The Lazy Skillet

Hey, how about that recipe I promised on Tuesday and will deliver now? Yeah, sorry about that. Turns out strep is contagious people!  So while I’ve gone plastering kisses all over my little patient this week, my little patient has been slowly plastering her strep all over me. Results, pretty much wanting to jump out of my own skin once I realized my throat is sore and I got that peculiar feeling I always get right before I get a ridiculous fever, which always results in horrible feverish nightmares. How very pleasant. Not to mention I CAN NOT be sick come Monday. We’re going to see Queen B for crying out loud!

But while we wait for the good times to begin, here’s what I make when I’m feeling like this. A rice and bean skillet! I’m a huge fan of one pan meals because, hey, the less there’s to clean up the happier I am. There are many things you can do with this rice; I’ve gone from making one with spinach, beans and eggs to one that’s slightly more “a là Mexicana”. I’ll share the Mexicana one but if you’re up for the spinach one instead, simply swap the corn and add spinach, and go easy on the salsa too. It’s super easy to make, quick and scrumptious (I just used that word, yes) and you can pretty much toss anything you want in there. Leftovers, it’s your moment to shine. Continue reading »

A Beautiful Mess iPhone App

I’ve been a huge fan of Elsie & Emma’s blog A Beautiful Mess for a long time so when their iPhone app was launched today I couldn’t download it fast enough. It’s totally cute and definitely gives you some of the amazing design action you can see on a daily basis on A Beautiful Mess.

I got right on and edited a few of my photos, adding some quirks and just having fun with it. If Instagram and filters are your thing, this will definitely be your cup of tea. I’m even planning on editing some of the photos for my blog with it, just because it makes everything so simple and quick. Plus they’re super easy to share straight from the app, whether you want to email, Instagram, Facebook or tweet your image.

The app costs 0,89€ or $0,99 and comes with a few filters, backgrounds, doodles and fonts. If you want more, you can just purchase them right through the app.

Above are some of the photos I edited with the app. Have fun

Grownups Only Holidays

The boyfriend and I have been talking about taking a trip to US for quite some time now but somehow life always got in the way. I lived there for almost 5 years until 2009 and I’ve wanted to go and visit my friends for a long time. We’ve always planned on making it a family trip but this year Lara turned 3 and we started talking about maybe going along and squeeze in a grownups only holiday.

We haven’t been on a holiday just the two of us since before I got pregnant (and we’ve only been dating for 3 months then!) and with our hectic schedules, couple time is hard to come by. So, one hand I’m over the moon about the trip, while on the other hand I’m already experiencing serious anxiety over leaving Lara for 10 days. I know she’ll be in good hands, having the time of her life with her grandparents, but I’m still anxious. We went away for a weekend last summer but compared to that 10 days seems like an eternity.

Vid has done his best trying to calm me down, taking some of the stress away but I’m curious to see what your experiences are with that. Have you ever taken a vacation without the littles when they were still, well, so little? How was it? How did they take it?

I know I’m probably the bigger issue here than she is as I’ll most likely go bananas missing her. I’m hoping some NYC cocktails will help me out but more on that later in the week…

image of Audrey Hepburn via here

The Machiavellian Mom

Over the weekend I read this incredible essay in the Walt Street Journal about a mom who has resorted to Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince” and its tactics to get her kids to behave. The essay has obviously sparked some controversy and debate and I’m curious to see what you think. While personally I don’t think applying Machiavellian politics would go down too well at our house, nor do we really have a need for them (thank God), they seemed to have worked in theirs.

Have you read it?

Other interesting parenting articles: Why French parents are superior and Bringing Up Bébé.

Music Friday Vol. 3

I’ve been slacking on Music Fridays for the past two weeks so it was high time I put together another playlist. I’m not saying these songs go together in any particular way but it was a very looooong week and I’m just glad it’s the weekend so I think they sort of express that particular mood.

Hope everyone has a chance to sit back, relax and enjoy the music this weekend. It’s a great way to reflect, calm and recover.

Enjoy!