For The Sake of Cake

First, I’d like to thank you all for your kind thoughts & congratulations on yesterday’s post! I actually met with our realtor for a few minutes today & she told me the “sale pending” sign is in the yard. I can’t wait to document the first-time homeowner experience & decorating ideas here on the blog!

Moving on…

Time for another installment of WIAW – What I Ate Wednesday. Be sure to stop by Jen’s blog (Peas & Crayons) to see what other bloggers are eating!

I used my usual overnight oats base (2/3 c. oats, 1/2+ c. milk, 1 tbsp. chia seeds, 1 tbsp. vanilla Greek yogurt) & added in some raspberries & peanut butter this morning. Sadly, I was a little heavy-handed with the milk last night, so this batch was a little too “liquidy.” There’s always tomorrow…

Lunch – Fluffernutter (!!!) on whole wheat bread, chips, a black cherry Chobani, & water

Last night as I was packing my lunch, I spotted the jar of marshmallow fluff that I purchased for something I made for my Mother’s Day brunch. I knew that I needed to make a fluffernutter for lunch today! Sugar-laden? Yes. Delicious? Yes again!

The chips were sent to me to sample from The Better Chip, & so far, I’m a fan (full review to follow!).

Dinner – Baked chicken parm bites atop rotini & peach tea

Inspiration struck this evening, & I decided to spend a little extra time in the kitchen trying out a new recipe (an Erica original!). I’m always a little leery of how something will turn out when I don’t use a recipe, but these chicken parm bites were awesome. I’ll post the recipe soon!

Dessert – Ghirardelli dark chocolate sea salt square

These little squares provide just the perfect amount of sweetness after a meal!

Do you usually eat something sweet after dinner? I always do!

After a few unsuccessful home-buying attempts, I was sort of hesitant to blog about the house that we recently put an offer in on. Since we’ve always been turned down (okay, only twice), I sort of didn’t know how to react once we found out the sellers accepted our offer. I held off mentioning it on the blog because I was kind of “waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

We had our home inspection last week, which turned up a few small items we requested the sellers fix for us. Knowing that they aren’t making a good deal on the sale, I sort of expected them to turn us down. Then, I expected that we’d research the repairs & find them too expensive for us to take on ourselves. Well, much to my surprise, I heard back from our realtor today, & the sellers are taking care of (almost) everything!

Since this seems fairly definite – we’re planning on settling June 22nd – I didn’t want to hold out on all of my blog friends any longer! Chris & I both went to the inspection last Wednesday, & I snapped some pictures to share with you all.

The home is Mediterranean style. The exterior is all brick (love that!) & the roof is actually terracotta. It was built in 1926.

I am so excited to fill these flower boxes!

This is the main entryway (there’s a side door, too). I love the lights on either side of the door! And, even though it’s a weird thing to “like,” I’m obsessed with the door itself. It’s super-thick & sturdy & our realtor described it as a “castle door.” Castle?! SOLD.

This isn’t really the best picture, but this is a side porch. You can see it’s location in the first picture (it’s on the left).

Our backyard. Chris is a former landscaper, & he’s already got some ideas for things that he wants to clean up back here.

I love these old, stone stairs in the backyard.

This is a view from the backyard up to the house. The kitchen opens up to a large deck. You actually get to the backyard by going out through the basement.

Stairway & hallway; so much beautiful wood trim!

The home only has one full bath, which was really the only downfall of the property. Thankfully, it has a half bath on the lower level.

Fun, multi-colored tile in the entryway. Love this!

The current owners used this front room as a dining area, but Chris & I will use it as our living room. All of the window coverings in the home are staying which is so awesome (they’re actually really nice!).

Fireplace…

I love this sunroom – it’s entirely surrounded by brick. I can’t wait to get a big, comfy chair (& a fluffy dog bed for Stewie!) & sit in this room & read! It’ll be so cozy on rainy days.

Last but not least, the finished basement. We want to get a pool table or something fun to go under that light!

Generally, the house is move-in ready, but of course there are some things we want to do to the place. Like I said, the plan is to settle June 22nd. We’ll have a week in between settlement & when we need to leave our apartment, so that will be a busy week preparing the home for all of our stuff!

It’s so exciting (& scary!) to be hitting such an important milestone in life – our first home! Eeek!

Do you have any favorite home decorating/design blogs? I’ve recently started reading Young House Love!

A few weekends ago, as I was clipping coupons, I came across an offer for Quaker Real Medleys oatmeal. It’s no secret that I love oatmeal in the mornings, so I cut out the coupon & kept my eyes peeled for the new product to hit shelves at my local Target.

I finally spotted the pre-portioned oatmeal this week & chose the summer berry flavor to try first.

To make the oatmeal, I simply filled the cup with water & put it in the microwave for 45 seconds (you can also make it with boiling water). I gave the oatmeal a stir & took it with me to eat at work.

I was pleasantly surprised by the taste & texture of this product. It’s very different from other pre-packaged oatmeal I’ve had in the past. The summer berry flavor included multigrains, strawberries, raspberries, & blueberries.

Besides the fantastic taste, I liked that this oatmeal had a simple ingredient list—nothing in there that I can’t pronounce.

My true test for this product was to see whether or not it kept me feeling full until lunch time. (I eat breakfast around 7:00AM & lunch around 11:00AM.) I pack my usual overnight oats with chia seeds, fruit, & nut butter to help keep my feeling satiated, but I was missing a few of those elements this morning. Happily, I didn’t experience any tummy grumbling & was perfectly content until lunch time.

I definitely want to try out the three other flavors – cherry pistachio, peach almond, & apple walnut.

If you’re like me & usually eat your breakfast on-the-go or at work, I definitely recommend giving this oatmeal a try!

Have you tried this product yet? Thoughts? Where do you typically eat your breakfast? I wish I had more time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at home, but it’s just not feasible!

Good evening everyone. I hope you’ve all been enjoying nice weather like we’ve had in PA this weekend! It’s been the perfect spring weather – mid-70s, no humidity, & sunny skies.

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Are any of you major Real Housewives fans like I am? I have been in love with the series since around my senior year of college – 2008!

While I enjoy watching every city, Beverly Hills is probably my favorite. Lisa Vanderpump, one of the Beverly Hills housewives, has a website/newsletter called “Dose of Divine.” You can sign up – for free! – to get little tidbits from Lisa delivered right to your inbox.

I had earmarked one particular Dose of Divine email from a few weeks ago in which the focus was on the “Top 5 Foods for Lasting Energy.” I knew I wanted to share this information on the blog, & what better time than when we’re all gearing up to start another work week? I don’t know about all of you, but I can use as much energy as I can get! (Especially since I’m facing high schoolers in our last few weeks of school!)

Top 5 Foods for Lasting Energy

1. Wild Salmon – Salmon is filled with omega-3 fatty acids, which is brain & heart-healthy. Courtney Walberg, a registered dietician who consulted with Dose of Divine, suggests having a serving of baked or broiled salmon 2-3 times per week! (I grossly underestimated how much fish I should be eating!)

2. Kale – Did you know that kale was rated #1 vegetable by the Center for Science in Public Interest? Pretty impressive! Also, it’s packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants & vitamin K. I’ve actually never tried kale, but I’ve heard so many people rave about kale chips. It’s definitely on my list of things to make!

3. Edamame or soybeans – Soybeans are high in iron, fiber, calcium, a slew of vitamins, & tons of other good-for-you elements. This is another food that I’ve surprisingly never tried before. I know many people enjoy (lightly) salted edamame, which seems like it would be the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

4. Quinoa – I found out via this email that although many people consider quinoa to be a grain, it’s actually related to spinach & Swiss chard. It’s both high in fiber & gluten free. I used to make quinoa as a side dish quite often, but haven’t in a while. This article reminded me that I need to pick some up & start incorporating it as a healthy side dish.

5. Almonds – Who doesn’t love almonds? I very clearly remember my first time trying raw almonds – junior year of college, if you can believe it! – & not being able to keep my hands out of the jar. They’re so delicious & addicting! Even though almonds are packed with “good” fats, I always try to portion out a single serving so I don’t demolish an entire stash in one sitting!

In addition to all of the energy-boosting foods discussed in this email, I found this article on the Dose of Divine website which shares 5 foods for immediate energy (in case you need even more of an energy boost!).

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Before I sign off for the evening, I had to share with you all my super-exciting grocery store find from this afternoon:

Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups !!!

I literally let out a gasp of shock & excitement. I had seen these on a few blogs, but figured it would take a while for them to make it to my local store. I just so happened to be perusing the health food section of my regular ol’ grocery store when these popped out at me. I got both the dark & milk chocolate variety, & I can’t wait to dig in!

What are your favorite energizing foods/snacks?

We’ve made it to Thursday! One more day in the work week, then it’s time to enjoy the weekend! It looks like it’s going to be especially nice around here weather-wise, so I’m looking forward to enjoying my two days off of work!

The other evening, I tried a new-to-me recipe that was e-mailed to me via Kraft foods — Ham ‘n Cheese Calzones.

I followed the recipe exactly, using Pillsbury Refrigerated Pizza Crust.

Everything came together quickly. I simply rolled out the dough, cut it into 5 long pieces, added 2-3 slices of deli ham & a spoonful of the cheese/Ranch dressing combo the recipe called for. Next, I folded over the dough to create the “calzone,” & pinched the edges of the dough with a fork. In no more than 10 minutes, they were ready for baking.

I was truly impressed with the result! I wasn’t expecting much – the ingredients weren’t anything that special, after all. However, these calzones reminded me so much of Hot Pockets – an item I used to love & always have on hand.

My mind is already spinning with other ingredients to bake in this pizza dough. I’m planning on trying turkey & cheese, broccoli & cheese, & maybe something with turkey pepperoni!

I also think this dough would work great in a dessert… perhaps mini apple pies will be on my to-do list in the coming weeks!

While I can appreciate homemade pizza dough, using this “shortcut” proved to be both time-saving & delicious!

Were you ever a fan of Hot Pockets? What are some flavor combinations you’d like to try with this dough? I just remembered those breakfast Hot Pockets! Another great idea!

Good evening friends.

Time for another What I Ate Wednesday post! Head over to Jen’s blog to read more about WIAW & see what other bloggers noshed on this week!

If I could have had anything today, I would have had…

Breakfast – Waffles with Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee!

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I haven’t had waffles in forever & have had a strong hankering for them lately. I always have a strong hankering for DD iced coffee, but rarely make it out the door early enough to stop for some.

Lunch – A giant bagel with cream cheese!

(source)

Bagels are another food item I’ve really been craving lately. I usually try to avoid them since I know it won’t keep me full for long, but I think I may have to surrender to the craving soon!

Dinner – Sushi!

I haven’t had sushi in a few weeks, so I’m overdue! The roll on the left – the Philadelphia roll – is my favorite! (Smoked salmon + cream cheese)

Dessert – A Crumbs cupcake!

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I need a reason to go to NYC so that I can pick up a few dozen Crumbs cupcakes – they’re the best! The “Happy Birthday” cupcake (pictured above) is perhaps my favorite!

If you could eat ANYTHING right now, what would it be? I’m standing firm on my cupcake pick!

Did you know today is National Chocolate Chip Day?

I’m not one to over-look a chocolate-centered holiday, so we’re going to do a little “celebrating” around here!

I perused some old posts, & complied my favorite recipes that incorporate chocolate chips. Pick one, head to the kitchen, & give the chocolate chip the recognition it deserves!

1) Overnight oats (as evidenced here, here, here, & many more places on the blog!) – I love to throw in a handful of chocolate chips in the morning!

2) Pancakes – Chocolate chips are one of my absolute favorite pancake add-ins.

3) Topping for a super-easy chocolate mousse – They add a fun little something extra.

4) Strawberry-banana baked oatmeal & s’mores baked oatmeal – You can’t go wrong with either of these recipes. They’re perfect for breakfast or dessert!

5) Monster cookies – One of my all-time favorite Christmas (or anytime!) cookies.

6) Mix-in with Greek yogurt & fruit for an afternoon snack – The perfect sweet pick-me-up!

7) Topping for a pineapple banana smoothie – Can you tell I love adding chocolate to fruity things?

Extra special chocolate chip cookies – This was one of my first posts from waaay back in June of ‘11!

What’s your favorite way to use chocolate chips? Did you celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day?

Hi everyone! I’m back after a few days off of blogging – my weekend was packed!

My Saturday was spent preparing for a Mother’s Day brunch that I was hosting for my parents & sister on Sunday. I did as much as I could the night before – which was a lot – but there was still quite a bit to get ready on Sunday, too.

This was the first time I’ve ever really “entertained.” Chris & I live in a 1-bedroom apartment (not for long – more on that in the coming days!) so it’s not really conducive to entertaining a big group.

I hadn’t had much experience planning a large meal for a group & was a little unsure of how to time everything. This was a good learning experience though, so I think I’ll have a better idea of how to execute everything the next time around.

Of course, I want to share Sunday’s menu with you all!

First, Ellie Krieger’s Peach French Toast Bake. This was a recipe that I got from Chris’s sister. She frequently makes this when Chris & I visit & I’ve always really enjoyed it. I love that this can be prepared the night before & that you can use fresh or frozen peaches – so easy!

I also made Herb Mesa’s Chicken Sausage Frittata for the first time. I’m a big fan of having some sort of egg dish at brunch, & this one was bulked up with chicken sausage, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, & onion. It was also very easy to make, even though it’s labeled as “intermediate” on the Food Network website.

Of course, brunch didn’t feel complete without a few sweets…

I tried out Hungry-Girl’s Crazy Delicious Cheesy Cherry Danish recipe, which could have used a little tweaking, I think. I made this ahead the night before, & I think it would have been best enjoyed fresh.

I also made Alysha’s Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins. I substituted whole wheat flour for all purpose flour, since that’s what I had on hand. I loved the butter/cinnamon-sugar topping that went on these. Today, I enjoyed a leftover muffin with some White Chocolate Wonderful smeared on top & it was delicious! I can’t wait to make these muffins again when pumpkin season rolls around.

In addition to the recipes I made, I roasted a combo of red, yellow, & purple potatoes. Before placing them in the oven at 350* for an hour (flipping every 15 mins.), I coated them in olive oil, salt, pepper, & rosemary.

I also made a few slices of bacon!

I think I can speak for everyone when I say this brunch was filing! I was pretty full after just one plate that held a sampling of every item.

After I ate my danish…

And of course, it just wouldn’t be brunch without a mimosa!

Made with orange-pineapple juice!

Brunch was a great way to celebrate my mom & all she does for our family! Hopefully Mother’s Day brunch can become an annual event.

What’s your favorite brunch item? I always stick with breakfast foods, rather than gravitating towards the lunch items!

Happy Friday everyone! Today was actually a half day for the students where I teach – it’s prom night! I’m sure you can imagine that the half day was super productive & everyone was just so attentive!

Although I had to stay at work for the full day, I had something fun to look forward too – a trip to the LOFT outlet near me! The other day I realized I had two coupons that were about to expire – one for 20% off & another for $20 off – & luckily they could be used together. I also had a $25 gift card that I had saved from my birthday, so I was ready to do a little shopping.

Here’s what I got:

Sunglasses

Black capri pants

Two cap-sleeved shirts

Two dresses

Two knitted 3/4 sleeve cardigans

Loose-fit, short-sleeved sweater

When all was said & done, I saved $152 off of retail price… woohoo! I texted Chris afterwards & told him that while I did do a little “damage,” at least I can’t complain that I have nothing to wear.

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When I got home from my little shopping excursion, I ran to the bathroom to pop my contacts out! Throughout the entire day they were irritating me, & on my car ride home I could barely keep my right eye open it was bothering me so much. After that I quickly plopped down on the couch, turned on an old episode of Bethenny Ever After, & the pug & I fell asleep for a good hour or so.

When I woke up, I was simply… annoyed. Annoyed that my eye still hurt (I guess it’s my eye & not my contact), annoyed that I had slept for an hour, annoyed that this nap robbed me of any motivation to complete the quick run I had planned for the evening.

After forcing myself off of the couch, I took Stewie for a quick walk & proceeded to get annoyed that he wouldn’t just go. I got annoyed at the neighbor that calls him “Dewey” instead of Stewie. Then I came inside & was annoyed that I had to make dinner.

Blah. What the heck was wrong with me? Are any of these things really that big of a deal?

My eye hurts. Yes, that’s a little irritating but not the end of the world.

I missed a workout. Unfortunate, but again, who really cares? Am I going to wake up tomorrow 10 lbs. heavier & out of shape? Dear God I hope not.

Ok, so I don’t want to make dinner. Just throw something together & quit being such a baby about it!

I don’t really know what the point of this portion of the post is other than to acknowledge that I can be a grumpy little thing sometimes.

Sometimes, I need to just chill out. Breathe. Re-group. Throw a frozen pizza in the oven. Plan for some extra cardio tomorrow. Put a warm washcloth on my eye… or something, haha.

Be thankful that I was able to treat myself to some nice, new clothing this afternoon. Snuggle with this face:

Ok, I forgive you for smelling every last blade of grass to ever exist on planet Earth.

As it turns out, there’s really not that much to be such a grump about.

How do you “snap out of it” when you find yourself in a funk?

Happy half-way through the week everyone! This week is actually moving along quite nicely, & not dragging like usual. I hope it’s feeling that way for you, too.

Since it’s Wednesday, it’s time for another What I Ate Wednesday. You can read more about WIAW on Jen’s blog, & check out what other bloggers have been grubbin’ on.

I should really just start excluding breakfast from my WIAW posts, since it’s always the same thing. I can’t help it; nothing keeps me full for as long as overnight oats do & I love the grab & go convenience.

In today’s mix:

• 2/3 c. old fashioned oats
• ~1 c. non-fat milk
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 tbsp. vanilla Chobani

Toppings (added in the morning):

• A generous handful of peanut butter Cheerios
• A handful of walnuts
• 1 tsp. White Chocolate Wonderful peanut butter (I’m obsessed!!!)
• Drizzle of honey

Lunch – Strawberry banana Chobani & a banana

I wasn’t feeling super-great around lunch time, so I opted not to eat the leftovers I had planned. (I actually didn’t feel that great after eating dinner last night, so the thought of downing the same food wasn’t appealing!)

Anyway, I don’t usually eat only a yogurt & banana for lunch, but it felt like a safe option & I surprisingly wasn’t left feeling all that hungry throughout the afternoon, so it did the trick!

Dinner – Chicken ‘N Peppers Pasta Skillet

By the time I got around to making dinner, my appetite was starting to return. I felt well enough to attend spin class, so I was experiencing post-workout hunger on top of the fact that I hadn’t eaten much throughout the day.

This dinner (recipe can be found using link above!) was fantastic. It combined pasta, chicken, & bell peppers – three of my favorites! – into a filling, easy-to-make meal!

I definitely went back for seconds!

Last but not least…

Dessert – Bear Naked cookie, topped with White Chocolate Wonderful

I told you I’m obsessed with this peanut butter!

What was the best thing you ate today? Healthiest? Most indulgent?