Tuesday Comforts

Nothing better during a thunderstorm than to be home cooking a comforting meal (shrimp, basil, tomato pasta see recipe below) and blaring Adele. Now off to yoga to burn it off!

Shrimp, Basil, Tomato Pasta

Serves 2

1/2 lb linguine
7-8 pieces of shrimp
1/2 pint of grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 can of diced tomatoes in juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup of basil, torn apart
3/4 cup of water
olive oil
salt and pepper

In a skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat and cook shrimp 2-3 minutes remove from pan and set aside

In the same skillet heat olive oil and cook garlic for one minute then add diced tomatoes and water. For extra heat add a dash of red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes and then remove from heat and add grape tomatoes

Meanwhile bring a pot of water to boil and add linguine. Cook per instructions. Strain pasta and return to pot. Add tomato sauce and then add shrimp and basil and mix. Season with salt and pepper.

Recipe: Everyday Food

Some tips for the boys...

I don't normally discuss my dating life on here but after a few months back on the scene there are a few things I've noticed about the opposite sex's behavior that needs to be addressed. So to the boys of my generation listen up:

1. You text to confirm a lunch with friend not to ask a girl out on a date
-Hiding behind a screen is not a winning quality. If the girl gave you her number have enough faith in that gesture to pick up the phone and call her to set up a legitimate date. It will beyond earn you points from the start.

2. If you have to cancel or reschedule don't wait until the day of
-Now I'm not saying all boys do this, I even know girls who've done this, but either way its a No No. That person, girl or guy, made time for you in their schedule and you should be respectful of that.

3. Do not fall off the face of the earth after a few great dates
-I know it was tough for you to pick up the phone in the first place when you had something great to tell us, and after a few great dates us the girl thinks everything is ok, but maybe you had a change of heart. Maybe you decided to move across the country, focus on your job, found another more interesting girl, blah blah blah. Whatever it is, or whatever code you want to use, be an adult and pick up that phone and tell it to that nice girl you wined and dined. Your future dating karma and her baggage will thank you down the road.

All is not fair in love and war, but that gives no excuse to throw out all social decency and manners that we know your mother raised you on. Treat the girl you're starting to date with class, kindness and fairness and I guarantee your rate of "attracting the crazies" will decrease dramatically. We only bring that out when you've given us reason to be.

P.S I've confirmed all of this with my amazing lady friends and they're in total agreement

Flattered.

As a digital marketer, I live by web stats. Deciding to check my own blog stats today, definitely took me back.

I was flattered to discover people from all over the world are reading my blog and have become subscribers. I never thought my point of view would carry past my friends, who are faithful in reading this, let alone to place like Maylasia and India. Maybe I could give a few famous bloggers a run for their money, haha, only kidding that was never the point of writing at this forum.

Thanks for the all the positive feedback the last few months and I'll try and keep it up more often.

Please give feedback on what you'd like to hear more of!

Fashion. Freakout.

When I saw this status flash across my Facebook newsfeed at lunch, I had to do a double take. It took a few seconds to sink in, like a kid on Christmas who gets that unexpected, amazing, didn't even think was possible gift. For Ralphie it was a Red Rider BB Gun.

For me it was Missoni at Target.

That's right people. The amazing Italian knit wear design house is collaborating with our favorite bullseye neighbor come fall. As if my favorite fashion season couldn't get any better.

Said to be Target's largest designer line yet, complete with clothing, housewares and bedding!!

I'll be counting down the days until the release, and buttering up all my friends at Target Corporate all summer.

Can. Not. Wait!

Its the little things...

Seeing these $6.99 Tulips at Lund's yesterday made me light up and instantly brought me to here...

Photo: Keukenhof Gardens, Emma Wiedner

...my favorite place to spend Spring: Holland. What are the little things that instantly bring you to a favorite place?

It's finally Spring!!

While yes its officially been Spring for over 3 weeks across the country, the tundra is just getting the memo. Standard.

It's cause to celebrate with fabulous new fashion purchases, rooftop patios and biking! All three were accomplished yesterday when I left the office for the first time all day and discovered it was 73 degrees!!

I rarely post photos of myself on here, but with a springy new top I just couldn't help but capture a self portrait of my glee over the new season! (I promise I won't go all Cupcakes & Cashmere on you)

Enjoy Minnesotans, and to the rest of the country: enjoying this weather 3 weeks earlier is why I'll be joining your civilization soon enough.

Where I've been...

I know my writing has been really sporadic lately and a big part of that has been a) work is really ramping up (always a good thing) and b) I'm coming off a traveling high

In a previous post I mentioned I snapped from winter around Groundhog's day and decided to pack up and take off to Savannah for some sun and family. I think the photographs speak for themselves...

One of my new favorite cities! It has a charm unlike any other city I've ever been to. Thinking it'd be a good place to decompress for a while after adventures in NYC...