Big News

This was a few weeks ago, at 3 months pregnant.

After taking a much needed break from blogging, I'm happy to be back (albeit more sporadically) and excited to share our big news with everyone.  Gabe and I are expecting a baby in November!  We're overjoyed to be starting a family and aside from a ton of morning sickness, a little insomnia, and some serious nacho cravings, everything is going great.  

And...we're moving to Michigan in July!  Gabe accepted his ideal job at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and we'll be living in either Birmingham or Royal Oak.  We're planning a visit there in a few weeks to decide on a place to live and can't wait to get acquainted with the area (our last visit seen here).  Thank you to everyone who checked in on me when I wasn't posting.  I really appreciated all the sweet messages I received from you.  

Red Velvet Cheesecake

I baked it in a water bath to avoid cracks.

I was trying to find something an interesting dessert to make for Easter and came across this Red Velvet Cheesecake that I couldn't turn down.  As a huge fan of both red velvet and cheesecake (seen here and here), combining the two was genius.  It was the perfect end to our Easter meal.

Almost Easter

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As I mentioned here, there's something about Easter candy that's so much better than the sweets offered for other holidays.  I can't seem to get enough of the huge Reese's pieces eggs, Cadbury caramel eggs, and the enormous Reese's peanut butter cups.  And this year, Lindt has joined the club with their incredibly rich and delicious Lindor truffle eggs.  I'm looking forward to a long weekend of splurging on candy, cooking some new recipes, time with friends, and dinners with Gabe.  I'll be back on Monday to tell you about it.  Have a great weekend!

Vegetable Challenge

baby heirloom tomatoes

salads with lots of colors and texture

tofu stir fry

roasted brussel sprouts and zucchini

After watching Oprah's episode about the vegan challenge, I've been trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet.  I'm certainly not cutting out meat or seafood, but I do see the benefit of adding more greens to my meals ("leaning in" as Oprah calls it).  I do love vegetables, but I generally eat the same ones over and over and get tired of them quickly.  Here are a few ways I've been trying to mix it up with new varieties and recipes (as seen here with my spinach and mushroom enchiladas).  What are your quick/delicious ways to prepare vegetables?

Favorite Product: The Microdelivery Peel

A few years ago, I received a sample of this product with my Sephora order and have been hooked ever since.  I've used countless masks/exfoliants in the past and nothing compares to Philosophy's Microdelivery Peel.  It's simple to use, takes only a few minutes, and leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and instantly refreshed, as if I just had a professional facial.  I use it weekly and have seen a noticeable difference in my skin.  Stock up now through April 21st at Sephora and get 15% off by entering coupon code chic.    

Scenes from the Weekend

Our walks by the beach

Gabe's enjoying the view

a crystal light slurpee, my favorite

Taco night

Thai Spring rolls at Bangkok West

I had the most relaxing weekend, filled with long walks, beach side bike rides, Thai food, tacos, and a movie night at home (we finally saw The Fighter and loved it).  It feels like Spring has finally arrived and we took full advantage of the 80 degree weather by spending most of our time outdoors.  How was your weekend?

Map My Run

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Nicole introduced me to MapMyRun years ago and I've been hooked ever since.  Running is one of my favorite ways to exercise and relieve stress and I'd usually prefer to be outside versus on a treadmill.  But I also like knowing exactly how far I'm running and where I'm going before I get started.  Enter MapMyRun.  This site helps you find favorite running paths in your area, lets you create your own runs, log your workouts, and even find running groups in your city.  They even have an iPhone app that I use when I'm on vacation.  If you're a runner, you should definitely check this out.  Have a great weekend!