Birreria

This weekend, my parents took the family (and the boys!) up to NYC for our annual "stuff our faces and look at lights fest", show included. The entire weekend was wonderful, but the highlight for me was our family dinner at Birreria, Mario Batali's beer garden on the 15th floor of Eataly. The food was phenomenal, beer delicious, and I couldn't help but sneak a picture of the gorgeous view from our table.

CSA Week 6 and Race Preview!

Whew- what a week! I feel like I've just caught up after a whirlwind weekend and the final week of school (YAY summer break!)

First up- the CSA! I'm getting bad at taking pictures, but really, how many times do you all want to see a bunch of kale?

Here's what came in this week's haul:

Tuesday, June 14 - Half Share

1 Bunch Green Kale - Certified Organic - Autumn Blend Organics

1 Bunch Collard Greens - Certified Organic - Sunrise Ridge Organics

1 Bunch Garlic Scapes - Certified Organic - Liberty Branch Farm

1 Head Flashy Troutsback Romaine Lettuce - Certified Organic - Riverview Organics

1 Bunch Scallions - Certified Organic - Sunrise Ridge Organics

2 Yellow Straightneck Squash - Certified Organic - Echo Valley Organics

I traded out the collard greens for extra scapes- they're so delish! Not to mention kinda crazy looking...

Even better- our Fruit Share started this week! Since it is early in the season, a large jar of organic apple sauce paired with a pound of rainier cherries made up our share.

Don't they look delicious?

This weekend, the boy and I did our second Tri together. I want to do a "race recap" like Caitlin does over at Healthy Tipping Point, but I am so glad I signed up this year! I wanted to bail back in March and I'm glad I didn't. Just for giggles- here's how stinking cute I look when I'm running (which is to say, not at all ha)

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Working off the weekend

Hello Tuesday!

I hope you had a phenomenal Memorial Day weekend! Mine was full of family, big dinners, friends, and sunshine. Unfortunately, I think I had a little too much in the food category! Saturday night started out with a HUGE Chinese dinner with the boy's extended family. His dad's wife's family came into town from all over (including Taipei!) to visit each other. The result- a massive 8 course dinner that I couldn't recognize anything at haha. I wish I had taken pictures, but needless to say, I got adventurous!

The weekend continued with family BBQs and crab picking down in Chesapeake City. SALT OVERLOAD! I actually had a massive headache by Monday night from all the crab salty goodness paired with 90 degree temps.

I could eat these every stinking weekend.

Source: roadfood.com via Devon on Pinterest

Today, I had a little realization that my Tri is next Sunday. And I am NOT treating my body the way I should to get ready for it. I got back into spin class today and have been eating better (not fully "clean", but definitely better than what happened this weekend).

Of course, any good workout regimen requires motivation. Mine is a bikini. But it could very well be this sandwich.

You've Got Mail

Happy Monday!

This weekend, my amazing little sister (and maid of honor!) teamed up with my parents to throw the boy and I a fantastic engagement party. It was wonderful to be surrounded by people we loved on such a pretty Saturday. The menu complimented the Kentucky Derby perfectly (which I think was a happy coincidence) with Tennessee iced tea, fried chicken, pulled pork, lots of salads and red velvet cupcakes. Riley was probably the biggest fan of the cupcakes. She ate 7! (oy.)

The boy and I have not registered yet, but were surprised to receive some lovely gifts from our guests. Immediately, our "wedding etiquette" kicked in and we made an organizational list so we can send thank you notes asap! Over the past 2 months, I've been picking up packs of thank you cards that the boy won't cringe at, but I think it may be time to go custom!

After receiving a note from our newly married friends, I was smitten with the idea of letterpress stationary with our names across the top. I haven't found our perfect match yet, but these are a few ideas...

Source: cupcakesandcashmere.com via Devon on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Devon on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Devon on Pinterest

Ideally, I would love to find a local vendor that does stationary- but etsy has some great options too! What do you use for thank you notes or mailed letters?

Back to the Real World

And it.is.COLD.

I tried to bring a little sunshine back from Florida, but I think it ran away somewhere around Savannah, GA haha. Spring break was exactly what the boy, Riley and I needed, and I'm sad it's over. Luckily- Riley reminded me to take pictures so everyone could see what we were up to!

Long car rides are perfect for naps.

We went to Auburn (the boy is an alum) and toured the campus with friends (meet Isabel!)

Sunning by the pool

And hanging out with family (meet Guinness!)

The captain was kind enough to take us on a boat ride (Riley's first!)

One of the Captain's other boats, MeiMei

Somehow, I managed to not take pictures of any food. Mostly because it was all AMAZING! Authentic tamales, delicious tuna in downtown Naples, roasted Cuban pork, and cool ice cream to help escape the heat. On the drive back, we found the most amazing BBQ place right outside Savannah- Wiley's Championship BBQ. If you're hungry and driving down 95- this place it worth the 10 minute detour. The boy and I stuffed ourselves with sweet tea, fried pickles, and the BBQ sampler plus extra bones (ribs. mmmmmm). Not only was the food out of this world- the people (servers and patrons!) were the nicest :) Riley loved getting head scratches and belly rubs from other diners as they walked by.

Now, we're home and settled. We made a Costco run this morning and hit the gym (oh that was interesting). This week, I'm getting back into the real world and visiting a few wedding venues- I'm nervous!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! Maybe a few of you are on Spring Break too :)

How to get your fiance to cook dinner every night :)

I'm back! Sorry for the lack of posts. Having 2 sick blondes (me AND Riley) in one house has resulted in a lack of sleep and creativity over here.

This weekend, the boy busted out his major Christmas gift- a grill from my parents! Ladies- if your man doesn't have a grill- Get.him.one. He's made dinner the last 4 nights in a row and they have all been phenomenal. To make Monday's dinner a little more special, we hit up Costco (love)for some filets (fancy!). Paired with grilled sweet potato fries and a light salad, it was a perfect way to start the week.

The boy would also like me to post this picture because it shows the gorgeous yellow gerbera daisies he brought home for me haha

The grill has me super excited for our CSA share to start up in May. Grilled veggies? Yes, Please!!

Next up- another wedding Wednesday post and a cupcake adventure!!

Tuckered Out.

We had a great weekend, full of yard work, playing outside, and helping others (our best friends bought a house!). I'm exhausted from the weekend, and think Riley put it best:

Thankfully, I'm more inspired than ever because of the beautiful weather :) Bring on the sunshine and projects!

Savoring Spring (a bit early!)

Happy Monday! Hopefully, most of you have off today. I have to work, but with a limited schedule, meaning I get to catch up on bills, get a good workout in, and daydream about spring!

Speaking of spring, I can't wait for the warmer weather, sunshine, and FOOD! This Friday, we had temps up in the high 60s/low 70s. It immediately made me crave shorts, flowy sundresses, and grilling out on the little red deck. Something I've been considering for awhile is joining a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture. Friday's weather had me longing for fresh veggies and ripe fruit- and I think it also pushed me over the edge in making my decision! There are a few CSAs for us to choose from locally, and the boy and I have decided to try our luck with Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op. 

Deliciousnessss

They offer 25 week half veggie shares, and after looking at samples of their full shares last season, I can't wait to see what shows up in our boxes! LFF also has a fruit share option- providing 20 wks of yumminess to go with your veggies.

Part of what had me hesitating is the inability to choose what you will get. Our household has some pretty adventurous eaters, but the boy is a little more limited on veggies he likes (I adore spinach, keep it far away from him). The idea of cooking brand new things is a little intimidating!

eek! what do I do with THIS?

Also- the upfront costs. LFF's full veggie share is $700, a half share is $425, and a fruit share is $180. That's a chunk of change considering the half share and fruit share cover 2 months of my grocery bill.

But what pushed me over the edge? I looked at our grocery bills.

The 25 wk veggie half share will average out to $17/wk. The fruit share will come to $9 a week. I usually find myself limiting the amount of fresh produce I buy in the supermarket to stay within budget. The CSA will provide a great assortment of fruits and veggies while staying within our budget! Not to mention, we will be getting all organic produce- something I admittedly don't do on a regular basis because of costs.

Either way, we start our culinary adventure in May. I hope you'll come back and check out my weekly posts about what showed up in the CSA boxes and my adventures in cooking!

Lovey Dovey

courtesy of the brilliant To My Wife

Happy Valentine's Day! I have to admit, even single, I have always loved Valentine's Day. If you grew up in our house, you would understand. It's not just the romance of it, but the pink, and the hearts (and the decorated bathrooms. Yes, my momma went there). My momma and daddy have always gone out of their way to make sure my sister and I always felt LOVED- every day of the year, but especially on my mom's favorite holiday.

Now that I have my own forever Valentine (mushtastic. gag if you want!), we keep things simple on the big day. Tonight, we'll exchange cards and little gifts (actually, only I will. He couldn't wait!) and make a sweet dinner for two.

The best gift this year (aside from the FANTASTIC trench my mom surprised me with!) is that the boy is back after a business conference :) Here's how I passed the time as a single girl this weekend...

Cheesecake frozen yogurt loaded with fresh fruit!

Some pretty irises to bring an early spring

Hanging out with puppies at the SPCA (for Kemi, not me!)

Lounging around with this goober. Waiting for the boy to come home!

I hope you have the happiest lovey dovey day! What are your special plans?

Sushi to Superbowl

Happy Tuesday :)

This weekend was bussssy (apparently, I needed a day to catch up)! The boy and I were a whirlwind, celebrating one of our best friend's 30th birthday. Of course, when you're having fun, time flies. And when time flies, I forget to take pictures :(

Friday was the "local" birthday party- a huge sushi dinner at a fantastic BYOB. For those of you in Northern Delaware, take a drive to check out Masamoto's Asian Grill, just over the boarder in Glen Mills. Exceptionally fresh fish, great entrees, and it's reasonable (yay bringing our own wine!). The boy and I ventured away from our usuals there and were super happy we did. The Pepper Tuna roll with honey mustard was a surprise favorite!

A highlight of the weekend though was a quick trip up to NYC with the birthday girl and her man. Her cousins set up a fantastic evening for us, and I couldn't be more thankful. Amidst meeting new people and enjoying the evening, I managed to snap a few shots with the iPhone.

The bar's speakeasy vibe carried from the entrance (a faux store front reached via a sketchy looking alley) to the decor and drinks. Tea cups instead of glasses, bottles in paper bags, and carpet like wall paper enhanced the 1920's vibe. My personal favorite? They used antique globe stands to hold the ice buckets and teacups :)

Even though the boy and I are sports people, we kept the Super Bowl low key. The couch, our pupster, and a few Crumbs Bakery cupcakes made for the perfect Sunday night.

But now, back to the real world!

Weekend Recap

This weekend was special. Somehow, some way, I had both Saturday and Sunday off. I think that happens about 3 times during the seasons, and it was totally unexpected!

The boy and I got a ton done on Saturday, so Sunday was dedicated to little projects we've been meaning to get to, relaxing, and enjoying time with the pupster.

To start, my favorite part of Sunday morning- the paper, a chai latte (here's how I make them at home), and my new favorite Chobani yogurt: Black Cherry!

I could read Sunday ads every day of the week haha

Since I had a little extra time, I hit up Target and Marshalls. What better way to fight the winter blues than some springy accessories?

These are screaming for bare legs and pink toes

Don't you wish this was a dress and not just an apron?

Today, I hit the ground running. With this week's forecast being ICE (ice baby haha), I'm not sure it's going to slow down a bit! Here's to hoping*