As part of my 12 in 2012, I planned on watching every movie nominated for an Oscar this year. There are nine nominated for Best Picture and I have seen... two. So, I'm writing out a list of the movies I need to see before the end of February.
Best Picture:
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Hugo
The Help
Moneyball
War Horse
Best Actor/Actress
My Week With Marilyn
Albert Nobbs
The Iron Lady
I've seen Midnight in Paris and Tree of Life. I LOVED Midnight in Paris and HATED Tree of Life.
We've got a lot of watching to do!!!!!!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Red Wine Sangria... Woof.
My friends are hilarious. Also very politically conscious. We look forward to the State of the Union every year. So this year, Whitney made a 5 course, progressive SOTU satire dinner. It was amazing. She truly outdoes herself every. time. Emma was in charge of the drinking game and I was in charge of the drink. We already had 2 bottles of red wine and a bottle of vodka so I researched and came up with this recipe. It is served chilled but its dry AND fruity enough for the winter and to drink a lot of (which is what we were looking for)
So here it is!!
Ingredients:1 1/2 750 ml bottles dry Red Wine (I used Cab Sav)
1 carton of Orange Juice
1/2 cup of Brandy
1 cup Triple Sec
1 small bottle of Vodka
1/4 cup of Sweetened Lime Juice
1 bottle of Club Soda or Ginger Ale
2 apples, cored and sliced
2 oranges, sliced
1 lime, sliced
Pour all together in a pitcher or punch bowl, except club soda/ginger ale, and let chill together in the fridge for one hour.
Pour the club soda/ginger ale in when ready to serve to give an extra kick!
(side bar: if you're looking for a SOTU drinking game, try waterfalls during the applause. From start until they finish. every time. thank you and goodnight)
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Golden Globes
It. Has. Begun.
My favorite part of the year!!!!!!
Best Dressed:
Charlize Theron, Emma Stone and Reese Witherspoon! LOVE LOVE LOVE!
My favorite part of the year!!!!!!
Best Dressed:
Charlize Theron, Emma Stone and Reese Witherspoon! LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Worst Dressed:
Sara Michelle Geller and the Glee girls are trying too hard, chose the wrong dresses and take themselves TOO seriously! (or in SMG's case, not seriously enough)
2 weeks till the SAG awards!!!!!!
#signaturecocktail
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sacred Heart Diet... Have. My. Babies.
Hello my friends.
These past 9 days of 2012 have been quite eventful. I have spent most of them either working, watching way too many episodes of The West Wing and being hungry. If you read my last blog you know I've been on a soup cleanse! It really blows ass but boy does it work. So if you've never been on the diet, or you haven't heard of it here is my review.
It's called the Sacred Heart Diet and you spend 7 days on the cleanse. You make a batch of soup (it's horribly disgusting, so I made some adjustments) that lasts you about 3-4 days. You can eat as much soup as you want and whatever is specific for that day. Day 1 is all soup and fruit. Day 2 is all soup and veggies. Day 3 soup, veggies, and fruit. Day 4 is soup, bananas, and skim milk. Day 5 is beef, tomatoes, and soup. Day 6 is beef, veggies and soup. Day 7 is brown rice, veggies and the soup is optional. I substituted the beef for Jennie O's frozen turkey meatballs in my soup day 5 and I had tilapia and veggies day 6 since I don't usually eat meat. Also on the banana and milk day, I blended milk, a banana, 1 tsp of vanilla, and ice 3 times and it was great!
THE BEST NEWS?! I lost 8 lbs in 7 days on this cleanse and will for sure fit into my bridesmaids dress (which was a size too small a week ago!!!!!) this Friday!
The hardest part of this was certainly not drinking Diet Coke, alcohol, and not eating any cheese or carbs. I do feel like now I really find ways to get energy and have fun without so much of them. I find myself going towards the fruits and veggies instead of the pretzels and hummus or cheezits which I'm happy about. But I cannot wait to have a meal with my girlfriends while we watch the globes on Sunday that involves cheese, chocolate wine :)
I leave you with my soup recipe in case you are wanting to try it. I really can't recommend it more. Not only did a lose some pounds, I really feel so much better and more energetic.
Ingredients:
3 lg carrot sticks, peeled and chopped
2 stocks of celery, chopped
1 whole bunch of green onions, chopped/cut in 1/2 inch ribbons
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 jar of smoked sweet red peppers, cut
1 whole bunch of green beans, ends cut and snapped
1 lg can of stewed tomatoes
1 chicken bouillon cube
2 cartons of vegetable broth
some salt, pepper, tony cacheres, worcestershire sauce, chulula sauce, etc. Whatever seasoning works for you.
Directions:
I saute my chopped carrots, celery, green onions and green pepper in a wok with cooking spray, salt, pepper and worcestershire until they soften and retain some flavor. Put them in a large soup pot or crock pot.
Add 1 carton of the broth to a small sauce pan and boil your green beans with that and pepper for about 45 min.
Add the other carton of broth, all veggies, the bouillon cube, and your seasonings to the pot/crockpot and turn on low (I put my crockpot on 10 hours cooking)
Add the entire sauce pan of green beans and broth to the crock pot after they are done and then wake up to soup!
Happy New Year and Happy Cleansing!
xxlesley
These past 9 days of 2012 have been quite eventful. I have spent most of them either working, watching way too many episodes of The West Wing and being hungry. If you read my last blog you know I've been on a soup cleanse! It really blows ass but boy does it work. So if you've never been on the diet, or you haven't heard of it here is my review.
It's called the Sacred Heart Diet and you spend 7 days on the cleanse. You make a batch of soup (it's horribly disgusting, so I made some adjustments) that lasts you about 3-4 days. You can eat as much soup as you want and whatever is specific for that day. Day 1 is all soup and fruit. Day 2 is all soup and veggies. Day 3 soup, veggies, and fruit. Day 4 is soup, bananas, and skim milk. Day 5 is beef, tomatoes, and soup. Day 6 is beef, veggies and soup. Day 7 is brown rice, veggies and the soup is optional. I substituted the beef for Jennie O's frozen turkey meatballs in my soup day 5 and I had tilapia and veggies day 6 since I don't usually eat meat. Also on the banana and milk day, I blended milk, a banana, 1 tsp of vanilla, and ice 3 times and it was great!
THE BEST NEWS?! I lost 8 lbs in 7 days on this cleanse and will for sure fit into my bridesmaids dress (which was a size too small a week ago!!!!!) this Friday!
The hardest part of this was certainly not drinking Diet Coke, alcohol, and not eating any cheese or carbs. I do feel like now I really find ways to get energy and have fun without so much of them. I find myself going towards the fruits and veggies instead of the pretzels and hummus or cheezits which I'm happy about. But I cannot wait to have a meal with my girlfriends while we watch the globes on Sunday that involves cheese, chocolate wine :)
I leave you with my soup recipe in case you are wanting to try it. I really can't recommend it more. Not only did a lose some pounds, I really feel so much better and more energetic.
Ingredients:
3 lg carrot sticks, peeled and chopped
2 stocks of celery, chopped
1 whole bunch of green onions, chopped/cut in 1/2 inch ribbons
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 jar of smoked sweet red peppers, cut
1 whole bunch of green beans, ends cut and snapped
1 lg can of stewed tomatoes
1 chicken bouillon cube
2 cartons of vegetable broth
some salt, pepper, tony cacheres, worcestershire sauce, chulula sauce, etc. Whatever seasoning works for you.
Directions:
I saute my chopped carrots, celery, green onions and green pepper in a wok with cooking spray, salt, pepper and worcestershire until they soften and retain some flavor. Put them in a large soup pot or crock pot.
Add 1 carton of the broth to a small sauce pan and boil your green beans with that and pepper for about 45 min.
Add the other carton of broth, all veggies, the bouillon cube, and your seasonings to the pot/crockpot and turn on low (I put my crockpot on 10 hours cooking)
Add the entire sauce pan of green beans and broth to the crock pot after they are done and then wake up to soup!
Happy New Year and Happy Cleansing!
xxlesley
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Spaghetti Squash with Homemade Tomato Sauce
My cousin Leah's wedding is next Friday!!! I am so excited to get back to Dallas and celebrate with her and her new husband-to-be Luke :) BUT I have to be in a strapless dress that ALMOST fits. haha
SO I'm on the Sacred Heart Diet aka Veggie Soup Cleanse. It's pretty terrible and I'm only on day 3! Anyways you have to eat the soup plus different things everyday. Today it was Soup and all the cooked, raw, or canned veggies you want. I HAD to have real food so I realized I had a spaghetti squash and decided to go with it! This is the sauce I use for all spaghetti, lasagna, penne, etc. It. Is. Amazing. And so easy to make!
So here is my Spaghetti Squash with Homemade Tomato Sauce
(sorry I don't have many pictures!)
INGREDIENTS:
1 Large Spaghetti Squash
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
1 Large can of crushed tomatoes (I love the Contadina brand)
2 yellow onions
2 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp dried basil
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
1tsp sugar
2 tbsp of butter
Goat cheese
1 tbsp of garlic/rosemary seasoning
Directions:
Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees
Start with cutting your spaghetti squash in half. It's a little hard so make sure you have a large VERY sharp knife. Make sure you take out all the seeds and such. Its a little gross, kind of like a pumpkin, so scrape it all out into the trash.
Rub the squash with your EVOO, a pinch of salt and pepper on each half. Place them cut side down in a roasting pan and roast for 45 min and then flip them over and roast for another 10 min.
While the squash is cooking, chop your 2 onions and cloves of garlic and put them in a sauce pan. Saute the onions and garlic in a little olive oil with salt and pepper.
After they have become fragrant, put in your spices (basil, oregano, red pepper and sugar) and the butter and saute for a few min longer.
Pour in your tomatoes, stir together, bring to a slight boil, cover and turn down the heat to a low temperature. Let it simmer for about 40 mins
After your squash is done cooking, use a fork and scrape the "spaghetti" into the sauce pan. Stir all together. You can use a little bit of water to thin your sauce if you think it needs it.
Stir together the goat cheese an garlic/rosemary seasoning and spoon a little on top of the "spaghetti" I promise its SO worth it!!
SO I'm on the Sacred Heart Diet aka Veggie Soup Cleanse. It's pretty terrible and I'm only on day 3! Anyways you have to eat the soup plus different things everyday. Today it was Soup and all the cooked, raw, or canned veggies you want. I HAD to have real food so I realized I had a spaghetti squash and decided to go with it! This is the sauce I use for all spaghetti, lasagna, penne, etc. It. Is. Amazing. And so easy to make!
So here is my Spaghetti Squash with Homemade Tomato Sauce
(sorry I don't have many pictures!)
INGREDIENTS:
1 Large Spaghetti Squash
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
1 Large can of crushed tomatoes (I love the Contadina brand)
2 yellow onions
2 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp dried basil
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
1tsp sugar
2 tbsp of butter
Goat cheese
1 tbsp of garlic/rosemary seasoning
Directions:
Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees
Start with cutting your spaghetti squash in half. It's a little hard so make sure you have a large VERY sharp knife. Make sure you take out all the seeds and such. Its a little gross, kind of like a pumpkin, so scrape it all out into the trash.
Rub the squash with your EVOO, a pinch of salt and pepper on each half. Place them cut side down in a roasting pan and roast for 45 min and then flip them over and roast for another 10 min.
While the squash is cooking, chop your 2 onions and cloves of garlic and put them in a sauce pan. Saute the onions and garlic in a little olive oil with salt and pepper.
After they have become fragrant, put in your spices (basil, oregano, red pepper and sugar) and the butter and saute for a few min longer.
Pour in your tomatoes, stir together, bring to a slight boil, cover and turn down the heat to a low temperature. Let it simmer for about 40 mins
After your squash is done cooking, use a fork and scrape the "spaghetti" into the sauce pan. Stir all together. You can use a little bit of water to thin your sauce if you think it needs it.
Stir together the goat cheese an garlic/rosemary seasoning and spoon a little on top of the "spaghetti" I promise its SO worth it!!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
12 in 2012
As I look back on my post last year on 11 in 2011, I only accomplished 2 things. I became an active person and went an entire year without shattering an iPhone screen (only because mine was already shattered and I just kept that phone).
SO! My theme for 2012 is reasonable, attainable goals.
1. Live on an actual budget.
2. Read a book a month.
3. BUY A NEW COUCH.
4. Go to the BEACH. Never again will I not let my feet hit the sand and water with my friends.
5. Start playing the piano again.
6. Lose 20 lbs by my birthday, April 6, and maintain it all year.
7. Spend more time with friends that live elsewhere.
8. Actually watch ALL the movies nominated for Best Picture before the Oscars.
9. Go to a Bulls game.
10. Buy my DREAM Michael Kors watch.
11. Decorate my apartment EXACTLY like I've been picturing and keep it CLEAN!!
12. Cook 4 nights a week.
SO! My theme for 2012 is reasonable, attainable goals.
1. Live on an actual budget.
2. Read a book a month.
3. BUY A NEW COUCH.
4. Go to the BEACH. Never again will I not let my feet hit the sand and water with my friends.
5. Start playing the piano again.
6. Lose 20 lbs by my birthday, April 6, and maintain it all year.
7. Spend more time with friends that live elsewhere.
8. Actually watch ALL the movies nominated for Best Picture before the Oscars.
9. Go to a Bulls game.
10. Buy my DREAM Michael Kors watch.
11. Decorate my apartment EXACTLY like I've been picturing and keep it CLEAN!!
12. Cook 4 nights a week.
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