Menu Plan Monday - Week of February 28

So today is not only my 21st b-day... whoop whoop! But also the day I have resolved to start getting healthy and fit and skinny again. I am preparing my breakfast, snacks, and lunches every evening in a little baggy that I can grab on the run in the morning. I will also be making yummy healthy dinners at least 6 nights a week. Not only will this be good on our tummies but our wallets as well :)

So here is this week's menu (It sounds so yummy that I just can't wait until dinners this week!):

Garlic Potato Soup Eat Tweet p. 86

Veracruz Style Caesar Salad (This is how we had it on our honeymoon and we've been craving it since)

Recipe:

Two small heads Romain Lettuce

Onion Slices

Light Caesar Dressing

Shrimp (Fresh or Frozen Cooked)

Red Pepper Flakes

Salt & pepper

1 Tbs Minced Garlic

1.5 Tbs Chili Paste

Heat/Cook shrimp in med saucepan. Mix garlic and chili paste and pour over shrimp until coated. Season with red pepper, salt and pepper to taste.  

Wash lettuce, wrap each head with a few onion slices. Arrange shrimp next to lettuce heads. Drizzle with dressing and serve with garlic bread.

Fettuccine Alfredo w/ Shrimp Eat Tweet p.139

Hollandaise Steak served with Baked Potatoes (Inspired by the delicious Paris, Texas taco at Good To Go)

Recipe:

3 egg yolks

1 Tbsp Lemon juice

1/4 Tsp Dijon Mustard

Pinch of Cayenne

1/2 C Melted Butter

To prepare Hollandaise sauce: blend egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and  cayenne for 5 seconds. Pour melted butter into mixture while blending on high. Keep sauce warm by placing blender container in a pan of hot tap water. 

Cook med potatoes in microwave until softened. Cook Steaks on grill or stovetop. 

Serve steaks with sauce poured on top and potatoes on the side with desired fixings. 

Beef Fajita Quesadillas 

Ground Beef Tacos

Doesn't this all sound so yummy!? And best yet I only have to get these few items to make these meals and our brown bag lunches possible. Cheers to pantry cooking!

bread

lunch meat

peanut butter

2 sm. onion

Chicken Broth (4 cups)

Garlic

2 sm. romaine lettuce

light caesar dressing

shrimp

chili paste

fettuccine

3 C Parm

avocado

1lb Ground Beef

under 100 calorie snacks - 100 calorie bag snacks, slim fast bars, etc...

Alternative Vs. Hipster

So my life-long best friend is in town this week and we got into a discussion of "Hipsterism" last night. Apparently she has never heard of this despite coming from Boston O_O So we were trying to explain that Hipsters are people in our age group who strive to be alternative for the sake of being alternative and have an attitude that makes you want to punch them in the face.

In our quest to better explain this, I found two fantastic articles: How to be a Hipster and How to be Alternative Without Being a 'Hipster'.

Now I will be the first one to admit that I teeter on the line of being a Hipster and at points in my life I was in fact one. I am truly sorry for anyone who I made feel like crap in my pursuit to make myself feel cool :(
This is now something I struggle with regularly since I am a creative person and professional artist. I am naturally drawn to singer/songwriter music and indie-style bands like Belle & Sebastian and enjoy reading and watching indie movies (yes Everything is Illuminated is on my fave 5 list). And I do find great pleasure in knowing obscure facts which are often provided by the Vlogbrothers. So how do I continue to enjoy the things I love while not falling into the snare of Hipsterdom? :-/

Well that's where I found article How to be Alternative Without Being a 'Hipster' so insightful. Because it highlighted that in the end Hipsters are defined by their attitude. So to be a little different without being hipster involves (quoted article below):

1. Be passionate about things! One of the biggest "hipster" qualities is that they have the look of not caring about anything. So love something, and be proud of loving it and sticking to it. (I am totally passionate about things... ask my husband and my friends. They purposely enjoy pushing my buttons to see me get wound up about the topics that I possibly care too much about but just can't help it.)
2.Smile. Show your joy, happiness rubs off on people, and people will definitely like you better if you're rubbing happiness all over them. (While I am not the most cheery person ever -forgive me that I happen to struggle with anxiety and depression - I do try to be smiley and happy in public. Luke even notes that I put on my fake cheerful voice when talking to strangers and on the phone. So that should count for something, right?)
3. Try to both consume *AND* create! If you are into the art world. (Oh I consume all right! I have hope and ideals of recycling and conserving our energy and I know how all right but I'm just to plain lazy to actually implement real changes. The best I can do is reuse whatever I can for craft projects.)
4. Don't be too proud, it turns people off. (I have prideful moments, but I also struggle with self esteem issues and hate braggarts so I surely hope I don't come across as a proud individual.)
5. Pick clothes for their daring qualities, but only pick things you like! Be creative with your outfits. (I have unique elements of clothing but most often put on whatever fits and is closest, little thought goes into my wardrobe after the initial purchase so I can't say I am any sort of fashionista.)
6. Most importantly, don't judge. You can learn something from everyone, and everyone isn't what they seem. (I try to live behind the motto of "don't judge" so hopefully this point applies to me. I wholeheartedly know that there is something to be learned from everyone and that you are never too old or smart to learn new things. Every job and opportunity is a learning experience.)


Maybe in this pursuit to defend my non-hipsterness, I am in fact committing a hipsteresk act. I do not know. But I just wanted to get that off my chest :)


Oh and if you have done so already via my twitter feed check out my latest work project Balch Springs Unbound!

Summer & Fall 2011 Wedding Color Picks

Then here's a little inspiration via my color picks for Summer and Fall 2011.

I make these color boards for free as part of my consultation package at Mismikado Creations. Just shoot me an email or leave me a comment if you want one. Turn around time varies on how backed up I am with work but I try to get them done within 2 weeks of a request :)

The Flower Shop Giveaway

Hey guys! I know I have been super absent lately but it's all for good cause. I have been so swamped it's unreal and when I finally catch to breaths I will update you on all my recent projects.


But for now I have a sweet little giveaway for you guys!

The Flower Shop in Coppell, TX is offering one of my readers a $30 gift certificate for their next floral order. No matter what time of year, there is aways a perfect occasion to send someone flowers and now you get 30 extra dollars to really pick something nice out for someone special.


The Flower Shop is affiliated with the flower cart group of florists in the nation and is a dallas florist delivery service. They are located at 600 E. Sandy Lake Rd, Suite 110, Coppell, TX 75019 and can be reached by  phone at 972-393-0146.

To enter this giveaway simply leave a comment with you email address and who you plan to send flowers to. You can get an extra entry by tweeting about this giveaway @mismikado.


I will randomly draw the winner on Wednesday, February 16.






FTC Disclosure: The Flower Shop and I got together thanks to Business 2 Blogger, connecting businesses to the bloggers who write about them.  The Flower Shop provided me with monetary reimbursement in exchange for the writing of this post.  All images were used with permission by The Flower Shop.