Dine me and Wine me

Okay, you've just gotten off work. You're ready to climb out of your work clothes, let down your hair or perhaps snatch your wig off *okay, maybe that part is just me* You're ready to prop your feet up and unwind ... and then you suddenly realize that it's already after 5 and you haven't fixed a thing to eat. *Dramatic music plays* Don't fret, don't panic and most certainly do not pick up the take out menu. Perhaps you can give this recipe a try. It's quick, it's easy and it's delicious. Add a few veggies, pasta or a rice dish to this and you'll be set for the evening.




                    Garlic Buttered Chicken

                   2 tablespoons light olive oil

                   1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast                

                   3 tablespoon garlic, minced 

                   1/2 teaspoon salt

                   1/4 teaspoon pepper

                   1 tablespoon butter or margarine

                   1/4 cup parsley (chopped is best but you can always grab some 

                   from the spice isle)                                                                                                          

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or wok and set your stove top heat to high then add in chicken. After adding the chicken turn the heat to medium and let it cook for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, salt and pepper to chicken and stir so the flavors can mingle in together for  4 minutes Add the butter, parsley and let it simmer for 1 minute, and serve. Lastly, please make sure your the chicken is cooked all the way through before serving.  Viola!
*If you have any recipes that you would like me to share, please email me with a photo of the dish and I will be sure to post it for you.




Lastly, I am sure that you will want to pair this recipe with something delicious to drink and enjoy which is why I'll suggest this wine to go with it. This wine is called Beaujolais Nouveau which is a French red wine. Normally wine aficionados would suggest that red wine should be paired with lamb or steak but I figured: It is your wine, do with it as you please!

This wine originally was a Christmas gift from a coworker last year. Recently, I decided against holding out until my birthday to enjoy this Christmas wine gift as I normally do so I gave it a test drive and really enjoyed it. This wine was sweet with a hearty, lingering fruit taste however, it was a bit less sweet than what I am used drinking. Nonetheless, it paired perfectly with the garlic buttered chicken and linguini that I prepared for my late night dinner. My curiosity about this wine led me to do a little reading on it. Apparently, there is a type of restriction against this wine being sold before the third Thursday in November out of tradition and popularity. Knowing this made me drink it with a bit more pride because of it's exclusivity. This special little wine also is priced just right. At around $11.00 - $30.00 you can enjoy any of the wine selections from the Beaujolais Nouveau collection. 

A Fab Ass Friday

Yes! Its finally Friday! The weekend is about to so start up and although its been freezing cold here in Philly, I see there's no need to slack off in still strutting your stuff and being a chocolate, fabulous fashionista. Whether your weekend plans entail a night out with someone special, a cocktail party or some special time hanging with the ladies the first thing you usually ask yourself is, "What am I wearing tonight?"A while back while perusing online I stumbled onto a site that is so very helpful in keeping up with fresh ideas to stay trendy. Its called Polyvore. I luv, luv, luv this site! You can build your own wardrobe ideas, you can ask for fashion advice as well as look to others for fashion inspirations. Let's say you have a pair of pumps and never knew what to wear with them or how to pair them into an outfit. Well, you can submit a photo of the shoes in question and have others suggestion ideas on what to wear with them! Its like having your own personal team of stylist on hand. Pretty cool, eh? Here's a little winter number that I was inspired to put together by just seeing a similar dress in a store while I was shopping downtown one day after work.

Isabel Marant longer length dress
€895 - shopmrsh.com

Fergie lace up bootie
$115 - heels.com

Vivienne Westwood snake bag
viviennewestwood.co.uk

Oasis brown jewelry
$15 - oasis-stores.com

Wine is the answer.....um what was the question??

Wine time! Get your glasses ready yet again! Here is another one of my favorites, Elmo Pio Moscato. From what I've seen in the stores there are quite a few varieties of Moscato and I've tried some of them, but this one truly tickles my fancy the most out of them all. I am partial to sweeter wines so this quickly became a must-have. Moscato wine is a type of white wine, namely a dessert wine that is sweet, airy and slightly carbonated. It can be best paired with chocolate or your favorite type of fruit. Moscato has a very low alcohol content which makes it relaxing for a casual drink. You can find this wine at just about any local state store (perhaps other stores also if you live outside of PA) and the price is great. For close to $9.00 - $12.00 per bottle you can indulge in this sweet treat without breaking the bank. Over this fridged weekend here in Philly I took a good, long look at myself and decided "Hey! I need some time out to enjoy myself!" And so I did with a long soothing bubble bath, some strawberries and a bottle of Moscato. It was well worth it and well deserved for enduring a long work week. Whoever said you have to be a billionaire to pamper yourself ? (Even though I'm sure it doesn't hurt lol) For me this weekend Moscato wine was the answer, and it was so enjoyable that I completely forgot to ask what the question was.

Out and About in Philly: P.O.D

Yaaaay! We've made it through to a new year! It's refreshing to have a brand new beginning where you can leave the past behind and step forward into new things. I've decided that I will be making my top resolution to try and let some of my inhibitions go,  to explore and see where it takes me. I am so amped and excited to see whats in store for 2012. In light of my new year's resolution, I've decided to try out something different. A good friend  from out of town came to visit this weekend and we bundled up against the brisk cold and hit the streets of Philly to a restaurant that I'd like to consider "Visually Delicious".  

It's P.O.D restaurant in University City.I must say P.O.D was pretty darn cool. This was my first time here and I loved it! I felt like I was slightly stepping into the not too distant future when I noticed all of the uber modern decor, anime cartoons played on flat screen and the conveyer belt of sushi that circled the bar area. Visually tantalizing, great food, drinks as well as a friendly, inviting and hospitable staff was a winning combo for this place.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I like 3 things in a restaurant: My drinks cold and well mixed, My food delicious, abundant, fast, and a nicely priced menu. P.O.D was definitely right up my ally.With the weather being so cold and unpredictable here in Philly, I just knew that I would end up catching the sniffles along with the sneezies. I was a tad under the weather so I did try to restrain from taking pictures on this rendezvous, but couldn't pass up this red vinyl couch photo opt. Who can resist red vinyl?  

Bar at Pod

Entrance

Life

Photography by Khai

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. ~ Albert Einstein

Happy New Years!!

Hope your New Years was beautiful, safe, and fun!!

Year End Recap

Ahh yes, the Christmas holiday is now over and 2011 is almost out the door. We will be ushering in a brand new year that will be full of new ventures. Let's all take a deep breath and exhale! We've made it to the end of this year!! I can honestly say for myself that this year has been full of fun, good friends and family, travel and a few pleasant surprises. I can only hope that 2012 will be just as great if not greater for us all. It will be be an opportunity to start anew. You can make new years resolutions for a new diet, drop a bad habit, start a new hobby, attend a cooking, pole or pottery class... basically, whatever your desires are for the new year! What are your goals for 2012? And what are some of your most treasured memories from 2011?

Here are some of my most memorable moments in 2011!

Started my B-Day off with a bang! Radio City in New York with my good friend Colie and my sister was great!

I was sent to the windy city of  Chicago with my job for a weekend conference. Our hotel where we stayed, The Allerton was a historical gem. It was very modern and hospitable. After our conference was over, we went on a quest to find the perfect place to eat. One of our board members suggested a place called Indian Garden. This restaurant was very warm and inviting. Not to mention it had great service, food, and beautifully hand painted walls.



I love flowers, so a friend and I visited the US National Arboretum in DC. On our way out I stopped to admire some really creative sculptures in our hotel lobby. Isn't it great? We did a little sight seeing and spent a moment appreciating the Crystal City Park Waterfall in VA. We then feasted on mussels, shrimp and a dreamy, creamy drink creation that our bartender whipped up at the Sea Catch restaurant in Georgetown, MD.

Cinco de Mayo at my place was a real good time! Tequila, music, margaritas, friends, ice cold Coronas, salsa and ... more tequila!

Went to a Bone Thugs N Harmony concert and had a great time!! Very nice, cool, talented guys that put on an insane show! (Yes, I love old school rap and these guys have always been a favorite of mine!)

Somehow I found myself back in Chicago, this time for fun! I rolled solo to the Shedd Aquarium. I then met with my friend for dinner at Devons Seafood Grill. 

(Yes, I know, I ate fish after just seeing them swimming happily. *Hangs head in shame*)

We did a little boat watching while strolling along the Riverwalk and later in the evening we admired the 4th of July fireworks from the pier and on to a late nightcap at a nearby cafe.

Off to  Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach with the family for our reunion.  Everyone thought us to be crazy but we went during Hurricane Irene! (the reunion was planned months in advance) We arrived safely but got loads of rain the first day we were there. The worst of the storm pretty much skipped us and we had sunshine the whole weekend.

For the last hurrah of the summer, the girls and I kissed Philly goodbye for the day and hit the bridge to Atlantic City for fun in the sun, funnel cakes, ice cream, hot dogs, some boardwalk shopping and a little good luck on the slot machines.

*Sighs* It's one of the hardest things that I've ever had to do but I had to give my sweet Baby up. I've had her for 6 years and got her when she was a tiny kitten. My allergies got way too severe to keep her. She now lives with a good friend of mine. I really miss her but I know she's with someone that loves her just as much as I did.

On a more uplifting note to wrap things up, I've finally moved!!! After  about 7 years at my old place I've moved on to a new place! City living is cool but I must say, I have quickly gotten use to scenic living. My old place was full of memories and good times however, the sun has set on an old chapter of my life and risen in another and I couldn't be happier! This has been a blessed year!

My Old Place