Simple Pink Sangria- No Sugar Added

 

I wanted to created a recipe that was delicious, simple, and doesn't pack on too many pounds! This is my simple Pink Sangria Recipe, Enjoy!  

Ingredients:

 

In a large pitcher combine 1 part white zinfandel wine and 1 part Sprite Zero. Next add chopped strawberries and mango (I prefer to use frozen fruit that can act like ice cubes). Then chop oranges into rings and toss right in.  If you want to get fancy, you can garnish each cup with mint! 

The Fair Buisness Model

Not everyone has the same amount of money, but everyone has the same amount of time in a day! The idea of a fair business model intrigues me greatly. By "fair," I mean, a business model that does to discriminate people who are poor. The exchange of two valueable things, neither of which are money. Take a further look at what I mean....

Ted talks videos are such an inspiration, but this one is especially- well, just plain Awesome! How cool is it that a company can provide so many positives while CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA provide security against computer hacking, in addition to having humans digitize books for public consumption. Duolingo: people get to learn a language for free which in turn, translates the Internet! As I have always had the entrepreneurship bug, I feel very inspired to use technology to do good, be profitable, while maintaining a Fair Business Model! I welcome any comments of your own ideas?

"Make your own certainty, get out there, and start claiming the life you want."

• Getting a job is good for people- Research shows people will be happier, confident, & more competent- getting along and getting ahead! 
• Don't co-habitat with romantic partner- you are sliding, not deciding! 
• Your brain is capping off it's last growth spurt in your twenties, if there is something you want to change about it, now is the time to do it.

This will be the next book added to my Kindle!

Quadrupple Threat: The Perfect Runner's Backpack

I have a really bad habit of thinking I deserve new athletic gear when I get into training.  Whether it be running, soccer, or just being a plain old gym rat.  My newest fantasy has become this lululemon Gym bag:

At a price of $150, my possession of this bag will forever remain a fantasy unless the little gym fairy decides I deserve it too.  Not only does the price deter me, but so does my best friend, Janelle (got to love her!).  She has clearly stated that I can’t show up to the Sports Club wearing soccer shorts, an old tee, and my Asic shoes while sporting that lululemon gym bag.  Fine, fair enough, I know the comfort look doesn’t fair well with the wealthy look! So I set out for the next best thing: a sporty running backpack.  Because a running backpack has to fit just right and not bounce around while running, I set out to do some backpack research.  My findings:

NIKE CHEYENNE VAPOR

With great reviews about style and durability for long distance runners, I just can’t stomach paying $90 for this pack.  Plus, there is no hydration system included.

Camelbak Annadel 50 oz Hydration Pack

With a better price of $55 and a sleek look, I wanted to know more.  Indeed the hydration aspect is a bonus, however after further investigation of reviews, I found that this backpack doesn’t carry much and tends to “gossle” while running. 

Nathan HPL #008 Race Vest

I finally found the Quadruple Threat! The perfect combination of fit/ function, size, style, and hydration pack with great reviews!  This pack has additional pocks in the front, can hold 1.5 hours worth of water, and ultimately won out because of it's 2-Way Propulsion Harness.  I purchased the pack for $58 (reg. $90) on Amazon, click the backpack icon to the right to check it out!

 Don't worry- I will do a detailed piece on my ability to find online deals / haggle in-stores.  :) 

FACT: I'm older than the internet.

With an official date of August 6th 1991, it’s true; I’m officially older than the Internet!  In 21 short years we have watched the Internet take over. From AOL instant messaging, email, e-commerce, to video conferencing, streaming entertainment and mobile accessibility.  I’m utterly amazed at the faced-paced technology world that we live in.  With all of the research and development in the works, we can only imagine what the future holds.  Upon so research, I found some interesting insight into the 2020-2050 world!

Nanotechnology: Miniscule electronics that can perform incredible tasks for example, Nanobots will be able to repairing the human body  from within.

DNA Research:  According to 5Deka, DNA Research will result in a full understanding of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes & Autism by 2050, and hopefully then a cure is developed using gene therapy.

Invisibility Cloak: The University of California, Berkeley- Developed materials that could potentially lead to an invisibility cloak. (Think Harry Potter!)Bio Monitor: A personal wearable monitor that measures a persons metabolism and vitals in real time.  

 

4D TV: Adding Smell-Technology to the TV watching experience.

 Levitation: Harvard University discovered a levitation-like occurrence. (David Blane, watch out!) 

Teleportation:   Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) at the University of Maryland- Have believed to have teleported information.  It all has to do with Quantum-computing technology, which currently is being used to encrypt data, but it holds a lot more potential than that.  The quantum world is a condition known as superposition, in which a particle can occupy two states at the same time. (Don't ask; it just can!)

Computer Chips: These chips may one day be installed into a person's Brain- extending memory and increasing intelligence.

 With all of the problems that we face: obesity, depleting natural resources, terrorism, and many more to name.  I can imagine a futuristic world that starts to tackle all of these problems!  Although solutions to these problems would be great, I can’t help but think- can we go too far?  I already feel like cell phones and social media has started to take a tool on human interactions.  And what if the human condition was eliminated completely, no more personality, no variations of intelligence, no emotions, and on and on.  This makes me cringe at the thought of a world like this.  I’m not sure you would appreciate things and I think it’s good for a person to experience highs and lows. Hopefully our future of innovation does not lead to our destruction. 

Chicken & Waffle Cupcakes!

As a homage to my Southern Roots, I'm excited to introduce this cupcake recipe to my blog followers! Yes, this is quite different, but come on, who doesn't love the combination of Sweet & Salty! 

THE INGREDIENTS:

For the buttermilk cakes (Cake adapted from Martha Stewart):
3 cups cake flour
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (2 ¼ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 ¼ cups sugar
5 large whole eggs plus 3 egg yolks, room temperature
2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ cup maple syrup

For the maple syrup frosting & topping:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup maple syrup
6 cups powdered sugar
24 waffle pieces
24 chicken nuggets
maple syrup to drizzle


MAKE THE CUPCAKES:

- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cupcake pans with 24 cupcake liners.
- Sift or whisk together both flours, baking soda, baking power and salt.
- With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Reduce the speed to medium and add the whole eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the egg yolks and beat until thoroughly combined.
- Reduce speed to low and add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with two additions of buttermilk. Be sure to mix well after each addition.
- Beat in the vanilla extract last.
- Pour the batter into liners, filling each cup about three-quarters of the way up. Bake for 20 minutes, or until they pass the toothpick test. Lift them out onto wire racks to cool.
- With a food injector, inject roughly one teaspoon of maple syrup into the center of each cooled cupcake.


MAKE THE FROSTING:

- In a small bowl, beat together the butter and syrup until blended. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until the frosting is smooth. If the frosting is too thick, add just enough maple syrup or milk to thin out the consistency.
- Ice and decorate the cupcakes by piping a ring of frosting onto each. With a toothpick or wooden pick, skewer a chicken nugget and waffle piece together, then slide the pick into the top of the cupcake. Drizzle the top with a bit of maple syrup.

[Makes 24 cupcakes]

Source: Formal Fringe

Nano Wine

I'm definitely not a wine connoisseur, and admittedly still love the taste of Franzia White Zinfandel (Tacky I Know!). However, I'm happy to introduce Nano Wine, the first bottle that can change taste depending on the varying degrees of wattage and duration in a microwave. How can this be?!?! Nano Wine is infused with Nano sized flavor capsules that release different flavors (From Merlot to Syrah to Franzia qualities). Check it out at Nano Wine.

 

 

DIY Succulents

This is officially my first DIY ("do it yourself") project!!! I have found that you can easily spend $20+ on beautiful arranged potted plants, but I wanted to see if I make these  by myself using cheaper supplies and using plants that are hard to kill! And heck- an activity that my boyfriend would enjoy, while letting our creative juices flow!

First, we went to the local nursery to buy succulent plants. These are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots. And most importantly, these plants survive in unfavorable periods.  We spent $30 on 9 plants.

In order to keep cost low we went to the local Thrift Store to buy our containers. 3 glass containers  for $4.  Next, we had to grab a few other things from Lowe's so we headed there for potting soil (Specifically for cactus!)- $4. We also got some moss- $4.  Luckily, we used sand and decorative rocks from the yard- Free! Totaling  $38 for three potted plant designs!  

When we got home, we got straight to work! A layer of sand, layer of soil, then added the plants (making sure to loosen the roots), more soil to secure the plants, and top with moss and rocks. Don't forget to mix in your creativity!!!

 

"Intelligence Is Overrated: What You Really Need to Succeed"

 According to Forbes (Keld Jenson):
It was estimated that Albert Einstein's IQ was 160.  But even more important than your IQ is your Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Moral Intelligence (MQ), and Body Intelligence (BQ) when it comes to determining a person's success and professional achievement.

Although IQ indicates one's logical reasoning ability and technical intelligence, it is by no means a way to show that you will out-shine everyone else.  Carnegie Institute of Technology conducted a study that shows that "85 percent of your financial success is due to skills in “human engineering,” your personality and ability to communicate, negotiate, and lead. Shockingly, only 15 percent is due to technical knowledge."

Emotional Intelligence
EQ is the ability to be aware of your own feelings and those of others, regulating these feelings, using appropriate emotions for a particular situation, self-motivation,  and building relationships.

Top Tip for Improvement: Learn to cope with stress as it can cloud your ability to have increased emotional intelligence.

•  I would also like to add, that I think you should take the time to analyze a situation from another points of view and understand why people are reacting as the are and also what you can do for them in order to make them successful as well.

Moral Intelligence
MQ deals with your integrity, responsibility, sympathy, and forgiveness. Interestingly enough, the way in which you treat yourself is the way other people will treat you! You must keep commitments, maintain your integrity, and be honest.

Top Tip for Improvement: Take responsibility for your actions, express sympathy and respect when communicating with others, learn to forgive, and tolerate shortcomings of others.

•   From my perspective, these are the basics.  But I also think you have to a grounding that keeps your moral intelligence high.  Whether this is through family tradition, religion, or elsewhere, it is important to have a reference point of how you should be acting.

Body Intelligence
BQ is what you know about your body, our feelings about it, and the way we take care of it. Essentially it comes down to getting enough rest, exercising, eating healthy, and listening to when your body is not in equilibrium.  Body intelligence is important to your work because it dictates your feelings, thoughts, self-confidence, energy level, etc.

Top Tip For Improvement: Truly listen to the messages your body is sending you about your health. Monitoring your weight, practicing good nutrition, and making sure you have enough down time!

•  I can not stress the importance of BQ enough! People often call me "grandma" because I make an effort to be in bed by 9/10pm so I can be up at 5/6am to workout, cook breakfast, and make a lunch.  In addition to this routine, I have cut down on my consumption of alcohol and make sure I spend at least 5 hours a week doing "low-key, me activities."  And I can't tell you how great I feel when I'm sticking to this vs. when I'm not! 

Click Here to Read More!

Rum & Coke Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cocoa
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 cup milk
1/8 cup coca-cola
1/4 cup rum
Hersey’s Chocolate Frosting

Preheat oven to 350. 

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs together until fluffy. Add vanilla & cocoa and mix until combined. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add half of the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the milk and coca-cola. Once mixed, add remaining dry ingredients. Stir in rum. 

Pour into cupcake tins and bake for 23 mins at 350.

A Little Extra

Stab cupcakes for a fork, pour in a spoon full of rum & coca-cola.
Let cool, then frost with Hersey’s Chocolate Frosting.

Topping  

1/8 cup butter, softened 

1/8 lbs powdered sugar 

1/4 cup rum 

1 tablespoon vanilla

Cream the topping ingredients.  Add dollop on top of each cupcake.

Add topping and a cherry on top.

As always, feel free to improvise! :)

Sea to You

If you love sushi, you must take a sushi making class! My boyfriend and I took the introductory maki making class at Sea to You Sushi in Boston, and it was so much fun! But for those of you who don’t have a class nearby, you are in luck. Your guide to making homemade sushi awaits!

Sushi Kit- Best to get yourself to an Asian Market!
Nori (Seaweed sheets cut in half)
Bamboo Mat  (make sure to saran wrap it to prevent the rice from sticking)
Sushi Rice
Customizable Ingredients:
   - Cucumber
   - Carrots
   - Surimi (imitation crab)
   - SUSHI GRADE: salmon, tuna, eel, etc.
   - Cooked shrimp
Sesame seeds
Eel sauce
Japanese Mayo
Sriracha (hot sauce)
Soy Sauce

Rice

It is best to purchase sushi rice: Japanese white hulled short grain.

1. Rinse the Rice

2. Place a 1:1 ratio of rice and water in a rice cooker, cook on high
3. Place rice on a damped towel and cover with another on the kitchen table, allow rice to cool
4. Place rice in a bowl and combine with sushi vinegar (includes sugar)
Note: It is best to use all of the rice you make right away, otherwise it can harden

Seaweed Inside Maki 

1. Place Nori, shiny side down, on Bamboo Mat 

2. Spread out rice (size of a small snowball) over the nori, make sure too lightly spread the rice to keep it fluffy 

3. Flip nori side
4. Place fillings (“hot dog style”) onto the tide side of the nori closest to you 

5. With two hands, firmly roll up the bamboo mat to shape the sushi into a cylinder, unwrap 

(haha, Jeffrey is going to kill me for this!)

6. With a sharp knife, cut the sushi into bite sized pieces
7. Decorate with your choice of:
      a. Sesame seeds
      b. Eel Sauce
      c. Spicy Mayo (Combine Japanese Mayo & Sriracha)
8. Enjoy with Soy Sauce & of course chopsticks!!

Seaweed Outside Maki

·  Basically the same instructions as above, however you place the fillings of on the rice itself.

Jumbo Maki

 · Again, Basically the same instructions as Seaweed Inside/Outside Maki, however you place the nori and fillings “hamburger style” and stuff it as full as you can get away with!

Fun Fact
Maki = “roll.” So don’t get caught saying Maki Roll = “Roll Roll!"

Next Week’s Lesson ;) :