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?

Recap of the Weekend!

Happy Monday Lovlies!

How was everyones weekend?  Did you enjoy some Cinco De Mayo festivities?

I know we did! 

I had a full weekend, but a good one! 

Friday was low key.  I met up with some friends for drinks at a local downtown bar.  

It was nice to just sit and enjoy each others company! 

Saturday I enjoyed a very lazy morning.  The weather was overcast and left me wanting to sit in bed with a cup of coffee!  And that is exactly what I did!  I did manage to hang a few pictures!  I also ran my first 4 mile run since recovering from my ankle stress fracture!  The run felt amazing! We decided to run downtown instead of driving out to the lakes, and the trails around downton Minneapolis were perfect!  I enjoyed being able to see Minneapolis in a whole new way!  We ran down by Target Field where the Minnesota Twins play, 

(source, This picture was painted by a local artist Michael Birawer)

and ran by my old Ballet School! 

The run brought back a lot of memories, and made me fall even more in love with my city! 

An afternoon Margarita at Crave kicked off or Cinco De Mayo celebration and had me ready for our Cinco De Mayo get together! 

On our Cinco de Mayo Menu:

These Cranberry Pomegranate Margaritas! 

Source: mylifeasamrs.com via Kimberley on Pinterest

I ended up making just a straight pomegranate margarita, and boy were they good! 

We also enjoyed these chicken burritos! 

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

Instead of sautéing the chicken, we grilled the chicken! 

The results were amazing!   I picked up spinach tortilla's from Trader Joe's and thought they complimented the flavor well!  I will for sure be making those chicken burritos again! 

Dessert was a Banana Fosters Chimichanga!

Delicious!
It was a perfect evening full of food, laughter, drinks, friends and games!  Great Saturday night!
Sunday was low key with church and a very very lazy afternoon!  But sometimes you just need one of those days!

So tell me how was your weekend?  Do anything fun to Celebrate Cinco De Mayo, or the Kentucky Derby?

I have this weeks menu/pin challenge coming to you tomorrow!  Stay tuned!

Thats A Wrap

I love Saturday mornings that start with a good cup of coffee in my Pj's.  Those mornings where you can slowly start your day and not worry about where you have to be!  Those are the best!  That is exactly the type of morning I am having right now, and if I could have some Mango Waffles from Victor's I would be one happy camper! 

(Source)

Did everyone have a good week?  Have fun plans for this fine Saturday?

My week seemed to fly by!  I feel like since moving the weeks seem to pass with the blink of an eye!  I guess that means I am just enjoying my life and the city!  They say time flies when your having fun !

I wanted to wrap up this weeks pin challenge and share some highlights with you from this week!  A major highlight this week was it was casual dress all week!  Since my company turns 50 this year we have a total of 50 casual dress days!  I see a lot of shopping in my near future!   Another highlight of the week was getting to see Nora Jones perform... at my office!!  Nora Jones came and put on a private concert for my company this past Tuesday! 

How cool is that!  It was hard to see with so many people but still cool that I get to see Nora Jones performed at my office! 

And finally check out this neon pink dress I found yesterday shopping!  I am completely obsessed with this dress, I just love the neon pink color!  

(Source)

The picture does not do it justice for how bright/cute it is thats why I am sharing this lovely picture with you !

Please excuse my awkward facial expression...

I plan on belting the dress and wearing this dress today for Cinco De Mayo!  The color is perfect bright and fun! 

Alright now we can focus on some recipes!   

Lets start with the alright and work our way to the best! 

These Italian Chicken Wraps were a bit of a bummer! 

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

(This is the picture from Taste of Home, my pictures of wraps never turn out well)!

I had high hopes for them.  They just did not have the flavor I desired.  The filling to be honest got a little lost in the tortilla!  I even added extra spices.  I am now on the hunt to find an amazing wrap recipe!  

Next up the Black bean and Guacamole Burrito! 

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

Delicious!  I have been obsessed with avocados lately, I could eat them every day!  This was such an easy dinner to make, I actually had it two nights in a row it was that good!  I did not make guacamole though, I simply just mashed avocado and a bit of salsa together!  Still tasty though! 

And finally we come to a veggie packed flat bread!  

3 Cheese Spinach Flat Bread!

Mine seriously looked like a  salad on a tortilla, but man was it good! I added some fresh cilantro into the spinach, and left the parmesan cheese off!  This little flat bread would be a great week night dinner because it is quick!  I am thinking next time I will add some beans or chicken for a little protein kick! 

Overall I thought it was a good week for recipes!  

You have to have a dud recipe every now and then, right?

Now if you will excuse me I have some party prepping to do! 

I hear one of these calling my name! 

Source: mylifeasamrs.com via Kimberley on Pinterest

Happy Saturday/Cinco De Mayo! 

Have a fabulous day, and I highly recommend enjoying at least one margarita! 

  

Thoughts for Thursday!

Roof top bar, beautiful view of the city, wonderful people and beautiful weather!

Since the weather was beautiful yesterday a group of us ventured into a part of Minneapolis called uptown! We enjoyed the wonderful weather at Stella's Fish Cafe, Stella's has a wonderful Roof Top Patio! I could have sat outside all night! Lucky for us we didn't get rained on!

What do you like to do with friends when the weather gets nice?

And just a little inspiration to get us through the rest of the week!

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

Drum Roll Please!

Good Morning Lovelies!

Did everyone have a splendid Monday Morning?

I have some pictures to show you today, they are a long overdue! 

I just hadn't found the time to actually take them!

Can I get a drum roll please?

Hello big girl apartment!

Kitchen/Living Room

(some little details)
More pictures to come!  

I feel like I have a long ways to go decorating wise!  I am just not sure what all I want yet!  I would really like to find a coffee table or some sort of ottoman!  I saw this palette coffee table on Pinterest and fell in love with the idea!

(Source)
What do you think?
For now I will get by with what I have until I find decorations I absolutely love! 

Now how about some new pinterest recipes?
I wrapped up last weeks pin challenge by making Spaghetti Squash Sesame Noodles with Edamame!

Prepping the squash the night before had my dinner on the table in less then 20 minutes!  Gotta love that!  I thought the flavor of this dish was amazing.  The combination of sesame oil and cilantro was delicious!  I added some black beans to my serving for a little extra protein!  This recipe is for sure a keeper!  Don't like spaghetti squash?  Go ahead and sub in whole wheat pasta noodles, thats what my parents did!

Now here is the weekly menu/pin challenge recipes!
I was all about quick and delicious this week!

Alright how about some breakfast for dinner?
Asparagus and Blue Cheese Frittata from Eighty Twenty

Source: eat8020.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

Frittatas remind me of brunch, hence breakfast for dinner!  I am going to sub in spinach for the asparagus, I think it will be delicious!

How about a spinach flat bread pizza?

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

3 Cheese Spinach Flat Bread Pizza from Green Little Bites

Wraps are always easy and delicious, and the leftovers are great to take for lunch!

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

I thought these Italian Chicken Wraps from Taste of Home sounded like a winner to me!  Can't wait to enjoy them after an evening run around the lakes!

And last but not least a few recipes to get in the Cinco De Mayo Mood!
I think these Chicken Burritos from Zoom Yummy will be perfect for a little Cinco De Mayo get together!

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

They are loaded with tons of great flavors, and I love all the vibrant colors!
Or how about some Black Bean Guacamole Burritos from Naturally Ella?

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

I know for sure I will be enjoying one of these on Saturday!

Source: mylifeasamrs.com via Kimberley on Pinterest

One Cranberry Pomegranate Margarita coming right up!
Is it Saturday yet?

Happy Tuesday Lovlies!