Hellooooo.... Hellooo?

Well, I was seriously just wondering if anyone was still out there!
I can't know if anyone will read this, but I sure hope I haven't lost my people out there forever!

A couple of quick updates:

I am still teaching.

Still happily married.

Working on my photography business/skills.

Bought a new house.


I think that covers the last year and some months. haha
But seriously, I know I suck at this. Maybe I should forget posting pictures with recipes and all that. I guess the blog has to evolve right along with me? Don't know.

I can't promise I'll have any posts real soon, but I will think about it. No really, I will.

In the meantime, if you want to check out what I have been up to... visit my photography website here.

Seriously, go.

XoXo,

Jen

It's Not All Black and White...

"I designed the books' covers so it wouldn't be conspicuous for anyone who was reading them...
that backfired on me, didn't it?" -E.L. James

No... Fifty Shades of Grey is definitely not black and white. But it has caused a massive sensation among women (and a few men, too). The trilogy (Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed) written by British author E.L. James, is a romance about Christian Grey, a young, very wealthy entrepreneur, and Anastasia Steele, a girl about to graduate from college. When they meet, the spark is undeniable, and from that moment, you are wrapped up in everything that has to do with Christian and Anastasia.
While it is definitely not prize-winning writing in terms of technicality, it's good enough to keep you turning the pages faster than you care to admit. And the material itself is, well... you have to see for yourself. I read the books over my spring break, and I finished all three in three days. I'd go to bed at 3 am reading because I just couldn't put the books down.

But why?

Meeting E.L. James at the Biltmore Hotel

Well, I was lucky enough to attend a discussion event a few Sundays ago where the author, E.L. James, was present. And this question was brought up several times. Women all over the United States are reading this book... It has quickly become the topic du jour on many people's lips. But why have women become so affected by this book? Some would say it's the sex (there's a lot of it), others would say it's the taboo nature of the topic (BDSM), others still would say it's the love story.

I am by no means an expert on the topic, but I'd like to share my own opinions on this. I believe the books have been a hit for many reasons. I myself have shared it with numerous friends of mine, including my mom (crazy, I know), coworkers, and girlfriends. And this is how the word is getting out... women are sharing with one another.

1. This was stated at the discussion with the author... Women have been given a new VOICE. Because we are discussing literature, we can discuss a topic usually reserved for our conversations with our "inner goddess". Sex is not usually a topic women discuss with too many people. But this book has made it a lot easier to discuss things you wouldn't have discussed before. And because you've read the book, you know that the others reading the book find this exciting... not wrong. Therefore making you more willing to discuss it with them, because you know they will NOT be judging you.

My signed copy of Book 1

2. It has improved relationships. As much as we hate to admit it, over time, intimacy with our partners becomes a little, shall we say, lackluster. This book created a whole fantasy world in our heads that we could later translate into our own bedrooms. Not that I'm going to let myself be tied to the ceiling and locked up in handcuffs, but it has gotten women thinking about what they would be willing to try. It has also started conversations between spouses. And sometimes, just talking about it can be a bigger plus than actually doing it.

3. At it's heart, it is a true love story. Sure, there are parts where you want to kill Mr. Grey... He's arrogant for sure. But as his character develops, you start to develop feelings for him. And at the same time, you are rooting for Anastasia. And later in the book, you are rooting for them both. You want it to work. You want them to work because, well, if they don't work, in a story, then who can work, in real life? I try to compare all love stories with classics... Pretty Woman is a Cinderella story, things like that. This book? Beauty and the Beast, for sure.

It was a great read... something that didn't require me to think too much and something that made me feel something. I know the book has critics all over the place, but there are so many fans as well. I guess that's usually the case with controversial writing/movies/music. Anyway, that's just my two cents on why this book has been such a hit. :)

Check out this SNL skit... hilarious. 

Laters Baby,  ;) 

Jen

P.S. Feel free to give me your take on the book in the comments below!

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

As I've stated previously, hubby and I have been on a little kick to try and lose weight. I'm proud to say that I have lost 20 pounds since January and I am feeling so much better about myself. I don't usually brag about things like this and I hate feeling like I'm rubbing it in people's faces. But I have been working my butt off for the last 4 months and I am proud of what I have accomplished. The biggest thing was changing my eating habits. At the beginning, I did work out some, but then in early March, I developed bronchitis and was told to take it easy for the next few weeks. That interrupted my schedule and I haven't gotten back into the swing of things. :/ Hopefully I can jump back in soon and keep working on my weight loss. For now, I'm very much satisfied with my results and I think I will definitely continue to stick with it. :)

As for today's recipe - since we have been very careful with our meals, we have stuck to a lot of tilapia and chicken breast. Most of the time I don't do a whole lot of seasoning or fancy extras. But I found this recipe and decided I really wanted to try it. Since then, I have made it 2 or 3 more times. It is delicious, and the parmesan gets all crunchy and crusty on top and tastes sooooo good. It's very simple to make and is a tummy pleaser when you want something with a little more flavor. The original recipe called for garlic salt, but I try not to add salt to many of my recipes so I just used garlic powder. 

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

Photo taken on my iPhone... sorry about the quality!

Ingredients

3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dried oregano

4 tilapia fillets

Directions

Preheat over to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, and oregano. 

Coat the fillets in the crumb mixture. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. 

Bake for 8-12 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. 

See? Told you it was easy!

Xoxo, 

Jen

Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

This past Monday, February 27, my hubby and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary. While I can't believe it has been two years, I can say that they have been the best 2 years of my life. My husband is a man who truly understands me, loves me, and does everything possible to make me a happy woman. He fully lives by the motto, "Happy wife, happy life." He is more than I could have imagined or hoped for in a husband, and I couldn't be any happier than I am by his side (plus he lets me do all these fabulous things).

To celebrate, my hubby surprised me... we went for a long weekend to the Dominican Republic, where he is from. His aunt owns a place at a resort development, and she was kind enough to let us stay there for the weekend with some friends.  It was really wonderful, relaxing, and fun. I should probably just let the pictures speak for themselves. :)

Turtles in the hotel entrance. :)

Good times on the beach. 

Beautiful view from a catamaran off of Isla Saona. 

My friend Vero. :)

The cloudy skies cleared up once we rode off. 

My love and his best friend. 

Need I say more? 

All in all, a fabulous trip. Kind of wishing I was back there right about now...

XoXo,

Jen

New Look!

In case you didn't notice, the blog has a new look!

I thought it needed a little updating and a switch to a simpler, more modern color scheme and less clutter throughout definitely did the trick! :)

Hope you like it! If you do, spread the love or leave me some love!

XoXo,

Jen

The Incredible Turkey Burger

For quite some time now, the hubby and I have tried to cut down on the amount of red meat we put into our systems. Every once in a while we will indulge, but we have noticed how differently our bodies feel after we do have a big juicy steak.  We feel much more sluggish, and I for one can practically feel my body trying to break down the red meat and it seems to be working so hard. So we have substituted eating regular burgers and ground meat for ground turkey and turkey burgers. Surprisingly, it is very good. While on the drier side, if you season properly and cook it pretty much as you would cook the meat, it can be very flavorful and extremely enjoyable.

I almost prefer these turkey burgers to any burger that I could eat elsewhere. Almost.

It's a fairly easy recipe and one that doesn't require a whole lot of thought or effort. I put them on a sandwich thin and topped with ketchup. I've also eaten the patty alone with sweet potato fries, or with just a salad (to keep it on the light side).  If you have the ingredients (which you should), you could probably make these for tomorrow's dinner.
And I certainly hope you do!

Enjoy!

Delicious Turkey Burgers

Yield: 4 burgers


Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1 tbsp + 1 tsp Italian-style breadcrumbs
1 shallot, finely diced
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (you can also use dried parsley, just double it)
1 clove garlic, peeled & minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp dried rosemary
2 tbsp Feta cheese

Directions
1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients. Form into 4 patties.
2. Cook the patties in a medium skillet over medium heat, turning once, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Serve as desired & enjoy!


xoxo,

Jen

Better than a Bedtime Story...

A couple of years back, I started drinking a lot of tea. I love tea, because I don't have to add much to it. I have tried teas in as many flavors as I can find (some I have liked, others I've loved, and others - well, let's just say I won't be trying again). I've also read that tea has many health benefits. I'm not going to get into that, but I do know that I feel better when I drink tea than when I drink loads of coffee, especially since I don't add milk or sugar or anything like that to it. It's great for helping me digest my food, and since it has to be drunk slowly, actually makes me stop, relax, and enjoy it. 

Moving on... in the last few years, as dress levels have risen, workloads have gotten heavier, and life in general has happened, I had a hard time sleeping soundly. That has never been a problem for me, but apparently something triggered it.  Someone suggested Tilo (which every good Cuban has in their cupboard), but I had tried it before and wasn't a fan. So I started shopping around, trying different things. One thing that helped was eating earlier. But then I came across Celestial Seasonings and their Sleepytime Teas.  They have several different flavors, including one that is great for when you have a sore throat. 

Hubby and I have a new evening ritual. We boil some water, steep some tea bags, add in a little honey, and drink our tea slowly and calmly before heading to bed. By the time we crawl under the covers, we are relaxed, sleepy, and pushing everything out of our minds. The nights that we do this, we sleep soundly and we sleep all night, without tossing and turning and waking up every hour.  

So if you usually have trouble sleeping, give this a try! Hopefully it will help you as much as it has helped me!

Xoxo, 

Jen