Tag Archives: wine

Invoking Your Spring Fever

Happy Sunday!  I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.  I sure did!  It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend here in Connecticut.  I think Spring is finally here…and here to stay.  Wahoo!

People may complain about New England for four months out of the year, hate on the cold weather, and curse every time it snows past Christmas but without it, we would not have what we all like to call Spring Fever.

You know that feeling when you wake up to hear the birds chirping and the sun is peeking through your bedroom windows? You can’t help but smile as you step outside and breathe in the warm air.  You walk past store fronts with their doors wide open, everyone is running all of a sudden, and all you want to do is Yelp restaurants with a patio or roof deck. That’s what Spring Fever is like for me.

Here’s a few other ways I’ve been invoking my inner Spring Fever – feel free to take notes!

Hitting some golf balls (or attempting to and then sun bathing while the bf does).

photo 5 (15)

Getting outside to see the sunset.

photo 4 (13)

Enjoying some wine at the prettiest vineyard around!

photo 3 (20)

Continue reading →

21 Day Sugar Detox Update and Why I Had One Cheat Meal

I can’t believe I’m on day 16 of the 21 Day Sugar Detox!  I’m feeling great overall.  Physically I feel like I have been less bloated than normal these past couple of weeks.  Changing my diet along with practicing yoga more has led me to feel a little bit slimmer.  I didn’t weigh myself before the detox because I’m really not too concerned with a number on the scale.  As long as I’m feeling good, then I’m happy with the results!

I was going to title this post, “It’s okay to slip – up” or “I get knocked down, but get up again”, but I realized that would be lying.  I didn’t accidentally slip…I intentionally decided ‘I am going to cheat tonight.’  So here is why I had one cheat meal:

It was Saturday night.  I just got out of my very first day of Yoga Teacher Training and I was feeling amazing.  I was in the best mood and so happy!  Andy told me that our friends were coming to town to go to Capital Grille for dinner.  Now Capital Grille isn’t just any restaurant, it’s one of the best steak houses in the country!

This is when I decided that I was going to have a cheat night.  I figured it was an overall pretty fantastic day and not to mention one that I will probably remember forever…so steak, cheese, and wine it was!

We had prosciutto wrapped mozzarella drizzled with balsamic.

photo 5 (2)

 

For dinner I had a dry aged steak over a truffle (something) puree.  That’s pretty awful that I already forget what exactly it was huh?  All I know it that it tasted delicious!

photo 3 (4)

 

For sides I ate lots of grilled asparagus!

photo 4 (3)

 

I had a few glasses of red wine!

photo 1 (5)

 

And most importantly had a great night with great people.

photo 2 (6)

 

So yes, I cheated for one meal on the 21 Day Sugar Detox.  I am okay with that, because I am a person who can get right back to business the next morning.  Everyone is different.  Some people may slip up and it may lead to more and more “cheating.”  We have to remember we are human and not perfect.  Yes I did make this 21 day commitment but I was okay with taking a night to enjoy myself and time with good friends to celebrate just absolutely amazing life can be in certain moments.

How easily do you get back on track after “cheating”?

 

 

A Girl’s Night with a Chicken Sweet Potato and Apple Bake

Last night I had a “Girls Night.”  I love a girl’s night and hope I have them through my twenties, thirties, forties, until forever!  Three of my best friends came over to celebrate Christina’s birthday.  We completely vegged out.  Which means, comfy clothes, wine, dinner, dessert, and even some silly yoga.

photo

I wanted to make a nice fall dish for everyone.  I thought about it all day trying to think up a dish.  I knew I wanted sweet potatoes, maybe some fall vegetables, and chicken.  Then I remembered the sweet potato and apple hash I made recently and got inspired by that.  I decided it would be easier to make a one dish meal – ya know take a bunch of ingredients, throw them in a pan, put it in the oven, and done – that’s my kind of meal!  And so was born the Chicken Sweet Potato and Apple Bake.

photo (2)

Chicken Sweet Potato and Apple Bake

  • 4 Organic Chicken Breasts
  • 1 Macintosh Apple (cut into small cubes)
  • 2 Sweet Potatoes / Yams (cut into cubes)
  • 1 Red Onion (cut into cubes)
  • 3-4 Tbsp Coconut Oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Cinnamon
  • Fresh Rosemary

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Put the coconut oil in a casserole dish and put it in the oven for a couple of minutes for it to melt.  Place the 4 chicken breasts in the dish and salt and pepper each side.  Add in the sweet potatoes, apples, and onions on top of and around the chicken.  Sprinkle a little more salt and pepper and a dash of cinnamon over the dish.  Top with some fresh rosemary.  Cover with tin foil or lid and place in the oven for 40-45 minutes.  Enjoy with a grilled vegetable – I did asparagus last night.

photo (1)

After dinner and a few glasses of wine we had plenty of girl talk, life in your 20s talk, more wine, pumpkin spice hershey kisses (so good), selfies, and down dog practice!  All in all it was a pretty fabulous night.  Girls nights are always good for the soul.

photo (4)

1 2
Blog at WordPress.com.