Pretty Healthy

Quinoa pasta with kale and garlic

One of my favorites lunches to make contains some of the best ingredients for you and its easy to make. I stumbled upon this recipe while I was thinking of better ways to eat kale. We all know the leafy green is amazingly good for you, but tastes very bitter, which can be a turn off to some. I thought about sauteing the kale with olive oil and garlic, and lets be honest, garlic tastes incredibly amazing with pretty much everything, and then thought about putting some chicken stock in with it. Complete genius! I could not get over how well all of the ingredients blended together while also taking away the bitter taste of the kale. After making this lunch for a couple of weeks, I saw a box of quinoa pasta while I was out with my dad. This made a great lunch dish even better and still kept  everything healthy.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of kale, trimmed off of the stem
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 cup of quinoa pasta
• 1/2 cup of chicken stock
• A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (evoo)

Directions:

Cook the pasta in a large pot according to the package instructions. Once done, set aside and wait for the kale to be finished. While the pasta is cooking, heat the evoo in a medium sized pot. Trim the kale leaves off of the stem. Make sure to wash the leaves and pat dry. Once the oil is ready, take the chopped garlic and place into the pot, making sure to stir frequently for about 3 to 4 minutes. Then take the 1/2 cup of chicken stock and pour into the pot with the garlic. Let the mixture come to a boil and then reduce to a low temperature. Place the kale into the pot, with the lid on, for about 5 minutes. Once the five minutes are up, take the lid off and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Once finished, take the pasta and place on a plate with the kale and garlic on top.

Casual Chic

The Kate Middleton

For anyone who knows me, it is no secret how much I admire Kate Middleton. The effect she has had on fashion is undeniable and I could not agree more that her style will leave a lasting mark for generations to come. After her successful trip down under with husband William and their adorable baby boy George, she is back in England doing what she does best. A recent outing with George had Kate wearing her quint essential casual outfit. The Kate Middleton outfit is classic, simple, and forever chic. To break it down, a stripped top, blue blazer, skinny jeans, and either wedges or boat shoes, though typically she wears wedges with the outfit. These are staple items that every woman should already have in her closet. Not to mention how great they are for summer with the nautical theme!

To keep with the great Kate, I wore my replica engagement ring and matching earring set. The ring was first given to Diana by Prince Charles. After her untimely death, William got the ring, and eventually presented it to Kate while proposing. I also have on a light house pin my mother had, which perfectly blends the nautical theme together. 

styleite.com

Travel Log

NYC and Beyond

To say this past weekend was exceptional would be putting it lightly. I not only had the extreme pleasure of visiting one of the most exciting cities on the earth, but I had the great opportunity to see one of my favorite musicals, The Phantom of the Opera, while also visiting with family, enjoying beautiful weather, visiting tranquil forests, and even taking in a movie at the end of the weekend to round out some wonderful memories. Justin's father came to visit us and had his first trip to New York City. We all decided to drive into the city rather than take the train, and that my friends was an adventure all in itself. Driving in New York can be a little intense, but thrilling none the less.

Once we arrived and parked the car, the decision was to have some lunch to hold us over while watching the play. We ate at Smith's near the Majestic Theater. Timing is everything and boy did we have the timing down pat. Finishing our lunch and with twenty minutes to go, we headed over to the Majestic, which was only about three minutes away, got some trinkets, and headed to our seats. What an incredible view we all had! Sitting in the front row of the third level balcony, we could see the stage perfectly and my oh my the chandelier, what a perfect view to watch it rise in the beginning and come crashing down at the end of the first act. When the lights went down and the orchestra's music filled the theater with the chandelier rising high above, I must admit I got a bit teary eyed, a feeling of awe coming over me that I was really there experiencing The Phantom live right before my eyes.

The cast did such a fantastic job and the stage sets and designs were simply out of this world. A truly breathtaking experience. I could not contain my excitement during or after the show had ended. Once the show had ended, we decided to take Justin's dad to Times Square so he could see what New York City was all about. Afterwards, we walked around a bit more, taking in the sites and gorgeous weather. Feeling a bit hungry, and with Don Giavani's restaurant in site, we ate al fresco and dined on some lovely Italian cuisine. Around 6:30 seemed to be a good time to leave, seeing as how we would have to fight traffic and unwind on the two hour drive home once actually leaving the Lincoln Tunnel. All in all, a marvelous day spent in New York City with so many memories to cherish.

Friday was more of a relaxing day. Justin and I took his dad to Ricketts Glen State park, up to where Justin's new job is, a quick stop at Bowman's creek to scout out some fishing spots, a quite dinner on our front porch followed by some summery drinks, and lastly some catching up conversation. Saturday we all headed over to Harvey's Lake to have breakfast with my dad. Afterwards, we all took a family photo by the lake and bid Garry a safe trip home, while my dad went to a picnic with the boy scouts, Justin went fishing, and I relaxed and caught up on some chores around the house. Sunday was breakfast with my dad and watching the new 22 Jump Street up at Cinemark, my most favorite movie theater.

Some Interesting facts about The Phantom of the Opera:

• Widely considered one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's most accomplished scores.
• One of the show's most spectacular set pieces is the replica of the Paris Opera House chandelier, nine feet wide and made of 6,000 beads. It weighs one ton and the original took four weeks to make, being built by five people alone.
• The falling of the chandelier is based upon a real incident at the Paris Opera House in 1896 where a falling counterweight killed a 56-year-old concierge. It was her one and only visit to the opera.
• The Phantom's latex makeup originally took three hours to make, now it is reduced to two hours.
• Since opening at the Majestic theater in 1988, Phantom has since played to over 130 million people across 27 countries and won more than 50 major awards.
• The original cast recording is the biggest selling cast recording of all time, with more than 40 million copies sold.
• In 2004 the musical was captured on the silver screen starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson. It was nominated for three Oscars.
• In 2006, the show broke the record for the longest running Broadway musical, surpassing  the 7,485 performances achieved by Cats.
• The largest grossing musical in Broadway history.
• The Phantom of The Opera is a global phenomenon, its $5.6 billion box office (to date as of last year) far outstanding blockbuster films, makes it the most successful entertainment venture of all time
• The New York City production celebrated its 25th anniversary January 2013, This feat, unprecedented in Broadway history, reaffirms the musical's iconic status, proving the classic tale's enduring popularity for audiences all over the world.

The only thing I do regret about the NYC part of our excursion is not having my camera with me. Blast! Justin did not think it would be safe to bring it to the theater seeing as how we did not know their policy with such big cameras. I did have my iphone, though it has horrid quality with indoor pictures, they are still memories none the less. So please excuse some of the quality with the iphone pictures, but do enjoy the beautiful theater settings and sky scarpers of the big apple.

Demure Dame

Basic Black

Ah, vintage clothing. Vintage anything really. This outfit of basic black and pearls could be taken right out of the 1950s. I love wearing my vintage hats out in public. I always get compliments and people saying how refreshing it is to see something so different from the norm. One woman told me that everyone looks so similar these days and that, though vintage, my look seems new and invigorating. I could not help but think of the famous phrase, everything old is new again. I could not agree more.

The hair style was really quite east to make. First gather your hair into a low pony tail. Then, take the tail and make a hole right above the elastic band for the tail to go through. Keep repeating the process until you have the desired length and twist into the sides of your hair. Finally, roll up the remainder of the tail and pin into the hair.

“I like old movies, screwball comedies, vintage clothes, and basically I’m an old-fashioned girl. ”

— Zooey Deschanel

Good Reads

Summer Edition

I always have a beautiful vision of relaxing in the summer sun with a warm breeze blowing, the birds chirping, and a cool beverage in my one hand with a fascinating book in my other. Whether in my backyard, by the sea, or poolside, a summer read should give the opportunity to sit back and relax for a little while.  I always  find myself becoming busier during the warmer months, so knowing I can have a few moments to take a breather and become immersed into another world seems to good to resist.

Some books on my reading list are as follows:

• These Few Precious Days by Christopher Andrews. This book tells of the final year of John and Jackie Kennedy before the assassination occurred. Being the huge Kennedy fan that I am, this climbed to the top of my list as a must read. Rare, behind-the-scenes moments, detailing their tender and complex love story like never seen before.
• Marilyn Monroe The Finals Years by Keith Badman. Detailing the last two years of her life, while setting the record straight on all of the rumors that continue to surround America's biggest movie star there ever was.
• Cutting Teeth by Julia Fierro. A group of 30 somethings meet at a beach house over a summer weekend. This book was named one of the "30 must reads of 2014" by the Huffington Post. Sounds good to me!
• Gone Girl By Gillian Flynn. I've been wanting to read this for a while after hearing so many good things about it. Especially now that the book is set to hit theaters towards the end of the year, I want to read up on it before actually seeing the movie.
• Insurgent by Veronica Roth. Book number two in the Divergent series, this sequel picks up with Tris who must continue to fight for the ones she loves and deal with the oncoming war ahead. After seeing the movie "Divergent" in theaters, I instantly liked the story and knew this series would become something big similar to The Hunger Games.

Simple Pleasures

Tea Time and Macarons

Mornings have always been one of my favorite times of the day. The fresh new clean feeling, the endless amount of possibilities that could occur, and the grateful sense of knowing I have made it another day. One morning activity I quite adore is to sit back, while after having my breakfast, to take a moment to enjoy a simple pleasure of mine, tea and macaron cookies. Albeit, this is not an everyday occurrence, but that makes it more special when it does. These little darlings became popular in France and soon made their way state side. While I cannot get the little cookie locally, only bigger cities seem to have them in Pennsylvania, I treasure the ones I do have the chance to acquire. Light and airy with either a creme or jelly center, macarons have become a new favorite of mine, not to mention how pretty they look! I also like to get my little sweet treat out of the way in the morning so I have the rest of the day to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to make up for it. Remember, moderation is key.

Birthday Bliss

Happy 24th Birthday Michael!

Today is my brothers 24th birthday and I could not be more excited to celebrate it with him. He and I are pictured above in May of 1992 with a dandelion bouquet we picked out. Since it is a Thursday, and "throwback' Thursday's are so popular, I thought it would be nice to post a picture of us from back in the day. I chose this picture because it represents how close my brother and I are, but also because it is pretty darn cute! We grew up as best friends and still remain that way today. I could not have asked for a better brother than Michael. He's always there whenever you need him and shows his generosity when you least expect it. After our mom passed, I feel that we grew even closer with a silent understanding that life is short and to enjoy as many moments as you can together. Our plans for today are low key, and if you know my brother, that fits in perfectly with him. Browsing around town looking for a truck he could purchase, dinner at the casino, trying our hand with lady luck, and enjoying some lovely libations.  So glasses raised to my little brother, cheers and many more to come! Happy Birthday.

Travel Log History

The Magical Ferris Wheel

A staple at every carnival and amusement park, the Ferris Wheel provides its riders with great spectacular views, sweet little romantic moments, or just a quick escape from the ground below. I have always been quite mystified by the giant wheel and its colorful cars carrying people into the sky and back. A few months ago I read the book "The Devil in the White City" written by Erik Larson. An absolutely fantastic read detailing the creation of the 1893 Chicago's World Fair along with a behind the scenes story of a serial killer running a muck. The tagline reads, "Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America." If that does not catch your interest then I do not know what will! Quite an interesting history, I assure you. While reading the book I learned the story behind the creation of the great Ferris Wheel for the expedition. I found this to be fascinating since no one really ever stops to think about how this staple came to be. I was so thrilled to photograph it while Alison and I were on our Knoebels journey. See the previous post for more pictures from the park

 A short summary from howstuffworks.com perfectly tells the story behind this mystical wheel. "For the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, engineer George Ferris presented fair organizers with his idea of a giant rotating wheel that would carry passengers in cars attached around the outer edge. He convinced organizers to allow him to build the structure, which would rival France's Eiffel Tower. Indeed, Ferris's wheel, which cost $380,000 and stood 264 feet tall with a wheel diameter of 250 feet, was a huge success. Each car held 60 people, and, at 50 cents a ride, the wheel was one of the most popular attractions at the World's Fair. The Ferris wheel is a must-have for any carnival, and thousands of replications continue to delight passengers of all ages."

Travel Log

Knoebels Amusement Park

One thing that never gets old in the summer is amusement parks. In my area the family run and owned Knoebels opened its doors on July 4, 1926 and has never looked back. It is currently the largest admission free amusement park in America. The charm of Knoebels lies within its location in a forested area and allowing all age groups to enjoy the festivities without having to pay a fee. For me, the charm of the park comes from its ability to relive my childhood happiness. My mom and dad would always bring my brother Michael and I to the park around dinner time. By then most of the visitors were leaving, the warm summer air was starting to cool off, and the spectacular lights on all of the rides were starting to come on. It was magical. We would arrive and have our dinner over at the baked potato stand and then start our night of pure happiness. Perhaps that is where the key to Knoebels lies, being able to, if only for a few hours out of the day, have those magical memories be brought to life again.

For this journey to Knoebels, my friend Alison and I (our families would often go to Knoebels together) traveled down to the park specifically to capture the beautiful scenery and rides. I never wanted to bring my camera into the park while riding the rides so this proved to be a great opportunity to photograph the experience.  We both got great shots and ended up having enough time left over to enjoy some of the rides. We stayed until closing trying to cram in as much fun as we could. All in all it was a great day beautifully captured.

Nifty Nautical

One thing I simply cannot get enough of in summer is nautical fashion. Whether it's stripes, anchors, sailboats or whales, I can never get my fill of the wonderfully classic style. The colors of red, white and blue (how patriotic!) always feel fresh and have such a timeless feel to them. Some nautical fashions also incorporate black and gray into the picture. As soon as the warmer weather hits, I immediately pull all of my nautical clothes out of their storage and start piecing together my outfits. From dresses to t-shirts, this style can fit any age and style you wish. This dress comprises of the ever popular blue and white stripe with a rope textured belt. The red and gold chained bag is elegant and stays true to the nautical feel. The hat, vintage of course!, fits right in with its navy blue color. The shoes, I cannot say enough how in love I am with this pair, are a bright retro red with red jewels on them. After my recent visit to Cape Cod, I feel even more attuned with all things nautical. Truly a summer staple that always delights. Ships Ahoy!

Dress Modcloth, Bag Bag Banana Republic, Hat vintage, Shoes DSW, Ring Jacquline Kennedy reproduction

I purchased this ring up in Hyannis on Cape Cod. It is a reproduction of a sapphire ring Jacqueline Kennedy owned. She purchased the ring on a summer trip to Europe in the 1970s. Round simulated sapphires sparkle at the center of this 24K gold-plated ring. Two rows of clear and dark blue Swarovski crystals form a stunning circular pattern.

““Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.””

— Mark Twain

“ We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it - we are going back from whence we came.”

— John F. Kennedy

Travel Log

My Family Trip to Cape Cod 2014

There are few places I love more to be in than Cape Cod. Specifically the charming town of Hyannis. Now if the name sounds familiar to you, most likely you know it because the Kennedy family lived in Hyannis Port, which is about two miles down the road from where our hotel was. Each town has their own appeal with little main streets, fantastic places to eat, and incredible sites to see including light houses, beaches, vineyards, museums, and so much more! I feel the most at peace and relaxed while I'm there. Last year my dad and I traveled to Hyannis so we could experience all things JFK. Being a big fan and admirer, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and hoped to get back to indulge in all of the wonderful sites we had yet to see. Luckily, we decided to once again travel to Cape Cod this year and finish off some items from the bucket list created in preparation for last years trip. My brother Michael joined us on the 2014 voyage to Hyannis and I was so happy he could experience this with us. Everyone should go to Cape Cod at least once in their life time. Some highlights from the trip include:

• The JFK Museum
• Nantucket
• Being out on the open waters to travel to Nantucket
• Celebrating my birthday, which also happens to be the same day as JFK's birthday!, in and around his hometown
• Nauset beach and the lighthouse (this lighthouse is on the Cape Cod potato chip bag)
• Seeing the Kennedy Compound up close in person
• Seeing JFK and Jackie's house from street level
• Climbing to the top of the Highland Lighthouse
• The Truro Vineyard
• The Chatham Lighthouse
• Eating at Columbo's, The Chatham Squire, Moby Dick's, The Black Cat, and The Dockside
• Finally, the hotel itself will always hold a special place in my heart. Having tea in the library, the amazing view from out deck of the harbor, having breakfast in the library and gazing across the harbor, and most of all, sitting by the fire pit in adirondack chairs, sipping on some beer while reminiscing about life and looking upon the ships entering and leaving the harbor.

“I always go to Hyannisport to be revived, to know again the power of the sea and the Master who rules over it and all of us.””

— John F. Kennedy

Healthy Bites

Balsamic Roast Pork Tenderloins

One of my favorite go to meals to make is Balsamic Roast Tenderloins. They're rather easy to make and pack a whole lot of flavor from all of the garlic and herbs piled high on top of them. Not only that, but this meal comprises of all healthy ingredients ranging from the garlic, herbs, and evoo. Garlic is known to be a natural immune booster, has loads of vitamin C and B6 in it, regulates blood sugar, fights bacterial infections, and reduces cholesterol. Rosemary is known to improve digestion, enhance memory concentration, fights free radicals in the brain, and boots the immune system with antioxidants. Thyme is rich in vitamin A, contains antiseptic and antibiotic properties, aids in digestion, improves the appearance of acne, and controls blood pressure levels. Without further ado, here is the yummy recipe you can enjoy while also reaping all of the healthy benefits!

What you'll need:

• 1 package or 4 pork tenderloins
• 4 tbls of balsamic vinegar
• 4 tbls of extra virgin olive oil  (evoo)
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• steak seasoning or coarse salt and pepper
• 4 sprigs of rosemary, stripped and finely chopped
• 4 sprigs of thyme, stripped and finely chopped

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
• Trim the fat off of the tenderloins
• Coat the tenderloins with balsamic vinegar. About 1 tbl spoon per tenderloin,
• Drizzle pork with evoo, just enough to coat
• Cut small slits into the meat and disperse chunks of garlic into the meat
• Combine steak seasoning with rosemary and thyme and rub meat with the blend.
• Place the tenderloins onto a nonstick cookie sheet.
• Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Beauty All Around

One of the biggest complaints I hear when dealing with photography is there is nothing to shoot. Not so! Simply go outside into the backyard or nearby area to capture the scenery around you. The simpleness of a single flower can make a huge impact in a photo. People just walk by them everyday and do not realize the beauty they possess or how intriguing they can be. All of these photos were recently captured around my property. The photo of the lake at sunset was taken about 15 minutes from my house. An easier step to remember when shooting flowers is to try and get the background blurred out for that quality impact shot. Basically, you want to keep the aperture wide open and depending on your lens, that could be at a 1.8 to a 5.6. Then zoom in on the flower, pick a focus point, and voila, you're on your way to capturing all the beauty around you. On a side note, the rhododendron blooms were taken just after it had rained outside. The tiny water droplets really add depth to the image. Some people like to take a water spritzer with them to add water into the photograph and while I've never done this myself, it without question will give the photo that something extra special. All in all, open your eyes to see the world around you. Anything from a dandelion, flower, bird feeder, leaf, insect, bumblebee, bird, rocks, or a new perspective or angle can widen your horizons when photographing. 

Blush in Bloom

Lovely Lace

Recently I've been getting into vintage hats. I adore the delicate pink flowers on this one. It feels so feminine and fresh for Spring and Summer. To compliment the look I chose a blush lace dress with a vintage beaded clutch from my grandmother. The beading has little pink flowers on it. The broach is also vintage with pink rhinestones and a gold finish. I wanted the shoes to be more modern with the height and decided on a pair of nude color ones so they would blend in with the outfit. Notice the tips of the heels have little rhinestones on them. I wore this outfit to my friends baby shower since she is having a little girl, I can't wait to meet you little Madison!, and also, this would be perfect for a lunch date with friends or for some afternoon tea.