Restaurant Review: Stacks Pancake House and Cafe

Yesterday was my day off and I planned on eating some breakfast with one of my friends and her beautiful baby boy. I coned her into trying a restaurant in Hoboken (New Jersey) called Stacks Pancake House and Cafe.

(picture taken from nj.com)

The menu is crazy, there are SO many choices for how you could have your eggs or pancakes. I am a HUGE fan of fresh fruit on pancakes so I was delighted when I saw other customers orders and fresh strawberries and bananas were used as well as other fruit. 

I was really torn with what to order, but kind of craving eggs so I went with scrambled eggs wrapped up with hashbrowns, cheese, and bacon, in a tortilla with salsa on the side. My friend got eggs as well but she was the smartie pants and got hers wrapped in a pancake so she could pull it all apart and taste what the pancake was like with a little maple syrup. If you look at the picture below, on the right is the eggs wrapped in a pancake. 

(picture taken from nj.com)

I really enjoyed this restaurant and plan to go back and try their colossal pancakes. If you go on a weekday around 9am you can find parking right outside the door of Stacks, Hoboken is known for their bad parking so this will make any driver/hungry pancake eater very happy. Also, around that time all the cute boutiques open! We had a sleepy baby to get home so we couldn't explore, but just down the block we found a yoga studio. 

We made tentative plans for next week...hot yoga and hot pancakes!

Midge xoxo

PRODUCT REVIEW: Trader Joe's Veggie Burger

I had buns left over from my salmon cake recipe that I needed to use up before they went bad, so while at  Trader Joe's I bought their frozen 4 patty veggie burgers. I took one patty to work still frozen, popped it in the microwave for 2 minutes, placed it on a bun with mustard and hot peppers and was really impressed with the easiness of it all. This is a great quick little sandwich to make when you are in a rush but need something to fill you up. The patties have carrots, onions, celery, bread crumbs, and wheat as just some of the ingredients. Its not overwhelming in flavor, you definitely need a condiment on it but that's what always makes burgers fun, what you add to them. 

I made the burger for lunch today just to try it with other condiments. I poured worcestershire sauce on the patty and placed marinated artichokes on top, combined with a fresh salad I feel full but not heavy. 

If you get a chance to try, I highly recommend!

Midge xoxo

Roasted Shrimp Salad

Half of the recipe: mayo, dill, pepper, orange peel, and orange juice

Over Christmas I got Ina Garten cookbook, "Barefoot Contessa, How easy is that?" and haven't know where to begin. I was flipping through the pages and figured I would just try the next recipe I saw and it just happened to be her roasted shrimp salad. I had never paired shrimp with orange before, but it was a beautifully rich taste combined with the dill, mayo, and onion. Only a little bit of the salad went a long way but I can see myself making it in the summer on a nice breezy day. 

Defrosting shrimp in cold water 

Using my broiler for the first time

The shrimp is done and soon to be put into the creamy mixture

All mixed up with the red onion and capers.

Midge xoxo

Faux Fur Winter

I have been craving the luxurious feeling of more accessories of faux-fur this winter, 

1. because its so cold
2. because I bought faux fur gloves on a whim last spring and have been searching for ear muffs to    match
3. because I saw a girl running around times square in the cutest fur and pom pom hat
4. because all the fashionista's on 7th ave. (rightfully called Fashion Ave.) have been wearing wool coats with fur collars or capes
5. because I'm a copy cat and I wanna look as cool as they do

Here are my picks for the cutest faux-fur kind of winter, stay warm!

Midge xoxo


Faux Fur Winter by MidgieD featuring a shawl collar cardigan
The love of faux-fur

Guttenberg 1

My dog and I have been walking on new paths to try and liven up our daily morning exercise time, it also gives me a chance to see what my neighborhood looks like with all the snow melting and people out. I drive past the streets so often without getting a good look so I took a few shots of little things that caught my eye. 

 This little zebra looks like he is in trouble, poor guy. 

In a sea of grey this red table and chairs could make anyone smile

Unexpected detail for the neighborhoods usual house

Snakeskin building?

A meditation class literally right around the corner from my house!  

The new daycare coming in

Hope you have a great weekend!

Midge xoxo

Boyfriend Jeans. Friend or Foe?

I did a little shopping in my closet and pieced this ensemble together. I like it worn with a little wavy rocker hair and somewhat of a waistline showing with my t-shirt tucked in. I thought it was OK to try and get away with a little ankle cleavage with my rolled up pant leg and my Christian Siriano sneaker for Payless. Maybe I was rushing the weather a bit because there is snow right outside my window but I didn't feel like waiting for spring to wear this outfit. The day just called for roomy boyfriend jeans. 

Boyfriend jeans probably aren't the pant a short, curvy woman should wear but they are just too comfortable. I always try to jazz them up a bit in hopes that maybe the eye of the person looking at what I am wearing doesn't immediately think I am a dwarf; so I wear a metallic belt from H&M, a tshirt with eyes staring back at you from Lifetime, and some crazy draping on my shoulders from my H&M sweater....did it help?

Midge xoxo

P.S. please excuse my puppy in the background. He was more concerned with getting his nap on then telling me if looked OK to be seen in public.

Dill Salmon Cakes

I was looking for a quick recipe for dinner, time was running short and I had to get to work in an hour. A little fresh dill, chopped white onion, breadcrumbs, an egg, and two cans of Trader Joe's salmon, and I had these beautiful little patties to pop into the oven for 20 minutes. I placed one of them on a Trader Joe's whole wheat bun with Dijon mustard, lettuce, and a slice of tomato, then popped it into a Tupperware.

Dinner done in 30 minutes and I got to work in 10 minutes!

Midge xoxo

On the Top of Your Head...

I have been getting SO bored with my hair lately. I grew it out for the 100,876,367 weddings I was in last year and since have just kept it long. I've done my typical braid back (seen here) and the pony tail is a usual, but after seeing an image of Hilary Duff with a high bun, I wanted to give it a shot. 

You literally 

1. tie a pony tail at the top of your head

2. wrap the hair around it creating a bun shape

3. Pin down the flyaways

4. gel and /or hairspray the little pieces down that don't reach the elastic 

5. and (cue music) you have completed a knot at the top of your head! 

Midge xoxo

Valentine's Day Goody Bags

So I decided to go the easy route for Valentine's Day gifts for co-workers. I know, I'm sorry. Especially since I hyped you all up by this recent post on possible ideas for V-day but to be honest with you, I knew exactly what would make my co-workers fall in love with me...a little chocolate mixed with some healthy almonds. So that's exactly what I did, I made a sugary/healthy trail mix for the girls I dress. 

Cinnamon goldfish, Valentine's M&M's, tiny marshmallows, and almonds mixed with cranberries were the ingredients. 

 I found $1.00 celo XOXO bags and wrote a special lil' note saying <3 Midge ;)

Midge xoxo

Easy to Assemble

Plastic, wood, wire, and metal necklace from a random store in NYC

I found this necklace in a store that was closing down. Its real wood circles with wire, plastic, and metal. It reminds me of something I would see on the website PS I Made This. I wear it with black usually because it pops, but this time I paired it with a green wool blazer I bought a few years ago. This is now my go to outfit, so easy and comfortable. 

Banana Republic jacket, Gap t-shirt, Target jeans

Midge xoxo

Dinner for the Week: Turkey Scallopini

Turkey Scallopini with Capers and Lemon

I had leftover thin sliced turkey breasts to use before they went bad and while searching online for a recipe, I found this recipe. I have to be honest, I wasn't too fond of the meal right off the stove, but I had it to eat for the whole week. What happened though was just by sitting in the natural juices for a few days the lemon and broth became one and created a soft but wonderful flavored sauce for the turkey. The capers provided the salt flavor and when the dish was mixed with brown rice it created a hearty meal that was easy to transport and stayed rich in flavor for 5 days. After the 5 days I didn't want the turkey scallopini to be gone, it became delicious and so flavorful. A meal to definitely make again!

Floured turkey cutlets

Frying the turkey in 1 Tbsp. of olive oil

Once the meat was done cooking you saute the garlic. I tried to use as little olive oil as possible so that I could save some calories. 

Adding the broth and lemon juice made the house smell delicious

All done and ready to eat.

 Enjoy!

Midge xoxo

Haaayyy Mini!

Zara blouse, Old Navy skirt, Spanx tights, Bronx boots

It was a skirt kind of day. I don't know what really made it a skirt day because my legs were FREEZING while walking home from work, but it was a skirt day none the less. When I showed up to work everyone asked me if I was going on a date, but sometimes you just need to lift yourself up with a cute mini skirt or a fun colored dress for no reason other then to make you smile.  

Grandmother's earrings, Forever 21 black beaded necklace

Midge xoxo

Valentine's Day With Prep Time

Valentine's Day is coming and even though usually I would plan something special for someone special, this year I want to surprise my co-workers and friends with something special too! Nothing says "I'm thinking about you" more than something homemade or thought out with enough time to create it. 

The images I have collected from around the web are crafty enough that it wouldn't break my bank account, but it would show everyone how much they mean to me with a little surprise.

1. These stickers make me think of the girls I dress in my job, they all eat healthy and love fresh fruit at intermission. I imagine leaving an orange at their seats with a cute little sticker on it, I know they would love it. The pdf for the stickers is free on Twigandthistle.com and all you would need is sticker paper, a printer, and craft punch. 

Simple and Sweet.

Images from Twig and Thistle 

2. When you would walk into my childhood home, my Mom always had a candy dish filled with some type of candy ready for hands to grab. During Valentines Day my Mom always had cinnamon hearts in the candy jar. They are inexpensive and you can buy them in bulk at many candy stores. I would fill little jars with the cinnamon hearts and tie a cute red bow around, then surprise my single friends with a little love. 

Image taken from Wedding Favors-R-Us

3. If you can sew and have a lil' change to spend you can follow the directions from Momtastic blog and make the cook/baker in your life a cute apron with hearts as pockets. 

Image taken from Momtastic

4. Nothing says Valentine's Day like chocolate, and since its so cold in the east why not serve hot chocolate with marshmallow hearts to a roommate or friend coming over for lunch? Martha Stewart is the QUEEN of D.I.Y and food recipes so she definitely needed to be included in this list. 

Image and recipe from Marthastewart.com

5. If your single and proud of it, why not throw a anti-Valentine's Day party for your other single friends with these decorations:

Banner is sold at Urban Outfitters, $14.00

Postcards that can be used as invitations to your party, found at Zazzle.com

The mini pinata hitting stick and heart shaped pinata will kick off the party with a bang. Shop at The Pinata Shop and find this for $29.99

 Midge xoxo