Great Recipe!

Do you need something easy, delicious, and super healthy to make for dinner tonight? If you do, I have your answer! This is a recipe my Mom found in The Washington Post. I tried it last night and it's really good and very healthy! Only 319 calories per serving. My only recommendation would be adding some organic chicken broth to the water to give it a little more flavor. Try it and enjoy!


Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 cups quinoa (no need to rinse)
* 1 1/2 pounds broccoli
* 1 to 2 medium lemons
* 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
* 5 tablespoons olive oil (may use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes)
* 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the quinoa and cook uncovered for 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut the broccoli stalks into 3/4-inch pieces and cut the broccoli tops into small florets. Add to the pot; reduce the heat to medium-high and return to a boil. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the quinoa has no opaque dot of uncooked starch in the center.

While the broccoli is cooking, squeeze enough juice from the lemon(s) to yield 1/4 cup. Coarsely chop the sun-dried tomatoes and place in a large bowl.

Drain the quinoa and broccoli well. Transfer to the bowl and stir until the steam subsides. Add the lemon juice, oil and salt. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Ina's Life

One of my favorite things to do is to watch cooking shows with my Mom, specifically Barefoot Contessa. I have recently had a breakthrough and now realize that if my life someday resembled her life, I would be a very happy girl. Allow me to elaborate...

1. She has a wonderful husband who adores her and supports her career.











2. She has a booming career doing something she loves, and it happens to involve eating fantastic food!
















3. She lives in a gorgeous house in the Hamptons and has the kitchen of my dreams.

















4. She has a network of fabulous gay friends. Enter her new BGF T.R. Pescod, or as I like to call him, Silver Fox.

I heart you Kay!

I was at the mall this evening and was pleased to find some adorable Spring dresses. Most of the dresses I loved were by Kay Unger. I have always loved her stuff - so ladylike and classic. Here are some of my favorites!



































































Don't you think I NEED one of these for the Spring weddings I'm attending?

Oh, the things I've done!

Saw this over list over at Le Petite Blog and thought it would be fun to answer. I've done a lot more than I thought I had....

Things you have done during your lifetime..
( ) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Washed, groomed and dressed someone after they died.
(X) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
(X) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(X) Sang Karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't.
(X) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain-naked
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
(X) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Been bungee jumping
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
( ) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(X) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(X) Traveled by train
(X) Been horse back riding
(X) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
(X) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(X) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( ) Been in a rain forest
(X) Seen whales in the ocean
(X) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
(X) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
( ) Been water-skiing
(X) Been snow-skiing
(X) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(X) Been to a Major League Baseball game
(X) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Been to Las Vegas
(X) Been snorkeling in any ocean
( ) Been naked or topless on a beach

Oscar Fashion!

I almost stayed awake for the entire award show last night. Fortunately, my favorite part of the event happens before the ceremony begins: the red carpet fashion! Here are a few of my hits and misses.

















Anne Hathaway - I thought she looked amazing. So elegant.

















Taraji P. Henson - I loved everything about this look - the hair, the jewelry, the dress. She looked lovely.

















Natalie Portman - I think she is so gorgeous and I love this dress. It is pink after all!

















Penelope Cruz - She always looks amazing and she did not disappoint last night.

















Marisa Tomei - She redeemed herself from her fashion disaster at the Golden Globes. Love it!



Now for some looks I was not so fond of.....


















Reese Witherspoon - It kills me to say this but I hate it! I normally love what she wears but this is just wrong. The color of the dress, the hair, the make up - all wrong. So very wrong.

















Jessica Biel - Where to begin? I don't get this dress. I think it looks sloppy and is totally unflattering on her. Bad choice. I can't imagine Justin approved of this.

















Miley Cyrus - Let me preface this by saying that I am not a Miley Cyrus fan. I did, however, love the red Valentino dress she wore to last year's Oscars. This year, not so much. I just think this is too much and too old for her. It reminds me of a bad Barbie dress.

Great Buy!

I have been looking for a plate like this since my Mom got one from Southern Living at Home several years ago. They are the perfect size for entertaining and you can change the ribbon for every occasion or holiday. I love it and can't wait to use it! For you local readers, you can find them at The Dandelion Patch. For all others, try googling 'Prissy Plate'. Even the name is cute!

Ewww?

Should I be concerned that the Orkin man was visiting the sandwich shop I ate at this afternoon? I was almost finished with my veggie sub when I saw him appear from the back and start talking to the owners. It appeared to be a very clean place and the woman washed her hands and had gloves on as she prepared my sandwich but I was grossed out just the same. I high tailed it out of there quickly....

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are some lovely arrangements I would be thrilled to receive today! All courtesy of Martha Stewart of course....





















































I would also be thrilled to get these! Yum!

Valentine's Day (Fantasy) Outfit Options

Let's pretend for a moment that I have a boyfriend (preferably attractive, thoughtful, funny, kind, loves children and dogs, gainfully employed, and not living in his parents' basement). Let's also pretend that this boyfriend and I have fabulous plans for Valentine's Day - perhaps a nice dinner at a great restaurant or a romantic night at home. Here are two optional outfits for this fictional date. A girl can dream, can't she?

Please note that I've also included the gift he will be giving me and the flowers he will have delivered to my office (so my co-workers will be jealous). :)


Untitled - by BDority81 on Polyvore.com

Why?

Why do I continually watch movies or TV shows that make me cry??? I just can't help myself. Here is a sampling of said programs....

I watch this show several times a week....and I cry almost every time I watch it. The reason I keep doing this to myself? It reminds me that no matter how bad I think my problems are, there are LOTS of people who have it a lot worse than I do.


You know it, you love it. It's Steel Magnolias - the quintessential chick flick. This has been one of my favorite movies since I was in high school. I have probably seen it 100 times. Can I recite lines from the movie? Sure. Do I know very well what is going to happen at the end? Yes. Do I still cry EVERY SINGLE TIME? Absolutely.


Another chick flick? Check. Another movie I've seen hundreds of times? Check. A movie I cry at every time I see it? Check.




A side note: I also have a hard time turning off programs that make me scared. Inevitably, I will be flipping through the channels and I end up stopping on some show about the paranormal...typically at night when I am home alone and right before I go to bed. Good call.

Home Improvement

I spent a lot of my weekend buying fabulous things for my house!

On Saturday, I went to the Alexandria Boutique Warehouse Sale where I purchased this lovely kitchen rug. It goes perfectly with my pink and green Williams Sonoma dish towels.

















Thanks to Nautical by Nature for announcing this fabulous event!

On Sunday, I went to out to Lucketts, VA with my Mom and a friend. It is a quaint little town outside of DC that has the most amazing antiques and architectural salvage pieces. I love it and was fortunate to find these lovely items....
































My most important purchase of the weekend was....a dining room table and chairs! I have been looking for a set for a long time and this one was a steal. I love the chairs and the table is amazing, though it required some TLC in the form of stripping, sanding, and re-staining. As soon as it is done, I will post pictures of the final set.

















A close-up of the fabric....

Spring Wedding Outfit Options

So, I have several weddings coming up and these are two outfits I am thinking about wearing. Is the purple dress too dark for an evening wedding in the late Spring? Could I also wear the blue dress to a baby shower? Is it worth it to have two versions of the same dress? I do love the way the purple one looks on me - I have yet to order the blue. What are your thoughts loyal readers? I value your opinion!



Untitled - by BDority81 on Polyvore.com

Help!

I am in desperate need of a new header/logo. Does anyone know a fellow blogger who can help me create a new and improved one? Help a prep out!

I've been tagged! Part 2

Thank you BLC from The Company She Keeps for tagging me.

THE RULES: Step 1: Respond and rework [answer, replace disliked, and add one more]. Step 2: Tag. Yep, 8 more peeps.

Favorite football team: The Washington Redskins!!!! I am a DC girl after all...

Clothes of choice: J. Crew, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Gap, Ann Taylor

Current book of choice: Change of Heart by Jodi Piccoult

Best bear hug: My grandmother, for as little as she is, gives a mean hug.

Obsession of choice: Magazines - I cannot leave the grocery or drug store without at least one magazine. It takes me 15 minutes to read them and then I throw them away. It is such a waste.

Favorite websites: I browse online at my favorite store sites everyday and I check my favorite preppy blogs every day!

Must-show-kids movie: The Goonies

My super power would be: Healing those in pain.

Favorite weather: No humidity and about 65 degrees, a little cooler at night.

Wake-up call: 7:30 AM

Most challenging goal: Getting my life together!!!

House {paid for and furnished} Nantucket

Vacay spot: I love, love, love Nantucket! I also love my Dad's place in Breckenridge during the summer.

Favorite book: Life's Little Instruction Book

Evil, irresistible temptation: Cupcakes! They are so cute and delicious. I can never resist them.

Any job of the world: Being the editor-in-chief of a fashion or design magazine. Imagine all the free goodies you'd get! The more altruistic part of me says being a member of Congress would be pretty rewarding too.

Favorite quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world." Ghandi

Oh, the money I could have saved....

Let me be the first to introduce....the Miche bag! That's right ladies - get ready to sell your designer bags on eBay. You don't need them anymore! This is the only bag you will ever need. It is one bag that has a wide variety of 'shells' that attach onto the same basic bag again and again, allowing the fashion forward lady to switch purses as often as she wants!

Obviously, I'm kidding. As a connoisseuer of designer handbags, I can definitively say that I will never own this bag. I do think it is pretty hilarious and I can see exactly the type of woman who would carry it. More power to her! I'll stick with my Kate Spade!

In case you're interested, here are some of the lovely and versatile shells you can choose from: