My Fascination Street: 2018

Seared Mahi Mahi Salad

Nov 27, 2018

I'm just going to say it, carbs are my best friend. They make me sluggish, tired and do nothing for my waistline but they taste so good that it's hard to not eat. But because I love to torture myself in order to break bad habits I have officially cut carbs off for the month of February.

When I first moved to LA I did the South Beach Diet and it helped me lose my sweet tooth (I rarely eat sweets or desserts) and got me into veggies because I was never really a fan. I also learned how to cook fish which I was never able to master before.

I mentioned this to a few coworkers and they said it was a great thing to do but eating healthy is so expensive. NOT TRUE! Especially here in Los Angeles where we have access to the best produce for almost half the cost of what it is in NYC. I managed to do groceries for the next two weeks and only spent $42. I may have to grab more sparkling water--if I can' have champagne, I still need bubbles--and a few avocados but I'm trying to stick to Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet while not going broke.

Tonight I made a really tasty dinner which I also plan on having for lunch tomorrow. It's my first time making Mahi-Mahi so I was excited to taste it. Needless to say it was amazing and I can't wait to have it again tomorrow. As per usual, I'm not a measurer (I will work on this, I promise) so you can eyeball the ingredients like I did.

Now what I really love about getting back into cooking is having my recipes ready to share online or in my kitchen. I've never really felt that the things I made deserved a nice display, or a card even, but now thats all changed. I recently got this super cute recipe box that I can't wait to fill up with all of my tasty recipes.

This recipe box by Polite Society comes in a nice tin container that is rust proof, so there's no need to worry about it being near water. So because of that, if you already have a recipe holder that you love, or simply don't use recipes, you can use this in the bathroom to hold samples, masks, or anything that you want al in one place. I really like the cards that it came with and how it's separated into sections for easy reference and the design is super cute. Now I just have to make sure my handwriting gets 1000 times better so that I don't have to preface every recipe inquiry with "excuse my handwriting".

Ingredients
Mahi-Mahi Fillet
baby Spinach
3 Garlic Cloves
Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh Parmesan Cheese
Salt
Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes
EVOO
Balsamic Vinaigrette

I bought the fish last night and was so eager to cook it and then I read that it has to thaw in the fridge for at least 8 hours. FAIL! So after letting it sit in the fridge while I was at work it was ready to get cooked.

I put some EVOO in a frying pan and while I waited for it to get hot I seasoned the fillet with salt and pepper.

Up next was throwing it in the pan. I cooked it on one side for about 3 minuted and then turned it over. I put the chopped up garlic in at this point to saute it a bit as well as added the red pepper flakes to the fish.

I can never make a frying pan look glamorous

In the meantime I cut the cherry tomatoes (omg one of them exploded as I cut it and the tiles in my kitchen looked like a murder scene) and added some salt and pepper to give it a bit of flavor.

I'm a tomato addict

Once the fish was cooked I put my spinach and tomatoes in a bowl, added the parmesan cheese, sauteed garlic from the pan and then the star of the show, the Mahi-Mahi.

Spinach is so tasty and pretty

In my past life, I was a mouse. I heart cheese

It was delicious, quick and I can't wait to have it for lunch tomorrow. I'm glad I was able to make something aside from grilled chicken and veggies that is really tasty and carb free.

So. Much. Yum.

It's not lost on me that there's an avocado in the shot. Originally I was going to put some in it and save the other half for lunch tomorrow but I didn't want oxidation to ruin the color of my amazing lunch so I'll reserve serving with with avocados when I make this for more than one person.

pin me :-)

eat

Easy Caprese Sandwich

Oct 16, 2018

I love tomatoes. Love love love! They go with everything and make every meal super refreshing. When it comes to maintaining, and trying to shed some weight, I tend to eat low/no-carbs meals a few times a week and eating a caprese sandwich is one of my favorites. It's super easy, has cheese, which I love, and it's actually quite filling.

There really is no recipe needed and it's only 5 ingredients. If you make caprese salads the only difference is that you can use the top and bottom of the tomato to have 'buns'.

Most of my meals comprise of of these staples: tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. Before I constructed it I added salt, pepper and olive oil and let things sit for about 10 minutes. While I love the taste of all of these ingredients separately they taste even better after marinating in that for a bit.

After that it was just a matter of adding some balsamic vinegar, put all together and it was ready to get in my belly. It's totally something you should try out if you love caprese salads and want to try it in a different way. Plus, if you like the feeling of eating a burger you can totally trick yourself into thinking that you're having one.

eat

10 Minute One Pan Pesto Chicken Pasta

Oct 13, 2018

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OnePanPasta #CollectiveBias

Pasta is my absolute favorite meal but sometimes it takes a bit longer than I want it to. When I'm busy and starving I would always rather have someone homemade but end up picking something up on the way home because the thought of cooking for us doesn't work for me.

I've used Barilla pasta and their sauces before but this is my first time using their Pronto Penne. I wanted to make something that was super fast without using too many pots/pans so this was perfect. The meal that I made with this was pesto pasta with grilled chicken and I was pleasantly surprised by how quick this was to make. I used the pronto penne, Barilla's Pesto Sauce, grilled chicken that was pre-cooked and frozen and then my favorite staples: parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. I love that Barilla Pronto Pasta cooks in 10 minutes and lets me cook a one-pan pasta meal without having to boil or drain water. It helps me save time and I'm not wasting any water.

While Barilla has a ton of great sauces to compliment their pastas I went for the Traditional Pesto Sauce. I love basil, parmesan cheese and olive oil so of course this is what I gravitated towards. The size of the bottle is great because it lets me use it for a whole box of pasta with their combination of authentic Italian herbs without saturating it. Check out my recipe below so you can try it yourself!

Now for every box of Barilla Pronto purchased at Walmart between 7/31/2016 and 10/31/2016 Barilla will donate 10 meals to kids in need through No Kid Hungry, up to a million meals*

Ingredients

1 box of Barilla Pronto Penne
1 jar of Barilla Pesto Sauce
2 cups of pre-grilled chicken
½ cup of parmesan cheese
¼ cup of red pepper flakes

Instructions

In a large saucepan pour a box of Barilla Pronto Pesto along with 3 cups of cold water, making sure to completely cover the pasta and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the entire jar of pesto, half of the parmesan cheese, the red pepper flakes and serve with the other half of the parmesan cheese. And voila! A perfect meal that cooks in under 15 minutes!

If you like this recipe and want to check out Barilla Pronto Pasta as well as the Traditional Basil Sauce check out the Ibotta offer where you can earn $0.50 when you purchase any Barilla Pronto pasta product at Walmart! You can also head over to Barilla's website to check out some other one pan pasta dishes and get inspiration for your own!

Barilla Pronto Pasta can be easily found in the pasta aisle at Walmart

*$1.00 can provide a child 10 healthy meals. This amount is based on individual experiences of grant recipients. Contributions will be used to reach the highest number of children facing hunger in America. Share Our Strength is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

Blog Goals: Taking it to New Heights

Aug 8, 2018

Paradise of Collectives

As the summer approaches as does the anniversary of my blog finally turning around. I mentioned before how last summer is where things started to kick into high gear and I want to set some really attainable goals for the year to come. I've always wanted to do more with this site but life just kept getting in the way. Or really, i just kept using that as an excuse. With big things happening this fall I want to build some great momentum now that will have writing as second nature. I want it to be something I need to do like eating or sleeping. I've been part of the Ultimate Blog Challenge in the past but haven't even thought about it since forever so now that a new one is beginning tomorrow I want to see if I can write informative, funny and cool content for at least 31 days straight. If I do I will rewards myself with having good momentum and maybe I'll buy myself something nice for my birthday (since it'll be on the last day. Hint Hint!).

Here are my blog goals that I want to get started on this summer. I'm really hoping to focus and not let myself get easily discouraged or distracted. Cross your fingers!

Write More

I don't want to write just for the sake of writing. Nothing is worse than filler posts. I do however have tons of ideas running through my mind and my notes on my iPhone is filled with them. I want to finally give them a try and see if they're actually worth writing about. I need to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and keep things moving along. Plus, the more I write, the higher my confidence in it will be so I want to exercise that part of my brain to help keep my lovely readers entertained. Speaking of which, another goal is to...

Engage with Readers

You know, I get a lot of people reading my posts. A lot! If I didn't I wouldn't have any income to report. But my weakness is getting the engagement. I can easily rope an entire bar into a conversation but I'm having some trouble getting you guys to speak up. So I want to make it more enticing. I don't want people to engage just to make me feel better. It's not happening much because there really isn't a reason for it so I'm going to make an effort to have each post be the start of a conversation.

Create a Newsletter

This will happen in a few months. I want to get into the flow of things before doing this. I don't want to send out newsletters that are boring or when people haven't made this blog worth talking about. I also need to keep this updated with fresh content so that the newsletter isn't just letting someone know that they missed one or two posts. BORING!

Find the Perfect Template

Last but not least, finding a perfect template. I have a vision for how I want this site to look but I haven't found something that works for me yet. Maybe I have template ADHD or something. I've seen a lot that I think are great but there's always something missing. I might bite the bullet and just hire someone to design one for me because I am a bit picky but I just want something that's easy on the eyes, can be navigated through seamlessly and that I am 100% happy with.

Those are the goals that I'll be working towards starting today and I'm hoping to not be derailed. I'll be home for a few weeks so it's not like I can spend 24/7 working on my blog but I will dedicate a few hours a day on this. I want to take this to the next level and that means there is no time to slack off.

***Don't you just LOVE the photo I chose for this blog? My friend Sarai takes some of the most amazing photos ever and I'm so glad she's allowing me to use this pic on my blog. As someone with a minor in photographer I get butterflies when I meet someone who's got an amazing eye so hopefully I'll be featuring a lot of her photos here until I'm ready to get behind the lens again***

cooking · eat

Avocado Club Salad

Aug 3, 2018

Let's talk about salads. People love them, people hate them, I personally find them okay if they're not made with a lot of lettuce. This is why I tend to make super easy salads that are pretty much filled with nothing but protein and of course, my favorite ingredient ever: avocados!

I've been slacking in the kitchen department lately but now that I have a space that is perfect for cooking, I've been getting into it a bit more. But because it's summer, I don't want to overdo it with things that will make the studio space super hot. So without further ado, here's a super yummy salad that I put together with just five ingredients. And yes, there are some greens hiding in there!

Avocado Club Salad

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 1 yummy serving

A super yummy salad with really savory ingredients. No dressing is needed thanks to the creaminess of the avocados. How great is that!

Ingredients

2 Haas avocados
2 cups of spinach
2-3 bacon strips
Chicken breast
Fresh parmesan cheese
EVOO

Instructions

Cut the chicken breast and cook in a small amount of EVOO. Season with salt and pepper to taste. And garlic salt. You should totally use garlic salt. Once it's fully cooked put it on a paper towel to soak up any excess oil
Fry the bacon strips. Or microwave them. Whichever is quicker and will prevent you from eating it all before it goes in the salad
Chop the avocados and season with a bit of salt. I do this last so they don't start to turn. You know how fickle these can be!
Thrown it all in a bowl of spinach and grate as much fresh parmesan cheese as you want
Bon appétit

how tasty does this look?

A Super Chill Weekend at Home with Coca-Cola™

Jul 10, 2018

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #BestSummerMemories #CollectiveBias

Ah summer! I know that people think it's endless here in SoCal but I can assure you that it is not. There also isn't a thing such as an endless summer when you're stuck in the office 40+ hours a week. This is why I like to use my free time up wisely in terms of relaxing! My mind is so busy and on the go during the week that on the weekends or when I have random days off of work I really just want to chill out in the backyard getting some sun, reading something on my iPad, or having someone over for yummy (and fancy) snacks and an ice cold drink!

I love carbonated beverages and Coca-Cola™ has been a staple in my family for years. I will admit that I haven't consumed it as much since moving to SoCal because I've always found that it was more for large group entertaining with tons of crispy snacks but I don't think like that anymore. I love water, I love sparkling water, but I ADORE an ice cold Coke and having something refreshing and fun to go along with my weekend chill time is where it's at!

This past Memorial Day Weekend I took advantage of extra days off work to enjoy my surroundings. I skipped all the crazy BBQ's and soaked up the quietness of my cute little neighborhood. Because I wanted to feel as if I was doing something I made avocado deviled eggs and shrimp ceviche because I wanted to eat things that were cold and refreshing as well as tasty.

Prepping and putting my snacks together was really easy and I was able to munch on them within an hour of thinking them up. The longest time was 'cooking' the shrimp in lime, which had the house smell AMAZING FYI! While I was at it I made sure to put a few bottles of Coke in the fridge to make sure they were really cold because that's how I like to drink it. And even with that I still put tons of ice in my cup. I know, it's a lot, but it's so worth it!

Share A Coke at CVS

I headed over to CVS to grab my Coca-Cola because I wanted to take advantage of the 1,000 Share A Coke names that includes last names now! I know that finding my last name on one was a long shot but I feverishly looked for my first name on all Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero™ or Diet Coke™.

They're on sale there where you can get two 20 oz bottles for $3 when you use your ExtraCare card, which I think everyone should have because who in the world shops without a rewards card these days? And while you're at it you can grab a few things to make a quick get together with your friends more enjoyable like quick meals and/or something to read if you're reading to the beach or plan on relaxing in the backyard like I did.

Last names! Woo hoo!

backyard chill

Avocado Ceviche for the win!

When it comes to planning a super relaxing day there are only a few things needed: Sun, seating area, and a breeze! As a New Yorker I appreciate the outdoors so much and revel in having a nice relaxing time to just chill and kick back. Of course, added to this is a fun and yummy snack.

Make sure you head on over to CVS to grab some yummy carbonated drinks for your summer fun as well as visiting the Coca-Cola site for summer fun inspiration. So tell me, how do you plan on making awesome summer memories this summer?

Matcha Green Tea Scrub

Jun 4, 2018

I love using body scrubs, especially if they're all natural, because that's been my theme for 2018. One thing I'm not gaga over though is matcha tea. Well....to drink at least! I don't know why but I find the taste to be awful, which made my love of this Matcha Green Tea Scrub surprising. When I initially got this scrub I had some PTSD from the last time I drank the tea but once I opened it I was very happy to know that it didn't have that awful scent that the tea does.

I also like that the scrub isn't at all runny which makes it easy to scrub. I'm all about using caffeine on my body because of it's alleged affects on cellulite so using this instead of ground coffee, that makes my shower always look like I was digging in the dirt , is so much cleaner looking. I haven't used it on my face because I don't like to use harsh scrubs on it but the fact that it's also got coconut and olive oils will make it really good for someone that needs help with inflammation.

On top of that, the amount that you get for the price is massive and so far after almost two weeks of using it daily it doesn't look like I've made a dent. While the case that it comes in is cardboard and you can't reuse it for anything it does look really great on display and can be used to keep the scrub in as part of a cute display for a guest room.

beauty

Stay Beautiphil This Year with Cetaphil®

If you're anything like me you know that once the summer hits I love using skincare products that are tough enough to get all the makeup, dirt and oil from my face without being to harsh from my skin during these hot months. I also have to make sure that I mix my self-tanners and bronzers with a moisturizer that is light and long lasting.

This is where Cetaphil® comes into the mix. I first heard about this brand many moons ago when a cousin with super sensitive skin started to use the facial cleanser. Back then I was cocky and thought my skin was perfect (which it was in my early 20's) so I didn't think I had any use for it. Once I tried it though I was hooked. I used to wear a lot of makeup and the fact that Cetaphil® Daily Facial Cleanser didn't have any alcohol meant that I wasn't drying my skin in a effort to keep it clean.

The cleanser also removed my makeup without leaving icky residue behind, another plus, especially for a skincare junkie like me. Immediately I became a convert and started saving a great deal of money in my skincare routine. At this point though I was only really using their cleanser because I didn't know they had a wider range of products, as I was more interested in makeup than skincare at the time.

When it comes to the SoCal heat, moisturizer, SPF, and a bit of foundation are what my face requires. I have no interest in wearing so many products that might melt off my face so guess who came to the rescue this time? Yep! You guessed it: Cetaphil® yet again. Their Daily Facial Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 15 is exactly what I need. It's a very light moisturizer that I don't ever feel on my face and it keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day. If I'm staying out in the sun for a long time the bottle is small enough to carry in my purse or tote bag.

I love how easily it blends in without being greasy.

Now one thing I absolutely did not expect was for Cetaphil® to have a body moisturizer. I always knew about their cleanser and that they had a moisturizer but only for the face so imagine my surprise when I set my eyes on this beauty! I am a bronzing addict. I always want my legs to look like I just stepped off a yacht while on vacation of St. Tropez so I soak my legs in as many bronzers as possible. Unfortunately though they aren't very moisturizing and every lotion that I have has a strong scent that kills the sweetness of my favorite bronzer.

Cetaphil® Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion does none of that. It's thick enough to apply well without being greasy and I can easily mix it with my favorite bronzers or sun tan lotions. Not only that but it contains Epidermal Replenishing Complex⁵ (ERC⁵), which is unique combination of 5 ingredients that protects dry skin and enhances hydration. I love anything that keeps my skin from looking dry because that kills any cute spring or summer look.

I'm excited to have found that Cetaphil® had a broader range of products and it's great for anyone who doesn't want to use products that can potentially do more harm than good for their skin. And what's better than Cetaphil® having these great products? Well, the fact that they're affordable and can be found at Target, Walmart, Drugstore.com, or even your local supermarket.

A DTLA Dining Experience

Feb 7, 2018

I recently had the pleasure at dining at Ford's Filling Station at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live and I have to say that I was seriously impressed. After four years in LA I've only ventured downtown a handful of times but because I'm mostly based here I try to explore as much as possible, especially when it comes to food!

I had my cousin in town from NYC so taking her down to Ford's Filling Station for Chef Bens great take on California cuisine seemed like an excellent idea. The location, energy and of course the food and cocktails at the restaurant were great. It's def on my list of things to do in LA, when I want to get out of The Valley and go somewhere cool and delicious.

We started off with their smoked brisket taquitos and their flat bread carnitas pizza. I love brisket and the idea of having it in a taquito was very intriguing. It was cooked super tender and the meat wasn't over seasoned. I wasn't sure what to expect but when I took a bite with the avocado sauce mixed with lettuce and cotija cheese as well as their red sauce and it all came together. This was one of our starters and it came with two pieces (see photo above) and all I can say is that I ate them all super fast! So much yum!

Up next was the flat bread carnitas pizza that my cousin had ordered. I'm not a huge fan of pork unless it's crispy bacon (more on that later) but the carnitas flat bread was out of control. It was full of flavor and even the bread itself tasted amazing. We were told that Chef Ben had recently visited Puerto Rico so the chicharones were inspired by that trip. I'm kinda glad he went there!

The bacon burger is one of their signature dishes so I had to have it. I love gastropubs and always judge them by their burgers. If the burgers are great then I know everything else will be as well. Ummm...the burger was great! I had it medium rare with the bacon a bit crispy and it was like biting into a slice of heaven. The burger had avocado in it which not only added to the taste but gave it a total SoCal vibe.

Scallops were also ordered and not only was the presentation beautiful but they were cooked to perfection. I've had scallops before and hated them but was urged to give this one a taste and it melted in my mouth. It wasn't chewy or overcooked. They were served with a corn and parmesan mix that we highly enjoyed as well.

We ended the meal with their strawberry shortcake and one of their drinks called a Quiet Storm which was like a Dark & Stormy but without rum. The drink was strong (win!) and was like an adult lemonade! I loved being able to have a different take on one of my favorite drinks.

The time spent at Ford's Filling Station was really enjoyable. The staff was extremely friendly and knew everything about the menu. Having background information on what inspired some of the meals was great and helped us decide what to order. Also, the ambiance was very relaxing and we weren't rushed at all as we were eating. We were able to keep the menu with us after ordering our appetizers and main course because there was so much that we wanted to try and they didn't want to rush us.

All in all it was a perfect place to bring my out of town guests for dinner in order to enjoy a meal at a great place with food that's inspired by SoCal with a seasonal cuisine. The space is perfect for a girls night out or a special event. It's also a nice place for a date night if you're in the downtown area. Or actually, it's worth going to downtown for!

Thank You Notes To Myself

Jan 28, 2018

Gratitude. It seems to be the theme of 2018. People are becoming more thankful for everyone and everything around them. But of course the one thing we tend to forget to be thankful for is ourselves. For what? For everything. Breathing, getting out of bed, creating, existing, etc.

I for one have the biggest love/hate relationship with myself. My MDD has me over the moon about life one day and stuck in bed the next. Or sometimes these happen on the same day. But despite all that I'm trying to be a hippie about everything and focus on being positive. I know that we are what we think and even if shit is going real bad, if we look on the bright side of things and don't dwell on it, we can see the silver lining, so with that being said, I'm amping up my desire to surround myself with positive thoughts and I'm going to "send" myself a thank you card everyday.

Yes, Everyday. Some will be repeated, because I'm going to chose them at random, but every morning I'm going to go to my little box of thank you cards and have a reason to say your welcome. To myself. Cue The Rock singing the song from Moana.

So what will I have on these cards you ask? (because duh, you're asking). Here are just a few things that I am going to thank myself for. I totally welcome any and all suggestions because I have 100 cards to write and you know damn well that I won't have them all filled up at the time of this post.

Thank you for....

❤ your excellent taste in music
❤ letting us sleep in
❤ always having champagne
❤ sleeping with an eye mask
❤ knowing that writing is like therapy, and doing it obsessively
❤ taking care of our skin. We can take the credit along with genetics ;-)
❤ taking silly selfies
❤ not giving up. Even when we want to give up
❤ dreaming
❤ not reading what you wrote when we were sad. We know better!
❤ always wanting to learn. (share this one with Netflix, History Channel, and Wikipedia)
❤ being creative. My god! In the right mood, we create magic
❤ showing up
❤ knowing that things will always get better
❤ nothing specific, just merci

you know I was super careful to write this neat!

With that being said, I need a ton of thank you cards and while I was a little confused as to what I would use these for when they were sent over, I now have the perfect use for them. These Thank You cards by Mecooa are really simple yet pack a big punch. With gold foil lettering in a simple all black background, this let's the purpose of the card shine, and is very in with the gold foil that's been huge over the last couple of years. The envelopes are delivered in a cute box that will keep them safe from getting wrinkled or damaged. I'm keeping the box to store my pre-written cards. I think it'll look cute on my kitchen counter and will give me more of an incentive to check my card everyday.

And while I am dedicating these thank you cards to myself, I appreciate the fact that some of you out there have someone that you'd like to give these to. I think it'll be wonderful way to give your partner, parent, child, roommate or best friend a daily reason to smile and feel appreciated, because sometimes we just don't have to time to say it.

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OnePanPasta #CollectiveBias