Team Willi

DIY gifting

2012-02-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

Two of my very favorite people, Mr. and Mrs. M, are new homeowners and I am completely uninspired when it comes to housewarming gifts. Sadly, plants and booze are my go-to gifts.

For this occasion, a bottle of vino or a succulent just weren't up to snuff. Sometimes, the best way to say "yay!" is with a little homespun goodness, so I grabbed my camera and the dog and we were off on a walk to find some significant digits.

The neighborhood was a serious disappointment when it came to sevens, so I had to take matters into my own hands...

Address plate...

Parking strip...

It's a little weird walking around, taking photos of other people's things. I expected someone to come out of their house and start squawking at me {part of the reason I brought the Teeb along}. Here's the finished project:

(please forgive the wonky iPhone photo)

Mr. and Mrs. M-- I hope your new home gives you years of happiness and memories-- and I can't wait to completely overstay my welcome! ♥♥

Banana bread brown sugar pancakes

2012-01-28T15:29:00.002-05:00

Another Pinterest recipe success!

Brown sugar banana bread pancakes with vanilla glaze. Ridiculously delicious.

I started with the recipe here. I made some substitutions out of necessity...

oat flour instead of whole wheat flour {the Mister is gluten-free}
2 bananas instead of 3 bananas {thats all I had}
cream instead of milk {milk decided to check out early. blechh}
this glaze instead of the vanilla maple {I loathe syrup}

These pancakes are the real deal, and oh so easy to make. I'm tinkering with the idea of turning them into cupcakes. The batter is fluffy yet dense {which doesn't make all that much sense, but I don't know how else to explain it}. It reminds me of the little pieces of heaven from Baked and Wired. Mmm... pardon me while I drool a little.

If you're a pancake lover and/or banana bread lover, these are a must. Get going!

Better late than never.

2011-12-29T11:42:00.000-05:00

I've finally started reading Harry Potter.

I'm currently on 'Order of the Phoenix' and I'm captivated-- although I had to take a little break before reading it because the fourth book scared the crap out of me. {Yeah, I know}

So far, my favorite was 'Prisoner of Azkaban'. I'm not sure why, but I think it was all the backstory and character development.

As much as I would love for the other Willi to read them along with me, I've had to settle for watching the movies together once I've finished the latest book. I'm actually glad I've started them now that all the books and films are out, because I don't think I could've handled having to wait for the next release.

All my HP readers out there-- which is your favorite?

A-hunting we will go

2011-12-07T22:34:00.004-05:00

We're a Christmas tree-choppin' family. It hasn't always been that way-- Amwilli grew up with "forever" trees, and my family usually picked ours up from a tree lot. It's nice to have this tradition to share with each other...

...and the Teeb.

This is our fourth year and she still gets pretty darn excited when we pull up to Gaver Tree Farm. There's a lot of whining and pacing (which isn't too cute and we always spend the first couple minutes trying to chill her out). We think she can smell the other dogs, but who really knows for sure?

Our journey starts at the hastily written, yet charming white board sign. Our go-to is usually the good ole Douglas Fir-- firm and unprickly needles, perfect for all sorts of ornaments.

It's a sea of trees! Decisions, decisions.

Could this be the one? Nope. Too bare on the top.

Ohh... this one had a little surprise: a bird's nest. For some reason we decided that was the piece of criteria that put it over the top.

It didn't take long for that sucker to fall... and guess who had her little eyes trained on the guy holding the saw?

Tree meets cart.

I foolishly decided to get a little piece of the stump to start a set of DIY ornaments I spied on Pinterest (they should really just call it "Obsession," but maybe Calvin Klein has the trademark on that). Anyhoo-- my foray into lumberjacking didn't go so well, but I got my piece, so I'm happy.

And away we go... well, away he goes...

At some point, the mister thought it'd be a great idea for the pooch to get out some of that energy by helping to pull the cart. Genius! Next year, we're bringing her harness (don't worry, he's still doing most of the work).

On the way back to the car, I made a new friend.

After a stop at the shake machine to get all the dead/loose needles off, and a quick bailing, we were set.

Who doesn't love a big, strong man?

She's got no complaints!

Stay tuned for decorations... Happy December!

Gobble Gobble

2011-11-23T20:16:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Lyrics to Live By

2011-10-11T23:09:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite tumblr blogs... some of my favorite lyrics... midweek pick-me-up if I ever saw one:

source

Amen.

Mini Deep Dish Pizzas

2011-10-03T20:46:00.000-04:00

So I finally recreated something from Pinterest {and yes, of course it was food}.

Best thing about this recipe is that measuring isn't really all that necessary. I don't mind all the measuring and exactness in baking—but when I'm making something savory, I just want to throw ingredients in a pot and end up with something delicious. Thankfully, this was just such a dish!

Here's the original post: Mini deep dish pizzas

As I mentioned before, I only used this recipe as a guideline-- I didn't measure any of my ingredients at all, and I left out the sweetener and black pepper.

For much more aesthetically pleasing photos, please refer to the original post... these are quick and diiiirty {cue Christina Aguilera}:

Ingredients. And now for a little critical thinking: which ingredient is most important and why?

What does one do with leftover tortilla pieces?

I bet this goober has an idea. He may or may not have gotten a few pieces for faithfully guarding the kitchen. Puppy dog eyes get me every time.

I used the Don Pepino can to cut out perfect tortilla rounds.

I used a whole can of pizza sauce, a heaping handful of both the mini pepperonis and mozzarella cheese, then gave it a good stir.

It was surprisingly easy to fill the tortillas, hardly any spillage!

Top them with cheese and some mini pepperonis and pop them into the oven at 400º for about 15 minutes {or until the cheese is golden brown}.

And there you go! Easy Peezy, lemon squeezy! {I obviously spend too much time with third graders}. I know they're looking a little dubious with those burnt cheesy shreds, but only a crazy person would get rid of that goodness, so the jagged edges get to stay.

Mini Deep Dish Pizzas - ☆☆☆☆☆

♡ quick and easy

♡ great recipe to mix and match ingredients

♡ healthy! {whole wheat tortilla, reduced fat cheese, mini pepperonis}

♡ built-in portion control

Fact: These mini pizzas have already had an encore appearance this week. Hope you enjoy yours just as much!

Caffeine is my friend.

2011-09-18T16:02:00.000-04:00

Meet my new Bialetti moka pot, and its bff, Lavazza:

This is literally my first coffee maker and it's pretty badass. I needed something that could make a fabulous {read: bold} cup of espresso—my bean of choice. Since I'm the only java nut in our family, this little guy fits the bill and looks cute on our stovetop.

Next up for the coffee collection is a french press... oh life's simple pleasures ☺

Adorbs.

2011-09-09T19:09:00.000-04:00

Let's set the scene:

The babe prances into the room and spies a comforter that's hanging off the bed.

She manages to make a little pad out of the shrivel that's hanging on the floor.

After a couple seconds the rest of it falls on her.

She didn't move.

And then we had ourselves a little Teeburrito.

Just the perfect dose of adorableness.

Happy Friday!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

2011-09-02T19:06:00.000-04:00

We're US Open bound (even the Teeb!)... and I can hardly contain my excitement!! Wishing everyone a happy and safe long weekend. Cheers!

Whew.

2011-08-30T20:34:00.001-04:00

{source}

Bought The Hunger Games on a whim in June but didn't actually pick it up until August 8th. I only remember that because it was two days before we left for Seattle.

It only took three days to get through this series... and I'm not a fast reader.

Needless to say, I enjoyed it. Literary masterpiece? Who am I to judge? — but this series made me feel things. Certainly not all good, if you're familiar with the premise, but it was captivating. I guess it's classified as sci-fi/fantasy {I suppose that's the default genre for post-apocalyptic tales} which is not usually my cup of tea, but after the first chapter I needed to know what happened to these characters.

I will say, the first book in the series was definitely my favorite. The second one was pretty good, but Mockingjay felt all kinds of rushed.

I'll be interested to see how this translates to the silver screen. A's reading it now, and is worried they're going to go overboard with the CGI... guess we'll have to wait and see. The movie is slated for March!

Next up for me is the 'Dragon Tattoo' series {yeah, yeah-- I know I'm late}. I just finished the first book {which took considerably longer than any of the 'Hunger Games' novels, mostly because of the suuuper slow beginning}. I hear the second one picks right up in the action, so I'm excited!

Have YOU read any good books lately?

Seattle and Portland

2011-08-21T19:22:00.001-04:00

From the Northeast to the Pacific Northwest in and out of week. Talk about whiplash. We would only endure such depletion of the mind, body, and wallet for two people: J Willi, my fabulous sister-in-law and B Web, my absolute favorite of the mister's friends-- and the only person cuckoo enough to complete our twisted little musketeers vibe we have going on. Suffice to say, hijinks ensued☺

Evergreens have the be the official symbol of the Pac Northwest, no?

OK, kids-- about as touristy as you can get, but still wonderful...

First things first: Piroshky Piroshky — I've been dreaming about this deliciousness since we last visited in 2009. This teeny tiny little shop has tons of sweet and savory handheld pies. Between the four of us, we sampled the cheese onion garlic, beef and cheese, chocolate hazelnut and cinnamon cardamom rolls. Oh what is there to say other than "Yummmmm"?

I think this is a Seattle thing {correct me if I'm wrong}-- very interesting... melted down booze bottles into cheese boards. I am so into this. Amwilli was eyeing that Maker's Mark bottle {on account of his penchant for whisky}, alas, we left empty-handed.

Can't. Resist. Cute. Monkeys.

Public Market has scads of fresh flowers for $5-$10 per bouquet. The flower merchants even customize bouquets--does it get any better? 1-800-Flowers, who?

Quintessential Seattle: Space Needle, hills, SUBARUS.

The first of many happy hours... and this one was at...

...wait for it...

{brilliant}

Happy hour, numero dos... I was clearly S.D. Churchill's bff in a past life.

Post happy hour things...

Seattleites are into chalk it seems...

Molly Moon's - carmelized peaches and cream. I may have found the perfect ice cream flavor. Just sayin'.

Someone challenged me to a game of pool...

...and there you go.

Well, hello gorgeoussss...

Just steps from J Willi's place-- I'm officially jealous.

Onto the next happy hour... 13 Coins. It's a place where high end dining meets lounge lizards meets supper club, and it was a great time. Fabulous live music, insane people watching, and ridiiiculously delicious bar food. Meatball sliders, anyone?

BWeb's alarmed...

...probably because this just happened. Oops.

Onto PORTLAND! Beware of bears...

...and big ass dogs. Seriously, Portland has got to be the big dog capital of the US. Newfies, great danes, rhodesian ridgebacks, and a variety of large hounds. They're probably needed to scare off the bears.

Portland is an eccentric town, separated into different neighborhoods and districts. After spending the first part of the day in the Pearl District, we headed to Hawthorne neighborhood for shops and dining. I found all these little ditties in ONE shop {I wasn't lying about the eccentricity}:

What's that you say, another happy hour? Bring it. The land of evergreen trees believes in LATE happy hours, and dangit, so do I.

One of the few friends he's kept in touch with since high school-- if surviving Catholic school doesn't bond you, nothing will.

A cobblestone alley full of hipster bars, but they had a bunch of picnic tables under twinkle lights. Why don't we have anything like this at home??

I'm so OK with this kind of trouble!

What's so funny?

Ohhh... {Jersey Shore fans didn't have to think twice about this}

Voodoo Doughnut: Perfect way to end the night...

The world famous, bacon maple. Finger lickin' good {and I don't like maple flavored anything}.

Voodoo doll, naturally. Check out that pretzel stake-- it's complete with raspberry filling for the blood and guts. Wild.

Waffle Window: Perfect way to end the trip!

What can I say about Seattle and Portland? Great towns, a-mah-zing food, and perfect company. It was really an unforgettable way to end the summer-- and I can't wait for the next adventure!

Rhode Island

2011-08-19T15:34:00.003-04:00

Providence to be exact! That's where we headed after Maine for a visit with friends Steve (A's best man) and Michelle (his better half).

Our weekend began at a baseball game-- which Steve was promptly thrown out of (So quickly in fact, I didn't even have the chance to snap any photos). Let me set the scene— these times are approximations:

6:58 pm - Quick hi before the game starts.

7:00 pm - We sit in the stands ready for a great game 3 of 3 for the championship (pins and needles).

7:15 pm - Steve comes up to bat. Gets called out on strikes. Points to where the last pitch was (WAY outside), then gets thrown out.

7:15:30 pm - Amwilli feels the need to call the ump "Napoleon" because he short (original, right?)

7:15:35 pm - I'm mortified that I'm sitting next to such an offensive heckler.

7:16 pm - Steve waves at us to leave. ta-da. And welcome to Rhode Island, folks.

The rest of the weekend was pretty stellar-- tons of good food, great sites, and informative yelping. Check it out:

Modern Diner in Pawtucket (that's pa-tucket, not PAW-tucket)-- built in 1940 and the first diner on the registry of historic places (AKA old). The breakfast was awesome-- I highly recommend the Kasey omelette.

Downtown Providence...

...and its stately statehouse.

The boys extolling the virtues of who-knows-what.

Samson, the wonder dog... just look at that face.

...and profile...

...and little/big mini bulldog body, which he's keen on throwing into you to say hi. If we didn't have the Teeb I probably would have been shell-shocked by the experience :)

Just in case you weren't aware-- RI is Sox country. Even the tiny garden gnomes know.

It's us! In Newport! Home of the US Tennis Hall of Fame, Brick Alley Pub, Francesca's and Alex & Ani (among many other things).

Michelle introduced me to these super cute Alex & Ani stackable bracelets. They're eco-friendly, made from recyclable materials and USA all the way. I got an 'A' because I'm a cheeseball, and the 'Path of Life' because... well, I'm a cheeseball. They sort of twinkle instead of jingle, and they stack with bangles I already have so I think it was meant to be.

Just because we were out of town didn't mean we had to forego Champagne Saturday. It's one of those things where there wasn't too much arm-twisting involved.

We had a great weekend you guys☺ Can't wait for the next visit!

Maine

2011-08-17T18:19:00.000-04:00

August has been our month for travel and it kicked off in MAY-JAH style.

I was whiiiisked away and surprised with a short trip to Maine. I've never been, which is bizarre considering my unnatural obsession with New England summers... the Cape, the food, the baseball. I love it all -- especially the lobstah.

We spent most of our time at the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, the lobster capital of the WORLD (Betcha didn't know that). It was chock full of fabulously delicious decadence <-- try saying that three times fast. We got there early and made a few rounds. Here's the day in photos:

Rides!

Games!

The lobster steam house. In, out, on a plate.

Smoked mussels. The mister is definitely a mussels connoisseur and said these were some of the best he's ever had. Bravo, lobster fest.

I started with an app of lobster knuckles and claws-- working my way up to the main event.

Best. Float. Evah. Homemade ice cream (by the Portland Sea Dogs) and Capt'n Eli's Blueberry Pop.

Fried Kool-aid anyone? It's kind of weird, very tangy, extremely interesting. I won't be having it again-- but at least I can say I've tried it!

Maryland, represent!

After sampling wares and toolin' around for a couple hours, it was time to head back to the lobster tent and get what we came for... (can you hear the theme music playing in my head right now?)

Bibs, check!

Unnecessary plasticware, check!

This guy... was damn delicious.

And for dessert: fried dough. How have I not known about this little deep fried piece of heaven? I will never eat funnel cake again.

Amwilli couldn't resist the greatest "sunday" on earth. So great they had to spell it with a 'y'!

One last token of remembrance... a Maine lobster roll. These New Englanders sure don't mess around when it comes to seafood.

Thanks for having us Maine Lobster Festival-- looks like you'll be added to the list of annual events to attend. Only 351 more days til the next one. Who's coming with?

Motivation

2011-08-01T22:40:00.000-04:00

My wonderful best friend Miss C (now Mrs. M) got married this past weekend! Congratulations again, my love!

Her oh so fab-u-lous wedding motivated me like nothing ever has to do a few things:

1) Have a professional makeup artist in my phone (you never know when you may need one).

2) Get my body together for once and for all (baby steps).

3) Hop on the shellac manicure bandwagon (these nails have been rock solid with no

chipping for five days and counting).

And the BIG one:

4) Get back to learning about my camera! I've been seriously slacking-- but I saw some

photos this past weekend that really made me wish I knew more so I could do a lot more

with my canon.

Back to snap happiness!

Summer Survival Kit

2011-07-24T13:25:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the missing-in-actionness as of late. This girl has been busy. But, hark-- I have returned... with a list of goodies getting me through Swelter Fest '11:

The world's most amazing toaster oven-- convection oven, toaster, bake/broiler-- and most importantly keeps us from having to turn on the real oven. Thanks, Papa Willi!

The first of a few things I probably *shouldn't* have. Too bad. I love me some Jones Soda. I stick to the Zilch, because I'm not a big believer in drinking calories (unless of course, there's booze involved).

25 calories of pure bliss. Sugar water at its absolute finest.

Vine-ripened, and perfect for BLTs (my any season favorite, no fuss, no oven meal).

These are pretty tasty. I think they may be just a phase-- but they're making the cut for now.

Bible of deliciousness-- and all the eats are within 45 minutes. It's probably unsafe for me to have this so readily available.

Driscoll's. Love them. Planning to throw together some balsamic strawberries later this week. Stay tuned!

I totally buy into the powers of Kombucha... and nowww I feel like a hippy.

Grilled peaches are my all-time favorite summer time dessert. Life's a peach, right?

Millions of peaches, peaches for me. <--who remembers that song?

Lazy Bones

2011-06-28T13:46:00.000-04:00

How I've been feeling since school ended...

(source)

Hence the lack of blogging... I've been reclining, reading, and Wimbledon-watching. It's been GLORIOUS. Admittedly, I need to at least include working out so I don't turn into a can of Crisco. Baby steps.

Here's the most appropriate song ever to play me out...

Best Scavenger Hunt Everrr.

2011-06-16T18:36:00.000-04:00

Today was the last day of school. It's kind of a big deal-- mostly because I've never had a last day of school as a teacher before. It was a pretty spectacular day, and got even better once I got home...

The front door...

Bedroom door...

Coffee table...

Chair at the dining table...

Fridge...

JACKPOT!

Champagne Saturday will be quite the classy affair this weekend...

Thanks, baby! ♡♥

I can't believe this year is already in the books. Happy summer break to all the teachers out there-- it's hard-earned and well-deserved. CHEERS!

Summer Reading

2011-06-13T18:55:00.000-04:00

I went to the bookstore yesterday armed with gift cards from Christmas. I left supremely happy.

Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth

I eat a lot, so this seemed interesting. It was highly recommended by some friends over on Spark. These lines from the book jacket are what compelled me: "The way you eat is inseparable from your core beliefs about being alive. You relationship with food is an exact mirror of your feelings about love, fear, anger, meaning, transformation and, yes, even God."

Heavy. It's pretty good so far.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Yeah, I know I'm late on this one-- but my everyday schedule doesn't allow for very much leisurely reading.

My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

I have the other three, somehow skipped this one. Had to correct this situation. Chelsea Handler is probably the funniest woman alive.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

What can I say? Every now and again, I get caught up in trends. They're making a movie-- and even though I don't actually GO to the movies {because I have an issue with being that close to people}, I'm still curious. I also feel like this is something I should have read ages ago.

OK, so there's the beginning of my summer reading list. What's on your list?

One Whole Year...

2011-06-05T10:28:00.001-04:00

That's how long we've been around! The past year has absolutely flown by. It's been unpredictable, inspiration-filled— and certainly hasn't been without it's bumps in the road {the great crash of 2010} and transitions {our new name}.

Thanks for riding along with me— I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have!

I'm beyond excited to bring much more food, fun, and photography {and silly alliterations} in year two!

According to your fabulous taste and Google Analytics, here are the top three posts over the past year:

Easy protein-packed breakfast

Slow Cooker Meal: Salsa Chicken

DIY fabric wall art

And since I made myself choose, here are my personal favorites{I cheated a little}:

Willi Wedding Extravaganza {all 3 parts}

This dish is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Photo Fridays {even though I'm terrible at staying on top of it!}

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

2011-06-01T21:37:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I took out ground turkey breast without really thinking it through. I aimlessly defrost meat more often than I care to admit... so I'm used to this little conundrum. As much as I enjoy turkey tacos and burgers, the thought of having them wasn't making my tummy do it's normal "ooh yeah, make that" jig. Sad.

After a few minutes of deep thought, I remembered a SparkFriend mentioned having turkey meatloaf muffins with her dinner a couple nights ago. I like turkey... I like meatloaf... and I have been known to get down with a muffin or two-- so it seemed like a no-brainer.

I went over to Bodybuilding.com and found Jamie Eason's recipe for clean turkey meatball muffins. I pretty much followed her recipe, but I left out the celery and I swapped the garlic powder and salt for some Adobo seasoning (had to work with what I had on hand).

Here are the meatloaf muffins from start to finish:

Hmm... please excuse the cooking spray puddles. Oh, and that I don't have photos of these on a plate or other dish. You can thank the mister for that— these meatloaf muffins didn't last very long at all.

Jamie Eason's Turkey Meatloaf Muffins - ✩✩✩✩✩

These little guys are easy to prepare and perfect for batch cooking. They're also just as good cold {which I've found is surprisingly important to me}. At 80 calories and 11 grams of protein per muffin, they're a great anytime snack or as part of a meal. They would also make pretty tasty turkey sliders if you just have to have a bun in your life {which I completely understand}.

Judging by the rate at which these were devoured— this won't be the last time turkey meatloaf graces my muffin pan! Mmm.

Brag box: Featured recipe on Somewhat Simple!

2011-05-26T17:05:00.000-04:00

We, here, at Team Willi aren't much for horn-tooting—but as a modest little blog—we'll gladly take all the love + attention we can get!

One of of my daily blog reads/host of my all-time fave link party, Somewhat Simple, has graciously featured my recipe for slow cooker salsa chicken. I am beyond honored-- and excited to share more recipes soon!

Click Here to check us out-- it's the first recipe listed in the "Main Dishes" section. Thanks to Stephanie over at Somewhat Simple for totally making my week!

✳✳✳

Crazy little thing called graduation

2011-05-25T22:20:00.003-04:00

Long, protracted update posts aren't really my cuppa tea, so I'll get you all up to speed in a much more efficient way-- with photos {duh}. Last week, our left coast family came into town to celebrate the mister's graduation from law school. Here are some of the highlights:

Philly weekend:

City of brotherly...

Valley Forge:

Yeah... we're corny like that

Strike a pose

Center City:

"It's the eye of the tiger..."

Village Whiiiiiskey:

Whiskey King. hands down, best burger ever. Thank you, Jose Garces!

oh, and short rib fries, what the whattt.

Back home {womp}

Kisses for Mama Willi

Great Falls

DC tourism at its best...

Moms and grandma

Mount Vernon: George Washington's tree... the one that wasn't chopped down.

O's v. Yanks...

like father:

like son:

duh

Yay, graduate!

Don't worry, the gown was zipped up for the ceremony

So ends our week. And now I'm exhausted.

I've finally realized the only downside to having my awesome camera... I'm never in any photos because other people can't figure it out. It's not that it's so fancy... it's just that it's not a point-and-shoot, which is what people are used to. I'm currently educating hubbo so I can start popping up in my life {imagine that}!

ETA: Lovely sister-in-law just reminded me she rocked some photos at the Phila "LOVE" sign. You definitely deserve your propers, J Willi. Thanks, boo :)

Family's in town...

2011-05-18T07:41:00.000-04:00

...so I'm officially off-the-grid!

The mister's family is in from the west coast and we've been on-the-go since Friday. Here are just a few sneak peeks:

Stay tuned for way more details. So far it's been a crazy little week {and it's only Wednesday}!

Photo Friday {Weeks 17 & 18}

2011-05-06T19:42:00.001-04:00

I'm feeling pretty lazy about this Photo Friday, so my apologies in advance. Here's my life in the past couple weeks, enjoy {I certainly have}!

I know, I know... I didn't follow the "rules," nor did I date and label. Just know I've been as snap-happy as ever and I take my camera EVERYWHERE. I'm even starting to see the world in rules of thirds {which is pretty dorky, but whatev}. I'll be back to the routine next week— until then, happy weekend to all!

DIY fabric wall art

2011-04-28T22:23:00.000-04:00

We've been in our apartment for a few years now, and while it feels very lived in, there are still so many things we could do to make it home-y. For instance, we could fill the big white space above the television. Our open concept living/dining area is pretty awesome. It's rectangularly-shaped with windows along one of the long sides and one of the short sides. We get tons of natural light! The third wall is our photo wall, my pride and joy. The photo and window walls are also accent walls that are painted a rich and toasty tan {we were too lazy to paint the entire apt}. So three of our walls are covered and one is naked as a jaybird.

After scouring the interwebs for some inspiration, I finally decided on DIY fabric art {and yeah, that should NOT have taken three years to settle on}. One type of DIY fabric art is simply stretching fabric over a canvas and slapping it up on the wall. This is the method I chose, and here's how it all went down:

Four 12x30 canvasses from JoAnn Fabric. They have a pretty decent teacher discount.

2 yards of Kajsastina fabric from Ikea. I'm on a dandelion kick lately-- so I just went with it. I originally bought some fabric from Joann, but realized the next day it wasn't for me. {Word to the wise, do not shop for fabric after a couple glasses of vino.}

I laid the panel over my canvasses and cut enough to wrap around the back edges.

Hospital corners worked best for me... and they weren't too tough at all. I figured the mister {who spent some time at West Point} would have been able to bust them all out pretty easily, but he was too busy watching MacGyver on Netflix.

After lots of pulling, folding and stapling, I had the first panel!

Had a little mishap after the fourth panel... unfortunately, the staple gun was a casualty.

I was totally OK with the original color when I bought the fabric, but once all the panels were done, something seemed a little off. I went back to one of the fabrics I purchased a couple days earlier, draped it over the panels and it looked like...

...this! I can dig it. {btw, this isn't the fabric that wouldn't work. That couple yards is still chilling out under our coffee table.}

So I had to drape panels all over again. Sheer fabric is a little more finicky to deal with— thus stretching this project over a few more days than I was hoping for.

Thankfully, I had a little help.

And we finally got them done today.

Here are the panels on the wall. I promise, they're not crooked—I used a level and everything. {apparently I just don't know how to hold a camera}.

So, I'm enjoying the covered wall, but now I'm thinking I'd like a shelf or mantle right below the canvasses. We actually have a few shelves we haven't put up yet, but THAT's a project for another day!

✳✳✳

Follow that {lobster} truck!

2011-04-26T18:02:00.002-04:00

I love lobstah. Particularly when it's delivered to my belly in the form of a Maine lobster roll. Lordy— I cannot get enough.

My obsession with these delicious little sandwiches started a few years ago on a trip to Cape Cod... and {thankfully} continues in the DC area all because of Red Hook Lobster Pound, a restaurant serving up authentic New England goodies. Last summer, RHLP brilliantly unleashed a food truck on DC... and seriously stepped up the city's food truck game.

The truck tweets its lunchtime spots to thousands of lunch-going followers hoping it'll be parked within walking distance. Of course, they're more than prepared to spend a decent amount of their breaks waiting in line. Such is life.

I've been fortunate enough to ~~stalk~~ run into the lobster truck a few times now, and it never disappoints. Yesterday was the mister's first foray into the stalkery... pretty sure he's on the bandwagon now.

Sorry, blue crab.

Where I started in line...

15 minutes later... {still not at the front}

10 minutes after that... completely worth it.

Yeahhh, that's a whole lobster in there ::drool::

Mm mm mmm... sadly, the chicken I have out for dinner has just completely lost its appeal. Oops.

Photo Friday {Week 16}

2011-04-22T21:40:00.000-04:00

Week 16: Spring Break...

4.16 - JC's bachelorette {10 points if you know where you can regularly spot that label}

4.17 - Perfect spring day.

4.18 - Little pick-me-up {iced cappuccino, slurrrp}.

4.19 - Slow cooker goodness.

4.20 - Blue Moon Cafe

4.21 - Tutti Frutti

4.22 - Why thank you, Bethenny... don't mind if I do.

Well look who's on time this week! Pretty proud of myself, not gonna lie. I'm nowhere near an everyday blog-poster, but this break gave me a little taste of what blog-productivity feels like... and I'm definitely looking forward to this summer.

Happy weekend!

Slow Cooker Meal: Salsa Chicken

2011-04-21T23:57:00.000-04:00

I have yet to meet a slow cooker meal I don't like. This little ditty is no exception. One of my teammates has been singing the praises of her very favorite salsa chicken for quite some time now, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. She told me the basics:

boneless chicken breasts
packet of taco seasoning
salsa

I started with those then added:

1 can of low sodium cream of chicken soup
1 small can of green chiles
1 can of black beans {normally I'd go with dry beans, but I forgot to soak them}
1/2 cup greek yogurt {aka MY Frank's Red Hot—I put that *bleep* on everything}

The procedure is pretty no fuss from here... as long as the chicken is covered, it doesn't really matter what order all the other ingredients get in the pot.

This did not look very appealing...

...rest assured, it will look pretty darn delicious by the time you get home.

I set my slow cooker on low for 8 hours. I shredded the chicken, then rinsed and added the beans during the last hour of cooking. I couldn't find those fun taco salad shells, so I made my own...

I situated the tortillas into a muffin pan and weighed them down with the beans I use for my pastry crusts {yay for more than one use!} I think this method would have worked much better in an oversize muffin pan. The tortillas were in a 400º oven for about 15 minutes.

And here's the fully assembled salsa chicken, with lettuce shreds and some greek yogurt on top {it's a fantastic substitute for sour cream}.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken - ✩✩✩✩

1 package of boneless chicken breasts

1 packet of low sodium taco seasoning

1 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa

1 cup of low sodium cream of chicken soup

1 can of chopped green chiles

2 cups of black beans

1/2 cup of greek yogurt {more for garnish}

Iceberg lettuce shreds {or your favorite lettuce}

This is a super simple meal you can easily mold to your tastebuds. It can be mild or as spicy as you'd like depending on your ingredients. The chicken is great in a salad, but would also make for a fantastic taco, burrito or quesadilla filling. It would also make a yummy dip—basically, the possibilities are endless. If you're looking for a way to jazz up boneless chicken breasts, this is the perfect recipe to stick in the rotation!

✳✳✳

Sharing this blog with: Somewhat Simple Strut Your Stuff Link Party

Breakfast: Blue Moon Cafe

2011-04-20T20:43:00.001-04:00

Who doesn't love mid-week breakfast dates? Even more enjoyable when we finally get to try a place I've been wanting to since the first season of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

Quick tip about yours truly—Food Network, Travel Channel, and James Beard highly influence my "must-eat" list.

Blue Moon Cafe is a teeny tiny little spot in the Fells Point area of Baltimore city. It's in a converted rowhouse and has about 10 tables {along with four seats at the "bar"}. It's oozing personality—which I wish I'd gotten more photos of, but my mind was squarely on the food.

Speaking of food...

Hers-- Country Omelet: sausage and cheddar, topped with sausage gravy. Served with a side of crispy hash browns. nom.

His-- Sweet Baby Jesus: hash browns, lump crabmeat, cheese, and eggs smothered in hollandaise.

Ours-- Cinnamon rolls {we actually had one a piece, don't judge.} Do you eat yours with a knife and fork or tackle with sticky fingers?

Full belly = happiness {and that face, swoon}.

Oh yeah-- here's some of that personality I mentioned before...

...and another shot of a cinnamon roll just for good measure!

Blue Moon Cafe was WELL worth the wait! I'm excited to get back to Baltimore for our next feast :)

Photo Friday {Week 15}

2011-04-17T14:57:00.001-04:00

✳ Week 15 {click photos to see full size}

4.9 - Limited edition Easter truffles. nom nom.

4.10 - Like walking on a cloud.

4.11 - 4pm. Tornado watch.

4.12 - The other San Francisco treat.

4.13 - Blooms

4.14 - Snickerdoodle.

4.15 - Happy Spring Break from my kiddos.

I'm officially on Spring Break! Maybe I'll actually be on time this week. Eh, let's be honest here. 15 down!

Under Construction!

2011-04-12T23:38:00.000-04:00

You can now find us at: www.teamwilli.com!

Yay for new domain names! New name = New Banner {and far more time putzing around on Photoshop and Picasa than I actually have}.

Hope to have a new banner up and running by Photo Friday!

Easy protein-packed breakfast

2011-04-10T16:26:00.001-04:00

Working 7ish to 4ish certainly has it's advantages—most of which come on the 4ish end of things.

I wouldn't classify myself as a morning person, but it's not that I mind getting out of bed... it's just that I'd rather make my way to the couch and watch Saved by the Bell than get myself fed and out the door.

Last week, I figured out a way I could eat a nutritious meal and still get my Zack Morris fix: BATCH cooking! The winning recipe was Mac Muffins, a creation of SparkFriend and Quest Protein Bar-sponsored athlete, Rachel Mac. This is a great recipe because, as the blog title says, it's easy and protein-packed. Easy is good {for lazy people like me} and protein is wonderful {because it keeps you full and helps strengthen and build muscles}.

Here's what you'll need:

8x8 pan, cooking spray, egg whites, oats, canadian bacon {Rachel has the exact values here}. I didn't follow the measurements exactly, so do what works best for you!

Now here's what you'll do:

Preheat your oven to 350º
Evenly coat your pan with cooking spray
Pour a layer of egg whites
Sprinkle in oats
Place 4 slices of canadian bacon on your layer
Bake for about 10 minutes
Rinse and repeat until all your ingredients are gone!

I ended up with 3 layers and it was perfect for us. I also added some shredded cheese to the top layer. This is a great recipe to experiment with as far as portion sizes, seasonings, cheese and the meat and grain you use.

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Mac Muffins!

This recipes makes 4 servings, and you end up with a yummy breakfast "lasagna" type dish. It puffs up like a soufflé because of the eggs, but falls shortly after you take it out of the oven. You might want to place your baking dish on a pan to prevent possible spillage.

I reheated my Mac Muffins in the toaster oven on 300º for about 10 minutes. I tried a few different ways of eating them during the week {as one big piece, sliced in half with cheese, and sliced in half with salsa}. The winning variation was sliced in half with cheese in the middle {like a sandwich}.

If you're looking for a tasty, easy-to-prepare/customize AND healthful breakfast, give these a try!

Photo Friday {Week 14}

2011-04-09T17:24:00.002-04:00

This Photo Friday was inspired by our fridge lobstah from Week 12.

Let's face it-- we're into magnets. They're one of the only practical souvenirs you can get when you travel. I don't go through all of our photos everyday, but I certainly do hit up that fridge several times in a 24-hour period {how many times is MY secret}.

Every little trip to the fridge is a chance to remember a great getaway or family trip. Can't beat that for a couple bucks in a tourist shop or airport. Magnets are wonderful-- so without further ado, here are a few more + the lovely little reminder I get when I see them...

4/2 - Horniiiitos {Honeymoon}

4/3 - Party in the city where the heat is on... {Amy's 4 parties in one!}

4/4 - Minnesoooota {Wedding and Jucy Lucy)

4/5 - Real Mayan craftsmanship. Pppfffhh! {More honeymooning}

4/6 - I miss you, J Willi {J's graduation + baby duck, baby duck!}

4/7 - Vintage VA Beach {Quick getaway}

4/8 - Viva Las Vegas {Best. Trip. Ever.}

So, these are all technically a part of the first lesson in this book. Lesson two {which was actually lesson one} was: learn the workspace. Suffice to say, I'm still working on it!

Happy Weekend--

One Day Without Shoes

2011-04-05T20:41:00.000-04:00

One of my very favorite causes/companies/movements is TOMS Shoes. If you're not familiar with TOMS, you can learn about them here. When you buy a pair of {reasonably priced AND comfortable} TOMS Shoes, a pair is also given to a child in need. It's a win-win-WIN... new shoes for you, for someone in need, and NO buyer's remorse! I currently have one pair of TOMS with another pair on the way :)

Today is One Day Without Shoes... hundreds of events around the world are bringing attention to all the children who go shoeless day in and day out. Unfortunately, I couldn't go shoeless today, but I wore my TOMS in solidarity as well as joined a virtual event. There's still time to be a part of this awesome movement.

Bop on over to TOMS, read up, join an event, BUY SOME SHOES!

(source)

For the record, I don't work for TOMS, but I am down for this cause! {clearly☺}

Photo Friday {Week 13}

2011-04-03T10:51:00.001-04:00

Ok, so I had one glorious week of sort of on time— and now it's back to Sunday. My baaaad!

3.26 - The same night as my 3.25 photo, but this one was snapped after midnight, so we're good. ps-- I know it's completely out of focus, but I love the colors!

3.27 - Sunbather extraordinaire.

3.28 - The Devil.

3.29 - Mama

3.30 - Sundae

3.31 - Opening Day! Go Giants!! {they lost, womp}

4.1 - Penn Station: roast beef, provolone, LTM, red peppers = best sandwich everrrr.

This week is the debut of the watermark. What d'ya think?? I also played around with Photoshop a little more. I took Miss Mac's advice and bought a Photoshop lesson book—lessons are set to begin this week! My goal is to include at least one photo a week with skills from the latest lesson. Hopefully I'll be a little better at that than this whole posting on Friday thing— but we'll see!

Houston, we have a watermark.

2011-04-01T19:27:00.000-04:00

Not-so-secret confession: I like my photos.

Not that I think they're some kind of visual masterpiece, but they're mine... so I've decided it's high time I protected them a little.

Introducing my new logo/watermark:

This is the full color logo version, but I have an all white version for photos. Before anyone gets the WRONG idea-- I'm definitely NOT starting a business! I just barely know how to turn my camera on. But these are my photos, right? And however novice they may be, I work hard on them— so I should slap my name on these suckers. I also have one that just says "photos."

I love my new logo + watermark. I bought the first from the Faith Above shop over on Etsy. The second, I played around with on photoshop til I figured it out. I really need to buckle down and learn that program. {I get really excited at the prospect of being able to design little things like this, especially for my classroom!}

Happy Weekend!

Photo Friday {Week 12}

2011-03-26T15:15:00.000-04:00

Posting on a Saturday... I'm getting betttterrrr! Here's my week in snapshots--

3.19 - JC's super cute bridal shower cupcakes {can you tell which one I was eyeing?}

3.20 - First batch of Willi Pale Ale {Two thumbs up}

3.21 - Mighty fine subject {Mama Willi's probably gonna want a copy of this one}

3.22 - Our level-headed lobstah amongst fridge chaos {and yes that IS a proof from A's senior pics. I can't get enough of that yuck face... looks like he's saying "ewww" hahah}

3.23 - Snippet of our photo wall, w/ tons o' glare. Class on Wednesdays = crappy photos.

{Do YOU see yourself?}

3.24 - Taco Bar {Pastor, mmm}

3.25 - Miss C, soon to be Mrs. M ♥♥♥ {and some bokeh action}

Woo for only being a day late! Baby steps. I was hoping to get outside this week, but Mother Nature had other plans-- apparently winter wasn't quite ready to pack it in ☹

12 weeks down, 40 to go!

Willi Wedding Extravaganza - The Photography

2011-03-21T22:11:00.004-04:00

This really is an ode...

because honestly, there aren't adequate words for how much the mister and I adore our wedding photos. We more than love them. We've considered getting a security deposit box for them {I'm not kidding}.

I stumbled onto the Dott Photography site while checking out another photographer. He left a thoughtful message about how awesome it was working with Olga and my ~~nosiness~~ curiosity swiftly led me in her direction.

From the very first photo, I knew my search was done. But I didn't make a move— because I'm indecisive {to a fault}. It's not that I can't make a decision... it's that I make one, then change my mind a million and one times {which does NOT make you-know-who very happy}.

After my first visit to Olga's site, I didn't look at another photographer... I just stalked the page for a couple weeks. Ridiculous, huh? But then I finally got it together and emailed. A few lovely emails and one phone call later— I had the chance to work with the photographer of my dreams ☺

On wedding day, Olga was the sweetest and most calming presence my entire day. Before we even snapped the first picture, I managed to drag my dress across pavement and get soot, dirt, and crud all over it {of course, I freaked}, but she assured me that Photoshop works wonders. How could you not love that? After a few deep breaths, a couple glasses of champagne, and my bridesmaids bustling the hell out of my dress, all was well— and we started on our photo journey. We went all over the strip before the ceremony—and we hit up Freemont street and downtown afterward. The entire experience couldn't have been more fantastic.

Here are just a few shots from our day:

(Click on the collage to see the photos larger)

So, on top of being incredibly fun to work with and be around all day, Olga left this lovely little note for us on our teaser page:

The love fest continues— I still can't thank you enough for being such a wonderful part of our day and for giving us such gorgeous memories! I don't think I'm one of those people who believes everything happens for a reason, but I certainly do believe some things are meant to be. As cheese-tastic as it sounds, I feel like working with you was written in the stars long before I ever called you up.

I still check the Dott Blog like it's my job! We cannot WAIT to get back to Las Vegas for another opportunity for photos with Olga— hopefully sooner than later!

PS-- thanks for taking a look back with me everyone—this past week has been a LOT of fun!

Photo Friday {Week 11}

2011-03-20T15:11:00.001-04:00

Should just change the name to Photo Sunday...

3.12 - Cheers

3.13 - Charming

3.14 - New

3.15 - Obvious

3.16 - Gone

3.17 - St. Patty's {Kindergarten style} ♣

3.18 - "Really, Mama-- Can't I just eat in peace?"

Weather is getting nicer and days are getting longer... all signs that I should be outside this week! Can't believe it's been 11 weeks already.

Willi Wedding Extravaganza - The Eats

2011-03-17T23:24:00.002-04:00

Las Vegas is a magical place-- mostly because you can make it whatever you want. The mister and I have been a handful of times, and we've yet to spend a single dime on gambling.

Now, spending several dimes on great food... that's a whole other story.

Our wedding was ~~slightly~~ extremely different from a leisurely night of dining in Vegas. It was a leisurely night of dining times 65. By normal wedding standards that's a modest gathering-- but it was substantial for a destination wedding.

We knew we wanted quality and great food all around-- and I think we got it. {If you were there and you disagree, you're wrong ☺}

First up, we had cupcakes from Retro Bakery at our meet and greet. ~~I cannot say enough about how insanely delicious our Meet and Greet cupcakes were.~~ More like I can't say enough about how insanely delicious OTHER people told me they were. Sadly, the most I got was the teeny tiniest bite/lick {blick?} of the chocolate peanut butter one leftover in my room the night before the wedding.

It. Was. Awesome.

How can someone have a full-fledged love affair based on a blick, you ask? Well, I strolled into the shop about an hour before they closed and requested 3 1/2 dozen cupcakes the day of the meet and greet. Instead of looking at me like the crazy person I clearly was, they just said "can you give us an hour?" Brilliant! I went for a random variety, and it didn't disappoint. I can't wait to get my greedy little mitts on one of these babies when we get back to LV.

Next up, our reception. What can I say? I had a fabulous time. I don't know if we could have gotten this value anywhere else in Las Vegas or just anywhere else in general. As I mentioned before, we had an all-you-can-eat tapas banquet at Firefly* Downtown.

Our banquet included limitless:

♠ Bread, olives, almond butter

♣ Bacon-wrapped, stuffed date ♥ Patatas Bravas

♠ Chicken skewers ♥ Filet mignon sliders

♦ Crispy duck rolls ♣ Camarones el diablo

♠ Empanadas ♦ Camarones el ajillo

Shockingly enough, we don't have ANY photos of the tapas at the reception! Probably because once the food hit the tables, it was pretty much gobbled up. So, I had to do a little digging. All credit goes to the lovely reviewers at Yelp!

Last but not least... our cake!

All professional photos by the fabulous Olga Wilson of Dott Photography

Cake Designs LV {the bakery} was closed when we had our scouting trip, so our cake was prrrretty much a surprise. Now, of course I did my research, but there's only so much you can do from 2500 miles away. The rest was left up to chance-- and I've got to say, we had some seriously good mojo working for us on this decision. Oh, and I made sure to get a nibble of every layer! We had: lemon cake w/ lemon mousse, fudge cake w/ chocolate mousse and red velvet w/ cream cheese filling. It was all under their deliiiicious whipped icing which was so light and fluffy, I could have taken a nap on it {or something slightly less disgusting}.

So I guess that's it for the food. Reminiscing is making me hungry!

Next up, on this fantastic voyage is... PHOTOGRAPHY! Until then...

Willi Wedding Extravaganza - location, location, location

2011-03-15T18:56:00.002-04:00

In case you live under a rock {or just don't pay me very much attention}, Mr. Willi and I celebrated our first wondrous year of wedded bliss this past Saturday... and since I'm not ready to stop singing it from the mountaintops, so begins a week of complete self-indulgence and reminiscing.

First on this trip down memory lane, our location... two words: Vegas, baby ♠♣♥♦

Confession time: Vegas wasn't our first choice {gasp!}. We were knee deep in planning a hometown wedding and it was beyond time consuming. One day, while sifting through an endless pile of swatches, "Sin City Weddings" on WeTV popped up on the tube {of course I remember the name of the show that changed it all}. I didn't really pay it any attention because the first 15 minutes were supremely cheesy {think Elvis, drive-thrus, etc.} Cut to the last 15 and I was captivated. The weddings were... normal... even... dare I say—lovely.

Could we really have a "normal" wedding in Las Vegas? Would anyone even come to said "normal" wedding?

After the show, I called up the mister and asked rather timidly, "What do you think about Las Vegas?" He clearly knew what I was talking about—and he didn't laugh me off the phone, so I knew I had him.

We're not very traditional, so there's no reason our wedding had to be!

Countless hours on The Knot Las Vegas board, a ridiculous amount of phone calls, and one {yes, only one} scouting trip later, we were ready.

The fun began with a Meet and Greet Bowling Party at the Orleans Hotel and Casino. I'm still so glad we did this! I knew we didn't really want a full on rehearsal dinner, but a few hours of bowling, pizza and adult beverages were all we needed to kick off our wedding weekend. It was truly an activity that everyone {of all ages} enjoyed, and it was nice to have a party like this that was so reflective of our personalities.

We were married in the Treasure Island Hotel... perfect central location and the chapel was cute and quaint. What {or I guess who} really sold me was the officiant. I saw a couple of his ceremonies and they made the decision pretty simple.

Our ceremony was smack in the middle of the strip, but our reception was downtown in Old Vegas. We hopped shuttles north to Firefly* at The Plaza for an all-you-can-eat tapas banquet. The food was superb, our space {although awkwardly designed} was set up beautifully and the staff was just phenomenal.

All professional photos by the marvelous Olga Wilson of Dott Photography

After the reception, we headed back to the strip for an impromptu after party at Blush at the Wynn. More booze, giant velvet couches and awesome music. What more could a girl ask for?

All in all, the Willi Wedding Extravaganza was pretty stinkin' awesome. Which makes sharing these details oh-so-fun!

Next installment... the EATS! I know you're excited {I certainly am}.

Stay tuned...

Photo Friday {Week 10}

2011-03-13T13:37:00.000-04:00

Please excuse the Sunday edition this week... I was a bit preoccupied this weekend ☺

3.5 - Cuteness.

3.6 - Dip and Squeeze all. day. long.

3.7 - Netipot all. night. long. {Yeah, I'm a nerd... but it works!}

3.8 - Best Ledo Pizza outside of CP, for sure!

3.9 - Leave the gun, take the cannoli.

3.10 - Men at work {probably some women too}

3.11 - Lovely surprise.

Who has two thumbs and walked in to this little goody on Friday?

Hoping to get back on a Friday schedule next week. We'll see how that goes!

One year ago today...

2011-03-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

I made the best decision of life, with the most amazing man, surrounded by the people we love the most.

We began making our lifetime of memories {runaway tooth, anyone?}...
strengthened old friendships {wouldn't have been anything without you guys!}...
and forged new ones {Happy Anniversary, Olga! ♥}.

Dearest Husband,

Oftentimes 'I love you' just doesn't cover it. So to stop way short of the cheesiest of references {think Jerry Maguire}, I will just say: you make me better—and I'm glad I get to keep you.

Love,

Your Wife

PS-- Thank you for bucking tradition and not getting me paper for our first anniversary.

To commemorate the awesomeness that is our marriage, I'm taking a page right out of Miss Mac's book and devoting this coming week to all things Willi Wedding Extravaganza. {~~Thievery~~ Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, no?}

To be continued...