want to wear something other than jeans and a hoodie, or try a look? No? Ok, maybe that's just me. 

Sometimes, I try to recreate cool, laidback looks, like when I tried to redo this model's outfit:

Source: Uploaded by user via Dani on Pinterest

I didn't think I did too shabby, but C disagreed. Also, this wasn't comfortable at all.

Boo :-/

plaid shirt/ utility jacket/ black skinnies: Old Navy

shoes: Nine West via TJ Maxx

belt: thifted

This one I was able to figure out on my own, and it was super comfy! Disregard the mall parking lot in the background. I tried to make it more "nature-y" by posing with the only tree in the place...

white tank: F21

chambray shirt: Wet Seal

black skinnies/ sandals: Old Navy

watch: gifted

bracelet: Kiel James Patrick

belt: borrowed from a dress

I'm linking up with What I Wore Wednesday and Real Girl Style.

The Blahs

Originally, this was just going to be a super whiny, ranty, post. And as cathartic as that may be, it would also be useless.

Source: someecards.com via Shelly on Pinterest

 I don't actually want to be ranty and unmotivated. So I'm trying to "look on the bright side". Of course, I couldn't do it for all of these so called "problems," but I attempted. Here goes:

Problem: I am unmotivated.
Solution: Maybe if I actually did something useful instead of whine about crap, I would feel better. People have real problems. There are real issues in the world that are far bigger and badder than anything I could possibly whine about.
That doesn't make me feel better. 

Problem: I am having an ugly day... you know those days when you just throw on whatever, but you don't feel "cute"? And because my outfit isn't cute, I am unmotivated to put on make up.
Solution: Put on some damn make up and try again tomorrow.

Problem: My office is empty. Most of the staff is at a training in Texas. Until Thursday. It's too quiet in here.

Solution: Get over it. They're coming back Thursday, and you complain when they are hear blabbering about nonsense anyway. Enjoy it! Put on some music and get to work. 


I'm liking this one right now.

Problem: 2 of my friends don't work here anymore, and that makes me sad.

Solution: none found. Womp. 

Problem: My other friend is out sick. She is my lunch buddy. For the last 2 days, I haven't left my desk at lunch, and that makes me sad too. 

Solution: Get up and go outside for a walk. Or just sit. Just go outside.

Problem: I had a cute day yesterday, but no one noticed because my friends aren't here and 3/4 of my office is out. Or maybe it wasn't that cute, but I felt cute, and isn't that half the battle? 

Solution: Take a picture. Put it in the rotation.

Source: stylecaster.com via StyleYourLife on Pinterest

Problem: I don't have a lot of work to do. And I'm really tired of "making up projects" to look busy. The little work I do have is super boring. 

Solution: Talk to people. Offer to help others. But first, do the boring stuff.

Problem: Going to work and going home in darkness sucks. 

Solution: Seasons change. Again, get over it!

Problem: I want a whole day to read. Or bake. Or blog, but with pictures and interesting stories. Or attempt to cook some of the amazing recipes I've been pinning.
Solution: Take a vacation day. You have plenty.

Problem: I want a vacation.
Solution: See above. And below.

Problem: My mom wants me to go to PR before the end of the year. I wanted to go on a birthday vacation for my big 12/12/12. 

Solution: Take a birthday vacation to PR? I actually never thought of that... maybe this is more helpful than I thought!

Problem: I want to not hurt my friends by saying insensitive things. Even if it was an accident.

Problem: I want to go home and not plop my big booty down on the couch and not move for the rest of the night. I want to have the energy, motivation, and time to do things. 

Problem: I want to end the cycle. Wake up, get ready, go to work, be bored, go home, eat, repeat. 

Problem: I want to not be so dang. whiny. 

Solution: Write it out! 

Source: pinterestschunt375.blogspot.com via Delaine on Pinterest

What do you do when you're unmotivated or generally blah?