I wanted to eat new, interesting salads using Athenos feta, but I wasn’t home.

I had plans to go to bed at 9 PM, but we were having too much fun to leave the family in RI.

I would feel bad if it wasn’t an amazing, memorable weekend, but it was!!!

I love my life and family. I feel blessed.

Have a happy and healthy Sunday!

Think about it…
Watermelon & feta salad (a great recipe for this coming in 2 weeks!)
peanut butter and jelly
beets & goat cheese
peaches & fresh mozzarella

Wait, WHAT?

My cousin Raz (remember when she visited me?!) had her family over yesterday for a Father’s Day BBQ, and one of the items she served was skewers with grilled peaches and fresh mozzarella. It sounded so intriguing I had to see a photo asap, and luckily she had taken one!

Now I am dying to try this! Will it be as amazing as the combination of watermelon and feta? She says it is! I can’t wait to recreate this at home!

What weird & delicious food combination have you tried that we all should try? Share in the comments!

Yesterday’s event was insanely amazing:

Traveling from Philly to NYC and back in one day however? Not equally as amazing.

What I learned from doing so much wrong and a little bit right:

1. Pack light. Really, really light. My shoulder was killing 5 minutes into the event, and luckily I was eventually able to put my bag at the press table.

2. Wear comfortable shoes, and pack your dancing shoes in your light light bag. Wearing my Nike Anthena flats was the best decision ever. I had a lot of walking to do before the event, and my feet were thankful I didn’t have to spend them all in heels.

(Source)

3. Bring a backup camera. I felt completely lost without my camera, and I was really upset the whole evening. I was lucky to use another one (Thanks C!) but it wasn’t the same.

4. Have work to do while on the train or bus. I got a lot of work done on the train ride to NYC, and right now I am on the train ride back writing this post. While my laptop isn’t light, it is great to have it with me so I can get a lot done during the transportation time.

5. Forget about the usual purse suspects. I left my sunglasses, extra wallet items, lipstick, hair elastics, etc at home. I always have so many random items in my purse, but I knew I would be fine without them for the day.

6. Wake up extra early to get a workout in. I exercised before my work day ever began so it was out of the way.

7. Don’t get tipsy. I was getting a little nervous in the train station when I was feeling giggly. I had one too many tastes of the fun drinks they had at the Silver Spoons event!

8. Plan ahead. Pick out your outfit and purse ahead of time so you don’t leave your house in a tornado. I was rushing to make my train and left so many items laying around.

9. Have fun! You are cool for going to NYC and back in one day. Pat yourself on the back for being so hard core and enjoy it.

Of course I insisted we go to DiBruno’s. We ate outside, and it was lovely. BYOS- Bring Your Own Seltzer.

I tricked Tina into drinking decaf coffee this morning. She needed to remedy that with an iced coffee from ING Direct Cafe. Mwahahaha!

These ladies are Up To No Good. We strolled around…

…and ended up at Rittenhouse Square. Another Philly phavorite. I love jumping shots!

Ok ok, let’s be serious.

Obviously, since we are foodies, we spent the day eating. Typical girls’ day.. eating, shopping, gossiping. We met up with a bunch of readers at Phileo Yogurt!!!

I had so much fun chatting with everyone, but of course I am so socially awkward in these situations! Sorry if I seemed like a weirdo!

Last night and today were so much fun. I can’t believe it is only Friday afternoon! Philly with a few of my favorite friends was so much fun! Come back again!

If you are new to my blog, HI! Here are some fun posts to read:
How our story began
Kayaking, Tennis, & Snorkeling
Healthy Eggplant Parmesan Recipe
Healthy Living While Traveling
Baked Falafel
Ask Me Anything!
Ridding Yourself of Unnecessary Sugar Forever
A Decade of Memories
White Bean Crostini
Garces Trading Company
11.2009 Philadelphia Half Marathon Race Recap

Just like with exercise, sometimes I need a short break from cooking big meals or creating new recipes. It can be great to just take a step back for a few days and refresh yourself to get back in the kitchen. While I absolutely love cooking and find it to be very relaxing, I sometimes do need a break. This week was it!

This is extremely unusual. So no, I don’t have any great recipes for you this week, but I will share what I did instead.

I deep cleaned my kitchen… twice. That meant not only the usual cleaning of the counters and floor, but I got into the cabinets and cleaned the stove top. The stove top still does not look as shiny and new as it does when PB does it, but it looks pretty good!

I only turned the stove on to make tea.. the entire week.

I went shopping and bought myself one of my favorite OPI colors: strawberry margarita. I then gave myself a fabulous spring manicure.

I sat on my couch with a book, some nice music (Jazz + Glee soundtrack + Classical) and read. I haven’t done that since… well probably since I got married. For some reason we always have the TV on! Note to self: Less TV in the background.

Speaking of TV, I watched the first three episodes of Season 1 of True Blood. So far I liked it, but I hate the cliffhangers because it is hard to stop watching!

I ate foods we already had in the fridge and pantry to empty them out a bit.

I only spent $8 at the market, for whole wheat bread, bananas, and carrots. I can’t live without these 3 items.

I got my hair cut. Just a few more layers. I was going to chop it but I chickened out.

I also exercised, but probably less than I should. I did workout videos and funny workouts at home, and of course taught boot camp.

I put a new profile photo up on my home page.

I also guest posted on The Fitnessista.

I took inspiration from the I Love Salad! page and made some funky salads.

I flipped through a few magazines while chatting on the phone with some of my dearest friends. I have missed girlfriend gab sessions.

The only time I left the house after dark was to teach boot camp. When PB goes away I barricade myself in our apartment and think I hear and see things all night long. I am a scaredy cat.

I threw away my favorite sneakers of all time. Purchased May 2006 in Florence. I wore these to the death.

I missed PhillyBoy a lot. I also missed cooking. I feel refreshed and renewed and I can’t wait to make a nice dinner for our little happy family tonight!

The weather today is gorgeous! Sunny skies and happy days. I am out gallivanting with my cousin Raz who is in town for the weekend, so I thought I’d leave you with highlights of the last month’s posts to enjoy today.

Recipes
Hot Mint Tea
Shrimp & Bean Barley Salad
Lauren’s Sangria
Diary of a Sweet Tooth’s Bread Pudding
Roasted Asparagus
White Bean Crostini
Honey Balsamic Dressing

Restaurants
Central Michel Richard
The Terrace at 13

Fun Events
04.2010 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run
Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Battle Local Foods (see the other 24, 24, 24 posts here)
Philly Foodies @ Garces Trading Company
Giada De Laurentiis Book Signing
I Love Salad! Challenge (going on until middle of May! Please participate!)

Other posts I enjoyed this month:
Hangry Pants: Enough happiness to go around
Katy Widrick: Social Media 101: How to be engaged
Carrots ‘N’ Cake: I bet you didn’t know…
Oh She Glows: 1,000 Words: Athens, Greece

Two years ago tomorrow PB proposed to me... Ahhh love! I miss him!

Any big plans this weekend? Raz and I are going to the Rittenhouse Spring Festival during the day tomorrow and a bunch of us are running in the Broad Street Run Sunday!

Jessica

April 27, 2010 at 9:26 am

following bertolli on twitter /madtownsprite

Please email me your information so you may receive your prize!

**************

Carnevale.

As much as Americans know how to party, Italians just do it better. In 2004, while studying abroad in Florence, I celebrated Carnevale two times! The first time was in Venice where Dadriana and I drank warm red wine with strangers in costumes and danced in the piazza. The next day D, Loco and I walked around with beautiful men and women in traditional costumes and got our faces painted and celebrated the day! It was so fun and beautiful and different for us.

A week later we headed to Viareggio for their grand Carnevale celebration. When we got off the train we thought we had gotten off at the wrong stop. After walking for 20 minutes, however, we suddenly came upon the huge celebration. From the top of a department store we watched the parade and the sea of people laughing, eating, and celebrating. It was such a jovial atmosphere and really reminded us of childhood carnivals. We then joined the festivities, ate way too much candy and croccante, and laughed the whole way home.

Recently I went to NYC to celebrate the launch of Bertolli’s Into the Heart of Italy series. The latest episode reminds me of my fun time in Viareggio 6 years ago. In episode 4, celebrity chef Rocco Dispirito and actors Marisa Tomei and Dan Cortese celebrate the Italian festival of Carnevale, ride a shrimp boat, and cook a Garlic Shrimp, Penne and Cherry Tomato dinner. You don’t need to ride on a shrimp boat to catch your dinner or have sun-ripened cherry tomatoes from Italy to enjoy the authentic tastes of Italy. With Bertolli Frozen Meals you’re just minutes away from an Italian experience in the comfort of your own home. While they are frozen meals, they work in a pinch and are good to have on hand for those nights when you get home late.

Here is the episode: Episode 4

To celebrate episode 4 and Carnevale, Bertolli is sponsoring a giveaway to help you have an Italian celebration inspired by this episode! What does the gift set include?

·         Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

·         Bialetti Espresso Machine

·         Two Crate & Barrel Espresso Cups and Saucers

·         iTunes Gift Card with Suggested Contemporary Italian Playlist

·         Two VIP coupons for a Bertolli Frozen Meal for two that will transport you to Italy in just 10 minutes

You can enjoy your Bertolli Frozen Meals for dinner then finish the celebration in true Italian style with homemade gelato (hazelnut, please), Italian espresso and the sounds of contemporary Italian music.

A traditional Carnevale recipe, from bell’alimento: Crostoli
And one way to use your ice cream maker, if you win : Nutella Gelato

How to enter?

• Leave a comment about your favorite scene in the video and answer the episode’s clue.

Additional entries?

• Share the latest webisode on your own blog, linking to this post and www.IntoTheHeartOfItaly.com
• Share the latest webisode on Twitter (include @Bertolli & @RhodeyGirlTests so we know you have entered!)
• Follow @Bertolli on Twitter

All entries for the giveaway must be located in the US. A winner will be randomly selected tonight (April 27) at 10 PM and announced in this post.

Note: Not only are you a winner but I am too! I am receiving the same gift set! Thanks Bertolli.

Leslie of And Her Little Dog Too and I have finally decided to put together that meet up we have been promising!

Are you interested in meeting other foodie minded friends as yourself?
Do you live in Philadelphia, or plan on visiting this April?
Then join us!

Here are the details:
Where: Old City- TBA
When: April 20th at 7 PM
Who: Leslie, Sabrina (aka RhodeyGirl) and YOU!
How: Email me at sabrina@rhodeygirltests.com to get on the list!

We are so excited to finally meet all of the other Philadelphia Foodies (bloggers, readers, and diehard foodies)! The location is pretty awesome and not one you will want to miss! We hope you come!

What is your favorite Philadelphia restaurant? I am still deciding!

Last year we had the best office April Fool’s joke EVER.
April Fool’s jokes in the corporate setting are so much fun.
It had to be a good one since it would be my last office prank at the family office.

My father usually works off of two huge computer monitors that sit side by side.
On April 1, 2009 he walked into the office to find a mini laptop- about 10 inches in length- in place of the monitors!
He was so shocked he didn’t even know what to say.

We all had a fantastic laugh.

(someecards.com)

Fun April Fool’s Jokes this year:
Starbucks
Google

Please share the best April Fool’s jokes (whether yours, online, etc) in the comments and I will make a list to share later- links welcome!

Flashback!
Flashback 2!
Flashback 3!