Newlymeds

As Audrey Hepburn Said...

2013-05-17T10:41:00.000-05:00

Paris is Always a Good Idea!

The Newlymeds are off on an adventure this week. Doctor J gets two precious weeks a year when he gets to leave the pagers at home. It is always very special to disconnect and spend interrupted time with Doctor J, something that residency rarely allows. So, we are off to make the most of our week!

Au Revoir

(Source: Unknown)

Designated Driver

2013-05-15T14:57:00.000-05:00

The good thing about Doctor J being on call, is he can be my designated driver.

The problem with an on call doctor being your designated driver is when they get called in...

Taxxxii

(Source: Via)

Happy Mother's Day

2013-05-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mom and mother-in-law! I am so lucky to have two supportive strong women like you in my life.

Up Close and Personal

2013-05-08T08:41:00.000-05:00

{Only wishing I looked this glam during my laser appointment}

Right now I am married to a plastic surgeon in training. As I have often discussed with other wives of plastic surgeons, the future holds two things. You can be that wife that has WAY to much work done or you can be that wife that looks like she needs work done.

I am planning to be the latter, due to the fact that I have a very low tolerance for pain!

So this brings me to how I got up close and personal with several of the residents in Doctor J's program. I have always wanted to do underarm laser hair removal and this happens to be one of the services offered at the resident clinic. The resident clinic is where the residents perform different surgical and non surgical procedures for training purposes. They are always supervised by an attending doctor.

One of Doctor J's resident friends was talking about the clinic one afternoon and I said I would give laser hair removal a shot. I didn't give it much thought, until I was lying on the table with about 10 residents in weird glasses staring at my armpits! They were taking turns trying out the laser. Feeling glad I remembered to put on deodorant that day, all I could do was laugh!

Even though this was a slightly embarrassing experience, I now I feel I have bonded with ALL of the residents who were a part of my procedure. Also, this was one of the few times in almost 4 years that I have seen Doctor J during the work day. It is a good thing I choose a procedure that needs 4-6 treatments, so I WILL BE BACK!

P.S. VIP hospital treatment

{Image credit GQ}

Green Smoothies

2013-05-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

I have been blending up good ol' fruit smoothies for quite some time. As green smoothies and juices have become a trend, I decided to give it a go. I started by taking my regular fruit smoothie and cautiously adding a handful of spinach. Surprisingly, I could barely taste it!

Since then, I have branched out adding ingredients such as broccoli, kale, celery, parsley, Swiss chard (which apparently regulates blood sugar) and lime to name a few. I just toss a mix of fruits and veggies into the blender and see what I can create! I have made a wide variety of concoctions, some better than others!

After much testing and deliberation I am excited to share with you the Newlymeds favorite green smoothie, created by chef K and approved by Doctor J. When you've met your coffee quota for the day, switch over to this morning or afternoon pick-me-up. It might just be a mental thing, but I feel supercharged by this infusion of fresh fruits and veggies.

Newlymeds Mean Green Smoothie

(Serves 2)

2 large handfuls of spinach
2 large handfuls of kale
2 celery stalks
1/2 cup of Swiss chard
1 cup of orange juice
1 small frozen banana
1/2 cup of frozen pineapple
1/2 cup of frozen mango
2 heaping spoonfuls of Fage Total 0% yogurt

Newlymed Note 1: If you like things on the sweeter side, you can squeeze in some honey, but the smoothie is great without it. The Swiss chard can be a bit bitter and the honey can help balance that out. I also like squeezing a fresh lemon into the mix to balance out the taste of the Swiss chard.

Newlymed Note 2: Sometimes I add in a very small amount of water, if I need more liquid to get things blending. I have heard coconut water is a good option and plan on giving it a try.

P.S. I used this Kitchen Aid blender I received as a wedding gift to make the smoothies. Lately, I have been contemplating a Vitamix because of its many uses. It is a big purchase, but everyone who owns one swears by it!

On Sisters

2013-05-01T15:15:00.000-05:00

Since my sister and I are 1546 miles apart, when we spend time together we have to make it count. A few months ago, I traveled to New York, to visit my sister T.

We opted for no planning and decided we would pull the spontaneous card. This trip reminded me that when we are together, even the simplest things can be fun. The weekend was spent bopping, shopping, dancing and eating. The only must do was Ess-A Bagel. Dallas bagels still don't quite cut it for me!

A Few notable eats:
-Brunch at Buvette, an incredibly delicious joint! Diners be warned: This place has an authentic French kitchen! Don't you dare ask for egg whites, skim milk or "fake" sugar. I must confess I enjoyed my real scrambled eggs and coffee with cream and sugar.
-The Cleveland
-L'Apicio
-Zoe's.

Below are some pictures of our New York Adventures.

{I arrived from Texas wearing the same Happy Socks as my sister}

{My breakfast at Zoe's. New Orleans style shrimp and grits + over easy eggs}
{Kids in a Swedish Candy Store}
{Fun with the iPhone fisheye lens}

Big kiss until next time sista.

#Awkward

2013-04-29T13:24:00.002-05:00

{Via}

If you are usually caught scrolling through Buzzfeed's slideshows for your Monday dose of humor, then you will enjoy a perfectly awkward situation that happened to this Newlymed last week.

I had been forewarned earlier in the day that Doctor J had a long night ahead of him in the hospital. I sent him a few unanswered texts throughout the day, but I didn't call as I normally would. No nagging from this babe!

At 9:37 PM my phone rings to what I thought was Doctor J calling! Excited to hear from my husband, I answered the phone with a "Hi Babbyyyy!" My voice was one octave away from a chipmunks and my excitement was on-par with winning the lottery (on a small jackpot week).

There was silence on the line for a minute and then a nurse let me know that Doctor J would be in surgery a few more hours. All I could do was laugh and I think I got a good chuckle our of her too.

Next time I will answer with a little less excitement and a lower pitched voice, because I never know who will be calling!

Oh The Places You'll Go

2013-04-24T15:45:00.000-05:00

It all started with a blank wall, a little creativity and one card...

When my sister T and her roommate A first moved to New York, they starting collecting cards, notes and images of all the places they would go. Throughout 3 years of late nights and early mornings the wall grew to hold little memories from restaurants, shows, galleries, events, a few photos and one tambourine. (Which was often put to good use on Friday and Saturday nights.)

When they moved to a new apartment this past year, the wall was left behind, but they were amazed to see all the places they had been.

This is a great and cost effective way to decorate. Start collecting now and bring some personality to your otherwise plain space. Their wall was a testament to life in the Big City. What will yours look like?

Oh the places you go

Tree Hugger

2013-04-22T17:19:00.000-05:00

Argentinean Jacaranda Tree

Happy Earth Day! Those of you who know me, know about my passion for the environment. I love Earth Day because of the awareness that it creates for our planet. The memory of eating dirt and worms (aka chocolate pudding, oreo crumbs and gummy worms) in science class on this day doesn't hurt either.

So today, I challenge myself (and you) to do one thing for the environment. Whether you start recycling, try to unplug your devices or turn off lights and water when you are not using them...YOU can make a difference.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

P.S. 10 easy ways to go green

Greetings from...

2013-04-15T13:56:00.002-05:00

Italy? No, Vegas! Last week I was there for 8 days for work. Not only was I in Vegas for an extended period of time (it started to feel normal), but it was my first time to Vegas. There were 2:00AM nights in the office, not at the club and it was quite entertaining going to work in the morning and seeing the crowd still out from the night before!

I did have the opportunity to walk around and take in some of the sights and even saw the show O, which I could not have loved more. To Doctor J's dismay I didn't even gamble. My plan was to play an airport slot, but I fortuntanately went standby on an earlier flight so I had to grab my pita chips and RUN!

So until next time Vegas!

"Cooking Companions" Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

2013-03-21T18:33:00.004-05:00

Fact: Cooking with friends is better than cooking alone.

As C stated in her guest blog, modern technology makes this is possible even when your friends live in other cities. She needed a little companionship in the kitchen, so we have started cooking via video chat. It is a fun way to chat while we cook and compare strategies. Like, how do you chop an onion? Or which way do you prefer to cook your chicken?

A recent meal we tackled was a Sweet Potato Quinoa recipe. The cooking companions and their husbands both loved it.

When I presented Doctor J with his plate, he said, "where is the meat?" I told him quinoa has plenty of protein and nutrients. BUT, if you have a meat loving +1 you can make this recipe with ground turkey or chopped up chicken to satisfy your carnivore's desire.

You can find the full recipe here.

{Grocery shopping for supplies at Whole Foods}

{Prepping the sweet potatoes}

{Sauteing the quinoa on the stove}

{Dinner is served}

Stay tuned for more of what the Cooking Companions have in store.

Skin + Age

2013-03-06T09:54:00.000-06:00

{Via}

After recently adding another number to my twenty something age, I have been on the hunt for beauty products that continue to give me that youthful glow and also provide my skin some protection.

On a night when Doctor J was on call, I ventured out for a beauty night at the Clarins counter. I tried the new Double Serum and I think it's love at first pump! It is an anti aging serum that left my skin feeling firm and smooth without an oily residue. I also really liked their BB cream, which is like a tinted moisturizer with an SPF. I try to never leave the house without (makeup? who are we kidding!) an SPF these days. The BB cream is great to rub on like moisturizer and it gave my skin a nice even tone.

{Clarins Double Serum and BB Cream}

I am still searching for the perfect night cream, under eye cream and an everyday product with an SPF over 50. I will keep you posted when I find exactly what I am looking for my twenty something skin. Stay tuned.

Guest Blogger C: Introducing "Cooking Companions"

2013-02-18T13:17:00.001-06:00

The dreaded New Year's resolution. Honestly, there's nothing quite worse than making a commitment to something on the first day of the New Year, and having that glorified promise come crashing & burning down, maybe even within 24 hours of having made it (been there, done that). Unless, of course, your NY resolution is to feel like a failure! Thus, a slow-burn style resolution is MUCH more desirable, ESPECIALLY if there's an incentive involved! Who doesn't appreciate a good incentive??!

So, when I moved to Chicago and was sadly separated from one of my closest Dallas friends, we were forced to get creative! Though a couple of brief visits in both Chicago and Dallas curbed the craving, our time together just wasn't enough. Over winter break, home in Dallas and discussing what 2013 had in store for each of us, I not so confidently proclaimed that I was going to start cooking. I had no more excuses, a hungry husband, and perhaps had maxed out on Whole Foods salad bar offerings and take-away sushi (not really, but I have no desire to die from mercury poisoning). All of this being said, K came to the rescue, assuring me that cooking was really simple & that she would help support the cause (like an amazing friend should/would do)! We came up with the MOST brilliant idea---weekly cooking sessions via VIDCHAT!!! Putting food on the table and a therapy session all-in-one---a solid incentive! Not only would I be able to get my K-fill, but I'd also be able to fill-up my husband's starved stomach (total exaggeration).

These video chat sessions have honestly inspired a new love affair with both cooking & K (she's the Koolest). Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself scouring for recipes online, buying cooking magazines, or looking forward to my husband's beaming face as he devours something not only HOMEMADE, but EDIBLE (totally worth the dirty dishes)!

These days, one of the perks of getting older is the enjoyment of awesomely enhanced technology. Though, making friends post-college can be a crapshoot. You don't share the solid foundation bastioned by sorority rush, 21st birthdays, or Spring Break shenanigans. So, when you connect with someone special in your post-college years, someone who inspires you to DO more and BE better, it's worth every effort to foster and maintain those new friendships, regardless of where life takes you, literally. Phone conversations are fantastic, but from what I've gathered based on this experience, communicating and sharing passions that involve self-growth, even virtually, can highly enhance a friendship!

Though it's only February, my commitment to this year's New Year's resolution has already changed me for the better. Essentially, I've reconciled with the fact that effective change is all about the slow-burn...most especially when making CHILI... :)

{Mixing all of our ingredients together}

{The finished product}

Want to make this Chili with your very own companion? You can find the full recipe here.

Companion Clue: We added turkey and only used one can of black beans, which we felt was a good choice, given the recipe was heavy on the beans.

Glamour Shots

2013-02-11T14:24:00.000-06:00

This is what happens when a professional film maker attends your birthday...

Newlymed Note: Consumption of birthday drinks make it slightly hard to stand still for photographs!

*Photographs by Alin Bijan

Warby Parker Class Trip

2013-02-05T11:03:00.000-06:00

Just when you thought the holidays were over, Warby Parker says it isn't so! The "Warby Parker Class Trip" is bringing their frames to a city near you.

WP revolutionized the way we shop for glasses with their home try on program. They send you up to 5 pairs to "test drive" from the comfort of your home. You pick your favorite and send back the rest, no obligation! Most sunglasses retail at just $95!

So, when the Class Trip rolled into Dallas, the ladies and gents lined up to see first hand how the hip set get their perfect frames. This was a bus stop not to miss!

Catch them on their next stop on the tour here. Extra Credit: Warby Parker donates a pair of glasses for every pair purchased.

{Pretending to be a style blogger, wearing the Evelyn in Whiskey Tortoise}

Check out all the newest styles at warbyparker.com

Medical Mondays

2013-02-04T00:00:00.000-06:00

Medical Monday is an opportunity for any and all medical/med life blogs to link up and meet others. So join us!

Do you qualify for the party?

Do you work in healthcare?

Doctor? Nurse? EMT? Chiropractor? Vet? Dentist? Therapist?

MA? NA? PA? DA?

Are you the spouse or SO of a healthcare worker/student?

Are you a nursing student? Medical student?

Intern? Resident? Fellow?

You get the picture, right?

LINK UP YOUR POST!

Our once a month bloghop for bloggers like yourself, where we can build a community of support and friendship, learn from one another and share our stories and what's going on in our lives.

Here are the rules:

Follow your co-hosts via GFC or email.
Link up you medical/med life blog. If your blog name does not clearly state how you fit in to the med/med life world, please write a little intro or link up a specific post which clearly demonstrates your connection.
Visit at least 3 other link ups, comment, introduce yourself, and tell the your stopping by or following from MM!
Help spread the word by using our button on your post or sidebar, tweet about Medical Monday, or spread the word on Facebook! The more the merrier for all of us!

And here's a helpful tip. . .

If you haven't turned of word verification, it's ON. Please turn it off. Not sure how? Click here for instructions.

Complete step one by following your co-hosts:

Want bonus points?
Post our button on you post or sidebar and help spread the word:

Something Big is Happening

2013-02-01T14:53:00.001-06:00

{Via}

And no, it's not a pager going off!

It's the Medical Mondays blog hop! What are Medical Mondays you may ask?

Medical Mondays happen once a month and help bloggers who have any connection to medicine find each other. It's simple - write a post, any post, and link up with the Medical Mondays hosts so that everyone can find your blog.

This Monday, February 4th, yours truly is co-hosting with Medicine: A Love Story. Check back here on Monday for the full scoop on how to link up and connect with other Medical Bloggers.

This is a rare Friday moment, when I can say I am actually looking forward to Monday!

Four Favorites: Valentine's Day

2013-01-30T17:07:00.000-06:00

1. Markus Lupfer Knit Top 2. Bobbi Brown Valentine Red Nail Polish 3. Heart Toms (similar seen here) 4. Conversation Hearts Cookie Cutters

Today I am linking up with some other fabulous bloggers Let It Be Beautiful and Fancy Things to share four Valentine's favorites. Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. My mom used to set the table every year with heart shaped boxes filled with different candies. I love girly things, especially if they have hearts on them, so all of these items are right up my alley. Doctor J, hint hint.

Naturebox

2013-01-28T10:30:00.000-06:00

MISSION: SNACK HEALTHY.

I am all about finding easy solutions to help you (and me) keep your hand out of the cookie jar.

Did you known that Americans consume an average of 25% of their calories from snacking? As an avid snacker, this does not shock me one bit! After eating a healthy lunch it is too easy to snack on goldfish or candy in the afternoon. Guilty!

Then along comes a company like Nautrebox to help us make better choices. For $19.95, they send you five bags of natural snacks every month. I have to say, I was impressed with the size and variety of these healthy snacks. In this month's box there was an array of snacks, such as cranberry almond bites, a Lone Star snack mix and a wonderful dried fruit mix. My favorite was a ginger trail mix with yummy dark chocolate chips. Old habits die hard.

Doctor J gave Naturebox a try. I am always looking for healthy snacks to put in his work bag. More often than not, a long day of surgery prevents him from having the time to eat a proper lunch or dinner, so I always make sure he is stocked up on snacks.

He looked slightly guilty because I told him not to eat all of my snacks. (I am working on being better at sharing!)

I am seeing some resemblance between my twenty something year old husband and A Cup of Jo's darling two year old son. Same guilty face when I told him to try the snacks. Just saying.

P.S. Want to try Naturebox for yourself? Use the code PISTACHIO for 25% off your first month's subscription!

What to do when your +1's friends visit

2013-01-23T22:45:00.000-06:00

{Via}

Ok, so your +1 wants to have his best friend(s) from college or home visit. A male guest? I guess this is what happens when you get married! He is super pumped and you don't want to crush his spirit, but...

You just moved into your new home/apartment and have finally unpacked all of your wedding gifts. There are so many breakable items that are definitely not "boy proof". Not to mention the new furniture for your first "grown up" home. Furniture that cannot withstand spilled drinks or other things that end up on college couches.

So this "said guy" comes to visit. Your +1 is stoked for them to party like it's 2001. You try to keep up, but decide to let the boys be boys. You feel more like the 3rd wheel anyway. Who wants a "wife" around?

Fast forward...two hours post arrival. The boys are straight chilin, circa freshman year. Feet on the couch with shoes on (gasp); pizza boxes piled up. I am wondering if I am supposed to clean up after them (no!) I try to act cool, it's finneeee that your wet towel is on the carpet.

The next day, we have dinner at home. I think our house guest is waiting for me to clear his plate. Is this what I am supposed to do? I believe in men holding doors AND clearing their own plates.

So, did I survive? Yes! But next time I think I am going to plan a girls weekend when Doctor J has his friends in town.

Green Living

2013-01-16T18:00:00.000-06:00

The environment is something I care about deeply. When you consider how much we all consume, it is amazing how big of an impact one person can make simply with conscientious choices.

However, being environmentally friendly doesn't mean you can't still be fashionable! My Other Bag is one of my favorite things to take to the grocery store. Below are other environmentally friendly and socially conscious favorites.

Bobble: Water Bottle
Did you know that the U.S. consumes 1500 water bottles every second and plastic takes 700 years to begin to decompose? Think about how many water bottles you would save if you started using a Bobble instead of a water bottle everyday? They have a built in filter so you can constantly fill it up on the go.

Manny & Simon: Pink Car
The pink car is just one of Manny & Simon's fabulous wooden products that are made from 100% post-industrial recycled wood. They are non-toxic with ultra low odor paint and zero VOC. Perfect to display in a nursery until your child is old enough to play with it!

Bag Ladies: Cotton Tote Bag
Add this tote to your reusable grocery bag collection. Just think about all of the plastic bags you will save!

Mrs. Meyers: Liquid Hand Soap
Mrs. Meyers products are made with plant-derived ingredients and natural essential oils. The bottles are recyclable and made of at least 25% post-consumer recycled content. Not only do these soaps smell amazing, they are good for you, your home and the planet.

Love Nature NYC: White Gardenia & Lily Candle
All of Love Nature NYC's products for health & home are handmade using natural and organic ingredients. They are also free of harsh synthetics and dangerous chemicals. The White Gardenia & Lily Candle happens to be one of my personal faves.

FEED: Tote Bag
I am a huge fan of FEED products. Their mission is to help create products that help feed the world. All of their products are environmentally-friendly and use artisan-made materials along with fair-labor production.

*All products listed clockwise

Impress Your Guests Spaghetti

2013-01-14T14:19:00.001-06:00

I recently came across a Food & Wine recipe for $4 spaghetti that tastes as good as Scarpetta's $24 spaghetti. Scarpetta is one of my favorite NYC restaurants, so I was intrigued to try this recipe. I have never made my own sauce before and decided to give it a shot. And since Doctor J loves spaghetti, I figured it would most likely be a husband pleaser!

I didn't realize that the total time to make this recipe was 3 HOURS. That being said, only 30 minutes was active cooking time so all you have to do is plan ahead. I, of course, did not do this and we ended up eating dinner at 10:00PM!

The recipe called for a large enamel cast iron or dutch oven. I will admit, I had to google exactly what this was. A dutch oven is a cast iron cooking pot that you can cook with on the stove and in the oven. A Le Creuset is an example and thank goodness for my registry, or I would not own one of these! They are a bit pricey, but I promise you will use it often and they last forever.

As many of my readers know, my goal is to help you make easy and delicious meals that are not too laborious and have a huge wow factor! This recipe definitely fits the bill. In the end it was a simple recipe to make and Doctor J said the taste was restaurant quality.

You can find the full recipe here. Below are a few pictures of my process.

{Making the mushroom reduction}

{Boiling garlic in olive oil}

{Canned tomatoes in my Le Creuset}

The Repeat Meal

2013-01-08T08:31:00.000-06:00

The New Year is underway and those bright resolutions we made mere days ago already seem like ancient history. So, I looked to a friend for something delicious and hearty to start, or re-start, the new year on the right foot.

Enter...the tasty and fresh lettuce wraps. These are otherwise known as The Repeat Meal because you will be making them over and over again, as I have. The recipe won me over with its simple ingredients, quick prep time and ability to make great leftovers. So, tell your hunger to bring it on!

The Ingredients:
- 1 chicken breast
- 1 cucumber
- 1 tomato
- 1 head of romaine lettuce
- 1 cup of pearl couscous (Rice Select is a good brand to buy)
- A bottle of Greek Style Feta dressing (Trader Joe's is a favorite)

The Procedure:
1. Measure out 1 cup of couscous. Bring your water to a boil & add in the couscous. Cover the saucepan and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. While the couscous is cooking, chop up the cucumber & tomato into small cubes.
3. Wash the chicken breast thoroughly. Pour a teaspoon of olive oil into a small frying pan. Turn the stove on high and cook the chicken for about 5 minutes on each side, until it is no longer pink in the middle. Chop the chicken into small cubes when cooked.
4. Combine the couscous, cucumbers, tomatoes, & chicken into a large bowl. Add up to 1/4 cup of dressing & mix together.
5. Wash the lettuce and break off a few large leaves to use as the wrap. Dry with a paper towel or a clean dish towel.
6. Fill lettuce with ingredients and enjoy!

Newlymed note: This can be made of ahead of time and lasts for several days. Talk about the perfect weekday leftovers!

Enjoy (health)foodies!

2012 Holiday Card

2013-01-04T15:53:00.001-06:00

Below is my extended family's holiday card that my grandparents send out every year. This year Doctor J and I actually made the cut! So thank you residency for a WHOLE weekend off. In last year's card, we were photoshopped in. I feel extremely lucky to be a part of such a large and loving family!

{The 12 grandkids + Doctor J makes 13}

Do you send out a holiday card?

Medical Resolutions

2013-01-03T11:35:00.000-06:00

{Via}

This week has been filled with excitement for what 2013 will bring. I have been inspired by resolutions from friends, family members and fellow bloggers.
Medicine: a love story has motivated me to make my very own Medical Resolutions!

1. Enjoy the journey
When Doctor J started his residency we knew it was going to be challenging, but we said from the beginning we wanted to enjoy the journey. It was six prime years in our 20's and when it was over I would be (gasp) 30! We didn't want to live these six years with the mindset that we were waiting for them to be over. I would like to continue to make the most of the time I do get to spend with Doctor J and focus on the positives.

2. Learn why patience is a virtue
It can be challenging when you are waiting for someone to come home for dinner plans, and you don't hear from them until 2 hours after your dinner because they were in the operating room BUT...I vow to be more patient in 2013.

3. When the Doctor is away, it's okay to play
Often times when Doctor J is on call, I hold out hope that it will not be a crazy night for him. Since residency keeps him pretty busy, I like to try to be around when he is around. One of my tactics is to hang around when he is on call, but that usually leads to a party of 1. Sooo Doctor J, I love you, but when you are on call...I am going out!

4. Become fluent in Doctor Talk
I have spoken about Doctor Talk before in this post. It is a common occurrence when a group of Doctors get together and speak about complex medical issues that I can't even begin to understand. Now, I have started to pay attention! So ask me what a Craniofacial Surgery is, why don't ya?

5. Eye on the prize
Honestly I think one of the best things you when you are married to a doc is to stay focused and busy. This is a time that Doctor J is very focused on his career and I am putting the same focus towards mine. When not working it is important to stay busy with good friends and great activities. This makes it MUCH easier when your +1 is not around.