Author: Mel

Super Simple Chicken Burrito Bowl

/ Mel / 1 Comment

It’s happened again, I’ve gotten off late from work and arrived home only to have no idea what to make for dinner. With a hungry spouse and a ravenous child (and a growling belly myself) waiting for me, what can I prepare that’s super easy, quick, and healthy?

Enter my latest creation, the Super Simple Chicken Burrito Bowl! (Otherwise known as what I threw together in a moment of hangry panic at a time when we happened to have some produce but no tortillas on hand…alas, I digress…)

chicken burrito bowl

Super Simple Chicken Burrito Bowl

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces (I prefer thighs, but any cut will do)

1 can of black beans

1 bag (2 cups) of frozen steamer-bag brown rice (or you can make your own)

1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Adobo seasoning to taste (I like Goya’s)

Goya Adobo

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

In a large frying pan, sauté chicken in olive oil and add Adobo. Once fully cooked, add black beans and cooked rice. Stir mixture over low heat until combined; add Adobo to taste.  Top with tomatoes and avocados.

This meal was so quick to prepare, in part due to the steamer bag of rice. It was hearty enough and healthy enough to satiate a busy family on a hectic weeknight as well. Speed and nutrition are hallmarks of simple food in my opinion.

If you decide to try it I hope you enjoy!

Stay cozy!

 

 

Current Fashion Accessory

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I don’t like to wear a lot of extra “stuff” in terms of jewelry or accessories. I tend to prefer that things be simple and clean, unobstructed. I do wear a ring (always) and I do have a few other accessories that I tend to rotate through with the seasons. Though, because I prefer an effortless appearance, I tend to only add one accessory to my outfit per season.

I find that, though I love them dearly, scarves are far to cloying for the summer months, even the most lightweight of them. Bracelets and necklaces are nice, but don’t lend themselves to the constant running, lifting, building, playing, etcetera, that tends to come with chasing a young child around. I usually enjoy wearing a watch, though I have needed (and intended, unsuccessfully) to change out the batteries in several of my timepieces as of late.

What’s left? Earrings! Although, I can be insanely, and I do mean insanely picky about earrings. They must not be too heavy, dangly, or gaudy. Anything that might remotely get caught in my hair (when I choose to grow it longer) or become an object for my son’s tiny hands to pursue, is out. They must not be too large (see gaudy, above) or too small (i.e. hardly worth the effort).

*Please understand that this is my opinion about how I see them on myself; I can’t ever remember looking at another person and thinking any of these things about their earrings. I guess I have a natural tendency to look gaudy?*

I usually veer toward studs of some type; though I do have a few small-ish not-too-dangly earrings that I also enjoy.

For the last year I have been smitten with gold studs. I think gold tends to suit my skin tone better as it seems to warm my complexion a bit. I feel like a small-medium stud is perfect for an effortless, easy, and even timeless look. My favorites of late have been these two pairs below.

gold earrings

The smaller pair is gold plated and the larger pair is gold-filled. The saleslady when I bought the larger pair insisted that it would wear longer and therefore justified its (much) higher price tag. Some people may see a difference in wear, perhaps if you wear your jewelry in the shower, but I have had both of these pieces for almost two years and they both have faired well. The larger pair is about 1/3 of an inch across and the smaller pair measures about 1/4 of an inch in diameter (almost too small, but not quite).

They both offer that laid-back but sophisticated vibe that I am (again, probably unsuccessfully) trying to obtain.

These have been my jewelry loves lately, what are yours?

Stay cozy!

 

 

Notes on Anxiety and Decision Making “Pauses”

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I’ve mentioned before that my job can be a challenge. I have to be extremely accurate in my decision-making, hundreds of times a day. I cannot afford to be wrong.

I also DO NOT have any sort of God-complex whatsoever- the exact opposite, in fact. I have struggled with anxiety all of my life. People tell me that they never would have known, I guess I hide it well. If they could see all the worst-case scenarios and second guessing that go on in my head on a daily basis, they might wonder how I function at all.

Yet, I do. I suppose this level of awareness makes me very good at what I do, but it is also extraordinarily draining. There are many, many days when I ask my significant other to choose dinner because I just simply can’t make anymore decisions. He gives me a look, but because he is a saint, he agrees to decide on the eggplant parmesan for me and our evening rolls on.

I think people who have traditionally high-stress professions may be particularly prone to this type of temporary decision making inability. Although, I also believe that any job can be high stress given its unique set of judgement making, multitasking, and time management requirements (sounds like parenting, doesn’t it? Props to all ‘rents). I concede that I am also a sensitive soul and therefore have to conclude that at least part of the situation may be due to the temperament of the individual.

I know there must be other folks with high-stress occupations (or parents) that have  experienced decision “pauses” and must understand…Or maybe I’m just unique. Doubtful.

Here are some things that I decide to do when I cannot decide to decide on anything…er…yeah…

Unplug (Your Brain)

When I can’t make a determination on something so simple as food or beverage, I know it’s time to take a break. Not a well thought out read-a-great-book-or-interesting-article break; what I seem to crave in these moments are total mind-numbing activities (NO decision-making required). Netflix please!

*When I engage in an activity like this, though, I do like to give myself a time limit. Otherwise I find that I feel way too guilty about wasting the time afterwards. I find that an hour is usually more than sufficient.

Humor

Some very important people in my life, folks that I have been blessed to know, have taught me that humor really can be the best medicine. If I can manage to understand the joke through the haze in my brain, a good belly laugh can do wonders.

I encourage finding humor wherever you can, there are days when life can seem awfully bleak without it.

Let Someone Take Care of You

Even the most introverted introverts need people. Especially in moments like this, I find that letting someone whom I trust fix me dinner and sit with me through a mindless sitcom helps me feel so much better, and a little more human.

If you happen to be a very self-sufficient soul, your confidants may not readily recognize that you need some support. Don’t be afraid to ask a trusted friend or partner, they will likely jump at the opportunity to help you out.

Meditate

I’m not very good at this yet, but the instances that I have tried this have generally turned out quite well. It takes me quite awhile to calm down my internal dialogue (and I never can get it to completely cease), but just sitting and trying not to think can be so refreshing.

There are several types of meditation; guided, silent, walking, object, etcetera. I recommend finding a comfortable place to sit and experiment. There are numerous meditation guides on the internet that can help you get started.

yard buddha

After I partake in one of these activities and follow it up with a good nights’ rest (i.e. I get to bed on time), I usually feel like myself again at daybreak, ready to be picky about what kind of coffee or yogurt I will have that morning and tackle all the occupational judgements of the day. My decision making abilities return for awhile and I’m able to not only plan, but prepare dinner.

I hope this helps anyone out there who might also be having occasional decision “pauses”. Take care, and stay cozy.

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Hearty Kale Soup

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It dawns on me that summer is probably the wrong time to be talking about a warm bowl of robust, flavorful soup…but we’ve had a few “cool” days where I am, so I thought I’d take advantage.

As an experiment this year, my family and I tried growing a few fruit and vegetable plants in pots on our patio. The strawberries did well, we’re still waiting on the tomatoes, but the kale grew fantastically! So much so that even after making a giant pot of soup our miniature kale garden still only looks mildly thinned-out.

A couple of clouds this week sent me to the grocery store to get the rest of the ingredients for this hearty kale soup.

hearty kale soup

Hearty Kale Soup

1 pound of ground sausage – I like Italian pork sausage, though almost any kind will do.

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

5 small-medium russet potatoes, chopped into large chunks

2 cans of white cannellini beans

2 large chicken bouillon cubes (I prefer Knorr’s)

6-ish cups cleaned and roughly chopped kale (or as much as you have/can stuff in the pot)

First, brown your preferred sausage in the olive oil and then add the cannellini beans and approximately 8 cups of water (depending on the size of your cooking vessel and your desired density). Bring to a very low boil. Add the bouillon cubes and the potatoes and allow to simmer/low boil for about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are almost tender. Finally, toss in the kale and allow to simmer for about 10 more minutes.

Not only is this recipe super simple, but it’s also pretty flavorful thanks in large part to the spices already present in the sausage. Additionally, this is a dish that I find to be quite versatile. Hearty and rustic enough for family dinners, but sophisticated enough for guests. Add a baguette or salad on the side and you have a tasty (if non-traditional) brunch.

I hope you enjoy! (And I wouldn’t blame anyone for waiting until fall to try this recipe, I’m just impatient.)

As usual, stay cozy!

 

 

My Favorite All Purpose Body Lotion

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In the mornings especially, I am a woman of simplicity and efficiency. I have a handful of products that I use almost every morning and that I have been faithful to for years. I tend to prefer multi use products as I cannot bear an overly cluttered counter first thing in the morning. So I very much appreciate a lotion that I can use for both my hands and my body. Enter Curél lotion.

 

curel 2

(Please pardon my dusty window sill.)

Like with most body and beauty products, I am insanely picky about body lotion. I cannot handle stickiness, greasiness, or sliminess. I also prefer to have something unscented so that it doesn’t clash with any body sprays or perfumes that I happen to be wearing. And because a cluttered bathroom counter can make my mornings seem so much more disorganized, I like a body lotion that can also double as a hand lotion.

I don’t have extremely dry skin, but it is pretty dry. I use body lotion quite often (except for when outside temperatures rise above 90 degrees). And I use hand lotion all the time! Although I prefer the unscented version, the scent of the regular version doesn’t bother me so I keep a bottle of that downstairs and another at work. I find that when my hands get dry they feel very uncomfortable, like the skin is thinner, and I lose the ability to grip sheets of paper effectively (weird, right? but true for me, anyway).

This lotion has been my favorite for almost 5 years now. It effectively moisturizes, but does not wear cloyingly on the body or hands. I honestly cannot tell you how many bottles I have purchased. It is a staple for me and I would be hard pressed to find a replacement!

What kind of lotion(s) do you use? What are your favorites?

Stay cozy!

 

My Favorite Summer Lip Balms

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This is the third installment of my favorite makeup items from my 5 Minute Makeup post. I understand that lip balm is not technically makeup, but it is what I wear on a daily basis and what I feel most comfortable in at work.

I live in an area that can be quite warm in the summer and quite cold in the winter. I find that in order to maintain some level of moisture in my skin without too much greasiness, I need to change out my products from season to season. Although I prefer MUCH heavier lip balms in the winter, I find that warmer weather calls for a lighter (yet still moisturizing) lip balm.

I have two lip balms that I rotate between in summer months. One has SPF for days outside and the other is my nightly/for a day in lip balm. They are the Chapstick original with SPF 15 and the Nivea Kiss of Moisture lip balm.

I have been a sort of lip balm junkie my whole life. There is nothing I abhor more (well, maybe a few things, but you get the gist) than a lip balm that just sits on the lips and refuses to absorb and actually soften the lips. Overly waxy lip balms, or balms that disappear within minutes of application are eschewed from my list as well.

These lip balms do the job and are an essential and reliable part of my day. Not only that, they happen to be two of the most economical lip products that I have ever tried!

What are your favorite lip balms? Which ones should I try?

Stay cozy!

The Beauty of Early Mornings

/ Mel / 7 Comments

I have never “naturally” been a morning person. I say “naturally” because even so, there have been many periods in my life where I have been in a particular occupational appointment (i.e. job) that has required me to be up and out of the door early in the morning. Many times, I have struggled with those mornings, slugging down various caffeinated beverages and skipping breakfast in order to hasten my arrival.

I hate mornings like that, rushed and disorganized, accompanied by that feeling that I’m forgetting something (probably something important). I’m typically starved and jittery by the time I arrive at my workplace, and feel as though I’m being thrown into my morning without my own consent. It took a long time for me to break this habit.

It didn’t happen until a few years after I had my son that I had my epiphany. I think most parents will probably understand the idea of getting up early (before your child) so that you have time to perform self-care and get prepared for the day. I applied this concept when my son was very young (and still sometimes today) and began to understand the benefits of collecting my thoughts, having my coffee, and getting dressed and ready before my son awoke. It took a little time for me to realize that I could employ this strategy before work as well.

 

morning coffee

That first cup of coffee, the best one of the day!

 

Step 1: Get Up Earlier

It’s probably not great for your body or your mind to try to claim a new hour in the morning all at once. When I have to adjust my schedule, I usually try to do so in 15 minute increments and wait a few days or week before adding another 15 minutes.

Step 2: Plan Your Approach

With technology EVERYWHERE it’s so easy to get distracted. I find it’s especially easy for me to get distracted in the morning before I’ve had my coffee; my phone calls to me with various (time-wasting) apps that could lull me into a techno-coma until, at last, I would lose all the time I had planned to gain and be back to my rushed, jittery, disorganized morning.

Plan what you will do with each new 15 minute increment, this will save you wasted time later.

Step 3: Make Sure You Have Covered the Basics

What I mean by this is plan for the things that are basic self-care items first. These include things like showering, breakfast, brushing your teeth, etc. Guesstimate how much time you need for each task and make sure that time is allotted for in your morning schedule.

Step 4: Include Something Fun

I find that nothing helps motivate me to plan my mornings and get up earlier than having something enjoyable to look forward to (aside from that first cup of coffee). For me lately, it has been getting a chance to write in the morning. I enjoy it so much that I often go to bed pondering what I will write about in the morning. After I write and get ready for my day in the morning, I feel as though I have already accomplished something and got some enjoyment out of my day.

Having something enjoyable to start your day will not only give you motivation to get out of bed in the morning, but it can also lead to better day for yourself overall. The options can include writing, reading, exercising, art, etcetera, but pick something you love.

Step 5: Add 15 More Minutes

It seems to me that sometimes, time just evaporates into thin air. Whether it’s the transition from one morning activity to the next or I just missed watching the clock, occasionally, time still gets away from me. Adding an extra 15 minutes to my morning means that I  get to approach my day in a calm, relaxed manner, and accounts for any inefficiencies in my morning schedule.

 

These tips have definitely helped my mornings become calmer and more organized. This in turn, has helped my days become less stressful and more enjoyable.

Hope this was helpful! Stay cozy.

My Son is a Chef Now!

/ Mel / 2 Comments

Hello!

This was too cute not to share.

I have loved food forever. Cooking and coming up with new food ideas or twists on older recipes has always been a great hobby and creative outlet for me. My preschool-aged son has observed this and has always enjoyed getting to help in the kitchen when he can.

Then I started blogging and my son has been watching me take pictures of our food right before dinner and talk about lighting and composition. At first perplexed, I’m sure, he’s watched me turn plates to their most aesthetically pleasing angle, move curtains and blinds to allow more natural light in, and take pictures from several different viewpoints until I get the right shot.

Now my son’s in on it, too.

After creating his own “blueberry parfait” and “greens and feta scramble” (mommy did the cooking part of course) he asked that I photograph them and include them here. How could I resist?

“blueberry parfait”
“greens and feta scramble”

The blueberry parfait is (of course) yogurt and blueberries, artfully incorporated by my son. Then there is the greens and feta scramble…I asked him if he wanted me to add the feta after the scramble was cooked, but he insisted I added it while it was cooking. It actually turned out to be quite tasty this way! My son appears to have a talent for this…

I love that he is enjoying being involved in cooking and food preparation. I notice that he tends to be really excited about eating what he has helped prepare, and as long as the ingredients are (mostly) healthy, I’m willing to let him experiment. It’s so fun and exciting to watch him become interested in new things. He’s also very professional about it,  “mommy, don’t forget to adjust the lighting and make it look nice.”

Chef in the making? Maybe, but for now it’s nice to share one of my passions with one of my greatest blessings.

Wishing warm and fuzzy to everyone. Stay cozy!

 

My Cheater Bolognese

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I love Italian food. Bursting with flavor and robustness, and mingled with a rustic quality that invites us to think about a different time and place. There are few food experiences more comforting for me than a great Italian meal spent with those I love.

That said, I also love simple food and easy recipes that are famiglia-friendly and can be cooked up in a flash!

cheater bolognese

This is a dish that I’ve just starting making in the last few months, but so far it has been a big hit at the family dinner table.

Here’s my “cheater” version of a hearty, yummy, spaghetti Bolognese.

“Cheater” Bolognese

1 box dry spaghetti (I only use Barilla) or 1 pound fresh pasta (if you’re feeling fancy)

1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil

1 can diced tomatoes

1 pound ground beef (you could also substitute ground pork or lamb)

1-2 tablespoons minced garlic, to taste

salt and pepper to taste

Cook and drain pasta, set aside. In a large pot (I use the same pot I used to cook the pasta, while the pasta stays in the colander for a moment) add olive oil and ground meat. Flavor the meat with salt and pepper and brown completely. Add diced tomatoes and garlic, and simmer for a few minutes. Sauce should be very thick and chunky. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir. Allow the pasta to soak up some of the sauce for just a few more minutes. Serve with grated parmesan cheese.

I think this dish would also be great with some fresh basil or oregano thrown in, if you happen to have those handy!

Enjoy! And stay cozy.

 

 

 

My Favorite Blush

/ Mel / 6 Comments

Here’s the second in my series of favorite makeup products from my 5 Minute Makeup post. This is a product that I have been faithful to for almost a decade. Every once in a while I try something new, but after a bit, I am usually always pulling this one back out of my makeup drawer.

blush picture

This is the True Match Blush by L’oreal (my favorite color is C1-2, “baby blossom”). Please excuse my very well-loved pan; time for a new one! (Did someone say “shopping”?!!!!)

Blush is definitely my favorite makeup item! I am extremely pale; if I don’t wear blush I can look very, very ill. Even for those who are not pale though, as I have found from doing friends’ makeup, blush can take “healthy” looking to “vital”. Blush can make some people look extra youthful, but it can make almost anyone look more alive and awake, in my opinion.

I have experimented with so many kinds of blush in my lifetime, liquid, balms, creams, and powders. While I think there are positive attributes to all of these formulations, I have found over the years that I tend to gravitate back to powder blushes simply for ease of use (especially on my super busy, crazy mornings). I adore that I just have to lightly dip my brush in the pan, swipe it on each cheek, and run out the door, coffee in hand and ready to go!

So, now that I’m nearing my *cough* 40’s , you might be asking about fine lines and such. An exceptionally good question! I have experimented with other powders that have left my face either looking crepey or chalky, typically when my face was particularly dried out. I find that as long as I use a good moisturizer (or “my favorite spf”, see post), this blusher does quite well. It almost never appears dry on my cheeks, though when it does, I find a quick spritz of facial water seems to do the trick.

Thanks for stopping by! What’s your favorite blush?

Stay cozy.