I'm Back!

Hi everyone! I'm back!  

Thank you to everyone for their kind words and support while I have been on my blog break; they were very appreciated.  While on my lil hiatus I have also gotten a bunch of questions...  I figure this would be a good time to catch everyone up and let ya'll know "I'm back!"  

Have you stopped blogging? NO!  I have not stopped blogging.  Unfortunately I hit a slight blogging "road block" then decided I needed a slight break.  I decided to take my brief hiatus after realizing that on my journey to 100 posts I caught myself posting just to make sure I would hit 100 on my birthday - I didn't want blogging to feel obligatory nor did I want to my voice to sound uninspired.  What I have come to realize is that, like many other bloggers, I love my blog, I love sharing about things that make me happy and things that inspire me, and intend to continue to do so. I have honestly missed blogging during these last couple of weeks and am glad to "be back."

Did you end up going to San Francisco? How was it? Yes, I went to San Francisco!  I booked my ticket on a Friday, and left on the following Monday!  I had a wonderful time at the conference (it was very informative and I met some great people) and had fun playing tourist in the City by the Bay.  

Enjoying Boudin Clam Chowder!  YUM!

I made sure to stop @ Ghiradelli Square for chocolate! 

Have you cooked anything new? Yes!  The Mister and I cooked a very meaty spaghetti!  -Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on hand, and I don't have a recipe to share because as I have mentioned before, the mister isn't one to use or follow a recipe... But I promise to draft a recipe for our spaghetti the next time we make it, because it is that good! 

How are you doing on "The Shred?" I was doing pretty well but "fell off the wagon" when my flight to SF was delayed over 8 hours and finally checked into my hotel room right after midnight... Since then I have been doing the Shred in spirts but fully intend to do all thirty days (consecutively).  

How is the Mister? The Mister is currently battling a slight cold but is doing well.  :) 

How are your wedding plans coming along?  Wedding plans are coming along wonderfully! Thank you to everyone for their interest in our wedding!  I will try to do wedding posts more often and share how our plans are progressing and new bits of wedding inspiration.  

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And now I just gotta say... OMG!  

Did you see Anne Hathaway's shoes on the Oscars?! LOVE!

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Brian Atwood "Fiona"

Packing like a Pro

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I used to be notorious for overpacking, but as I become a more seasoned traveler I have trained myself to pare down and survive with only a purse and a rolling carry-on.  By not checking in any luggage I have not only saved myself a lot of money, but also time at the baggage carousel and the agony that comes with lost and damaged luggage.

Since I only travel with a carry on, it is very important that I pack strategically. 

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• This means no bulky clothes allowed, and the clothes I do pack are grey, black, and white which makes coordination easier.  
• When possible I try pack dresses because it requires less coordination and less pieces to pack. -Since weather.com says it will be in the 60's I will be sure to pack tights and spanx to keep me warm.    
• I try to pack versatile sleep clothes ie. camis and tights that can be layered and worn during the day if necessary.  
• I have a set travel toiletry bag that I always have ready which has a sewing kit, mini first aid kit and mini versions of all the essentials like face wash, hair spray, toothpaste, makeup remover, and lotion (already in a clear plastic bag).  I try to keep this bag easily accessible for the TSA security checkpoint.  
• Hair products: straightener, curler, headband, and hat.  
• I travel with tech gadgets like my computer, cell, and camera so it is very important that I fully charge everything before I pack them and then remember to pack the appropriate chargers.  
• Shoes... humm... this is where I tend to over pack.  I plan to pack one pair of black pumps, a pair of shoes to work out, slippers, a pair of evening sandals, and my Uggs. 

I keep my more essential travel goodies in my purse.  

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• Wallet (with cash, ID and, credit cards)
• Glasses and Sunglasses
• Pashmina
• Makeup
• A snack and candy bar ;) 
• Brush and rubber bands
• iPod touch
• Inflatable neck pillow and eye mask
• One fashion magazine and one "current event" magazine
• and I can't leave home without my Itinerary!

Business... and Pleasure!

While at work I get lots and lots of phone calls throughout the day but this morning I got a super exciting call: I had been nominated and also confirmed to attend a conference for work in... SAN FRANCISCO!

Whoo hoo!  

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But like many good things, there was a catch: I had to decide whether or not I planned to attend of the conference in 30 minutes!  Turns out that a formal invitation should have been sent to me during January but for some reason or another I never got the invitation, and I needed to RSVP ASAP!

Whaa? San Francisco? I need to decide now? Whaa? As I thought about it, and began to process everything I texted the Mister who responded very quickly: "Go! thats so great!! go!"  And then I thought to myself, "Of course I should go! I was selected to go... what a great opportunity! San Francisco!  How exciting!"

So I made the phone call!  

Looks like I'm heading to San Francisco!

Day 4 of the Shred: DONE!

Happy Chinese New Year!

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To celebrate the Year of the Rabbit (and also because I love any occasion to celebrate) I organized a little lunch for some of my co-workers.  Our lunch consisted of rice, orange chicken, beef chow fun with black been sauce, steamed fish fillets, crispy gau gee, baby bock choy, and an assortment of dim sum! 

Our celebration was not fancy or over the top, but the food was delicious and it was such a treat to spend some quality time with some great work friends.  It looks like the Year of the Rabbit has gotten off to a wonderful start!

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Day 3 of the Shred: DONE!  27 more days to go!

A Puzzling Gift

When I put "be able to solve a Rubix cube" on my Thirty Before 30 list I immediately put "buy a Rubix cube" on another list, "Things I Need for my TB30 List." And so can you guess how excited I was when I got to my desk this morning a surprise was waiting for me... a Rubix cube!


I thought a co-worker who knew about my list had put it there... nope!

Apparently, everyone in the office got one - it was a marketing gift from one of our wholesalers!  Yeah!  I plan to leave my lil Rubix cube on my desk -  perfect, orderly, and untouched... for now :)

Day 2 of the Shred: DONE!  28 more days to go!

OMG I am hurting!!!

Mmmmm Meatloaf

A few years ago my dad and I used to cook together each Sunday and one of our favorite Sunday Night recipes is a delicious meatloaf adapted from Emeril Lagasse's "Mighty Meaty Meatloaf." It's been a while since I have cooked meatloaf last, and so I thought tonight would the perfect night to cook, especially since my sous-chef (aka The Mister) was home a little early.
Preparation is about 20-25 minutes but cooking time is a little over an hour.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup ketchup
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sause
2/3 cup crushed Ritz crackers
6-8 strips of bacon

Glaze:
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion, garlic, salt basil, thyme, and black pepper.  Cook until the onions are soft and lightly golden, about 6 minutes.  Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the beef and pork.

In another medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, heavy cream, ketchup, onion and garlic powder, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, and whisk to combine.  Add the egg mixture to the meat mixture along with the cooled onion mix and Ritz crackers.  Mix with your hands or a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.

Mix glaze by combining the ketchup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl.

Transfer mix into a loaf pan (or cupcake pans; yields approximately 18 "cupcakes"), whether in a loaf or cupcake pan, smooth the top into a rounded shape.  Cut the bacon in small pieces and top the meatloaf with the pieces of bacon and spoon the glaze evenly over top.

Bake the meatloaf in the loaf pan for 1 hour and 15 minutes (in cupcake pan bake for 45 minutes) and then broil for 5-10 minutes to crisp the bacon and glaze.   Yum yum yum!

{meatloaf cups with homemade mashed red potatoes}

PS. Tonight was Day 1 of the Shred!  (I hope I survive the next 29 days!)