Archives for June 2019

Monthly Favorites | June

June 28, 2019 filed under: monthly favorites

At the end of each month, I share things that have made me happy, new discoveries, or recommendations that I find worthwhile. Enjoy.

1. I broke one of our white ramekins (which are so handy for dipping sauces, butter, etc.) and we were only left with one, so I picked up these textured ramekins from World Market* a couple of weeks ago. I think they’re so pretty (and might I add, affordable!).

2. I rekindled my love for crocheting this month. For a while there, all I wanted to do is knit and not have anything to do with my crochet hook, but now I am back to doing both.

3. I was pretty happy with the soy milk I was getting at TJ’s, but to be honest, the Silk Unsweet Soy Milk* is even better (if you’re looking for a creamy real milk substitute!).

4. Have you heard of Plant Snap*? You snap a picture of a plant, the app will identify it for you and tell you more about its characteristics. This app came in so handy when I was trying to figure out what kind of plants were growing in our backyard (and how to care for them).

5. This is my second pair of Blowfish Malibu Bungalow Sandals*(I also got them in tan) and I just love the style and comfortability.

6. I bought one pouch of this Vega Essentials Chocolate Shake* on a whim because I wanted to see how I like it. I am usually not a huge fan of pre-packaged protein shakes, but I was hoping that this one would taste like chocolate milk (and it kinda does!). I probably will buy this again.

7. In an effort to use all the makeup I have (which honestly is not that much, but still), I found the Revlon Colorstay Foundation* (in nude) that bought a while back and then didn’t like that much. I tried it again (and applied it with a sponge) and what can I say? Now, I love it all of a sudden. Maybe because it’s summer and this is a lighter foundation and all I need right now.

What was one of your favorite things this month?

* #notanad, This is not a sponsored post. I have not been compensated by the brand or anyone else for linking the websites.

NKOTB – Mixtape Tour

June 25, 2019 filed under: fun!, music, nostalgia

Oh yeah, NKOTB came through my town again a few weeks ago and you can bet your patootie that I had tickets. Well, actually not just me, but J came with me this time. Voluntarily, I might add. At his own request. You see, he has been to NKOTB concerts with me before and contrary to popular belief, he was not the only guy there.

I’ve seen NKOTB a few times in previous years (recaps in here, here, and here). This time around, NKOTB’s Mixtape tour featured not just NKOTB, but a few other artists from their early years (mid- to late-80’s), Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Salt-n-Pepa, and Naughty by Nature.

Of course, I was most excited to see NKOTB perform again, but it was fun having a few other performers do sets in between. Reminded me of my festival days where I saw so many awesome bands play on the same day!

I thought the stage light show was on point with all the light displays that reminded of old tapes, equalizers, and the like. And of course, their performance thrives on some old dancing routines, interactions and participation with and of the audience, and some good old clapping and arm waving.

I really love how they always interact wit their fans and how the reiterate and acknowledge every single time that they’re only able to continue their careers – and yes, still perform as a ‘boyband’ 30+ years later – because people still continue to show up for them. Us blockheads, we’re the real deal.

Debbie Gibson and Joe (in duet)

To be honest, I didn’t know much about Debbie Gibson and so her songs were unfamiliar to me. Still looking amazing for 49 though.

Salt’n’Pepa

Who doesn’t remember their songs “Let’s talk about sex“, “Push it“, and “Whatta man“?

Tiffany

The only song of hers I remember is “I think we’re alone now“, but I thought she had a great voice and is still a great performer.

NKOTB played some new songs, some oldies-but-goodies and it was one hell of a party. I said it before, I think they have become better entertainers with age. Is their music the greatest? No, I never claimed it is. It’s pop stuff and everybody knows it, but people love earworm-material. And the sound level in the arena confirmed this.

And after the show, Joe posted this on his IG stories…Yes. Yes it was :)

Recipe | Creamy gnocchi with spinach and goat cheese

June 24, 2019 filed under: food, recipe

This post could have been titled: “A little goat cheese goes a long way”. I mean, doesn’t goat cheese make everything better? I’d like to think so!

We’ve been trying to come up with more vegetarian options for our weekly meal plan, but we often beat our heads against ~~a stone wall~~ J’s worry that he might still be hungry after a vegetarian dinner.

Gnocchi are great, because they’re dense and filling (and might I add, delicious) and can be a great base for a meatless dinner. We add a bunch of vegetables (we threw in some zucchini that needed to be used up, mushrooms and spinach) and the goat cheese and some spices tie the whole meal together.

I adapted this dinner from this recipe. We omitted the cream, added a splash of (soy) milk instead and then used some onions, garlic and spices to round up the taste. I also did not cook the gnocchi, but pan-fried them along with the vegetables. I can imagine that this dish would also be really good with cauliflower gnocchi instead of potato gnocchi, in case you want to throw in one extra vegetable.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter
2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
small onion (chopped)
8 oz cremini mushrooms
2 cups of zucchini (cubed) – optional
17.6 oz potato gnocchi
1 tbsp of Italian seasoning
3 tbsps (soy) milk
10 oz of fresh spinach
4 oz crumbled goat cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion and sauté for 5 minutes.

Add the zucchini and mushrooms and cook through. Add the gnocchi and pan fry until browned. Season with Italian seasoning, add 3 tbsps of soy milk to skillet and cook for about 1 minute.

Add the spinach and let wilt. Then stir in goat cheese and use salt and pepper to taste.

Creamy gnocchi with spinach and goat cheese

1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1 small onion (chopped)
8 oz cremini mushrooms (sliced)
2 cups zucchini (cubed)
17.6 oz potato gnocchi
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
3 tbsps (soy) milk
10 oz fresh spinach
4 oz crumbled goat cheese
salt and pepper (to taste)

Heat the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion and sauté for 5 minutes.
Add the zucchini and mushrooms and cook through. Add the gnocchi and pan fry until browned. Season with Italian seasoning, add 3 tbsps of soy milk to skillet and cook for about 1 minute.
Add the spinach and let wilt. Then stir in goat cheese and use salt and pepper to taste.

Super-easy, super-quick. Highly recommend.

Currently | June

June 20, 2019 filed under: currently

TRYING | to get back to this blogging thing. It’s not that I don’t have anything to write about, it’s just that my time management is poor right now. Mainly because I’ve been…

WANTING | to do all the things (which is nothing new really). My friend Susi asked why I hadn’t been blogging and it was mainly due to some stress at work (I often draft blog posts on my lunch breaks and that didn’t happen) and because I’ve been wanting to do all the other things in my free time (crochet/knit, read, run, walk, sleep, sit in the backyard, etc). Just me?

READING | is still going incredibly slow due to the point above. There are just not enough hours in the day.

WEARING | my new Birkenstocks (I got a new pair of my beloved Birkenstock Gizeh sandals while I was in Germany, because they’re like 50% cheaper there than they’re here. Can you believe that?)

EATING | homemade tuna salad baguette.

DRINKING | iced tea.

HANGING OUT | with my friend Caryn and her husband in Napa for the day (recap to come), which was such a treat.

CRAVING | ice-cream. I’ve been good and didn’t buy any on my grocery shopping trips the last few weeks, but I am afraid this will have to change pretty soon. Summer is almost here.

FEELING | a little sluggish with my running lately, but trying to keep my half marathon training on track.

LOVING| the delta breeze.

ENJOYING | coffee in bed, because why the hell not.

LOOKING FORWARD TO | our first BBQ this season. I don’t know why we haven’t gotten out the grill already, but we’re planning to use it this weekend.

What’s going on with you currently?