cajun spiced pork chops

If you're looking for a good pork chop recipe, you've happened upon the right place. I discovered this version a few years ago on All Recipes and it has never disappointed. It's quick, easy and incredibly flavorful (but not too spicy, which I worried about with "cajun" in the title). And, to boot, I can bet that you'll already have most of the ingredients in your spice cabinet. You may be able to get by with only buying a few pork chops at your local grocery store or supermarket.

Cajun Spiced Pork Chops

1 tsp paprika   

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp rubbed dried sage leaves (I usually leave out this ingredient)

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

 4 center cut pork chops

Mix paprika, cumin, black pepper, cayenne pepper, sage and garlic salt on a plate. Liberally coat each pork chop with the spice mixture. (I go ahead and mix these spices with some olive oil too. It makes the mixture stick to the pork chops a little better.)

Heat olive oil and several pumps of non-stick, butter-flavored spray (um, of course I use regular butter - not the flavored spray) in a large skillet over high heat. Place the pork chops in the skillet, reducing heat to medium. Cook until the pork is no longer pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. 

we need a pep talk.

"Create something that will make the world awesome."

If you haven't seen this yet, you really should. 

africa in new york city

Brendan and I went to eat dinner downtown last night (at our fave taco place) and while we were waiting in the subway station I couldn't take my eyes off this: Africa. What some would see as an ugly mess of missing subways tiles was - to me - such a beautiful reminder of a wonderful time and place in my memory and heart. Take me back to those African sunsets, puuhlease.

glitter headband (um, finally)

Back in 2010, I saw a multicolored, rainbow glitter headband in JCrew. I wasn't planning to buy anything that night - just looking - so I passed by the multicolored, rainbow glitter headband and didn't buy it. The next day, the weight of my decision sunk in. I even had a good friend say, "You didn't buy that headband?!" I know, I know.

No harm, no foul. I decided I'd just go back to JCrew on my lunch break and pick it up. Afterall, I had seen it the night before in the JCrew 2 blocks from my office. But, if you've ever been shopping in New York, you know shopping doesn't work that way. You can barely blink and expect the item to still be on the shelf. So, of course, there were none left. Therefore - naturally - I spent the majority of my afternoon calling every single JCrew in the tri-state area. I think I even asked LeeAnne to call a few. And...there were NONE. Heartbreaking.

So, yes, now that I've written one of my longest blog posts ever on a random lost rainbow glitter headband, I must announce that the saga is finally over: JCrew restocked the same exact headband this year! And you better believe I bought it the second I saw it...and, wear it jubilantly as often as possible.

feeling this way:

[i love some ecards.]

christmas recital

This is a bit overdue, but I was so thankful to be able to be home for the holidays this year for more than 2 days. It was wonderful. And because of that, I was able to attend my nieces' Christmas dance recital. They did a pretty terrific job if I do say so myself (being that I am their incredibly biased aunt and all). I got a seat right beside Tate, a good view, and an hour and a half of Christmas music, Christmas costumes, dancing and festivity. What could be better?

Please try to enjoy these pictures as much as I have. They're helping to keep me in a bit of the Christmas spirit on these cold, gloomy, dreary, freezing, miserable January days we've been having in New York City.

save the date(s)

My sweet friend Amy recently got engaged and asked if I would help her with the print materials for her wedding. (Of course, I was thrilled to do so!) Right before Christmas I designed the Save the Dates. Amy was such a pleasure to work with (besides her being such a sweetheart naturally) because she was incredibly decisive and knew exactly what she wanted. She gave me a few examples of things she liked and wanted to incorporate, and...voila! This was the final product, I was so pleased and hope Amy was, too. (And, to boot, what a great photographer they had!)

a look at 12

I often find the New Year to be a bit overwhelming as I look ahead to a whole new year. (For some reason the thought of making it all the way to December again feels like such a daunting task.) However, I do always love taking the time to look back, remember and celebrate the passing year. It reminds me to be even more thankful for my health, safety, friends, family and quite simply the blessing of plain ol' good times and fun memories. What a great way to take my mind off being *overwhelmed* and set it on being encouraged, thankful and glad. I'll take Option 2.

I tried finding one picture to represent a good time or fun memory from each month of the past year. If you know me then you know finding only one picture per month wasn't an option. This little collage definitely doesn't even scratch the surface on my year, but it's a fun glance (there are at least 20 others I wanted to include). 2012 was definitely the busiest, craziest, fullest year yet. I'm taking a big breath right now and hoping at least January of 2013 will be a good deal calmer and slower (plus that would help in my efforts to only select 1 photo per month next year...). I hope this glimpse will help you remember all you're thankful for in the past year! It sure helped me.

A glimpse of 2012

happy 2013

May your new year be filled with health, happiness and lots of beautiful, bright confetti!
xoxo