Ten happy moments of the week

Photo by Angelica Blick

I can admit it, I've been slacking here on my happy moments. Not because they haven't been happening, they have, I swear! It's just that I've been so busy enjoying all of my happy moments that I haven't had a chance to put pen to the paper and tell you about it. So here goes, some happy moments might stretch a bit further than this past week. Oh well, deal with it.

1. Getting a little Vitamin D last week was incredible and necessary. My seasonal affective disorder was in full affect before we took a long-weekend trip to visit family in sunny Florida. Read about the SOBE wine and food fest here.

2. After a long weekend of indulging on too much delicious food and drink, I took this week to eat super clean and I'm feeling like I have lots of energy and a lot less bloating. 

3. The energy at my gym right now is electric as all of the athletes gear up for the CrossFit Open and the first workout (of five) tonight. Our gym has split into color teams and everyone is flaunting their colors and talking a lot of sh*t. It's healthy competition so I totally approve. Plus, we all know Team Green is going to dominate so 'nuff said. 

4. Easy and safe travels. I can't remember the last time I took a flight that was less flawless than this past time. Hopefully it's just as smooth when we head to Puerto Rico in a couple of weeks! 

5. Learning (and playing) a new party game with my co-workers, called Celebrity. If you haven't played, you should, it's a lot of fun. 

6. Making a chicken, lemon and rice soup that was so yummy I wanted to lick the bowl. But instead I just went back for seconds... and then I licked the bowl. 

7. Carpooling with BryGuy to the train station 4/5 days this week. I love when we get to ride the train together, even though he isn't always in a talkative mood. It's just nice to be near him instead of a total stranger. 

8. I'm so looking forward to some pre-wedding festivities with one of the very first people I became friends with in Philadelphia (a former co-worker.) I'm so happy for her and really looking forward to having a fun night with her and her bridesmaids. 

9. Cuties. Like the clementines. They are so yummy and cute. 

10. I know another winter storm is right around the corner, but lately I really do feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is visible and spring should be arriving any moment now. At least I'm hoping and praying and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that that is true. 

Eggs in Clouds Recipe with Bacon, Chives, and Pecorino

I love eggs with all of my heart. They are my go-to breakfast on the weekends because they're healthy and filling and the perfect companion to a plate full of bacon. Em I right?!? *virtual high five* 

I eat them all kinds of ways, over easy, hard boiled, scrambled, five minute eggs, etc. So when I stumbled across this recipe for Eggs in Clouds by Rachael Ray, I knew I had to have them. Four mornings in a row. They incorporate three of my favorite food groups; bacon, eggs, and cheese. Plus, I got to whip them up in my newish Kitchen Aid, so that was a bonus! They are surprisingly fast and easy to make as long as you've got a good mixer handy and aren't afraid of separating eggs. Also, it would be easy to change them up a bit by mixing in different ingredients. Next I might try a greek version with spinach and feta or a spicy version with chili powder and pepper jack cheese. But have no fear, I'll always keep the bacon in there, it's the pièce de résistance. Get the full recipe below. 

A brief review: South Beach Wine and Food Festival

Delicious. Superbly organized. And so much fun! There it is, that's my review. If you ever get the chance to head to Miami for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBEWFF), do it! 

Alright, I'll give you a little more information than that, for a more complete review and additional photos, see below. 

CrossFit Maternity Photos of Kristin

Meet my workout partna', Kristin. She and I went through a grueling eight-week olympic lifting program together last summer before she decided to go and get knocked up! Kristin is a total inspiration for future mamas everywhere, she continues to workout on a regular basis. She's scaled back on certain movements but is in her ninth month of pregnancy and still going strong! The most impressive thing about this lady is that she has unbelievable energy and enthusiasm. Just when you think you can't put in one more rep in a workout, Coach Kristin will yell your name, and you just have to push take little harder. We set aside a little time to do a maternity photo shoot at the gym this weekend (my first official photography gig) to capture this wonder woman in action.

Also, if you want to get your butt whipped into shape by this mama right here, she's opening a new gym this spring in East Norriton, PA! Visit www.crossfitmontco.com to learn more or sign up!

Ten happy moments of the week

Image credit: Found on Pinterest, original source unknown. If you know the original source of this image or own rights to it, please let me know and I’ll credit/remove as appropriate.

1. Discovering a new delicious gourmet breakfast that's easy to make!

2. Getting outside in the snow with my shovel buddy and cleaning off our sidewalk and cars. 

3. After we worked up a good sweat, grabbing a beer and some grub at an awesome bar in our neighborhood. Check out Old Eagle Tavern the next time you're in Manayunk!

4. Last weekend was jam packed full of fun. On Saturday, I celebrated my friend's birthday with a full day of activities that ended in a sweaty dance party, then Sunday, I headed to another friend's baby shower! See photos here.

5. Receiving meals for the week from Fit Foods! These are so delicious and have become a healthy lunch option when I'm having a busy week and can't cook and pack in advance.

6. While I kind of despise Valentine's Day it was nice to see lots of positive messages on twitter about the beautiful city of Philly. Check out the posts on twitter: #whyilovephilly

7. A neighbor helped me shovel out my car yesterday, just because. What a sweetheart!

8. I'm so looking forward to my dinner tonight and marathon House of Cards viewing. Instead of ordering food, we decided to treat ourselves to Pasta Carbonara (the most delicious food ever.) We allow ourselves to have it only twice a year in honor of our amazing honeymoon in Italy.

9. Cute snowmen and snowladies all around the neighborhood.

10. Basically a five day weekend... I mean I'm "working from home." But that beats going into work any day of the week, because you can stay in your pajamas!

Birthdays and baby showers

Last weekend was chock full of fun! It started off with a girly day at the nail salon to celebrate the birthday of my beautiful friend, Ana. Then manis and pedis turned into a full-fledged day of drinking, punching (its a game... in a bar...), eating, stopping by a sketchy strip club, and then dancing for three hours straight (at another bar, not the strip club.) I'd say it was a successful birthday celebration!

On Sunday, I shook off my mild hangover and headed to my friend Kristin's baby shower. We had a blast, there was quality time with new babies, great food and the cutest presents and decor. I can't wait for little LJ to join the world next month! He's going to be so loved!!! See photos from the weekend below.

Valentine's Day, Shmalentine's Day...

VDay is just like...the worst. The cheesy commercials, the overdone displays in the stores with the ugly stuffed animals and terrible boxes of chocolates, and all the pink and red (which really is a color combo no-no, in my book.) 

I'm so over it, I wish St. Valentine would just pack up and go back wherever the hell he came from -- up Mr. Hallmark's ass, I think. Well B and I are boycotting Vday again this year. In the past, we didn't do anything because we always celebrated our "made-up anniversary" on February 1. But now, we just really have no good excuse. 

So, on Friday, you can find us sitting on the couch, ordering food, drinking a bottle of wine... each, and watching all 13 episodes of House of Cards Season 2. Doesn't that sound romantic? 

I suppose I wouldn't mind receiving a cheesy greeting card wherein BryGuy professes his undying love for me and vows to jump in front of a Mac truck to save my life, if the opportunity ever presents itself... wouldn't that be sweet? Hint, hint! I'd save it in my memory box forever and ever. 

Do you have any special plans with your Valentine? Are you going out to a nice dinner or keeping it low key? 

Tres Leches Cake

I've loved tres leches cake ever since my very first bite in high school. I had a volleyball teammate whose mom made it for a few different occasions and ever since then, I just have to order it if it's on a menu. I really never thought about making it myself. I figured if there's three kinds of milk (that's what tres leches means...) then it must be super complicated. I mean, come on, that's a lot of types of milk! But, when I asked BryGuy what dessert I should make over the weekend, he immediately said tres leches. So I looked it up, and low and behold, it didn't appear to be all that complicated. 

And, can I just add, there actually are four kinds of milk in this recipe. FOUR. KINDS. OF. MILK. Cuatros leches! I feel like I've been fooled all of these years. 

I was so happy with how this came out, it's moist (because it's soaked in leches) and not too dense and not to light, and not sickeningly sweet either, it's juuuust right. Also, I do not recommend this cake to those with a lactose intolerance. You might be able to handle one leche, but not tres or cuatros. Full recipe and additional photos below.