Organize a Camping Trip This Summer

[At Bash Bish Falls with my man]

As the weekend approaches it is time to make some plans. Last weekend we went camping right by the Delaware River. It was a great trip with 15 friends, tons of great food and drinks, water rafting down the Delaware river and LCR (possibly one of the best games to play with a group). The campsite we went to I would not recommend as the campsite were flooded with water, making it hard to pitch our tent. The showers did not have filtered water, so it smelled like sulfur (rotten eggs), and we got in trouble for being too loud?! So I can not recommend Indian Canoe Peak. I recommend Bash Bish Falls (2 hour drive from NYC).


My wonderful boyfriend loves checklists (as do i). I know perfect match! So here it is:


Gear/Clothes

• Air mattress
• Air mattress pump (& batteries)
• Bathing Suit
• Batteries
• BBQ brush
• BBQ tools
• Blanket(s)
• Boots
• Brush/comb
• Bug spray
• Camera
• Camera Charger
• Can opener
• Car chargers/adapters
• Cards
• Cell Phone
• Cell Charger
• Charcoal
• Citronella candles
• Contact lenses
• Cooler
• Corn skewers
• Cups
• Cutting board
• Fire starter
• First Aid kit
• Flashlight
• Flask
• Flip-flops
• Folding chair
• Frying pan
• Games
• Garbage bags
• Gloves
• Grill rack
• Hand Sanitizer
• Pillow Case
• Plastic cups
• Pot
• Pot holder
• Radio/Stereo/Speakers
• Shampoo
• Shorts
• Sleeping Bag
• Sneakers
• Soap
• Socks
• Spatulas
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Sweater/Hoodie
• Tent
• Tin Foil (heavy duty)
• Tools/tape
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Towel
• Utensils
• Water bottle/Nalgene
• Windbreaker/poncho
• Zip-loc Bags
• iPod
• iPod Charger
• Jacket
• Jeans
• Knife
• Koozie
• Lantern
• Lighter
• Long sleeves
• Matches
• Outdoor blanket
• Paper plates
• Paper towels
• Pillow

Food/Drinks

• Beef Jerky
• Beer (cans, not bottles)
• Brats/Sausage
• Bread sandwiches
• Cheese
• Chicken
• Chips- Doritos
• Condiments
• Cooking oil
• Corn on the Cob
• Donuts
• Eggs
• Gatorade
• Hamburgers/buns
• Hot dogs/buns
• Ice
• Instant coffee
• Liquor (ideally plastic)
• Meat for sandwiches
• Milk
• Pickles
• S’mores: chocolate, marshmallows, gram crackers.
• Soda
• Spinach dip/chips
• Splenda/ sweet’n low
• Trail Mix
• Veggies: peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, etc.
• Water
• Watermelon

Stay tuned for some yummy 4th of July Recipes! And happy packing for wherever your Holiday weekend takes you!

Look through that window.

I have always marveled at the shape, size, and color of windows. I always base a house on its windows and I think windows really give a house personality. I looked up the definition of a window and here is what I got: An opening in the wall or roof of a building or vehicle that is fitted with glass in a frame to admit light or air and allow people to see out. I love the last part of the definition because ever since I can remember I have peered out the window to see what the world was doing, or stuck my hand outside to see what the temperature was, to see if it was snowing hard enough in hopes of a snow day and even to make plans with neighbors. I wanted to share some pictures to help inspire someone building a house or someone thinking of changing a window in their house or just to marvel at them like I do in hopes of having a house with such a window one day....

 [I love the oak wood windows-so natural]

[I wouldn't mind cleaning the dishes in front of this kitchen window]

[just amazing]

[i love the blue and white contrast with different size boxes]

[Our vacation home (rented, wish it was ours to keep!) in the mountains of italy-love those half circle windows]

[the window I look through each day]

Hello Gorgeous!

Is everyone enjoying this gorgeous weather today? I sure am and I love how in the summer time you can be closer to mother nature! Here are a few bright pictures that I took in NYC during Spring. Goodbye Spring, hello Summer! 

Carrot Gnocchi on Zucchini Boats

Carrot Gnocchi

serves 2-3

Ingredients
600 grams carrots (about 400 grams puree)
150 grams whole wheat flour
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper


1. Preheat oven to 200 C. Wash carrots and pat dry. Trim ends and cut into 1/2 inch-thick slices (very important for it to cook!) Line a baking tray with baking paper and scatter carrots. Sprinkle with salt and roast for 25-30 minutes or until semi soft (not mushy!)

2. Puree carrots and set aside to cool for 15 minutes. Add salt, ground pepper, and nutmeg. Add flour and yolk. Mix well-dough will be sticky. 

2. Line a baking tray with baking paper and sprinkle flour. Dust a work area generously with flour. Take a handful of dough. Form into finger-thick rolls and cut into little pillows. Transfer onto prepared baking tray and repeat until dough is used up. If you are making extra you can freeze gnocchi on tray and later transfer them to freezer bags after frozen.
3. To make them now, bring a large pan of salted water to boil. Gently drop gnocchi into boiling water and let cook for 4-5 minutes. Again if you are making extra drop them into salt water pan in different batches as putting too many in will cause them to stick together! Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon.


Zucchini Boats
Ingredients 
2 Zucchini
soy butter/butter (optional)
olive oil
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
10 fresh basil leaves finely chopped
salt
pepper

1. Preheat oven to 210 C and line a baking tray.
2. Wash zucchinis and pat dry. Halve each lengthwise and using a melon baller, scoop out most of the flesh (seed part), leaving 1/2 inch thick flesh intact. Place on prepared baking tray in a single later.
3. Drizzle olive  oil on zucchini and a bit of soy butter/butter. Sprinkle garlic, fresh basil, salt and pepper on all zucchinis. Bake for 25-30 minutes (until a bit browned on top)


Cream Sauce 
Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp olive oil
10 leaves of basil finely chopped
handful of parsley finely chopped
3 garlic gloves finely chopped
nutmeg
salt
pepper


1) Pour 2 tsp of olive oil in a sauce pan on low heat and add 3 garlic gloves finely chopped until slightly browned. Add heavy cream, basil, parsley and stir. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper (for taste).

To Assemble

1)Place gnocchi in zucchini boats (as pictured above) and drizzle sauce over the boat. 

ENJOY!!! This is hands down one of the best meals I have ever made. I love that gnocchi is so versatile and can be made with different vegetables! To compliment the meal I would add a salad and some red wine of your choice! 

Happy Fathers Day

To all the Fathers out there, I hope you have a great day and that your family spoils you! Think of one thing your father or father figure taught you that you are proud and thankful for! 


I found this card that I must have made my dad when I was five. Happy Father's Day Dad! It is really funny how concrete young kids really are! 

Organize Storage Space in Your Kitchen.

There is nothing worse than a messy anything but especially a kitchen. I know "space" may be an issue and trust me I have a kitchen that is about the size of a hallway so I sympathize with you. There are some things that I have done to organize my kitchen better and you can too! First and foremost get RID of stuff you never use...I know you say well someday I will use it, but if you have not used it by NOW; you probably will never (sell items on craigslist, garage sale, antique shop, or donate). If the time comes and you need something that you gave away than you will buy an updated prettier version anyways! 

Here is a list of things to get rid of...

* Chipped or broken dishes, glasses, and mugs.
* Duplicate sets of items.
* Pots, pans, utensils, and bake ware that are burnt or rusted.
* Excess stemware.
* Excess plastic containers (yes that tupperware that is overflowing USEFUL space), bags, and jars.
* Ugly souvenir glasses and mugs. (My side note: unless you love and use them)
* Plastic tumblers, if your kids are all grown up. Save a few for the grandchildren if you have any.

(love these drawer organizers by IKEA)

(This saved my life...literally all those pans took up so much storage in my cabinet: Grundal Rack, Ikea)

(Every time I open my cabinet with the pot and pan lids, they fall out, seriously the death of me! So here is my solution, my man will be so happy he doesn't need to hear me cuss the lids ever again =])

(Stack your dishes, bowls, and mugs...I think it looks cute especially if you have open glass cabinets)

How do you organize your storage space in your kitchen? Any great tips to share? 

I love to chalk.

[love these name tags! and they are reusable!! find on etsy]

[you can change these to say anything you want. find on etsy]

[just adorable. think weddings, sweet 16, galas, proms]

[chalk up your bedroom-or your whole house. i love it!!]

[love chalk and the one your with. xo]

Playing like a kid.

I think my favorite part about being around kids is that it makes you forget about all the messy parts of your life and you just get to have FUN! Today I spent the morning with my niece at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Great place to bring kids ages 1-5. 

Feeling Thirsty?!?

I was feeling very thirsty today as I hiked all around the city from 137th Street to 42nd Street back to 72nd Street...It did not stop there, it continued back to 46th street and than HOME! I realized that I had forgotten my water bottle....eeek and I am not cool with having to pay $3 for a small 12 ounce bottle of poland spring. I had been researching water bottles and have chosen a few of my favorite. I think the (1) Bobble BPA Free Water Bottle, 18.5 Ounce, Magenta are great since I am eco and health conscious (BPA free and reusable). They require filters that are a bit pricey but they last for a while and save the hassle of having filtered water on hand. You can fill your water bottle up in a bathroom or water fountain at a park and be fine since it completely filters the water! I am also in love with (2) Sigg Lifestyle Loop Top Water Bottle (0.6-Liters, Spotted Pride) because they have cool designs and they are Swiss (and we all know the Swiss make quality products). And my last pick is the new rave on glass water bottles. I love (3 )Takeya Classic Glass Water Bottle with Silicone Sleeve, Black, 22-1/2-Ounce. They are more light weight than other glass bottles I have seen on the market and I love the sleek look. 


Happy drinking!