A little reminder about what’s really important…
Category Archives: Inspiration
The Best Weeknight Dinner
It’s Thursday, which means we are almost through another week and my fridge is just about empty. One of my biggest daily challenges seems to always be the weeknight dinner, especially towards the end of the week. It often feels impossible to create something both tasty and healthful, using what still remains from the weekend shopping trip.
But I recently discovered something really, really good. And it pleases everyone!
This fall, our favorite weeknight dinner is (drum roll, please……..) Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup. Yep. That’s right! The traditional American duo is my go-to, easy to prepare, extremely satisfying weeknight dinner. Give it a try, I promise you will not be disappointed!
{image: Bon Appetit}
From Bon Appetit; Grilled Cheese For Grown-Ups (October 2012):
When making grilled cheese sandwiches, mix a younger cheese with a higher moisture content (for meltability) with a more flavorful one for a custom blend. Here are some favorites:
- Fontina melts quickly into dramatic, lush stringiness.
- Sharp cheddar is flavorful but tends to break apart under heat.
- Gruyere stays melted longer than most cheeses and gets intensely fragrant.
- American can’t be beat for ease and speed of melting – and its classic taste!
Family Routine
Available via Designed Good.
goop.com
If I could be anyone in the world, I would be Gwyneth Paltrow. I have a huge crush on her. She is classy, fun and inspiring. And as the daughter of producer-director Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, she was destined to be a star. Yet she still seems so down to earth and real! (Ok… I will stop the raving now.)
Gwyneth is also the creator of goop.com. Goop is a weekly publication delivered straight to your inbox offering exclusive limited edition collaborations, recipes, travel notes, shopping ideas and wellness tips for you, your wardrobe and your home. Here are some of my favorite posts…
How to do your own makeup for day and night.
Thank you, Gwyneth. xxoo
Diner en Blanc
On Saturday night, while we were enjoying our Paella Party, there was another spectacular event taking place in Cincinnati - Diner en Blanc. It began over 25 years ago in Paris and now occurs throughout the world. So what exactly is it? Well…
Le Dîner en Blanc® is quite different from other special events. The evening takes place in a public place which was not designed for such a purpose and is often crowded.
- Seats are allotted on-site in a very specific manner.
- In order to participate, one must be invited by a participant from the previous year or get on the official website’s waiting list.
- Once confirmed, the presence of each guest thus becomes mandatory, regardless of weather conditions, as the event is held regardless of weather conditions.
- Colour of attire and table setting: white only.
- Table seating is symmetrical with men seated on one side and women on the other.
- Participants arrive and depart at the same time by chartered bus or organized public transportation.
- Depart with one’s belongings, leftovers and trash, leaving the place as clean as it was upon arrival.
What must guests bring?
- A table, two (white) chairs.
- A picnic basket comprised of quality menu items and a china dinner service including proper stemware and flatware.
- Wine or Champagne, if allowed. Beer and hard alcohol is prohibited.
- Participants must wear white and be dressed elegantly.
- Originality is encouraged as long as it stays stylish and denotes taste.
{image: facebook}
Marshmallow Test
Happy Tuesday! How was your (long) weekend? You can read a little about our weekend here. This is a fun post to get this short work week started… Have you heard of the marshmallow test? A child is taken into a room and given one marshmallow. He/she is then offered two choices: eat the one marshmallow now, or if he/she waits until the woman returns after stepping out of the room for a few minutes, then he/she will receive a second marshmallow. Oh, the temptation! Be sure your volume is up and enjoy!
Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.
Som Sabadell Flashmob
You have to watch this video… it gave me chills and nearly brought me to tears! You will need be able to have the sound on (and turned up!). Enjoy!
On the 130th anniversary of the founding of Banco Sabadell we wanted to pay homage to our city by means of the campaign “Som Sabadell” (We are Sabadell). This is the flashmob that we arranged as a final culmination with the participation of 100 people from the Vallès Symphony Orchestra, the Lieder, Amics de l’Òpera and Coral Belles Arts choirs.
Sincerely
I received an adorable thank you note called a “postagram“ this week (thanks, Beth!). It was a postcard style card that included a personal message and photo. After a little investigation, I quickly learned that the card was generated via Sincerely - a mobile platform that let’s you send thoughtful gifts from your phone. Postagram is an app that helps you to send your home-spun photography to friends and family. You simply choose pictures from your Instragram, Facebook, or Photo albums and ship them off to whomever you want. How cool is that!
{image}
Outstanding in the Field
Outstanding in the Field is a unique dining experience that aims to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it. It is a roving culinary adventure – literally a restaurant without walls! Since 1999 they have set the long table at some of the most gorgeous settings I have ever seen. Ingredients for the meal are almost all local (sometimes sourced within inches of your seat at the table!) and generally prepared by a celebrated chef of the region.
Once again, one of the fall tour dates includes Woodland Farm in Goshen, Kentucky, which is about 90 miles from Cincinnati. The ticket is not cheap, but I have a feeling it is worth every penny! Outstanding in the Field is definitely on my bucket list! Check out more photos here.
{image: Outstanding in the Field}
Thought Catalog
I recently discovered an awesome website called Thought Catalog (thanks, Caroline!). Basically, it is a collection of great ideas and thoughts, hence the name! I love a post from August 9th titled 6 Things You Shouldn’t Give Up On. I strongly encourage you to read the post in it’s entirely (click here to do so), however here are a few highlights…
1. Having a job you enjoy.
If you are happy doing a job that leaves you a lot of time and no stress for the rest of your endeavors, you should feel no shame in doing it.
2. Being loved.
Aside from there being many kinds of love outside of the romantic kind — all of which are wonderful and highly worth our time, if underrated — there is no expiration date on the kind of enjoyment we can find from being kind and loving to others and receiving that kindness in return.
3. Maintaining a nice environment.
Everything from your workspace to your bedroom is vastly improved with just a small amount of touching-up each day.
4. Keeping good friends.
A good friend is a precious thing, and must be taken care of on both sides.
5. Your body.
We can always eat a bit healthier, be a bit more active, take a bit better care of our skin, and love ourselves a little more.
6. Personal change.
There is never a point at which we can no longer change, improve, or shape ourselves into what we desire.
Instant Inspiration
Happy Wednesday! I love this quote and needed to hear it this week.
I hope you have a pretty morning! xxoo
Unplugged
We often rate our days by what we have accomplished, applauding ourselves for a workout logged, an errand completed and task crossed off. But consider grading today on a new curve: Give yourself credit not for doing but simply for being – for taking time to sit alone, listening, daydreaming, creating space to think. Only then can you connect with the most important person your world: you.
This past weekend was so wonderful. We truly “unplugged” and enjoyed the people, activities and places around us. I have lots of great photos to share from our adventure to Fishers Island, including golf (with a view!), tennis and a beach picnic! Have a pretty morning and a great Monday!
{quote: self.com August 2012}
{image credit: Alli Parlin}
Olympic Fever
I have it. I totally have Olympic Fever! I am so excited for the Opening Ceremony tomorrow night and all the TV coverage in the next few weeks (July 27th through August 12th to be exact!).
Here are some fun, interesting, and amazing facts about the 2012 Olympic Games:
10,490 – The number of athletes who will be competing in London!
236,955 – The number of athletes, officials, media members and fans who arrived at Heathrow Airport in London on July 16, 2012, breaking the airport’s one-day record.
All-time Olympic-medal standings: USA 2,302; USSR 1,122; UK 725.5
4,400 – The number of bouquets that will be presented to athletes during the medal ceremonies.
“Jeah!” Swimmer, Ryan Lochte’s response to all things good, especially via #twitter.
McDonald’s is the only vendor allowed to sell fries in the Olympic Village.
If you don’t recognize these names yet, start memorizing them… Gabby Douglas, Lolo Jones, Hope Solo, Missy Franklin; they are just some of many talented athletes going for gold for team USA.
On your mark. Get set. Go!
Saying “Thank You”
“Thank you.” Those two words can mean so much. But at times, they seem so hard to say. Why?!
Picture this… I step onto an elevator at work, dressed in new (super cute) bright pink pants. There is a (very!) pregnant woman in the elevator with me. She smiles and says “I love your pants!”. In the three seconds of silence before I respond, each of these thoughts run through my mind as a possible reply…
- “I just got them at Ann Taylor. Do you ever shop there? They have cute stuff right now!”
- “When are you due? Do you know what you are having? Do you have names picked out?”
- “Maybe they make them in maternity sizes?! You would look cute in pink pants too!”
All of the above would be incredibly inappropriate in the given situation with a complete stranger. Luckily, my brain clicked on, and I said “thank you!” as we stepped out and went our separate ways.
Alex, my husband, is excellent at saying “thank you.” I on the other hand, have to often remind myself to keep it short and sweet. So my advice, when receiving a compliment, is a simple but sincere “thank you”!
{image credit: Rustic Beauty}
Happy Weekend!
Hi Friends! How was your week? Mine went by quickly, which is always nice! What are you up to this weekend? Any fun plans? Tonight we are taking Gabby to a Family Fishing Night event at a pond near our … Continue reading
