TV Ch-Ch-Changes

So i know i am like a week behind on this news... but life has been busy what can i say.

anyways, fabulous news about the annoying Dr.Hahn... she has been canned!

Brooke Smith Axed From Grey’s Anatomy

and that makes this viewer extremely happy because her attitude on the show was insanely annoying. Plus, she was going to try and take down Seattle Grace? WTF? That Izzie incident was so last season.
AND Callie has way more chemistry with McSteamy so she should continue her rendezvous with him in the call room, not Hahn.
Thank you Shonda! You made an excellent call.



This just in... Lipstick Jungle has just 5 episodes left and are set to film anymore. Is this show canceled for good? or just postponed? and how?? they say the viewership is low, which is why the show got bumped to Friday... but I watch it, Southern Belle & Mr Belle watch it... aren't we important enough? :(

xoxo

i heart paul rudd ;)

what a great post to come back to.... only the hottest dancing ever!
i suggest watching on repeat anytime you are having a crummy day. if this doesnt put a smile on your face ... nothing will :)

Im Baaaaaackkkkk ;)

Mr.HG is making fun of me for not blogging in a whole month. So here you go babe... IM BACK :) and i have a lot to say so stay tuned!!


Love you babe... and love all of you readers who stuck around for my return ;)

xoxo

pink fluffines

life is too busy and boring for posts right now*... but this photo made me laugh.
if this isn't the ingredients for a great Friday night than i don't know what is.
you have your cute furry heels. your marshmallow fluff. AND pink snowballs!
LOVE

*work... nuf said

xoxo

looks whos at fashion week

Spotted: Justin Suarez @ the Milly show at fashion week.

Mark Indelicato is just like his Ugly Betty character Justin Suarez. Justin would totally freak to be at Fashion Week! and I bet Mark was squirming with delight as well. Way to do your character proud!

CAPTION: Mark Indelicato pictured front row at the Milly By Michelle Smith Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2009 in Bryant Park at The Promenade in New York City on September 10, 2008. ©

guac alternative

So i looooove guacamole.... unfortunately it is high in points when you pair it with delicious lime Tostittos & eat way more than a measly serving.
Thank goodness for this healthy alternative! I made it this weekend & it was a huge hit! As dippers i offered the lime tostittos & Baked Tortilla Scoops! It would also be great with pita bread and veggies.
I highly recommend making this dish for you next party! that way you wont feel as guilty for all of the Coronas you wash it down with ;)

Bon Appetit!
HG

Ingredients:
One 15-oz. can early/young peas, drained
1/2 cup mashed avocado (about 1 medium-small avocado's worth)
1/3 cup chopped cherry or grape tomatoes
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1/4 cup fat-free Greek yogurt (like Fage Total 0%)
4 tsp. lime juice
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. cumin
1/8 tsp. chili powder
Optional: chopped cilantro, chopped jarred jalapenos, additional salt and pepper

Directions:
Place drained peas in a medium bowl and mash thoroughly with a potato masher or fork. Add all other ingredients except for the tomatoes, onions and optional items. Continue to mash until blended. Stir in the tomatoes, onions and, if you like, some chopped cilantro and/or jalapenos. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if needed. Enjoy! MAKES 6 SERVINGS

Serving Size: 1/3 cup (1/6th of recipe)
Calories: 78 Fat: 3g Sodium: 320mg Carbs: 10.5g Fiber: 3.5g Sugars: 4g Protein: 3.5g
POINTS® value 1*

what they dont teach you in school

JCrew sent this to me this morning.... and it is SO true.
Thanks Mr.Gates!


Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helpin g you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

new things for the bedroom

Look at all these new fabulous things i got for my bedroom.....just need to get curtain rods for these and then Mrs&Mr. Poppins are going to help me hang them! purdy ;)this is totally gonna help organize my life.... and my clothes! Mr.HG is so lovely he is going to put it together for me this weekend! yay

and here are some added organizers i purchased from ikea for my living room, because as JCrew said i need to make better use of my space. so im attempting by using these...so hopefully with all of these new things my apt will look a lil bit cuter & a lot more organized!

*these purchases were made with JCrew's car... you would be surprised how much a civic can hold!

sorry for the delay

i know i have been posting a lot of "sorry for lack of posting" blogs, but really i am. i have just been in a funk lately & it's hard to blog when im not beaming with happiness. usually this would not be a problem... but for the past few months i just cant seem to get it together. this blog is supposed to be my happy place.... so once i am consistently happy again there will be posts galore!!!

on a better note... it is fashion week in nyc... {which would be fabulous if i was anyone of importance at my "glamorous" job.} fashion week takes place in Bryant Park which is like 3 blocks from my work. needless to say there are paparazzi, security, celebrities {and those who wish they were} everywhere you look! we were having lunch at the Bryant Park Grill today* when guess who was dining next to us...

DR. 90210!** bleach blonde tips and all!so okay, hes not like an A list celebrity... maybe more like D list... but hey! he looks decent in this photo but in person he looks like a total douchebag -- no surprise. he had a suit jacket that was unbuttoned down to his navel, his hair looked greasy and his skin orange. Hott! LOL

*yum... but quite expensive.... so go there for a business lunch!

**spotted by JCrew or i would have missed out on yet another celebrity sighting

kodak moment for sure.

so i have to say i was a lil Olympic obsessed this year but really, who wasnt. You had Phelps, the girls gymnastic team, a lil bit of scandal, and lots of victories for team USA!
Below are some incredible shots by photographer Doug Mills for the Times... what a way to capture history!

award day!

OMG i got my first blog award. thank you so much MMM you are so sweet! it literally made my day. even though i have a stat counter so i technically know people read my blog, it's nice to know people actually enjoy my tales!

Apparently, when you are nominated for this award, there are a few rules that go along with it. They are as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog
here it is. check!

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you

MMM check!

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs AND 4. Add links to those blogs on yours

5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

I nominate:
1) Sassy Molassy
2) twentysomething and clueless
3) perks of being a jap
4) pigtown-design
5) may i nap now
6) josh and josh
7) ashley's closet

For the Diamond Award here is the pretty diamond you receive!

I nominate:

1. the mrs preppy
2. hearts and crafts
3. clevelands a plum
4. connecticut charm
5. i hate greenbeans
6. magnolia mama
7. making mommy hot

Congratulations to my 14 favorite bloggers!!!!! and thank you again MMM for my award!

PS I would love to give an award to Kicking the Job Habit but that would require her to blog more... wink wink ;)

iphone enters the publishing world

what? a magazine just for iphone users.... that is ludacris!

Patrick McMullan to Launch iPhone ‘Magazine’

Patrick McMullan, noted nightlife photographer for New York magazine among other publications, is set to launch PMc, a luxury fashion “magazine” formatted exclusively for Apple’s iPhone.

PMc, a joint venture with Hot Phone Hit Factory, will feature McMullan’s photos and articles by writers including Nanny Diaries co-author Nicola Kraus and novelist Molly Jong-Fast.

Calling it “the first of its kind,” the bimonthly will be distributed via iTunes for 99 cents per issue. Content will be refreshed daily in order to give readers “an inside look into the glamorous world of Patrick McMullan and his peers.”

It may be a first for the iPhone, but not for other trendy portable devices. Earlier this year, Tribune Media Services, the content syndication and licensing division of Chicago-based Tribune Company, launched a pair of magazines exclusively for Amazon’s Kindle.

my saturday spent on the BQE

okay so i am going to start off this blog by admitting im a geek! this way, when you read the following & are snickering... at least you can say you were forewarned!

this week i have been car-sitting* for JCrew while she is in Savannah. throughout the week i just had to move it from side to side to accommodate alternate side of the street parking. but come Saturday... i was shopping bound! I went to the Target plaza... and for the first time didnt have to hold back on shopping for the dreaded lugging of stuff back to the train. this time i could shop til my credit cards content & throw it all in the car.... Oh, how i forgot this small luxury - how quickly one forgets when you move to the city.

i went to the Afaze {for just one more purse}, Toys R Us {for Wii games}, Michaels {for some baking and craft materials}, the discount store {broom & water bottles}.... and then the mecca of all..... THE BIG GROCERY STORE!!!! the super, only found in the suburbs style, need a car to access, amazing, tons of new brands, fresh produce, and FANTASTIC sales, grocery store!!!!! i haven't been this excited about grocery shopping since i first started driving, when i literally was excited to do anything b.c it meant driving!

i stocked up on groceries like it was the apocalypse or something. they had so many extra WW foods that my pitiful Key Food looks even worse to me now. Fresh Direct is great, but even their stock is limited in WW & healthy products. and then after filling my cart to the top, i rolled it right over the the elevator, hit 2R for roof & pushed the cart all the way to the car. after piling it all into the trunk i let out a tiny squeeeee!!!! b.c seriously this is AWESOME! i got in the car & drove home. no breaking my back trying to carry as many bags as possible, plus 3 more, all the way home trying to navigate the bags, my purse, opening the gate, fumbling with the keys, getting the screen door open just enough so that it doesn't slam on me as im opening the front door.

usually i am unsuccessful about this & it slams into my elbow knocking my keys onto the floor & making my landlords dog bark even louder at me. when i bend down to pick up the keys the bags drop, stuff falls out of my purse, and the door hits my tush. this reoccurring scene is very unpleasant to watch.

but not this time. oh no!!!
this time, i drove up, casually walked over to open the gate & all doors, and then 4 bags at a time brought, them inside

it was bliss.

absolute wonderful incredible bliss.

you know how you dont miss something until you dont have it anymore... i miss my car more than ever right now....

so im goonna go sulk :( nite y'all!

*another thing only new yorkers understand ;)

PS JCREW... i love you!!!!! and i will car sit anytime b/c this has been FANTASTIC... aside from the whole driving in circles to find a parking spot on the street thing, and lunatics that drive in this city, and the impossible to squeeze into parking spaces b.c some idiot doesn't know how to park properly.... and the taxi drivers who think they own the road & dont have to signal when they are about to cut you off at 35mph... oh and the brooklyn-its who dont know that a stop sign literally means STOP as in dont fly through an intersection at full speed hoping everyone is waiting for you to pass, and the queens-ians who think the parking garage directions are a mere suggestion i mean just because they had engineers construct the circular gargae leaving very specific boldly painted instructions everywhere that says THIS WAY and DO NOT ENTER.... i mean they are there so people like me dont have to be so unladylike. i literally went all NY on their ass when the man {on his cell which is illegal btw} drives right towards me. HELLOOOOOOOO..... aside from all this it was lovely! and so helpful b/c i got an insane amount accomplished all thanks to your lil precious Civic!

cupcakes are my speciality

so on Saturday we celebrated JCrews 27th birthday by filling up on beer {@ the famous beer garden}, pizza {from new york's finest, Albas}, and cupcakes of course! JCrew loves peanut butter so i created these especially for her! and yes they were DELICIOUS. and no i dont know how many points they were, but if i had to guess, i say like 20! and worth every one!!!!
is your mouth watering yet?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JCREW!!!
xoxoxo

me + my texans

Proof that i talk to Southern Belle & Hello Darling way too much....

i was at work today talking to our editor in chief's assistants.... they they told i was talking with a southern accent....

me? really? naw! yer crazy!

okay, maybe a lil ;)
love you girls!

xoxo

in the grand scheme of things... its just a number

so for 7 months i worked my ass off at the gym & by doing WW. did i meet my 50lb loss goal for Southern Belle's wedding? No.

but i did lose 23lbs & gained lots of muscle tone!!! i learned how to portion my meals, was reminded the importance of eating my vegetables, and now get 2 servings of milk in daily.
i went from being able to do 11 girly push-ups in a row to being able to complete 23 real, on my toes, push-ups in a row. i went from only being able to do a girly/knees plank for a measly 20 seconds to now staying strong on a full out plank on my toes for 45 seconds. my resting heart rate dropped from 75bpm to 61bpm. i lowered my blood pressure & increased my flexibility. Overall i lost 15inches and looked hot in my wedding weekend attire!!!! ***

moral of the story... the number on the scale really means nothing!
how you feel.
how your clothes fit.
can you run up a flight of stairs w/o hyperventilating?
those are the things that really matter!

so i truck on... 23lbs down and still many more to go. but one day at a time,** i will get there.

hope all my WW peeps are staying strong! keep me posted on your weekly weigh-ins... i would love to hear how y'all are doing!

xoxo

***thanks trainer :)
**or one spinning class at a time!

im back....

okay so i took a 3 week hiatus... but fear not... IM BACK :)

life was just getting a lil too busy for my own good that blogging had to take a backseat for awhile. while i was away, Southern Belle had her wedding...yay... and it was fabulous!
the wedding weekend began on Wednesday, July 30 when JCrew, Hello Darling and I piled into a Civic with our bags full of snacks & the trunk packed (almost) to capacity! we had most of our snacks eaten before we even got out of Connecticut! Hey... i dieted for 7 months, give a girl a break :)

after a quick stop at the Portland airport to pick up Mr.HG we arrived at the Topside Inn around midnight. Oh, and PS. The Topside Inn is the BEST place to stay in Boothbay!!!! Our hosts Ed & Brian were simply divine! they whipped up tasty delights every morning {apple pancakes rock, and homemade jam.... tasty!} and took care of our every need. and this was not some tacky, frilly grandma's house style B&B.... this was a tastefully decorated home away from home.

Thursday morning we woke up and headed straight to the beach where Mr.HG wrote ' I Love HG' in the sand. aww ;)

then we grabbed lunch (we go to a lobster house-- half of us get grilled cheese... go figure!) we rushed back to get primped up for the rehearsal. The rehearsal dinner was a Maine lobster clam bake where i tried lobster & clam chowder for the first time. chowder was okay, a lil too salty for me, and the lobster... well i just prefer when my meal looks as if it wasn't ever alive. once i separated the tail from the body... i was done.*

Friday morning we woke up super early to get all prettied up! Us girls all piled into Momma Belle's room & covered the counters with loads of makeup & hair products. it was like Sephora threw up... in a pretty way :) the wedding was held in this picturesque old stone chapel that still had the original brick flooring. it was tiny & quaint & the perfect setting for Belle's Maine wedding. there was a brunch reception where we ate everything from fancy french toast to crispy cesar salad. we later set sail on a sunset boar ride around Boothbay. On the boat we had perfectly paired cupcakes & wine for refreshments! great combination :)

after the sailboat we went back to the Inn for pizza & board games and said goodbye to Mrs.and Mr.Belle... the newly married couple ;)

the Belle's left for the Bahamas.
JCrew, Darling, Mr.HG, and I left for NYC.
and 7 hours later our trip was over.

overall Maine was everything i thought it would be. small Mayberry like towns, cute houses with wraparound porches, sailboats & stores rightly named Pat's Popatorium! it was a lil too cold, and the trip was a lil too short... but other than that it was amazing. i see a coastal beach house in my future ;)

xoxo

*for anyone who has had a whole lobster before, you know what comes out... for anyone who hasnt, well you dont want to know! yuck.

tear ;<

Golden Girls Star Estelle Getty Dies at 84

oh how i heart Estelle... this is seriously a tragedy. i think i will go straight home and watch Golden Girls reruns.... cuz seriously, that was just a 80's version of S&TC!

RIP Sophia Petrillo... may your jokes live on in your memory :)

Georgie Porgie

so this is what went down in my backyard on Saturday afternoon.....

{Do not try this at home}

how much does one drink before deciding to scale a wall, climb onto the roof of the garage, all to jump into a 5' deep pool seated on concrete?

Bon Appetit: C’est magnifique!

bon appetit is definitely the most delicious magazine ever. i dont know how they do it but month after month they never fail. every cover is better than the last. Kudos to the Bon Appetit creative team... if you are hiring let me know! ;)

PS why are you still reading this... you should be off to the bookstore to pick up your copy by now!

xoxo

photo of the day

beautiful dress, stunning colors, gorgeous woman..... this picture is stellar!!!!

{photo by: INEZ VAN LAMSWEERDE AND VINOODH MATADIN}

stay informed

i feel like we live in a day and age where it is very important to stay informed on what is going on in your city/state/country. that is why i am sure to get my fill of news via tv in daily. i do this by starting my morning with Matt Lauer & the Today show, TiVo-ing the View {hello, hot topics!} to watch during dinner, & catch Leno's monologue right before heading off to bed. i think this is a totally legitimate way to get my news in every day.... how do you get your news???*


*unless you are JCrew and dont watch the news lol :)

no joke

i called Mamma G to chat up about my day, and what does she do... rushes me off the phone.
"sorry HG, but i have to go cook dinner"

"what? you dont cook. you order in" i told her.

"not cook for me. cook dinner for the pooches" Mamma G said

"Timeout: you never take time to cook dinner for yourself, but you are actually cooking dinner for the dogs?"

"well yeah."

"uh, why?" i asked.

"Because Oprah does it!"

This was an actual conversation. and you wonder where i get it!

black umbrella anyone?

its a 99.9% chance of rain.... who wants to go to an outdoor concert? We do we do!

so about a week ago i went to see Feist w/ JCrew & Miss Hamburger in Prospect Park. I know all of 3 songs Feist sings {fave is 1,2,3,4 look it up}, but im always up for a good time so why not go. i bought my $40 ticket hoping for the past month that on this one night it stays dry. but does it... of course not. on wednesday, Al Roker shows the showers that are going to pass over nyc in the evening. could it rain during the day instead, no. of course not. so all day goes by, covered by cloudy skies. we get to the park & are waiting in line when, what is that i feel? a raindrop? we will just pretend it didnt happen. then it sprinkles for a few minutes, the entire ticket line* pops open their umbrellas to stay dry.

it stops raining. for now.

we get to the security guy & he looks at me and says, "i am going to need to take your umbrella."

i was thinking, this poor guy got bumped off the force & is bitter. he needs something to make him laugh, so hes cracking jokes now. he is pissed to be out here on a wed nite watching indie rock groupies** play like its Woodstock or something. thinking he is just trying to be funny. i am a smartie and give him some attitude right back. the exchange goes as follows...

Him: "i am going to need to take your umbrella."
Me: "Seriously"
Him: "Yes, i am going to need to confiscate your umbrella"
Me: "Are YOU JOKING?"
Him: "Look behind you and tell me if im joking"

I turn around & there is a pile of hundreds of abandoned umbrellas. mostly black w/ splashes of color in the mix. Miss Hamburger takes our umbrellas & instead of placing them in the endless sea, she puts them behind a bush.***

fast forward 15 minutes. we are in the middle of an open field & it is pouring down rain.

still pouring.

now just drizzling.

ok, now its pouring. again

this went on for awhile & eventually it stopped & then it was time to leave & find our umbrellas. chances are, someone stole my umbrella. it was plain black ****like everyone else's. not on purpose, just b/c of the situation. either way, i came with an umbrella, i was going to leave with one.

somehow Miss Hamburger & I found our umbrella's safely under the tree, JCrew was not so lucky. did you ever wonder what it is like to hunt for something in a pile with hundreds of people in the pitch black night with no lights? look below!sounds coming from the crowd : "Has anyone seen my black umbrella" "look, another umbrella that isnt mine" "i found a black umbrella" "this umbrella is coming home with me!"


*of course the entire line had umbrellas.... it was going to rain.
**groupies, plus me!
***smart cookie
****my cute ones i left home, thank goodness!

lather up!

note to self.....
do not* under any circumstance lather your entire body {feet included} up in super yummy smelly cherry lotion** then immediately jump off the bed onto the hardwood floors because you need a popsicle.

why?

you will go splat on your bum. and it will hurt. really bad.


*ever again
** JCrew & Daisy May's advice on how to keep my skin looking young & hot!

oh, dear

Read this link before continuing....
Another Sex and the City movie is in the works....

Dear HBO, take a look at the following titles before proceeding. keep in mind the originals were classics, blockbuster hits! but what is remembered is not the appeal of keanu saving sandra in a explosive bus... instead, we remember "why did they ever make part 2."

PORKY'S II: THE NEXT DAY (1983)
SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL (1997)
TEEN WOLF TOO (1987)
DIRTY DANCING: HAVANA NIGHTS (2004)
DUMB AND DUMBERER: WHEN HARRY MET LLOYD
OCEAN'S TWELVE (2004) {they did make a comeback with Oceans 13 though}

If you are still not convinced, just know you want to stay off of this list.

Sincerely,

HG

Okay, now seriously.

I love S&TC more than anyone... but the thought of a sequel terrifies me. Really, the movie was so incredible it can not be topped. A bad sequel would ruin everything. So HBO, please call it quits on the pre-production plans... unless you have something up your sleeve that is fantastically fabulous ... it is better to leave while your still on top.

I am open for script reading if need be... you know, just to see what you have in mind for this. But if its like Carrie & Big having a baby or something I'm out ;)

6 word memoirs...

So i read this blog where random people type in the what they would title their memoir.... and it can only be 6 words. some are incredibly creative, some ridiculously stupid. here are a few of my favorite from the site.....

Looked up.
Saw Sky.
Bird pooped.

Still haven't decided what to wear.

lost at love. won at scrabble.

Prefer prada to payless. But poor.

After forty, bedtime is happy hour.

THIS WOULD BE SOUTHERN BELLE'S MEMOIR
caffeine keeps me from going insane

THIS WOULD BE HELLO DARLING'S MEMOIR {they have a mouse in the house:0 }
The second mouse gets the cheese

THIS WOULD BE MR.HG'S MEMOIR {someone should try baking them again!}
Brownies called, I answered the phone.

THIS WOULD BE JCREW'S MEMOIR
Babies scare me, miniature Winston Churchills

THIS WOULD BE MAMMA G'S MEMOIR
Read the map. Still got lost.

MY MEMOIR WOULD BE...
Nobody could have made this up

now what would yours read????

so you had a good day....

I knew it was going to be a good day when i woke up and got this from Hungry Girl *

1 POINT GUACAMOLE!!!!

woo hoo! i know someone who is going to be busy in the kitchen this weekend!

and the day only got better after putting together what is going to be a fabulous photo shoot at work & was followed by a kick ass session with Trainer! really, the harder she pushes me the better i feel... even when im laying on the ground after the hardest ab workout ever... in the fetal position... in agony thinking i cant even move let alone walk all the way over (a whole 10 feet) to the stretching table... thats when i know it's ALL worth it. the time, the money, the commitment.... really hitting the gym hard makes me feel a million times better.

in more ways than one!

you know that quote by my favorite blonde**
"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't."

well its true. I have been a bit cranky, irritable, & an emotional mess for the past few days (probably due to my fantastic long weekend in Florida that caused me to miss my workouts since last TUESDAY. but seeing my family & hitting up the beach were worth it fo'sho!)

now back from my vacation, today was my second day in a row with my diet on track & getting to the gym & thankfully my mood has done a 180! i feel so much happier (no more midnight tears!)
must be all those extra endorphins!

*fave WW website ever!

**if you havent seen this movie 6,326 times, if you cant quote the most famous blonde ever, if you havent perfected your bend and snap.... you obvs are missing out so you need to get on the pink train, buy legally blonde and play it until it burns out. then buy a new one for a rainy day!
you will thank me!

I couldnt keep this recipe to myself, so here you go! if you try it before i do let me know how it taste!

Ingredients:
One 15-oz. can early/young peas, drained
1/2 cup mashed avocado (about 1 medium-small avocado's worth)
1/3 cup chopped cherry or grape tomatoes
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1/4 cup fat-free Greek yogurt (like Fage Total 0%)
4 tsp. lime juice
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. cumin
1/8 tsp. chili powder
Optional: chopped cilantro, chopped jarred jalapenos, additional salt and pepper

Directions:
Place drained peas in a medium bowl and mash thoroughly with a potato masher or fork. Add all other ingredients except for the tomatoes, onions and optional items. Continue to mash until blended. Stir in the tomatoes, onions and, if you like, some chopped cilantro and/or jalapenos. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if needed. Enjoy! MAKES 6 SERVINGS

HG Alternative! This stuff is a great spread for sandwiches, pitas and wraps -- and it's an excellent omelette topper. Two tablespoons of it has just 29 calories and 1g fat, plus 1.25g fiber (POINTS® value 0*)!


Serving Size: 1/3 cup (1/6th of recipe) POINTS® value 1*
Calories: 78 Fat: 3g Sodium: 320mg Carbs: 10.5g Fiber: 3.5g Sugars: 4g Protein: 3.5g

oh the Diet gods.... we go way back

so tonight i will be praying to the diet gods.... cuz all i want for tomorrow is to go to weigh in and remain the same as last week. im not even hoping to lose... just maintain. really that is all i can hope for after the yummy deliciousness i consumed this weekend with Mr.HG. We had funnel cake (just a few bites), pizza (one slice), chicken club w/FF (only ate 1/2), guacamole (ate all of it! and it was DELICIOUS!), part of a burger, some sausage & peppers, a few pints of beer and about a pound of cake! lol but i did work out hardcore the past few days and have ate way less points so now all i can do is pray.

Diet gods.... PLEASE :)

PS yes i already have my most lightweight outfit ready for the scale!!!!! ahhhhhh im scared :/

The weekend... through MR.HG's eyes

As many of you know, I head out of the wonderful state which is Ohio from time to time to see the woman of my dreams. We try to spend couples time together and do things together that make up for being apart so often.

Highlights of the trip:

-H.G. and I shared a trip to the Spa for some much deserved hour long massages (this was SUPPOSED to be a secret that went awry when I had to tell her why she couldn't make last minute plans)

-We enjoyed an evening with some of her friends at the infamous "Beer Garden" where I became "a little annoying and pouty" I believe were the words of HG (Hey, I can't help I HATE beer. I'm a liquor kinda guy. Beer's just not my thing, and it's not like I'm not a good sport about it. I TRY to enjoy it; I just have this problem with it since my alcoholism in the late '90s...

-TV and Law & Order marathon while having SOHO

-Decimating HG's goal to eat healthy and moved down the ranking of "good boyfriend" when I bought us a little thing called "Cheesecake" (Which I feel bad about because it's admirable she is dedicated to losing at the gym; something I more than likely would be done with at this point)

-Went shopping together downtown where I bought some nice threads at Daffy's

-Enjoyed the phenomenon called "Chinatown" one last time and continually evade the police while getting our blatantly copied goods; I even picked up some Armani "Code" cologne while there. When in Rome right?

-Spent numerous hours looking into my beautiful girlfriends eyes envisioning life together

-REPEATEDLY invited her to a life in Ohio where we could live like royalty on what is the difference in cost of living expenditures....(Don't worry, NYC won by a landslide due to the stubbornness of HG; besides, I love NYC anyways...it was just a shot in the dark)

-Enjoyed listening to a dog barking on an airplane for roughly an hour and a half (even the stewardess' were saying "Is this REALLY happening?") This dog was some kind of terrier or something and has to weight about 20 lbs. It was a pretty good sized dog for being on flight

-Blew out my eardrums turning my IPOD up louder than I ever have in an attempt to avoid the high pitched yapping that was the dog barking

-Tipped the Limo Service driver a $5 spot because I was impressed with the cleanliness of his car and the fact that I didn't have to grab any "oh %&@" handles on the way to the Airport- all in all, a great ride if I do say so myself. Plus he was a really nice older gentleman with great taste in music. He turned it up for me... Genesis FTW!

So I guess that's really about all we got accomplished. All in all, it was too short of a visit, but I will be back to see her soon. I really can't wait. It's more and more difficult to say goodbye the longer we're together.

Oh, we stopped in Tiffany's and looked at some rings. This was followed with some snickering when we were heading back down and the elevator attendant asked what floor. HG says "two" and then some couple asks "what's on that floor" and we hear a guy who says "that's the engagement floor" accompanied by delight and laughter as anyone at that stage would understand. You'd have to have been there, but it was a funny scenario. HG and I were both amused as we got of the elevator.

So anyways, if this makes it onto HG's blog, thanks for reading and I know I'm not a writer. I just wanted everyone to know what we did this weekend and how wonderful it was to see my friends in NY and of course my reason for being there; HG. I love her dearly.

-Mr.HG

calling all delta gammas

and hello darling since she is anchor obsessed...

kate spade is having a huge sale and these are only $19.00! this set is a DG must have!

MR.HG live and in person

Well, as HG alluded to, we are now doing guests spots. Why you might ask? Well, just to let you readers know, we have a little bet that she won't continue blogging through the year. (Don't fret, she STRONGLY disagrees with me, but it's a friendly bet, mostly just to harass her as only I can do. So without further ado, here is the first small sampling of the never-ending debates/topics I have to talk about...

In a nutshell, I think America is doomed for the following:

George Bush-I don't need to say another word but I will. Well played sir, well played.

Our lackadaisical attitude to changing the world.

Unions-how do we compete with $4/day COME ON!

Technology-It's only made our lives more stressful, yet more productive!
All material is trademark of Mr.HG

The demise of paying for quality goods- We're FULL of companies we think BLOW but yet we continue to patronize them. Wal-Mart for example was "all about America." Sam croaks and we're left with CHINA??? WTH is going on here? Oh, don't worry, his family's taking care of the economy. Or dare I say lining their pockets, and they're just one of many.

So, this is one hell of a controversial first blog, I think it's off to a great start!
I'm looking for debate.

Thanks for reading, and this is the first of many. Remember, H.G. might have a FIGHTING chance if her guests columns take up every blog update ;) haha

-Mr.HG

cards anyone?

so i was catching up on Martha's wedding blog* and came across this great paper store Carrot & Stick. there is literally a card for everyone :) so i picked out my faves for my fave peeps!
*love it
**yes JCrew gets 2 options... she is pretty particular! in a good way :)

PS so be on the lookout from some guest bloggers.... Mr.HG's will be up soon :)

xoxo

reason #435 why nyc is the best city ever

so i live in a city where i can get anything i want simply by logging on or picking up the phone. Chinese food at 3am..... not a problem. in the mood for a cupcake.... they will bring it over. laundry, groceries, dry cleaning.... they all deliver. even if i want McDonald's or Wendy's... THEY DELIVER. seriously, just about anything i can imagine & will get dropped off at my door. how cool right?

and we all know how many times i have raved about Fresh Direct and the convenience of getting my weekly shopping list brought right to my door. but after some investigating* i learned that Fresh Direct delivers more than just your food and beverages. they deliver toilet paper, toothpaste, disposable razors, aspirin, tanning lotion, shampoo and many other typical products sold in the grocery store. okay so this isnt so surprising. but there is a whole category of Fresh Direct that has products for "Sexual Health"

Seriously.

They will deliver condoms or a pregnancy test along with your carrots and lean cuisines. EVEN KY JELLY. i dont know how i could look at the FD delivery guy knowing that is what was in my boxes....cuz really, some things you should just go out and buy yourself! while wearing really big shades! and a hat :)


*Mr.HG was curious

weekly weigh in

so i have totally neglected my WW friends... but i have been staying with it :) have you?

today was weigh in day and since i gained 2lbs in Texas* i have been totally strict this week and Trainer has been working me hard core on the boxing bag. so today i lost 3lbs!!!!! that means i lost my texas weight..... and a whole extra pound! im not ashamed to chant GO ME GO ME lol

i think what has really helped is upping my workout routine. Trainer has me doing a new circuit and i am literally gasping for breath by the end of each set. and just when i think im done... she is like only 10 more... WHAT? oh so apparently we do 30 reps per set instead of 15.... um hello sore arms! but it does feel great. and i haven't collapsed yet** so bring it on!

*Thanks Southern Belle ;)
**although Monday, i hadn't eaten much yet because i was busy so i literally thought if i had to do one more kick i would fall over... i was lightheaded & had a pounding headache. somehow i managed to stay upright... could be because i am set on not making a total ass out of myself in front of the "super skinny ridiculously toned how do they eat & keep that body they must be on some super drug that i totally need to get some of" girls. hey whatever works!

also, my new fave dessert.... 2 WW chocolate chip cookies (1pt each) with 1/2 c skim milk to dunk in.... only 3pts and i get in a dairy? this is so what the cookie monster had in mind when he joined WW ;)

total lost to date = 22 lbs

weekend review

so i had a semi-eventful weekend that started with a trip to the Opera! JCrew & i went to the Metropolitan Opera in the Park on Friday where we listened in awe. one weird thing though is that after every song the singers waved, hugged each other, & walked off stage..... after each song i was convinced that the show was over. i mean, first off the program & singing were all in Italian so we couldn't really understand where in the event we were. At one point i tried to get JCrew to scream encore thinking the show was over.... i mean they bowed and left the stage, doesnt that signal the end aka that fat lady had sung???.... luckily JCrew doesn't listen to me because seconds later the singers returned belting out another song. how funny would it had been though if in front of thousands of people she was the only one screaming encore!!!! ha-ha

Saturday i made the big trip to Best Buy to purchase another air conditioner....just having one in my living room isn't enough and there are times i feel like i am literally melting. my landlord drove me to pick up the a.c. so luckily we didn't have another traveling incident like the bike! i played a little Wii* and then had a phone date with Mr.HG where we watched Reese Witherspoon in the thriller Rendition.

Not my favorite Reese movie.... a little background... she is married to an Egyptian living in America who is apprehended when on his back to US from North Africa. He is accused of being a terrorist & tortured for information. The whole movie is literally him being beaten and consistently saying he doesn't know anything. I believe him but no one in the movie does... it is a bit frustrating. A whole 2 hours of being frustrated... not cool man. not cool.

Sunday was spent catching up on the past 2 weeks of So You Think You Can Dance** and cleaning. and cleaning. hours later i was still cleaning.
which reminds me i have to go hang up the last months worth of outfits that are currently residing on my bed. more cleaning.... ahhhh

xoxo

*i love mario cart! but i do need some practice :/

**Joshua and Twitch are my favorite males, Chelsie and Kourtni are my favorite females, but i don't like how Kourtni spells her name.... i would have picked either Kourtney or Courtni but changing both the first and last letters is just too much. Katee (her "i wouldn't audition again, i would give up" speech really pissed me off) and Courtney drive me crazy and so have to go... like yesterday!

showdown on the view.... NOT

so is it just me or were you all disappointed with The View today. I mean Michelle Obama was guest hosting & with the fiery Elisabeth Hasselbeck i was expecting some serious heat, lots of shouting, and possibly even some hair pulling. i mean this is The View... the girly cattiness during the hot topics is the main reason to watch, right?

so after all the media hype the match up between Hasselbeck vs. Obama i got jipped. they were sweet as pie to each other... gag me! lol

joke of the day

You know what they call the guy who graduates last in his class at medical school?

DOCTOR

haha... this was stolen from the hilarious jen lancaster! im in the middle of her 3rd book and it is just as laugh out loud funny as the last two. i highly recommend it.

PS.... i heart you doctors out there, but come on... this is funny! special shout out to my 2 recent dr grads.... LITB ;)

summer is here

This is a beautiful photograph by the talented Travis Rathbone. Doesn't it just make you want to go to Coney Island?
So, JCrew.... when are we going to see the sideshow and ride the tea cups.

tomkat

proof that tom does let her out of the house... who knew!

Holmes to draw big bucks on Broadway

September 18: That's the date the former "Dawson's Creek" star and wife of Tom Cruise, makes her debut on Broadway in a revival of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons."

PS no matter how crazy... i will always have a love for this Top Gun star.

back from the rodeo

well not really... but i am back from texas so its the same thing really. i went down to the South to see Southern Belle & as the host of her bachalorette party i kinda had to be there. the weekend was jam packed with Texan fun. Here is a sample of my weekend...

thursday.... arrived, late of course, to the Dallas airport & was greeted by an overjoyed oversleepy Southern Belle and her beau. went back to their McMansion and stayed up chatting til 4am texas time.

friday... woke up at 730am, damn alarm clock its on nyc time, SB & I put on our party dresses, headed to the party store in search of bach. party decor aka penis balloons, and then it was off to the airport to pick up Sissy... of course not without a quick stop to Chick-fil-a for a snack.
we went off to lunch, a pit stop at Condom Sense for more decorations, then time to get primped for the big night out! it started with 15 of us gals at kenichi with drinks, sushi, & pin the bow tie on the bachelor. then we met up with MR. SB & his bros for some dancing, more drinking, and a wee bit of drama. but really its not a night out w/o some drama.

Saturday.... woke up at 730am, went to the horse ranch, picked up the cake at Candy Haven (can you say YUM) shopped a bit (OMG sam moon rocks my socks! i got these cute earrings... among other things ;) ), and then got all pretty for the bridal shower. i met Southern Belle's entire family & lets just say they are fabulous! i miss them ALL already. i played paparazzi at the shower, ate yummy red velvet cake, & regretted not making time for a nap.

Sunday.... woke up at 730am, tried on our wedding outfits, gushed over how beautiful SB looked, went to BreadWinners for some tasty brunch (must try pecan waffle), and then headed back to the McMansion for an afternoon of swimming. i took a few rides down the giant water slide, once losing my shades and causing the lifeguard to call a TO so she could dive for them. Thanks lifeguard!

had to have a mambo taxi margarita before leaving texas so we stopped for a drink and chips on the way to the airport. secretly, i think this stop was SBs attempt at making me miss my flight so i could stay in dallas forever, not that i blame her.... we have so much fun we are outlawed. then Mr.SB floored it all the way to the airport, once pulling what will forever be known as
"the Oklahoma." we ran to security gate grabbing my luggage out of the runaway Volvo, and had a tearful "see you later" cuz if i had to say goodbye... well i would still be in texas.

so as of midnight, i am back in the big city and missing my bff more than ever. only 6 weeks til she is a Mrs.... woo hoo ;) Maine isnt ready for us!

nite texas.... nite nyc... nite ohio... man my heart is in a lot of places at the moment.

xoxo

tid bit of trivia

the first TV soap opera debuted in 1946. and really, where would we be without a lil General Hospital now and again!

thanks Snapple ;)

hip hopin hipsters

usually, when you ask people to go clubbin' & dancin' to the sounds of old school hip hop the last place you expect this killer club to be is Park Slope aka Preppyville aka JCrew's hood aka Hipsterland. Surprisingly, hip hop night at Southpaw* is totally fun and just as cool as dancin in the Boogie**

So, on Saturday JCrew, HelloDarling, Miss Hamburger, and their respective partners gathered in the Slope for some BBQ goodness, mathematical drinking games*** and lots of talk about how fantastic nyc is aside from the occasional cicada season. after all the beer was drank, and all the forks were tossed**** JCrews and I headed to see what was groovin at the Rub!

And it was great!!!! except for the brief moment where we made our way to the lighted dance floor area.... and realized dance clubs are dark for a reason! I was called the "catch of the night" by some guy, and i 'apparently' broke his heart when i told him i am in love with Mr.HG.

After burning some calories on the dance floor, and realizing it was WAY past our bedtime JCrew & i headed home (well to her home, i stayed at the JC Inn where i was woken with homemade blueberries & full access to the remote control!!!!) actually, i think i watched her TV more in one day than she has in the past month. but secretly i think she loved it! i mean... we watched bad reality tv from 1130 am until i finally headed home around 630pm. and it was looooooovely!

so that was my experience at the Rub!!!! i suggest you make your way to the slope and go.
oh, and PS..... did you know there was such thing as Deep Slope? and South Slope? me neither... these are the things you learn at hip hop nite!

xoxo

*it is called the Rub on the first sat of every month where this hipster club goes hip hop
**the Bronx
***im so not a geek. well, maybe a wee bit geekish ;)
**** yes, someone threw away JCrew's forks... real ones, not plastic ones.... and i was listening as JCrew realized she was going to have to dig through her garbage to recover them. funny stuff.

98 degrees and 100 % humidity

motivation to go to work tomorrow....

FREE AIR CONDITIONING!!!!

the C word

back in the 1950s Doctors promoted smoking. whatever, we didnt know it all back then.

but it is 2008 and no one should be promoting smoking especially DOCTORS. everyone knows that smoking causes lung cancer. it is a fact. period. and everyday doctors diagnose & treat people with lung cancer. so if anyone in the world should throughly know & understand the possible consequences of smoking it should be those in the medical profession right?

so why is it that so many doctors & nurses smoke?

i really dont get it.

they tell their patients not to smoke. they hook people up to chemo machines. they treat people who are dieing. they are constantly faced with telling patients the dreaded news about their disease. are they really that naive to think that cancer wont happen to them?

grrrr

*this blog came about while i was walking on the upper east side pass Lenox Hospital & i had to walk through a cloud of smoke. i looked around thinking i would be surrounded by teenagers or something. NO. there were nurses, doctors, residents, technicians, and EMT workers. all sitting outside the front of the hospital on their smoke break.....

really. i dont get it.

oh snap!

The Real Housewives of N.Y.C. and O.C. Catfightt

click it... you know you want to ;)

playing catch up

so i was a total slacker blogging the past few weeks so here is what happened....
3 weeks ago...
+went to ohio to visit Mamma G and MR. HG.
Mr.HG took me to Hibachi Japan where i went off my diet to eat delicious Japanese food cooked in mounds of butter & oil right at the table... and it was oh so good!

+went to a boxing lesson with mom & to the gym.... exercising on vacay... yeah i rock like that!

+MR. HG was the best man in wedding down in Ashland* on Saturday, so i left Canton early in the morning and drove and drove and drove until i thought i passed the exit & called MR.HG hysterical that i was lost in the middle of nowhere. apparently i hadn't traveled far enough. so i drove and drove and drove some more and then i really did miss my turn and ended up lost. go figure. the wedding was fun, Mr.HG looked so handsome, and it was great meeting more of his friends.
+I then came back to NYC & had the big meet with Martha's peeps.... sadly, no connection.
2 weeks ago....
+my mom came to visit and we had a great weekend. we started by walking around the Farmers Market in Union Square, where Mamma G had to try wheatgrass juice since it is so the "in" thing**. i offered to pull some grass out of the park & throw it in my blender at home for free, but she would rater pay the $4 for the lil tiny shot of this grassy juice. "mmmm, its so good," she claimed. rrrright.

+we took Bugsy*** to the doggie park where he made a few friends. then we headed down to SoHo for some much needed**** shoe shopping. after going in & out of every store in SoHo we headed home when my mom finally confesses, "so that juice... it tasted like grass!"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
really if you knew my mom you would be rolling on the ground laughing about this.

+oh this is the same weekend that i got bit by a dog (not my dog). OUCH
1 week ago....
+had 2 birthday parties on Saturday... one pirate themed with lots of food, cake, friends, a Power Ranger and a bouncy house. the other tequila themed with lots of food, magnolia cupcakes, friends, & a photo shoot for JCrew for her new facebook picture. um, yeah we took a lot, but finally captured just the right photo.... FOR FACEBOOK! lol hey its important.

+went to see S&TC with Trainer. cried. laughed. cried. cracked up. called everyone and gushed about how much i loved it. called Southern Belle & cried about how much i miss her.
went shopping...bought more shoes.... and then met up with KA***** from PA for some girl chat!

that brings me to this week when i hit my 20.6lb loss, took a photo of author Roxanna Robinson for People magazine, picked up my bridesmaid dress from Vera Wang, and saw S&TC for the 2nd time. it has been a fabulous couple of weeks.

so now you are all caught up. promise to be a blog slacker no more!

xoxo

*unfamiliar territory for this city girl
**according to the Backstreet Boys and those of the hemp culture
***yeah he came to visit too
****shoes are always NEEDED
*****KA just graduated from grad school... YAY :) oh and Dr.J & Dr.C graduated from doctor school AND my little graduated from law school all in the past few weeks. ... i have super smart friends!

round 2 ... still a winner

so i just got home from watching the Sex & The City movie for the second time... and let me just say it is just as good the 2nd time around. actually, its better. i cant really explain how fabulous the movie is cuz really it is that great. you will laugh, and then cry, and then in the middle of tears rolling down your cheeks Samantha's dog will hump something and you are right back to cracking up.
the friendship Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha share is unprecedented in any other movie. yes Thelma & Louise was great. Traveling Pants was fun. But ain't no one got anything on my girls ;)

so go see it already... or again. and PS New York really is that fabulous.

xoxo, HG

so not joking

Las Vegas Club Names K-Fed 'Father of the Year'what??? seriously..... far from it. i guess if its him vs. her, he would win the award.
he is the better of two evils between K-Fed* and Britney, but i would NEVER go as far to say he is father of the year. Maybe it should go to someone like Matthew Broderick or Brad Pitt who are always spotted playing with their lil ones, hugging them, caring for them... all why leaving the drugs, strippers, and party boys at home.

how bout we rename K-Fed "most improved, better than loony wife" father of the year. that sounds like a more accurate title.

*who i totally saw with my 2 doctor friends last time i was at Webster Hall. whatwhat!

lights out on broadway

Taylor Hicks is going to be in Grease.

Why?

he is apparently going to play Teen Angel* but this match up just seems really odd. i could see him in like Young Frankenstein or something... but Grease? Really?

*the guardian angel during Beauty School Dropout

my happy dance

so im watching So You Think You Can Dance* and am just a bit confused. how can the dancers who are incredible, fantastic, and breeze through the audition getting the ticket straight to Vegas leave the floor dancing like a hyena? like seriously.

they prance around the stage beautifully, get handed a ticket, exit the stage door, and start doing their happy dance. their happy dance looks more like one of the reject auditions. seriously. if Nigel and Mary just said you CAN dance, dont let the camera catch you dancing like Carlton.
just a lil FYI.

*Obvs, im a tv junkie.

xoxo