Cream of Chicken Soup is Disgusting

Several recipes I have used in the past year or so, have called for 'cream of chicken soup.'  The first few times, I dumped in the gelatinous concoction, without really thinking much of it.  A few months ago, though, I dumped in a can to a casserole and could barely control how disgusted I truly was.  Even though I always purchase the low-fat, low-sodium option, it was truly awful.  The 'chicken' looked like dog food, and it was so jello-y that it held the mold of the can.  Ick!

Yesterday, we made a recipe that called for cream of chicken soup, and I refused to use it.  So, I started searching for substitute recipes, and I found a great and super easy one!  Hubby actually prepared it while I was holed up in bed with a pinched nerve in my back, and he said it couldn't have been easier. 

Here is the link!

my favorite exercise dvd

I love Bethenny Frankel.  Her honesty is refreshing, and my favorite people in the world are always people like her:  you always know where you stand with them, and there is little to no bs involved in the relationship.  I wish people were more open and honest.

If I'm too lazy/unmotivated to go to the gym, I usually pop in a workout DVD.  I used to do the Exercise On Demand on out UVerse, but that is no longer.  However, I wouldn't go back, because now I do the Body by Bethenny DVD.  I absolutely love it.

I've been doing yoga regularly for almost 10 years now, and I consider myself to at least be intermediate to advanced.  I know almost every pose by heart and can do them on demand.  This DVD is perfect for me.  I absolutely cannot STAND to do slow, basic, beginner yoga anymore.  It is beyond boring to me, and I lose interest in 1 nanosecond.  This DVD gets right to the point, and no matter how many times I do it is still challenging.  I usually only do the yoga portion, and at 40 minutes, it is a great and efficient workout.  (Also, bonus:  it is SO relaxing that I feel like I've just been to the spa afterward).

No matter your fitness level, I recommend doing yoga to supplement your regular cardio exercise (or just begin a new exercise regimen).  The calming effects are so addicting, and you can make it as intense or light and easy as you want to!

Birthday Haul

I have such a wonderful and loving family, and they really spoil me and make me feel special on my birthdays.  Kyle and I are still lucky enough to have some disposable income before children, so it's nice to treat ourselves once in a while.  I got some wonderful things for my birthday!

Paige Denim Bootcut Jeans:  My sister and I went shopping at Nordstrom this past weekend, and on a whim, I decided to try on some designer denim.  My beloved Gap Real Straight has betrayed me with whiskering on the thighs and strange/irregular sizing, so I needed some new jeans yesterday.  I tried on several styles/brands and fell in love with these.  I had absolutely no intention of purchasing these babies at their expensive price, but I had to.  So, hubby and I agreed that this would be part of my birthday present this year.  They are AMAZING!!

Aquolina Pink Sugar Rollerball:  I've been wanting this perfume for almost TEN years now, and have never bought it.  I had a birthday gift at Sephora as part of their beauty rewards program, so, with my sister's encouragement finally purchased a rollerball.  This stuff smells FANTASTIC.  Like cotton candy meets warm vanilla sugar meets heaven.  The rollerball is also the perfect size and I love it's portability.

Longchamp Le Pliage Backpack:  I've had a disgusting, stained, college backpack that I travel with and on our honeymoon I finally realized how gross it was that I still used it.  I added this backpack to my Amazon Wishlist, and my wonderful in-laws bought it for me.  I LOVE it.  It's smaller than I'm used it, but it is SO perfect for travel.  It also matches my Le Pliage larger tote and is so much chicer than my Jansport.  Ha!

Michael Kors Gold Runway Watch:  I finally jumped on the MK watch bandwagon and am never turning back.  His watches are so fun and fabulous!  They are super sturdy and very heavy (which I like).  I have insanely skinny skeleton-wrists, so I was concerned the watch would be too big on me.  While they had to remove 4 links, the watch fits perfectly!

Tory Burch Black Revas with Silver Emblem:  Holy crap on a cracker have I wanted these shoes for as long as I can remember!  To me, they are the perfect black flat.  I have never been able to fully commit to purchasing them myself.  However, my sweet husband told my sweet in-laws that I was dying for them, and here they are!  I'm usually a 9, but ordered the 9.5 and they fit perfectly.  I also have a pair of her Caroline flats, and these are MUCH more comfortable.

My mom also happened to be in Barcelona the week before my birthday and got me some amazing things from there, including a beautiful fan.  I love region-unique collectables!

Getting My Fitness On

I have never been an athletic person, nor am I competitive in nature.  I am on a kickball beer league with my husband, and he loves to tease me about how 'calm and collected' I am the whole time.  It's not like I don't want to win; I just enjoy socializing and chatting more than playing the game.

Last summer, I joined a gym with a friend.  It's a no-contract, no-enrollment fee gym, so I figured I had nothing to lose.  For some reason, I had always had horrible anxiety about going to the gym alone.  In fact, a few years before, I had a gym membership for three months and never went once.  I am so beyond grateful that my friend was my catalyst in joining.   

I initially had some anxiety about the new experience, but with my friend's support, it got easier.  At times, I would have to go by myself.  This time was different because I started going to classes at the gym.  Before, I would go the gym, hop on an elliptical, get bored, and leave within 20-30 minutes.  It was hardly an effective workout, nor was it worth the time and effort of going to the gym.  I absolutely loved the classes and actually found myself (internally of course) competing with fellow class members.  My mantra was (and still is), "if she or he can do those extra reps, so can I!"  Group exercise has truly changed my life and my fitness philosophy.

Now, I am full on addicted to the feeling that I have AFTER I leave the gym.  There is truly no better feeling in the world.  I feel so fulfilled, and my head is so clear after working out that I hope I don't ever stop!

How do you stay fit/healthy?

Beauty Game Changer

I've been meaning to share this beauty game changer with you guys for a while now.  It's the Beauty Blender makeup sponge.

My husband purchased some a few as a stocking stuffer this past Christmas, and I haven't looked back since.  This makeup sponge has truly changed my makeup routine for the better.  It's super soft and spongy and is perfect for both applying concealer in the tiniest of corners around my eyes with the pointed end and for applying foundation or concealer to larger areas like my forehead with the rounded end.


You can use it wet or dry.  I wet the sponge slightly with water, squeeze the remaining out, and then pat the surface with a towel to get the extra moisture out; I think the sponge works best slightly damp.


My makeup has never gone on so smooth and flawless.  The coverage is also much better than applying with my fingertips, and I don't get the brush stroke and uneven application that I did with my foundation/concealer brushes.

Have you ever tried the bb?

Honeymoon Reads

I'm baaaaaack!!!!!!!!!

Actually I've been back for over a week now and have just been too lazy to post anything.  I think my brain is still on 'island time.'  (I hope it stays that way for a while).

I'm a speed-reader when it comes to books that I actually enjoy, so I devoured 4 books in 6 days on my honeymoon.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill:  Yes, I jumped on the bandwagon.  I absolutely love ghost stories, but I cannot watch the movies.  They are misery to me.  However, I enjoyed this quick read.  I read it the first day and was done mid-way to Puerto Rico on our second flight (so about 4 hours of reading time).  I'd recommend it for a quick, mindless read with vivid imagery.  Three out of five stars!

 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs:  Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore/computer to purchase this book!!!!!!!  It was FANTASTIC!  One of the best books I have read in a very long time.  The book is historical fiction(ish) with some suspense and humor thrown in.  I absolutely loved it.  Five out of five stars for sure!

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson:  Full disclosure here:  I bought this book thinking it was 'The House on Haunted Hill.'  I both loved/hated the movie version because it scared the pants off of me, so I decided I wanted another ghost story read and purchased this novel.  It is actually a Penguin Classic, and it was very good.  The first five minutes in, I instantly realized it was the wrong book, because I have also seen the movie version of this book about 15 times.  So, I was very familiar with the story line, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the movie and book plots differed greatly.  I enjoyed this book, although it wasn't a page turner.  It has good literary merit, however, and the prelude to the book at the beginning was very helpful.  Two out of five stars.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella:  I adore, no LOVE Sophie Kinsella.  I have officially now read all of her books (and am currently reading her new one), and I have loved them all.  The plot of this book is a little odd, but it is truly hilarious.  I laughed out loud several times while reading this (on a plane like a freakshow), and would recommend this for a good, mindless read.  Four out of five stars!