Cadbury Creme Egg Desserts

Posted in Food & Recipes by listen2mama

It seems everywhere you look, Easter candy is all over (and in my book, Easter candy is even better than Halloween candy). So naturally, it’s time for some yummy Easter treats. And if there’s one Easter chocolate delight that I have always loved, it’s the Cadbury creme egg (who doesn’t love these?) I remember looking forward to these creme eggs at Easter time, ever since I was little. I recently came across 10 amazing dessert recipes made with these delicious eggs, and I just had to share them with you all (even if you don’t celebrate Easter, these are delicious anytime). I have not had the chance to make any of these yet, but I’m sure going to try some of them out soon…here they are:

Cadbury creme egg cheesecake, photo courtesy of tamingtwins.com

Wow your friends and family with this stunning Cadbury creme egg cheesecake. If you can’t find mini creme eggs to use inside the cake, you can just replace them with large creme eggs. Click here.

Cadbury creme egg donuts, photo courtesy of cutsqash.com.

Full size or mini creme eggs, wrapped in a yeasted donut dough, deep-fried and rolled in sugar, heavenly for any donut fan. Click here.

Cadbury creme egg milkshake, photo courtesy of Chocolatemoosey.com

Your favorite Cadbury creme egg in milkshake form! Chocolate ice cream and homemade fondant cream blended together for a sinful Easter treat. Click here.

Cadbury creme egg cupcakes, photo courtesy of cupcakestakethecake.com.

These Cadbury creme egg cupcakes are intensely chocolatey Devil’s Food cake with lightly flavored vanilla Cadbury’s creme egg buttercream, delicious! Click here.

Creme Egg Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies, photo curtesy of chocolatemoosey.com.

Cadbury creme egg stuffed chocolate chip cookies, photo courtesy of chocolatemoosey.com.

Classic chocolate chip cookies stuffed with mini creme eggs makes an easy treat for Easter. Click here.

Cadbury creme egg cookie cups, photo courtesy of inkatrinaskitchen.com.

Homemade Cadbury cream filling stuffed into chewy chocolate chip cookie cups. Click here.

Cadbury creme egg ice-creeam, photo courtesy of culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com.

Cadbury creme egg ice-cream, photo courtesy of culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com.

Delicious, smooth and creamy, chocolate creme egg ice-cream! This might be my favorite of them all. Click here.

Cadbury creme egg chocolate caramel shortbread, photo courtesy of kerrycooks.com.

With a scrumptious shortbread layer on the base, paired with gorgeous homemade caramel, and topped with a thick layer of milk and plain chocolate, these are a must! Click here.

Cadbury creme egg dip, photo courtesy of bitzngiggles.com.

Melt some eggs, chop up the others, and you end up with a sweet, creamy dip swimming with Cadbury egg bits and pieces and swirled with the white and yellow fondant filling, great for fruit dipping too! Click here.

Cadbury creme egg tarts, photo courtesy of outoftheordinaryfood.com.

Little tarts, with a paté sucrée crust (kind of shortbread-y) a blackcurrant-almond filling, and one mini-egg hidden in each one. Click here.

So, have you ever made any desserts with these yummy Cadbury creme eggs? If you have, I’d love to have the recipe!

10Mar2015

What I’m Watching …

Posted in Entertainment by listen2mama

So I‘ve been a bit bummed lately with some of my favorite shows coming to an end, such as Parenthood and Cougar Town and very disappointed in the way Revenge is heading. Luckily, I’ve picked up a few new ones. I have now added The Slap, Secrets & Lies and The Affair to my weekly rotation of programming. First let me say, it’s very odd for me to watch any of these three shows, because I would normally be very turned off with topics such as, child abuse, child murders and infidelity. But these shows are like a bad train wreck that everyone stops to look at.

After watching the trailer for The Slap, I thought it looked ridiculous, (especially since it was replacing my beloved Parenthood). But I was intrigued, after all, who in today’s world would dare touch someone else’s child, much less, slap them?! So, I watched the first three episodes, and I must say, I find it very interesting, and I can’t wait to see how this story develops. It also feels as if you’re watching an HBO or Showtime series, instead of a primetime NBC program. This is about more than just a child being slapped…this show deals with the intricacies of a large Greek-American complicated family, and their close friends. But primarily it examines how ordinary lives can be derailed in an instant with a quick, unplanned act. There’s also a great cast here, starring Peter Sarsgaard, Thandie Newton and Uma Thurman.

The Slap, Thursdays at 8PM on NBC

Secrets & Lies is relatively new, I have only watched the first two episodes. The story follows Ben Crawford, a family man who discovers the body of a young boy and quickly becomes the prime suspect in his death. Ben then goes in search of the real killer in order to clear his name. I am very curious, because I do believe Ben, played by Ryan Phillippe is innocent (but I could be wrong). There are many other secrets involved in this story, aside from just finding who the killer of the young boy is. Great casting here too with Ryan Phillippe and Juliette Lewis as the stars of the show. Stay tuned…

Secrets & Lies, on Sundays at 9PM on ABC

Secrets & Lies, Sundays at 9PM on ABC

And last but not least, The Affair. To be honest, I hated this show the first time I watched it. The Affair explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship between Noah Solloway, played by Dominic West and Alison Bailey, played by Ruth Wilson, after the two meet in the resort town of Montauk on Long Island. Although, after having watched the entire first season, I have to say, the storyline grows on you and you start to understand all of the characters’ point of view. Perhaps what I enjoy most, is that the story of the affair is told separately, complete with distinct memory biases, from Noah’s and Alison’s perspectives. It’s very well written and the season left us wanting more, with a fantastic season ending cliff hanger. I also love the roles played by Maura Tierney and Joshua Jackson. The series recently won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Drama Series and Ruth Wilson won for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama. Looking forward to Season 2.

The Affair, Sundays at 10PM on Showtime

Have you been watching any new shows lately? Any that you would recommend?

2Mar2015

Visions of Venice

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

Experiencing Venice is like falling in love at first sight. To many, Paris is considered the most beautiful city in the world. To me, Venice is. All of the beautiful architecture, the canals, the gondolas, I just find it amazing (it’s a UNESCO World Heritage property). Since my first visit when I was fifteen, I always found this enchanting city to be very unique. I love that you can walk everywhere, no need to rent a car. But make sure you hop on the vaporetto (water bus) which gives you a wide angle view of Venice’s beauty that you just can’t get by walking around. I also love to wander and get lost through all of the winding, narrow cobblestone streets, and the further you venture away from Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), the quainter the neighborhoods become, San Polo being my favorite. San Polo is a quarter of artists and artisans, with narrow streets and tiny “campos” or squares. But what I love is that people actually live here in the tiny apartments above the many shops and restaurants, giving you a real neighborhood feel. Make the most of your time exploring through tiny alleys, across endless bridges, and make sure to just take it all in, while stopping for a coffee or gelato along the way.

Places to Stay We typically fly into Venice and take a water taxi from the airport. I really like staying close to St. Mark’s square, as the location is very convenient. This last time we stayed at the Residence Corte Grimani and were very pleased. We stayed in a one bedroom apartment (which for Venice is huge) for the three of us, and our daughter was thrilled to learn she had her own bathroom. Situated steps from St. Mark’s, the property is very comfortable and we had amazing canal views from our windows. I highly recommend this hotel if you’re traveling with children. Other nice hotels where we’ve stayed in the past are the Cavaletto and the Bonvecchiati, both very near to St. Mark’s also. Important to note, it’s good to find a hotel that has water taxi or water bus access, so that you don’t have to carry all of your luggage through the cobblestone streets.

Residence Corte Grimani Hotel, fantastic location…

View from our apartment window…priceless!

Churches As with most major Italian cities, Venice has many gorgeous churches to visit. My favorite of course is Basilica di San Marco, one of my favorite churches in all of Europe and one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in the word. Words cannot describe this amazingly beautiful sanctuary, it’s truly a must see. Another church I love in Venice is the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, with its prominent position at the tip of Dorsoduro, where the Grand Canal merges with St. Mark’s Basin.

Basilica di San Marco

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Gondola Rides We visited at the peak of the high season in August, it was extremely busy and the crowds were everywhere. Though I have to admit, as much as I love my gondola rides, the tourist crowds were making us feel like we were in a Disney World queue. But a gondola is just one of those things that a visitor to this lovely city should experience. Venice is all about the water. I definitely recommend visiting in May or September instead. But this was our daughter’s first trip to Venice, so of course we had to take her on a gondola, which she loved.

Gondola rides…

Food Finding delicious eateries in Venice is not a problem. There are tons of great restaurants to choose from, yummy gelato places (Venchi being out favorite), and many pizza and fast food spots to get a quick meal, throughout the entire city. I had not been to Venice in many years prior to this visit last summer, and I was pleasantly surprised to not see any Starbucks, Burger Kings and only one McDonald’s further out in the Cannaregio neighborhood. Some of our favorite restaurants which we frequent on every visit are Antico Martini, Le Bistrot de Venise and Trattoria Da Mamo. And if you’re looking for a quick bite and don’t have time for a sit down meal, you have to try Dal Moro’s Fresh Pasta To Go (Calle de la Casseleria, 5324 in Castello). The pasta comes in a little white takeaway box with a fork and napkins, and it’s up to you to find a place to enjoy it. The pasta is really fresh, made when you order it, and very reasonably priced for Venice.

Dal Moro’s Fresh Pasta to go…

Another great place is Acqua & Mais (Campiello dei Meloni, 1478, San Polo) a Venetian take-away delicatessen where you can taste the seafood directly from the Rialto market. The specialties include the “scartosso” real Venetian mixed fried fish served in a paper cone so that you can enjoy it while strolling through the streets of Venice. Windows allow a full view of the cooks while preparing the food and prices are again very reasonable for Venice.

Acqua & Mais fresh seafood to go…

Paper Shops As many of you know, my love of stationery products comes alive when I’m visiting Europe, in particular, Italy. Venice has many gorgeous little shops selling handcrafted marbled paper, embossed stamps and beautiful pencils and notebooks. The most common one you will find is Il Papiro, this is a chain with various locations throughout Italy, several within Venice, and even shops in Palm Beach and New York. But there are a few others to look out for as well. I really wanted to visit, Legatoria Piazzesi, (Campiello de la Feltrina near Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, San Marco 2511), Italy’s oldest paper shop, which has been making books and paper since 1951. Unfortunately, it was closed during our stay, and apparently it’s closed a lot from reviews I have found on the internet. The collages in the window were beautiful and I read somewhere that the artist says that they are portraits of the tourists she sees walking by her shop! I would have loved to buy one, maybe next time (because of course, they will be a next time).

Legatoria Piazzesi, the oldest paper shop in all of Italy…

Another great paper shop we stumbled upon was Il Pavone, di Pelosin Paolo (Campiello dei Meloni, 1478, San Polo). This paper store had an incredible assortment of beautifully marbled paper in all sorts of color combinations and patterns, as well as swirls of colors on notebooks, pencils, frames, decorative boxes, stationery and even sheets of wrapping paper! But perhaps the best part of our visit was when the shop owner led my daughter and I to the tiny back room for a quick tour of his workshop where he hand paints every item he sells in this adorable store. Of course we made a few purchases…

Il Pavone Paper Shop, amazing to watch the shop owner make the marbled paper.

La Ricerca (Ponte delle Ostreghe near Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, San Marco 2431) is another beautiful little paper shop selling leather-bound photo albums, address books, pencil pouches, you name it (by now you’re probably wondering how many of these places did we shop at). And according to Fodor’s, new products are introduced often so that no two visits to the store are ever the same.

Glass Last but certainly not least, I love all the tiny glass shops in Venice. No matter which street you turn on you will encounter at least a few on each block, selling various glass items such as these:

Beautiful glass sold all over Venice…

More beautiful glass miniatures..

One store that has some beautiful glass items, and very special hand painted Christmas ornaments is Eredi Giovanni Pagnacco, right off St. Mark’s square, definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful handpainted glass Christmas ornaments…

You can also visit some glass workshops and watch demonstrations if you’re interested. Vecchia Murano Glass Factory, in the heart of Venice, just a few yards from Piazza San Marco, is one of the lagoon’s biggest and most famous artistic glass factories. You can visit the store which sells all types of glass items and some very pretty glass jewelry, and skip the glass making demonstration.

The beautiful glass jewelry available at Vecchia Murano.

However, I recommend you visit the island of Murano if you’re looking for a specific piece. Day trips to Murano and Burano are great if time permits.

Here are a few more photos of our trips for your enjoyment:

One of the many gondola stations.

The beautiful St. Mark’s Basilica

Another gondola station with Santa Maria della Salute in the background…

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, with its unique staircase…

On the Ponte dell’Accademia

The beautiful wooden Ponte dell’Accademia, linking Dorsoduro to San Marco.

Beautiful gondolas

One of Venice’s many bridges…

More gondolas…

Near the Rialto Bridge…

Photo taken from the water taxi…

The beautiful clock tower on St. Mark’s Square…

The Doge’s Palace

Gondoliers waiting for their next customers…

Beautiful buildings in San Polo…

The beautiful Rialto Bridge…

The beautiful Doge’s Palace and the pink lamps…

Enjoying a late evening stroll through St. Mark’s while having some gelato…

Carolina loving the gondolas…

St. Mark’s Basilica

Hubby and I on St. Mark’s Square…

Have you been to Venice? I’d love to hear what you enjoyed most…

23Feb2015

My Office Supply Addiction

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

I admit it…I am an office supply addict. My addiction started when I was very young. My dad knew I loved stickers and he started buying them for me at Hallmark (the only place stickers were sold back then) near his job in NYC. My mom would also take me to the Sanrio store and I would go nuts buying little Hello Kitty colored pencils and pads. Fast forward many years later… and now I just love anything that has to do with stickers, craft supplies, desk accessories, and oh boy do I love a nice set of pens! If any store has an office supply or stationery section, you can find me there (and now my daughter too). And I have to say, I have found the most amazing stationery stores in Europe, (papelerias as they are called in Spain). Back to school time offers a great selection of pens, sticky notes, markers, cute paper clips, you name it! Looks at these pencils, how can I resist??

Colorful mechanical pencils, found here.

Are you an office supply addict? Here’s a quick list that will help you determine if you are:

1) You have more pens, pencils and markers than you’ll ever use in one lifetime.

2) You feel the urge to visit Office Depot at least once a month (or Archiver’s if you shop online).

3) You have an entire drawer stuffed full of blank, unopened writing pads and post-it pads, more than necessary for anything you will ever write down in your life.

4) You have a giant collection of adorable erasers…which cannot be used because they are so cute.

5) There’s no such thing as too many blank notecards!

6) You’re more excited to visit the Sanrio store in the mall, full of Hello Kitty stationery, than Nordstrom.

7) You secretly love back to school time, just for the new school supplies you’re buying for your “kids”.

8) You have an immense sticker collection, as a gown adult, and continue to buy more with every visit to Michael’s.

9) You purchase items such as a Sticker Stadium and a Washi Tape Dispenser (don’t judge).

10) You get really upset when someone doesn’t return one of your favorite pens (they’re all your favorites).

11) You’re vacationing in Italy, and suddenly you spot an old handmade paper and stationery store, and you HAVE to go in.

12) You write a blog post about your addiction.

And don’t even get me started on monogrammed notepads and calendars! Here are a few more of my favorite office supplies:

Beautiful color coordinated desk accessories offered at www.poppin.com.

My washi tape dispenser, found here.

Cute pencil case, found here.

Kate Spade eraser set, found here.

Label maker from the Container Store, found here.

Mini Sticky Notes, found here.

Kitty post-it dispenser, found here.

Shaped paper clips, click here.

USB Tulip Hub, found here.

And lats but not least, my new sticker stadium, found here.

And last but not least, my new sticker stadium, found here.

Do you like office supplies? What are some of your favorite items, I love them all!

19Feb2015

My Favorite Greek Dishes

Posted in Food & Recipes by listen2mama

You never hear much about Greek food. It’s not as popular as Italian (my favorite), Chinese or Mexican, but I sure do love it. While traveling through Greece, I have definitely fallen in love with some favorite dishes and also watched my husband eat some questionable ones (octopus). And while we have a few Greek restaurants here in Miami, I haven’t found any to be as authentic as the food in Greece. Here are my top 10 favorite Greek dishes:

Galaktoboureko This has to be my favorite Greek dessert (yes, let’s start with the desserts, why not), and it’s actually not very easy to find. Everytime I’m in Greece I specifically browse the menus of most recommended places, and I have only come across this heavenly treat in a small cafe in Oia. Galaktoboureko, is a divine combination of creamy custard and flaky phyllo dough that is baked to golden perfection then drenched with a lemon and orange infused syrup. I used to work with a Greek friend who told me her mother makes it from scratch. I never tried making this, as to me the recipe seems a bit above my experience level…LOL. But if you are brave enough to try, make sure to eat it the same day, as the custard tends to harden once it’s refrigerated.

Galaktoboureko

Loukoumades Continuing with desserts, my husband loves these little bite-sized sweet honey puffs, essentially the Greek version of donut holes, which are deep fried to golden and crispy perfection. Loukoumades are traditionally served soaked in hot honey syrup, sprinkled with cinnamon and garnished with chopped walnuts or toasted sesame seeds. I’ve also seen them accompanied with a scoop of ice cream. Either way, delicious!

Loukoumades

Halvas Yet another dessert (I promise I will get to the food soon). A semonlina, almond, cinnamon based dessert, which I ended up liking more than what I had anticipated. There are two different sweets called halvas in Greece. One is wet pudding made of semolina powder, olive oil and sugar. The other type is very similar to a nougat made of sugar and sesame powder, similar to Spanish turron. I was also served halvas ice cream one night…amazing!

Halvas

Fried Feta with Honey and Sesame Seeds Many of you that know me know of my love affair with cheese, ANY type of cheese! But I really love feta cheese and usually have loads of it when I’m in Greece. However, this fried feta covered in sesame seeds and honey is on another level. The sweet and salty combination of flavors is absolutely delicious!

Fried feta with honey and sesame seeds

Tzatziki This yummy Greek sauce is always served with grilled meats or as a dip. Tzatziki is made of strained yogurt mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, lemon juice, and dill, mint, or parsley… always served cold.

Tzatziki

Dolmadakia Typically served as an appetizer or side dish, dolmadakia is a favorite dish throughout Greece. Grape leaves, stuffed with long-grain rice and herbs like thyme, dill, and fennel. My husband loves these, definitely something to try!

Dolmadakia

Greek Salad Famous all over the world, but the Greeks make them best! Crunchy cucumber, juicy ripe tomato, olives, red onion and a giant slab of feta on top, covered with olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice. It’s an absolute staple with every meal.

Greek Salad

Gyros Yes, these are the ones typically found in your local state fair or neighborhood festivals, but boy are they yummy! Pita bread, grilled meat, fresh salad, sauce (usually tzatziki), and many times they also include french fries inside. Depending on the restaurant, they may also be served as a platter with the pita bread on the side. Either way, I love them.

Gyros served with fries

Spanakopita These are Greek pastries, filled with spinach and feta cheese folded in layers of phyllo dough. Most of the time, you will see them folded into triangles, but it can also be made as a pie or in a pita. Cheese pies of all types are very popular all over Greece. I usually eat these as an appetizer or a snack, but they can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

Spanakopita

Pastitsio Also referred to as Greek Lasagna, Pastitsio, is made of luscious layers of juicy minced beef, cooked in a tomato based sauce, with pasta and creamy béchamel sauce, all baked together until golden perfection.. simply irresistible! This is one of my favorite dishes in Greece, I always make sure to have it at least once on every trip.

Pastitsio

Have you tried Greek food, and if you have what are your favorite dishes? I’m curious…

9Feb2015

Celebrating Valentine’s Day

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Well believe it or not the month of January has flown by and here we are getting ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day in less than a week (even though I have some neighbors who have yet to put away their Christmas decorations!) I know many of you may not celebrate this day or make a big fuss about it, but for those of you who do, I decided to round up some of my favorite (and most original) ideas I found to surprise your loved ones with. Here they are:

Valentines Day “Hashtag Conversation Heart” Cookie set, by Sugared Hearts Bakery, $20. Visit their Etsy store for cookies for all types of events, they are beautiful as well as delicious!
Tory Burch Logo Heart Key Fob, available at http://www.toryburch.com, $55.
COACH Corner Zip Wristlet in heart print crossgrain leather, available at http://www.coach.com, $75.
Under This Moon Bracelet by Gemagenta on Etsy, $30. This has to be one of the most creative and romantic gifts I’ve come across. The custom necklace or bracelet is made by hand to reflect the moon phase of any date you desire, even past dates. How cool is that??
BAN.DO Assorted Pen Set, a great gift for your kids, available at http://www.shopbando.com, $14. Browse their website for many other affordable cute gifts for Valentine’s.
Alex and Ani Key to My Heart Charm Bangle, available at http://www.alexandani.com, $28. Also sold at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, Dillard’s, and various local jewelry stores. I love these bracelets and my daughter loves to wear many of them at once. Browse their website for all types of collections.
Hey Handsome Shaving Kit Bag for the man in your life, available at http://www.owenandfred.com, $68. Available in various colors. This is a great website offering many gifts for men.
A Big Kiss His & Her Pillowcases, available at http://www.gifts.com, $36. Does it get any cuter than this??
The New Disney Jewelry Collection by Pandora. This is perfect for the Disney lover in your life (I know a few of those). Available anywhere Pandora is sold or at http://www.pandora.net, prices for charms range from $45-$80.
Milktape, a company that makes modern day mixed tapes using cassette tape-shaped USBs complete with cover and plastic case, so you can make it extra personal. Each tape holds about 15 songs (128 MB) and can be used with PC or Mac. I know this brings back a lot of memories from my youth. Available at http://www.milktape.com, $15.
Petite Heart Cocotte by Le Creuset, for the chef in your life, available at http://www.lecreuset.com, $25. Comes in various colors if you’re not into pink.
Heart Audio Headset Splitter, for just about anyone on your list, available at http://www.accessorygeeks.com or http://www.amazon.com, $8.

And if you prefer not to spend money on gifts, then there’s always that special card like this one available at http://www.papersource.com.

Valentine's Day cards available at www.papersource.com

Valentine’s Day cards available at http://www.papersource.com

Have you thought about Valentine’s Day yet? And if so, what would you like to gift or receive?

2Feb2015

You’re Just A Mom?

Posted in Family by listen2mama

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while, but I have to admit it’s not an easy topic for me to discuss. I am a stay at home mom (SAHM) and my daughter just turned 14 (yes, 14). While I can certainly go back to work at any time I choose, I think that decision should only be made by my husband and myself, not by anyone else. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “So are you EVER going back to work? What did you get an MBA for, to stay home, you can make a lot of money. What do you DO all day?”. If I had a nickel for every time I have heard that, I would probably never need to go back to work. Here’s a quote that I have seen many times all over the internet, and it pretty much sums it all up for me:

I would never criticize women who work outside of the home, some of my closest friends have careers they love and made the choice to be working moms. And I fully support them. I also understand that many of them have to work if they are single mothers or if they have to contribute to the financial needs of the family. Then there are the women who do not see themselves as SAHMs and do not have the “patience” (as I’ve heard some say), and would much rather work outside the home and have a nanny raise their children, even when they don’t need to work. And last but not least, the women who truly value and enjoy their careers, and do not want to give up what they love doing to be at home raising their kids. My point here is not to single anyone out, we should all be able to do as we please with our lives. However, I also do not appreciate when people act as if being a SAHM is a bad choice, or a lazy choice…it’s a personal choice.

When our daughter was born, I had a fantastic job, probably the best one I ever had, and we seriously considered if I was going back to work after my 3 month maternity leave. For many personal reasons, my husband and I made the decision that I would stay home and raise her, a decision that I have never regretted and fully enjoyed for 14 years. And no, not because I am lazy, or didn’t want to go to work every day and leave her at daycare (although I surely did not miss those pantyhose every morning). Simply because I very much enjoy being a mother and I did not want to miss out on any of our daughter’s milestones, especially since time goes by so quickly and I would never get those moments back. Of course I was blessed that we could afford to have this option, but at that point in time, as good as my job was, I simply was not passionate enough about my career to miss out on enjoying my daughter every single day. And I also realized, that no matter how good I was at my job (I was very good) or how much my boss loved me (she really loved me), whatever your job is, you are expendable. You are a number. You can be replaced, and you will be replaced, eventually.

Now that my daughter is a teen and is much more independent, I have been seriously thinking of entering the work force again, at least on a part-time basis. But I even find this decision a tough one, because who will be home with her during all the school breaks, holidays, teacher appreciation days, early dismissal (sometimes they seem to be out of school more than they are in), take her to doctor/dentist appointments, etc. Am I really ready to miss her swim meets, school plays, and any other important event that may come up? I’m not sure yet.

So yes…I am JUST a mother. Not only do I shape and mold my beautiful, smart, loving daughter to grow up to be a kind, responsible, hard-working, functional and respectable adult with morals and manners (which seem to be disappearing in today’s youth), but I also manage and maintain everything in our household, so that it runs smoothly, while caring for our daughter who relies on me for just about everything. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. My heart melts whenever my daughter tells me that she feels so blessed to have the best mother in the world and that she would be lost without me.
Yes…I LOVE being JUST a mom…at least for now!

Photo Courtesy of RoseHill Design Studio

Are you a SAHM (or dad)? Do you enjoy staying at home raising your kids or would you rather work outside your home? I would love to hear.

27Jan2015

What is a Bath Bomb?

Posted in Beauty & Style by listen2mama

Have you ever heard of bath bombs? I had not until my very recent trip to LUSH Cosmetics. Let me say, when I first walked in I felt like I was in a scene from Charlie & the Chocolate Factory! The entire store is so colorful and full of displays, I didn’t know where to look first and I admit I felt a bit overwhelmed. I was immediately greeted by a very sweet and friendly young lady (who must have seen the dazed and confused look on my face), who wanted to educate me on their products. You see, LUSH is a company that uses fresh, organic, safe synthetics, and the finest essential oils. They also firmly believe in buying ingredients from companies who don’t test on animals. After she told me all about this wonderful company, I was still a bit confused as to what they actually sold, as the entire store was full of beautifully wrapped gift boxes (it was during Christmas). Take a look:

Christmas Package Display

They sell many items, shampoos, deodorants, hand creams and bath bombs, to name a few. Which brings me back to the question: What is a bath bomb??

Well, a bath bomb is formulated with the finest ingredients and essential oils to cleanse both the mind and body. Simply drop the “bomb” into a ready run, warm bath, watch it fizzle and dissolve in the water and release a lovely scent. I bought a few items as Christmas gifts, and a few for myself too. They all smell delicious! My daughter recently received one of their beautiful gift sets for her birthday, the Tickled Pink set, which among many yummy smelling bath items, it also included three different bath bombs.

Tickled Pink Gift Set

Needless to say, she was dying to take a bath and use one of them and when she did, her entire bathroom and bedroom smelled of the incredible scent. Our favorite is the Twilight scented bomb with lavender and ylang ylang oils, perfect for a relaxing bath and calming the body at nighttime. When you first drop this into the bath it starts to release a sweet-smelling foam. The bath bomb dissolves slowly in the water, oozing out an abundance of pink and blue swirls that froth and bubble on the surface. Take a look at this:

A dissolving Twilight bath bomb…

Who wouldn’t enjoy a bath a like this? Oh and I should mention that the bath bombs are rather large, and many people break them in half and spread them across two baths instead of one (of course, we don’t). Here are a few more pics of the beautiful, sweet smelling LUSH bath bomb gift sets for your enjoyment!

Wrapped Gift Sets

LUSH Cosmetics
7535 Dadeland Mall
Miami, FL 33156

http://www.lushusa.com

Have you been to LUSH or do you use their products? I’d love to hear what you think. And don’t forget to checkout their beautiful Valentine’s Day gift sets too!

20Jan2015

Threefold Cafe

Posted in Food & Recipes by listen2mama

Breakfast all day long? This is what you’ll encounter at Coral Gables’ newest all-day breakfast place, Threefold Café. Opened this past summer by two Melbourne transplants, Teresa and Nick Sharp, Threefold offers diners a taste of their native Australian dishes all with a Floridian twist. And let me just say, if you are not big on breakfast, this place will likely change your mind!

Threefold Cafe

Cute yellow teapots…

The menu features Australian-inspired dishes, my favorite being their “Smashed Avo”, butter & thyme roasted mushrooms with feta, lime, basil all served on Zak’s bread, topped with a perfectly soft poached egg for an extra $2. I had never tasted anything like this, but I can assure you it was delicious! Both my husband and daughter, being waffle lovers, ordered the “Big Kid Waffles”, vanilla waffles dusted with powdered sugar, served with fresh strawberries and organic maple syrup. We also ordered a side of Mornin’ Monkey, a banana and walnut bread served with espresso butter and maple syrup on the side. Next time (oh yes, I think there will have to be a next time soon) I want to try the “Not So French Toast,” egg-soaked bread filled with prosciutto, basil, and ricotta, sounds heavenly! Oh and did I mention the portions are very generous.

Smashed Avo topped with a soft poached egg…

Waffles with strawberries and powdered sugar…

Mornin’ Monkey… banana and walnut bread served with espresso butter and maple syrup…

Not So French Toast…

Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows…

And if you have little ones, this is the only place in the Gables that I have seen with a children’s nook, full of Ikea stools and toys, doesn’t get much better than that. They also offer kid-friendly menu options such as vanilla waffles and buttermilk pancakes with butterscotch sauce and vanilla-bean ice cream, served in colorful plastic dishes. Oh and they offer “babyccinos” for $1 for the kids (frothed milk with marshmallows)…can you say cute? They want to make sure they are pleasing everyone in the family.

Children’s play area…

Once you’re done with your meal, make sure you order the Tim Tam cookies, directly from Australia. They are crunchy, malty and chocolaty, very similar in taste to a Twix bar…absolutely delicious! My daughter loved them so much, they gave her a few extra ones!

Yummy Tim Tams

Open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Threefold also has special lunch offerings, including sandwiches, soups, and salads. If you’re in the Miami area, make sure to eat at this wonderful new spot.

Threefold Café
141 Giralda Avenue
Coral Gables
(305) 704-8007
www.threefoldcafe.com

Have you been to Threefold Cafe, if you have I’d love to hear what you thought of it.

14Jan2015

Winter Nights

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

For many of you, winter is here and you’re already wondering how many more days until summer (158)! Luckily for me, I live in Miami, where it is summer year round, although I would absolutely love and welcome some cooler weather. So, on the unlikely occasion that the weather dips down, or on a “winter” evening with my air-conditioner set to 70, here’s what I need for my “Cozy Night In”:

SOCKS… I always have socks on when I am home, and I sleep with socks on every night! Don’t know why but me feet are always cold and I love how warm my comfy socks make them feel. I love all socks, but my favorites are the Thermal Socks with Trim available at Bed Bath & Beyond. These thermal socks are moisturizing and extra warm. The unique double layer provides warmth and comfort, while the inner layer is infused with rich, hydrating shea butter for conditioning moisturizer (which lasts through 15 washings). I have several pairs in various colors, they are the best, $10.

SLIPPERS… Along with my socks I need a great pair of slippers for walking around the house. I love the UGGS slippers that my daughter has, but I didn’t feel like spending so much, so I found a great substitute. I recently came across the Women’s Shearling Scuff Slippers from Land’s End. They are a dream and come in several different colors. I got the pink ones of course! On sale now for $45.

BLANKET… What good is a cozy night in without a great blanket to cuddle up with? My favorite is the Room Essentials Microfleece Blanket available at Target. It’s super soft and keeps me warm. Available in various colors, $15. Vera Bradley also has microfleece blanket in various patterns, just as soft, $49.

HOT COCOA… My favorite beverage for a warm, comfy night…brewing a cup of hot cocoa in my Keurig. I love the Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate K cups, also available at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond, $10 for a box of 16.

GOOD MOVIE… I love a good, funny, romantic comedy, (chick flicks), any will do. A few of my favorites are Under the Tuscan Sun, The Devil Wears Prada, Letters to Juliet, The Vow, 13 Going On 30… you get the drift. And I’m also OK watching most anything on TLC (don’t judge)!

After my evening of fun and TV, there’s always my inviting bed! Nothing like cozy, fluffy bedding, like the type one finds in the luxury hotel chains to invite you to a great night’s sleep. And if you’re looking for some new bedding, you have to check out the line by Parachute Home. Parachute provides high quality bedding made from Egyptian cotton, designed locally in Venice Beach, CA and manufactured in Italy (ahh… Italy, say no more). Take a look at this picture from their website, just beautiful! My favorite are the powder blue sheets, oh and I can’t wait to try their lavender scented candles as well. Sheet sets start at $99.

Luxurious Bedding. Photo Courtesy of Parachute.

How do you stay comfy and cozy when the weather cools off?

Listen2Mama

lifestyle. family. travel. food.

Author Archives: listen2mama

Cadbury Creme Egg Desserts

What I’m Watching …

Visions of Venice

My Office Supply Addiction

My Favorite Greek Dishes

Celebrating Valentine’s Day

You’re Just A Mom?

What is a Bath Bomb?

Threefold Cafe

Winter Nights

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: