Alright, here it is :) Fashion show time!

Happy Monday night! 

How is it that saying that just never gets old…? ‘Wanna’ know why?  Bc it means that Monday is ovah!

And ’wanna’ know what completely rocks my world?  Ohhhh just that it was light out until after 7:30pm tonight even with cloudy conditions - booyah winter, take that!

Aight aight, I’ll get straight into some yummy dinner eats from ghosts of Christmas past? my stash of fave easy meals ever.

Oh yes, the beloved Spicy Pumpkin Soup is BACKKKKKKK!

I mean, remember all the good times we spent together like here and here oh and here 

Of course I modified the directions, go figure, but girlfriend’s gotta get that swimsuit figure on

Instead of all that heavy cream, just about 3/4 cup of half n’ half will do ya just fine!

And also let it simmer for about an hour ohhh and a half vs. the 20 minutes they recommend.  I don’t know, I just like when it cooks longer – don’t ask me to make logic out of craziness. Kapeesh?

To go with I made some grilled cheese sammies using our fave cheese, Nature’s Own sandwich rounds & fresh spinach

Simple, satisfying, splendid dinner!  World Market, you are my heaven on earth

Okay okay okay… twist my armmmmmm.  As requested, here’s the goods from yesterday’s shopping adventure!

FASHION SHOW TIME

Adding a new color to my wardrobe life! (Ann Taylor)

 

A few basic tees (Ann Taylor), I really loved the vibrant colors & they are so soft

A lil’ pink perhaps?

Maybe green?

Poolside cover up bc I love me some sunshine (Target aka “Tarjay”)

Casual weekend errand running/patio lounging tank top (Tarjay)

And finally a new work top all spring-colored like (or black, whatevs) (Tarjay)

Alright, well enough of me!  How about a big thank you to all you friends for requesting a lil’ sneak peak at a few new pieces to the ol’ wardrobe   You really know how to make a girl blush!

And by the way, anyone else find warm weather clothes shopping to be SO much more fun than shopping for winter clothes?  I think I like summer clothes 304,594 times more than sweaters/pants/blahhhh and therefore my bank account suffers 304.594 more times the damage during these times of the year

No. Seriously.

Haha well anyways… my “photographer” awaits me for some Monday night tv (we really know how to live the good life, no?)

Who’s getting pumped for FitBloggin in t-minus 4 days!!! My homegirl Brittany and I are ready to take on Baltimore & represent the RVA   Let me know if you’re coming too – can’t wait to meet everyone!

Have a fabulous Monday night my friends!

What a morning! :)

What up friends!!  Is everyone having a fantastic morning so far?!

I sure am, woke up feeling refreshed and was ready for some serious cardio action… lil’ sis and I headed to the gym for an hour of Cardio3 class   Peeps, this was no joke today, we were beat by the time it was over WOW!!!  Bring on the pumpkin pie

Afterwards we came home to put together the Cranberry Apple Relish, a recipe that I learned at our previous Whole Foods cooking demo!

• dried cranberries (about 1.5 packages)
• granny smith apples (about 1.5 chopped)
• onion (about 1/4 cup chopped)
• orange juice (about 2 cups)
• butter (1 tblsp, I used Icelandic!)
• cinnamon (few sprinkles)

Before we had left for exercise class I had prepped the dried cranberries by reconstituting them in some orange juice, just enough to cover.

 

By the time we got back they were nice & plump!  Upon a quick taste test , we decided that orange and cranberry is really a match made in heaven!

Next steps included these guys

We sauteed up the onion in some butter first, just until translucent (medium heat).

At this point we added the apples and cooked until they started to get soft.

Then it was time to seperate the cranberry / OJ mixture using a sieve (make sure to save the OJ!)

and added the cranberries to the pan.  We let this cook up for a few minutes, sprinkling in some cinnamon as well!

At this point we added the orange juice that had been set aside and turned the heat down to med-low, letting it simmer until it was thick and most of the liquid had evaporated.

THIS STUFF IS AMAZING!!!  Lil’ sis was hesitant at first at how the various flavors would combine (fruit + onion can seem kinda odd I agree) but holy crap we were both “taste testing” as this all went down bc we couldn’t stop eating it!!!

Turkey Day Dish 1:  Success!

Next we made up a quick lunch, we were starving!  Keeping with the cranberry & apple theme we had a salad with romaine, cucumbers, granny smith apples, craisins & onions

And leftover spicy pumpkin soup of course!

Perfect lunch after a perfect morning

Alright friends, gotta run, we are headed out for some World Market adventures and the such… be back later for some potential homemade stuffing cooking and surprise dinner!!

Have a fantastic day friends