Insta {January} gram

There is something about Instagram that makes it okay to snap and share pictures of literally anything and call it artsy.

Since we live in an Instagram world, here is my January roundup as told through random pictures and pretty filters.

I'll confess that sometimes when I check the mail and there is nothing but boring letters and bills in there I will let them sit until something fun arrives such as The West Elm Catalog.

Chipotle mushroom wraps in the works 

Vintage mini Ces looking like a boss 

What was the beginning stages of India planning 

The view from take off on the Roosevelt Island Tram 

The view of landing on the Manhattan side from the Roosevelt Island Tram 

Chloe, destroyer of sock monkeys

Delicious Mexican candy gifted from Ces' grandma

Lounging with my favorites 

Sculpture on Madison Square Park 

What working from home on a rainy day looks like 

Day dreaming of the Taj at the office 

Coach Scot's Main Street Sweets 

Cozy, lazy puppy 

Dinner prep

Avocado Mac & Cheese

Cuddles

What 5 below 0 looks like 

Dusting of snow 

Fun times at a friends birthday drinks 

A bostie eats edamame 

Dreary day

Football food 

La Fonda Del Oso: Avocado Mac & Cheese

This week's (sounds so good I just had to try it) recipe comes from Two Peas & Their Pod.

The weather this week has been downright awful, with the windchill factor it feels like -5 degrees outside on most days and inside with the heater running all day at full blast the thermostat does not seem to creep up past a chilly 67 degrees.  Mac & Cheese is the mother of all comfort foods and adding our household staple of avocado made it sound even better, you can find the original recipe here.

Ingredients I used: 
10 ounces dry macaroni shells
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 avocados
juice from 1.5 limes
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
7 slices pepper jack cheese

Cook macaroni according to package instructions. While the pasta is cooking mash the avocados along with the garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper (kind of like making guacamole).

To make cheese sauce melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When butter is melted whisk in flour to create a paste. Next whisk in milk and stir until sauce has thickened just a bit. Add in cheese and stir until cheese is melted and creamy.

Put macaroni in a large bowl, first add avocado mixture and stir with a fork until well mixed. Pour cheese mixture, stir some more and serve.

Add salt to taste and garnish with red pepper flakes, enjoy!

{Travel} 5 Weeks until India

As the calendar inches closer to February 27, I thought I would check in on the list and see how I'm doing...

• Set itinerary
• Book flight
• Buy guide book
• Get vaccines 
• Apply for visa 
• Book hotels 
• Book internal flights 
• Badger Ces to get vaccines
• Badger Ces to get his Visa 
• Wedding wear inspiration (see below) 
• Buy Sari, Shalwar Kameez and Kurta 
• Convince Ces to wear a male Kurta for the wedding
• Pick up malaria meds and antibiotics 
• Interview and book a dog sitter for Chloe
• Pack 
• Print all itineraries and confirmations 
• Call banks 
• Learn Sangeet dance 
• Learn basic Hindi 
• Get ma hair did 
• Mani & Pedi 

I've only been able to get two things crossed off in these last couple of weeks. Ces had his visa appointment yesterday and his visa will be ready for pick up in the next few days. I also booked a wonderful sitter for Chloe via Dog Vacay, a website that matches people who want to open their homes with dog owners that  need a sitter for their fur babies. Dog Vacay hosts are thoroughly vetted and booking through the site guarantees the sitter will be insured. 

I mean look at this face! She needs a special kind of love <3.

In other news, dance practice starts this Sunday and I'm aiming to go on an outfit shopping extravaganza by next weekend. 

Hopefully in two weeks time the only thing I will be working on will be perfecting my head nod/shake and learning how to say "where is the bathroom" in Hindi. 

La Fonda Del Oso: Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta

Last night I finally tried The Kitchn's Fettuccine with Roasted Butternut Squash, Brown Butter and Sage. This dish proved to be the perfect remedy to warm up a cold & rainy NYC day.

Ingredients I used: 
1 package of Trader Joe's peeled and cubed butternut squash
1 package pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup pasta water
15 sage leaves
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese

Toss the butternut squash with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt then spread out on a baking sheet and roast at 450 degrees for 35 minutes.

Cook pasta according to instructions and drain, save 1/2 cup of pasta water.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter and cook butter for 5 minutes or until butter has browned. Add sage leaves and fry until crispy (about 30 seconds), add the roasted butternut squash, nutmeg and salt to the pan and stir until squash is evenly coated with butter. Pour in the reserved pasta water and cook until the sauce thickens. Finally, add the cooked pasta and mix evenly, serve with pine nuts and Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Six Things I {Love}

{1.} Glitter Salad Set 

Because every home needs a little bling.


{2.} Etsy Print

{3.} Metal Boot Tray 

Perfect for slushy winter boots. 

{4.} Anthropologie Towels

Would go perfect in our bathroom.

{5.}  Swing teal rug

{6.} Shabby Chic Ampersand

{Travel} 7 Weeks until India

The official countdown has started, on February 27, Ces and I along with 5 of my closest girlfriends will be taking off to India to watch a lovely couple, Nicole and Rahil tie-the-knot. As with any big trip, SO much planning has to take place and with this trip especially, since we are throwing a fabulous 2 day wedding and a very aggressive itinerary into the mix.

One of the biggest challenges Ces and I faced was how to make the most out of our trip to India and make this trip our own while not losing touch with the group of friends we will be travelling with. After many many hours of conversations, emails, frantic texts and Google-ing we have locked down our itinerary.

New York to New Delhi to Udaipur to Jaipur to Agra to Goa to Mumbai to New York 

Did I mention we are going for just 12 days? I think we will need a vacation from our vacation!

If you know me, you know I am a big fan of making lists so alas here is my to do list for India 2013:

• Set itinerary
• Book flight
• Buy guide book
• Get vaccines 
• Apply for visa 
• Book hotels 
• Book internal flights 
• Badger Ces to get vaccines
• Badger Ces to get his Visa 
• Wedding wear inspiration (see below) 
• Buy Sari, Shalwar Kameez and Kurta 
• Convince Ces to wear a male Kurta for the wedding
• Pick up malaria meds and antibiotics 
• Interview and book a dog sitter for Chloe
• Pack 
• Print all itineraries and confirmations 
• Call banks 
• Learn Sangeet dance 
• Learn basic Hindi 

Without a doubt this list will be ever growing and changing. Luckily there are a lot of "fun chores" still left such as shopping and dancing! 

Here is my wedding attire inspiration, I'm really loving greens and blues with gold accents. 

Mendhi - I've been advised to wear a comfy kurta with leggings as we will be sitting down for long periods of time. 

Sangeet - The Sangeet is all about dancing and having a good time, in fact we (the bride's party) will be performing a dance during the Sangeet to Lal Ghagra and Sadi Gali. With that in mind, the Sangeet attire needs to be comfortable enough to dance the night away in but also festive and elegant. 

Wedding Ceremony and Reception - Calls for the most formal and festive attire so a Sari will be in order. 

Men's Wear - Men should wear a western suit or a traditional kurta pajama for all of the wedding festivities. I'm lobbying Ces to wear a kurta pajama for the reason's that a western suit is not practical for packing and lugging around the country and will probably be too hot. Plus, how fun would it be to coordinate outfits and both be in traditional Indian attire? 

What are your thoughts on our big trip to India? Any recommendations on attire, things to see or stuff to be aware of? 

{New York} Target First Saturday's at Brooklyn Museum

This past Saturday a couple friends and I took the train to Brooklyn to check out Target's First Saturday's series at the Brooklyn Museum.  No better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than taking in free art (the entire museum is open for visitors) listening to famed Led Zeppelin cover band Lez Zeppelin all while enjoying a cocktail.

I've been to the Brooklyn Museum many times (I used to live just a couple of blocks away) and it is one of my all time favorite museums in New York City because it truly showcases everything! On any given day, you can check out a variety of pieces from Ancient Egyptian artifacts and mummies, European classics and sculptures to modern art and even feminist, Native American and African American art.

Unfortunately my camera (my camera = my phone) died almost as soon as we got there so I don't have as many pictures as I would have liked but the gallery below gives you a good sense of the variety on display at The Brooklyn Museum.

Target First Saturday's is held on the first Saturday of each month (obvi) and is a free multi-channeled event that includes exhibition viewings, dance parties, musical & dance performances, talks, readings, discussion forums, films among many other things. I highly recommend you check it out!