Instagram Favorites

The best thing about picking up photography and investing in a decent camera (I have a Canon Rebel T2i) is it has changed the way I see the world. I have become aware of beautiful light, especially at dawn and dusk, and am always looking for beauty in the outside world. I notice small things now like the color of a cherry tomato and the tiny fingers of a baby. Photography has also taught me to slow down, be quiet, and observe the world around me.

This week, there were just too many amazing photos on Instagram, so I made a photo collage and a quote collage. Wishing you all happy week!

 

this week's favorites from

• tracyshutterbean {a pimm's cup with roasted strawberries and basil!!}
• thevuvobandit {for mama, she loves sweet old trucks}
• fitfluential {watermelon pizza!}
• smpliving
• cabotcheese 
• lunchpailsandlipstick
• womenshealthmag
• yogainspiration

Virtual Book Club

I finished this book in three days, and just could not put it down! I rarely take my Kindle around the pool when I'm going for a dip with kids around, but I made an exception today if that tells you anything about this book. A couple people even asked me what I was reading because I was laughing out loud! I gave it 5 stars on goodreads and highly recommend it. 

Next up:

Instagram Favorites

This weeks favorites are brought to you from 

• littlecoal {becoming my favorite photographer on Instagram - truly amazing!}
• kingarthurflour {swooning over those nutella and strawberry crepes}
• williamssonoma
• thesmitten

The bottom right photo is dazzling. I look at it almost every day. There is something about the ocean, and sky, and that green umbrella that is just beyond beautiful. 

on marriage...

Josh and I are very fortunate to have folks in our lives that give us advice and encouragement on the challenges and joys of marriage. My grandma Shirley was the one who taught my mom to always put your husband first, which my mom shared with me before my wedding day. My dad taught me to support each others dreams, and he has quietly encouraged my mom in taking up oil painting and made custom frames for her best pieces. 

Josh's uncle Mike has also helped us a great deal. He frequently gives Josh tips and sends him little stories. His emails are honest and funny, and he's gently warned Josh that I will be a "little hormonal" at times in pregnancy and that he should be loving and patient with me. He won me over with that one. He recently taught us that love is the willingness to do anything for a single smile. 

Mike and his wife Tammy have been married for decades and have two amazing boys. Tammy is battling cancer again the third time, and you can imagine their emotions as they prepare for treatment. The other night, Mike found a way to make her smile when she feeling down. This was so sweet I've been thinking about it all week, and had to share. 

Mike turned his man shed into a concert hall. He wired some big speakers in there, pulled a chair into the middle, got Tammy out in that chair and then blasted her favorite Queen album. Now, you hear lots of stories of love, but to me that is real love. Doing something crazy just to see your favorite person in the world smile. He said after hearing a few of her favorite songs, she was laughing and dancing. We needed to be reminded this week that marriage is about little acts of love, so thank you Uncle Mike. 

Virtual Book Club

In the midst of being "busy" - moving, unpacking, traveling, and working, I have pushed aside one of my favorite activities. I miss reading. I miss getting lost in a book, staying up late to finish one more chapter, and babbling to Josh about the story line. Today, I am putting myself on a summer reading program! One book a week. Here is a photo of my new reading corner - it houses the new Best glider I'm breaking in, a Bose bluetooth speaker, two great windows, and a ceiling fan whirring down on me. 

I'm starting with Tell the Wolves I'm Home. 

Summer Reading List

• The Pecan Man
• The Husbands Secret
• The Vacationers
• We Were Liars
• Looking for Alaska

Any books I should add to my list? 

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

Just like life can be boring without adventures and imagination, salad can be awfully boring and predictable. Please, resist a boring salad!  

I get in a salad rut from time to time, and use Pinterest to spark my imagination. That usually leads to making my own vinaigrettes, and adding exciting toppings like quinoa, pepitas, berries, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, or nuts. Here is the link to one of my all time favorite salad posts by Andie Mithchell on how to keep a salad FUN and under 400 calories. 

I brought this salad to a neighborhood gathering, and the flavor was perfect. The dressing balanced the sweetness of the watermelon. If you want to make a watermelon salad with more greens, check out Ina Garten's arugula, watermelon and feta salad. 

Instagram Favorites of the week:

• wrightkitchen (my favorite foodie pictures AND you can order prints on her website)
• bevcooks (again the cutest baby pictures)
• yogainspiration
• kimsunee (famous food writer)

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint
adapted from Paula Deen

1 (5 pound) watermelon
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Salt
Pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint (I added more because I LOVE mint)
Feta cheese (4 ounces), crumbled
Whole mint leaves, for garnish

Cut the flesh from the melon and cut into bite size pieces, removing and discarding the seeds, and set aside. 

In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, pepper, and whisk until the salt is dissolved. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, a few drops at a time. Add in the chopped mint, taste, and adjust seasonings. 

In a large bowl, combine the melon and feta. Pour the dressing over the melon mixture and toss gently. Garnish with mint sprigs.

White Pizza with Tomato & Basil

Give me a crunchy freshly baked baguette, fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, or brick oven pizza and I will swoon. I love carbs. Yet I believe that moderation is the key to health and happiness, and these foods are special treats and not daily indulgences. That way, when I do splurge on a real bowl of pasta, I savor every bite. 

Many of our cardiac patients are looking for ways to clean up their plates, and in search of simple advice. I put together this list as a grocery store guide. Print the list, and keep the white stuff out of the shopping cart. Shop on the perimeter, and be mindful of the sugar content in "low fat" foods - often the full fat option is actually healthier. Splurge on occasion, and when you do, enjoy every delicious bite!

Tonight I made this white pizza and used fresh basil from my garden for the pesto. Instead of pizza dough, I used a flat-out wrap for a healthier version that still had delicious flavor and toppings.

White bread substitutes

- Flat-out wraps, triple health or whole grain english muffins, Joseph’s lavash wraps
- Arnold's whole wheat sandwich thins

- Ezekiel bread (sold in Organic frozen section of grocery store)

- Lettuce leaves or a “burger bowl” instead of burger buns

White pasta substitutes

- Whole wheat pasta or low-carb pasta (dreamfields)

- Veggie ribbons – make zucchini noodles or squash noodles (I have this Paderno for spiral 

   veggie noodles and love it)

- Spaghetti squash

- Soba noodles

White rice substitutes

- Brown rice

- Quinoa

- Cauliflower rice

White Pizza with Tomato & Basil
1 flat out wrap
3-4 Tbsp pesto (I used the basil pesto from prior post)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
Mascarpone cheese (a few dollops)
5-6 slices of tomato
Freshly ground black pepper
Basil, julienned

*these may be my all time favorite summer pizza toppings, and would work on homemade dough, naan bread, or any pizza. I discovered mascarpone cheese in Italy and they often dollop the cheese on pizza, and it was life changing! 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with a baking sheet or pizza stone inside the oven. Bake flat-out wrap for 2 minutes, then add toppings. 

Spread pesto evenly over pizza crust, leaving a 1 inch border around the edge. Sprinkle the crust with mozzarella and evenly dollop the mascarpone cheese by teaspoons around the pizza. Top with sliced tomatoes and black pepper. Slide the pizza onto the baking sheet and bake until the cheese starts to melt (3-5 minutes). Remove pizza from oven and top with fresh basil prior to serving.