Hope your day is amazing!!!
Life is good, I will be spending my Valentines day with this handsome man!
Valentines Day Ideas
February 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I have never been a huge fan of Valentines Day since I think it is such a commercialized holiday.. but I sure don’t mind a nice date with my hubs! My perfect Valentines Day consists of some quality time with my man and dinner made together. While I love going out to dinner I would much rather cook together! Here are some ideas of things that you can do. Making sweet treats is always a great idea or doing a care package for the one you love with a few items they love is a perfect way to make them feel special!
Image via The House the Atlars Built
Image via The House the Atlars Built
Image via Victoria’s Secret
Homemade Whoopie Pies
Image and recipe via Polliblog.com
Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze Recipe via Allrecipes.com
INGREDIENTS:
2 (4 ounce) filet mignon steaks
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black
pepper to taste
salt to taste
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup dry red wine
DIRECTIONS:
1. Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over both sides of each steak, and sprinkle with salt to taste.
2. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place steaks in hot pan, and cook for 1 minute on each side, or until browned. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add balsamic vinegar and red wine. Cover, and cook for 4 minutes on each side, basting with sauce when you turn the meat over.
3. Remove steaks to two warmed plates, spoon one tablespoon of glaze over each, and serve immediately.
Valentine’s Day Cocktail for my hubby: Vodka Gimlet
Image via Pinterest
Valentine Day Gift Guide for Her
February 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Here are a few things I wouldn’t mind seeing on Valentines Day!!
Perfume & Powder: Viktor Rolf Flowerbomb
Shoes: Prada
Watch: Michael Kors
Wallet: Tory Burch
White & Gold Bracelet: Befrend on Etsy
Gold Bracelet: Tory Burch
Makeup: Too faced
Valentines Day Gift Ideas
February 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I can’t believe it’s already February!! These last few months have flown by. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Here are some gift ideas I came up for that special someone!
1. Dr. Dre Solo Beats Headphones $200
2. Bugatchi Umo Shirt $149
3. Movado Bold Watch $695
4. Yves Saint Laurent Cologne $105
5. Roosevelt Fedora $30
6. Ray Bay Wayfarer $200
7. New Balance Sneakers $160
8. Bath & Body Works Noir Body Lotion $11 smells so good!
9. C.O. Bigelow Body Spray $12
My dining room
January 31, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Here is the dining room design I put together all on a budget! I found my solid rustic wood dining room table with two long benches (not pictured in the design) for around $400!! It seats about 6 people on the side 8 total including the end chairs. I can’t have all matching chairs at a formal dining room so I love the bench and chair combination. I love a good bargain. The chandelier is from overstock and another great bargain around $200. Can’t wait to show you photos once it is all completed!
Bar Cart Styling
January 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I am working on a few things for my home one of which is my dining room which I will post pictures soon! So far I have the table, benches, curtains, and the sideboard which is a good start! I have also been working on styling my bar area. I found some amazing inspiration on Pinterest! Which one is your fave?
All images via my pinterest with links to photos
Eating Healthy
January 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I have really been making a focus on eating healthy, I normally am not a terrible eater but I definitely love some mexican food and dessert which are my two downfalls on eating healthy!! If I could live off Mexican food I would. But lately I have been trying to incorporate way more veggies and fruits into the mix. For dinner I will do taco salads or chicken bowls instead of going out to eat. I have also started getting into juicing which I will have to post about later, so stay tuned. One of my favorite food blogs is Eat Yourself Skinny which features amazing healthy recipes. I have featured some of her recipes on my blog before and absolutely love them. Here are a few I am really excited to try this week!
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Servings: 4
Serving Size: 1 1/4 cups
Calories: 228
Fat: 5.4 g
Carbs: 21.8 g
Fiber: 3.5 g
Protein: 22.9 g
Old Points: 4.3 pts
Points+: 6 pts
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Here are your ingredients:
Recipe adapted from Cooking Light
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 tsp. chipotle chile powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 cup water
1/4 tsp. salt
1 (14 oz) can fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
2 (6-inch) tortillas, cut into strips
Cooking spray
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and shredded chicken; saute for about 2 minutes. Add chipotle chile powder and cumin; stir well. Add water, salt, chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and place tortilla strips on a baking sheet. Spray strips with cooking spray and sprinkle with a touch of chipotle chile powder or chipotle seasoning blend (such as Mrs. Dash). Bake at 350 for about 8 to 10 minutes. Top soup with baked tortilla strips, cilantro and a lime wedge and enjoy!
Skinny Chicken Enchiladas
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Servings: 8
Serving Size: 1 enchilada
Calories: 159.5
Fat: 5.9 g
Carbs: 17.8 g
Protein: 16.2 g
Fiber: 8.3 g
Old Points: 3 pts
Points+: 4 pts
______________________________
Here are your ingredients:
Adapted from Gina’s Skinny Recipes
For the sauce:
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 can diced green chilis
1-1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 tsp. southwest chipotle seasoning (Mrs. Dash)
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
3/4 cup fat-free chicken broth
Salt and fresh pepper to taste
For the chicken:
1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 cup diced onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
Salt
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. southwest chipotle seasoning (Mrs. Dash)
1/3 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup tomato sauce
8 (6-inch) reduced carb whole wheat flour tortillas
1 cup shredded low-fat Mexican cheese
Nonstick cooking spray
In a medium saucepan, spray oil and saute garlic. Add green chilis, chipotle seasoning, cumin, chicken broth, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onions and garlic on low until soft, about 2 minutes. Add chicken, salt, cilantro, cumin, oregano, chipotle seasoning, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Spray a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick spray. Put 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each tortilla and roll it. Place in baking dish seam side down. Top with sauce and cheese. Cover with foil and bake in the oven on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes. Top with scallions if desired and enjoy!
Link for recipes click here
A great shopping spot in Phoenix..
January 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Union at the Biltmore Fashion Park is a great shopping spot! It features 18 independent and local owned businesses such as a floral shop, mini cafe, home decor shop, clothing, and a fab bicycle shop just to name a few! I went there with a girlfriend of mine we ate lunch at one of my favorites spots True Food and walked over. I wish Phoenix had mores spots like this. I ended up falling in love with the bicycle shop (you will see why below). Paris Envy the boutique has amazing lighting and I couldn’t leave without flowers by White House Flowers! I highly recommend you check it out if you are in Phoenix and support some local businesses!
Union at the Biltmore
The bicycle shop features fab vintage style bikes and who doesn't want a wine holder attached to their bike?!
Paris Envy these plants would look amazing on either side of my door.
How amazing are these? I need to convince my hubs that I need these!
These pendants would look amazing above my dining room table!
The beautiful flowers I bought from White House Flowers for $6!!!!!!!!
What I have been upto lately…
January 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The snow! My hubby and I went up north with some friends and stayed in a cabin in Greer. Love that Arizona has such drastic climates all just a few hours away..
Hittin the slopes with my hubby.
This weekend it has been raining like crazy. The pups refuse to go outside in the rain lol.. This one especially.
One of my favorite restaurants close by is True Food. This is my favorite appetizer Crudites all local grown vegetables its amazing!
Enjoying a glass of vino and fire while its pouring outside is the best!
This is our local neighborhood Bobcat taking a stoll in our neighborhood…. Crazy huh? Only in Arizona!! This is the baby it’s mom is wandering around somewhere else in our neighborhood. Hopefully not in my backyard.
Restoration Hardware
January 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
If you haven’t been to the Restoration Hardware in Scottsdale I would highly recommend it! It is one of 3 Gallery Stores, basically like a huge home with incredible outdoor areas and 3 levels. It is absolutely incredible. I have a few items from Restoration Hardware on my wish list and this store makes me want to add a few more.
Love this room!! It is gorgeous!
This is their atrium on the 3rd level.
The top floor has fresh flowers you can purchase.
In their outdoor courtyard.
