Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for many, many things this week, but most of all I am thankful for:

Overachieving Intern that works with me

Japanese Straightening

Pretty Pens & Notebooks

Sephora Gift Cards

Tory Burch Reva Flats...on sale

Cute Personalized Clipboards

Straw sippy cups (we transitioned successfully)

and most of all my sisters-in-law -- yes, all of them - last month would have not been possible without them!

It has been a whirl wind day, week, month...I haven't even been able to take a moment to take it all in, so I am sitting down tonight to write a few blog posts, post up a few photos and relive the moments and celebrate all that I am thankful for...with a glass of wine of course.

Q: What are you thankful for this week?

Keeping it Light

All day I've been thinking it's Monday...and it's been bitter-sweet. On one hand I am so happy it's a "short" week, but on the other, I don't have enough hours now to get stuff done. So with Monday in mind I wanted something light, easy, quick and meatless, but since it wasn't Monday, plans changed a bit. Our dinner was still light, quick and easy, with shrimp! Oh how I love shrimp! I really do....

Years ago before the "cooking agreement"... you know, where I pick the recipes and the chef approves and cooks, chef would make rice meals. All the time. I hated those nights. Those were my cereal nights. I really didn't like his rice - it was dry, with very little flavor, bland and just not my cup of tea. But in a last year or so, the chef has PERFECTED the rice, any kind of rice - white, brown, jasmine, sticky thai.  His rice meals have become my favorite. No matter the recipe, he always adds a little bit of his "magic" touch and it's really delicious.

Since I was catching up on my "Cooking Light" magazines this weekend, the May issue of "Half the Calories" series caught my eye. They took the classic restaurant dishes, and recreated at half or less the calories and kept all the flavor and appeal.

So of course, I picked Shrimp Fried Rice - yum, yum, yum. The chef made a few changes to the recipe since we didn't have some ingredients on hand, but the flavor and the look were exactly like the magazine photo ;) It was loaded with veggies - yellow bell pepper, peas, broccoli, and onions. The best part of this shrimp fried rice was the addition of Sriracha. It added such a nice spice to the dish. I am a firm believer the devil is in the small details of deliciousness! For recipe and instruction details, make sure you check it out here. You'll love it!

 Since today was a double day, you know, the day when you need to get all Monday and Tuesday stuff done at work, this glass was more than necessary, so I had two.

Q: How was your Monday, ergh I mean Tuesday?

Weekly Menu

Wow, it's been awhile since we meal planned and I missed it. We've eaten one too many take outs this past week since coming back home - breakfast, lunch and dinner and daily Starbucks! Needless to say I am ready to eat some meals at home. 

I actually enjoyed grocery shopping so much that we went to three grocery stores, our fridge is busting with healthy choices and our pantry is overflowing with goodies! We have food...there is more than just a bottle of wine, Yo baby yogurt and mustard in our refrigerator!!! 

Meal planning was really easy this week. I picked up May issue of Cooking Light (I believe there is a June issue already on stands) and the menu was set within first few pages. Cooking Light magazine is so easy to read, recipes are delightful/easy/quick/healthy. I also found a delicious recipe for a pound cake that I must try with half the calories and 80% less of the saturated fat. You should pick up this issue, you certainly won't regret it!

Monday: Grilled Pork chops + sugar snap sauté + mash potatoes

Tuesday: Shrimp fried rice

Wednesday: Salmon and fingerling potatoes + mixed steamed veggies

Thursday: Grilled flank steak + mushrooms relish + herbed couscous

Friday: Soba noodles + chicken

Saturday: Night out!

Tonight's grilled pork chops were so good...finger licking good. Yup, I actually licked my fingers! Kiki loved this dinner too.

Don't you just love these grill marks - yum! What a mouthwatering dinner. A tip that the chef wanted to share - use pork chops on the bone - they'll cook up moist and juicy. It's also better if you marinade the pork chops the night before for extra tender and flavor.

P.S. Until about a minute ago, I thought today was Sunday... oh well, hello Monday, I almost missed you!

Blog breaks, birthdays, travels, celebrations!

The one thing I dislike about taking blog breaks is that it takes me a few posts to reconnect and get back into the "blogging mind-set".  If I take a blog break, I don't know where to start, what to say, and I forget to take blog worthy photos. I have a feeling like I have nothing to say, which is, of course, impossible, since when my blog breaks happen is probably when I have the most going on.  But just like with anything the best thing to do is to get right back into it and do it!

  So here are a few things that have been going on:

I celebrated my 34th birthday, twice ;) 

We celebrated Kiki's first birthday and it was amazing...probably the second most important day after her birth!

Since Kiki loves Mini's bowtique music/cartoon, the theme of her birthday was "Kiki's Bow-tique" - pink explosion for sure! We had a Minnie cake - a decadent vanilla cake with divine fondant, cake pops, cake balls, mini cupcakes and much more. 

"Attacking" Minnie's eyes - and having a sugar overload ;)

Opening and enjoying all the gifts - can you tell she is loving it! Just like her mommy!

And somewhere in between all the birthday celebrations, I flew to NYC for a work thing and met Gail Simmons! Needless to say, I am a big fan! I downloaded her book and can't wait to read it.

A few days after her big first birthday we boarded the plane and embarked on the transatlantic flight. Flight # 1 - 9.5 hours, running through the airport, flight #2 - 2 hours and we finally landed in Croatia! Kiki did amazing - probably better than chef and I did. I will dedicate a whole post about flying with a baby, because it certainly is an experience! Happy to say ours went really well.

Using her uncle as her high chair, and loving it!

Jet-lagged baby!

Playing with grandma! 

My niece riding a donkey through a mall - I can't believe she is already 5 years old! 

Zagreb, my home-town, never looked better - it makes me miss home even more. So much history, beauty and elegance.

I never could have imagined this image - me with my two bestest friends and OUR children. Wow, I can't believe we have kids!!!

My niece performing in her recital!

Enjoying Saturday morning at the main square.

We went on a day trip with my parents and visited castles outside of Zagreb and ended a day at a local restaurant called "Ribic".

 

We had an amazing lunch - great home made food and the biggest steak I have ever seen! I assure you it was divine!

 And to my surprise, the restaurant carried Zonin Prosecco, the european label! Have you noticed the company of all the sparklings sitting next to Prosecco? I felt so much pride! 

Some more playing at grandma's!

Enjoying one of many coffees in a local coffee shop. It truly feels like vacation!

Walking the touristy routes and remembering the good old days and my stomping grounds. My Gosh, did I take all of that for granted....

My parents threw an amazing party two night before we left - it was a night of dancing and delicious food. My parents are amazing hosts - always plenty of yummy food, good drinks, great company - certainly something for me to learn from them.... 

Yes, you are seeing that right - food photos only...but what else would you expect of me, right?

Fruiti di mare

French Salad

 Prosciutto with honeydew and olives  

and many great desserts (but I can't seem to find any photos of them - but I assure you they were diving - chocolate...baklava...strawberry short cake, etc.

Needless to say, it has been a month full of wonderful and memorable moments. So much to celebrate and cherish! And I am ready to get back the reality and every day stuff, but before I get to it, I still have some more exciting things on my plate - a work related trip to Italy (that includes winery visits;), Aspen Food & Wine Classic and last, but sweetest on my list, celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary! The chef asked no gifts this year, as he is taking me away for a weekend...I absolutely can not wait - YEAY!!!!!

Q: How has your month been? 

I've been a little quiet

I’ve been quiet… This is why. *blushing* OMG I AM OBSESSED! Remember how back in January I made a promise to read at least one book a month, well, until last week, I've been reading the same book for 4 months and it has become painful. And than I picked up this one, and this one and this one and next thing you know I am wishing there was book four, and book five, and etc. Hopeful thinking! But until than, my nightstand is being graced by bunch of new books and I can't wait to get into them. My reading mojo is back!

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