Weekend Update: Thrifting, Ali Baba and 80s Prom

On Friday, T.J. and I spent the afternoon scouring thrift stores for 80s attire. We found some really interesting clothing. 

Purple, sparkly, floor-length, and shoulder padded. No joke. My bag didn’t match. So sad.
And then I went to the chapel and almost peed my pants laughing. Look at that hot open back. In between all of our errands, we stopped for lunch at Ali Baba Deli on Daniel Island. Ali Baba is a Mediterranean restaurant that was highly recommended to me by my Jewish neighbor who has visited Israel. He said the food was very close to authentic. The menu contains gyros, souvlaki, kebobs, and a ton of vegetarian sides. Falafel, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, fettoush, and foul madamas are just a few of the options. I ordered the chicken kebob with basmati rice, pita bread, hummus, and spanakopita. T.J. ordered the kofta kebob (ground sirloin with parsley and onion) with couscous and cauliflower salad. We also ordered falafel…how can you not get falafel? God bless a chickpea. I think T.J. was a little intimidated by the menu at first, but he did enjoy his food. I was in love with their hummus, but it seemed that the rice and spanakopita had been sitting out too long. There are a lot of other things on the menu I’d like to try, so I will be back!
 


Fast forward to Saturday night. 80s prom was ridiculous. Open bar + trashy clothing = awesome evening. Here are some of my favorite pics.

My bestie and me:Our prom pose:The male besties: Tyler, T.J. and Matt:More ladies:And any chance I can make fun of my exbf (in white), I will take! Hahaha. And the fellow in red is Prince.And then the weird ones…And my very favorite:

I can officially say that 80s prom was 285723986736 times better than my senior prom.

Bottles ‘n Brushes

Last night I finally redeemed my Groupon for Bottles ‘n Brushes, a place where you can learn how to paint while you get a buzz. The concept is simple: bring your own wine, or purchase some there, and the teachers will show you how to do a painting of your choice. The monthly calendars are put up a couple weeks in advance, so you can choose what you’d like to paint.

Diana and I decided that this would be a great Pre-Valentine’s date for us single girls. I picked us up a bottle of that cheapo Whole Foods wine (that is actually good and gets the job done) and we set out to be artistas. This is the painting we chose: Kinda Valentine’s Day-ish, no? I absolutely love this painting – love the keys, heart, and colors. It’s so simple but says so much. Don’t ask me what it all means though.

When you get there, everything is already set up for you: an easel with a canvas, a pencil, ruler, cup of water, napkins, paint, and paint brushes in 3 sizes. The first step is to paint the background color. You don’t have to do the exact same colors as the original painting; you can go darker, lighter, or do an entirely different color.Once you have finished, they blow-dry the paint so you can start sketching the rest of the design. This was the longest and most difficult part. I tried to be a perfectionist, but my drawings always come out so bubbly and childish. Much like my personality…After sketching, you just paint right over the pencil marks. The teachers guide you through the whole process and are available to ask questions, refill water cups and paint. They are so sweet and friendly! Here is my finished piece at my work area. Here is Diana. She was sitting across from me the entire time so I didn’t see her finished project until the end.Here is my very messy area. I used an obnoxious amount of plates trying to get my colors right. Clearly I was going for Tiffany blue.Diana’s masterpiece!And here is my masterpiece and our empty bottle of wine. Other people’s artwork is on display as well:

I highly recommend taking a painting class. Classes are 2-3 hours long but it goes by so fast and at the end you have something of your very own to hang in your living room.

Do you purchase Groupons or other daily specials? The 2-hour painting classes normally cost $35, but with my groupon, I only paid $15. That is a steal. In the past, I have also purchased a special for a Barnes & Noble gift certificate and another for Oil & Vinegar, a gourmet food store.

Do you paint? Or have you ever done a painting class like this? This was my first time painting anything and I’m so pleased!

What are your weekend plans? Today I am meeting my bestie T.J. for lunch at a new spot (TBD). Tomorrow is MUSC 80s prom, so get ready for some fantastic pictures. Sunday I am celebrating Nikki’s 28th birthday. The rest of the weekend shall be filled with exercise, more fun food, and hopefully hanging out with my little brother.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

New Ketchup?!? Is This Real!?

First, thank you to all of you who visited my Chick-fil-A story. I am now in the #1 spot! Yes, this is incredibly dorky of me, but I love it! In case you missed it, see the link here.

Not only do I love the Centre Pointe Chick-fil-A location, I adore the owners, Rick and Debbie Blind. They are such wonderful people and I am glad to help their store be in the #1 spot. Say hello to Rick and Debbie:

I stopped in today to catch up with Rick for a bit. He showed me something really exciting…

Typical girls get excited about shoes, dresses, and diamonds. I get excited about ketchup and babe-watching at the gym.

Have you seen these new ketchup “tubs?” What is the proper name for them anyway?

Hula/Spin Success and Black History Month

I promise the above topics are related. Just read on.

Hula/Spin was a success! David gave me a wonderful introduction and I’m confident that everyone in the class thought it was a neat concept. We had one girl win a free personal training session because she was able to hoop the duration of a 3 1/2 minute song. I’m seriously contemplating buying a book on hula hooping so I can become a master hooper and start my own fitness classes. Just imagine that. Would you attend?

During the cool down song, David usually comes around for high-fives. He instead announced that in honor of Black History Month, he’d be walking around asking us individually who our favorite black person was. I almost fell off my bike laughing. I mean really, we were getting our burn on AND our learn on. Most people responded with celebrities like Denzel Washington, Sydney Poitier, Michael Jackson, and Usher. I chose an Eco celebrity:

JULIUS!!!

Julius was my trainer last year and became one of my favorite people in the world. I highly recommend him if you need to learn how to pump iron. He is the reason why I am no longer afraid of the gym’s man zone and can babe-hunt like a pro.

Because I was in class, Ashley was left to gawk at the babes alone. I received this tweet from her:

Past gym-related tweets that will make you chuckle:

(Feel free to add me on twitter: @christinaorso.) About that last tweet, Ash’s most recent gym crush appeared to be a babe until he jumped on the treadmill next to us. It was like big foot joined Eco Fitness and his main mission was to pound down on heavy machinery. I guess he can still be a babe, but if he wants to run on the treadmill, he should probably put on ballerina slippers.

Question 1: Do hot gym babes motivate you to work out? I don’t have a gym crush but I do appreciate any male who likes to work on his pecs/lats/biceps. Not traps though. Those are freaky.

Question 2: How do you feel about men doing the stereotypically female fitness classes like yoga and pilates? My ex-bf pumped iron but loved pilates. I’m a huge promoter of doing whatever fitness routine that makes you happy, but that always made me wonder. Then again, I find exercise while drinking. Who am I to judge?

Vodka curls last summer:

Adventures in Hula Hooping

Last Wednesday, my hilarious friend Mike challenged me to a hula hooping competition. For some reason he was under the impression that he could outlast me; little did he know I am a hooping champion.

The two of us met at the gym with five different hula hoops: one crappy hoop that Mike had and four of Lucy’s and my hoops. As I walked in with my hoops, I wondered if people would look at me like I was a lunatic, but the exact opposite happened. Everyone wanted to know what we were up to, and I was even asked if I’d be teaching a class anytime soon. A few other girls approached us and asked if they could give it a try. It was fun to see so many people intrigued by our $5 toys.

Mike and I had a couple mini competitions, most of them lasting between 5 and 10 minutes. Mike did an awesome job keeping the hoop up, but I was definitely the winner. Here is a little clip that Lucy took of us. Please enjoy Mike’s “competition attire” and the part where he skips. He’s a gem.

While we were there, one of the spin class instructors/trainers, David, attempted to hoop. He was very enthusiastic, but didn’t do so well. The next day at the gym, I went to his spin class, and he immediately recognized me as hula hoop girl. In a typical spin class, you can spin, run on the woodway speed boards, or use the krankcycles. David thought it would be fun to throw the hula hooping option in there and asked if I’d like to bring my hoops to a class. Of course I was all over this. On Friday morning, I brought my hoops to class and it was a success! Even David finally got the hang of it.

At tomorrow’s  Spin class at 6:30 p.m., David will be teaching spin, and I will be teaching hula hooping! Anyone can come, but I recommend calling to sign up for a spot just in case. David is offering a free personal training session to whomever can keep their hula hoop up the longest. All my Eco friends need to come!

Chick-fil-A Dreams Really Do Come True!

Oh

My

Goodness

is all I can say right now.

I made the Chick-fil-A site. See it here or click the image below.

 

I have nothing else.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

The Rice Market

Last Tuesday, I finally got a chance to check out the Rice Market downtown. Using a combination of local product and international delicacies, the menu contains elements from from Mediterranean, Cajun, the Far East, and Lowcountry cuisine. With such a diverse menu, there is something for everyone!

The first thing I must say about this restaurant is that it is absolutely gorgeous inside. Upon entering, you will notice an outdoor eating area that will be perfect come Summer. The inside of the restaurant is largely open but with dim lighting. To the right, you have the bar.There is also a rice wine bar.Back to the left, you will find the regular seating area that includes a couple lounge tables. This beautifully decorated room towards the back would be perfect for a private party or birthday.
The restaurant’s vibe definitely made for a great eating experience.

While looking over the menu, we started with Zipang sparkling sake. It was lightly sweet with just a little bubble.
 
For an appetizer, I tried the The Stone – soy & sake marinated hanger steak sliced thin for you to cook at the table. The stone arrives at your table steaming hot. You lay the steak on the stone and cook it to your preference. Interactive eating is fun! Both sauces accompanying the steak were delicious. Another (unpictured) appetizer that we tried was Satays: cardamom duck, crispy shrimp, and chipotle grilled beef. You get two satays of each meat served with a soy dipping sauce and mustard aioli. The duck satay with mustard aioli was definitely my favorite.

Once we had decided what to order, we each chose a glass of wine: Kim Crawford Chardonnay and Vina Nora albariño for me.

One of the entrées we had was Paella: Spanish rice, mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari,
stewed tomatoes, black garlic aioli. This was incredible. Full of so many flavors and different types of seafood, this is such a satisfying meal. I couldn’t get over how much flavor was in the broth and how perfectly tender the rice was.

We also had the (unpictured) Wood Grilled Salmon with coconut jasmine rice, sugar snap peas, caramelized pineapple. I rarely order salmon at restaurants because I just don’t think it ever lives up to my expectation. It was highly recommended by our server, so I went with it. I was very happy I did. I was served a large piece of salmon that was cooked to my preference. The pineapple and coconut flavored rice paired really well with the fish. I would definitely suggest this dish for any salmon lovers.

There are many other items on the menu that I’d like to try, so I will soon return to the Rice Market. The service was excellent and although our food was served in a timely manner, I never felt rushed. Should you find yourself looking for a new place to eat, make your way down to East Bay treat. You will not be disappointed. Huge thanks to T for the wonderful meal and letting me take 2095872985 photos.


And now, the winner of the Yoplait Smoothie giveaway…
Congratulations, Jessica!!

Tyler’s Tasty Time

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to bring you…..

A guest blog. Wait wait don’t close out the blog just yet!

Xtina has been nice enough to relinquish her Kung-Fu grip off the keyboard and allow me to write yall. Only reason being… I know more about Jerky then her. Yes that’s right when it comes to meat sometimes guys do know more.

So when talking about Jerky its all about getting the right flavors. Some like it hot, some like it tangy, some just want food. The great thing about Jerky is the cornucopia of options. You can use different kinds of meat all with their own unique flavors and textures. If I'm honest the best meat to make into jerky would be Venison, but seeing as how we had no deer we decided to go with beef. Well Seeing as how Xtina had never experienced how to properly make this delicacy we decided to set forth on the adventure of a day or two.

First we choose our flavors. For us it was classic Teriyaki and Southern BBQ Buffalo. Next we went shopping for our meat. Now when picking the meat you really want lean cuts, because trust me you don’t want to see what dehydrated fat looks like. Flank steak a great option but Round steak is also acceptable. If your meat is fattier than you prefer then just trim it off. Once you get home stick the meat the freezer for about an hour. This will allow for the meat to firm prior to cutting. While waiting it’s a perfect time to make your marinade.

Teriyaki Jerky:

• 2 lbs. of lean meat (round or flank steak works best)
• 1/2 cup of soy sauce
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1 tbsp. of salt
• 1 tbsp. of ground ginger root
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Southern BBQ Buffalo Jerky:

• 2 lbs. of lean meat
• 8 tbsp. of soy sauce
• 8 tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp. of ketchup
• 1/2 tsp. of garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
• 1/2 tsp. of onion salt
• 1 tsp. of salt (optional, because lets be honest soy sauce has plenty)

After an hour in the freezer you’re ready to cut your meat into 1/4-1/2 inch thick strips. I prefer shorter strips as opposed to long, but it’s really personal preference. Then, season the meat with your dry ingredients. Note: don’t not rub them on, this is not a rub because there simply isn't enough to cover all the meat. For the liquid ingredients, just mix them in a bowl. If the recipe calls for honey (which ours doesn’t) or brown sugar (which our does.. YAY), then place them in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the meat is seasoned, place it in a large zip lock bag and pour the marinate in the bag as well. If you’re doing two different flavors it’s best to label the bags. Allow your meat to marinade for at least 6 hours -- the longer you let it sit the better it will taste! After you are satisfied with the lengthy bath of flavor. it’s time to turn on your dehydrator. There is usually a meat temperature already on the machine to make it fool-proof. Place the meat on the trays and leave it for 5 hours! This is where you really have to experiment. Some like their jerky very dry, while others prefer to have some moisture left in. Obviously the longer you let it, sit the drier it becomes. I usually start checking around 4 and 1/2 hrs. Now depending on the size of the strips it may take more or less time. After you are salivating for hours because your house smells of jerky (and trust me it will) let the jerky sit for about 15 min before putting it into a container. DON’T put it in a zip lock bag right away because it will regain moisture – reversing part of your dehydration process. CONGRATS, you have made jerky! Not only is it delicious but it is also good for you. Lots of protein very little fat… the perfect snack.  If you don’t have a dehydrator then there is another option involving air filters and a box fan. Google it if you prefer.

I hope yall enjoyed this blog as much as I enjoyed writing it. Who knows maybe in the future Xtina will be passed out from too much eating and I will steal her computer and write another one. But until then… happy eats!

P.S.: A big thanks goes to Chooch for the recipes and dehydrator.

The 30 Healthiest Foods and More Fitness Photos

This little magazine junkie finally pulled out the February issue of Real Simple. One of the articles was on the 30 healthiest food and how to eat more of them. According to top dietitians and nutritionists, the following foods are what we should focus on incorporating into our diet:

1. skim milk 
2. mushrooms 
3. barley
4. walnuts
5. whole grain pasta
6. peanut and almond butters
7. oatmeal
8. quinoa
9. lentils
10. bulgur
11. almonds
12. eggs
13. nonfat Greek yogurt
14. chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
15. wild salmon
16. sardines
17. kale
18. kiwi
19. blueberries
20. broccoli
21. avocados
22. black beans
23. sweet potatoes
24. extra-virgin olive oil
25. edamame
26. chard
27. kidney beans
28. oranges
29. spinach
30. pumpkin

From this list, my essentials are skim milk, walnuts, lentils, almonds, eggs, Greek yogurt, chicken breasts, blueberries, avocado, black beans, edamame, and extra-virgin olive oil and spinach. I really am not a fan of mushrooms, sardines, kale, or chard. ICK! I was very surprised not to see apples, pomegranate, flax seeds, and artichokes.

What foods on this list are staples in your diet? What do you think is missing?

I’d also like to announce that Ashley, my favorite lady to work out and babe hunt with, has started a blog! Her blog focuses on beauty, inside and out. She will be giving tips and advice on all things beautiful: healthy eating, confidence, products and procedures, and more! She is even sassier than me, so you should definitely check out her blog here!

Andddddd because my shame filter is always set on low, here is your weekly dose of embarrassing gym photos!

SPLITS!!

Ashley attributes her flexibility to yoga:I am grateful for years of gymnastics:And this gem Ashley titled “Sophisticated Infancy.”

I hope there were no babes behind me.