Sunday Snapshots 3.31.13

Boo and I were pretty busy this weekend -- running around all over.  Here are a few shots detailing what we were up to:

Finally warm enough for flats (yes!!):

We went to see a few hotels to view possible rooms for our wedding guests -- more on that later!

A lighting fixture at Ink48:

Then headed to The W Hotel and left with some Bliss goodies:

And got a ride home from the hotel's Acura program -- did you know this existed?   The driver will take you anywhere in Manhattan below 86th street.  Our driver said last weekend he took a few couples to Studio450 -- our wedding venue!

We were meeting friends in Hoboken in the evening (congratulations to Keith and Becky!!)

Boo and I had sushi for dinner:

And who can say no to 16 Handles?

I have a problem with samples...as mentioned on instagram, I love them:

By the way, just to clarify, there is a paper tasting-cup in the palm of my hand.  I am not that much of a wolf (yet). 

Cake batter, graham cracker and salted caramel...so good:

With some lovely toppings AKA a perfect excuse to eat candy:

View of NYC from Hoboken:

Today I had brunch with an old friend --

Moroccan baked eggs at Barbounia:

I couldn't help but take a shot of this lovely corner lot -- Wolf Home:

Later in the day Boo and I shared some matzah pizza...an old Wolf family recipe:

That's some of what we were up to this weekend...how about you?

xx,

The Future Mrs. Wolf

DIY Flowers, Take Two

My future mother and father-in-law (the current Mr. and Mrs. Wolf) sent me flowers this week -- so sweet!  The flowers were a large bouquet of purple and yellow tulips.  I love fresh flowers around the house, and this was a great surprise!

Remember how I keep flowers longer through DIY flowers?  Although I'm not a florist (by any stretch of the imagination...) this is the second installment of that...

The flowers stayed in our living room for about a week until I decided to split them up.  My sister came over for dinner and I wanted to gussy up the dining room table.  

Here's where we started:

Then the yellow stayed in the living room:

And the purple got snipped shorter and mixed with some white tulips we already had at home:

From start to finish:

What do you think?  Do you like how I split the flowers up?  What's your favorite flower?

xx,

The Future Mrs. Wolf

Quest Nutrition Bars

I love trying new foods -- so when I kept seeing Quest Nutrition bars all over the interwebs, I knew I had to get my paws on a few.

Specifically, kiss my broccoli and healthy diva eats continuously sparked my interest on Instagram. Thanks, girls!!

So, last night after dinner I ran -- literally ran, not figuratively ran -- to GNC. Because I needed them. Like now. Similar to my side table redecoration, if it wasn't right this second, it was too late!

Anyway, I ran and made it to GNC before they closed and picked up a few flavors: chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate peanut butter and cinnamon roll. 

I've only tried the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor, but it's good...and tastes like a cookie...and doesn't include illegal Passover ingredients...and is gluten free...and the chocolate melts in the microwave after only 10 seconds! YES! Also, it's packed with protein and fiber so it's a win-win for your tastes buds and waistline. And we both know that pair can be rare...

YIPPEE! A new goodie to add to my snack rotation.

Have you tried Quest bars? What's your favorite flavor?

xx,

The Future Mrs. Wolf

Side Table Re-Decoration

There are many things I question with respect to builders' decisions about where to splurge and where to save when constructing a new building. But one thing that gets me every time: overhead lighting. Why so scarce, sir?  Many an apartment lacks overhead lighting in rooms other than the bathroom and kitchen.

In our apartment we have overhead lighting in two hallways, the bathroom, kitchen, and dining area. But, the bedroom?* Nay. The seating area of the living room?  Nope. How am I supposed to "live"?! Natural lighting is amazing during the day, but how about the evening? Darkness!

*Remember how we worked around this issue in our bedroom? You can read that post here. 

We initially solved this problem in the living room by layering floor lamps. And it worked well until one day when it did not. You know that feeling of OMG I NEED A NEW ITEM, AND IF I DON'T GET IT I WILL MOST DEFINITELY EXPLODE?  Well, that moment arrived at our home and there was no turning back.  We I needed more lighting!

We headed to West Elm because I had seen a lamp I wanted to get my paws on.  It had a nice sized shade with minimalist lines - something Boo really appreciates in home decor. The only one still available was the floor model. And the simple glass base was filled with lots of moss.  Like it was basically exploding with moss. And moss is not welcome in our home (except these Mossy folk - they are always welcome!). We asked an associate to remove the moss and he very (very) reluctantly did so. Another problem? Floor model with no discount. Really West elm? Nay to the nay nay. This lady Wolf required a discount and a discount she got! 

So we schlepped home with the freshly de-mossed, discounted lamp and began our side table re-decoration.

In full disclosure, what happened next was totally all Boo. He's a smart man!

We I had impulsively bought decorative ceramic balls to display around our home, but misjudged their size. So when they arrived, we really had no good place for them. Boo suggested we fill the lamp with these bad boys. 

Before:

Midway:

After:

The biggest improvement was definitely the addition of a lamp. After the lamp, it was just decoration. 

The stars of this show include:

1. A Waterford frame from my sweet aunts 

2. A geometric crystal frame from One Kings Lane 

3. West Elm lamp filled with C. Wonder ceramic patterned spheres 

4. Spray painted coffee beans 

Anyway (coming full circle here), one day I hope to install recessed lighting in the kitchen when my DIY skills improve to that level. And, If that doesn't happen quickly, outsourcing it is! (Abe Stern, are you reading?!)

Do you like our update? What would you fill this type of lamp with?

xx,

The Future Mrs. Wolf

What I Ate Wednesday

We're back with anther installment of What I Ate Wednesday.  Here's last week's version for those who are curious...

A few of you asked for more of these, so here I am making good on that request!

This week is Passover, and Boo and are keeping it. Which means no wheat, oats, rye, barley, spelt or corn.  And I love carbs.  Oy, I'm hungry like the Wolf.  Sorry, couldn't help it...

 Breakfast -- Spinach In A Glass:

Lunch -- Kosher for Passover wrap with avocado, lettuce, sprouts, tomatoes, and Swiss cheese with balsamic vinaigrette + arugula salad (not pictured):

Afternoon snack -- cottage cheese with blueberries and sliced strawberries:

Dinner -- quinoa bowl (leftovers from the big batch I made, directions can be read here) with smoked paprika, avocado, pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries: 

Paired with roasted green beans and homemade blue cheese dressing:

Dessert -- green apple with homemade almond butter:

Dessert round two -- two Kosher for Passover chocolate chip macaroons from my mother-in-law:

What's a favorite food you ate today?  Are you keeping Passover?  

xx,

The Future Mrs. Wolf

How-To: Quinoa

Quinoa is one of those really easy dishes that may not even qualify as cooking.  But, I'm into labels.  So today, friends, we are cooking!

Quinoa is an interesting creature, loaded with protein and fiber and it's gluten free!  How timely for Passover... 

When making quinoa, I use a 4:1 ratio of water:quinoa -- 4C water:1C quinoa or 2C water: 1/2C quinoa for example.

However, sometimes I do an extra 1/4 or 1/2C of water (4 1/2C of water for 1C quinoa)...because I get busy when I'm cooking.  Sometimes I need to run to my studio and spray paint a random bauble (it's hygenic...I promise I scrub my hands after).   And this way, if you happen to forget that the water is boiling, and let it sit on the burner for a bit longer than you intended, you will still have plenty of water for the cooking if you added a little extra beforehand. 

And who says you can't DIY and cook and plan a wedding all at the same time?  Multitasking at its finest...

Anyway, back to the recipe!

Ingredients for 4 servings:
4 1/2C water
1C quinoa

Directions:
1. Bring a small pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat
2. Once you have a rolling boil, add quinoa and a drop of olive oil (this helps with the fluff-age -- we are really technical here on The Domesticated Wolf)
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook about 15 minutes, or until the water has cooked off, checking after 15 to be sure the quinoa is cooked to your liking, then fluff before serving

You can overcook quinoa (the taste doesn't change, just the texture) so just watch it to make sure you aren't going to eat mush.  Unless you want to eat much...then by all means overcook it!

Raw quinoa sort of resembles couscous:

My attempt to show you "rolling boil":

Once the quinoa is in the pot, give it a good stir -- I like to use a slotted spoon...really there's no reason for this, just a habit:

Almost ready for plating:

 Fluff quinoa (as noted above) in a big white bowl:

Nutrition information per 1/2C serving:

159 calories, 28g carbohydrates, 2g fat, 5g protein, 3g fiber

I like to serve my quinoa with a vinaigrette of olive oil, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon and salt + pepper.  But, it works perfectly as a base for many different dishes, even sweet ones.  Plus, when I make it, I make a lot of it.  Leftovers, anyone?

Have you ever tried quinoa?  How do you serve yours?  Hope you enjoy...

xx,

The Future Mrs. Wolf

What's In Our Cart -- Grocery Shopping

I've received a few questions recently along the lines of "what do you buy at the grocery store?"  Yesterday, you saw a few shots of my Whole Foods trip...but I didn't show you nearly enough detail! 

I made a few stops yesterday: Whole Foods and Trader Joe's -- they are very close to each other in NYC, so it's a quick stop from one to the other. 

From left to right:

All Whites egg whites
Chobani: 0% plain, 0% apple cinnamon (oh, how I love you so much!)
Trader Joe's tomato sauce
Jarred roasted red peppers
Trader Joe's high fiber penne pasta
Reduced fat Triscuits
Chocolate chip macaroons 
Skim plus milk
Whole Foods' blue cheese
Whole Foods' Parmesan cheese
1 loaf ciabatta bread 
White albacore tuna
Bag of raw walnuts (from Whole Foods bulk bins)
Bag of quinoa (from Whole Foods bulk bins)
Whole eggs 
Baby portabella mushrooms
Whole carrots
Green beans
Baby spinach
Jazz apples
Grapefruit
Red onion
Avocado
Friendship 1% cottage cheese
Morningstar Farms Asian veggie burgers
Dr. Praeger's spinach pancakes

Second shot, couldn't fit everything in!

Round two:

Peanut butter

Green apples

Skinny Cow vanilla sandwiches

Weight Watchers cookies and cream bar

Dunkin' Donuts Hazelnut coffee

Daisy low fat sour cream

Laughing Cow cinnamon cream cheese

Aria vanilla protein powder

Trader Joe's giant white beans in tomato sauce

Tumaro's multigrain tortillas

What do you often buy at the grocery store?  Do we have any of the same items in our carts?

xx,

The Future Mrs. Wolf

Sunday Snapshots 3.24.13

Today is the first installment of Sunday Snapshots -- pictures of things from the weekend!  Hope you enjoy...  

Boo and I took a trip to Target on Saturday and saw a few of these cuties: sugar and cream canisters for the kitchen. While we have no place for them (both physically and esthetically in our kitchen), they are sweet.  What do you think?

Little pup piggy bank:

What do you all think of this glass pillar candle holder?

Doesn't this remind you of Michael Aram?  Not sure why there is graffiti in the background...Target must the new place for tagging?  Actually, don't take my word for it - the only tag I know is a #hashtag on Twitter!

Have you heard of the Threshold line?  So cute!! We loved this textured shade and big glass base:

We stopped for pizza -- so hungry!! I ordered a slice of white with sauteed spinach, blistered tomatoes and ricotta: 

Sunday afternoon I met my friend Marissa for lunch at Cafe Cluny...

We started with grapefruit brulee, which was good but a little too sweet for me: 

I ordered an A-BLT hold the B, add an egg (such an easy customer!):

For whatever reason, the egg came on the side:

After lunch, I headed to Whole Foods to do a grocery shop:

Mussels on sale...yes!!

What did you do this weekend?  Hope it was relaxing...

xx,

The Future Mrs. Wolf