Fiesta Fiesta

Happy Friday! Anyone have a food coma/hangover out there? I paced myself so I could wake up at 5am for spin! I’m on a train on my way to New Jersey for a wedding filled weekend 🙂 Last night my family got together to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and also to welcome home my baby brother who is now 21 years old and home from college for the Summer.

He’s all growed up now 😦

My family is totally normal.

Our spread included lots of my mexican favorites

Salsa & Guacamole w/ Chips (too interested in eating to take a picture)

Mexican Lasagna

Chicken & Steak Fajitas

Southwestern Egg Rolls

SkinnyGirl Margaritas

Fixin’s Bar

and of course a Mexican flag triple layered cake. No party is complete without cake.

This festive cake was REALLY easy to make and super delicious. Check it out.

Mexican Colored Triple Layered Cake

Ingredients

• 1 Box Funfetti Cake Mix
• 1/3 Cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 Cup water
• 8 oz fat free vanilla yogurt
• 4 eggs
• 1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix
• Food Coloring or Decorating Paste (red and green)

Directions

•  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• With an electric mixer, mix the cake mix, oil, water, yogurt, eggs and pudding mix until well combined; about 1 1/2 minutes.

• Divide batter evenly into 3 bowls.

• Add red and green to two of those bowls.

• Once mixed, pour each colored batter into well greased 9 inch cake pans (3 total).

• Bake for 15-17 minutes or until cakes are cooked through.  Cakes will be thin.

•  Once cooled completely, remove from pans and place first layer of cake onto a cake stand.  Spread frosting over top layer then place second layer of cake on top and continue this pattern until all layers are frosted.  Frost top and sides once layers are frosted.

• Add decorations as you see fit. I’ve added pepper toothpicks to the side and a sombrero in the middle.

Ok so maybe it’s not the easiest cake ever… But it’s pretty darn simple. I like to serve this with ice cream.

Or a glass of milk

Hey, I’m allergic to it all so really, whatever is worth the pain!

It’s Favorite Friday!! In the winter I’m fine with a movie and dinner (at home) because I hate the cold…But when it gets warmer I love to go out on dates. Creative outings are always fun – It keeps the spark in your relationship strong.

Top Date Night Ideas

1. Attend a cooking class
2. Go for a hike
3. Head to the Zoo or Aquarium
4. Attend a concert
5. Miniature golf, bowling or arcade at the boardwalk – Make a fun competitive bet
6. Have dessert for dinner. Make sure this indulgence is worth it!
7. Take a drive to a city in your state you’ve never explored
8. Fill up a picnic basket with goodies and share your feast
9. Go camping
10. Participate in a wine tour at a local winery
11. Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity or something similar
12. Take a hot air balloon ride
13. Watch the sunrise/sunset
14. Head to a local comedy club
15. Learn a foreign language
16. Get a couples massage
17. Take ballroom dancing lessons
18. Go to a farm where you can pick apples, strawberries or whatever is in season
19. Play a game of tennis, head to the batting cages or one on one volleyball
20. Attend a sporting event

I really could go on, but this is getting a little wordy!

I’m almost to NYC where my boyfriend is meeting me at Penn Station. Wedding weekend (not ours, duh) here we come 🙂

What is your favorite date idea? 

WiNNiNG

OK, so I’m a little late on the Charlie Sheen title…but it applied to my post so I’m running with it 🙂 TWO of my favorite bloggers Alyssa (she has an amazing name) and Holly (she got engaged in Baltimore, where I live) awarded me with The Versatile Blogger Award. The only requirement is that I tell you 7 random things about myself…This shouldn’t be hard. I love talking about me 🙂

But first I wanted to fill everyone in on the lie from yesterdays post. Only a few of you got this right…My own mother and boyfriend both failed! If you guessed Number 5 “My favorite dessert is creme brulee and I wish I owned a torch to make it” – You are correct. I am a peanut butter and chocolate girl allllll the way but Ice Cream is my number one dessert pick. I have a bottomless pit when it comes to eating fro yo, soft serve or ice cream. Most of you picked Number 3. “I used to think bones could fall out of my feet and would come home daily to tell my mom another one did.” – Unfortunately, this is true. I. am. weird.

Now back to my 7 random things…

1.) When I grow up (ha), I want a husband (duh), 2 or 3 children, a Maltese named Daisy, a huge boutique like walk-in closet filled with shoes and accessories, an island in my kitchen, an Alyssa room where I can just scrapbook, blog and watch Disney movies alone, and a garage so I never have to scrape snow off my car ever again. Oh, and a really big backyard. I don’t ask for much.

2.) I’m lactose intolerant – but I cannot and will not give up dairy to save my life.

3. You know how everyone takes those really fun jumping pictures? Well this tan girl can’t jump. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me.

I'm in the yellow dress

4.) I do a little bit of this every. single. day.

5. I’m a diehard redskins fan – Even though they always disappoint me by the end of the year I still have high hopes!

6. I was sleeping in the same bed with my best friend the night her water broke. Is that TMI? Let’s just say that was a hectic night! But worth it 🙂

Sweet Baby Paxton

7.  Last but not least – I made one of my best friends wedding cakes (with the help of my best best friend). It was funfetti flavored. Everyone loved it. D.U.H.

So now I get to tag 7 people… Cara, Jenny, Maris, Jess, Nichole, Gina and Kate and of course anyone else who wants to participate 🙂

Now that I’ve told you random things about myself it’s onto two of my favorite meals this week for Favorite Friday!

I’ve been enjoying this Protein Shake after workouts and it’s SO SO amazing.

Peanut Butter Cup Shake

Ingredients

• 1 scoop of chocolate whey protein
• 1/2 cup ice
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 2 tbsp Peanut Butter

Directions

• Blend together

I bet you can guess how long it took me to finish that? Yep, 2.6 seconds.

The next meal is a breakfast – I’ve never even had quinoa…Let alone thought of eating it for breakfast. But I’ve eaten this 3 times this week – and it is realllllly tasty.

Breakfast Quinoa

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 banana, mashed
• 1 tbs slivered almonds
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• drizzle of agave

Directions

• Bring all ingredients (except agave) to a boil in a saucepan until all of the liquid has been soaked up.
• Drizzle agave nectar on top and add more cinnamon if desired

I never thought I would eat the same breakfast 3 days in a row… But, it’s happened. I might even eat it again tomorrow. If you’ve never tried quinoa but have been thinking about it – try it this way! No joke, deliciousness.

Before I sign off for the night – Did everyone watch the Royal Wedding??

I honestly had no desire to until I woke up this morning at 5:40 with no alarm set so I turned  the TV on and watched for 2 straight hours. So much for not being interested huh? I really thought everything about it was great…The dress, the carriages, their love and how prim and proper everyone was over there. It was a true fairy tale! If you missed it I’m sure there are recaps on every single channel.

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend! I hope to make some fun recipes this weekend because I have a lot of free time on my hands.

Questions: Tell me a random fact about yourself. What is the best meal you’ve had this week? What did you think of the royal wedding? (i had to ask!)