Instagoodies

With the popularity of the app "Instagram"

(who doesn't love fun photo effects?!),

I was THRILLED to come across this website.

I cannot wait for holiday card season

and/or my little man's birthday

to make a book of 90 stickers for just $14.99!

So stinkin' cute & fun.

P.S.  I know there are other sites where you can turn your instagram photos into:

magnets

coasters

canvas wall prints

LOVE.

:)

~images taken by b via instagram~

Chicken Stir-fry

Who needs take-out when you can quickly throw together something

that is not only way healthier, but also customized to your tastes?

Not to mention it comes together quickly!

This recipe is highly changeable,

just substitute veggies that are seasonal (read:  on sale)

or what protein / veggies you & your family prefer.

Ingredients

1/4 c low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar (can substitute white wine vinegar)
2 tsp light brown sugar
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (~ 1 pound)
4 tsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tsp minced, peeled fresh ginger
1 head sliced bok choy and/or broccoli and/or asparagus
1 small red chile or jalepeno, seeded and sliced

Peanuts and/or sesame seeds, optional topping

Cooked brown rice, for serving

Directions

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and 3 Tbsp water.

Slice chicken into thin strips and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

In a medium bowl, toss chicken with cornstarch until coated.

In a large wok or skillet, heat oil, garlic, and ginger over medium-high heat until fragrant (about 1 minute).

Add chicken in a single layer, pressing against pan to sear.

Cook, stirring, until lightly browned and just cooked through (about 6-8 minutes).

Add veggies and chile and cook, stirring, until tender-crisp (about 2-4 minutes).

Add soy sauce mixture and cook until sauce thickens slightly.

Serve with rice and top with peanuts and/or sesame seeds, if desired.

Delicious paired with an amber or IPA brew.

:)

Again, who needs take-out??

~photos by b~

Having fun

I hope your weekend is filled with nothing but f-u-n.

Because..

Truer words were never spoken!

Let it all hang out, babycakes.

;)

~image via Cup of Jo / photos by b~

The Friday Five

Five things I'm all about this week.

Ready, go!

1.

Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

I listened to this Lauryn Hill album all summer long when I was 16,

cruisin' around town in my 1994 red Toyota Camry, with the sunroof open!

(Come to think of it, "That Thing" is actually a great anthem for a teenage girl, no?)

And now I sing this jam to my son as we waltz around the living room.

(He loves singing, even mine with it's terrible pitch.)

2.

Pallets.

The craze of D.I.Y.'ing with pallets on Pinterest is almost an epidemic.

But with some great ideas like this, I can see why!

(I am especially digging that wine rack and the wall of potted herbs!)

3.

Family art.

Adorable idea...and the "what a difference a day makes" quote is perfect!

Once my family is complete, I must make one for the wall.

4.

big bun + big eyelashes + big pearls

Big errrythang 'round here...

5.

Why you need the pertussis vaccine.

{HERE}.

Whooping cough epidemic!

You really  need to make sure you are up-to-date with your TDap,

especially if you plan on being around kids under age 7 - especially infants!!

I know I will be requiring any future babysitters of Baby A to provide proof of vaccinations.

If you've received your tetanus booster recently

- which you need updated every 10 years -

you should already be good to go.

And if protecting the little ones you love isn't incentive enough,

here's a picture of what getting tested for whooping cough looks like,

should your healthcare provider suspect you might have it:

OUCH.

Trust me when I tell you:  That swab goes deep, peeps!

And a few more links, just for fun...

My new favorite fashion blog {HERE},

bringing designer looks to you, all found at affordable stores.

A strong case for drinking hot water with lemon.

I am pretty sure I need this shirt.

This recipe for grilled bananas foster is a "must" at my next cookout.

What an amazing three-piece photograph.

I would like to incorporate this idea with one of my own action photos!

8 tips to living a happier life.
(Tip # 7 - "You get more bees with honey."  So true!)

And finally, for my fellow Harry Potter fans:
This (I dare you not to sing along! )
and this are spot on and too funny.
(Sorry, Bella and Edward.)

Speaking of Pinterest, I leave you with this hilarious - and true - sentiment:

Have a good one, my friends!
xoxo,
b

~images via pinterest, etsy, pinterest, unknown, & pinterest~

A party of Olympic proportion

Are you getting excited for the Summer Olympics??

Opening Ceremony in T-1 day.  WhooHoo!

To celebrate, why not host an Olympic-themed get together?

Here is some inspiration to jump start your party planning...

Color scheme, as follows:

Fun cupcakes with the classic Olympic rings + your native country's flag!

Speaking of rings, throw in appropriate-hued Lifesavers into your cocktail.

Instant Olympics!

Or, perhaps to be traditionally British,

make a refreshing, classic Pimms' Cup.

{HERE}

Consider serving a wide variety of ethnic foods to represent the various countries.

And hand out "medals" for Olympic sports trivia!

I think I am most excited for the gymnastics and swimming events,

while my husband is pumped for USA basketball.

What sporting events are you looking forward to?

Faster, higher, stronger!

~images via onecharmingparty, asmallsnippet, pinterest & imbibe magazine~

Dita eyewear

Here's a sneak at the Fall 2012 lookbook.

More {HERE}.

Gorgeous!

Is it fall yet?

Because I could go for some of these flattering frames now!

~images via Dita~

Interview with a...

I've officially started applying for part-time NP jobs in the Milwaukee area.

It appears that such a position, which was bountiful in January,

is now rather slim pickin's.  Yet, I persist in my quest.

Looking for a new job is scary.

Mainly because interviews are scary.

You dress up in uncomfortable clothes that you hope make you look “professional”

(I'm looking at you, "lucky" size 2 suit that will probably never fit again)

then march into some unfamiliar office

(that took you over an hour to find... f--- you Google maps!)

to have a conversation with someone you’ve never met.

And not just any conversation,

it’s a conversation about your overall skills and value as a person.

I normally spend most of the interview trying to make sure that I don’t say "like" or smile too much, worried that my armpit stains are going to start to show.

Yes, an unfortunate side effect of my nervousness is that I begin to sweat profusely. I'm often worried the interviewer is going to offer to blot my T-zone. Woof.

Such worry about my bodily disgust appearance

definitely doesn’t make going to interviews any easier!

Then, after I’ve babbled on to the stonefaced woman or man sitting in front of me

about how I would be tickled pink to hand-write H&P's

on their bipolar Crohn's patients all day and/or night,

especially on Saturdays and holidays,

(Lies! Lies!)

if they would just pleeeeeease  give me this job,

I get up, walk out, and immediately begin to kick myself

for things that I did or didn’t say.

I forgot to say that I place an emphasis on patient teaching and family rapport!

I didn't mention my published article on ultrafiltration in acute heart failure!

I wonder if I said aloud that I'd much rather stay at home and hang out with my cute, fun son than go to work all day???

Blaaaaaaah.

It’s brutal, tortuous, and just plain awful.

The minute after an interview I need comfort.

Read:  I can only think of getting home, changing into yoga pants and spending the remainder of the day watching Sex and the City DVD's

while consuming my weight in booze and chocolate. 

Yay to job hunting!!

Wish me luck.

:)

~images via pinterest~

Ermahgerd!

Did you think I died when 9:00am passed and a blog entry didn't appear?
Oopsies on my part.
But I really did almost die laughing...

Have you seen these?
Are they really that funny?

Or, am I laughing because I'm just so damn sleep-deprived?
I mean, seriously.
Why am I laughing so hard?

It's like the human version of the "I can haz cheeseburger" cat.
SO stupid...

And perhaps my favorite, a double "ERMAHGERD!"...

Regardless of the level of stupidity, I'm enjoying my mid-week jollies

courtesy of  the poor "ERMAHGERD!" girl.

:)

P.S.  Happy 28th Birthday to my "little" brother!
Can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend.

Blueberry Bonanza

Did you know July is national blueberry month?

True story.

So before the month gets away from us,
and while they're essentially giving away these healthy gems at the grocers,

I figured we'd better talk blueberries.

I recently made this blueberry muffin bread with streusel topping.

Tastes like a giant muffin top.  Holla! 

It's made with whole wheat flour, so it's sort of healthy.  Right??

And as soon as it isn't 90+ degrees out,

I want to make this baked blueberry oatmeal.

But since it remains hotter than Hades,

I will stick to things like...

Blueberry Smoothies

This fresh blueberry, mango, & cucumber salsa over grilled fish or chicken.
(Thank you, Daphne Oz.)

And frozen blueberries - a perennial favorite!

(For a new twist, I may have to try this idea.)

These cream cheese-based Blueberry Walnut Bars I whipped up last summer

were awfully tasty as well and need to be re-created STAT.

Oh, and these Blueberry Lemon Cupcakes look just terrible don't they?

;)

What are your favorite blueberry recipes?
Pie?  Muffins?  Plain, by the handfuls?

Do share!

P.S.  Stock up and use them now...or freeze them for later!

P.P.S.  I used to not care for blueberries, but now cannot imagine a summer without them!  If you're in the same boat, please given them a second chance - try eating them frozen on a hot day OR in any of these delicious recipes.  You may be pleasantly surprised!

~photos by b / images via so how's it taste & pinterest x 2~

Baby talk

Just the usual with my little dude.

And by "the usual",
 mean a little bit of this...

(Shout out to Mema for recommending SqoolTube - we LOVE it!)

...and a little bit of that...

...some of this...

...oh, and a little more of this...

;)

Happy Sunday!

~video by b~

What a difference a weekend makes.

While the last two weekends were an absolute blast,

they were very busy / travel-heavy.

Nothing but R&R on deck this time around!

Here is a picturesque recap of the beginning of July...

Anniversary dinner for two at The Noble

Followed by post-dinner cocktails at Boone & Crockett

Not 1, but 2!, weddings in our beloved Madison, WI

...and here's what I've been "busy" with this weekend...

Still enjoying my anniversary bouquet - gorgeous!

(The man knows what colors I like.)

Sipping tea + watching movies in the A.C.

Tending to my newly planted tomatoes,
namely these and these.


Enjoying
BLT's with wasabi mayo on whole grain toast + fresh nectarines & salsa,
this vegetarian Mediterranean barley salad (soooo good!!),
and pineapple angel food cake with whipped cream!

"Reading" lots of books

Afternoon naps

And basically spending every waking moment with this little heartthrob...

(sigh)

Can't wait for my husband to join in on the fun tomorrow!
(He's helping a friend move today.)

Hope your weekend is just as blissful.

~photos by b~