Hump Day Distractions

Here we are once again, creeping towards a glorious 3-day weekend. Enjoy a little something to get you over the hump:

* Ombre. So hot right now. * THANK heavens, scripted television has returned! Tomorrow night on NBC we get our fix of 30 Rock (Tina’s back!) Parks and Rec (current favorite) and The Office (I miss you Michael Scott!) Speaking of The Office, did you know THIS exists? * Last weekend Dr. H and I went out to eat HERE. It was delicious and I’d highly recommend, but really it just made me crave a visit HERE. A favorite spot. * Really looking forward to purchasing this revolutionary new beauty product (hehe) * I tell you, this girl can do NO wrong * I too, get this excited about a good dinner. Also, have you noticed my “blog roll”? It’s that neato list on the right side of the page which links to other blogs I think are fabulous. I recently added a few new discoveries... Visit, read, enjoy!

Mid-hump UPDATE: THIS is too funny to wait until next Wednesday. I mean, could Betty White get any more awesome!?

Image via Pinterest

You can call me Sporty Spice.

I just got home from a Knicks game and the BCS Championship Game is on tv. I saw over 5 hours of NFL football on Sunday and last week I watched the final episode of HBO 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic. Twice. At the moment, my hunger for sweatpants and the couch (my annual "winter hibernation") is being deliciously satisfied by a plethora of sports television. It's a good time of year to be a sports fan.

In honor of my sports-centric brain, because sports viewing means hearty eating with friends (so true) and to bring some merry-foodie-ness to the wide world of sports, here are a few sporty recipes from around the web:

Bring on the meat at: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2009/11/17/thick-and-hearty-chili/

Football requires something buffalo flavored: http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2011/09/24/buffalo-chicken-bites/
Perk - these are WAY healthier than regular wings!

Easy peasy: refried beans, sour cream, guac, salsa, cheese, decorative peppers and MORE cheese!
Make it a bit healthier by using fat free beans and low fat sour cream and cheese (no one will know!)
Put it in individual glasses like THIS genius for easier sharing during the game.

Perfect for Superbowl Sunday at: http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/02/you-gotta-see-this.html

Ohmagawd. please feed me this: http://thatssomichelle.blogspot.com/2011/08/oven-baked-chili-cheese-dogs.html

If you make THIS, you will be my hero.

Wow. An entire post about tv, eating and sports. Ooooh winter.

Where's the no pants party!?

A No Pants Subway Ride. This weekend in NYC there was an organized event known as the "2012 No Pants Subway Ride". This large-scale public event involved people of all ages, genders and body types picking specific times and routes and simultaneously taking to the subway sans pants. Apparently in its 11th year, the event has thousands of participants.

For a solid 60 seconds, Dr. H and I actually pondered participating. We checked out the facebook page and videos from past years and wondered out loud if we were really so bold as to stand in a crowded subway station in our underwear as part of an improv group's hysterical stunt. I thought: "standing in your underwear isn't particularly different than a bathing suit bottom and it is unseasonably warm for January..." There could be something very thrilling and memorable about participating in an NYC oddity like this. The idea didn't seem that crazy.

Ultimately Dr. H and I opted for dim sum and football (more on our addiction to dim sum in another post). Maybe next year we will be motivated to pants-less action. Would you participate in a mass pant-less public foray? Did you see any undies on the subway yesterday between 3-5pm!?

Image via Pinterest (and public props to my awesome Sis for being the first one to bring "no pants" to my attention)

A plan to make NO plans!

The holidays are over, my hubby is home, I’m finally not sick and I am not going out of town. My plan for this weekend is to have NO plans... Ahhhh. Feels good. But...

I’m a do-er and a planner at heart. No plans means I have the freedom to MAKE plans and there are so many things to choose from!! I realllly need to clean out my closet (is doesn’t close). I want to go to for dim sum (it’s been over a month). That exhibit with the slide at the New Museum is closing soon (an indoor slide. for adults. seriously). I want to try out a new recipe and enjoy a nice bottle of wine (thank you Pinterest and wine of the month club!) There’s a jazz festival downtown!? (http://www.winterjazzfest.com/tickets.html) Is there ever such a thing as no plans? How can I do nothing when the world is filled with things to accomplish and experience and EAT!? I retract my statement. This weekend I have a plan to make perfect plans. I will strike a perfect balance between productive and fun. I will sleep late and accomplish something. Nothing is set in stone, I’ll do as I please. A plan to make vague plans?! Happy weekend merry readers!

P to the S: I went to see How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway this week with new leads Darren Criss and Beau Bridges. The show is beyond fabulous... if you are a lover of musicals I’d rate it as a must see (while dreamy Gleek Darren Criss is in it if you can score a ticket:) xoxo.

Image via Pinterest

Off to the Movies (for a history lesson?)

On Monday Dr. H and I went to see “The Iron Lady”.* As I sat soaking in the film, I couldn’t help but be embarrassed by the level of suspense I felt as I watched the storyline unfold. Though based almost entirely on historical events which occurred during Prime Minister Thatcher’s life, I found myself blissfully ignorant of outcomes to things like elections and wars. It was the British history equivalent of going to see Titantic and wondering if the iceberg would really sink the ship. How could I be so unaware of real life events!? 

I left the theater deep in thought. Was it that I never studied the astonishing leader that Margaret Thatcher was with enough depth or that I simply didn’t have the capacity to absorb her awesomeness at the time it was being taught to me? Did I learn about the war for the Falkland Islands at some point in AP European history (or AP International Government or Intro to International Relations..!) and just TOTALLY forgot about it!? Yikes!! Dr. H tried to calm my “I’m an unaware idiot” qualms as we walked home by reminding me that we only have so much capacity for knowledge and perhaps knowing all aspects of global history is a bit beyond my reach. Though I know I’m not a candidate for tomorrow’s episode of Jeopardy, I still felt as though my education and worldliness were seriously lacking. There was a lady PM who went to war and won..? There was a King of England who resigned for love of a married American woman..? How did America react to the hostage crisis at the Munich Olympics!? I’ve learned a lot of history from watching movies. Do you rely on Hollywood for knowledge of historical events? Is that a bad thing!? (ps- at least I came home and did a little research:) 

*The movie was excellent and I highly recommend it. Meryl Streep is a goddess of character transformation and the movie, though at times a bit depressing, is a must see for lovers of history, feminists and “Oscar nominee junkies”.

Image via Pinterest

Hump Day Distractions

Welcome to our weekly installment of distractions, discoveries and internet goodies! Hope they help you get over the post-holiday-slump-hump!

* This Broadway show was a great time so I’m pumped to see the movie trailer looking so spot on (and Alec Baldwin-y!)

* This is real. Bacon lovers rejoice.

* With holiday decorations behind us, consider crafting up a snowstorm for your next dinner party. (I’ll let you know how my experience goes in a few weeks)
* I still can’t believe it’s true. I guess he wasn’t her teenage dream after all...

* Bride to be? Check out lover.ly Distractions for days, it’s like the Pinterest of bridal beauty... would have been oh so loverly (and helpful!) when I was wedding planning. 

* And because no Hump Day is complete without something to laugh at, here’s 6 minutes of 2011’s best local news bloopers ranging from “fairly funny” to “downright hysterical”


Image via Pinterest

How much is TOO much?

Dr. H and I watch A LOT of tv. I say this without embarassment because while we have some pretty serious boob tube habits, we also have some self-imposed limitations which I choose to believe balance us out. First off, like an adorable old couple, we have our “programs” and we always make a point to watch them together. It’s a mortal sin in my house to watch Dexter alone; Parks and Recreation is just not as funny without Dr. H next to me... We approach 95% of all television watching as a team - TV is the perfect way to spend time together without having to do anything. Second, we do not have a television in our bedroom. There is one tv in our home and it’s in the living room. Growing up, my parents never allowed me to have a tv in my room and I’ve come to view the idea of television in bed as an obstruction of bedroom zen (it worked mom!) When we stay at hotels, tv in bed is a treat and when we’re home if we want to watch something, we do it side by side (or at least side by “he/she’s on the computer”side). 

As for our less brag-worthy habits, the advent of DVR has made watching television so convenient and efficient (no commercials!) that we rarely miss an episode of at least a dozen different shows*. From Premium Channels (how do people live without Showtime and HBO!?) to good old basic cable, we’ve got something recording every night of the week. We don’t always turn the tv on (thanks iPod!) but on average I’d say we’re soaking up around 2 hours a night. Is this too much? Do you think our “good” habits make up for the fact that the sheer number of hours spent in front of the tube could lead to a serious case of zombie brain? Here’s to hoping.

*What are we watching you ask? Dexter, Californication, Shameless, Bored to Death, Mad Men, Family Guy, The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Parenthood, Glee, New Girl, Jersey Shore, Up All Night, So You Think You Can Dance, Tosh.O, Grey’s Anatomy and Gossip Girl (Those last two are Dr. H’s favorite shows to nap to). 

Image via Pinterest