Archive for September, 2010
If you’re anything like me, you know that some restaurants were just meant to be. Because sometimes, you come across a restaurant that you cannot believe you went so long without. A restaurant with a comfortable, inviting atmosphere, fresh and delicious menu and of course, amazing bread.
One of those restaurants? Mario Fazio’s.
The fact that I have been living within 15 miles of this restaurant for my entire life sickens me. I think about all the fresh-baked garlic bread I’ve been missing and my lip starts to tremble. Then I realize I’d also probably be about 15 pounds overweight. Hmmm, I think it’d still be worth it.
I was first introduced to Mario Fazio’s at the Mister’s cousin’s wedding shower. I was immediately taken its welcoming, fresh atmosphere and as soon as I tasted the food, I knew Mr. Fazio and I were meant to be. Fate brought us together and the buttered garlic bread kept bringing me back (doesn’t it always?).
Marios Fazio’s makes EVERYTHING in their own kitchen and every single dish is homemade.
My favorite part of any meal at Mario Fazio’s is the fresh-from-the-oven garlic bread and Italian SALSA! Chips and dip? NO THANKS! Not when I can enjoy buttery bread with salsa made from fresh tomatoes, onions, olives and other delicious seasonings.
Forgive the poor lighting, I was getting a bit romantic as I sang sweet Italian arias to my bread. Too far? Never.
And if you think the bread looked good, just wait until you see one of my favorite salads in the world.
Mixed greens topped with provolone cheese, walnuts, grapes, strawberries and grilled chicken.
So simple, so refreshing, MINE.
I could eat it every day. And lucky for me, I can!
But alas, I’ll try and keep myself limited to only a few visits every month or so — I’m not sure my hips would welcome the extra jiggle 
Good morning, friends!
I’ve settled in with my diet peach Snapple iced tea and am ready for what the day will bring. But what I’m most looking forward to is picking up the keys too our NEW PLACE this afternoon. There’s something so invigorating about new beginnings. About unlocking the potential of a new place. About making new memories.
Naturally I’ve already started brainstorming my ideas for decorating the new place, changing things up and creating the perfect home for the Mister and I (and soon enough, the Little!). But before I get too far down that road, I want to stop and take a few moments and pay tribute to the place where the Mister and I have lived for the past 4 years.
The place we shared our first Christmas together as a married couple.
The place we put sweat, tears and BLOOD into putting in our own personal touches.
The place I spent hours in the kitchen, perfecting so many of my favorite dishes.
The place whose walls would shake each morning as the Mister and I jammed out to our favorite tracks as we got ready for the day.
The place that despite its faulty faucet, cracked floor boards and linoleum kitchen floor made us feel at home.
So while I’m completely, utterly and uncontainably excited about our new digs, I certainly don’t want to disregard our first little home together. It was good to us — but like many great things, they eventually run their course and it’s time to move on.
So for me, it’s back to the pages of House Beautiful and Arhaus and Pottery Barn catalogs. I have a feeling that we’re about to make some incredible memories — but it certainly won’t hurt if those memories look good on camera
What makes home feel like home for you?
And as always, here’s my list of everything else I’m thankful for today:
- Show Tunes
- That for once, I actually had an umbrella when I needed it this week (3 times!)
- Our new doctor
- Finding a comfortable sleeping position
- Braids, and that they hide the WORST of the worst bad hair days
- My attention to my exercise, even though most days I just want to sit on the couch and give myself over to a gallon of ice cream
- That I won’t have to look at the scene below much longer
Lovely, isn’t it?
- A new Stephanie Meyer novel someone at work let me borrow — the short second life of bree tanner
- That I’m about to have daily access to a BATHTUB
- My family, who’s giving up their whole weekend to help us move — I will reward you for your efforts, I promise
OK – YOUR TURN — what are you thankful for this week?
Good afternoon and happy humpday!
I apologize for my absence this morning, but the Mister and I had an early doctor’s appointment and I’ve been in meetings ever since. Enough excuses though, right?
Let’s get to the good stuff.
I have a few fitness articles to share this morning and would love to hear your thoughts on them, as well.
First, Should Incentives Be Used To Help People Quit Unhealthy Habits? NICE’s Citizens Council Reveals Its View. At a three-day meeting held earlier this year, NICE’s independent Citizens Council was asked to consider whether there are circumstances when incentives could acceptably be used to help motivate people to live healthier lives.
The Council heard of examples where local incentive schemes had been piloted. These included an initiative to encourage pregnant women to stop smoking by offering supermarket vouchers; people receiving cash for losing agreed amounts of weight, and children being rewarded with toys in exchange for eating more fruit and vegetables.
20 out of the 32 members (62.5%) voted in favor of incentive schemes, providing conditions such as the following were in place: that incentives should never be exchangeable for tobacco or alcohol; that they are only offered to people who are committed to changing their health behaviours; that cash incentives should be only offered as a last resort; that the progress of participants is monitored throughout; and that the results of the schemes are analyzed so that more can be learnt about their effectiveness.
The Council members agreed that incentive schemes are likely to work best when they are targeted and used as part of a wider program of support.
Council members who voted against the use of incentives (37.5%) did so for reasons including uncertainty over their long term benefits due to a lack of evidence, their potential for abuse, their cost, and because of their perceived unfairness towards people who are able to live healthy lives without them.
NICE is now inviting members of the public to comment on the views of its Citizens Council, before the report is presented to its Board for consideration.
Sir Michael Rawlins, Chairman of NICE, said: “The Citizens Council makes an important contribution to the work of NICE by providing a snapshot of what the general public thinks about controversial health challenges. Their views do not constitute formal guidance, but they do advise us about the social values that should underpin our work. For these reasons I am extremely grateful that the Council has considered whether there is a place for incentive schemes to encourage people to change their bad habits and live healthier lives.
“We clearly face several public health challenges in today’s society, some more obvious than others, and we must seek to improve these in ways that are likely to achieve the best health outcomes for those affected. The majority of the Council has voted in favour of the use of incentives under certain circumstances, but this clearly remains a divisive issue. We are now very keen to hear what the general public thinks about their conclusions.”
What is your reaction to this news? Do you think the UK is on the right hand and the US should adopt a similar point of view? How responsible do you think the government should be in our country’s health? Think everyone could/should get a STICKER chart?
I personally think that this is a fantastic program and if run effectively, I believe it could be a tremendous success. Many doctors and studies have shown that personal reward programs for sticking to a diet or exercise program are extremely effective, so I can see the same though being applicable here. Do you reward YOURSELF for your healthy choices? How?
In other news:
Benefits Of Massage More Than Skin Deep
For good sleep, don’t count sheep — run instead. Aerobic exercise can offer relief from insomnia, new study shows