Archives for 2011

Five Minute Review: Danny Meyer’s Maialino

February 3, 2011 · Narrative

Those within radio distance of New York’s Z100 know that the popular Six Second Reviews is a popular weekly event from Moviefone. Today has been a day. And a half. Like the kind where I might have spilled over into tomorrow’s fun and challenges, and I don’t want to press my luck any further and would like to wrap up today. Like now. So in the spirit of Moviefone’s Six Second Reviews, how about a Five Minute Review on Danny Meyer’s Maialino restaurant in NYC … long on pictures, short on words. Sound good? Let’s go.

One of my favorite parts of going into the city is seeing the skyline as I approach.

When I don’t know where I’m going, this is not a good sign.

Gorgeous blue skies and big white, fluffy clouds today, along with a balmy temp of 36. Not complaining at all, will gladly take this over what we’ve had lately.

Greeted at hostess stand and seated within minutes. The menu for our luncheon today. Decisions, decisions.

I went with the salad for the first course, being virtuous and all that. Sarah got the ravioli, which smelled divine. The salad? Amazing. Never would have put celery, fennel, hazelnuts and cheese together, but it created a magical little bite that we all inhaled.

The road not traveled.

I try to pick things I’ve never had before, and this was my first time for Sea Bass. I know, I’ve apparently led a sheltered life. I would totally get this again. Light, buttery, flaky, sublime. The radicchio salad did nothing for me, but I’m not a fan of radicchio usually so I’m biased and willing to admit that.

Have no idea what the dessert was, but Sarah and I shared the first piece with the pine nuts on it. It tasted a little like Key Lime, but I don’t believe it was. Whatever it was, it was gone quickly.

Can’t have a blogger lunch without a snap of the bloggers, right? Luckily only one grey hair shows up on camera. On me. Sarah, being 10 years younger (!!), has a ways to go ’till she earns her grey. If she tells me again that she was graduating high school when I was getting married … ;)…

Fashion: Thinking Outside the Box

February 2, 2011 · Narrative

When it comes to looking for a particular piece of clothing (or even an accessory) for my wardrobe, I’ve learned that it’s good to think outside the box a bit.

My favorite work-out t-shirts are from the men’s section of Old Navy. It’s a simple v-neck shirt, but the nearly-identical t-shirt on the women’s side is twice the price. Go figure. And this weekend? The shirt on the women’s side was $12 and the shirt on the men’s side was $3.99.

Accessories meant for kids’ hair work just as well for grown-ups hair. You know, excluding the bright pops of day-glo pink and Hello Kitty emblems. Some of my favorite hair accessories have been Etsy buys that I bought with Madeline in mind. She hasn’t jumped on the hair accessory bandwagon yet, and in the meantime, they work perfectly well for my hair. And as Beth and I found out awhile back, hair accessories at J. Crew’s Crewcuts (their kid store) were cheaper than the adult counterparts across the hallway. For the same basic thing.

That’s two easy ways to think outside the box when you’re trying to hunt something down … check the men’s department and the kid’s department as well.

I have one more for you. Check sleepwear.

…

Recipe: Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream and Cherry Preserves

February 1, 2011 · Narrative

love the little face peeking out from behind the cupcake

It doesn’t seem right to celebrate a birthday without cupcakes, does it? Especially if it’s a girl’s birthday. So with The Neighbor Wife’s birthday last week, I went searching for a new cupcake recipe. Once I saw the recipe for Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream and Raspberry Jam, I decided it was time for a change-up from our usual chocolate and vanilla suspects and try something a little different.

Turns out none of the three kids are fans of lemon cupcake anything. Who knew? The lemon flavor is definitely apparent in this recipe. You know, especially given that it’s in the batter, the filling AND the frosting. So if you don’t like lemon, don’t try this. If you do, then this is a delicious way to celebrate a birthday, special occasion or a day when it doesn’t snow. Not that we know anything about that. Just read in the paper today that our county has been blessed *coughcough* with 65 inches of snow in the last month. Hurrah.

Just one note. The recipe says to bake until golden brown. I’d shave a minute or three off that because golden brown turned out to be a few minutes too long. Barring that, dig in!

You can find the recipe right here on Bethanny Actually.

If you’re looking for a fun new pizza recipe, do check out the one I wrote about on Betty Crocker last week – delicious stuff….

Eat. Live. Be. #5 – Your Favorite Healthy Change

January 31, 2011 · Narrative

This week, the Eat. Live. Be. crew is talking about a favorite healthy change that we’ve made over the past few weeks. You know, since starting the Eat. Live. Be. revolution. When I checked in with Sarah on what this week’s topic was (because she has a crazy memory like an elephant that saves me from doing something practical like looking something up), I may have cursed her a bit. I thought today was our monthly status recap. It wasn’t – look for that next week. “Who the heck came up with this topic?!” I asked, secretly hoping it wasn’t me. Phew, it wasn’t. It was her.

I thought this was a tough one. I have lots of fun little changes I’ve made over the past few weeks. Over the past year even. But a favorite? Oh the pressure. It took me a little while of serious thought. But then I had it. For me, it’s the renewed commitment to working out. This isn’t something that has happened since we started Eat. Live. Be., of course. For me, it started last January. But as anyone who works out regularly can tell you, there’s little that beats that feeling you get after a work-out. Just ask Joanne.

You feel invincible. Full of a heady, take-on-the-world rush. Like you can do anything. And you can. You really can. Working out sets you up for the next 24 hours of your day. Energizes you to deal with problems head on. Gives you the confidence to tackle anything.

A lot of my work-outs are at the end of the day, and I’ll be honest, sometimes I’m dragging myself to the gym or a class. But after that hour? I am completely revitalized from the inside out. Ready to get through the “witching hour” of dinner, bath and bedtime with the kids. Energized enough to slog through a few extra hours of freelancing deadlines after the littles are in their beds.

And just as important than that? The regular work-outs help me examine every bite I put into my mouth. Because as I’m banging through a one hour class, with sweat literally stinging my eyes, no way do I want to undo that hard work by eating something that’s less than good for me. Why would I do that? Not a chance.

For me, making the connection of working out AND revamping my diet was the magical spark that made it all work. It hasn’t been easy. It took me a long time to get here. A reader last week asked what made *this time* different. I have been meaning to answer, but I think that’s a greater topic than an add-on here, so look for it later this week.

…

Weekend Photos in Review

January 30, 2011 · Photos

I have been looking for solid orange pillows forever. And who gets to enjoy them first?

Project 365
January 28, 2011, Photo #28

Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream and Cherry Filling and Lemon Buttercream Frosting (recipe coming this week).

Movie night and birthday celebrations with The Neighbors. We kicked it old school – name that movie!

She only cleans his face and ears. Given the size of him, it’s no wonder.

Kris, this picture’s for you. Delicious batch of Lava Flows – perfect thing to think summer.

I bribed Madeline with a donut if she behaved in the grocery store. Then she was quite indignant that I didn’t want to take a picture of it. I may have created a monster.

See the heart?…

Celebrating Spring and Sunshine

January 27, 2011 · Narrative

Am I few days early? Yeah, I don’t care. Even though Spring is still well over 50+ days away, as the Northeast battled yet another snowstorm last night and woke up to two feet of snow this morning, I need a little warm weather inspiration.

I couldn’t open up the back door to let Eli out this morning because there was too much snow blocking the door. Oh happy day.

SOMEONE used my shovel yesterday to knock icicles off the roof. Any guess as to where my shovel was this morning when I needed it? Yep, under two feet of snow. And I had about thirty minutes to get a path to the street so Nick could catch his bus. Kids had school today (albeit via a delayed opening) and the roads were awesomely clear.

The only problem was GETTING to the road. So as I prepared to leave the house this morning, I was holding Madeline on one hip, along with my work bag, our lunch bags and her Pillow Pet, because, of course, she can hold nothing. With my other hand, I used an ice scraper and scraped off a piece of each of the thirty steps and two walkways, just enough so I could get to the car.

Heaven help me. How many days until Spring again?

I don’t mind the snow. Or the cold. Or the icicles that are dripping onto my front steps and freezing, creating our own personalized ice rink at my front door. What I do mind, however, is that we have been slammed every few days with nary a moment to catch our breath in between. I can’t remember a time when it’s been this bad. I’m over it.

So in the interest of making it just through the end of February, I’m going to work on a little sunny inspiration, and leave you with warm thoughts via a trip down memory lane as we head to the weekend.

Now if you need some warm weather food inspiration to get you through the next couple of weeks as well, try out these Spicy Asian Lettuce Wraps. They have no season and are perfectly wonderful all year ’round. In fact, I do believe they’re going to hit the dinner menu tomorrow night, along with a round of these Lava Flows. Bottoms up!

…

Wordless Wednesday, Otherwise Known as Clever Ways to Store Jewelry

January 26, 2011 · Narrative

I have never been a jewelry person. I could just never get into using jewelry as a daily rotating accessory, and once I put something on, it stayed forever and a day.

My wedding ring? Gave it back to my Dad (it was from his mom) when The Ex and I separated.

My engagement ring? Sold it long ago.

The ring The Ex gave me our first wedded Valentine’s Day? Sold.

No attachment anymore to any of it, and totally bad juju for repurposing.

I did keep a cross he gave me one Easter when we were dating, only because I thought I could pass it on to Madeline, perhaps for her Communion or Confirmation.

Sometimes I wear studs in my ears. Most days, I forget.

I usually wear a necklace with tags that have the kids’ name on them, their birth dates and their birthstones. Color me lower than low maintenance. At least in the jewelry department.

But over the course of the past year or so, I have branched out a bit. Wearing the odd bracelet or necklace, mixing and matching, changing it up.

I have this Pottery Barn jewelry box that I bought eons ago, and the glass top was engraved with my old (married) initials. Lot of good that does me now. I hated to throw it away, but didn’t want to see it daily either. What to do?

Last weekend, when returning something to TJ Maxx with Madeline, I discovered these jewelry organizers.

Where the heck have they been all my life? Probably never noticed them because I wasn’t into jewelry much and therefore had no need.

But for $14.99, it is the perfect organizer to hang in my closet and keep all my accessories, you know, organized. They had a crazy assortment of prints to choose from, and I ended up with the turquoise paisley one that accidentally matched the new color of my bathroom walls (more reveal once it’s completely done). Lovin’ it and the accompanying price tag.

And as usual, my girl Sarah and I were of the same mind, because she recently wrote about accessories on her new site, Sassy Closet. Great minds and all that.

I had a $13 JC Penney necklace that I bought last year that I love and wore to the office sometimes. Unfortunately it broke a few weeks back. Found this similar one at the Banana Republic outlet last weekend. Regularly $39.99, and it was 40% off. Score! I might be more interested in accessorizing, but keeping it budget-friendly is of much greater interest.

…

Recipe: Tomato Soup with White Beans and Pasta

January 25, 2011 · Narrative

A quick and hearty tomato soup that is perfect for chilly weather.

Yesterday, it was three degrees. Today it topped out at 41. The day started with big fluffy snowflakes dropping fast and furious from the sky, and ended with little accumulation and clear roadways. Welcome to New Jersey. Much like Kansas’ little ditty … “Don’t like the weather? Wait a minute, it will change.” Forecast for the rest of the week? More snow, and how much is anybody’s guess.

Nothing like a cold, windy Winter to make me want a big bowl of steaming hot soup. With just a few ingredients and fifteen minutes of your time, this bowl of Tomato Soup with White Beans and Pasta can be warming up your cold, empty bellies in nothing flat. Nick liked it, except for the beans, and Madeline couldn’t be bothered. With eight grams of fat and 255 calories, the leftovers have made a quick and easy lunch for a few days for me and a grab-and-go dinner before jetting off to the gym.

Soup’s on!

Project 365
January 25, 2011, Photo #25
Polka dots make me happy, and this Ann Taylor shirt I found at an outlet recently is no exception. And the $17 price tag (40% off sale) made me even happier.

…

Eat. Live. Be. #4: Your Biggest Challenge

January 24, 2011 · Narrative

This week, the Eat. Live. Be. crew is addressing challenges. What ours are. How we deal with them. Challenges. I have a few. Yesterday I told a personal trainer that one of my challenges is working out with the kids during the Winter. I don’t want to drag them out in the cold more than I have to, but with nobody else at home to watch them, I also need to be able to strike a reasonable balance to get work-outs during my least favorite of the four seasons.

During yesterday morning’s Zumba class, the instructor shouted in my direction, “You can move your hips better than that – you HAVE BABIES!” She might peg that as my biggest challenge. During the body roll segment of the song, it totally was.

So you see, it depends on who you ask when. Challenges, I have a few. But what do I think? My greatest challenge? The first step.

I have a bit of a, um, compulsive personality. A friend and I were debating the merits of the right word today. He said addictive, in defining his own similar trait. We settled on “committed,” because that sounds awesome, right? My thing is this … one I make the decision to do something, anything, I am in it 150%. Whether it’s recycling. Working out. Or reorganizing my entire closet. I jump in, feet first, eyes closed and don’t look back. Heck, most of the time I don’t even look forward. I just commit wholeheartedly with every ounce of my being. But the challenge is in taking that first step. Dipping that little toe in the water down the shore on the first day of full-out sunshine to see if the water is cold enough. It takes a lot to muster up the courage to do that. To turn that corner. To make that decision. Therein lies my challenge.

Along my journey, many people have asked how they could get started on a similar path. How I could help them. See, the thing is, I can’t. Once you’re on the road, I am right there with you, ready to give you all the encouragement, tips and advice you need. iVillage asked me for ten tips to help someone with weight loss and I spouted them off in nothing flat. But that first step? I can’t do it for you. Your husband can’t. Your family can’t. NO ONE can do it except you. Which is why it’s such a challenge.

The last time I got serious about losing weight was right before my wedding. That was in 1998. I fell off the wagon, so to speak, the next year. Folks, this is 2011. It took me nearly 13 years to take that first step again. I wasn’t kidding when I said it was my biggest challenge. Now some 13 months after the first step, it is a way of life. For the most part, it doesn’t require thought. It just is.

…

Weekend Photos in Review

January 23, 2011 · Narrative

Project 365
January 21, 2011, Photo #21

…

Discovering Forever 21

January 20, 2011 · Narrative

It seems like I can’t read a magazine these days without seeing a piece of clothing or accessory that I like. From Forever 21. I had never been to the store, and it was on my running list of places I wanted to check out. A few weeks ago, on a Friday night out with the kids, I finally got my chance.

I begged. I pleaded. I bribed. I asked them to please be good so I could go to just ONE store. And I promised to reward them justly. Going clothes shopping with them is something I try really hard not to do. You know, unless I want Madeline crawling in and out of the dressing room. Or trying to open the door while I’m mid-way through trying on a blouse. Or loudly announcing to anyone within earshot that “I see your boobies.” What can I say? Some days I try to avoid the embarrassment if I can.

But that Friday a few weeks ago, I got lucky. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that this was what I bribed them with.

The store is interesting. It has a bunch of their own different brands, so like a department store, you can have flannel and sweats on one side of the store and cocktail dresses on the other. The prices? Crazy reasonable. This was my favorite section of the store, filled with soft colors and softer fabrics.

I was very good (read: restrained) and only bought one top ($17) and one necklace ($12) and since I bought them with gift cards from Christmas (thanks Mom & Dad!), even better.

As we were leaving the mall, I spotted a window display for LOFT and totally want this bracelet the next time I’m in the area. Thanks to readers who gave LOFT the thumbs up a few weeks back, it’s totally on my list to check out.

And now it’s your turn … what is YOUR favorite store that should be on my list?

…

Celebrating the Letter M and Madeline

January 19, 2011 · Narrative

I’ve heard it said that when you have kids, it’s like taking your heart and letting it reside on the outside of your body. Truer words were never spoken. I fully understood that sentiment when Nick was born, and ever since, and again with Madeline. Oh Madeline.

A few weeks ago, she was lying in my bed, snuggled up all warm and cozy next to me, letting me watch an episode of Olivia with her, one of her favorites, before bed.

“I miss you.”

But Madeline, I’m right here.

“No, I miss you when you’re gone,” she said.

Like when?

“When you go to work or I go to Daddy’s.”

My heart instantly broke into a thousand little pieces. She has this incredibly soft side of her that comes out here and there, a sharp juxtaposition to her Ramona Quimby ways. And it melts me. Every time.

But honey, I always come back. And look… see this necklace I wear? It has your name on it, and your brother’s, and the day that you were born. Your birthday. You’re always close to me.

She leaned in and gave me a kiss.

…