It is no secret that Matt and I aren’t very smart when it comes to eating healthy. Matt is constantly asking me questions like ”what is healthier? a bacon cheeseburger or a burrito?”
Umm, neither. They are both like 10,000 calories. And I assume that anything containing vegetables is healthy even if it is cover in cheese or creamy salad dressing.
Last night, I finally started to recover from this and decided to make home-cooked meal for my hubby. I researched recipes on Pinterest before work, found one that I liked, pinned it, and wrote down the things I needed to pick up at the store.
Unfortunately, when I got home I soon learned that out internet and cell data wasn’t working so I couldn’t access Pinterest or my recipe. Luckily, Abby came to the rescue by texting me the recipe and step by step instructions. When one form of technology fails, thankfully there is always another!
The meal was pretty yummy and made for great leftovers today for lunch. In my mind, this was a healthy dinner but I am sure some of my more health-conscious blog readers will have a different opinion.
Zucchini, Black Bean and Rice Skillet: (I made some slight modifications)
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (I thought about using coconut oil but I am still not sure that is actually healthier. Feel free to weigh in if you have an opinion.)
1-1/2 cups quartered lengthwise, sliced zucchini
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1 can (15 oz) whole black beans, drained, rinsed – I used Wholefoods brand, spicy version
1 can (14.5 oz)of fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
3/4 cup water
1 cup instant white rice, uncooked (I tried to substitute with quinoa, but didn’t realized until I got home that what I bought was actually couscous)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar and monterrey jack cheese blend
DIRECTIONS
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and bell pepper; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beans, undrained tomatoes and water. Increase heat and bring to a boil.
- Add rice*; stir well. Cover; remove from heat and let stand 7 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle with cheese. Enjoy!
*I accidentally cooked my couscous ahead of time. I added it in and just let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to evaporate some of the juice from the tomatoes.
I love funny people.
A vending machine for Bexley!
Excited for everyone else to see why I’m proud to work at Robin Hood.
Impressive act on Britain’s X Factor
One of my new favorites
I thought I was intense. Not after these pics.
Big Bird Ernie goes to China
Salted caramel mini cheesecakes
The bump!
(via)
Like Matt and I, my friend Noelle and her husband, Justin, met in high school on their school’s swim team. They dated long distance in college and eventually got married a few years after graduating college. She is my #1 go to for relationship advice, complaining about Matt’s incompetence and general life advice.
Today she sent me the following email:
Subject: Reason Justin did not take out the trash
Body of the email: “It didn’t look full”
Attachment:
This email prompted me to ask her “how did we end up with such idiots?” Her response was spot on. “We locked them in early and attributed their ridiculousness to adolescence.”
Sometimes marrying your high school sweet heart isn’t so romantic. Just ask us! Don’t worry Noelle, at least we have each other. And blogs to publicly shame our husbands.
(via Boston Magazine)
NYC’s Daffodil Project
The Best Guacamole You’ll Ever Have
Politics in New Zealand are way more interesting than ours – and they sing.
If I had two Dads like hers, I’d be singing, too.
Proof that Abby and I are nice children and our parents have it easy.
Really happy Kinsella hasn’t killed me… yet
Can’t decide if this would be an awesome or awful job
Just when you thought you couldn’t love the royal family more – turns out they are wizards!
We might now be running Disney again, but we will see be princesses this weekend in DC!
Last week was definitely a rough one in the lives of Bostonians and those of us who were lucky enough to call Boston home at one point.
It is difficult to know how to react to the events at the Boston Marathon and what transpired afterwards. At a time when the world doesn’t make sense feeling saddened, angry or threatened are all normal for such a terrible situation.
As a native New Englander and die-hard Boston sports fan, I know that no matter what, the city of Boston will persevere. As the Boston Globe wrote in Tuesday’s editorial “A commitment to rise to the occasion, to endure what must be endured, to remember all who suffered and lost their lives in times of strife, is written into the fabric of the city.” Acts of violence only work if they make people afraid to live their lives fully. We have an obligation not to let that happen. We will continue to live our lives, do our jobs and care for our neighbors.
Often, out of tragedy comes good. Boston’s people showed us their true colors last week. They gave the rest of us something to aspire to.
One of my favorite moments was when the fans at Saturday’s Red Sox game were treated to a performance by Neil Diamond to Boston’s unofficial anthem, Sweet Caroline.
Rumor has it that immediately after the second victim was captured, Neil purchased a ticket to Boston and called up Fenway asking if he could perform. Not realizing who the operator was talking to, she asked “what song would you like to sing?” His response… “umm, Sweet Caroline. If that is ok.”
Making this story even better, last week – the Yankees started an MLB movement to play this song, after the 8th inning in their stadiums to honor what happened on Monday.
I’ve sung along to this song many times at baseball games, parties and bars. Matt and I even asked the band at our wedding to perform this, along with a few other Boston favorites, while wearing Red Sox shirts… and they did.
This weekend, I realized that I didn’t know why this song was claimed by the people of Boston. My mom, aunt and I thought – what a perfect topic for a blog post.
The origins of the song’s association with the Red Sox date back to Amy Tobey, who worked for the Red Sox through a film and video communications company. From 1998 to 2004, she was responsible for selecting the music that would be played in the stadium. According to a Boston Globe article, she had noticed ‘Sweet Caroline’ was used at other sporting events, and she decided to send the sweetness over the Fenway speakers. The song was embraced by the fans, and the more it caught on, the more superstitious Tobey became about playing it – she considered it to be a good-luck charm. The Red Sox embraced the tradition and settled on the song being played during the eighth inning of every game.
Click here to see more of the tribute that took place at the start of the Red Sox game on Saturday (warning, you may need kleenex).
We are Boston Strong.
Do you love Tim McGraw?
What about Adam Levine?
Well here’s your chance to meet them while giving back to an amazing cause. Aid Still Required has teamed up with these two superstars to raise some money for the forgotten issues and people who have been left behind after natural disasters and human crises. ASR continues to help the communities of Haiti, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, New Orleans and Darfur through programs that focus on women’s empowerment, education, disaster preparedness, environment issues and outreach for these communities.
Simply make a donation of $10 and you will be entered to win one of these once in a lifetime experiences. Plus, for every 4 entries you submit, 40 hours of trauma relief will be provided for victims of rape and PTSD in Haiti.
Meet Tim McGraw (click here)
- Fly to Boston to experience a private acoustic concert with Tim before seeing his Two Lanes of Freedom show from prime seats
- Airfare & hotel included and you get to bring a friend!
- Bidding ends May 3rd
Meet Adam Levine (click here)
- You +1 (aka the luckiest person ever) will fly to LA to meet Maroon 5’s frontman backstage at The Voice. Yes, this is real life
- Airfare & hotel included
- Bidding ends April 30th
If 70% of disaster funding goes to immediate relief, what happens when the disasters are forgotten? Aid Still Required is shifting the paradigm of global disaster relief by providing the long-term work of rebuilding that often goes sorely underfunded. This small but mighty organization champions areas frequently neglected by government agencies and provide long-term, sustainable programs that engender self-sufficiency.
Let’s not forget that our help is still needed.
Well, its back. Matt and I have Brooklyn fever again. And all it took was one trip to Williamsburg, brunch at Two Door Tavern and some oysters and Smorgasburg. Damn, we are suckers.
Yummy maple lemonade from Vermont.
Two of our favorite things, Brooklyn and oysters!
It is an oyster party!
I’m not sure if this is Matt’s tough guy face, or his “I just sucked down an oyster” face
Just relaxing at the beach
Manhattan in the background
Our lease is up in August… is it too soon to look for an apartment in Williamsburg?
