Am-ba-lance

I did this here video:




The Words:
Aunt, Roof, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught, Naturally, Aluminium, Envelope

The Questions:
1. What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
2. What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
3. What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
4. What do you call gym shoes?
5. What do you say to address a group of people?
6. What do you call the kind of spider (or spider-like creature) that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
7. What do you call your grandparents?
8. What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
9. What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
10. What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

"Are you talking about Ceviche?"

It's when Christina Yang uttered those words on Grey's Anatomy in season 6* that was the first I had ever heard of ceviche. I had to google it to understand the reference the insensitive, yet hilarious doctor was making about a woman who got into a fight with a boat propeller and lost.


Fast forward to the present and my coworker trying to recreate the fabulous dish she had on vacation with her family in Miami. It was shocking to find out that ceviche is raw fish that is essentially cooked via the acids from citrus. Being a sushi nut, I was skeptical but willing to give it a try. I was hooked on a single bite.

The beauty of ceviche is that you can put any spin on it you'd like.

My version pictured was made as so:

(this was a single serving that I ate on it's own for lunch)

One tilapia fillet (4oz or so)

Three limes

1/4 cup chopped yellow onion

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 cup tomato

::These measurements are estimates, I did not actually measure the ingredients out when I made it, use amounts that suit your taste::

Juice limes into a plastic or glass food container that has a lid to seal it. Chop fish into bite-sized chunks, add to lime juice. Add chopped onion to juice and fish. Mix in basil. I let my ceviche marinate in the fridge over night. If you're eating it the same day I'd let it rest for a couple hours and take note of the color change from pinkish to white, more cooked appearance. I added the tomatoes a couple hours before I planned on having lunch so they wouldn't be too soggy. Just add them with the rest of the ingredients if you plan on eating it the same day. That's it! 

It's so neat how the juice transforms the fish and even begins to break down the onion into a sweeter version of it's raw self.

More on the beauty of ceviche:

• You can mix/substitute citrus - oranges, limes and lemons - Oh my!
• You can use any spice that you prefer. This dish is typically made with cilantro but I hate cilantro. 
• You can mix in any veggie that strikes your fancy.
• You can use the marinaded meat to make fish tacos! NOM, NOM, NOM!

* I had to look the info about what season of GA Christina said the ceviche comment. I'm not a freak who just knows trivial things like that.

Flashback Friday!

Today I introduce my daughter to the blog, her name is Laila, she is my world.

Halloween 2009 "Laila bug"

This year I was able to reuse the red tutu I made two years ago for Halloween - without a single adjustment!

Halloween 2011 "Olivia the Pig"

So what if only one person knew who my child was dressed up as, without us explaining it to them (if you don't know, google it, it's a cartoon pig with very big ears)! My kid is cute and that trumps the fact that her pig ears resemble bunny ears any day.

We had a lot of fun taking Laila trick-or-treating for the first time. Our community has an older median age range so we were disappointed in the amount of people giving out candy. We got the scoop from some neighbors and we're prepared to go where the action is next year. This year served as a good warm-up.

For now I'm glad there isn't more candy in this house. Laila asks for candy several times a day, most requests are denied. The good thing is that she is dealing with rejection more and more positively.

TGIF, loves!

New name, new look... Still me

Through my own assessment I've embraced the fact that I've been blogging with only my big toe in the pond instead of jumping right in. Blogging can be intimidating. Should I post this or that? What will people think?

There will always be a bit of me who desires to be liked, but I'm getting more comfortable that I may not be everyone's cup o' tea.

I've changed my title because I felt that the last title gave an air of pomp that doesn't resemble what I am about. Part of me would like to be considered a Charlotte York type who has a spotless NY penthouse but I forgo all that for a day of baking in our messy galley (fking tiny) kitchen with our daughter and then saving the mess for tomorrow because we have important things on our agenda, like going to the playground.

Bottom line is that I plan on sharing more of my life and will always be genuine.

XOXO

Stacey

{Wordless Wednesday}

There are no words besides, "GIMME!"

Running Playlist Link Up

Hi there! I know it's been a while since I've posted and I want those who follow this blog to know I appreciate you hanging around. I have some changes that are in the works and once I figure out the logistics of it all I will be revealing a whole new look, name, and I'll be featuring more of my personal life.

Enough on that for now...

I've been meaning to link up with Brandy of mannlymama on a couple of passions we both share: running & music, but thoughts of changing my blog kept me lagging and I also took a running hiatus due to an injury. I finally set an appointment with myself to get back on the pavement while I was dragging ass through work today and I "let" myself download some songs I had been tagging through Shazam (app for iPhone, if you don't have it, GET IT - it will change your life). Running is the best medicine for me and my playlist really kicked my run into high gear. I usually run closer, if not over 11min/mi when I'm getting back into my groove after time off but tonight my average pace was 10:09, with my first mile being sub 10's. So without further ado, the jams that kept me pumping:

Linkin Park - "Waiting for the End," "When They Come for Me," & "Wretches and Kings"

The first song reminds me of things that make me angry and I'm pretty sure I look like I'm running to beat someone up while I listen to it but it gets my adrenaline pumping so hard. The latter two songs have crazy beats that are fun and make me feel badass, and again, I probably look a little nuts.

AWOLNATION - "Sail" {New Download}

This is a song my husband and I both reached to crank up in the car last night, it's just recently got play on the radio and I've only heard it a couple times but it's addicting and unique.

Dev - "In the Dark" & "Bass Down Low (feat. The Cataracts)" {New Downloads}

I typically want a running song to evoke either anger, badass, or sexy feelings. Dev's songs are blatantly sexy and for that, I thank her. Oh, I'm also thankful that she doesn't just say "it's The Cataracts" for the hell of it in her song "In the Dark," I was very confused by that for the longest time.

Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem - "Forever" {New Download}

I'm pretty sure I'm late on discovering this song because I've heard bits and pieces for a while now but I finally heard the whole thing on my way to work last week and HAD TO HAVE IT!

New Boyz - "Better With the Lights Off (feat. Chris Brown)"

This is a guilty pleasure song for me, I really wanted to hate it but the cheesy 80's beat has me hooked for life (maybe not, LIFE, life). The song is about telling a girl she "looks better with the lights off" which is just rude, but I do believe they spend the rest of the song explaining why that's a good thing and she's "actually more poppin.'"

I hope ya'll  enjoy and please link your favorite running playlist as well!

Simple Baby Shower

I hosted a baby shower for one of my coworkers and dear friends last week. It was a small get-together of close friends and fellow coworkers so it was held in a little cafe here in town. The cafe is already so quaint and perfect in and of it's self  so I didn't do any decorating but I adorned the tables with treats to snack on before, during, and after our meal. I also included chocolate covered pretzels for each guest as a thank you for attending.

I really appreciate the new trend of "build a library" showers because I'm not a fan of greeting cards but I am a fan of the message they can send; therefore, why not give a child a book that you loved so they can make new memories? After I knew I would hold a library shower I was in search of a vintage-y feeling invite to match the ambiance of the cafe the shower would be held in... Etsy to the rescue, once again! I came across lil Mop Top and had to have these invites! Jen was amazing and made sure every aspect of the invites were perfect, I'm positive I squealed when I got them in the mail. Jen also has a lil Mop Top blog, stop by and leave her some love!

I was in love with these invitations from "GO!"
They've been edited by me for privacy purposes.

Fancy two-bite brownies & mini red velvet cupcakes

Favors

"The Daddy Cake"

I'm starting a new trend for baby showers (at least the ones I host) in what I call "The Daddy Cake". Let's face it, we don't want men at our baby showers (any more than they want to attend any kind of shower) until it's time to haul everything home but I think it's nice to show appreciation to the father of this new bundle he helped make possible : )