Author: Melissa
try this: pork chops with pineaple salsa
We made these for dinner last night and I forgot how yummy they are! It was like a taste of summer!
Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa
4 pork chops, seasoned with salt and pepper
1 lg can of pineapple chunks, mostly drained
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1/2 to 1/4 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed, diced (depending on how much heat you want)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1. Grill or saute pork chops until cooked through. Set aside.
2. Heat pineapple, onion and (if using) pepper in a large saute pan, 2-3 minutes, add cilantro. Let stand for a few minutes to let flavors blend.
3. Enjoy!
3. Serve with rice.
and we have yet another example of my gracefulness
So I am 99% sure that I broke my toe last night. I can barely walk today because my toe is killing me, I can't bend it and I cannot wear most of my shoes.
It wasn't anything heroic or cool, like leaping to the rescue of one of my children orhaving a celebrity step on my foot while we were in Times Square on New Years Eve or something.
I walked into a piece of furniture. In a fully lit room. While wide awake.
Dumb. (And so me.)
Guess that means I won't be wearing any cute shoes for a week or two. Sob! And its wintery and cold, so I can't just wear flipflops and cute sandals. I'm still not sure what I'm going to wear when I have to drive Gracie to school later this morning.
Notice that part of the nail on my big toe is missing. That was from when I walked into a wall earlier this month
Clearly I have issues.
happy new years!
So this year, for the first time since Ellie was born, we found ourselves childless on New Years Eve. What to do?
"Lets go into Philly and go out to dinner," I wildly suggested.
"Lets go to New York," my crazy husband said.
{Yes, my husband is nuts. But I knew that when I married him.}
So on New Years Eve, I found myself on a train to New York's Penn Station on my way to Times Square. After years of watching it on television and saying, "People must be CRAZY to go there!" I was there! This year, we were the ones who were actually crazy enough to go to TIMES SQUARE on NEW YEARS EVE!
It was even more crazy as it looks on TV. Except much louder, smellier and with more people. At one point we were in such a crazy crowd that people pressed up to us on every side and when someone moved next to me, I was actually lifted off the ground — that's how tightly we were packed into this street! Not super fun.
We really did it right – we had a hotel right in Times Square. You could actually see the ball from our hotel room window! See?
So we had a place to get away from the crowd and warm up and – most importantly – a bathroom. (There are NO bathrooms in Times Square! DUH!) And we of course needed a place to sip champagne 🙂
We can cross Times Square on New Years Eve off our bucket lists – and now we never, ever have to go again! 
Some tips if you ever go:
- The people you see on TV who are in the front of the lines and watching those concerts probably arrived in Times Square around 9am. Unless you plan to arrive then, you will be way in the back or on a side street.
- There are no bathrooms. Most of the restaurants are closed. Once you get your spot, you canNOT leave it. Plan fluid intake accordingly. Pack a snack.
- You can't bring backpacks or purses into Times Square, so make sure you have lots of pockets.
- You are in Times Square. On NEW YEARS EVE. Do not complain about the crowds. You would not believe how many people were doing this. DUH! What did you expect?
- I would NEVER bring my kids. My husband and I got separated a few times because of the crowd. There's just so many people and they are all pushing and not looking where they're going… I would be FREAKING out if I was trying to keep track of little kids!
- Get a hotel. There are over 1 million people who have worked their way into Times Square over the course of the day. And they are all trying to leave at around 12:15. The roads are closed, so there are no cabs or buses nearby. That means one million people walking or trying to get the subway. People were still waiting to get a train out of Penn Station at 7am.
- Speaking of that, the 7am train out of the city the next morning is a little scary.Yikes.
fashion friday: fashion resolutions
I’d sure love to have a new look for the new year. But for most of us, a new wardrobe, a personal stylist and a $500 haircut are not at our disposal to update our looks. So let’s look at some practical ways for us to update our looks for the new year:
Underthings
Sometimes, its not your clothes that are making you look bad. Underthings are called “Foundation Garments” for a reason – your whole look is built over them and they can make or break you. Having children, losing and/or gaining weight and age can change things. Don’t just wear the same size and brand you always have – make sure that what you’re wearing FITS.
Let’s declare right now: Let 2011 be the Year of Keeping our Underwear Private. No more pantylines, no more whale tails, no more back fat, no more bra straps hanging out your clothes. I’m talking seamless panties, seamless bras… Invest a little money in your underthings. It will make a WORLD of difference in your look. You don’t have to spend a fortune: Hanes makes wonderful seamless bras and panties that are really affordable and high quality.
Shapewear
Repeat after me: “Embrace the shapewear. Shapewear is your friend.” Shapewear is on every celebrity you see on the red carpet. It was on every model in the fashion show I was in earlier this year. And its probably on most of your friends.
Trust me.
I have two favorite brands of shapewear. (Yes, I wear Shapewear. And I’m not ashamed to admit it.) Assets by Sarah Blakely is terrific. It lasts forever, is affordable, really stays in place, and you can find it at Target or Loft. Yummie Tummie is wonderful as well, but pricier. Shapewear is a bit of an investment – but you’ll wear it for years.
Clothes that do more:
![1. Knit_Leggings_Black[1]](http://www.girlymama.com//HLIC/5157ec1d7458f5cc9b72398434291f4d.jpg "1. Knit_Leggings_Black[1]")
There are so many clothes out there that have shapewear built in. Yes, you read that right – clothes that make you look skinny. Yummie Tummie makes leggings with shapewear that are fantastic – they not only give you a smooth look, but slim your whole leg! Nice! They make adorable tops as well. Miraclebody Jeans are fabulous – I wear the Jeggings all the time. Assets have really nice tights.
And did you know that they even have… wait for it… bathing suits with shapewear?? Seriously, girls, its a great time to be a woman! Brands from Lands End to Victoria’s Secret to Spanx have amazing bathing suits that will hold in all that you’re trying to hide. And they don’t look like shaping suits – its your little secret.
Add Accessories
Two of the season’s hottest accessories are belts and scarves. Go crazy, girls. They are super affordable, easy to add and are such a terrific way to quickly update your look.
Add a pop of color to jeans and a black sweater with a bright or textured scarf.
Cinch a tunic over your jeggings with a belt and you’ll instantly look on trend!
Check out Forever 21, Urban Outfitters and Aldo for cool jewelry for practically nothing. Accessorizing is also a great way to try a new look without spending a lot of money.
When it really comes to sprucing up your look, there really are no shortcuts: it starts on the inside.Drink more water. Eat right.  And give a gift to yourself: one hour a week. Just one hour. By taking just 20 minutes, three times a week to exercise, you’ll be amazed at the difference you’ll see in your look! You’ll be more energized, your skin will be better, your clothes will fit better, you’ll look younger – not to mention thinner!
Did you do a fashion post today? Link on up!
what’s that noise?? oh. its this “quiet” i’ve been hearing about
So my mom, my sister, my other sister and my other sister kidnapped my kids for a few days.
We left them in Ohio with them and we're picking them up on Saturday. So for THREE WHOLE DAYS we have no kids. And for TWO of those days, my husband is working.
So I'm alone in my house. I honestly cannot remember the last time I was alone in my own house. We were talking about it yesterday when we were stuck in a MONSTER traffic jam for over 2 hours (thank heavens the kids weren't with us!) and the last time Husband and I were alone for a night in our house was…. almost 4 years ago.
This is truly monumental.
So today I have an ENTIRE day ahead of me. With no kids. No husband. The house is clean, Christmas is over…
I think a pedicure is in order. And perhaps a visit to the Pottery Barn Outlet to look at breakable things…
What would you do with a whole day to yourself?
christmas hangover
I love Christmas so much but it takes like a week to recover, doesn't it?
I'm pooped!
But we had a terrific Christmas and a great (although) quick trip to Ohio to see our family here. We hate to go home tomorrow, but work is calling and my husband has to get home.
Poor Colin is totally fried – overstimulated and overtired. He's refused to go to bed before 10:30 every night. You can imagine the rest!
We're driving home to PA tomorrow and its back to real life! Hope everyone has a great week!
merry christmas!
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
merry christmas from our family to you
fashion friday: give
We are so privileged to be able to indulge in Fashion Friday. Even to be able to consider the type and style of clothing we are wearing is something that millions of people can only imagine. So – in honor of the holiday – I encourage you to think about giving others some fashion help. Millions of children live in tattered rags because they can’t afford decent clothing to protect them from freezing temperatures — or the hot sun.
In our travels around the world, our family has personally seen children without shoes, wearing clothing that is several sizes too small, huddled under blankets because they do not have a coat. Its a picture you never get out of your head – even our children, who were preschoolers when they saw this – still remember years later.
There are so many simple ways you can help.
Through World Vision’s matching gift program with partnering corporations, a donation of just $35 will provide shipping and distribution of $385 worth of brand new clothes to families in need. $25 provides an American family living in poverty $150 worth of winter clothing. For less than the cost of a pair of non-designer jeans, you can provide needy families and children with the clothing they need to survive.
Dress for Success is another incredible organization that provides low-income women with the clothing they need to get a job. They accept both financial donations and donations of gently used office attire. When you clean out your closet in the new year, I encourage you to set aside an outfit or two for women who need clothing to be able to get a job to support their families.