New York, New York!

photo credit

Tonight I'm taking a red-eye to this magical city. Its been a little over 3 years since my last visit to NYC, and browsing pictures on pinterest just got me extra excited. I can't wait for the sights, the food, the people, the energy, and even the cold weather. Hope you all have an awesome weekend! Follow me on instagram @hi_im_jess for the weekend pictures!

Coachella 2012



Sooooo... the Coachella 2012 Lineup was announced on Monday and I don't think I can resist. With some of my favorite bands like Radiohead, Florence, Fitz and the Tantrums, Bon Iver, The Black Keys, Mazzy Star, Santigold, Miike Snow, Kaskade, Feist, and more, I think I'm going to have to justify the splurge.

Thank You 2011/Hello 2012!!

The holidays came and went in a festive blaze, as they always do, and here we are at the beginning of 2012. I like to think that I'm always working on growing and figuring out ways to be the best version of myself, but I always love the energy and momentum that presents itself on January 1st with new years resolutions. I have several intentions for the new year that I'm excited to share and hold myself accountable for, but first it seems appropriate to acknowledge what a great year 2011 was. For starters- I feel like I'm the healthiest and fittest I've been possibly ever and I owe that largely to my newly discovered regular yoga practice and (mostly) healthy eating habits. Secondly, my life is filled with people I love and adore and they reciprocate that and have supported me in many ways. Third, my job has been going really well and after over 2 years with the company I feel very content and appreciated in my position and there is talk of a promotion in the near future. Last year I was also finally able to move to an area that I love with a roommate who's been awesome! To top it all off, I was able to do so much traveling last year which is always so fulfilling and exciting for me. I've been so grateful for the wonderful gentleman in my life who appreciates me and misses me when he's away for work and always makes time for me to come and visit. So basically, I'm super excited about 2012 because I know it will be as good or better than 2011 and I can't wait to see what's in store! Here's a little 2011 recap of some of my favorite snapshots from January through December.

January: Beach hiking in San Luis

February: Random shot of my sweet kitty

March: Sipping cocktails at a friend's gorgeous wedding

April: Scenic snapshot from the drive up to Paso Robles for work

(a trip that was made many times in 2011)


May: Red Rocks in Denver, CO (bucket list check)

June: Fun with mustaches at another awesome wedding

July: A very patriotic Independence day weekend spent in Texas

August: Moving fun and apartment decorating

September: A fabulous Labor Day Weekend in South Beach

October: Some of the girls and I in Newport Beach

November: My first authentic cheesesteak in Philly

December: My Sister, Mom, and I on Christmas

Christmas Cookies

Growing up, my Mom would always make batch after batch of her famed "Killer Cookie" recipe around the holidays. They were always quick to disappear, and in high demand at family gatherings. It wasn't until years later, when I proudly brought them to a party, that I learned they are actually a pretty common and popular recipe, found on the side of the Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk can. I'm on to you Mom. Nevertheless, Magic Cookie Bars have remained one of my all time favorite treats to indulge in and share at Christmas time. If you haven't tried them, be warned: they are highly addictive and it's near impossible to stop at just one cookie.

Roasted Tomatoes with Shrimp and Feta

This weekend I had some friends over and made this delicious one-dish meal to enjoy for dinner. I served it with crusty french bread for dipping in the sauce as the recipe suggests, but the leftovers were equally as good served over rice the next day. This was really easy to make and my guests all said they loved it!

Ingredients

• 5 large tomatoes, cut into eighths
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic *
• kosher salt and black pepper **
• 1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup Feta, crumbled
• crusty bread, for serving

* I went a little bit heavier on the garlic, lemon, and parsley and was pleased with my executive decision to do so
** I used white truffle salt from the farmers market

Directions

1. Heat oven to 450° F. Place the tomatoes in a large baking dish and spoon the olive oil and garlic over them.
2. Sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon each salt and pepper and toss. Roast on top rack of oven for 20 minutes.
3. Remove baking dish from oven and stir in the shrimp, parsley, and lemon juice. Sprinkle with the Feta.
4. Return the dish to oven until the shrimp are cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve warm with the bread.

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Seeing Red

For the most part, I'm drawn to red clothing and accessories year round, but I like to take full advantage of the fact that the holidays give me a special reason to incorporate the fun eye-catching color into my wardrobe and make-up daily for the sake of feeling festive. Here are some old and new favorites that have been making regular appearances the last few weeks. Click on the set for more details.

Lately...

...I've been traveling a lot. Dallas, Philadelphia, and Austin. They were all awesome
...I can't get enough of Trader Joe's turkey meatballs
...Work has been going really well, and I'm thrilled to say I've been enjoying my job
...I've been trying to crack down on studying the real estate stuff (my apologies for my absence on here)
...Sausage, egg, and cheese hotpockets are my guilty pleasure
...I've been grateful for my roommate and our long chats
...The combination of yoga and kickboxing has me feeling like a million bucks
...Bon Iver and Naked and Famous are on frequent rotation on my Pandora
...I drink a lot of hot tea... green, white, rooibos, herbal... I'm an equal opportunist really
...TV doesn't appeal to me much
...My favorite alcoholic beverage is Jameson + Ginger
...Mastin's The Daily Love is always a treat that I really look forward to reading everyday
...I try not to spend too much time on facebook. It gives me anxiety
...I've been frequenting the Brentwood Farmers Market on Sundays
...My bucket list and 2012 resolutions have been under construction
...I eat spinach everyday. And I love it. And I think I have my Dad to thank for that (still addicted to this of course)
...I've missed my blog, and plan to write on here more

 What a treat it was to get a glimpse of fall on the east coast

A very relaxing sunset over Lake Austin before heading to the airport to come home