Primary Colors

Anthropologie Pea Coat, Zara Scarf, Michael Kors Tote, Tiffany & Co. Ring, Michael Kors Watch, Nine West Boots

Today was my last first day of school, which is a strange thing to say because I have been going to school for as long as I can remember. To think that this chapter in my life will end in only a short few months is a concept I'm having trouble grasping. This year, on my very last first day, I chose to keep things simple with basic pieces that anyone can find in their closet: a classic pair of jeans, a white shirt and boots. For a pop of color, I accessorized with a burgundy knit scarf from Zara, and finally, what could be more classic than a pea coat? I got this particular one from Anthropologie a few years ago and absolutely love it!

A Night Out in Little Eataly

For those of you who don't know, Eataly is an Italian market that makes fresh pastries, pastas, breads, cheeses and gelato, as well as meats, dairy and any kind of produce. Not only is it a great place to pick up groceries, but it's the perfect spot to grab lunch, meet friends for a drink after work, or have dinner with your family. Whatever the occasion, you will have a classic Italian experience. A couple of weeks ago, I ate at Birreria, a restaurant and brewery located on the roof of Eataly. The menu is a unique blend of Italian with Austrian and German influence. Some of the dishes include beer braised pork shoulder, home made sausages, grilled meats, and the most delicious mushroom entrees you will ever try. Personally, I'm not fond of mushrooms, but I caught myself sneaking some off of my boyfriend's plate. Everything was incredible from the cheese platter to the steak I ordered, but the best part was the retractable glass roof! I had the luxury of gazing at the Empire State Building, while enjoying great music and delicious food alongside my friends.

To learn more about what Eataly has to offer, click here!

The Bar Method

Let me introduce you to my new obsession, The Bar Method! I first heard about this from my cousin, who attends classes on a weekly basis, as does Olivia Wilde, Anna Paquin, Denise Richards and Zoey Deshanel. So I thought why not give this a try? Inspired by ballet, the Bar Method combines barre work with yoga and pilates moves to achieve long and lean physiques. Each class is one hour long where interval training is integrated with muscle shaping isometrics to reshape your body. The class is broken up into different sections: a warm up, free-weight exercises, push-ups, intense leg and butt work at the bar, abdominal work at the bar, and finally, abdominal work on the mat. While doing these exercises you will notice that your muscles will shake. This is a good sign and means that you are working the deepest part of your muscles! Each group of exercises is followed by deep breathing and stretching that calms your body down and prepares it for the next section. If you're curious about what some of the exercises look like, click here for a quick glimpse. Don't be fooled by the small motions. I know they look easy, but they are extremely challenging! I have been doing the for about four months and can already see a major difference. I feel stronger and can see more definition in my muscles, particularly my thighs. At the moment, this is one of my favorite ways to exercise and I would recommend it to everyone! If you're brave enough you can sign up for a class, but if it's not in your budget you can order one of the DVDs. Either way, you'll get a great workout and see results fast.

Homemade Cannolis

Over the holidays I made homemade cannolis and they were absolutely delicious! I got the original recipe from lexbake and they were a huge hit with all of my friends and family. These are so easy to make and take no time at all - perfect for a last minute dessert or for someone who is just learning to bake. All you need is:

Ingredients:
Crust-
2 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Flour for dusting surface

Filling-
1 15oz. container of whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (or as many as you want on top of each cannoli)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Prepare the filling by combining all of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips in a bowl with an electric mixer.
3. Place this mixture in a one-gallon freezer bag and refrigerate.
4. Roll out the pie crusts and sprinkle each all over one side with sugar and cinnamon. (Gently push the cinnamon and sugar into the pie crust with a rolling pin; your fingers will do just as good of a job).
6. Using the lid of the ricotta cheese container, cut out circles in the dough. If you'd like, you may roll out the scraps to make more; however, I chose to throw them away.
7. Lightly press the circles into ungreased regular sized cupcake pans to form a pastry cup. There will be some folding and that's okay.
8. Gently prick the bottoms on the cups with a fork so that they don’t rise too much in the oven.
9. Bake for 8-10 minutes. You want the cups to be golden brown.
10. Remove from oven and once cool, fill with cream. (You may do this by cutting off a small part of the corner of the plastic bag, but I chose to use a spoon).
12. Finally, sprinkle each cannoli with some chocolate chips and dust with powdered sugar!
*Note: Filling can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days before filling. Fill about 1 hour before serving.

New Year's Resolutions

I like to think of New Year's as a fresh start. It's time to leave what happened in the past and look forward to what's ahead. A lot of people make unrealistic resolutions - I'll admit that I'm guilty of that; however, this year I'm doing things differently. Instead of forcing myself to workout when I'd rather lie in bed all day; or to eat vegetables when I'd rather eat chocolate, I'm entering the New Year with a new perspective. This year, I'm promising to make changes that will allow me to go about my days with a smile on my face and to get around to doing things I've always been meaning to do. It just seems like a more simple task doesn't it? With that said, here is what I'm looking forward to:

Be positive. Go away for a weekend. Get a massage. Wear heels to work. Broaden my vocabulary. Spend more time outside. Be more forgiving. Take day trips. Draw something beautiful. Stay organized. Carry a notebook everywhere. Go somewhere new. Get away from the computer. Find a new hobby. Laugh more and worry less. Focus on the present. Read more often. Meet new people. Stay creative.

Hello 2013!