2011 List of Do's

I've decided that next year I will get back on plan with my diet. Call it part of a new years resolution or a constant life goal, but I definitely need to get back on track with my food choices (damn you cheese platter!). By the start of 2010 I had lost about 60 lbs., I felt amazing in my personal life and proud of myself beyond belief. Going into 2011 I want to feel that way again. That by concurring the challenges I had placed in my own life, I could work hard again and show myself where happiness and health come together. So my overall new years resolution is to improve upon who I am to myself and to the world around me.

So to help me on this goal I have compiled a list of things to do instead of eating out of emotion or boredom, don't worry, I wont be talking about my diet on this blog. This blog will still be a lifestyle place of reading and dreaming, but I wanted to share my list with you all so you know what to expect in 2011 from me.

Here goes,

-Book my Groupon hair blow out and massage at Blu Salon

-Clean music off Ipod

-Take pictures off camera

-Take pictures off computer and place on disks

-Send more written letters to your Mom

-Send Andrew presents just because

- Find a weekly joke to email to your Dad

- Check your email and return emails or delete them

- Write friends emails

- Clean your bedroom carpet

- Learn needlepoint

- Organize desk

- Plan a vacation with girlfriends

- Plan healthy meals

- Buy DeDe a wedding gift finally

- Try new hairstyles

- Try new makeup styles

- Make Cd's for friends

- Meditation classes

- Yoga before work

- Organize attic

- Take a wine class

- Take a cooking class

- Take time off of work to go see Hilary one weekend

- Take time off of work to go see place in Canada you have never been

- Share my life with friends

- Always have fresh plant life in the house

- Research what plants would be good for in the house

- Balance your check book

- Budget hardcore

- Make diet friendly snacks for coworkers, not because they need it, but because they are tired of your bringing in tarts, cakes, and cookies.

- Be friendly to everyone around me

- Learn to say no, but in a polite way

- Promote your blog

- Take a language class

- Get a check up with blood work

- Remind myself of what makes me happy

- Hug Matty more because he hugs back perfectly

- Get off sugar and coffee!

Happy 2011 everyone, wishing you happiness and health always. 
**the notes with lines through them have been completed!**

Midge xoxo

M.I.A

Hey Everyone! Hope you all have had a great holiday and are gearing up for a new year. Sorry I have been a little m.i.a, but my family got stuck with me for a few more days because of weather and then I got stuck at work and had to spend the night in the theatre. It was actually kind of fun, but when I couldn't shower or change my clothes then it became not so much fun. Anywho, I am going to try and get to posting regular stuff tomorrow, anything you guys wanna hear about for the new year?

Love Midge xoxo

My First X-mas Tree!

I had a random day off from work and invited my friend over to help me decorate my new REAL tree! I wanted it to be a special day for her because she just got engaged, so I made a pot of fondue and on the side I had apples, bread, and baby carrots to dip into the cheese mixture. 

After our girl talk time we started to unwrap all the decorations my mother gave me for X-mas last year.  

My friend was a pro with decorating tree's, she made it clear that my tree would have decorations in the back too. And yes the tree is kinda tilted, but that's what gives it its character. 

Suze took a rest and took some pictures of my decorating my tree. I don't have a tree topper so I used a large bow instead.

And here is the tree finished and ready for my family who arrives this week. If I don't talk to you guys again this week, have a Happy Holiday and enjoy your time. 

Midge xoxo

Linzer Cookies!

Yesterday was the big day, I used my KitchenAid for the first time! I was so gentle with it, afraid I was going to break something or attach something wrong. The recipe I decided to make was Linzer Cookies with Spiced Jam from a Food and Wine Magazine. The creator of this recipe was TVs Top Chef, Kevin Sbraga (one of my favorite shows). In Food & Wine's Holiday 2010 Magazine he creates a bunch of different cookie recipes that I think are going to be my gift to co-workers and friends. 

Here is my process. 

The dough needed to be left in the fridge for an hour, but I took a little swipe of the batter and it had an amazing nutty and completely comforting taste to it. The hazelnuts obviously helped with the nutty taste, but the comforting taste was purely the cinnamon and lemon rind. 

I could not find seedless raspberry preserves in my grocery store so I bought seedless raspberry jam and it worked just fine.

Once the cookies were cooled down from being in the oven I "dusted" confectioner sugar on them. I kinda let them sit in the over a little too long, some are brown but some have edges that are brown...oops.

Here are the bottom of the cookies, once again...some a little too brown.

And VOILA! A cute little cookie for a snowy day in NJ. 

Enjoy!

Midge xoxo

I deserve...

Before

(Warning, this is a girlish example, but can be applied to everyone.)

Have you ever scheduled a haircut and/or color and think I really don't need both that bad (due to time/money/life) then you see or take a picture of yourself and BAM, yes you do need it that bad. 

Here is my before and after, I know its not rocket science but this past week I have proven to myself to go with my gut instinct and to not ripple the tides. Well, this is proof for me (in a small way) that I will always know what I need regardless of how many times I tell myself I don't. I may be speaking in code, but what I guess I am trying to say is I need to go with what my gut is telling me. 

I went to a new salon and really needed all the pampering that gave me. I got to read many magazines, hear women discuss their relationships (I guess I was eavesdropping), I got a free head and back massage, and I felt beautiful walking out with my new color and cut. I forget sometimes that I need pampering and to spoil myself, like I am sure most people do. But even the simplicity of taking myself out of my usual elements lifted my spirits enough that I gave myself the best Christmas present I ever could, time to myself. 

BLU salon in Edgewater, NJ. It is cool, funky, young, and hip. If you are in the area I highly recommend! 

Have a great Monday!

Love Midge xoxo

Hobbies to Help

Sorry I have been m.i.a lately, life issues and a case of "down in the dumps" got in my way of regularly posting a blog for you all. I'm trying to make more of an effort to keep going because truly I love blogging and all the creativity that spawns from it once I get going. 

I received two awesome birthday gifts this year that will aid me in blogging for you all more. One was the Kitchen Aid Mixer I have been non stop talking about and drooling over. I am sure my co-workers were getting pretty annoyed with my obsession over wanting one, so they bought it for me! I cried like a little baby and hugged them all. I cant wait to make yummy snacks for them and show you all the pictures. The second gift I received was a Cannon G12 Powershot camera. I am not a camera whiz, but I know I was providing you all some low grade shots this past year and I apologize. I now have this fancy semiprofessional grade camera and have taken up a new hobby on my dinner breaks at the show. Here are come pictures from around midtown that I thought were festive and pretty. 

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks for sticking with me! 

The shops and blue Christmas tree at Bryant Park

A fashion house all a buzz through all the beautiful windows

A new little break-time park in the middle of 42nd st.

A white and blue Chrysler Building poking through 40th St.

Love Midge.

Leggo my Root Canal

Bad news today started at 9am, I need a root canal. At 9:30am I got an idea of how much a root canal costs when you don't have dental insurance. So on my ride home I tried thinking of things that would perk me up and get me ready for the rest of the day. The only thing I could really come up with in a limited amount of time is blueberry eggo waffles. 

(image taken from pixelatedpalette)

I came home and made two with bananas. Comfort food sometimes helps in so many ways :)

Midge xoxo

Real Vs. Fake

Since I can remember my family always had a fake Christmas tree. I still remember my Dad pulling out the long box, opening it up and having to match the branches to their branch home on the base of the tree. I don't know what is really required of having a real tree, but something tells me its a lot of work. I would love to run out and buy a real tree today, but the ease of a fake tree pulls me in closer. Still unsure of what I am going to do this year I have comprised a list of the great point for both real and fake trees.

Real
1. Biodegradable
2. Smells fantastic
3. No chemicals to breathe in
4. For every one tree cut down 2-3 new trees are planted
5. Supporting local business
6. Tradition for some
(image take from Almightydad.com)

Fake
1. No mess to clean
2. Nothing to remember to water
3. Reuse year after year
4. Sometimes less expensive then a real tree
5. Pick your color
(image taken from UULDesign)




What is your choice?

Midge xoxo