6 Weeks!!

Love isn't perfect. It isn't a fairy tale or a story book and it doesn't always come easy. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go. It is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define and impossible to live without. Love is work, but most of all, love is realizing that every hour, every minute, every second of it was worth it because you did it together.

Our engagement shoot was taken by Tony at True Love Wedding Studio. At True Love Wedding Studio, they offer amazing wedding packages at great prices. Everyone there is very accommodating and easy to work with. I highly recommend their services and suggest that anyone who is interested should pay them a visit. They just opened up a new location on Northern Boulevard in Flushing. For more information, please visit their website at: www.tlwedding.com

Just 42 days to go!

♥

New Manicure & Only 45 Days To Go...

Seriously, I worked so hard on my new manicure that I had to post it, even though it's not a Monday! Anyways, these nails are so darn cute and I am absolutely in love! Too bad I'll have to take them off by Monday because ::DRUMROLL:: I have a job interview at 10! I don't want to say too much about it since it's not definite and I absolutely don't want to jinx myself, but I really want this job! Please wish me the best of luck, I'll probably need it!

On another note, wedding planning has been going pretty well. We have decided to get cake pops as our favors. The ideas that the vendor and I have worked on together sound like they will work really well and that they will be super cute too. I can't wait to show you guys a sample when it's ready!

Only 47 Days To Go!!

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

47 days until I become his wife & I couldn't be more excited.

Just a sneak peak of our engagement shoot last week.

♥

Updates: Wedding, Wedding Planning & Engagement Photo Shoot!

I probably have the world's worst track record of keeping up with my blog. It's seriously been over two months, no wait, THREE months since I've last posted. I can't express how sorry I am for not having kept up with this. To say the least, it's been a very hectic and busy last few months for us because of wedding planning. Totally not an excuse, I know. BUT! To make it up to you, here is a teaser of our engagement shoot that took place this past Monday at the True Love Wedding Studio and outdoors by the Brooklyn Bridge. Yes, this is a selfie of US after a long day of picture taking.

Recipe: Soft, Medium & Hard Boiled Eggs

After a full weekend of eating junk, greasy foods and the latter, I've been trying to think of ways to detox and be healthier. Eating all of that junk really took its toll on my body and trust me, I'm still recouping as I type this.

Anyway, we have limited groceries in our fridge after coming back from our getaway and I couldn't think of anything better for breakfast than eggs. Seriously, I finally figured out how to make soft, medium and hard boiled eggs and it has never been easier. I didn't realize that I was actually doing it wrong all this time, but I finally figured out! No more shells stuck to the egg, no more tough membranes, this is it! If you are interested in eating eggs in a healthier way and learning how to make them, please keep reading below! I promise, this is fail proof and you'll love it!

Weekend Getaway at Ocean City, MD!

Just a glimpse of our awesome weekend at Ocean City, MD.

Good company, good food & great memories.

Recipe: Awesome Iced Coffee in Just a Couple Minutes!

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure Summer is right around the corner. We had a pretty hot couple of days this past weekend in New York. Luckily, we escaped the heat and skipped off to Ocean City, Maryland for a quick weekend getaway. It was much cooler, but still warm enough to get a serious tan. Living by the ocean definitely has its perks, I can't wait to go again!

Anyway, today, I wanted to share with you my secret recipe to some awesome iced coffee. I swear, its perfect! With Summer just a few weeks away and the hot weather creeping up on us, there is no better and did I mention easier drink to make. It only takes 3, at most 5 ingredients and only a couple of minutes of your time. So are you ready? Please keep reading below.

I never liked instant coffee before I started doing this. It did take a few tries to get it just right, but I'm pretty sure its pretty darn good if Leo wakes up and asks for it every morning. It only takes a few ingredients and its probably something you already have in your pantry. As we all know, everyone does take their coffee differently, so please feel free to omit or add anything to your liking. Note, you will need a blender of some sort - we like to use something similar to the Ninja.

Weekend Adventures at Smorgasburg!!

Despite the rain last weekend, my fiance and I with a couple of friends trekked out to Brooklyn to check out Smorgasburg in Williamsburg. Though it was raining and a bit chilly since we were close by the water, we still managed to have a pretty great time. If you have never been to Smorgasburg, I would highly recommend that you go and check it out. It's a great place to hang out with friends, grab a few bites and get a couple of homemade yummy drinks. If you do plan on going though, I would suggest that you go by noon since most of the shops were either sold out or closing up because of the inclement weather. I was a little bit disappointed since the rain really wasn't even that bad. It was only drizzling at most and it began to taper off later in the evening anyway. (Beverage in the image was from Bolivian Llama Party. Unfortunately, we did not try any of their food, but their homemade drinks were unique and really good!)

Review: Grizzly Wild Pollack Oil

I had to take a minute and come back to re-review this product that I received in my very first Pawalla box. Amazingly enough, we have gone through the entire bottle and I am loving this product so much that we are looking into purchasing another bottle once I save up enough paw points for the purchase.

The Grizzly Wild Pollack Oil comes in a 4 oz bottle that has a little pump for easy dispensing. It is $6.99 for the bottle on the website (www.pawalla.com), the same size that we received in the package.

We have been steadily using this product in our dog's breakfast for several weeks now. Their coats so shiny and soft. We couldn't believe it, even after only using this product for a few days, we saw results right away. In addition, our fur babies loved the product so much that they would lick every drop from their bowl after eating all of their food. I have never seen their bowls cleaner.

I do, however, think that the price tag is a little bit steep for such a small bottle. Though it proves to have great results, we do only plan on repurchasing this product after racking up enough points to get one for free. Please keep in mind that this product is a fish oil and that it does have quite a pungent scent. Other than that, I'd highly recommend this product.

If anyone is interested in signing up, you can sign up through my referral link here. You don't have to use it, but I thought I'd put it out there anyway. You will get $6.50 off of your first box and I will get a $10 credit towards my account. We've been getting this monthly subscription for two months now and we are extremely happy with most of the products. Please keep your eyes peeled for another review coming soon!

My Birthday Weekend!

With my horrible luck, I actually got sick again shortly after my birthday. Hence, my lack of updates for the week. My birthday was eleven days ago and my sweet and thoughtful fiance had prepared the most precious of weekends for us. Here is a quick summary and just a few snap shots of the wonderful weekend that we had.

Recipe: Sweet & Sour Fried Pork

Last week, as I was attempting to plan my menu for the week, I started to think about my grandma's awesome sweet and sour fried pork. I swear, the things I miss the most after moving away from home are my grandma's home cooked meals and soups. Everything else, I basically can get by without. Thankfully, she still does pack me foods and soups on occasion when we see her on a weekend. I mean what would I do without the love of my grandmother? Probably nothing, haha!

Anyway, as I venture out to learn to cook on my own and in my own kitchen, I realized that every time I attempt a copy cat recipe of hers, it never quite turns out the same. Although this one is a little bit different from hers, I felt it was still good enough to share with you guys. Trust me, its nothing like the Chinese take out that you can get every night. Despite the frying, which takes up the most time, this recipe is easy to put together and can make a very satisfying meal.

Review: Pawalla Subscription Boxes

So, we have joined Pawalla, have you? Pet subscription services/boxes have totally been hitting the market lately. I feel like I read about a new monthly subscription box that's available everyday. So far, we've heard of Bark Box, Spoiled Rotten and a few others that escape me at this moment. However, I did want to take a minute to review this service that we have joined just last month. We were lucky enough to have come upon a deal on Fab that allowed us to obtain this service at a much cheaper rate. We actually received our first two boxes last month and why did it take so long for me to post up a review? Yes, I actually tried out a majority of these products before letting you know what we thought of this particular subscription. Interested? Then please keep reading below.

Updates: Where the Heck Have YOU Been?!

Oh my goodness, where has the time gone? It's May already and I do realize that I haven't blogged in over a month. Please accept my most sincerest apologies. This past month just flew by. With being sick for over two weeks with the flu and losing my voice, it hasn't been a very happy nor productive month for me. In short, a lot of things happened (mentioned later in this post) and well, to say the least, life is finally returning to normalcy, somewhat. Anyway, the good news is that I'm finally better, (believe it or not, not nearly 100% though) but way better than what I've been in the past couple weeks. So here I am trying to catch up with updates and blogging. So where shall I begin?

Manicure Monday - Monday Blues

So they lied last week when they said that Spring was here. It snowed yesterday! At this rate, I keep telling people that I'll get snow on my birthday too (in May, haha!). Of course, you know I'm kidding right? Anyway, the studs that I ordered finally came in the mail and I just couldn't wait to try them out. I swear, looking at the bag, it didn't seem like I got 300 pcs. as advertised. BUT! After counting out 100 pcs, maybe I did after all! I swear small bags with tiny items in them, they totally play tricks on your eyes! (haha!)

Healthy Snack - Crabmeat Avocado filled Cucumbers, NOM!

Best snack ever! Just like a California Roll except way healthier! The crab meat and avocado sits in a hollowed out cucumber boat! How cute is that? It's refreshing, tasty and can serve as a great snack between meals. The creamy texture of the avocado mixed with the natural saltiness of the faux crab meat and the crunch of the cucumber makes this snack to die for! This can even serve as a fancy appetizer for when you have guests over! It's easy to prepare and you will only need 3 ingredients and probably less than 10 minutes. If you are interested in learning how to make this super easy and delicious snack, please keep reading below!

Review - Betsey Johnson Litzas

I'm so excited! These babies came in the mail today! These are the Betsey Johnson Litza boots, size 7 in taupe. They are combat boots with a girly edge, check out the cute ruffle trim! They are very rustic with a vintage look and I couldn't be happier! I'm looking forward to wearing these with tights and dresses this Spring!

I actually ordered these on Sunday and received them today via FedEx. The shipping was super fast and they came in before 3PM as guaranteed. I was fortunate enough to get free next day shipping being a premier customer. Did I mention what a steal I got these boots for on DSW.com (you can find them here)? Being the avid shoe shopper that I am, I had rewards and a free $5 dollar coupon. They were originally $119.95, but I got them for $74.95! Win!

Manicure Monday - All Fired Up with a Little Bit of Bling

As I have hinted and promised from last week, Manicure Monday! Same color theme as before, but this manicure is holding up much better than the last! Loving the Sally Hansen All Fired Up (think blood orange) and Guilty Pleasure (my all time favorite gold polish!).

It seriously feels like summer on my fingers! Summer cannot come soon enough! Wait, Spring isn't even here and we're expecting snow again in New York today. Bummer!

Anyway, I ordered more studs from Amazon last week, woohoo! I can't wait to get them in the mail to create some more nail art! According to the tracking info, they aren't due in for another week though. Hopefully they come in sooner!

P.S. OH! Forgot to mention that I also used a little bit of black polish to accent the thumb! There was no label on the actual polish, but it did come form my nail kit from Fingr Edge!

Happy Monday with much love from our family to yours!

Cooking Steak to Perfection!!

Apparently, yesterday was "White Day," a holiday that some people celebrate in Asia. (You can learn more about it here.) It generally is a holiday equivalent to that of a Valentine's Day and differs in the countries that do celebrate it. Anyway, coincidentally, I did make steak last night because the fiance asked for it.

It was cooked to perfection with a little help from this recipe that I found online at Steamy Kitchen. She basically describes the secret to a tender, flavorful, perfect steak. All you need is a little bit of time and a lot of sea salt.

Happy Friday - New Blog Cover and Updated Theme!

I finally updated my blog cover/banner. What do you guys think? I changed the theme colors around too because I know it was a little hard to read prior to this.

On another note, Happy Friday and enjoy the weekend! I'll leave you with this. I love this quote and find it so motivating. I hope you do too! (Yes, job hunting has been difficult this week, but I must keep trying!)

Happy Weekend with much love from our family to yours!

Soups and Salads Galore, Yellow Split Pea Soup Recipe Included!

With Spring coming and bikini season shortly after, I've really been trying to eat clean and healthy. Let me tell you, I actually gave up rice and have been doing super well! So far, I've lost 3 lbs, I know a small success, but I'm so, SO excited to do more. We're even looking into getting a treadmill so that I can exercise at home as well! You might wonder, why not just run outside? I actually have really weak ankles and have a tendency of rolling them a lot (yes, A LOT!) outdoors on unlevel pavement so I'm doing what I can do strengthen them and be healthy!

Hurry Up Spring!!

What a tease... it was beautiful in New York for the last couple days. Then, it was only 30 degrees outside this morning, not to mention windy as hell too! It's supposed to be Spring in a week and I already see snow in the forecast for the weekend and rain on Monday & Tuesday. This weather really sucks and Spring is not looking likely.

Diamond Candles, Yay or Nay?!!

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but I purchased 3 new candles from a place that I've never tried before. I'm normally a Bath and Body Works or Yankee Candle Outlet kind of girl. Heck, I figured that they're just candles so why not check them out too.

This new place that I tried was actually online, so I wasn't able to smell the candles prior to purchase. Different, right? I had to go by the reviews on the website of what other consumers whom already have purchased this product have thought about that scent. I normally purchase fruity or clean smelling scents, so I didn't get too adventurous there. I actually came upon this link through a friend whom had posted it on Facebook as candles with a hidden diamond ring, who wouldn't want to check that out? There's a chance for you to win a diamond ringworth anywhere from $10 to $5000. Yes, I'm a sucker for mysteries and games so I had to buy one, two no actually three (haha!).

Perfect Soup Weather - Cheddar Cauliflower Soup, YUM!

I'm walking my dogs this morning in this wet, nasty snow mix and all I could think about was how perfect it would be to have a nice, hot bowl of soup right now. It's cold and wet, not to mention super windy outside too. Rogue E Bear definitely was not having it and did not want to go. We trekked around for about 45 minutes before she would let me come inside to make that awesome bowl of soup!

Because it's nearing the end of the week, our fridge is a little more bare than usual. I knew we had a half a head of cauliflower left, some onions, potatoes and string beans. Then, there were some porkchops, probably what I'll make for dinner tomorrow night since I have plans with the girls tonight. I also found some cheese, garlic and that was it. I know, it sounds like a lot, but we are always stocked in potatoes, onions and garlic - 3 of the things that bub (the hubs) would never say no to. I figured why not whip up a cheesy veggie soup? It was the best opportunity since the hubs doesn't like cheese (I know! Who doesn't like cheese?!) and won't eat anything except pizza with cheese on it.

So there we have it, Cheddar Cauliflower Soup! So good, so easy and you don't even have to break a sweat making it. If you are interested in trying this recipe out, please keep reading below! Note that you can omit the cheese if you don't like it - it'll taste just as great!

Sweet and Tangy Garlic Lemon Chicken Breasts

I made dinner last night and it was awesome! So awesome that I wanted to share it with you guys. Seriously, nothing like a healthy, succulent, mouth watering sweet and tangy chicken breast for dinner. It wasn't dry and it was so tasty! Even the hubby loved it!

This meal is easy and requires no prep, making it a perfect week night meal. It is also so versatile that you can make it with any number of sides (i.e. mash, steamed vegetables, rice, etc.). I made this last night with a side of snow peas and steamed cauliflower with garlic butter. It was refreshing, tasty and at the same time filling. If you are interested in learning how to make this, please keep reading below. I promise even the pickiest of eaters will like this meal! If you decide to make this, please let me know how yours came out too!

Hautelook - Orly Nail Polish Haul!!

Woohoo! Last week, I finally received my Hautelook package in the mail. I ordered on February 8th and I got the package last week on Friday, March 1st. It took a whopping 3 weeks to get my package! I'm assuming that everyone else is willing to wait since they offer such great deals?

Sweet Potatoes, So Good and So Healthy!!

Mmmm, the smell of sweet potatoes baking in the oven right now is so amazing. I wish you guys could smell this! I have had them baking in there for about an hour and 15 minutes and they are just about done. Some easy ways to check if they are ready are 1) if you can smell them, 2) by squeezing them gently and testing for softness and 3) they generally begin oozing out their sweet and natural juices once cooked through.

Coupons, Cash Back and Online Savings?!!

So a couple days ago, I received my first check in the mail! I don't know about you, but I recently joined Ebates last quarter of 2012 and it was/is still super awesome!I mean online shopping and getting cash back? How much better can it get? Who doesn't love a discount and getting a package dropped off at your front door?

Oven Baked Fried Chicken, Yes You Read That Right!

I love fried chicken, but fried chicken definitely does not love me! Watching football, maybe on a lazy Friday or Sunday night, you always get that craving for that unhealthy, oh so good fried chicken from KFC or Popeyes, you name it! The grease, the crunch and the calories, need I say more?

Valentine's Err Singles Awareness Day...?

thank you bubbie, you truly are the best!

You know that awkward moment when the delivery guy calls you and ruins a surprise? Or how about when said man continues to call and text you after the delivery has been made? I mean seriously? Are you for real?! As my sister would say, this really only happens to you and only you.

On a brighter note, Happy Valentine's and Singles Awareness Day my little love birds! This morning, I was the lucky recipient of some beautiful flowers from my bub! I love surprises, don't you? It's not everyday someone comes around and delivers flowers from that special someone. 

Now, why is that? Shouldn't we be celebrating and expressing our love to our family and friends not just today, but everyday? I'll have to admit, I am just as guilty as many of you are. It's not everyday that I call my grandma or my mom or my dad or my sisters and tell them that I love them. It's always I'm just too busy, I don't have time right now and I'll see them over the weekend anyway. 

Really? I shouldn't be taking everyday for granted and I know that. I'm extremely lucky that they are still here with me and that I have their love and support everyday. So, from this day forth, let's all make a more conscious effort. Let's tell our family and friends that they are important to us and that we love them, not just today, but everyday.

p.s. Please bear with me as I work on and design my blog while posting at the same time. Any tips or suggestions are greatly appreciated!