Tonight, I am attending a fun little event tonight hosted by one of my besties, Vesna! It's with an organization called Success in the City. A little about the organization from their website:
Success in the City serves women who stand out, lead and influence others. Our objective is to offer programs and events that help our members develop lasting peer relationships with other successful women. Trust and humor are key elements for women in developing lasting friendships and once those relationships are formed, deals-on-heels are sure to follow!
They have all kinds of events and socials, but with my already hectic schedule, I can't make to too many of them. I've have attended a spa night at one of the local resorts... Oh my, what FUN! Tonight should also be a great time...It's a karaoke night to raise money for a charity, the Bobby DeLorenzi Foundation. I went last year for just a little bit as it was the same night as a concert I was going to.
Here are the details for tonight if you happen to be around the area:
Where
Velocity Five Restaurant & Bar
8111 Lee Highway
Falls Church, Virginia
When
Friday, April 30, 2010 -- 07:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Cost
Includes two drink tickets.
Members: $35
Non-Members: $45
One of my favorite appetizers/ snack is hummus. I just love chick peas/garbanzo beans... it's got such a buttery nutty taste. I love that they're good for you too! Garbanzo beans like other legumes are a good source of soluble fiber and can help lower your cholesterol. Eating high fiber foods, can also help prevent heart disease. So why not eat them?
Interesting facts about Garbanzo Beans:
Name comes from Latin Cicer arietinum, meaning "small ram,"because of it's similarities to a ram's head.
Originated from the Middle East and was first cultivated in 3000 BC!!
The first record of garbanzos being consumed dates back about seven thousand years.
Their cultivation began in the Mediterranean basin and subsequently spread to India and Ethiopia.
Since we'll be out at Gold Cup this Saturday (which I blogged about here) and picnicking is a must, I'm making hummus to bring along and eat with celery, baby carrots, and pita chips. We'll have a ton of other food and beverages too like mimoas, mojitos, mint juleps, subs, slaw, chips, fruit, cookies. Tommy and I usually always have hummus in our fridge at home. In the past, we would always just buy it, but it's so easy to make that I've started making it at home. We have an AeroGarden at home, so we have an abundance of various herbs. They grow like crazy, if we don't use the herbs, they go to waste! So, I started to add them to our hummus, and it's delicious!
I'm going to share the recipe I made the other night.
Vy's Herbed Hummus
Ingredients:
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini (ground sesame paste)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
2 garlic cloves
olive oil
fresh herbs (i used basil, lemon basil, mint, thyme)
black olives
paprika
1. Place all ingredients: Garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, salt, garlic, black olives, and various herbs in a food processor and blend until smooth. To make it smoother, I add about a tablespoon of olive oil and blend.
2. Just before serving sprinkle some paprika over the top and drizzle with some olive oil. Chopped fresh parsley can be added as well.
3. Enjoy with fresh veggies or pita chips!
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!! Gold Cup, packing, writing papers for school, and getting out Save the Date cards for our wedding are all on my agenda this weekend.Whew, already tired thinking about it all!!
No new updates on Preston Tarleton who was involved in the car accident on 4/26. He is still in ICU in critical condition. My GF's brother who recently found a tumor behind his eye has now been moved to John's Hopkins. And of course the devastating oil spill situation in the Gulf... Prayers needed all around!
Check out my fav bloggers, Bumpkin on a Swing and Shopaholic In AL who are directly affected by this oil spill for updates. If not for the updates, check them out anyways, they are AWESOME!!!
XOXO- Vy
Thursday, Tommy and I met up with a family friend of his that was working up in Northern VA for the week. We dined at a restaurant I wished we'd found earlier... RT's Restaurant in Alexandria. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it does serve seafood and steaks. Their menu includes specialties in Cajun and Creole style. This would have been perfect for my 30th birthday dinner when I was looking for something Cajun. Anyhow, we started with the she-crab soup (my favorite), YUM!. I knew I wanted crawfish, so I ordered the crawfish etouffee as my entree... and it was amazingly delish! It was quite a bit of food and I was stuffed! Tommy went with "Death by Gumbo". He wasn't able to finish it.
Tommy's Death By Gumbo
My Crawfish Etouffee
Friday, we attended a surprise 30th birthday party for one of my old high school friends. His wife Kristy did such a great job planning. Ken (Birthday boy) is has a gig guiding the Ghost Tours in Old Town Alexandria amongst other tours. So on the night of his party, he was supposed to work a tour, but Kristy had worked it out with his boss that the tour would be "cancelled". Ken had to go from his home all the way to Alexandria (about 30 mins away) to find out the tour has been cancelled. Amidst all of this, all the guests were arriving at his home, without his knowledge. Oh did I forget to mention that Ken has to get all dressed up in his colonial costume???
Saturday, we started the morning doing some packing for our move back home. You never realize how much crap you really have until you have to put them all in boxes! Then we made our trip to West Virginia to spend the day with my cousin (and MOH)- Krystal and her husband and baby blake. It's always fun visiting family! We bought Krystal an awesome Thai cookbook (Vatch's Thai Street Food) and she wanted to make some things from the cookbook. She made tom yum goong and pad see ew. It was all delish! We love Thai food!
The Awesome Cook- Krystal
Tommy, Krys, Blake
I had to add this picture because it was just too funny!!
We finished off the spicy with some awesome sweet: Chocolate Kahlua cake! We made these into mini bundt cakes. Baby blake loved them, he reached up the counter tops from his tip toes and was able to turn one of the cakes that was on the counter cooling into a mess of chocolate crumbles with his little fingers! (He's a chocoholic like his momma). Don't they look delish?
Sunday was a much simpler day- Church, more packing, grocery shopping and some studying. A simple day preparing for the week ahead...
This week has been rather crazy, but that, my friends, I'll save for another post.
Please keep Blake's cousin, Preston in your prayers as he was in a critical car accident on April 26th... he needs everyone's prayers. Also for my good girlfriend, Stacy's brother... they've just found a tumor right behind his eye... and it's not good.
Hope everyone has a good rest of the week... it's almost the weekend once again... I'm going to need a vacation from my weekends!
XOXO- Vy
I just saw this: The Lilly Pulitzer Allegra dress is on sale for $99.00 on Rue La La!
And this pink rabbit corkscrew for $29:
... add these Pink stemmed Reidel wine glasses ($139):
And you've got a nice lil Mother's day present!!!
For mom or for yourself!! :)
Hurry boutique closes in 1 day. You have to be a member in order to get these special deals. If you aren't a member, here's your invite: http://www.ruelala.com/invite/vynuss
Rain Rain Go Away... or maybe just stay so I can wear this!! :) It's a dreary Monday morning here in DC. :(
But I'm a firm believer in wearing bright colors and wellies on a gray and rainy day. Now, I don't own the outfit above, but would LOVE to! The wellies are just so adorable with the bow on the side. The umbrella is fun and colorful.Mine just pink, and I LOVE it... now if only I had the pink Kate Spade wellies to match...
Oh well, instead these are my wellies that I am wearing to work today:
I was never a big fan of wellies/rain boots until I had to go to a wine festival a couple years ago. It had been raining all week, and it was out in the fairgrounds. All I could think was YUCK- MUD. The mud was not going to stop me from my beloved wine. So first thing that morning, I went to DSW and TJMaxx to find rain boots. They weren't very trendy then... at least where I looked, and I didn't want puke green or bright yellow and look like a construction worker. And just when I was about to give up, in the clearance aisle of TJMaxx, I found my rain boots! Thank goodness, because when we got to the fairgrounds there were mud puddles everywhere and the straw they laid down didn't really help. The weather was gorgeous and the sun was supposed to be out all day! Standing in line to get in, I had a few looks: as if I were dressed silly. In fact, it was perfect!! Girls who had just flip flops on had the icky muddy feet and those with real shoes, were tip toeing and ewwing as they went from booth to booth. I, on the other had was just stomping and having a great time drinking my wine. :) There were quite a few people who looked at me and said, "You had it right! I should've done the same thing" Darn straight I had it right! :) Since then I have loved my wellies and wear them proudly! And my feet appreciate me keeping them dry and mud-free.
Today's Friday Favorites is a "NEW" Favorite! I just got my new favorite in this week.... my new favorite tote bag! Just recently, I won the Preppy Mafia Giveaway, which was a fun, cute, and preppy Socialite starter kit chock full of awesome things, including a signed copy of the Preppy Bible, Social Climbers. Thanks to Beth Dunn for hosting such an awesome giveaway (I'll be posting on each of the items I won) One of the items was a Francesca Joy Palm Beach tote bag: the popular C. Love tote bag. I can see why it's been named so, because Vy loves the C. Love tote! :)
The tote is a high quality canvas tote bag hand painted by artist and designer, Elise Francesca Fargnoli. That's right- HAND PAINTED. She's even signed the bag. As an artist myself, I can absolutely appreciate the piece of artwork that I can not only wear, but is also practical and useful. I also love how it's not just another plain tote. In fact the other day, it was just dreary out and just carrying my tote felt like it brightened the day just a little (at least in my own little world). I've already gotten complements on it.I use it for carrying everything, to and from work. When I make it back to the beach, it'll be used for beach essentials: sunscreen, beach towel, a good social or chic lit!
A little about Elise Francesca Fargnoli (from her website):
Elise liked the idea of painting on the bag - as a tote bag is meant to be taken everywhere, and used well for years on end. Though the design is delicate and hand-painted with special textile paint, the bag isn't meant to be treated like that - it is meant to follow the excitement and the changing patterns of your own life. This same concept came with the basic idea of the chemises and t-shirts - simple, everyday items with a sophisticated, hand-painted twist - meant to be worn any which way you desire.
Not only does she have awesome totes like these...
...But she's also got some cute wristlets! Get this: They're named Holly Golightly!!! If not just for the wristlet itself, I LOVE the name! :) I think I am going to have to get one, or two!!!
And clothing as well..
I just think this chemise is just sooo cute!
Go visit Francesca Joy and maybe you'll find your new favorite too! If you have questions, they even have a 800 number to discuss style, color, and design options!!! This week they're having a special sample sale ending this Sunday --all clothing items that you have seen in ads are $50.00! Follow her on Facebook to keep updated on sales and other special offers! Tell her I sent ya!!!
Have a fabulous weekend!!! I'm heading to my wonderful cousin and MOH's house for some fun family time.. and maybe to do some wedding stuff!
XOXO- Vy
The Classic Preppy awarded me with the Happy 101 Award! Thank you so much! What a fun award!
Here are the rules:
Copy and paste the award on your blog.
List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog (or hyperlink).
List 10 things that make you happy.
Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.
10 Things That Make Me Happy!
1. The first breath of ocean air after a long winter, and my bare feet on the sand.
2. Catching up with friends and family, making time for spending quality time with those you love. Even better when you add a nice bottle of wine.
3. Handwritten letters, cards, and postcards. It makes me so happy that someone has taken the time to think of me and send me something handwritten. And vice versa- I love to send random handwritten cards to people.
4. Losing weight when I've worked out (and even happier when I don't work out).
5. Hugs and kisses from the love of my life, Tommy.
6. New and Old (Vintage) Lilly anything!
7. Ice Cream!!!
8. Fresh clean bedsheets! It's amazing getting into bed in when you've just changed the sheets.
9. Weddings. There's nothing more beautiful than seeing two people so deeply in love, promising in front of friends, family, and God to love each other for eternity. The reception part makes me happy too. I love to dance!
10. Blogging. I love writing and posting to my blog, reading everyone's comments, and reading everyone else's blog. I love the friends I have made through blogging.
I'm giving this award to everyone reading this post and commenting. I want to know what makes everyone happy!!! :)
Let me just say....I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Kate Puck's jewelry!
I was just introduced by my blog friend, Lori at Shopaholic in Alabama via her giveaway.
She's doing a whole bunch of Giveaways in celebration of Mother's day. Day 12 of her giveaway is for the Kate Puck earrings pictured above, $25 gift card on Kate's website, and there's a discount code you can use to get 20% off. I'm sure to purchase some of her jewelry!!!
Find out more and enter the giveaway here: http://shopaholicinalabama.blogspot.com/2010/04/kate-puck-jewelry-day-twelve-of.html
The giveaway ends at midnight tonight, Wednesday April, 21. So get there now! ;)
Good Luck!!!
The rules for this are simple. . . write 10 things about yourself and pass this award on to your favorite bloggers. Wow, 10 things about me? Hummm this'll take some thought...
1. I once was an extra on the "West Wing". We filmed some scenes in downtown DC. In one scene, I was a tourist on a street corner; and in another, I was an office secretary. They don't tell you when the show you filmed would air, and I didn't watch the show, so I'm not even sure if I was actually on TV, however a friend of mine at the time swore he saw me on TV. :)
2. I was 1st violinist and played for a full audience at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, VA. My dad actually bought me my own violin, which I still have. I haven't played it in forever, but keep thinking I need to play again... maybe it's time for a tune up???
3. I am afraid of real butterflies. Not the pictures or thoughts of butterflies, but the real live ones fluttering around. I think it's because they come from caterpillars, and I'm afraid of those too. They just give me the creepy crawlies. So do spiders, millipedes, centipedes... but I LOVE praying mantises and dragonflies. I know. Weird.
4. When I was a little kid, growing up with my brother and single dad, I was such a tomboy. I really had no choice since I lived with two males, and my dad didn't really know how to raise a little girl. I actually hated the color pink. Now, that's unthinkable. I live and breathe pink! :)
5. I'm a very sentimental person. I cry at just about every movie. I cried watching the Little Mermaid. Yes. The. Disney. Movie.
6. I love to make cookies and cakes from scratch. There's just an amazing sense of accomplishment when you bite into the first cookie from the oven and the warm sweet gooeyness of cookie dough just fills your mouth...
7. I went to Catholic middle and high school. In middle school we had to wear the plaid jumper dress through 6th grade. In 7th and 8th grade, we were able to wear the plaid skirts with a plain white blouse and a navy *eeek* polyester vest with our school patch on it.
I'm smack dab in the middle behind the guy holding the sign.
8. I can sew by hand and with a machine. My grandmother who lives in Belgium, would come over to the States in the summer and visit. While she was here, she taught me how to sew. It started with just hemming and fixing clothes, then it graduated to making clothes. I wanted to be a fashion designer. I wanted everyone to wear clothes with my name!!! I remember one summer, I made a whole bunch of shirts that I wore and friends were like, "Where'd you buy that???" When I told them, I made it, they they wanted me to make some for them. I should've been in fashion... :)
9. I am the first generation Vietnamese American in our family. Both of my parents came to the States during the Vietnam war. Vietnamese was my first language, but I've since forgotten A LOT as my teachers in school asked my parents to make sure we knew English. I can still understand, and can still speak Vietnamese, but as with any language if you don't practice, you forget. I'd like to go to Vietnamese language school and brush up. I vow to teach my children what I know, and even send them to Vietnamese language school too.
10. And just because I watched Glee for the first time Tuesday and her music was the "theme"... I LOVE Madonna, especially 80's and early 90's Madonna. The Immaculate Collection is my favorite CD. Songs like Vogue, Borderline, Papa Don't Preach, and Like a Prayer just make me want to dance.!
So that's me!!!!
I'm passing this onto some of my favorite bloggers:
at home, so we have an abundance of various herbs. They grow like crazy, if we don't use the herbs, they go to waste! So, I started to add them to our hummus, and it's delicious!
) and she wanted to make some things from the cookbook. She made tom yum goong and pad see ew. It was all delish! We love Thai food! 
