FoodFash

Asparagus, Chive & Goat Cheese Omelet

January 7, 2013 by Kristin

Remember when I baked a cake for the birthday family dinner I hosted, but completely forgot about FoodFash’s 3rd birthday? Well I decided to make up for that oversight by getting some new blog props and spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

I had planned on finding a frame at Hobby Lobby, painting it gold, chalkboard painting something to place behind the frame, and having another wonderfully homemade prop. Thankfully, Hobby Lobby wasn’t the first stop of my trip because I found a super cool, super cheap chalkboard at Home Goods that totally hit the blog spot. I also bought a few new plates, bowls, and placemats. Annnddd… the flatware I ordered from Anthropologie should arrive tomorrow. 2013 is already shaping up to be a better blogging year!

And to balance out all the dough and sweet that’s been happening lately, I thought a veggie-filled omelet would be the way to go. The asparagus at central market just happened to be the itsy, bitsy, baby kind (the kind I love). And then I picked up some chives because chives just make everything better. I added a bit of goat cheese, a pinch of sea salt, and a dash of white pepper. When it all came together it was a little breakfast magic.

Other than being completely satisfying and tasty, adding asparagus to an omelet just makes you feel good. A green omelet sets the tone for a more veggie-filled day, perhaps a day with more water drinking, a little yoga sesh, and a few more smiles than usual.

#keepingitgreenin2013

A Techie Twist: Part Two

January 6, 2013 by Kristin

In all honesty, I was much more pumped about testing the ISIS Mobile Wallet than I was about using the Samsung Galaxy III for a month. I love my Macbook, I love my iPhone, and if I had an iPad, I’m certain I’d love that too. But reviewing the app and the phone was a package deal, so I agreed to it. And when I picked up the Samsung Galaxy III from the AT&T store, I felt guilty for ever having such thoughts. The Galaxy was sleek, light, and oh so new. I rushed home to play with my new toy, downloading apps from the Play Store at record speed.

(Left = iPhone 4S , Right = Samsung Galaxy III)

I will tell you that this iPhone toting girl didn’t expect to like the Galaxy. But the more comfortable I became with how the phone functioned, I began to enjoy it. A lot. And over the course of a month, I carried both phones, using the features I liked best about each. And by the end of the month? Well, it’s not at all what I expected.

Things I liked better about the Samsung Galaxy III …

1. Homescreen – The homescreen on the Galaxy is much cleaner and I was able to access almost all of the same apps as I would on the 4S homescreen. I also liked that the time, date, and weather were much larger.

2. Shape – Although the Galaxy has a larger face than the 4S, it is significantly thinner and lighter. I also ended up liking the larger face better than having a smaller phone.

3. Apps – The larger face of the Galaxy allowed for apps to be more user friendly. Check out the WordPress app above and the Twitter app below. More of the buttons you need are accessible right when you open the app rather than having to hunt for them.

4. Notifications – The Galaxy has a red blinking light when you have a notification (similar to the Blackberry), which prevents you from having to turn on your phone to see if anything is new.

5. Email – I preferred emailing on the Galaxy over the 4S, whether it be sending pictures, a regular message, or finding a contact in my address book.

Things I liked better about the iPhone 4S…

1. Text Messages & iMessage – Messaging on the 4S felt much more advanced than on the Galaxy.

2. Camera – I often find that the 4S takes shots comparable to a DSLR when there is plenty of natural light. I was never able to get a photo I was happy with on the Galaxy.

3. App Selection – There are still apps that are available in the App Store that haven’t made their way to the Play Store. Facebook Pages was a biggie for me…

End Result…

Overall, the Galaxy outperformed the 4S in almost every instance. But! At the end of the day, photos and messaging are super important to me and are two major things I’m not willing to sacrifice. Even though I decided to stick with the 4S after the month trial was over, part of me still has a crush on the Galaxy and dreams of the day it comes with a higher performing camera.

Although I received compensation to test the Samsung Galaxy III, the opinions in this post are completely my own and based on my experience.

A Techie Twist: Part One

January 5, 2013 by Kristin

I am on a constant quest to be more efficient, more productive, and to squeeze more hours in the day. So when the folks at AT&T contacted me to test out the new Samsung Galaxy III with the new ISIS mobile wallet feature, I immediately responded that I would love to. I opened up the ISIS directory and scrolled through the list of Austin vendors. Macy’s and Whole Foods caught my eye, but Whole Foods seemed like the more responsible choice seeing as I was in the midst of holiday season.

On second thought, I may have had everything to lose. Prior to testing out ISIS, I was using an iPhone 4S case below that had just enough space to hold my license and credit card. Although ISIS did not allow me to store my license, it did password protect my “wallet”, making it the more responsible choice.

Now back to the tech stuff… I first used ISIS when I was expecting two very special weekend visitors and decided to welcome them to town with a feast. I headed to Whole Foods to get my techie shop on, excited to see how much my checkout experience would be improved by using ISIS. When it was my turn in line, I opened the ISIS app on the phone, touched the card I wanted to pay with, and swiped the back of the phone against the pay pass. It was just as quick as using a typical credit card, but without the hassle of digging through a purse to find a card or, in my case, without the risk of losing the card stored in a phone case.

Overall, I was really happy with ISIS and left the market feeling awfully 21st century! Check back tomorrow for A Techie Twist: Part Two for a nerdy little post comparing the Samsung Galaxy III to the iPhone 4S.

Although I received compensation to review ISIS Mobile Wallet, the opinions in this post are completely my own and based on my experience.

First Batch Of 2013 Postal Cookies

January 4, 2013 by Kristin

There’s something so wonderful about ~~sabatoging your besties’ diet resolutions~~ continuing the season of giving. But all joking aside, the feeling you get when you plop a package in the mail is a great one and I fully intend on having that feeling a bunch this year! And now that I have these completely adorable tags (thank you Em!), sending packages is even more exciting.

Working my way through In The Sweet Kitchen, the Ultimate Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies caught my attention. This recipe appeared to be both mailable and modifiable, both of which I was looking for. I ditched the chocolate chunks and went straight for a big ol’ bag of white chocolate chips and an even bigger bag of shelled pistachios. And I thought perhaps if I showed a picture of all my hard shelling work, my postal cookie recipients would feel even more special. (Emily, Elizabeth, Jessica, Krista – did it work?)

My roommate and I went to town on this dough. If I had to pick one cookie dough to live off for the rest of my being, this would be it. And, from what I was told, the actual cookies came out pretty delish as well. Have I mentioned before that I’m a dough hound?

So back to the postal stuff… Do you have any suggestions on mailable treats other than cookies?? I’m a bit bored with cookies and would love to hear about goods you’ve successfully sent to loved ones!

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