Christmas Eve

We're here in NYC and already having a great time! Last night we saw Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway and it was fantastically fun.

Today we're cooking and listening to Christmas music before the rest of the fam gets here later today...

I hope you are all having a wonderful day with loved ones.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all!

Would it be bad if I...

took my pants off at work?

I can't sit in these anymore!  Yes, they are maternity pants, and yes, they are supposed to expand with you as you grow, but I am just too damn big now and they are making my stomach ache.  I just need to succumb and buy new maternity pants, as I still have almost 2 months to go...

ARG! 

Seriously, I can close my office door and no one would know...

Delicious Treats

Don't things start to taste better around the holidays?  Cookies are sweeter, cakes are more decadent, and you can't beat the chocolate truffles!

My favorite sweet treats that I only indulge in once a year are these Belgian waffles and pastries from Lotus Bakeries.  Lemme tell ya, they are so good!

Every year my mom orders a huge box load of these treats and I could eat about a billion.  For the past two years she's been sending Mike and I a box of our own - thanks mom!!

Here's the lowdown on the assortment:

Chocolate Covered Belgian Waffles
Plain Belgian Waffles with Pearl Sugar
French Madeleines
Pommelines - Apple Pastry
Frangipane - Oval Pastry filled with Apricot Jam in an Almond Flavored Shell with Icing
Carre Confiture - Apricot Puff Pastry

I really can't choose a favorite.  I teeter between the Frangipane and the Plain Belgian Waffles with sugar.  They come individually wrapped so you can take them to work, to shop, wherever you want to indulge! 

See, that's me in my office ready to enjoy my waffle! Yum.

Anyway, I HIGHLY recommend them as a gift to yourself or loved ones.  You won't be sorry.

Happy Friday!

Hey All!  I hope your Thanksgiving was fabulous!  Ours was quiet and full of good food and fun!  We put up our tree last Sunday and have been enjoying it's delicious smell and all of our sweet ornaments all week!

I can hardly believe that it's already December, but it's gotten chillier here this week, so it's beginning to feel like the holidays...

I oficially entered into the third and final trimester of pregnancy yesterday at 28 weeks.  CRAZY, I know!  My baby showers are being planned and Mike and I are already busy decorating the nursery.  I don't feel ready to be a mom just yet, but I'm starting to get really excited and also nervous for the actual labor part...ugh.

Anyway, I leave you with a recent picture of myself and my bump, and a picture of our Christmas tree.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Yay for Turkey Day!!

Thanksgiving is almost here - yippee!!

Here's what's on our menu:
Deviled Eggs
Roasted Turkey
Roasted Garlic Smashed Taters
Broccoli Casserole
Sausage and Sage Stuffing
Pumpkin Pie

Here's what I plan to do for 4 days:
Eat
Sleep
Watch movies
Shop
Eat
Sleep
Sleep
Eat

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

How Annoying Are: People Who Read While Walking!

What's wrong with you?  Don't you have time to read your book, or your newspaper, or your magazine while you're:

A. Home
B. On the subway
C. At your desk
D. Somewhere that's not the sidewalk!!

I hate this.  I'll be walking behind someone who is moving at a glacial pace and it's all because they are nose deep into their book.  Stop reading while walking!  It's hazardous!  You are not paying attention and you could:

A. Get hit by a car.
B. Slam into someone else.
C. Trip over a rock and fall.
D. Meet my fist in your face!

Ok, I'm done now.  I'm sorry if you are one of these people and I have offended you, but you offend me!

Thanks!

Where Did October Go?

Can you believe it's already November 9th?  What happened to September and October?  I vaguely recall the first day of school and candy being on sale for Halloween, but seriously, time has been flying by lately!

Now I'm beginning to see Christmas commercials on TV!  Each year it seems like Christmas starts creeping in earlier and earlier.  Don't get me wrong though, I'm not one of those people that hates the holiday season or hates Christmas festivities, or the anticipation of Christmas.  Quite the contrary in fact.

I LOVE Christmas and everything about it.  I love the music on the radio, I love the trees in the store windows, I love the crispness in the air...

So, I may very well be one of those people who YOU hate because I'm so jolly!  Haha...

Anyway, I still think time is flying by too fast.  Next thing you know I'll be a mom...holy shit.

Today I Wish...

I could do this.

Oh well.

How Annoying Are: CVS Automated Cashiers

I don't know if this is happening in your community, but here in DC many of the CVS pharmacy stores have replaced actual human beings who used to check you out, with automated cashier machines and they are sooooooooooooooooooooooo annoying!

Why would any store think this was a good decision?  Now the lines are doubly as long as they once were because of user error with these dumb machines.  Also, the machines aren't as fast as we humans are, so let's say you have already swiped your Extra Care card but it hasn't registered this action yet, it will tell you to do so like 3 times!

The other day I heard this guy yell back at the machine for telling him to do something he had already done.  He screamed, "I already did that!"  That actually made me laugh out loud, but at the same time I could really feel his pain.

Lesson here is that you can't replace people with machines because it just doesn't work.  Human beings may have bad days and poor attitudes, but we are never "out of order"...

Just Another Reason...

to want to move back to NYC!  My favorite Thai restuarant in Portland, Oregon called Pok Pok which I posted about here is opening up two restaurants in NYC within the next few months.

One is on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at 137 Rivington Street and will be called Pok Pok Wing.  The other, called Pok Pok NY, will open in Brooklyn near Cobble Hill at 127 Columbia Street.

I'm so jealous!  I will definitely have to try them both next time I'm home.  You should try check them out as well.  The noodle soups are to die for and the pork belly was super yummy!

Below are some pictures from Pok Pok Portland...

Have a great weekend everyone!

God Luck Cat! Waiting for a table...

I was very excited to eat!

Pork Lemongrass Tumeric Meatballs

Kao Soi Kai Soup - SO GOOD!

I Endorse: Trader Joe's Frozen Indian Meals

A question that I am always asking myself and never know the answer to, is what is my favorite type of cuisine?  Is it Chinese, Italian, French, Greek, Japanese, Mexican, Indian?  There are so many amazing cuisines to enjoy, and I love, love, love them all, so it's really difficult for me to choose a favorite.

Living in DC though, I have to say that it's slim pickins for some of my favorite foods.  In my humble opinion there are no good Italian restuarants here, nor are there any great Chinese places to eat, which is a really big bummer.

I have found good Indian at Heritage India, but lately I've been feeding my craving for good Indian with Trader Joe's frozen Indian meals!  Wow, I sound like an infomercial...

Anyway, they actually have a nice selection to choose from like Chicken Tikka, Chana Masala, Palak Paneer, and Lamb Vindaloo.  I just had the Chana Masala for lunch, which is a dish made up of stewed chick peas in a delicious spicy sauce, and it was extremely tasty and totally hit the spot!

So, if you have a hankering for some good Indian, but don't have the time to sit down at a restuarant, try Trader Joe's frozen goodness!  I doubt you'll be disappointed!

And, no, Trader Joe's is not paying me for this endorsement.

Muleh Opening in NYC!!!

This is such exciting news!  Muleh, which is my favorite store in D.C. for both fashion and furniture is opening a store in NYC!!

Muleh carries labels like Ports, Philip Lim 3.1, Vivienne Westwood, Autumn Cashmere, and Rozae Nichols and has the most amazing selection of modern, eclectic, yet functional, furniture which will be sure to catch your eye and the eyes of many!

If you are in NYC this is not a store to miss!! Check it out!

Muleh NYC
30 Gansevoort Street
New York, NY 10014

Is it Bad...

if I eat two bagels with cream cheese in one day?  This is a question that now goes through my mind on a daily basis, no scratch that, on an hourly basis.  Not so much about bagels per say, but about food in general.

I have come to realize that I am ALWAYS hungry now that I'm pregnant.  I know it's normal and that I'm supposed to gain 30 pounds throughout my pregnancy, but I'm constantly thinking about food and what I can consume next - and the thoughts are consuming me!

I've never really been a snacker, but now it's like my favorite thing to do.  A cookie here, and some crackers there, a pickle or two before dinner, and a pickle or two after dinner...

My sweet tooth has also come out, and I am suddenly a huge fan of strawberry ice cream with these brownie cookies from Trader Joe's...DEELISH!

Oh well, I know that this is all for good reason.  I'm happy to gain weight, and eat lots and lots of ice cream as long as it's to benefit my little girl...

I just hope that I can fit into my AG jeans again after she's born!

How Annoying Are: Slow Internet Connections

Remember when we all had AOL and we had to "dial up" to get onto the Internet and it took FOREVER?  Well, we have come a long way my friends!  Today, connecting to the Internet is quick and easy...

Unless of course, it's not...For example, I can't stand how long it takes for my parent's computer to connect to the web, and they are supposed to have a "high speed" package...the waiting makes me CRAZY!  And on certain days at work when my Safari or Internet Explorer is being finicky IT DRIVES ME MAD!!!

Take yesterday for example.  I literally could not get any work done for about an hour because my Internet connection was so slow and I just kept logging off and logging on again, hoping that something would change.  I'm sure there is something else I could have done, but I am not an IT expert and I just needed to send a few emails out!!

Have we become too dependant on the web?  I wouldn't even be writing this right now if my Internet was down...

Something to ponder I suppose...ok just got a bunch of emails I have to respond to...I hope my internet doesn't crash.

It's a GIRL!!!!

Wow! How wrong was I?  Mike and I found out this morning that we are going to be the proud parents of a baby girl!!!

Daddy was right and Mommy was wrong...there's a first time for everything, I suppose.

We are thrilled!!!

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far...

I would like you all to take a good look at this picture:

This is my father pretending to be choked by my husband who is tying his crab bib around his neck while we were out to dinner.

Pretty funny huh?  I guess I'm just thinking about having a child, and because I feel so strongly that this child is going to be a boy, I'm thinking about the most important men in my life and how this child will have personality and character traits that come from them.

It's really fascinating to think about!  I hope he has my father's sense of humor and quick wit.  I hope he has Mike's passion for learning and meticulous manner.  I also hope he is caring, kind, and selfless as both of these men have been to me throughout my life.

I love you guys!  Now let's hope I'm right about the gender...

Holy Sh*t!

I am beginning to understand why couples stop going out for dinner after they've had a child.  No, it's not because they're tired.  It's because they're FLAT BROKE.

Do you know how many "necessary" baby items Mike and I will have to purchase in the upcoming months?  Several hundred.  It's really insane.

The names of these items are nutso as well.  Here are a few of my favorite:

The Boppy Newborn Lounger
The Maxi Cosi Car Seat
The Newborn Rock n Play Sleeper
The Diaper Genie

OMG, I'm seriously never going to be able to shop for myself again.  Goodbye designer handbags and shoes!  Goodbye fancy dinner dates and nights out on the town!

It's ok though, it's all worth it, right?  Besides, that's why grandparents exist!  To buy the things you can't afford and to babysit when you want to go out...

Yay, now I feel better!

5 Days!!

Guess what people?!  In 5 days Mike and I will find out what we are having, and I can't hardly stand waiting any longer!

Boy or girl?  What will it be??  The anticipation is almost too much to bear.  What's also funny is that I think it's a boy and Mike is positive that it's a girl.  Well, one of us is right ;)

I mean, really it doesn't matter at all.  As long as we have a healthy, happy, little one, I don't care.  The thing that's killing me is the name!  We are responsible for naming this child.  A name that it will carry for the rest of its life.  Hopefully a name that it likes and that others like as well.

This is a huge responsibility!  That's why I can't wait anymore.  As soon as we know the gender we can narrow the name choices down, and make a decision - ahh, so exciting!!

I'll keep you all posted!!  What do you think we're having??? 

TGIF and First Day of Fall!!

It's FRIDAY everyone!!!  Finally.  I hope you all have a fantastic weekend planned!

Although it's the first official day of Fall, it sure doesn't feel like it here in Washington D.C.  It's like 80 degrees, humid as usual and rainy - bleh!

Oh well, at least it's Friday and I can go home and relax for two days! 

I hope you all enjoy your weekend!!

Bella's Birthday

Today is Bella Boo's 6th birthday!!  I can't believe that we have had her for 6 years.  Time really flies so fast.  So, in honor of her big day, Mike and I threw her a little birthday party last night complete with all her stuffed animal friends and some delicious steak au poive and duck confit leftovers from our dinner Saturday night, mixed in with her regular food.  She was so happy!

Here are the pictures from the bash...

Happy birthday Bella, we love you!!!!

DC Gripes

It's been a while since I've really complained about living here in DC, so I figured that it was time to gripe a little!

Here goes nothin...

The DC metro is the most nauseating mode of public transportation EVER!  Now that I'm metro-ing to work I can officially say that the metro conductors are awful drivers!  All they do is brake every two seconds and then brake super HARD when approaching a stop - BARF CENTRAL!!!

Then, when you get off the vomet-ro relieved that you didn't hurl, you have to deal with the escalators not working!  This is very bad for older people who have trouble walking, people in poor health, and tired pregnant ladies!! ARG.  Fix the damn escalators DC!

Ok, so the next gripe is about the mosquitoes.  I'm not so surprised that they are swarming (and have been ALL summer) because that's the way it is EVERY summer in this swamp land, but this summer is out of control.  This summer, they are out and on the attack, and are attacking me!  And, to top it off I just heard on the news that because of all the rain we've had recently, and flooding, that the mosquitoes will be around for at least another 3 weeks!  Mosquitoes in October?  NOT OK!

I guess I'll be riding the metro with my mosquito bitten legs, trying not to puke for the foreseeable future.  I hate DC.

Avoiding Maternity Clothes

Hi guys!  Happy Friday!  So here's a little secret that I've been keeping from you...I'm preggers!  Yup, 16 weeks yesterday, and whatta ya know?!  My jeans don't fit me anymore!

Ugh.  Seriously, I am thrilled to be having a baby, but at the same time my favorite fashion season is approaching and I can't wear any of my cute clothes - ahhhhhhhhhh!

I can still fit into some of my jeans with this contraption called the "Belly Band" which is basically a tube top that you wear over the button and zipper of your pants - which are both undone!  It fully just holds your pants up while you are busting out of them.  Here's a picture:

I'm wearing one right now with my AG tomboy jeans, which I am obsessed with, and it's still not that comfortable..boo hoo.

I am waiting for a pair of maternity jeans to arrive from the Gap, so we'll see how they work out, but I really don't want to have to buy a whole slew of maternity clothes!  I know that I'll have to buy some pants for work, but hopefully not an entire new wardrobe.

I really would love to just wear leggings and long sweaters and high boots all fall and winter long...I'll keep you posted on my growth and purchases!  Wish me luck!

Labor Day Weekend: Southern Style

Happy Labor Day everyone!  I hope your long weekend has been as enjoyable as ours.  We've relaxed, watched movies, shopped, cooked, and had really good eats all weekend long.

Here are some pics of the southern style supper we cooked up on Saturday night.  On the menu: baby back ribs, collard greens, and curly fries....soo good!

How Annoying Are: Home Repairs?

As I sit at work today, there are three workmen in my home busting through the walls of our guest bathroom in order to fix two leaks in the line of our H-VAC unit.  Don't ask me what that means.  All I can tell you is what they explained to me when I inquired.

This is so annoying!  What this means is strangers going in and out of my home for the next two days, bringing in tons of dirt and filth, and leaving behind what will inevitably be a huge mess for me to clean up.  ARG!

Seriously, we pay too much rent for this to have happened.  We've gone without air conditioning for the past two weeks.  Luckily the weather has cooperated and at night it's been breezy and cool, but a week ago it was still in the 90's, and it was blazing hot in our apartment.

Anyway, at least they'll get it fixed this week and we won't have to worry about it anymore.  At least until the next thing stops working...

Just another reason...

to be mad at Summer - hurricanes!

All East Coasters - please stay safe and dry this weekend!!

I hear Irene's a real biotch.

Go Away Summer!

I know I'm a bad blogger and I haven't blogged in forever, and most of you readers out there probably aren't reading FWC anymore..(insert boo hoo).

But, for all of you loyal fans out there, like my husband and other members of my family, this rant's for you!

Dear Summer,

You need to go away and go away quickly.  You've been around since late April and that's entirely too long!  Do you know what it's like to be outside when you're around?  It's miserable!  Not to mention your bitchy wicked sister Humidity always looming about.  Both of you have made the past 4 months unbearable.  Sweaty clothes, frizzy hair, sticky-icky-ness all over...

I'm also sick of all of the clothes associated with you.  I'm ready to trade in my sandals for boots!  I'm ready for chunky sweaters and done with flowy dresses!  I'm also ready to get back into my jeans!  It's really to hot to even attempt wearing them when you're around.

So Summer, if you have any decency at all, any respect for my wishes, please lay off and allow Fall to grace us with her presence.  It's time!

Thank you.

Yours,
Christina

A Piece of Apizza in New Haven

Did you know that in New Haven, CT their pizza isn't called pizza, it's called Apizza?  That's pronounced like A-Pete's (no "A" sound at the end).  And, did you know that New Haven style Apizza is made with thin crispy crust and a variety of delicious sauces and toppings?

Well, in a recent work trip to New Haven I got to try some authentic Apizza and it was fantastic!  That's a lot to say coming from me as a tride and true New York City pizza fanatic, but it really was good.  We went to Frank Pepe and ordered a small white clam pie, a small fresh tomato, a small original and a liter of Birch Beer, which is a lighter version of Root Beer and it's a New Haven thing - Yum!  Here are some pics:

White Clam Pie

Fresh Tomato and Original

The white clam pie was my favorite.  It tasted like linguini with clam sauce on a pizza without the linguini.  The clams were really tasty and fresh and the crust was nice and crispy.  The summer fresh tomato was really good as well.  The original wasn't my fave because it didn't have any melted cheese on it, just sauce and some grated parmesan.  It was good, but not as good as the other two.

Overall, a great apizza experience in New Haven.  I highly recommend!

TGIF!

Did this week seem extra long to you, or was it just me?  Oh well, all I know is that I'm thrilled that it's finally FRIDAY and the weekend is almost here!!!

I hope you are all doing something fun this weekend.

Have a blast!

It's Hard to Admit...

but I am more obsessed now, than I ever was with The Real Housewives of New Jersey!  I don't know about you, but this family feud between Teresa and her brother Joe is the most entertaining fighting I've seen on TV in a long time!  It's fantastic.

Ok, ok, I know that I'm killing precious brain cells by watching these idiots yell, curse, and talk sh*t about each other, but I seriosuly can't help but tune in time and time again.  It's like watching a horrible car crash!

So, do I think Teresa is the smartest person on earth? Gimme a break.  Does watching her rant and rave bring me joy and make me laugh hysterically?  Ab-so-lutely!

Who needs brain cells anyway?

RIP Amy

Another addition to the 27 club...such a shame.

We will miss you Amy!

The Finger Lakes

Countdown to vacation!  Two more grueling days of work and DC heat to deal with until Mike and I are officially on vacation!!!  It could not have come at a better time.  Both of us are exhausted from work and are so looking forward to spending some QT together in Upstate NY.

There are so many quaint B&B's in Upstate NY and especially in the Finger Lake region.  There are also antique markets, cute little towns, hiking and wine tasting galore!

I'm especially looking forward to the cooler weather around the lakes and the jacuzzi tub in our B&B suite!  We're staying at the Abner Adams House in Bloomfield NY....I hear they cook up a mean breakfast for us every morning, which I'm also looking forward to!!  Our room is named Ele's Escape - too cute.

I'll make sure to take lots of pictures while we're there.

Have you done any traveling this summer?

Fourth of July Feasts

Happy Fourth of July everyone!  Here are some pictures of  all the amazing food we've made and eaten over the holiday weekend...

Spreading the potato dough for the gnocchi.

Herb pesto

Kneading the potato dough.

Potato dough with egg wash.

Gnocchi with herb pesto!

Mike's Zucchini Bread Loaves

Homemade pizza with pesto, fresh mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, black olives, and fresh basil.

French Fry Appetizer!

Hope you all had good eats this weekend!

Enjoy!