Martini Monday

I've always been a really big fan of stirrings.  I remember way back when they were sold pretty much only at williams sonoma and whole foods, but now you can get their products at most package stores and some grocery stores and targets.  They make great mixers for drinks.  But yesterday I was introduced to their line of liquor by a restaurateur friend of mine.  I had a taste of their peach flavor, like a peach schnapps, but just really delicious and fresh and clean tasting.  I mean it tasted like a real peach!  And would be really amazing drizzled over some vanilla bean ice cream. 

stirring mixers

peach liquor

So-So Dinner, Cheese & Dog Cookies

I really hate to write my opinion about a restaurant if it's not a good one...And before I start off with anything bad I want to say I used to live across from The Franklin Southie and dined there many times and always had excellent meals.  But Laura wanted to go to the original Franklin Cafe for her long delayed birthday dinner and I figured it would pretty much be the same thing, but it was not.  Franklin Cafe is on an interesting little street in the South End with fun things like cheese shops (more later), A Dog Bakery a human bakery, coppa and so on.  When I found out south end formaggio was near the restaurant I was super excited.  I love love love cheese.  We are really early diners so we went into Formaggio first (right next door) and stared at an overwhelming display of cheese for a long time before we both decided on something.  I also got some proscuitto di parma. 

We made our way next door and were the first diners there.  But there was a camera crew there as well taping (what I assume was the owner) eating.  The camera crew was there all night taping food.  We were trying to scope it out the entire time.  We started with a glass of wine, both very good and I asked if they had any specials.  They said "not yet" which actually really annoyed me.  Those sort of things should be decided right when a chef comes into work and does their prepping  I really had high hopes for a tuna special they run a lot.  The menu is kind of a mix of things.  I started with seafood bisque soup and Laura a bibb salad.  Okay so my soup, well it tasted really good, but the consistency it was strange and that was because it was made from pureed seafood.  I don't think I've ever dreamed of pureeing seafood unless I wanted to feed a baby seafood.   It would have been much better if the scallops and fish were whole in the broth, but I asked what it was and ordered it anyway so it's my fault.  The flavor was good though.  Laura was not impressed with her salad.  We both got pasta for entrees.  I got gnocchi with a Gorgonzola sauce and prunes.  It was delicious, the gnocchi was a little tougher than I would normally think it should be but it was great.  The only thing, I guess I ordered an appetizer because I only had like 5 little gnocchi.  The menu didn't really seem to be separated into appetizers and entrees, I wish that had been pointed out to me, I would have asked for like a double order! Laura got a pasta with shrimp and it looked really tasty, she seemed pretty pleased with it.  We were left alone for awhile before I finally asked if we could see a dessert menu and guess what, they didn't have any dessert! Say What! I mean, at least get some cupcakes from the south end buttery and serve those up people! I want something sweet at the end of a meal!

So, our dinner was just so-so.  It's not like I wouldn't go back, but because they don't have dessert I actually probably wouldn't - not when there are so many other places to go.  And the Southie branch I think has better food.

On our way back to the car we stopped at the Polka Dot Dog Bakery which was oh so cute!

On a better note, when I got home I devoured some of my prosciutto and that my friends was AMAZING.  (Oh I also stopped for a McFlurry haha)

Here is Laura's review
here

Wordless Wednesday

cuteness

Book Recommendation

Here is a good book for you to read if you like memoirs and books about interesting (i.e also mentally ill) people.   It was a really fascinating read:

Gloss Balm

I have a real obsession with lip gloss.  I own probably 100 different types of lip gloss from squeezable things, to crayon like things, to hard glosses.  I don't know why but it's hard for me to pass things that are shimmery and pink and pretty up! It's always really good when I can find a cheaper brand that I really love because I tend to buy lip glosses that are way overpriced! I saw a commercial for a new gloss balm (I love new hybrids!) from COVERGIRL that I had to try.  As far as pharmacy brands go COVERGIRL is my favorite brand - I love their lashblast mascara (it's awesome), and their outlast lipstain (perfect stain.)  So last week I picked up their new natureluxe gloss balm (in tulip - a light almost sheer pink color) and I can't stop using it.  It's so soft and creamy, but not overwhelming, and something I can put on everyday to just run an errand somewhere and it makes me look a little more "made up" but not over done - it's more a sheer natural color.  It was only around 7 dollars too - a great steal versus the Tarte crayon lip gloss sticks I am recently obsessed with....

I suggest you go give it a try!

natureluxe gloss balm in tulip
*image courtesy of covergirl

Pets are superheros too!

You all know I am the very proud parent of Pazzo (and the late Max) and so far in life this is all I need to satisfy any maternal want I've ever had.  Well, someone on my twitter feed tweeted this link a few days ago: Pets are superheros where you can get a drawing done of your dog as a superhero.  I had to do it immediately! I mean Pazzo is way too cute not to be made into a superhero! And today Pazzo and I got the results:

 

I really can't even describe how I feel when I look at this picture.  I like just can't find the right words to say how awesome this is! There are no words for how hysterically amazing this drawing is! 

I suggest you all go to their website (look Pazzo got top billing over there!) and get one of your own pet, or get one as a gift for someone because that would be so cool to do for someone!

 

The Germinator

So, it's happened I have a germ cloud in my house and I need to guard myself against it.  In my medical opinion I don't have enough lung function to get a cold, so I am being really diligent in not letting myself get sick with my house partner spreading her germs all around.  She has been sick for over a week now, and I am still cold free! These are the tools I have used and you should use them too.  I mean, they aren't overkill at all! (I'm also in the market for a germ wand, please leave reviews of the one you have - because I know you have one.)

violight - UV germ killer for your toothbrush

lysol foam for your hands

hand wipes for your hands and everything else

gel sanitizer

clorex wipes for (remotes, computers, phones, counter tops, etc)

spray for EVERYTHING

this is plugged in near me to kill the germs in the air!

Girl Crush

Lindsey and I saw No Strings Attached yesterday because we fell in love with Natalie Portman when we saw the Black Swan.  Did you all see it? She was AMAZING.  And who knew how beautiful she was! This movie was super cute in like a weird sort of socially awkward kind of way.  I liked her a lot in it, and I want to know her skin regime because she has perfect enviable skin!  We have girl crushes on her we confirmed last night.  It was the perfect Valentine Day movie.  I hope that people realize Valentine's Day is for ALL the people you love, and not just the person you sleep with.  Remember that next year readers!

Ruh Rho

This is what happens when someone around me is sick

Yeah so my eyes are always closed in photos hahaha.  But you get the point!

Pink and Red Part Deux

In honor of Valentine's Day I wanted to post these things that I really like:

It's here: The Kitchen Aid Mixer

I've been coveting a kitchen aid artisan mixer for a really long time, but it's just one of those things for some reason I couldn't bring myself to buy - I know, right? So for Christmas I asked for gift cards to Williams Sonoma to buy one.  Well, the one I wanted was back ordered! It finally came this week! This thing of beauty is now on my kitchen counter begging to be used.  I thought Laura (who is super cool and has a Martha Stewart blue mixer) would help in suggesting what I should make first but she has never used hers! Insane! So, what should I make first? I like salt over sugar, so I'd rather not make a cake or something similar.   Any suggestions?

Pink and Red

I really love valentines day.  I know that probably makes some of you want to gag yourself, but I love it for a lot of reasons - candy, number one.  I mean heart shaped rings pops? Yes, please.  I also love cute little cards, and I love all things pink.  And it's a great day to tell people you love them, not just significant others, but family and friends too.  We always got each one another gifts in my house and that was something nice between a mother and daughter to share.  Yesterday I brought my doctor and nurse cupcakes for valentines day from Crumbs bakery.  I bought myself some mini versions of what I brought to them.   

Aren't they cute? They are yummy.

Lindsey I have some calling your name!

Easy Chowdah!

I've never really been INTO chowder before when winter comes and I start making cream of BLANK soups like a mad person, but this year I am! I really love clam chowder but I don't think it's one of those soups you can have all the time...that's just me! But I think maybe corn chowder you can. 

You will need: about 4 strips of bacon, a few table spoons of butter, a small onion, thyme, two potatoes, 1 cup of corn, 1 cup of cream, 3 cups of chicken broth


First cut up the bacon into tiny pieces and cook all the way through in your pot.  This can take a while for it to cook thouroughly.  Then add your chopped up onion (I used a sweet one) with two tablespoons of butter a few springs of thyme and a sprinkle of cumin.  Let that cook for about 8 minutes, while you chop up your peeled potatoes into little cubes.  Then add 3 cups of chicken broth with your potatoes and your corn (I used frozen corn that was already cooked when I added it) and let cook until potatoes are soft, and then add 1 cup of cream and salt and pepper to taste and I add a bit more butter. 

Feel free to add your own spices that you may want, the original recipe has a red pepper in it and some spices that I omitted because I just don't like them.

Almost done, just need the cream and more butter/salt/pepper....

*This can very easily be turned into clam chowder by adding clams, clam broth instead of chicken broth and two bay leaves

Cabin Fever

So since my infection I've been pretty consistently planting my butt on the couch and not doing much - because the pain was sooooooo bad when I did anything - but now the pain is getting better and now I have a serious case of lack of outdoor activity and lack of human interaction! Then I realize I have this oxygen hose attached to me and how much effort it is to go do something and I decide not go to anywhere.  I can of course go outside of the house, but I just choose to do so pretty minimally, mostly for dinner dates and movie dates and doctor appointments, because most of the time I need oxygen (not all) and it's so damn cold out, which really doesn't agree with my lungs so I stay indoors.  There are lots and lots of things I can do indoors but sometimes I don't do them (like uh make more new jewelry or uh write.)  You know the saying a body in motion stays in motion - well a body in rest tends to stay in rest and that goes for the brain too.  But I've been doing a lot of reading and I'll have another book review for you soon!  Have you guys read any good books lately? Seen any good movies?

Sad Face

I spilled Snapple on my brand new one month old MacBook Air this morning and now all my keys are sticking! I have the protection plan, if I bring it to Apple will they cover my stupidity and clean it for me so the keys do not stick anymore?

Wordless Wednesday

"I am ruining mommy's pillows with my drool, but I am too cute for her to get mad.  She can buy a new pillow but not a new me!..."

A little secret news...

I wasn't sure if I was going to write about this, because it's not that big of a deal, but I've only told one person so far! But I almost got a call for lungs already.  Crazy I know.  The average wait time is 6 months - 9 months, but last week the two people ahead of me that are my same size and blood type, well one was "not available" and one turned down the lungs, so that left little me! But it was an offer for a single lung only, and well I didn't even know I could get just a single lung (the first time I could only get double, cystic fibrosis only gets double lung transplants) but I guess in the case of chronic rejection you can get a single, but anyway, my doctor knew I wouldn't accept a single so they didn't call me.  But I still find it amazing after like 2 weeks on the transplant last my name even came up! I'd have to be really really sick to take an offer for just one lung (and I mean at that point I would be high on the list I would think - the sicker you are the higher you are - so....) but yeah! Exciting and scary! In other news I think my abscess is actually getting smaller today, and the pain is minimal so I think the antibiotics are finally working! Hooray!

I hope you are all having fun in the snow :)