Itching for the Weekend!

Happy Monday! 

This past weekend was just what I needed... A lot of relaxing! 

I enjoyed the beautiful weather during Happy Hour, enjoyed a great run, got my haircut, soaked up the sun on a fabulous boat, and enjoyed the company of some great people!  Couldn't have been better! 

I enjoyed going with the flow and just enjoying ever moment of the weekend!  I even had time to start a new book!  

The countdown to the long holiday weekend has begun!  I am itching with anticipation for Friday to get here!  I leave Friday night to fly down to good old New Orleans for my lovely sorority sisters wedding! 

It is going to be one heck of a weekend!  I cannot wait to see some of my closest friends, and tear up the town with them!  This weekend will be just like the good old days! 

With that being said this week is going to have a short list of new pinterst recipes, mainly because I am trying to clean out  my fridge!  Lets just say it is very hard to cook when your fresh produce supply is dwindling!  But here is what I got for you this week! 

I feel like this first recipe has been on the list for weeks now!  

Pea's and Thank You's Lentil Enchiladas. 

(Source)

Don't worry I am actually making them this week, in fact the filling for these babies is being prepared right now! 

And the final recipe for the week... 

Cranberry Chicken Salad! 

Source: plumpiecooks.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

I love that this recipe uses greek yogurt!  This recipe is very similar to the one I make, only this one calls for apple cider vinegar!  I think its going to be delicious!

How are you sending memorial day weekend?

Relax

Happy Friday All! 

After a long week, I am heading out of the hustle and bustle of the city to do a bit of relaxing! 

Source: tumblr.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

I am looking forward to a little R&R, maybe I can finish my book I started ages ago! 

Have a fabulous weekend everyone, see you Monday! 

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Take me out with the crowd!
Monday Evening I enjoyed my first ever Twins game at the Beautiful Target Field!

I mean this field is amazing, I feel like it is just something you have to see!

 Hello Target Field!

The game Monday brought out a huge crowd and I can see why!  We had the most perfect weather, just a light breeze and clear sunny skies!  Perfect!

Minnesota is beautiful in the Spring time! 

The Twins played the Cleveland Indians.  And while the Twins didn't come out with a win I still had fun seeing the Stadium for the first time!  Being outside in the fresh air just made me all excited for summer!   I could get used to walking to Twins games over the summer!  I mean Target field is right in my back yard!! 

Do you enjoy going to baseball games in the summer?

Who is your favorite team?

For The First Time

Why Hello Monday, your here already?

The weekend went a little to quickly for my liking! 

I had a blast this past weekend.  

Friday nights outing to WineFest No. 17 was a blast! 

The event was huge! There were over 400 wine varieties to taste, and several signature dishes to try from top restaurants around The Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St Paul)!  Cafe Latte was there with amazing cake! 

I am pretty sure I have mentioned Cafe Latte's Turtle cake before on the blog! 

It was great to get out and do something on the town, not to mention fun to hang out with old and new friends! 

Saturday morning  I was up and ready for the day!  A good workout, breakfast and some errands left me ready to see my parents!  As soon as my parents got here we were out on the town, shopping that is! 

I scored this Red Dress from Banana Republic to wear to my upcoming wedding in New Orleans!  I thought the color and cut were perfect! 

I am thinking of pairing the dress with nude heels, and gold jewelry!  I think the black is a bit to much for summer! 

I also invested in some great white pants for summer!  This is going out on a limb for me, I am always scared I will sit in something or spill something all over white pants! 

After a little shopping my parents and I headed over to Broders Pasta Bar for an amazing pasta dinner!  I mentioned Broders in this post. We ended up sitting outside while we waited for our table!  The weather was beautiful, a perfect Minnesota evening!  My parents really enjoyed Broders, everything was delicious!  I decided to try a new pasta this time around and went on the recommendation of our waiter, he highly recommended the Pasta with Lemon, Spring Peas and Trout.  His recommendation did not disappoint!  

Sunday I got up early and made my mom's favorite bread, and waited for everyone else to get up!  We went to a wonderful church service, and then headed to a wonderful brunch to celebrate Mothers Day! 

We went to French Meadow Bakery, which serves all organic food.  Very healthy, and delicious!  Right up my brunch alley!  We ordered two pancakes for the table, and I swear they were the size of my head!  One was a wild rice with cinnamon apples, and the other was a blueberry corn pancake!  Both were delicious, I also sampled the granola!  I will be going back to this place!  The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging around, and prepping for the week!!

In other big and exciting news, tonight I am heading to my first ever Twins game! 

I am super excited, I need to go get a Twins shirt!  Time to cheer on the Twins as they take on the Cleveland Indians!  Lets hope they win!  The stadium can be seen from my apartment windows, I can't wait to finally see inside of it! 

So tell me, what did you do this weekend?

How did you celebrate mothers day?

A Week of Yum!

Hello Friday! Man am I glad to see you again! 

Did anyone else feel like this week was a little slow?

Maybe the week went slow because I have a lot to look forward to this weekend! 

Tonight I am heading to WineFest No. 17 with my friend Katie!  It is a huge event here in Minneapolis that raises money for Children's Health Research!  I am very excited to attend! 

(Source, this painting is done by this years Wine Fest feature Artist Jimmy Ragaen)

Saturday I plan on going for a nice run around the lakes followed by some brunch!  My parents might also be coming up for the night!  It feels weird that I have not seen them in almost a month!  I see our Saturday consisting of good food, maybe some shopping and exploring!  And Sunday will be filled with relaxing, and celebrating Mother's Day! 

Sounds like a great weekend to me! 

The title of this post pretty much sums up this weeks recipes!  

I enjoyed every single one of them! 

Starting of this delicious line up of recipes was the Quinoa Meatballs! 

I was a bit skeptical at first.  

I had no idea if these "meatballs" would hold together as they baked.  Smothered in marinara sauce, and served up with a leafy green salad equals a perfect meatless meal! 

Moving right along to vegetable stuffed peppers! 

I have made a lot of stuffed peppers on this blog.  I thought this recipe was good, next time I would add some sort of protein though!  Maybe black beans! 

And finally onto Spiced Chicken and Barely. 

This meal was delicious.  Instead of barely I used a mixture of quinoa and rice!  The dish did not take as long as I thought it would to cook!  The leftovers were great for lunch, and I loved the combination of spices!  This recipe will for sure be made again! 

Still on the list to make this week is the Polenta Vegetable Bake, and the Blacked Eyed Pea Salad with Corn and Peppers!  I see lots of cooking happening these next few days!  

Well my dears thats all I have for you today!  Have a fabulous weekend and I will see you all Monday! Remember to tell your Mommies Happy Mother's Day!  Remember to spoil them a little bit, and give them extra love! 

Happy Hump Day!

I was thinking to myself last night about how quick these weeks seem to be going!  I mean we are already in our second week of May, and I am half way through my 4th week of training at work!  That is crazy to me, where is the time going?  

Since its Wednesday you know what that means! 

A list of things I am loving right at this moment! 

I am loving that in a few weeks I will be boarding a plane to New Orleans for my lovely sorority sisters wedding! 

It is going to be a huge reunion, and I am so excited I can hardly contain it! 

I am loving that I am able to run again! 

I have been running around Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet and trials all around downtown Minneapolis!  I love it!  

I am loving that in July I will be running my first ever 5k race! 

The Color Run! 

This was one of my New Years Resolutions! 

And finally I am loving my early morning workouts! 

I love getting up and working out first thing in the morning!  My workouts leave me energized and ready to take on the day! 

What are you loving this fine Wednesday morning? 

Sucked In

Hello there Tuesday! 

Last night I successfully killed about an hour and a half on Pinterest!  Pinterest once again sucked me in!  What started out as gathering my weekly recipes, turned into about 2 hours of random searches on Pinterest!   I found way to many mouth watering recipes, one to many DIY for my apartment, and about a million outfit ideas that I just need to recreate!  

But for you all, I have 5 new delectable recipes that I am going to test out this week! 

I went for easy this week, along with recipes I know I will love to take for lunch! 

Lets get started!

1) Quinoa "Meatballs"

Source: onceuponasmallbostonkitchen.blogspot.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

To me these look perfect!   Serve them up with a side salad and you have a complete meal!

2) Vegetable Stuffed Peppers, from Better Homes and Gardens!

Source: bhg.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

I think this may or may not be the 3rd or 4th stuffed pepper recipe I have tried out on the blog! 

3) Blacked Eyed Pea Salad with Corn and Peppers from Peas and Thank You!

Source: peasandthankyou.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

Love her cookbook and her recipes, this is going to be delicious! 

4) Polenta and Veggie Bake from Eating Well. 

Source: fitnessmagazine.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

All the fresh veggies had me sold!

5) Spiced Chicken and Barely

Source: kitchenmouse.rozentali.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

I have pulled this recipe up week after week, I figured I should finally make it! 

And finally if there is time this week! 

Red and Green Lentil Enchilada's from Peas and Thank You!

I think this week is going to be successful, hopefully no duds!
I am hoping in the next few weeks to do some grilling, the warm weather has me craving grilled food!  What about you?  What is something warm weather has you craving food wise?