About Time We Had A Date Night....

Kyle surprised me on Friday by suggesting that we go out on a date, despite our only-one-more-week-until-we-get-paid balance in our bank account. But we had groceries and no upcoming occasions... so we went for it!

We got a pizza and cheese sticks at Rudy's using our $9 in loyalty points it ended up being a very budget-friendly date dinner... with tons of leftovers!

After that we drove out to the Legends to see About Time. We thought the movie looked cute and very fun for the pre-holiday season based on the TV spots... but upon reading the movie times realized that it also involved time travel - what? So we were excited to see what it would actually be like. 

The movie itself was not what we had expected, though we liked it quite a bit. It wasn't as comedic as we had thought it would be, but it did have that sort of subtle, quirky British humor in it, which I love. The characters were very cute and kind of awkward, which made them easy to root for. By the middle of the movie you don't feel like you are watching some guy try to date Rachel McAdams.... I knew he had to be a Weasly! :)

The time travel element is a lot more of the plot that I expected, and definitely more than the non-indication in the TV spots... but it was kind of nice. It wasn't one of those stressful, The Butterfly Effect kind of situations.

One thing that I loved was some of McAdams' clothing in the movie. She worked for a book publisher and had such a quirky but feminine style. I find myself wanting to re-watch it just for some new outfit ideas!

Can we just take a minute to appreciate this gorgeous red wedding dress? Be still my heart!

I am super curious as to how the movie got that R-rating... The cussing was pretty mild and there really wasn't any nudity. Only a bit of sex. I guess when the last movie you saw was Don Jon anything seems tame in comparison... (the post on which never got published.. :/ !)

Overall the movie got me to thinking about savoring our days and appreciating the small things in life. We might then find, that what we thought was a bad day, was actually a good one. And I think that is a pretty incredible thing. So well done Richard Curtis, Cast & Crew!

It leads nicely into thinking about gratitude, which I always try to do, but is specifically appropriate considering the season.

Have you seen About Time? What did you think?

How do you keep focused on the good things during your days?

All for now & Thanks for Reading,

Alexandra 

Anybody else want to move to Britain? ;)

Surprise Brunch!

Preface:

As I am sure most of you know, I took a very graceful spill down the stairs and broken my foot as well as sprained my ankle. I am in a walking boot and its a pain {in both the expression and the literal meaning}.

Anyhow, Kyle has been taking extra special care of me since then and has been more than wonderful. So I thought why not surprise him with brunch?

Here is what I made and played:

On the Menu: Turkey Bacon Wrapped Frittata with Foccacia Bread 

Orange Juice and Lime Water {Kyle had been wanting to try it}

Turkey Bacon Wrapped Frittata 

{Adapted from the Katie Brown Workshop}

Serves 2

ingredients:

6 slices of turkey bacon {or regular bacon}

Olive Oil

1/2 shallot {I used red onion}

1/2 bag {thawed spinach} or fresh arugula or spinach

3 eggs

1/2 cup grated cheese {I used an Italian Blend from Kraft}

salt and pepper

1/2)preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1) grease 2 small ramekins with olive oil. Place 1 strip of bacon around the edge of the ramekin. Place another strip of bacon around the edge that covers the gap from the first. Take the 3rd strip of bacon and cut it in half with cooking sheers {who knew this worked?!?} and place both halves on the bottom of the ramekin as best you can. 

2) mix eggs, cooked shallot {onion}, thawed spinach {or wilted arugula or spinach}, and grated cheese together with a whisk. Season with salt and pepper.

3) fill bacon lined ramekins with egg mixture using a measuring cup. Do not fill to the top as the egg will rise. 

4) bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until the tops of the eggs are golden and puffed up.

5) carefully remove from ramekins with towels or pot holders {they are hot!} and serve immediately. {they lose their fluff as they sit}.

Enjoy!

Onion Herb Foccacia Bread

{also adapted from the Katie Brown Workshop}

serves 4 {we made it serve 2!}

ingredients:

1 package of pizza dough {the kind that comes in a roll}

chopped rosemary {eye ball it}

chopped thyme {eye ball it}

olive oil {for brushing & drizzling}

thinly sliced red onion

grated Parmesan {eye ball it}

salt and pepper {if desired}

1/2) preheat oven to 425 degrees

1) open package of pizza dough and roll out on parchment paper. Brush half of the dough width wise with olive oil. 

2)Sprinkle chopped thyme and rosemary on top {don't hold back}. Lay out onion slices and finally sprinkle with Parmesan cheese {again don't hold back}. Fold the other side of the dough over the top. 

3) repeat on the top of the bread. 

4) salt and pepper if desired

5) bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes {until golden brown}

6) cool {a bit} and serve with olive oil for drizzling.

Enjoy!

final plate:

Yummy and Pretty

So that is what we ate and let me tell you Kyle was not only surprised and appreciative but thoroughly enjoyed the meal. See?

On the Playlist:

Frank Sinatra:

Witchcraft

They Can't Take That Away From Me

I've Got You Under My Skin

Rosemary Clooney:

Be My Life's Companion <3

Mangoes

Tenderly

Natalie Cole:

Almost Like Being In Love

Thou Swell

Paper Moon

MISC:

You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You - Bobby Darin

Everybody Loves Somebody - Dean Martin

There were plenty more, but I thought this gives a pretty good idea. It was a great morning. Made me dream about the future. The peachy keen future. :) {wouldn't it be nice}.

surprise someone with a gesture of love today.

Alexandra