Oh how I miss the days when I actually was able to come up with a Top 10 list every Friday. I’ve decided to give y’all a throw back to one of my more popular Top 10 Fridays on the blog. The 10 Bitchsesh Commandments, featuring annoying habits of new moms, CVS pharmasists and well…maybe even you!
Happy Weekend! Enjoy!
Finally I’ve gotten around to doing a post on restaurants in Connecticut. I love trying new places, some on the list I haven’t even been able to go to myself yet, so I saved the last 3 entries for them. If you know of one that is a must for the list that I’ve left out, since I only had room for 10, please share. I know everyone is always looking for new and good restaurants to go to.
10. Ming Ghung Asian Bistro (Glastonbury)
http://www.minghungcuisine.com/
This cozy Japanese restaurant, with outdoor patio seating in the summer, is tucked away in a small complex on the New London Tpke in Glastonbury. I have never had a bad experience there and the sushi rolls are amazing. I suggest the Paradise roll (which is not on the menu) the Kill Bill Roll, and the Men in Black roll.
9. Oaxaca Kitchen (New Haven)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/oaxaca-kitchen-new-haven
I came across this cute little find on Yelp and had an late lunch there with come friends. The margaritas were amazing, the table side (equipped with hot server and cart) guacamole was delicious and there is even a small seating area outside on College St. From 3-5 during the week they have $6 margaritas and a small plate menu.
8. Uncorked (West Hartford)
For any wine lover this is a must. This is slowly, but surely becoming my favorite place to go in West Hartford. Their cheese plates were amazing (Asiago and drunken Goat were to die for) and the $5 small plates they had early Sunday evening hit the spot. Our Wine Steward or Sommelier I believe it’s called, knew all the wines and every time I go there are new tastings available to fit the season. Tastings are by the taste, half glass or full. I would just say be ready to spend a penny or two if you plan on tasting a lot.
7. Hot Basil Thai Cafe (West Hartford)
I need to first mention that this place is BYOB and their is a liquor store next to it, so that’s just a bonus altogether, but the food they present is amazing. The Hot Basil chicken and the cashew chicken are some of my faves.
6. Tunxis Grille and Pizzeria (Windsor)
Fried pickles, chicken pesto, motz and arugula paninis and pecan crusted chicken with gorgonzola and balsamic dressing. The atmosphere is cute for family or friends to get together and everything I have tried has been phenomenal.
5. Pho 501 (East Hartford)
There’s no website. These people are straight off the boat and they serve two things. Pho with shrimp or Beef…. and Spring rolls. They only accept cash and it’s not fancy wancy, but it’s amazing Vietnamese food. Ask anyone that works at Pratt & Whitney.
4. Tapas (Few locations)
http://www.tapasonline.com/ordereze/default.htm
I come here just for the Greek Salad. They have other great and delicious items on the menu, but I can not go there without ordering a Greek salad. their hummus is good, their mediterranean platter with tabouli and feta, grapes leaves and muesli…all delicious. Greek salad…or a gyro…a must! You can even buy a bottle of their Greek dressing…mmmmm
3. Caseus Bistro (New Haven)
A CHEESE RESTAURANT! You have to click on the website. Their platters look amazing! I have yet to go, it’s on my list, but you can NEVER go wrong with good cheese. Careful on their hours and look out for their cheese truck. Seriously…someone from heaven has sent them.
2. Joey Garlic’s (Few locations)
I have yet to go to this restaurant yet, but I’ve heard amazing things from everyone that has so it is most definitely on my list.
1. Ted’s Restaurant (Meriden)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/teds-restaurant-meriden
Ever since I saw the episode on Man vs Food with the steamed hamburgers and steamed cheese I’ve been dying to go to this place.
Where are your favorite spots, cozy or lavish….expensive or low budget. Who doesn’t love a good meal?
Oh Yay! First off I love having guest bloggers, but secondly I really Love Love today’s guest blogger. Diane Parsons from Parsons Photography first photographically swept me off my feet at my friend Sara’s bridal shower, then again at her wedding. She did my Boudoir pictures for my boyfriend back in February for Valentine’s Day (BOUDOIR….OH LA LA) and since then, she’s done quite a few more for some of my friends.
Diane is super creative, a ton of fun to work with and I just can’t say enough great things about her. Coincidentally, she also has a blog, so to keep track of what she’s been up to and where she’s been, visit any of the following:
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parsons-Photography/59993786070
Twitter: @parsonsphoto
Blog:
http://www.parsonsphotoblog.org/
TOP 10 Tricks every photographer wishes people knew before posting photos on Facebook!
10. A photo is flat…please remember that. When your photo is taken, the camera essentially flattens you – so think of that when you’re posing. If you stand face on, everything gets flattened. If you stand at a 45 degree angle, you slim your hips, your tummy and accent your curves.
9 When taking a group photo, make sure the people on the ends are not leaning in. If they can fit in the frame, ask them to stand up straight. If they can’t fit, then have them crouch down in front.
8. Summer time is upon us – so are sleeveless tops. Always make sure your elbow points away from the camera – when you point it towards the camera, your upper arm will appear short and/or fat (no matter what your size is)
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| Positioning elbows away from the camera |
7. Self portraits – I love self portraits, they crack me up! Just watch your neck – if you’re straining, it’ll show in the photos as nasty chicken neck!
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| Another self portrait, using a mirror in an elevator |
6. On the same line of self portraits – your arm is almost guaranteed to be in the shot. With editing programs (like Photo Shop) being more readily available on cell phones, use it to crop the photo and take your arm out.
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Self Portrait  |
5. On the note of editing programs – don’t over edit!! Sometimes it is fun to do a really crazy Picasso shot…sometimes it’s not. Over saturated shots aren’t appealing; black and white with just your eyes blue is just plain creepy; and too much glow makes you look like an apparition.
4. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS – just because you have an expensive camera doesn’t mean every photo is going to be perfect. I cringe when people post photos and give the information: “I shot this with a Canon 7D, 50mm f/1.8 lens, f/1.8, 250th of a second” but NOTHING is in focus. That’s great that you bought a new toy – now learn how to use it!! Yes, there is auto focus, but it’s not auto think.
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| Using selective focus to draw attention to the subject (but it IS in focus) |
| Coming down to a child’s level. |
3. Don’t brag, there’s always someone better than you. My favorite brag is “I shot this in Manual mode” – my 5 year old shoots in manual mode (seriously, she does…I put my 7D on a tripod and she knows what to do with the dials and manipulates the settings). No one cares HOW you got the shot, just the fact that you got the shot!
2. If you take photos of kids or pets, remember that they are much smaller than you. Photograph at their level (sit on a chair, or sit on the floor). When you stand up to look down to them, you smush them in the photo. Come to their level to make them look “normal”
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| Animals at engagement |
1. DON’T SAY CHEESE…they call it a “cheesy” smile for a reason! So many people come to me and complain that they don’t like their smiles – well, I don’t like mine when I say “cheese” too!! Crack a joke or say something silly – I usually tell adults to say “peanut butter and jelly sandwich” – by the time they’re finished with that mouthful, they laugh…then I take the shot. With kiddos, we tell silly jokes – cracks them up every time!
Thanks Diane for sharing some of your tips with us and thanks for being awesome! 
As a prelude to my post tomorrow of people and their spelling errors, today I have decided to do some digging and re-introduce to you, the LOVE JOURNAL! I don’t know if it’s the start of Summer or the continuation of numbness to spelling errors, but there will be a spelling lesson tomorrow and I invite you today to comment on words that drive you insane that people can not spell. We shall see if we know the same illiterate people.
TO ENJOY: Click Below!
The office spread, the corporate 15, fat ass incorporated. If you sit in a desk for quite a few hours a day, have a kitchen there and work with anyone else who eats…you know what I’m talking about. I believe my office to be the worst of the worst in the feeding frenzy department…some would call it a perk or a benefit, but I, who have no will power to countless candy bars, options of 100 calorie snacks, ice cream sandwiches, freeze pops and birthday celebrations monthly with ice cream and cake, call it A FAT CAMP.
Since I can’t say no to bottomless amounts of yummy treats then I need to find a way to work for them, or work them off while my fat behind enjoys its cushiony layer that my lack of will power is creating. Below..some Office Exercise tips, I suggest getting a partner involved…that way you don’t look like an asshole to those skinny co-harts that don’t gain a lb, yet…”don’t like vegetables or anything not slobbered in fried grease and ranch dressing”.
1. Walk/Gym at lunch – This is probably the easiest solution as it gets you out of any office lunch temptations and once you lay off the “it’s too hot, or I don’t have time” excuses…you will see it helps.
2. Hallway lunges – You want that delicious cookie? Well then lunge your way all the way to the kitchen and back to get it. Better yet, only allow yourself half the cookie, and lunge back with the other leg to get the other half…fatty.
3. Your chair – Posture and balance are a huge part of working out. They have chairs to help you with that as seen here.
4. Copier/Fax Squats - You don’t need many squats to be effective, you just need to do them correctly. While you’re waiting for your copies or your fax make sure to do a few, watch your form, and while you’re at it, you might as well wait for the fax confirmation too.
5. Bring in small weights. You can do bicep curls, shoulder raises, and exercises for your triceps while you’re at your desk. No one is saying you have to get ready and bring your whole set of dumbbells – dumbbell! A 5 lb weight should do.
6. Stretching and Balance – Every hour as much as possible, stand-up, stretch for two minutes and then try to do some balancing moves like this one.
7. Desk push-ups – Because there’s no reason not to. These can actually be done on any table, wall, file cabinet, or stop being a baby and just do them on the floor.
8. Chair Crunches – Now this exercise is obviously all about tightening your core and really feeling the burn in your abs more than throwing your legs around, but summer is here, and if you are still unbuttoning your pants after that huge lunch, you need to do something.
9. Stand while you talk on the phone. Unless you’re on the computer and even so, you can bend over…you do not need to be sitting in that chair to talk.
10. I work best when I’m pushed so find a friend, or just a plain old jerk in your office and have them ridicule you when you are slacking off. Good ole guilt always does the trick.
Happy Fat Burning Corporate America!
After being in the air and airports for 16 hours the past week I have come up with a few nicknames that I’d like to share for some travelers and passerbyers that I have encountered traveling the past few years. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the same, but if not beware, and if you have more to add, please do.
10. The Eater – This is the person who seems to constantly be eating the entire time. Before pre-boarding, chewing on gum during boarding, takes out a snack as soon as they sit down and then continues to eat almost until the plane lands. I wonder if they eat that much on a regular day.
9. The Lovers – This is the annoying couple that travels together and is constantly holding hands, constantly kissing and constantly feeling the need to express their love for one another in the confined area that everyone else is sharing.
8. The Barbie – This chick just baffles me. I like to be as comfortable as possible on a plane. Sweats, maybe jeans, sneakers, and a regular shirt. The Barbie is dressed to go to out. I get business class and all that, but they are clearly not flying that. Full face of make-up, spent an hour on her hair…who has the time?
7. The Patchouli’s – These are the jerks that wear so much perfume or cologne that you can’t help but have watering eyes and a burning nostrils. The reason I call them this is because if there is one vile smell in the world it is that of the hippie’s, which is Patchouli. I don’t know who invented it or why they like it, but in the case of an airplane and traveling all strong scents make me feel just like that one does. Nauseous.
6. Virgins - The douche who has never flown before, well not recently and is making an incredibly big scene and pissing everyone on the plane off because no one wants to listen to him or more importantly have a late take off due to his need for attention. You bought the ticket, you came to the airport, now someone give them a Valium.
5. The Mouth - This person desperately needs a friend, and you unfortunately just got stuck next to them for some hours of time.
4. Octomom – The woman flying with her 2 or 3 out of control children. Muzzles….I know, it’s horrible…but stuck on a plane in the same row as them for 2 hours and you will have much worse thoughts than that.
3. PIC – Partner in Crime, this is the person you want to sit next to you. They bring their own DVD player with a movie, they eat like a normal person, maybe not even at all, have magazines to share and they get up to go to the bathroom at a decent rate so everyone is on the same page. These are the people you pray to be around.
2. Idlers/Cutters – These people piss me off. When the plane stops, we all know we need to get our carry ons and personal items, and be prepared to move when it’s our rows turn. Not you idlers…you wait until everyone is giving you their full attention until you realize WTF is going on.(“Oh, haha we’re getting off, let me get my things” (Sure thanks asshole, the woman behind me just coughed on me 3 times while I was standing uncomfortably with my neck sideways waiting considerately so that everyone could hurry off the plane). Not to mention the Cutters behind me are sneaking their way up because THEY don’t know what wait for your row means. Obviously someone has never been to church during communion.
1. This one is worst of all. I don’t even have a name for these people and worst of all it doesn’t happen on the plane, to give you the walk to Baggage Claim to cool off and realize you are fine because you have reached your destination and can breath. It is the jerks AT BAGGAGE CLAIM. Really? how close do you need to get to the belt to see your bag? Also, question…do you, your husband, your mother and father and your 2 children really need to look for the luggage? If my bag swings and hits one of your 14 family members standing at the side leaning over as if you don’t see it when it comes by you the magic wall it disappears into will eat it, I WILL NOT FEEL BAD, I will giggle, LOUDLY!
Ahhhh! Traveling…I once told a friend…I need a travel machine…he told me: “You have one, your car!” Beam me up Scotty!
I’m always looking for inspiration for my Top 10 Fridays. I came upon a fact that most of you probably do not know, but on this day January 28th – 1986 is the day the Challenger from NASA exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, FL, killing all of it’s crew members. So in lieu of this major event and the fact that I would love to get as far as possible from this snow and space is looking better and better…here are the Top 10 cool facts about space.
10. If you put Saturn in water, it would float.
9. We are constantly moving through space at a speed of 530km per second.
8. The moon is drifting away from earth
7. The light hitting the earth right now is 30 thousand years old
6. The Sun loses up to a billion kilograms a second due to solar winds
5. The big dipper is NOT a constellation, it’s an asterism.
4. Uranus was originally called George’s Star
3. The Earth has 4 moons
2. Sunspot activity may be the primary reason for the beautiful sound of Stradivarius violins
1. If two pieces of metal touch in space, they become permanently stuck together
Now of course I’m not some science nerd, although i do love knowledge…where I grabbed these wonderful facts and a better description for all those of you interested, can be found at:
http://listverse.com/2007/11/13/top-10-cool-facts-about-space/
Now enjoy your day, I think I’ll watch Spaceballs tonight!
