2013 In Review

Click PLAY to see a few of my favorite moments from 2013!

2013 was a great year! Here are a few awesome things that I accomplished and did in the last 12 months!

• Joined Evofit 
• Joined the Downtown 100
• Joined the Aloha Circle of the King's Daughters
• Skied in Massenutten with Joe (and made these oysters)
• Joined and helped create Generation MOCA
• Planned and attended the first annual Absolut Artini at MOCA

• Greenville, South Carolina with Joe
• Joined the ICSC Next Generation
• Volunteered at two golf tournaments 
• Saw my bestie Lauren, twice!
• Volunteered at CHKD's Tour De Cuisine
• Played Bocce Ball in February dressed as an 80's snow bunny
• Two baby showers
• Four weddings (here and here)
• Spent my first summer as a VB local
  
  
  
   
• Got strep throat. No fun!
• Nags Head with Joe and the gang
• Survived the hottest week of the summer at Cedar Island
• Saw Dave Mathews for possibly the 10th time
• New York City for a long weekend with my mom to attend the NY NOW gift show
• Started running thanks to Evofit Runclub
• Became addicted to lululemon
• Attempted my "Summer Bucket List"

• Made my first commission at work
• Redskins vs Lions at FedEx Field
• Ran a 5k in under 35 minutes
• Started a Supper Club with my closest girlfriends
• Held baby Thomas at one week old!
• Went to another Debutante Ball
• Walked under the Holiday lights on the Boardwalk
• Attended the Equikids Stall Ball for the second time
• Tried Tidal Wheel for the first time.
• Started searching for a new car!! 
• Rang in the New Year with my best friends at the Virginia Beach Town Center

Creamy Tortellini with Chicken Sausage

Yet another easy and delicious recipe! This was really filling and super easy to make. It's great for a cold night!

You will need:

One package of frozen tortellini

One can of diced tomatoes, undrained

Half a bag a spinach

Four links of chicken sausage

4 oz of cream cheese (or neufchatel)

Cut sausage into small rounds and brown on a large frying pan.  Meanwhile, cook the tortellini according to package directions. Add your can of tomatoes and spinach to the pan. Saute until spinach has shrunk. Add your pasta and cream cheese. Give it a big stir. And you're done!

Delicious as left overs. We added crushed red pepper for a little kick!

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Baked Brie

I have made this three times in the last week for different holiday events. SO easy and SO good.

You will need:

One tube of reduced fat crescent roll dough

One small wheel of brie

Jelly or preserves of your choice

A handful of slivered almonds

A sprinkle of brown sugar

Parchment paper

Preheat oven to 325. Lay out the parchment paper on top of a cookie sheet with sides. Carefully unfold the crescent roll dough and secure the seams so that it makes one big square. Spoon a few spoonfuls of your jelly or preserves (I used strawberry) onto the center of the dough. Top with almonds and sprinkle with brown sugar.   Cut the outside rind off of the brie and place the remaining wheel on top of the jelly and nuts. Carefully wrap the dough around the cheese and flip it over so the seams are now on the bottom.  Bake on the parchment paper for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with apple slices or crackers.

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Clipper Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies have always been my all time favorite. My  mom used to make them every summer when we would go to Cedar Island.  The name "Clipper" comes from a cruise line, which would serve these cookies, warm out of the oven, every day at tea time. Pretty cute.

2 sticks of butter, room temperature

3/4 cup of sugar

3/4 cup of  packed light brown sugar

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

1 tbsp. Kahlua

1 tbsp. Frangelico

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

24 oz. of semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup of walnut halves, chopped

1/2 cup of pecan halves, chopped

Preheat oven to 325. Combine all ingredients and stir until consistent. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet in 1/4 cup scoops. Bake for 16 minutes.  This recipe made me about 50 cookies.

**I used Bourbon Vanilla Extract in this batch

For more recipes, click here!