Hump Day Distractions

Seriously. Congrats.

Hellooooo my merry friends and welcome to the day we all pretend it's spring (at least until it starts raining tonight and snowing on Friday). Thank you January for this brief respite from your usual gloom and cold. I'll take it. Here to help you enjoy this glorious day are some delightful distractions. Happy humping!

* If only all conversations with your significant other were this forthright and honest.

* These dudes are awesome. Totally. Freakin. Awesome.

* Some more information about indoor gardening (must be very "in" right now!)

* THIS kid is without a doubt "creating something that will make the world more awesome". Way to go "Mr. President"

* Hey Sis. I think it's time you busted out your string box and made me one of THESE!!

* Jeff Bridges was a total babe in high school (and other blasts from celebrity past) 

* Baby it's true. A dog eating popcorn is hysterical.

It's Game Time!

I am ready for some football.

With Super Bowl XLVII just a few days away, it's time to settle on the perfect game day eats to make you the King/Queen of your viewing party. Whether your rooting for the Ravens, feelin the Forty-Niners or just love an excuse to drink beer on a Sunday night, here are a few standout recipes for your eating pleasure:

Beefy mac cheese of the Gods.

* Hamburger Mess - Full Recipe HERE. Because nothing says sports like a huge casserole of gooey, meaty macaroni and cheese!

Meat, this time STUFFED with cheese

* Feta-Stuffed Buffalo Meatballs - Full Recipe HERE. There are no words, only a small trail of drool...

Hot & Healthy

* Jalapeno Poppers - Recipe HERE. This is actually a Weight Watchers recipe... so you can save your calories for beer:)

Get. In. My. Belly.

* Mini Taco Bowls - So easy, you don't even need a recipe! Just place won ton wrappers in muffin tins, fill each cup with taco seasoned ground meat, cheese & bake for 8 minutes at 350. Top with favorite taco toppings!

For the gourmet fan...

* Brie Bites - Full Recipe HERE. Because bringing anything involving jam to a Super Bowl party automatically makes you the classiest guest around.

A dessert DIP!!!

* Funfetti Cake Dip - Full Recipe HERE. This stuff will blow your mind... super sweet and less unhealthy than you'd think (uses fat free greek yogurt and cool whip!)

And last but certainly not least (these will never stop blowing my mind)...

For those with ambition greater than any I've ever known...

Are you serious!? (A cellular rant)

I see you over there... glowing...

On Friday night Dr. H and I went to the movies (at the awesome Nitehawk Cinema, but more on that another day) and I sat next to a woman who was OUT OF CONTROL with her cellphone. Throughout the previews she was texting and posting to Facebook (hey, you want to have your phone out in a dark room next to me? Ima look at your screen!) and I nearly said something, but then Ms. "I-can't-live-in-the-present-because-I-must-stay-tethered-to-the-digital-world" did put down her phone. However mid-movie she started checking for new messages, scrolling her News Feed and once even waved the phone in her companions' face to show him something (I hope it was a date and I hope that made him hate her). Phone Girl's phone glow seriously hindered my ability to relax and enjoy the film!

Now maybe this sounds harsh, and maybe if I'd spoken up she would have realized she was being rude and stopped, but I didn't want to be "that girl" (...you know, the one who speaks up and makes you want to roll your eyes and say "geez lady, lighten up!") But honestly... WTF Phone Girl!? You're at the MOVIES!! You aren't a doctor, you're not checking on your kid, you paid good money to sit here and watch this so put away your tele and be HERE, watching THIS! All that other stuff will be there in 2 hours I promise. And if nothing else, consider the obnoxious glow your phone is casting, impacting the good time of all the people around you - it sucks.

So that's my rant on  taking out your cell phone at the movies. I'm sure none of you will ever volunteer to see a movie with me again:)

In an alternate universe...

I have a Pinterest alter-ego, and she has a seriously glamorous wardrobe... I don't know what she does for a living, or where she goes on weekends, but she gets to wear stunning and funky things like this: 

and this...

and this...

Her shoe collection is pretty incredible:

... and when it comes to accessories, she spares no expense:

All in all, she's a pretty fabulous gal.
Happy Friday my friends:)

Do you believe in magic?

I believe in magic. I believe because I've seen it with my own two eyes (four if you count Dr. H's!) When my colleague told me about Steve Cohen, The Millionaires' Magician, I admit, I was a bit skeptical. "Magic for grownups?" I thought... For sure this would be one of those activities that I was amused by and Dr. H found a bit silly. Well, somewhere between the unbelievable card tricks, incredible "think-a-drink" act and magically knowing my husband's name, wedding anniversary and rando favorite food (baby bok choy!) there was nothing left to think but "whhhhhhatttt!?!?!"

A demonstration of modern conjuring

The first "magic" of the night is the setting. The show takes place in a suite at the Waldorf Towers, meaning you have to stroll through the beautiful and historic Waldorf Hotel to get there. The dress code is cocktail attire, so cute dresses and men in jackets evoke the glamorous going-out era Manhattan now seems to reserve only for the opera. An intimate event (there couldn't have been more than 50 people in the room) everyone is close enough to the magic to notice all the details and witness legit miracles.

You will spend hours post-show wondering "HOW!?"

Steve Cohen is a true performer. Witty and engaging, he runs through a program of magic tricks and mind-reading that is completely skeptic-proof. I can assure you there's no planting people in the audience because he picked ME to participate in a trick and I was not in on anything! For an amazing night out, perfect for a date with your honey or an adventure with friends, check out Chamber Magic! (Also, lots of sexy/swanky bars downstairs in the Waldorf for pre or post-magic cocktails!)

Hump Day Distractions

If you own a dog, you get it:)

1) It's f'ing freezing outside; 2) This is my first 5-day work week in a while; and 3) I'm in the middle of a good book that I really wish I could just curl up with and keep reading. Hump day like whoa... let's distract ourselves:)

* Simple and glamorous (like them).

* Humans are capable of amazing things (worth watching all the way through:)
* A really interesting article about our brains and why they make high school so damn challenging.

* The easiest way to "have" a lion for a pet.
* I'm an ENFJ. What are you? 

* Definitely the coolest Valentine's Day cards I've ever seen.

* It's freezing here so THIS obviously needs to get made and put in my belly. ASAP.

* I dare you not to smile.

* These people are my heroes. Way too much time on their hands, but heroes nonetheless.

Is it in the cards?

I am, intrigued.

Would you ever visit a psychic or have your cards read? I recently chatted with a girlfriend who had sat down for a reading and she was thrilled to know all about her future successes, the fate of her love life and trying times that she would have to overcome down the line. While I’m typically adventurous and this seems like something right up my alley (I read my horoscope daily, and have the personality traits of a Cancer crab through and through) I’m not sure I’m up for having my future laid out before me.

Whether or not you believe in the accuracy of astrology or someone’s ability to possess psychic powers, being told that things will turn out a certain way no doubt influences your decisions and could instill expectations that are difficult to live up to. “What if she’d told you something scary or that you didn’t like?” I asked. “Well, it’s only as real as you make it” my girlfriend replied, which made sense, though I didn’t find the response entirely satisfying. After much pondering, I think if I ever found myself somewhere where I could have my future predicted, my curiosity would overpower my fears, but I’m not sure I’ll ever seek it out. I think sometimes, fate is best left in the stars…