How to win my heart

In honor of Valentines Day, I figure I talk about the writing prompt from Momfessionals had posted last week- How to Win my Heart.

Well , the way to win my heart is….

To make me laugh- Tell me a silly joke, talk about Penelope like a real human, and make up a ridiculous story about the people sitting across from us, make a silly face.Laughing is one of the best feelings, especially those belly laughs that seem to go on forever and you cannot catch you breath. I love to laugh and its just fun.

To support me in whatever I am doing- If I tell you I'm going to write a children's book, support that dream of mine. Let me tell you ideas and give me feedback. This is so important, most of the time, the women are always supporting their partners and its so nice to know that your partner will support you just as much as you support them.

To love your family as much as I love mine- My family is everything to me- they are my friends, confidants, and support system. If you can love your family just as much as I love my family, you are got some brownie points.

and finally,

To love me for me-  do not compare me to your ex's or to celebrities, I am me, crazy hair, goofy smile, BIG heart and a whole lot to love. I may be a handful sometimes but most of the the time I will be there for you, cracking jokes and smiling beside you on this crazy thing we call life.

There you have it,  how to win my heart.

Check out Momfessionals for more link ups!

Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast

This quote from Julia Child is great especially for a new cook like me! Since learning how to cook,  one of my favorite things to cook is breakfast.  I love that French Toast sounds so hard and looks so delicate but its so easy to make. Eric always asks me to make him French Toast because it’s just THAT good! I wanted to  share my secret with you so you can fall in love with it too! Enjoy Mama's French 

Mama’s French Toast

Serving: 2

Ingredients:

4 pieces of bread (I use Pepperidge Farm Thin slices)

4 Eggs

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

2- 4 Shakes of Cinnamon Sugar

½ teaspoon of Butter

Large frying Pan

Spatula

Knife

Fork

Mixing bowl

Whisk

I made one serving for myself.

1. Gather all the ingredients and crack the 4 eggs into the bowl. Whisk the eggs until they are scrambled. Add 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract and a couple of shakes of Cinnamon Sugar. Whisk the ingredients a little more and then put it off to the side. 
   
   
2. Take a pat of butter and put it into the bottom of the frying pan and light the stove. Coat the bottom and a little up the sides of the pan, ensuring nothing will stick.
   
   
3. Take one piece of bread and dip one side of the bread into the egg mixture and then flip it over to coat the other side. Place the piece of bread with the egg mixture on it into the frying pan. Repeat with the other piece of bread. Since only 2 pieces of bread can fit into the pan at a time. You will need to repeat this step twice.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Let the French toast cook on one side for a few minutes, checking to make sure its not burning with the spatula. Flip the bread over when its cooked to your desired color.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Once the French Toast is cooked, take it out of the griddle and place it on the plate. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. If there is egg mixture left over, pour that into the frying pan to make scrambled eggs in addition to the French toast.
   
   
   

Place the food on the plate and Bon Appetite!

What is your favorite breakfast food to cook?

Giving up (for Lent)

Eric and I have a challenge between each other- this year for Lent we are each giving something up to improve our lifestyles.

Lent is the forty days before Easter when we fast from something in our lives to prepare for Easter. As a kid, I always remember hating Lent because I didn't want to give up anything. I used to give up things I couldn't have- peanut butter, coffee etc. I thought that was the perfect way around Lent. As  I have gotten older, I've didn't give up things but decided to dedicate my time to doing good for someone else.

This year Eric and I are giving up things that will not only be better for our lifestyle but for our health. I am giving up candy and cookies for Lent. Eric is giving up fast food and take out. Eric and I both live pretty active lives and we both exercise regularly. I think this will be the perfect little challenge for us to do and keep each other accountable. I know this will be hard for me because my will power for sweets is very low. I hope to replace what I am giving up with healthy options.

I am very curious to see how we do and who wins this!

Are you giving up anything tomorrow for Lent?

Super Bowl Predictions

In honor of the Superbowl today, I am making my predictions based on 5 notso scientifically based criteria- (QT) quarterbacks, (who has the) Tight(est) Ends, (Cuter) Cheerleader Uniforms, (Better) Mascots and (Best) team colors to wear. Here is what I think:

Based on the Jersey Boy tight end, the cute cheerleader outfits, and the team colors, I think Panthers will win the Superbowl.

Who do you think will win this year?

Oh Hey Cupid....

Happy FriYAY! In honor of Valentine's Day( and Galentine's Day) being next week, I decided to share some of my favorite picks from Nordstroms. These gifts are perfect for all the women in your lives. 

 pjs/// blanket//// book

pillow/// water bottle

perfume/// clutch

What is your favorite gift to give to your GALentines and VALentines? 

Ps. I found this perfect Galentine to give to all your BIFFS

Source

 Thank you Leslie Knope for this awesome holiday to celebrate your BIFF!

pps. There are no affialiate links in this post. I really love Nordstroms and you should too!

Wednesday wisdom

Source

Lately Life has been really good to me. I have been having these absolutely perfect days and I have been enjoying everything I can get out of this life. Most days I get up early, hit the ground running and I don't stop until 10 pm! Some days, I feel that I should stop doing so much and there is TOO much I want to accomplish in a day and I get frustrated that I cannot complete everything I want to. Its silly, I know but I have so many things I want to do but I simply cannot do everything everyday. I am trying to plan my days more effectively because I want to  keep all these things in my daily life but its hard. I am living this life that makes me not only proud but happy as well. I am cultivating my life so I am surrounded by things that not only make me happy but they are getting me excited to live a life that is well lived and explored.

What have you been doing to create a life that you love?

Be Still My Heart: February Goals

I thought about my February goals for a while and I think I came up with a list of things that are meaningful yet something I actually want to accomplish. Each of these goals were picked intentionally and for a specific reason.

Use my Erin Condren Planner more Efficiently// I bought this back in August and for the most part, I use it to keep track of my life. Last month, I don't think I used it at all. I want to incorporate my blog planning (for both Everyday Jersey Girl and for Snkr_Post) and also keep track what  I wear each day.

Exercise 1/2 the month// This is a continuing goal for me, I love that I have been seeing results from the past couple of months of training and yoga. I plan to work out at least 14 days this month.

#Gracenotperfection// I see this hashtag all over the internet and I decided to research it and I found that this is exactly what I need. I put so much pressure on myself to get things done and to be perfect. I need to remember that I can't always do everything I planned but I can try my hardest to gracefully complete as much as I can.

Limit candy and sweets// It's no secret that I am a huge candy addict. I have little  no will power when it comes to sweets. I would like to keep better control of this. Any one got any ideas how to do that?

Well, I am excited about my goals for this month and I cannot wait to see what the month holds for me!

What are your goals for the month?

Check, Check and Check: January Goal Review

Is it just me or did January fly by in a blink of an eye? I swear it was just New Years Day then my birthday and Bam! Its January 30! Since its the end of the month, lets review my goals I set for this month:

Be More Present// I did really good with this goal. I put my phone and enjoyed the moment a lot more. I made memories that weren't photographed and I had a lot of fun with this.

Exercise half the month//  I sorta completed this! I ended up working out only 10 days this month. An early morning weekly yoga class, weekly training and optional Saturday class, helped a lot.  I end up walking a whole lot during the day and I feel like its paying off- I am starting to feel stronger!

Organize living areas//  This one was sortanot completed. I organized my desk and my dresser but not my clothes. My clothes and closet are my biggest area that needs to be organized and it just didn't happen this month. This will be accomplished later in the year

send out FIVE handwritten cards/// This was an easy one to complete. Between my birthday and just hi notes I sent out more than five notes. I was excited to use my stash of thank you notes!

I am sad to see this month go but I am excited to see what the rest of the year holds.

Did you complete your goals this month?

I spy....

I was going through my camera roll and I found a bunch of photos I never shared from the last couple of months. Enjoy seeing what catches my eye:

 surprise munchkins// hand turkey

Penelope writing// pretty fall path

 cutting the cake// walking the dog on lunch// room service

flamingos at work// curly hair// gold dress

silly selfie// mirror selfie// envious house

 sunglasses// monopoly// school photos

confetti// game of life// Penelope wrapping gifts

horoscope// reindeer// santa mail

 so many silly selfies

 flamingo brooch// mason jar mugs// mirror selfie

mousepad// research book// quilt

pool// tina belcher sighting// sunset

 audrey sighting// big magic// billon dollar lotto losers

piano man// packing// sunset

floppy hat// fedora// quote

 little girl blue// snow// jury duty

sweet candid photo// snow// birthday

yoga+Penelope// bundled up Penelope// snowbanks

support team.<3

what are some of your favorite photos over the past couple of months?

#blizzard2016

I was pretty excited for #blizzard2016 and to get "Snowed In" with Eric. 

This is just a fun little recap of my wonderfully simple and fun weekend.

I arrived to Eric's on Friday night after work and I was greeted by a delicious dinner that he made for me (along with some help from Nonno's.) I was so hungry and so excited to kick off our snowed in weekend. Dinner was promptly eaten and atlas,  no photos had the opportunity to be taken. We settled in to watch some of the The Affair.  Eric got me hooked on this show and we have been binge watching it each time we are together. (if you aren't watching this,  check it out,  there are so many twists and turns and suspense!! So so good!!) After only watching it for an hour,  I promptly fell asleep as the snow started to fall. I went to bed praying that the power would stay on and we wouldn't get too much snow. (I guess getting one of the prayers answered is better than none.)

We awoke Saturday to A LOT of snow (approximately 13 inches, with a total of 24 inches!). It was so beautiful to see everything pristine and perfect. This is my favorite time right after a snowstorm. Eric set out early to get a head start on this shoveling business. I was the cheerleader on the inside with Penelope.  She was very curious about the snow since she's a tropical climate bird,  she's never seen snow and she quickly made an assumption that she doesn't like it. I watched as the boys shoveled the snow. They did quick work clearing the front steps, sidewalk, driveway and the sidewalk by the street. The snow looked heavy & wet and it seemed to be never ending on Saturday. After the boys came in,  I made them cinnamon vanilla French toast. (recipe to follow!! ) We settled down for a relaxing afternoon of cake making, watching The Departed (as usual I fell asleep within an hour only seeing the beginning and the end of the movie) and then I started dinner.

For dinner, I made turkey tenderloins in orange juice along with rice and green beans. This was the first time I was making dinner for 3 other people. I was a little nervous but excited. I've seen mama make this a bunch of times and I knew this would be a simple dinner for me to prepare. It was a perfect dinner after a long day of shoveling. The boys smelled the food and got very excited. They set the table while I finished up the dinner. Everything, miraculously, came out perfect and at the same time. We all sat down at the table, popped a bottle of blueberry champagne and dug into the food. I assumed from the silence at the meal, the boys loved it and THEY DID! They even went back for seconds. We ate, laughed, had a great meal. They all raved how good it was! I was so proud of myself for making a great meal. We ate cake for dessert and played Clue. It was a perfect ending to a snowy Saturday. Eric and I watched more of the Affair and after one episode we decided to put on our favorite family- the Belcher's of Bob's Burgers. I had such a great snow day and I couldn't wait until tomorrow.

I slept in on Sunday and I awoke to 8 more inches of snow that had fallen throughout the night. I don't know if it was the fact I've been inside since Friday or my five year old self was eager to go out and play, I got dressed in my snow gear and dragged Eric outside to shovel. The boys laughed at how eager I was to go out and shovel. ( I don't have any photos of me actually shoveling but I swear I did!) Thank goodness the snow was light and fluffy, I could actually lift it. I didn't unleash my inner child until both Eric and I got to the driveway. This snow was not the perfect 'snowball' texture but I still made it work. Eric quickly retaliated and it ended up in a full out snowball fight. I favored the 'premade' snowballs from the plow and Eric opted for taking a shovelfuls and tossing them my way. I tried my hardest to tackle Eric but Eric always ended up tackling me. Between our tackles and the flying snowballs- we got the driveway shoveled and cleared the entrance to the driveway.  The snowplow made literally a 3 foot wall blocking our driveway! We cleared off the cars and then took a walk down the street to see how the streets were. Everything looked so pretty and picturesque.

After our walk, the boys were making Brunch and we all ate together. I ventured out to see how the streets were. I took it slow and steady and Lux (the Elentra) did great. After a quick stop at Walmart, I headed back home for the football games, studying and dinner. We ended the night watching The Affair before promptly falling asleep. 

I had the best snowed-in weekend. We ate (A LOT), laughed (A LOT) and shoveled (A LOT) of snow. I think this was a great first snow weekend and I hate to say this, This weekend kinda makes me wish for more snow.

How do you spend your snowed in weekend?