We have a holiday weekend coming....

and I find these long weekends are really my time to shine. I am comfortable admitting my strengths, and a weekend of friends, family, eating, drinking, laughing PLUS some sick ass fireworks is something I am very good at. Here's to a weekend full of patriotic partying to celebrate our great country. God bless America.  

What's to drink....

You guys know how I love my bubbles. This baby is festive and delicious. I'm a big fan of Chandon's limited edition bottles and this summer's bottle does not disappoint. Basically, it's tasty and pretty to look at, so it's like a dream come true for me. You bring this to a 4th of July soiree and you're totally winning the host's award for who brought the best shit to the party.  Go grab a bottle of this, fancy pants. 

Chandon Brut Classic - Limited Edition

What's to eat....

Wait, I've actually found a recipe that my ENTIRE family (kids, parents, grandparents, great grandmother - I shit you not) will eat AND actually ask for seconds. It's a modern day fucking miracle and I owe it to the chick over on skinnytaste. I've posted a recipe of hers before (and I'm sure I will again). Check out the recipe here http://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-rollatini-with-prosciutto-and/ Note that her pictures are so much better than mine.  That's because she is a professional chef/cook/blogger and I am not, but I am VERY good at the eating all of the stuff. 

Chicken Rollatini with prosciutto and cheese

Working on getting out of my comfort zone....

What's that thing they say about doing stuff that makes you uncomfortable? I can't remember exactly, but I think it's supposed to be good for you. I find this annoying. But that's the point, the stuff you don't want to do is probably going to make you better in some way. The main reason I continue writing this blog, despite having ZERO followers (I don't even know how to get people to fucking follow me) is to challenge myself. It's not easy for me to do this every week. I question myself each time I sit down to write but I think, "will I feel better if I don't do it, or if I do". Do always wins. I recommend applying this same rule to fun things like eating and drinking...do always wins. So, for me, it's time to shake things up a bit, and while the idea of that excites me, the actual doing will be a mother fucker, but again, the point, get uncomf, get better. If you don't believe me, please refer to this motivational bullshit quote below and go get 'em, tiger. 

Wishing you ALL of the Good Stuff. 

XO
Tara

P.S. Happy birthday to my youngest sister, Tracy, who happens to have the biggest knockers of all of us. 

The first official day of summer....

was this week, so I'm going to let that lead the way. Summer really is filled with so much GOOD stuff, it's pure magic, other than dealing with whining kids, excessively sweaty (and sometimes stinky) armpits, and mosquitoes that somehow find their way up, like WAY up. Everything else though, golden rays of sunshine.

What's to drink....

I promised myself that I would stay authentic on this blog, so in staying true to my word, there is a beer can on my fancy kitchen counter. You guys, nothing tastes better on a hot day than an ice-cold beer. And hold up, don't be all hating and snotty about the fact that I drink light beer. I happen to like it, and it's lower calorie than a lot of other beers...also, HELLO on the SKINNY cans. Is that brilliant marketing or what. Anyway, I think Lance Armstrong used to be a spokesperson for Michelob Ultra, but don't let that turn you off.  That guy juiced the hell outta himself and won the Tour de France, but he did it while drinking this beer. If you play your cards right, with the right mix of steroids, Michelob Ultra, spandex, the ugliest fucking helmet you can find, and no fear of testicular shrinkage, the sky's the limit with this stuff. Cheers!

Michelob Ultra 

What's to eat....

I suppose I could have put this under the "what's to drink" section, but it's not nearly as fun as beer.  However, I do find protein shakes to be really convenient and a good way to get my protein (chocolate) fix on. As the resident chef, caretaker, cleaning lady, plummer, conflict resolution specialist, launderer, errand boy, personal assistant, and sex slave (I kid, you sickos) in my house, some days I am just too damn tired and hot to make a meal. So this sits in as a good small meal or snack.  The only problem is that typically, protein shakes can taste like dog shit, so I doctor mine up a bit. Obviously, you can add whatever you like, but this is a good starting point. Bailey's Irish Cream would be a good next step...I'm just saying what you're all thinking.

Working on my jenky hamstring....

That I injured doing a "drunk split" 7 years ago. That's right, it was Thanksgiving, the wine was flowing, me and my 3 sisters were up to our usual crazy shit and the night had taken a turn to acrobatics and a strength competition. I guess I'm kinda competitive by nature, but I think it's more of my "fat kid syndrome" that drives me in these situations. So, I was proud to show off that I could do a split on demand at 30 years old, except I couldn't, apparently, because when I went ass to the grass crotch to the rug, as they say, I heard something pop and got a major shooting pain to the back of my right leg. Long story short, it's 7 years later and that leg is absolutely jenky. I can do a bunch of stuff without bothering it but it DOES affect my strength, which really pisses me off. I wish I could say the moral of this story, or life lesson, is to just work around your injury.  That there is always something you can do even if you're hurt, and I do believe that. But really, I just want to tell you guys to NOT do drunk splits. That shit will cost you, even after 7 years.

Wishing you ALL of the Good Stuff. 

Xo

Tara

P.S. "How wonderful life is while you're in the world" (most of the time, unless we are in a real shit storm, which we've seen plenty of, but nobody else I'd rather get through said shit storm with). Happy #11, Tommy Kali. 

Where to start....

is what gets me stuck each week. So I was in the shower, thinking about what I wanted to write (you all are picturing me naked now, aren't you) and I was feeling kinda stumped. So much shit went on this past week that it seems almost silly to be spending time writing a blog about all the "good stuff" in life. Frustrated and nervous that the 6 of you that read this would have nothing to see this week, I looked down at my bar of soap and noticed it said "kind" on the back of it. So, right there, I was reminded of the acts of kindness I witnessed this past week, in my home town, across the country, and the world. There is so much scary shit out there but there is also a lot of GOOD. I hope you pervs aren't still thinking about me in the shower. 



What's to drink....

Due to an unfortunate situation on Spring break in 1997, I do not enjoy the taste of tequila. Come to think of it, I'm not even really sure what the hell I was doing on "spring break", as I was living at home, going to a community college, but apparently my 18 year-old self felt I deserved it, I suppose. What a dope I was. Anyway, back to the tequila, that shit tastes whack, but I do enjoy me some mint and lime. Enter the birth of the vodkjito or mockjito, the name is still a work in progress, you guys. But I also omitted the sugar so it's "healthy". Watch out, Bethenny Frankel, I'm right on your ass. 

Vodk/Mock/Whateverthefuckyouwannacallit-jito

-1.5 oz Tito's Vodka

-Mint (preferably stolen from your neighbor's herb garden)

-Lime

-1/4 pack of stevia

-club soda

Muddle stolen mint, lime juice, and stevia. Add ice, vodka and club. Cheers.

What's to eat....

This is not one of mine but it's one of my favorites. It doesn't hurt that it's a Barefoot Contessa recipe. If given the chance to choose between meeting the Contessa, AKA Ina Garten, and Brad Pitt, I would choose the Contessa, hands down, anytime. It's actually a no brainer.  I find her voice to be soothing and hypnotic, and I imagine her to smell a lot better than Mr. Pitt. I heard he stinks. That sorta ruins it for me. So, Barefoot Contessa for the win. This recipe was introduced to me by my friend, Anne. It's the best grilled shrimp you'll ever make. The only thing that would make it better is if the Barefoot Contessa was there with you, whispering the ingredients in your ear, while sipping on a vodkjito (I just can't get behind that name). I suppose if we're going to shoot for the stars, we may as well invite Brad Pitt over as well. But he should keep his kids at home, I have enough of my own. 

Grilled Herb Shrimp

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/grilled-herb-shrimp-recipe.html

Working on my caffeination....

As I write this, I am sipping on a Starbucks cold brew. It's my new latest coffee obsesh, so imagine my delight when I found THIS STUFF at Trader Joe's.

1 part coffee concentrate to 2 parts water or milk and add ice or heat. It's so easy, smooth, and not acidic at all. This bottle makes 12 cups of coffee for $7.99. My Starbucks grande cold brew was $3.48. I'm tickled pink. And rich. Last part is a lie, unless I can find a suitable name for that damn drink and sell the shit out of it. 

Wishing you ALL of the Good Stuff.

XO

Tara

P.S. Happy (almost) birthday, Gram. You are all the good stuff. I love you.  

Some weeks are just run of the mill....

This is not one of them.  I was lucky enough to see Beyonce in concert, with my very best friend, Talia, at Citi Field on Tuesday night. Perfect weather, lots of cocktails (and beer, because it's a baseball stadium for Christ's sake), and Beyonce shaking that beautiful, strong ass all over the stage. On Saturday, I will be going to the Spa for a bi-annual trip with some of my "new" best girlfriends. This is not a typical week, and that is not lost on me. I'm going to practice gratitude and go ahead and enjoy the fuck out of it. 

What's to drink....

Since we are on the Beyonce edition of the blog it would make sense to do something with lemonade BUT we didn't drink that at the concert, so you get this instead. Looks like lemonade, tastes better. I am a BIG, huge fan of Tito's vodka. I was a little hesitant at first because I was a bit of a vodka snob (this is an actual term) and I couldn't fathom that a jug of vodka for $30 could be any good. I was wrong. I'm glad I was. We have this stuff in the house at all times. It's a staple, you know, like milk, eggs, bread, Tito's. Cheers!

Tito's Vodka with club soda, a splash of pineapple, and lime.

What's to eat....

I could lie to you and tell you that I had salad at the stadium, but I won't. And honestly, salad and stadium just shouldn't be, ever. So while I enjoyed myself (a lot) it's time to get back to our regularly scheduled program and not eat like I'm actually asking to go into cardiac arrest. 
This little hack is the product of wanting a little sweet treat but not wanting to eat shit food. I call it "rice" pudding although there's no rice in it. But it's good, so give it a try if you find yourself trying to crawl out of a vodka-beer-hot dog-and-pizza induced coma.

"Rice" Pudding

Working on my fitness....

In my rush to go slay with Bey, I had very little time for a workout, but I wanted to get SOMETHING in. I knew the stadium food and drink was looming over me so I needed my game to be strong. So, I did a little workout at home that took less then 12 minutes, but I was cursing about 45 seconds in. I believe I said, out loud to myself, why the fuck am I doing this, but then I was done. Moral of the story, there is always SOME time to get SOMETHING in. I wouldn't want to train like this every day but if it's between something or nothing...you get the point. I hope I have inspired one person to get your lazy ass off the couch and move.

Quickie workout

Wishing you ALL of the Good Stuff. 

XO

Tara

P.S. Circling back to gratitude....Of the things I am most grateful for this week, I would have to rate the decision to wear underwear to the concert as a top contender. You see, there was an unfortunate situation that included a crowded train platform, a full speed train whizzing by, and a moment where everything went kinda black, due to my dress being up in my face. So, underwear, good. #grateful #blessed #thankgodiwaswearingabratoo 

And just like that, it's June....

I hope everyone survived the weekend (and the lack of clothes) without any major incident. Memorial Day weekend over here was just as it should be, filled with family, friends, food, booze, bathing suits, and laughter...not in that particular order, but pretty damn close.

What's to drink....

I don't want you guys to start thinking that I only drink wine of the white variety. I am a girl that likes a little bit of everything.  And just to prove my point, here is a red blend that is bold as hell, but equally as smooth. This California red table wine's name pays homage to Prometheus. According to Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from Mt. Olympus and gave it to mankind. Isn't that interesting? Actually, I'm seriously only mentioning that so to offset the book I talk about below. We'll get to that. In the meantime, cheers.

Matchbook Arsonist Red Blend 2012 - Cali

What's to eat....

You're going to need something that goes well with that wine, so here you have it. Skirt steak is a fan favorite in my house.  The boys in the house love it for it's flavor.  I love it because I basically throw salt and pepper on that shit, throw it on the grill for a few minutes, and it's done.  Everybody is happy. If I'm making this during the week, or I want to keep things on the lighter side, I serve it with my version of mashed cauliflower, which happens to be the only kind of cauliflower my husband will touch, so I know it's good.  I'm not kidding you guys, he thinks cauliflower is the vilest, foulest shit, like ever, so the fact that he eats this means it's legit good.  Try it on the most cauliflower-hating-person you know, and get back to me. If they still hate it, there is no hope for them.

Grilled Skirt Steak with the BEST Mashed Cauliflower, ever

Working on my fun stuff....

I mean, you guys, we can't exercise ALL THE TIME. We also can't drink ALL THE TIME (goddammit) so in order to stay fit, healthy, well-rounded, not drunk-all-the-time-individuals, we need to incorporate some other GOOD STUFF into our daily lives. Now, this is no Jane Austen kinda novel. I wouldn't go recommending it for a (serious) book club. This is more of a soft porn romance novel. Listen, there is nothing wrong with a good beach read that kinda takes you away from reality for a bit. I read this book is described as a modern day Cruel Intentions. Seriously? Who didn't love that movie? Sex, scandal, rags to riches, sorta twilight-esque, but without all the weird pale ass vampires. The sequel is coming out in July and people are FREAKING out over having to wait for it. More longing, the author(s) know their art, well. Read the book. It just may inspire you to get active after all. And that's GOOD for us all. 

Wishing you ALL of the Good Stuff.

XO

Tara

P.S. Thanks to every single one of you who has supported this little blog of mine, in any way. I really appreciate it, and I'm super grateful that it has surpassed my original expectations, and at least 6 of you actually like it. XO