Fab Friday Faves 2.26.16

Happy Friday Beauties!  Greetings from Maryland, the state that can't decide between freezing cold  and blizzards and humid and thunderstorms.  I would take a happy medium!  The weekend was actually beautiful, we spent some time in Annapolis and it felt fantastic to have 60F temperatures!  Then it got cold, and then Wednesday we had violent thunderstorms that hit what seems like the entire east coast.  On Monday, I went back to Annapolis with Lindsey, the kids and Nicole.  we went to this AMAZING mall where we spent the afternoon with the kids.  There were some really great and unique stores there that I never get to go to, so it was nice for some change and the kids are always so much fun to hang out with!  Wednesday I had to go for my one week eye check up to make sure that my contacts were fitting properly and not hurting my eyes.  Everything looked good and I THINK that I finally have the hang of how to get them out, so I ordered a box of colored ones (just a brighter green) to try out.  I'm hoping that they arrive soon because I am really excited to try them out.  Honestly that is pretty much the extent of my week.  I was actually really busy, but mostly I am running slow and really tired because I cannot get over this stupid cold I have had for two weeks!  I never get colds so I figure it is just making up for the lack of sickness I have had in the last few years.  Hopefully i can go another couple weeks without getting another one.

Josh and I plan on getting a Maryland Wine Passport this weekend and going to try out some of the 80ish wineries in the state, and probably out to a place called the Calvert Cliffs for some hiking.  Hopefully the weather stays decent!

Everyone enjoy your weekend!

1. Like I mentioned, Josh and I went to Annapolis, Maryland, home of the U.S Naval Academy.  this has to be on of the most prettiest, most historic, most fun towns I have ever been to.  It is filled with old buildings (almost every business and home has a plaque on it, telling it's historic significance) and awesome little bars, shops and restaurants.  We had such a great time wandering and having lunch and taking in the sites.

2.  I finally had to include my favorite magazine in my 5.  I have read Real Simple for years and it is absolutely my favorite magazine ever.  It has the best recipes, home ideas and just in general great articles and amazing photos.

3.  I have been getting samples of 100% Pure in my Birchbox for a couple years now and loved everything, so around Christmas I took the plunge and bought the Vitamin A and CoQ10 Wrinkle Smoothing Night Cream.  I am IN LOVE with it.  My skin has never  felt so hydrated and smooth.  When we went to Annapolis on Monday, there happened to be a 100% Pure store in the mall so I decided to check one of their most popular products, the Jasmine Green Tea Caffeine Eye Cream and again I am in love.  It gets rid of the little crows feet under my eyes which makes me happy.  They also have a new makeup line  and a haircare line, and I plan on trying all of them.  Check out their stuff here.

4. Kiko milano has been one of my favorite makeup stores for about a year now.  We had one in the mall in Jersey City and I love their reasonably priced products.  The mall in Annapolis had the store and they had some of their products on buy 3 get 3 free, including their valentines line.  I loved the lipstick colors and I know they are great quality AND how cute are the heart shaped lipsticks and the little hearts on the tubes?

5.  Nicole introduced this Coconut Rice from Target to me a few weeks ago and I could be addicted if I let myself!  It is so good and so simple and I don't even love rice.  I also hate cooking it so it makes it way better. 

This week I'm linking up with:

Jennie @ The Diary of a Real Housewife
Erika @ A Little Bit of Everything
Lauren @ Style Elixir
Katie @ Cup of Tea
Amy @ The Farmer's Wife
April @ A. Liz Adventures

*Recipe* Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs

I can't say that before this recipe I had ever cooked short ribs.  I'm not sure why, I have had them at a few restaurants and they are one of my favorite things.  Luckily this recipe did not disappoint at all.  The meat was probably the most tender meat I have ever eaten. and the sauce was rich and delicious.   Serve it over mashed potatoes or with cornbread or a fresh bun.  It is a really easy dish that is better the longer it's left in the slow cooker, so get it ready tonight and start up the slow cooker in the morning before work!

Ingredients

1/3 cup flour 

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

2.5-3 lbs beef short ribs (boneless or bone in)

1/4 cup butter

1 onion, chopped

1 cup beef broth

3/4 cup red wine (or red wine vinegar if you don't use wine in cooking)

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 tbsp ketchup

4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp minced garlic

3 tsp chili powder

1 tsp Sriracha

                          

Directions

- Put flour, salt and pepper in a large ziplock bag

-Add ribs and shake to coat

-Brown ribs in a large skillet

                           

-Put in slow cooker

-In same skillet, combine remaining ingredients

-Bring to a boil, stirring frequently

-Pour over ribs in slow cooker

-Cover and cook on low for 9 hours (this can be adjusted if you don't have that much time and you want to cook on high)

-Enjoy!

Fab Friday Faves 2.19.15

Happy Friday my darlings!  It is frigid here, again, the entire week has been so cold!  Josh and I had a lovely early Valentines on Saturday in Alexandria, Virginia, wandering around and exploring the super cool Old Town area of the city.  We had a nice dinner and it was so cold and such a windchill after dinner that we took a cab from the restaurant, the six blocks back to the truck!  Sunday I developed a cold that i have been fighting now since then, not sure where or how I got it but it's a doozy!  I went through three boxes of Kleenex on Tuesday and my ear drums still feel like they might explode!  

I went and got fitted for contacts on Wednesday, so that was fun, I caught on right away, BUT right after my fitting I went and got long gel nails which make getting them out a lot harder than it should be.  Still, having them will be nice so I don't always have to wear my glasses in the summer and can wear my many pairs of non prescription sunglasses.  Last night, Josh and I went out for dinner with The Marston's to Texas Roadhouse and had a great time.  It's the first time we have been out with them in the evening so it was fun to all get together.  I have continued to go to the gym everyday this week despite being sick.  I actually feel pretty decent while I'm there but by afternoon I feel like death!

I'm not sure what we are up to this weekend but the weather is supposed to be the warmest it's been since I have been here 16c (60ish F) so we need to get out and do some exploring!  Every one have a fantastic weekend and enjoy my 5!

1. As I mentioned, Josh and I went to Alexandria, VA for a pre- Valentines dinner and wander.  It was super cold but we got to check out the awesome area nd we had an amazing steak dinner at Charthouse.  Check out the sunset overlooking National Harbor in DC, so pretty!  I also got some lovely flowers and for dessert, we had the most amazing dessert i have ever had, this ice-cream topped lava cake.  

2. On Sunday, while the husbands went snowboarding and skiing, us girls and the Duke kids went out for a really delicious, fun Mexican lunch at Cafe Rio.  We had never heard of Cafe Rio, but it had good reviews and and seemed family friendly.  It actually turned out to be great!  Very much Chipotle style (which I love) but maybe even better and it is a much more local restaurant which I also like.  Highly recommend for some quick Mexican.  Also check out their lemonade bar, with tons of yummy  non-alcoholic drinks and lemonades.  

3. In Old Town Alexandria, we stopped at some antique stores, and in one I found this first edition Stuart Little.  I love Stuart Little, E.B White and old books so I was thrilled!  I also found a really old Peanuts book and got some old stamps too.  

4. As I mentioned I got my nails done on Wednesday.  I haven't had dealt gel nails for almost a couple years because of having a hard time finding a decent place to get them done in Peru, and then they were just really expensive in New Jersey.  It is so nice to have them back and Char at Tropical nails is a doll and did an awesome job.

 5.  I decided to use the cold weather time to do something productive, like building a puzzle.  I found this one on Amazon, and thought it wouldn't be THAT hard!  I may have gotten in over my head but I am working slowly at it and am really enjoying it!



Today I'm linking up with:

Jennie @ The Diary of a Real Housewife
Erika @ A little Bit of Everything
Lauren @ Style Elixir
April @ A. Liz Adventures
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC
Katie @ Cup of Tea
Amy @ The Farmer's Wife

Our First Quick Trip into DC

We've been living in Maryland for almost a month now, and it has been cold and snowy the whole time unfortunately.  BUT, sometimes you just have to suck it up and get out.  So we decided to take the 30 minute drive into Washington, DC and take in some of the sites.  Like I said, it was cold, but we were bundled up to enjoy a few hours of wandering around and checking out some of the main points of interest.  I'm not going to lie, I haven't done the research on the history of everything yet, but I am sure most of you will recognize most of the buildings and memorials that we made it to.  We will be making more trips in I'm sure, once the weather warms up and my face doesn't hurt while walking around!

This was a beautiful home that we saw on the drive in.  There are some huge, old, gorgeous brick homes on the drive in.  

The view of the Capitol.

Another cool home.

Our first stop was a restaurant I saw on Diner's Drive Ins and Dives a few months ago called the Tune in.  They were on the show for a sandwich that looked amazing, but when I actually saw the sandwich in person I knew there was no way I could ever eat.  So, I got the Tune Inn Burger and drunken gravy fries and Josh got a Beer Battered Deep Fried Burger.  So delicious and it was such an awesome little Dive Bar.

The Capitol Building is being restored I assume.  Still really cool.

The Dwight Eisenhower Executive Office Building.  So beautiful.

Next was the obvious, the White House!  It was a lot further way from the street than they make it look on TV but still really cool to see it.

The Washington Monument, another iconic one.  I actually was trying to get a picture of a bunch of birds with it in the background but only one little guy stuck around.

The view of the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool from the Washington Monument.  Unfortunately the Reflecting Pool is drained for the winter.

At the WW2 Memorial.  It is massive and an amazing.

Josh and the Maine memorial.

Closer up at the Lincoln Memorial.

Empty Reflecting Pool.

"You are Here"  thanks for the tip.

Even on this cold, windy day there were a ton of people out here.

The Korean War Monument.  Such a beautiful tribute.

This wall is covered in the faces of soldiers.  Really hard to get a picture of but really amazing!

The Vietnam War Memorial.  These are the most lifelike statues ever.  You can see the wall with all the names in the background and a lot of geese.

We started to walk back after to the truck as the sun was starting to go down and it was cold!  And the parking was running out on the truck too.  We walked by the Federal Reserve building on the way back.

And the Department of the Interior.  I have to also mention, I was like two blocks away from ym lawyers office.  I should have went over to meet them, and then have them come with me to USCIS to get my bloody Green Card!

The Simon Bolivar statue that is currently badly in need of repair.

The Octagon Museum.  No idea what it is but it sounds fun!

Like I said, this was a quick trip, and I can't wait to come back in when it's warmer and do some exploring.  It was really cool though to see what we did, some of the most iconic monuments in America.