Sea Life Aquarium at Crown Center
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Greek Nachos
Lately, nachos have been on my mind. I’ve been thinking of different flavor combinations that might work in nacho form. It’s basically Nobel Laureate kind of stuff in here. Lucky for you, I was on to something.
Homemade pita chips are layered with a lemon/garlic white bean dip. Those are topped with tomatoes and a sprinkling of feta. A cucumber-yogurt sauce adds a bit of tang and Kalamatas bring a salty touch. The flavors work really well together, and you can assemble the whole thing about 30 minutes. Try it on your next movie night. It pairs perfectly with a great (or not-so great) flick.
Guilty Pleasure: Hindsight
Have you seen Hindsight on VH1? It’s completely charming, and I am obsessed for three big reasons.
1. 90′s fashion
2. Time travel
3. A fun romance
In case you’re new to the show which premiered last week, here’s a quick overview: Hindsight begins with the story of a girl on her wedding night. She wonders if she is making the right decision, since her first marriage failed. In a twist of fate, she time travels to the day of her first wedding in the 90′s. There, she has the chance to take a different path or the same one.
It’s on again tonight on VH1 at 9:00 PM CST. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Golden Globes Fashion: Best Dressed
There were a lot of great dresses on the Golden Globes red carpet last night. I had a hard time whittling it down, but was able to choose nine dresses as my favorites.
The big takeaways in terms of Golden Globe trends:
- Beaded gowns were everywhere.
- There were lots of columns and just a few full skirted dresses
- White and yellow were the predominant colors.
- The serpent necklace that Naomi Watts wore was a stunner.
- Old Hollywood waves accompanied most dresses, though there were a few sleek chignons and half up-dos.
- I don’t have any shown here, but there were quite a few tea-length or midi dresses.
What did you think? Which dresses were your favorites at the Golden Globes? Who do you think knocked it out of the park?
Yes, Please
Have you read Amy Poehler’s book, Yes, Please?
I just finished it. It’s a really quick read, and I liked it a lot. Full disclaimer, there were sections I was less interested in, but others had some big ideas. So, to me, that constitutes a win. Anything that gets my brain going is a good thing.
Amy had a lot of interesting things to say. These are just a few:
“Once a woman turns forty, she has to start dealing with two things: younger men telling her they are proud of her and older men letting her know they would have sex with her.”
“The only way we will survive is by being kind. The only way we can get by in this world is through the help we receive from others.”
“People are very bad and very good. A little love goes a long way.”
Great, right? It’s the perfect combination of funny and smart – just like Ms. Poehler.
I’d love to know. Have you read it? What did you think?
Which chapters resonated with you? My favorite insights were in these: Plain Girl vs. the Demon; Every Mother Needs a Wife; Parents Just Do Understand; Treat Your Career Like a Bad Boyfriend; I”m So Proud of You; My Boys; and The Robots Will Kill Us All.
Sweet Potato Soup
Soup is basically Ellie’s favorite food on the planet. Just before writing this, I watched her eat three helpings of lemon chicken soup and attempt to lick the bowl. This sweet potato soup has the same effect on her. It is comforting and lightly spiced with cinnamon, but has a little bit of sherry vinegar to keep things interesting and out of the dessert department.
In addition to the great flavor, there are some other things that add to the awesomeness of this soup. First, it freezes beautifully, so you can make a big batch and store the rest in your freezer for a later day. Secondly, to make a simple dinner or lunch, all you have to do is add a sandwich. My current favorite is whole wheat bread, spread with coarsely ground Dijon mustard and topped with chicken, and 2 tbsp. Gruyere. I toast it in a little extra virgin olive oil in a non-stick pan, flipping it halfway through so both sides are a golden brown.
If you’re feeling so inclined, you can top the sweet potato soup with a hint of cream and a sprinkle of pepitas. With these touches, it’s ready to be the first course of a fancy meal. (I served this as the starter for Thanksgiving this year.)
New Year, New Beginnings
Every year, I choose a resolution or inspirational word to focus my energy and set goals for the upcoming year. I haven’t talked about it much, but the last year has been hard. For the last few weeks, we have been collectively holding our breath. So, this year, I wanted to pick something that really stuck – something that would set a positive tone for not only me, but my family. I’ve decided my resolution will be to “choose health and happiness.”
In 2014, I tried making healthier decisions – I started running, drinking more water and occasionally, remembered to use mouthwash. I want to keep that momentum going and build on it, but would like to add in some fun too – impromptu games of tag, dancing with friends and date night with the husband are all on deck.
Did you make any resolutions for the New Year? Do you like to set goals? I’d love to hear what you have in store for 2015. Something tells me it’s going to be a good one.
Lately
Ellie’s favorite thing in the entire world is her “baby bear.” Because she enjoys hers so much, she has assigned bears to Keegan and I. We are responsible for having them at all times. If I’m headed out with friends, I am instructed to take Mama Bear with me. So, when my parents were here for Thanksgiving, my mom was assigned “Nina Bear” for the day.
My dad retires in a couple of days. Here, he is swinging Ellie, and they are giggling their faces off. I was able to attend his retirement/holiday party where a few people talked about how much they appreciated him. Hearing his co-workers speak about the career he’s built was one of the coolest moments I’ve experienced. I don’t think I could be any prouder.
Merry, Merry
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be taking a little break from posting here, because there will be very important business happening at my house. I anticipate it will include cookie making, Christmas light watching and Rudolph sightings.
Also, I’ll be rocking out to this song. Like, every day.
Follow me on Instagram at @missalaneyus for glimpses into our Christmas celebrations.
Missalaney – December
1. Have you seen Emily Henderson’s finished kitchen? Those navy cabinets and brass knobs are a winning combination.
2. So, my Bloglovin feed has been all cookies and delicious treats, but these little endive appetizers from Smitten Kitchen have caught my eye. Who would have thought?
3. These cookies from SkinnyTaste are healthy and only use three ingredients. I’m in.
4. Cupcakes and Cashmere shared this gift wrapping kit. It is adorable and would make a really cute gift.
5. This top is on my mind. It would be perfect for date night or even New Year’s, right?
6. Kitchy Kitchen posted this genius idea – create five appetizers with just five ingredients. I think it would be fun to use this for an informal lunch or dinner on Christmas day.
