BIRTHDAY GIRL!

CLICK HERE FOR A song my father always sings to me, Love him!

I am so excited to share my birthday brunch with you! This year, I will be celebrating my ten year anniversary of being 21….

I want this year to be special and done from the heart. For me, Im the happiest when I have friends and family over that I can cook for. I put so much love into my food. I want each of my guests to feel special. I just love adding special details and touches to my home for guests to enjoy…Like the special soaps that come out, lit candles in every room, fresh flowers accenting most surfaces and music to match the mood. Most importantly, I always greet my guests with a loving hug and huge Kool-Aid smile as they enter my home.

I decided to keep the party small this year, with a special group of very close friends and family . To me, I consider family my friends….. and friends my family. Everything from the food, drinks and music playlist will be created by me (with the help of my best, Kelly, of course). I chose an all-girls brunch ( which works perfectly for the women that have lil ones) and I will be focusing the celebration around food and ambiance. Lots of fresh flowers and candles scattered all around.

This brunch will be more of a buffet style vs. my usual seated brunches. With limited space in my NYC apt( had to make the most of the space and seating) I chose a finger food menu that will allow people to roam and eat comfortably.

Here is the menu I have chosen - mind you nothing made below is healthy, but this post if a feel good post for the heart not for the waistline ;)


Meem’s Birthday Brunch Selection
Lemon & Ginger Scones

Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraiche Blintzes topped with chive

Roasted Rosemary & Dijon Red Skin Potato Skewers with a Side of Warm Hollandaise Sauce

Baked Fluffy Cheddar Egg Scramble

Baked Challah French Toast Stuffed with Banana and Nutella served with Warm maple syrup and powdered sugar

Rainbow Fruit Skewers with a side of Vanilla Yogurt



Dessert
Red Velvet Cake - Homemade by my beautiful cousin, Kourtney



Spirits & Energy

Grapefruit & OJ Moet Mimosa’s

Sparkling Blood Orange Juice

Hazelnut Coffee & Green Tea’s


& as a special treat, I want my guests to take home something special. I baked British Cranberry scones as a parting gift to remember the day.

Pictures will follow after party.
 
To me there is nothing better than good food & good memories shared with really good women.

Happy Birthday Weekend to me!



TIME TO CRANK IT UP!

Its official!!!!! Exactly 36 days until I’m in sunny Miami for one of my best friends, Michelle's  Bachlorette Party! I wanted to share with you for selfish reasons my lifestyle haul so I can feel like Im being more accountable by annoucing the changes ;)

I’ve gotten way too lazy the past few weeks after vacation and knowing the exact number of days until I’m lounging in my bikini is exactly what I need to get my butt in gear! I’m ready to attack my plan with full force! Thankfully, I manage to keep a pretty healthy lifestyle throughout the year so I don’t have to crash diet. I’m NOT A FAN of crash diets for many reasons. I heard this once and it will always stay with me.“ It took time to gain that weight, it’s not going to fall off overnight”. Change your lifestyle to see changes. Changes that happen from a Crash diet will lead you right back into the place you were pre Crash Diet. Crash Diet? Really? Doesn't sound good, does it.

Here are the following tweaks to my every day routine that may seem small to some but for me is just what I need for changes to occur:

1. Drink More Water! Water?, yes water. I kid you not, the more water I drink the better I look. I will not leave my office until I finish my pitcher of water. Not only does the water keep me full, it hydrates my skin, nourishes my insides and removes toxins that are just sitting in my body. Try half a pitcher a day before you jump into a whole gallon.

2. Schedule my workouts! I’m a gym freak, those who know me can agree. Heck, I own it & I’ll say it proud – I LOVE WORKING OUT! However, life happens and I get busy. Going forward, I will treat my workouts like scheduled meetings. I’m not going to miss them, and I’m going to show up fully prepared. Starting early am, Alarm clock has been set to 545am Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for my morning cardio. I already have a great workout sessions during the evening and weekends, however I need to add some more heart pounding cardio and the morning is the easiest for me to get that done. Nothing like arriving to work fully prepared both mentally and physically for the day. An added bonus – your metabolism gets kicked into high gear for the rest of the day from your morning burn and your brain is more alert. Happy Day to me & Happy Day to you!

3. More Save & Less Crave! I’ll show you exactly what I mean…..

MY CRAVE                                                  MY SAVE:                             
  Potato Chips                      Sweet Potatoes Baked with a dash of Lo So salt

French Fries                           Homeade Baked Sweet Potatoes Fries

                   Spicy Mayo                           Plain Greek Yogurt mixed with Srirahca Sauce

Chocolate Brownie                        Chocolate Protein Mug Cake

                                                                             (recipe to follow in another post)
                          

 Mid Day Snack - Water and if that glass doesn’t cure my hunger pains Ill add powdered protein, a gala apple or bunch of almonds

Late Night Munchies  - Egg Whites

Morning Comfort Food - Protein Pancakes with a dollop of almond butter

(for recipe please scroll through my older posts)

4. BACK TO PREPARE PREPARE PREPARE! &I mean business when I say that. I use Sunday’s as my day to prepare my food for the week. I’ll make breakfast, lunch and dinner for the week and not only does it save my body loads of calories it saves my wallet as well. People ask me all the time if I get bored of the same meals. I tell them this. Your body craves what you eat, the more junk you eat the more junk you crave. Ask any fitness person what they crave, most are going to say chicken and rice or oatmeal. Odd I know, but now that I crave the good it’s easier to say no to the treats in the office.

TIP – When your body is craving "the not so healthy food choices" (girls), start your day with avocado on whole wheat toast . The healthy fat will keep you full and curb the cravings of bad food for the remainder of your day.

 Fail to prepare, and prepare to fail." - Jim Harbaugh

5. Cheat Meal NOT CHEAT DAY! Once a week I indulge, it went from one meal a week to one day a week. Ugh.  There is really no reason to eat crap for a 24 period. Why? Because I then feel like crap for days following…. So, when I cheat it will be just one meal and 90% of my cheats will be a breakfast meal (being that breakfast is my absolute favorite). One meal a week that hits the spot and Ill walk it off :)

So there you have it. For the next 36 days I will be following these minor tweaks in order to feel more confident and happy with myself. I'm hoping maybe you can take some of my tips and apply them to your life.

Let me know what tips work for you! Happy Lifestyle Changes to you!

 

COFFEE TALK

Happy Sunday! & What a beautiful Sunday it is!

I'm about to make a run to the West Side of NYC and head to Home Goods for some shopping. If you have never been to a Home Goods you are missing out. Not kidding. 

So, my next home project is my coffee table slash leather storage unit. I want to update the look of my coffee table and Home Goods is just the place to go. I have some pieces I already own ready to display I need just a few other items to balance them out. 

The coffee table is a piece that takes up a somewhat large area of visual space in your room. The living room for me is my favorite place to gather and I need to clean mine up and make it more appealing.

Here are some simple tips to create an attractive display on your coffee table with items you probably already own:

1. Add a Tray - Shiny metals and mirrored trays are beautiful when candlelight hits the tray, the light reflects all around and makes your table glow.
2. Add fresh flowers. Choose colors that are neutral. I prefer a glass vase, so again, it keeps the area open and reflects the candlelight.
3. Stack several books that both look beautiful and will initiate conversation. Atop the books, you can add a deck of cards, candle or small chachki.                                     

When all else fails and you cant seem to think of what to display, check out these photo inspirations. Remember not to clutter your coffee table and look thru your home before spending your hard earned money.

How beautiful are these rooms?

LOOK THRU YOUR CURRENT BELONGINGS & TRY THIS OUT!

SIMPLE AND CLEAN

LOVE THE TABLE!  KEEPS THE ROOM OPEN AND AIRY