Passing On Dessert

Last night Doug and I were sitting in bed reading our books and he hit me with this...

Doug- "You're the heaviest small person I've picked up. I don't know, it's just weird, of all the people I've picked up, you feel the heaviest. Maybe it's because you're muscular, but you just feel really dense."

Me- "What the hell are you talking about? And who are you picking up?? And thanks for that."

Doug- "Well, I mean, I don't know. I guess I haven't picked anyone up in a while, and probably not any women, but I've picked up Rex and Ben."

Rex and Ben are Doug's good friends from yesteryear...and neither of them are midgets...both are full grown men.

If there was anything that could drive me to pass on dessert, that was it. Maybe I should have thanked him.

P.S. I can't remember the last time he tried to pick me up...who knows where this stuff comes from.

Help Settle A Debate

This debate has been going on for about a year in our house and I'd like you all to help settle it. Are bow ties a no or a go? Doug is suddenly loving bow ties and I'm not a fan. Whenever I picture men in bowties, this is what comes to mind...

Nerdy Professors

Thunder From Down Under

Pee Wee Herman

Hipsters

There are definitely times that call for a bow tie...black tie weddings and formal events. Even then, the bow tie still looks best at the end of the night when it is untied and hanging from the neck. I just feel like they don't fit in everyday at the office (especially if you're younger than 65).

There might be one exception...

Pierce Brosnan (he can wear whatever he wants)

So, please help settle the debate.

Happy Birthday Zoe

Because I wrote a blog for Ciena's birthday, it's only fair that Zoe gets one too. Zoe is 3 today! I don't know what it is about the second dog, but she is 180 degrees different from mellow, hippie Ciena dog. Zoe = trouble.

The day we brought her home (we had no idea what we gotten ourselves into!)

Ciena still curses us for it

But she has learned to love her over the years

See look at those smiles

How could you not love this face?

Happy Birthday Zoe! May your 4th year of life bring you manners, listening skills, calmness and a better understanding of skunks.

New Gig

I'm in a rut. Well, maybe a few ruts. I'm getting tired of living in NYC, but the thought of moving away makes me kind of sad. I'm tired of my job, but the thought of moving on makes me nervous. I'm psyched to be back to running and training with no injuries, yet I feel like I want a sport change. Why is it that when one thing starts going downhill, everything else goes with it? Likewise, when things are going well, it's all roses. Call me Debbie Downer, because I know things could be much worse, and really, my life's not bad at all...I have a great hubby, great friends, family, furry kids, a stable job, a fun apartment and tons more. But, for some reason I want something different. It's kind of like eating dinner and feeling full, but not being sated.

I always say, unless you're going to do anything about it, then quit bitching. So, here's what I'm going to do about it.

Convince Doug to move to New Zealand for a few years

We would open a bed and breakfast

Then after our B&B started doing well enough, we could paddle around all day

And then we could ski all winter long

Will you all come visit?

Do you ever go through periods where nothing seems to make you content? What do you do to shake it?

Yummy Summer Recipes

The Union Square Farmer's Market in New York is one of the most famous farmer's market in the country, luckily for me, it's right outside my office 4 days a week! Every time I walk through the market, I'm inspired to try new recipes using all fresh veggies. Last week I made a couple salads that I am obsessed with and thought I would share the recipes with you:

First is a (Healthy) Potato Salad:

I don't know exact measurements, but here are the ingredients I used:

- Couple pounds of small new potatoes
- 1 red onion
- Fresh dill
- Capers
- Olive Oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Ground pepper

I started by cutting the potatoes into appx. 1 in. cubes (left the skins on) and threw them in boiling water for about 15 min. Don't let them boil for too long, you don't want mushy taters. While the potatoes are boiling, I cut up the onion into long, thin slices and grilled it up with some olive oil just until it was a little tender and browned. Once the potatoes are done, I drained them and ran them under cold water for a minute and then put them into a big bowl with the grilled onion. To finish it off, I added some olive oil, red wine vinegar, ground pepper, a jar of drained capers and lots of fresh dill. I did everything by taste, not so much by exact measurements (hence why I can't bake to save my life).

I served this at a BBQ this weekend and it got rave reviews. Best of all, it's much healthier than the typical mayo-laden potato salads that usually adorn the summer picnic table.

Here's the yumminess before I mixed it all up


The second salad is a Panzanella Salad:

Ingredients:

- Loaf of Ciabatta bread
- Bell pepper; yellow and/or green
- 2.5 Avocados
- Large cucumber
- Ball of mozzarella cheese
- 1 pint of cherry tomatoes
- Olive oil
- White vinegar
- 1 packet Good Seasonings Italian dressing

First, cut the bread into 1 in. cubes, spread it out on a baking pan, drizzle all of it with olive oil and then stick it under the broiler for a few minutes until it's brown on top (watch it carefully...this happens pretty fast)



Next, I chopped my yellow pepper into fairly big chunks, then did the same with my cucumber. I cut the cherry tomatoes into halves and then cut the mozzarella into smaller chunks.



If you're making this salad ahead of time, you should wait to add the avocados until right before so they don't go brown. When it's go time, cut up the avocados into slices and put them in the bowl.



Next up, I added most of the bread. I didn't use all of it because I knew if I was going to eat this salad as a leftover, I wouldn't want soggy bread in it, so I took out a small bowl of the veggies (enough for lunch the next day) and some bread.

Lastly, I made the Good Seasonings Italian dressing packet with olive oil and vinegar. Once again, I did this mostly by taste as well, and used less olive oil than the packet called for. You definitely don't have to use a packet, you can add your own spices and just some oil and vinegar and it will probably be just as tasty.

Once the dressing was made, I poured it over the salad and mixed it all up (make sure you save a little dressing for the small bowl of veggies and bread you set aside).

Voila, just like that, a healthy bread salad!

TOMS

I'm in love with Tom's shoes.


They're adorable, comfy and for every pair I buy, they send a pair to a child in need.


Just when I thought the simple little flats couldn't get any cuter, they come out with these!!



Doug, if you're reading this - remember that our anniversary is coming up and rumor has it, wedges are a perfect 7th year anniversary gift.