Dec 19, 2012

Be Back in a Bit...

Hi Mangs,

We've decided to take a step back from blogging for a little while. Our aim has always been to keep when we wander a light, creative, inspirational place and at the moment, we're having a hard time focusing on anything outside of our little town and the events that have turned it upside down. We thank you for your understanding and appreciate all of you who have been sending your kind thoughts. We'll miss you in the meantime, but we'll be back soon! Please keep Newtown in your prayers.

Love,
Kait & Corey

Dec 18, 2012

Christmas Lunch

On Friday, the company I work for had our annual Christmas lunch. It was held at the Fairfield Hunt Club. It is an extremely rustic facility tucked into the woods of Fairfield County. During the warmer months, the Hunt Club offers horseback riding lessons. During the summer polo matches are held out on the main field. How preppy is that??


The main dining room was decorated beautifully, with a gigantic tree (complete with presents underneath), strings of garland everywhere, and of course a huge stone fireplace with a toasty, crackling fire.


The food is exceptional at the Hunt Club. Our table started with calamari dressed with a balsamic reduction. Typically, I enjoy calamari with a marinara sauce. However, from now on, I think I will request calamari with balsamic! They were cooked perfectly, not chewy or greasy at all.

Post calamari, we were served Caesar salad. This was devoured before I could snap a picture. It was a typical Caesar salad, with huge Parmesan cheese shavings. 

Along with the salad, was a mushroom and brie bisque. This was creamy, flavorful, and one of my favorite parts of the lunch. It had a slightly spicy flavor, which was welcomed on such a cold day.


The main course was then served. My boyfriend chose the filet mignon, which was cooked perfectly, and drenched in a mushroom sauce. Served with the creamiest, fluffy potatoes and steamed spinach (gotta get those greens!), my boyfriend devoured his plate in record timing.


I chose the roasted salmon for my lunch. The salmon was cooked to perfection. I am so picky when it comes to fish (so many people overcook it) but this was delicious. The fish was served with roasted asparagus and rice pilaf. 


Finally - dessert! I chose the warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream. The crust was light, flaky, and everything you would hope for in an apple pie crust. 


Alex chose the oreo crust cheesecake for his dessert, which was extremely rich, creamy, and not overly sweet.

Overall, it was a lovely Christmas lunch spent with my work family, and a perfect way to kick off the Christmas season.


On a different note, I just wanted to say that writing this post was very difficult for me. I know I speak for both Ferg and myself when I say that we are still extremely heartbroken and grief-stricken over Friday's events. It's funny, because after that tragic day - everything that used to matter so much to me, seems much more frivolous and not so important anymore. 

Writing a blog post that was focused on something other than the shooting was extremely hard to do. I discussed with Ferg about whether or not I should do yet another post on what happened, or move on. We decided that the blog needed to move on. We realize that our readers don't come here to be reminded of the sadness or hateful things that are occurring in the world. This blog should be seen as an escape.

All we ask is that you please just keep our small town in your prayers. The healing process has only just begun. 

Dec 17, 2012

Our Town of Newtown, CT


Corey and I are from a small town called Newtown, CT. Had I mentioned this a week ago, it’s likely the large majority of you wouldn’t recognize that name. After this past Friday’s events, however, Newtown is probably a name with which you’re quite familiar.


 Over the last few days, we’ve seen our town’s name plastered on the television screen, spoken repeatedly on the radio and news, written, even, on basketball player Kevin Durant’s shoe. Professional sports teams around the world have had moments of silence for the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims and their families; games and goals and touchdowns have been dedicated to them. The Empire State Building shone brightly in blue and gold on Saturday, Newtown’s proud colors, and last night, the President of the United States spoke in our high school auditorium, on the stage where we spent countless hours rehearsing for musicals and chorus concerts. And each and every time I hear or see our town’s name mentioned, reported, publicized, or broadcast, I can’t help but cringe, while a chain of chills flows through my body.


You don’t ever think something as dreadful as Friday’s shooting will happen in your hometown…your quaint, tight-knit community of a hometown. Except now it has happened and Newtown will be forever changed. Our town is strong and we will get through this in time, especially with the overflowing support we’ve received in such a short period, but the events that have unfolded to make Newtown infamous will remain etched in our memories forever.

Please check out this well-written piece by our high school friend, Eddie Small, who so eloquently sums up the sentiments that are often too hard to put into words.

And as we mentioned on Friday, if you'd like to donate, here is the relief fund set up by a former classmate to support the victims and their families.




Dec 14, 2012

Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

This morning there was a shooting at an elementary school in our town. We are extremely heartbroken, saddened, and confused by this event. 

Already, the outpouring of love and support from the people in our town, and from all over the country, has been overwhelming, and extremely necessary. 

Our prayers go out to all the friends and families of the children and adults whose lives were so selfishly taken. Please keep our small town in your prayers. 


If you would like to make a donation, please visit this website, which was set up by a fellow Newtown High School grad.

Dec 13, 2012

Peppermint Bark

If you're looking for an inexpensive, simple, DIY activity to give as gifts during this holiday season, look no further! This no-bake treat is without a doubt, sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:

-1 pound (16 ounces) of dark or semi-sweet chocolate. Be sure to use a good quality chocolate. Don't use chocolate chips because they typically don't melt together and reform as a solid as easily.

-1 pound (16 ounces) of white chocolate.

-Canola oil

-Peppermint extract

-5 candy canes

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet (with raised edges) with foil and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.


2. Break apart your dark or semisweet chocolate, and begin microwaving it in 30 second intervals until it's completely melted. Stir in between each interval so it melts evenly!


3. Once it's melted, add in 1/2 tsp. of canola oil to the chocolate, then spread it as evenly as possible in your baking sheet. Place in the fridge until cooled completely.


4. While waiting for your first chocolate layer to chill, take your candy canes, place in a Zip-Loc bag, and take out all your week's frustrations on that bag. My weapon of choice was a rolling pin! Just break apart the candy canes any way you want until they are crushed into little pieces. 



5. Once your first layer of chocolate becomes a solid once again, it's time to start melting the white chocolate! I recommend keeping the first layer of chocolate in the fridge until your white chocolate is ready. Use the same 30 second interval microwave melting method as before, until the chocolate is completely liquified.



6. Once it's melted, add in 1/2 tsp. of canola oil, and 1-2 tsp. of peppermint extract! I used 2 tsp. to make it extra minty.



7. Spread the white chocolate layer as evenly as possible on top of the first chocolate layer. Be careful to not melt the first layer and swirl the two together!!



8. Then sprinkle on your broken candy cane pieces!! Place back in the fridge to harden up. Look how festive!!

9. Once the entire 2 pounds of chocolate is solid once again, just break it apart into pieces like store-bought peppermint bark. Throw it into a festive bag or container and you've got a great gift to give!



What is your go-to holiday treat to give out to friends and family?

Dec 12, 2012

Travel Wishlist: American Edition

I've had my fair share of 13 hour family road trips and I could easily list off my favorite American cities with which I am familiar  thus far. Even still, I've been on a plane destined for Europe more times than I can count while the number of times I've flown across the U.S. are limited to one hand. It’s almost (key word: almost) as though I’m neglecting our little dinkster of a nation (that, let's be real, is  anything but little or dinky). As a result, I decided to create a travel wishlist comprised of places I've yet to go, but wish to see either because they have sentimental value, seem cool, or have that need-to-see-before-you-die type of vibe. Alas, in no specific order, here are my top 11 because 10 just wasn't enough:


[Chicago]
[San Diego]
[New Orleans]
[Philadelphia]
[Grand Canyon]
[Hawaii]
[Alaska]
[Mount Rushmore]
[Las Vegas]
[Charleston, SC]
[Nashville]

What places would you put on your American travel wishlist?

Dec 11, 2012

BluePrint Cleanse : Review

Yo mangs! So I just finished my 3-day juice cleanse. You might be wondering how I feel after not chewing for three days? Honestly ... I feel pretty good! Really, no different than normal. I'm really glad I went through with the cleanse, even if the Whole Foods worker gave me the strangest looks when I told her I was only going to drink juice for the next three days.

If you're unfamiliar with the BluePrint cleanse I definitely recommend checking out their website. They offer three different levels of cleanses, and you can choose the number of days you want your cleanse to last. Because I'm a cleansing newbie, I went with the beginner's level cleanse - renovation, for three days! 

Here are the juices that I consumed for three days...

Juice #1 - Green!


After first sip of this juice, I was a bit surprised. My honest initial reaction? I thought it tasted like seaweed (what they wrap sushi in). As I continued slurping, I decided it was pretty tasty. To me, the lemon really stood out, which gave it a nice sour taste. As the days went on, I found that I craved this juice first thing in the morning - it was refreshing! Kind of like a nice liquid salad!

Juice #2 - Gold


This juice was absolutely my favorite - deliciously, naturally sweet, and refreshing. I had no problems chugging this one down. Is it weird that I also thought it would also make a great mixer? Perhaps with vodka? Mmmm I would drink this juice on the reg.

Juice #3 - Green - yes, again.


Green juice for lunch! For some reason, this second green juice was harder to get down than the first. Perhaps it's because I had just previously drank liquid heaven? Regardless, my palate eventually adjusted and I got this one down just fine. I think that these juices were the reason that I was able to stay alert and functioning without coffee. Pure super food in that bottle!

Juice #4 - Yellow


When I read the ingredients on the bottle - I had a bit of deja vu ... master cleanse anyone? Not that I've ever tried the master cleanse but I've read about all the little psychos who had attempted to survive on lemon, water, maple syrup, and cayenne. Sorry - that type of cleanse just isn't for me! This juice, however, was wonderful. It was like an all natural energy drink. I consumed it around 4pm and it lifted me out of my afternoon slump. Don't let the cayenne scare you away - it's not really spicy, just heats up your throat a bit, in a good way!

Juice #5 - Red


Ughhh. Red juice. The bane of my existence. Don't let it's gorgeous red color fool you. This one is a doozy. Let it be known that I don't eat beets on the reg. So maybe that is why this juice really didn't sit with me well. It had a very "earthy" taste to it. It wasn't awful, the apple made it a bit sweet! But by the third day this big boy was hard to choke down. However, I considered this one my dinner, so it was essential! 

Juice #6 - White


I miss drinking the white juice already!! It was thick, creamy, a bit gritty (because of the cashews) and overall a dreamy drink to end the day with. I loved the flavor of it. Outside of the cleanse, I drink almond milk alllllll the time. Like, I chug the stuff straight from the gallon container. This drink had that same nutty, sweet taste. I loved it! And with 300 calories and 19 grams of fat - it was a lovely way to end a day of juice. 

My overall thoughts...

Would I do it again?

Probably not. Prior to doing the cleanse I read a TON of reviews by people who had already completed it. Many said they were super energetic while on the cleanse. I never felt this burst of energy. I'm not saying I was tired at all - but I wasn't bouncing off the walls either. 

I think this cleanse is great for someone who wants to become a healthy eater and needs help stopping the cravings for sweets, junk food, etc. However, I eat tons of veggies, fruits, and lean proteins all day every day! I pride myself on how healthy I try to eat. I'm not saying that I don't indulge once in a while - what fun would that be?? But I know how to eat right. I also exercise regularly which definitely helps me stay on track as well. 

I am glad I did this cleanse though. I feel like it has helped tame my sweet tooth. Now, I definitely will be reaching for something from the fruit bowl, not the cookie jar! 

Because I was consuming only juice for 3 days, my stomach has shrunk a bit. I'm hoping this will help me to eat smaller portions (especially at the 3 holiday parties I have this weekend!!)

Some pros to the BluePrint cleanse:

-I lost about 5 pounds.
-Craving veggies & fruits!
-Not eating as much at meals, instead, eating more frequent smaller meals throughout the day.

Some cons to the BluePrint cleanse:

-I was CONSTANTLY cold while on this cleanse, which was horrible! I hate being cold. Yes, I partially blame myself because I decided to do a juice cleanse in the middle of winter.
-The cleanse is expensive! I paid $154 for a three day cleanse (I purchased my juices from Whole Foods)
-I really really missed chewing!! (I'm a total foodie)

Do you all have any questions for me about the cleanse? I'd be happy to answer!! Would any of you ever try this cleanse??



Dec 10, 2012

Let's Get Delicate

When I was younger, I used to wear the same Tiffany's necklace day in and day out. Maybe my style was simpler or maybe I was just lazier then, but in recent years I've drifted away from having a go-to necklace, opting for chunkier pieces instead. As of late, however, I've found myself coming back to those delicate necklaces that so nicely hang below the collar bone, exhibiting just a touch of class and sparkle. Here are a few I'm seriously lusting after:


Corey showed me this necklace several months ago and I didn't really pay much attention. (JK girl, I always pay attention to you!) It currently seems to be sold out everywhere I look, now that I really want it (karma), but I'm keeping my eyes peeled in hopes of it being available once more.


Speaking of karma, this necklace is called the "triple karma ring necklace" for the three types of karma: past, present and future. Karma is kool and so is the fact that Cece on New Girl donned it during the show.



I'm more into gold these days, but I love love love this necklace and feel like it would be especially beautiful for a bride.


I stumbled upon this necklace recently and I'm about two seconds away from ordering it for myself... despite the fact that I may have already bought myself some holidays gifts and have yet to finish my shopping for others. You have your pick of two or three initials and I really like the idea of getting "K" for my name and "N" for my boyfriend's. Cuda, no?!


Again with the initials, I love this monogrammed necklace. Having anything personalized just makes it that much better...like those key chains that never had my name spelled correctly or the cups that came as goody bags at birthday parties when we were little. Was anyone else excessively excited about receiving anything that had your name on it?!


We all have our favorite cities or places that we just can't get enough of. Why not carry it around with you, keeping it close to your heart? 

Do you ever go through accessory phases? What pieces are you really into these days? Are you more a silver or gold girl?

Dec 7, 2012

All the Small Things

[Little candles that line a shelf with childhood photographs]
[These are a few of my favorite things - as seen through a disco ball]
[Warrior pose is perfectly appropriate for a pregame]
[A post-spinning class dart game]
[Throwback to college: A sunny day, a balcony, friends, chalk, crafts, nail polish and iced coffee]
[Breakfast for the next three days - yummers!]
Happy weekend everybody! What are some fun things you all have planned?