Whiskey, Zucchini, Maxi Dresses oh My!

I’m a sham. 

Everything I live for is a lie, and I have been covertly convincing you otherwise for 

quite some time now.

That’s right people, I am a Carrie Underwood belting-lover of Italian food-fashion fiend fraud.

They say the first step to recovery is admittance, so here goes…

You know how every time we get in the car, crank up Carrie Underwood and belt out,

“Right now he's probably slow dancing with a bleached-blond tramp,
and she's probably getting frisky...
right now, he's probably buying her some fruity little drink
'cause she can't shoot whiskey...”

Well guess what…I LOVE fruity drinks, I can’t shoot whiskey, and up until last weekend’s Club 2 Me rendezvous, I had never even attempted such a feat.

You know how I love to cook and can be a borderline food snob when I’m feeling frisky?

Ummm, I hate hate hate zucchini, my stomach goes bleck at the thought of green beans, and I cannot for the life of me choke down a raw tomato.

You know how last week when we were shopping and I told you that I couldn’t try on that ikat printed maxi dress because they didn’t have my size?

Yah, I lied, they only had my size, but I am secretly terrified of the maxi dress trend and cannot build up the courage to try one.

I’m sorry, you are probably so ashamed of me and my fraudulent behaviors.

Before you disown let me try to make it up to you ok!?

For starters, I have dubbed the next few months the ‘The Summer of Whiskey, Zucchini and Maxi Dresses’, while it’s not terribly creative it definitely gets to the point wouldn’t you say?

It’s simple: this summer I want to devote myself to practicing life with a more open mind, and what better way to do so than through liquor, veggies and trendy clothing J

Hey, I’m not perfect, but it’s a start!

With that in mind, you will be happy to know that I have officially begun the challenge and am halfway there to liking zucchini...check out my simple little recipe for grilled zucchini: (No making fun of me for how simple this is, I am just thrilled to actually have made zucchini that tasted so yummy to me!) 

4-5 small green or yellow zucchini (the smaller ones have a milder flavor)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Garlic Powder

Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

Sea Salt

Pre-heated George Foreman or outdoor grill

Slice zucchini lengthwise, either into 1/2's or 1/4's

Mix zucchini in bowl with 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbs garlic powder, a couple cranks of the pepper grinder and a few dashes of sea salt

Grill zucchini until 5-10 minutes each side, or until slight char develops.

Serve as a side with your favorite salmon recipe and you are on your way to being a foodie!

What is your summer challenge for 2011? I would love to hear what you have on the books!

 

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You!

I have a question. How do you tell someone that you love them, that you care about them and that you want to see them happy, even if it hurts a little in the process?

Come on people, I’m not asking for relationship advice, I would rather die than be that 

sappy in the bloggy world.

I’m talking about those people that dance into your life for moments when you need a little extra pep in your step, the people that carry you when you kind of feel like frumping around being all complain-y and useless, the people that chow down with you when you need some ‘real good’ for lunch instead of the protein shake and salad they have stored in the fridge at work.

I’m talking about friends people! And the older I get the more I realize how simply impossible it would be to live without good ones.

Today ‘little Kate’ from Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Journey, showed me just how much she loves me with an impromptu Chipotle sesh and proverb.

And yes, I’m that easy folks, a burrito bowl and a sassy little proverb are all it takes to light my fire and bring me back from the brink of total utter and complete dismal despair.

I hope that she inspires you to get out there and love somebody today…and no, not in that kind of way, you sicko! (okay well, maybe just a little of that kind of love J)

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised 

Proverbs 31 : 30
                                                                                              

  

Before and sad sad after

Ciao

 

What I Wore Wednesday: It's Heating Up!

It’s officially summer in Sacramento, and it is hot hot hot people! While I have begrudgingly moved into the season of perpetual leg shaving, I am beyond thrilled to feel the sun on my skin and to flaunt my little toesies once again in my open toe pumps and sandals.

Check out my ensemble today!

PS- Don’t be afraid to mix colors this season, I may be pretty straight laced on the day to day, but I love rebelling and mixing tons of silver and gold!


PPS- No one is allowed to judge my super messy desk. Got it?!

Dress- My roomies closet, I think it’s from H&M

Shoes- Halogen by Nordstrom

Belt- Mod-Cloth

Bracelet/Earrings/Ring- Tiffany’s

Watch- Francesca’s Collection

Ciao

Thoughtful Thursday

Obsession #49349534895834908509…reading totally precious blogs by women just like you and I (sorry guys, I think it’s safe to say that this is our domain…)

I can spend a gagillion hours jumping from one blog to another. From cake balls and homemade camera straps, to coupon clipping tips and silly little anecdotes. You gals sure have a lot to say, and look oh so fabulous while doing it!

And this is where the tragedy steps in… sometimes, after pouring over pages of cutesy fabulocity, I am left with a little pit in my stomach. I wish I could be as darling and witty as you. As sassy and sweet, as stylish and stunning.

But I’m just me. My house is messy for days after I finish a craft project, sometimes I wear my clothes multiple times before I wash them and when my roomie is gone I eat out every single night!

Sooooo, when Kate at Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Journey came across the following quote, I simply had to play copy cat and re-post it… I think it speaks volumes to how we can be so super hard on ourselves because we compare everything we do to other people’s lives…it’s time we all lived it learned it and loved it! 

One reason we struggle with insecurity: 
we're comparing our 
behind the scenes 
to everyone else's 
highlight reel.

-Steven Furtick

Ciao

What I Wore Wednesday: New Jersey Housewife Edition

Yes I wear leopard to work, yes I am wearing tights in the middle of May due to some random torrential downpours as of late, and yes I am wearing sunglasses in my office (if frat boys can wear them at midnight while bumping techno, I can wear them in the privacy of my office when I am trying to look cool).

I hope you like my ode to New Jersey Houswives and their ‘are you’se lookin at me, cuz if you’se is, you’se betta fuggedabout it’ stylings.

(Leopard Jacket- CAbi, Dress- Mossimo/Target, Shoes- Calvin Klein, Bag- Kate Spade, Sunglasses- super awesome online store ModCloth.com)

(I don’t want to have any mob bosses knocking down my door tonight, saying I offended their kin…Jersey Italian runs in my blood, my father is a Jersey ex-pat, Escalade driving, pinky ring wearing, bowling shirt sporting, Tony Soprano look alike….so I totally have street cred ok!?)

Ciao
 

Surprise! It's An Anniversary Party!

This weekend my big sissy, little brobro and I launched the mack daddy surprise of all surprise parties on my parents for their….gasp, 30^th anniversary. It’s super strange to think that, at my ripe ol’age of 24, my parents had already been married for 4 years, successfully opened their own business, were preparing for their first child and had already bought the big beautiful house that they live in today.

I know right…talk about inadequacy central. I am still trying to figure out how to balance my online bank account and am nowhere near mature enough to have accomplished all they had by now.

In an effort to show my parents how blessed we feel to have them in our lives, the sibs and I gathered 80 of their closest family and friends on a rainy Sunday (let’s just say I was waffling between complete and utter hysterical blubbering and maniacal laughter all morning, trying to figure out where we were going to put 80 people if the hail didn’t stop. It did. My sanity remains intact.) and literally celebrated the day away.

My parents were blown away when they came home from their little excursion, expecting to find a special ‘little’ meal for just the 5 of us.

We felt so proud to finally be able to show the two people we care about most in life, how much we truly love them.

The stress of 2 months of crafting almost every night to prepare the décor, the countless hours spent perusing my local Michael’s, and the inevitable bickering between siblings suddenly melted away as I witnessed the pure happiness on my parent’s faces as they took in all that we had planned for them.

Beyond what my parents have already taught me about life and the constant struggle to be a good person and love with all of my heart….my parents have been the epitome of strength and encouragement and are a shining example of how true love can endure through sickness and health, through richer or poorer and til death do them part.

If that’s not mushy enough….I’ll leave you with this….

This morning when I went to leave to return to Sacramento and the real world, I went to kiss my Papa goodbye, he squeezed me tight and whispered in my ear, “Thank you so much for the party, I will remember it for the rest of my life.” Sigh. Gasp. Tear.

Here’s some snapshots from the awesome  day!

Our sweet little mason jar glasses

Momemntos from 30 years ago...including my Momma's Wedding To-Do List

THEEEEE most delicoso cupcakes made by Kate at Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Journey

Chocolate fountain yumminess!

Ciao

What I Wore Wednesday

It’s no secret people…I love clothes and boy do I love accessories. While my very skinny bank account may suggest otherwise, I find shopping and putting together outfits to be simply rejuvenating.

Had a long morning at work? I raid the aisles of Sephora on my lunchbreak.

Had an even longer afternoon at work? You know my debit card is going to get hot at Target tonight.

I just can’t help it!

Put it this way, I ‘gave up shopping’ for Lent…40 days and 40 nights later I had still somehow managed to accrue a new pair of work out pants, two neon sports bras, a package of running socks and 4 pairs of beyond chic earrings. My justification you ask? Come on ladies, these were must have items that I am sure Jesus himself would not have been able to pass up.

There you have it, I am so obsessed I am willing to risk offense to the Big Man in the sky in order to get my fix.

It’s a sickness.

In an attempt to reconcile my addiction, and by recommendation from the lovely Kate over at Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Journey, I will be joining the amazing ladies at What I Wore Wednesday, and will be featuring a unique outfit each week.

Hope you likey!

(Blouse- Tulle/Heart Boutique, Skirt- Banana Republic, Sweater- Merona/Target, Necklace-Heart Boutique, Boots-Coach)

Oh, and PS- what did you wear today?

Ciao