Livin' It Up... New Bedding!!!

(In the Omni Hotel Dallas lobby, Christmas-time 2012)

My guilty pleasure is staying at the Omni Hotel Dallas. On a trip to Kansas a couple of years ago we decided to spend the night in Dallas. Little Man got excited about the hotel that was "completely lit up with lights on the side of the building". After looking at Expedia for room rates and discovering The Omni was well rated and fairly priced it was an easy decision to give it a try. To all of our surprise it ended up being the exact hotel that Little Man was excited about.

We've been back at least 10 times since and have had nothing but great experiences. We always get a downtown view and leave the blinds open the entire time watching the traffic and people walking the streets. There is also a television imbedded in the bathroom mirror which is a nice distraction while getting ready for the day, green electricity system powered by your room key, sign up for their Select Guest program to receive complimentary WiFi, and they have the most comfortable beds! Oh em gee!

I don't know what it is about their beds/bedding but it induces sleep. We went over Thanksgiving break and stayed for three days. Seems like most of my time in Dallas is spent at the hotel rather than exploring the town. We'll grab a coffee from Morsels (Starbucks with a select menu) and people watch in the lobby by the fire place, and we eat at their onsite restaurants, Texas Spice or The Owner's Box. I'll always treat myself to their Huevos Rancheros from Texas Spice on the last morning of my stay. Crave worthy!

Every time we stay we end of having one day where we want to stay in the room the entire day. I'll sit in front of the window on the chaise lounge (depending on the room you get) to read and people watch. When I get tired I'll jump into bed and fall asleep watching TV. It's so relaxing and much needed to recharge my batteries.

The bedding is so incredibly comfortable that I just had to buy some for my place. Yes! You can buy it online from their hotel website.

As part of my health/fitness goals to get more sleep I'm thanking this bedding for the restful sleep I've been getting lately. It's like being on vacation every night.

Livin' It Up... Banana Republic Haul

I have never been into a Banana Republic because I've browsed their website and couldn't justify the price tag on most of their items, however, I was given a gift card at Christmas and decided to bite the bullet and take a slight hit to my bank account.

I'm glad I did. Their clothing is well made and when it comes to closet essentials like the black pants and nude heels I know these pieces will last a long time and beats having to repurchase these items from stores like Forever 21 or Old Navy... not that I don't enjoy those stores, it's just that you get what you pay for and they don't hold up after a handful of washes. 

Here are a the items that I picked out:

Star-Stitch Crew Pullover in Oyster
(Suggest ordering a size down, unless you prefer a baggier fit.)

Kinsey Pump in Brindle

Sloan-Fit Ankle Pant in Black

... and from Gap 1969 Stretch & Recovery Legging Jeans in Pendleton Wash

I am a fan of the blog, The Northeast Girl, and used her Casual Friday outfit as inspiration when making my purchases and for planning what to wear for a lunch/ice cream date with my Little Man to reward him for making Perfect Attendance and Straight-A Honor Roll at school.

(Nonfat coconut frozen yogurt with strawberries, kiwi, mango, and almonds)

Livin' It Up... Nailed It! O.P.I. Tickle My France-y Mani/Pedi

From O.P.I.'s 2008 La Collection De France, Tickle My France-y, is an opaque nude shade with a cool lavender tone, kind of a mauve shade. The application is so easy, goes on smoothly without streaking, two coats is all you need... three for a stronger color, dries in about ten minutes, and removes easily with 100% acetone. 

Why try it for yourself? Because Tickle My France-y is rated as one of O.P.I.'s top ten colors, nude shades help give the illusion of longer fingers, and if you're a sucker for cheeky names O.P.I. takes the cake. C'mon, You Don't Know Jacques! and Bastille My Heart. Squee!!!

(Orly's Bonder Basecoat, O.P.I.'s Tickle My France-y, Essie's 3-Way Glaze)

I think I'll just use my fresh manicure as an excuse to stay in cozy clothes and curl up on the couch with a cup of green tea and a stack of magazines to avoid doing the dishes at least for a couple hours. Nothing chips my nails like doing the dishes. Ugh!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Cranberry Cleanse

I'm trying to do things that help with the functionality of my body. I've been eating healthier and making workouts a priority. Outside of seeing some weight loss I'm not noticing any other results yet.  Sometimes I think about how it would be nice to have a view into my body so I can see that eating all of these kale salads is really helping to detoxify my body and that it's not just a placebo effect.

Speaking of detoxing my body, as part of the 21 Day Flat Belly Challenge it was suggested to start the day with a Cranberry Cleanse. Supposedly it provides an energy boost while nourishing the liver, intestines, and kidneys while working to flush the body of accumulated waste.

I can't vouch for the above but I can tell you this concoction isn't too bad to throw back. Just be sure to have that water chaser handy.

Cranberry Cleanse

From: Popsugar Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 4 oz cranberry juice
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• a glass of water as a chaser

And Action:

Combine the cranberry juice, vinegar, and lemon juice together in a glass. Drink the concoction and chase with the glass of water. 

Doin' Some Cookin'... Sesame Ginger Kale, Quinoa and Blueberry Superfood Salad

This is a recipe that reminds me how un-inventive I am in the kitchen. I would have never thought to mix together carrots, blueberries, seaweed and put that together with kale and quinoa. Thank you to the genius minds who create recipes for those like me who can't figure out how to top a salad with something other than cucumbers and tomatoes.

Kale and quinoa team up to make a powerhouse duo packed with nutrients like vitamins A, C and K, healthy fats, protein and fiber making this a healthy and filling lunch option. Kale is a superfood known for lowering your cholesterol and detoxifying your system.

No need to worry about making a big batch of this because the kale is so thick and hearty that it doesn't wilt during the week making it the perfect take to work lunch.

Or, if you live in the San Francisco, California area you can head over to Urban Picnic Eatery and pick up their version of this salad which this recipe was inspired from.

This recipe is also "flat belly challenge" approved, that is how I was introduced to this one.

Flat Belly Challenge Day 3:

My workout today consists of an abdominal circuit and an hour of walking.

Sesame Ginger Kale, Quinoa and Blueberry Superfood Salad

Adapted From: Popsugar Fitness

Makes 3 Servings and 10 Tbsp Dressing

Stars of the Show for the Salad:

• 1 cup cooked red quinoa
• 1 container baby kale
• 1 bag shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 cup blueberries
• 5 sheets toasted sesame seaweed (such as Annie Chun's)

Stars of the Show for the Dressing:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
• 1 glove minced garlic
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp water

And Action:

Whisk all dressing ingredients together and put into a small jar with lid, set aside.

Combine all of the salad ingredients, lightly tossing to combine well. 

When ready to serve drizzle individual portions with dressing. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... BLT Lettuce Wraps

This is an unbelievable truth... I stopped liking bacon for the last couple years. It may have been caused by the ultimate BLT that I made turning my tongue raw from a sandwich that was like a salt lick.

Here's another unbelievable truth... After watching the movie, Supersize Me, I went out and ate McDonald's. Almost too much. My excuse was wanting to win a million dollars playing their Monopoly game.

And another unbelievable truth... After watching the movie, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, the sequel, I craved bacon after one of the rebooters (term for a person going on a juice cleanse) ordered a baconator from Wendy's.

My take away is that I need to stop watching food documentaries. I clearly do not get scared straight.

Scared enough, however, to not order a baconator and instead make these BLT Lettuce Wraps.

And yes... my love affair with bacon is back. Everything in moderation.

BLT Lettuce Wraps

Adapted From: Jackie's Happy Plate

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 4 slices cooked applewood smoked bacon
• handful of grape tomatoes, cut in half
• 2 whole romaine leaves
• 1 tbsp mayonaise
• black pepper, to taste

And Action:

Spread each lettuce leaf with a 1/2 tbsp mayo. 

Sprinkle with pepper.

Top each lettuce leaf with 2 slices of bacon and half of the tomatoes. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... Target Haul

Here are a couple clothing items from clearance that I picked up last weekend:

Boyfriend Cardigan - Mossimo Supply Co.

Longsleeve Bodycon Dress - Xhilaration

Women's Plus Size Pullover Top - Massimo

Fashion Legging Lined With Fleece - Massimo

Pullover Sweater - Mossimo

Crop Pullover Sweater - Mossimo

Livin' It Up... Mommy Guilt

Mommy guilt is a real thing. So much of what I do is dedicated to Little Man and prevents me from doing what I want to do. Some of these things seem selfish, like taking a nap or sitting on the patio reading a book... in silence. But as a mom, I have this little voice in my head that tells me, "you're a parent, you signed up for this and he comes first."

It's hard to ignore the voice, but I've learned that sometimes being selfish actually benefits more than just me. When I get a moment to myself it allows me to decompress and let go of some of the stress putting me in a better mood and be more tolerable. As Little Man has gotten older it makes it easier for him to understand when mommy needs a timeout and he's more self sufficient allowing for more of these me moments.

Here are some ways I find myself being selfish:

• A girls' night once a month.
• Nap on the couch while he quietly does an art project or reads. 
• Little Man has a dedicated bedtime. Once he's down for bed I catch up on shows I've recorded.
• Signed up for a gym membership with childcare.
• Whenever Little Man is not in the car, the windows are down and music blaring. 
• If Little Man hasn't been on his best behavior I will wait for him to fall asleep to eat the ice cream we were looking forward to after dinner.
• Splurge on Starbucks
• Scrap dinner plans on occasion and resort to take out.
• Put off my to do list when I'm really not feeling it. 
• I don't volunteer at his school.... I'm really only tolerable for my kid and those of my friends. 
• Enjoy going to work and getting off to race over to his daycare to hear him squeal, "Mommy!"
• Asking his dad to take him to the barber shop.
• I'm environmentally unfriendly for convenience factors.

While I'm writing this I actually feel guilty for seeing how expansion the list above feels. But here's the thing... I know I am a great mom and would give up any of these guilty pleasures if they actually were not in his best interest.

It's funny to think, I'm sitting on the couch typing this post while he's sitting next to me playing on his iPad. We're both doing something we enjoy and having our own "me" time. So, it's all about balance. Making time for me, him, and us.

Speaking of us... he wants to go grab McDonald's for lunch (ick! I don't like McDonald's) and selfishly I am going to waste the extra gas and money to head down the street to pick myself up a burger from my favorite place instead.

Doin' Some Cookin'... Flat Belly Smoothie

Flat Belly Challenge Day 1:

My workout today consists of an abdominal circuit, Walk/Run Interval, and an hour at Zumba class.

For breakfast I whipped up the Flat Belly Smoothie that is packed with ingredients that fight belly fat and reduce bloating.

If only I could just sip on this and skip those crunches at the gym, although, I have heard the saying, "abs are made in the kitchen." I'm only half joking.

Flat Belly Smoothie

Adapted From: PopSugar Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 6 oz container vanilla fat free Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 cup baby kale
• 3/4 cup water

And Action:

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Parmesan Meatloaf

Okay, so I realize this is my third meatloaf recipe I've posted since November and that I've ranted about not really being on board to put together another meatloaf but this may be the game changer and here's why. After baking this I cut it into squares and served it on a bed of spaghetti and used it as a giant meatball. Kid approved!! Across the board rave reviews.

If you are tired of the same meatloaf recipe you should give this a try. It is perfectly seasoned with Italian spices and although it has equal parts ground beef and ground turkey it is not dry at all and holds up well reheated in the microwave the next day.

Parmesan Meatloaf

Adapted From: Mommy I'm Hungry!

Makes 6 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup Italian cheese blend
• dried parsley, for garnish

And Action:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.

In a large bowl combine the ground turkey thru the parmesan cheese. Try not to over handle as that will cause it to become tough. Place the mixture in the baking dish forming a loaf. Top the meatloaf with the marinara sauce.

Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and sprinkle with the Italian cheese blend and bake another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven. Serve over a bed of pasta noodles tossed with the leftover marinara sauce and garnish with parsley. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Fish Tacos with Sautéed Zucchini

These fish tacos are nothing like restaurant-style. These are minimalist tacos and a diet friendly dinner for those trying to watch their waistlines. No addition of sour cream and the fish is not batter fried. The fish is pan fried with a simple bed of sliced avocado on a corn tortilla and served with a side of sauteed zucchini. The chili powder and cayenne pepper give this a fiery bite to help boost flavor but please note it may be too spicy for the little ones. 

Fish Tacos with Sautéed Zucchini

Adapted From: Every Day with Rachael Ray

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 lb halibut
• juice of 1 lime
• 2 zucchini, cubed
• cilantro, to taste
• sea salt, to taste
• 4 corn tortillas
• chili powder, to taste
• cayenne pepper, to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 avocado, sliced

And Action:

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Place the halibut in a small bowl and drizzle with 1/2 of the lime juice. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the zucchini and season with salt. Once browned drizzle with the other half of the lime juice and cilantro.

Spread the tortillas on a baking sheet and heat in the oven for 10 minutes.

Season the halibut with the chili powder, cayenne pepper, and salt. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the fish, 4 minutes each side. Break the fish into bite sized pieces. Arrange the tortillas with sliced avocado and top with the fish. Serve with the sauteed zucchini. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... Resolutions 2015

I don't know what it is about Mondays and the New Year being like a giant reset button when it comes to making life changes. Every year I say, "NO!" to making New Year's resolutions and after a week a sort of guilt washes over me and I finally sit down and make a list of good intentions for the year.

As far as 2014 went I had about 5 or 6 items on the list of resolutions and only really accomplished one of them which was to "pay it forward". At the start of the Thanksgiving season I visited the website, GoFundMe, and selected families to donate to whose stories tugged at my heart strings. My contributions were small, $5 to $10, but I spread about $100+ throughout the Houston area. Depending on how active the families are on the website you can opt in to receive email updates of their stories. The most rewarding feeling was receiving personalized thank you messages from those families.

Because it felt so good fulfilling random acts of kindness this will definitely be a repeat for 2015. Here's my list of resolutions, a much heftier list than last year:

1. Pay It Forward
2. Lose 40 Pounds
3. Do Something For Myself Once A Week... A nap sounds like a decadent treat.
4. Nurture Friendships
5. Travel To New Places
6. Be The One To Reach Out... I'm terrible when it comes to out of sight, out of mind. 
7. 6 Month's Worth Of Living Expenses Saved
8. Get 8 Hours Of Sleep!!
9. Declutter
10. Drink More Water
11. Walk To Work When I Can
12. Learn To Use My Camera... Reach for my iPhone out of convenience when I have a really nice camera. 
13. Download New Music
14. Leave Work Earlier
15. Say No To Fast Food
16. Work On My Handwriting
17. Dive Deeper In My Hobbies
18. Start A Garden
19. Follow Through On A New Year's Resolution, HAHA!!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Crock Pot Meatloaf

Meatloaf is the only meal Little Man will request. I've only made it once in his 6 years under my roof. He must be getting it elsewhere and needing his fix. Ha! He randomly requested a meatloaf sandwich recently and told him I'd need to plan for it so I could gather the needed ingredients. Between you and me, meatloaf isn't something I crave or get excited about cooking. After my first attempt at a glazed meatloaf and three days worth of leftovers I think I had my fill for another 20+ years. It was such a heavy meal. Ugh!

But... anything for my son. This time no food processor and instead an easier cooking method, the crock pot. I mean easy!

So easy, I took a quick break from work to put this together. I had all of the ingredients mixed, shaped into a loaf, and set in the crock pot within ten minutes. No one even knew I left the building. One of the perks of living right across the street from work. Shh! Our little secret.

It was so nice coming home from work and only needing to put together a side dish, and the house smelt amazing. I served the meatloaf with a side of roasted carrots. Little Man ate two helpings of the meatloaf!!!

This meatloaf was not as heavy tasting as the glazed meatloaf and had me looking forward to leftovers for meatloaf sandwiches the next day. I'll be making this one again but with more spices.

Crock Pot Meatloaf

Adapted From: Moms With Crockpots

Makes 6 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1 (1 oz) envelope french onion dip mix
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1/4 cup ketchup

And Action:

Line the crock pot with aluminum foil, coming up the sides for easier removal once cooked.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, and french onion dip mix. Mix well, then add meat. Mix thoroughly and shape into a rectangle or oval that won't touch the sides of the crockpot. Place in the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. 

Minutes before its finished cooking brush the top with ketchup. Cover and allow to finish cooking.  

Doin' Some Cookin'... Kale Salad with Feta, Garlic Panko Breadcrumbs, and Fried Egg

This is one of the best kale salads I've ever had and this time it was picked up at a Starbucks.

The salad is mixed with Mediterranean inspired ingredients on a bed of sauteed kale, topped with a fried egg, and then sprinkled with garlic panko breadcrumbs and feta cheese making this the perfect meatless meal option.

The runny yolk acts as a dressing after you cut into the egg. If you're really hungry you may want to double your portion. It's that good!

Kale Salad with Feta, Garlic Panko Crumbs, and Fried Egg

Adapted From: Jeanette's Healthy Living

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 8 cups kale, stems removed and cut into bite size pieces
• splash of rice vinegar
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• garlic powder, to taste
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 tomato, cut into bite size pieces
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 4 oz black pepper feta cheese
• 16 kalamata olives
• 4 fried eggs, for topping

And Action:

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the kale and saute until wilted, then add a splash of rice vinegar. 

To make the garlic panko breadcrumbs: heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic powder and panic breadcrumbs. Sauce until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 

While you fry the eggs begin assembling the salad. Top kale with with the tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, and olives. Top with the fried egg on each portion and then sprinkle with the garlic panic breadcrumbs. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... Cleaning Up My Space

Clean In The Morning:

Chores, ugh! It helps to put the most daunting tasks at the beginning of the day when I'm most recharged from a good nights' sleep and it's out of the way to enjoy the rest of the day.

Put A Time Limit On It:

Being a person who likes routine and schedules, I'll set a timer for one hour a day and clean. Because the house gets cleaned daily it makes it easier to give something a quick wipe down just to maintain it's shine and minimal messes to clean up.

Make A List:

I've created a spreadsheet for each room and will work my way through the list during my hour of cleaning remembering where I left off the day before. A spreadsheet of chores is kinda like the Google Maps of cleaning.

Put On Music:

I avoid distractions such as a favorite TV show since I get sucked into the show and won't put a lot of effort into cleaning. Instead I put on a favorite music channel, crank it up, and get to cleaning. It is a slight distraction when a song comes on that makes me wanna shake my ass I have to take a minute or two break.

Reward Yourself:

Everyone deserves a pat on the back for accomplishing the task at hand. Why not be the one to give it to yourself? Treat yourself to brunch (hello! eggs benedict!) or lounge around in the newly cleaned space.

My "Dust Bustin'" Playlist:

* Jet: Are You Gonna Be My Girl
* Mark Ronson: Uptown Funk
* Taylor Swift: Blank Space
* Taylor Swift: Shake It Off
* Meghan Trainor: Lips Are Moving
* Trey Songz: Bottoms Up
* Modest Mouse: Float On
* Alex Winston: Host
* Jenny Owen Youngs: Pirates
* Walk The Moon: Shut Up And Dance
* Ciara: 1, 2 Step
* Florence And The Machine: Dog Days Are Over
* MGMT: Kids
* Ra Ra Riot: Dance With Me
* MC Hammer: U Can't Touch This
* Sir Mix-A-Lot: Baby Got Back
* Fall Out Boy: Young Volcanoes
* Ingrid Michaelson: Girls Chase Boys
* Weezer: Buddy Holly
* Lou Bega: Mambo No. 5
* Avril Lavigne: Sk8r Boy
* Avril Lavigne: Here's To Never Growing Up
* Big Sean: I Don't Fuck With You
* Beyonce: 7/11
* Spice Girls: WannaBe
* Ain't No Love: Summa
* Sam Smith: I'm Not The Only One
* Hozier: Take Me To Church
* Lana Del Rey: Summertime Sadness
* Ariana Grande: Problem
* Kenny Loggins: Footloose
* Billy Joel: Uptown Girl
* Iggy Azalea: Work
* Petey Pablo: Could You Get Me Outta Jail
* The Cataracs: Big Dipper
* Kiesza: Hideaway
* 3Oh!3: My First Kiss
* The All American Rejects: Gives You Hell
* Dusty Springfield: Son Of A Preacher Man
* Alt-J: Left Hand Free
* MKTO: Classic
* Passion Pit: Take A Walk
* AJR: I'm Ready
* 5 Seconds Of Summer: She Looks So Perfect
* The Vamps: Can We Dance
* Devo: Whip It
* Bon Jovi: You Give Love A Bad Name
* Dexy's Midnight Runners: Come On Eileen
* Katrina And The Waves: Walking On Sunshine
* Rixton: Wait On Me
* Milky Chance: Stolen Dance
* OneRepublic: Love Runs Out
* The Kooks: Seaside
* Hall & Oats: Rich Girl
* Latch: Disclosure &
* Barry Louis Polisar: All I Want Is You
* Marina And The Diamonds: Oh No!
* Karmin: Brokenhearted
* Becky G: Shower
* Selena Gomez: The Heart Wants What It Wants
* Macklemore: Thrift Shop
* The Weeknd: Often
* Mumford & Sons: Awake My Soul

Livin' It Up... Love Of Coffee

Saw the above quote.

I'm not a dessert person and consider coffee to be a decadent treat, especially, when it's full fat from Starbucks and not one of those skinny nonfat sugar free choices. My current obsession is their Chestnut Praline Latte. Ahh!

So the quote above would be edited to read, "I want someone to look at me the way I look at a cup of coffee."

It's hot but still appreciated when cold, within reach, something I don't want to rush through and look forward to enjoy slowly on the weekends, most appreciated on it's own, acceptable in any social situation, and there's no time of day when it's not appropriate. Just a taste is enough to make me miss it when I haven't had it for a while and something I always want in my life.

My "Starbucks Love" Playlist:

* Jack Johnson: Banana Pancakes
* Jack Johnson: Traffic In The Sky
* Jack Johnson: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
* Landon Pigg: Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop
 * The Brobecks: Love At First Sight
* Ink Spots: Java and Jive
* The Lumineers: Ho Hey
* Frankie Valli: Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
* Dean Martin: You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You
* The Neighbourhood: Say My Name (Destiny's Child Cover)
* The Neighbourhood: Sweater Weather
* Ingrid Michaelson: You And I
* Ingrid Michaelson: Can't Help Falling In Love
* The 1975: Sex
* The 1975: Falling For You
* Ed Sheeran: I See Fire
* Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud
* Ed Sheeran: Stay With Me (Sam Smith Cover)
* Ed Sheeran: I'm A Mess
* Ed Sheeran: Kiss Me
* John Mayer: Slow Dancing In A Burning Room
* John Mayer: XO
* John Mayer: Who Says?
* Matt Nathanson: Come On Get Higher
* Alexander Rybak: If You Were Gone
* Fall Out Boy: Alone Together
* Sam Smith: Stay With Me
* Sam Smith: Lay Me Down
* Incubus: Drive
* Barenaked Ladies: Pinch Me
* Coldplay: Clocks
* Coldplay: The Scientist
* Edward Sharpe: Home
* Milky Chance: Stolen Dance
* Mika: Love You When I'm Drunk
* Norah Jones: By My Somebody
* Plain White T's: Hey There Delilah
* Maroon 5: She Will Be Loved
* Michael Schulte: I Will Follow You Into The Dark
* Amy Winehouse: I Heard Love Is Blind
* Nick Urb: Matter Of Time

Livin' It Up... Ringin In The New Year, Kiss-Less in 2015

So I have this movie that replays in my head. No, it's not one that ever played on the big screen but in real life. My life!!! 

The movie is of a kiss, well... two very memorable kisses but not just any kiss. It was that crave worthy grab me by the back of my head-pull me in-and hand on the face kiss. Pulling me in for another.

It happened almost two years ago and I crave it every day. Like drinking salted water it makes the thirst stronger. In fact, I can close my eyes and transport myself back to that moment and get those butterflies all over again. 

Being that it was New Year's Eve a couple of my girlfriend's and I went out for dinner and then headed to a local bar to ring in 2015. The only person I could even think to save that kiss for could not be there with me. While I watched every one else make out at midnight I sat there with a smile on my face and butterflies in the pit of my stomach. I replayed that movie and it was the perfect reminder of what I seek. A feeling of passion like you see in the movies. Here's to 2015 and letting things happen organically and not forcing opportunities. 

Speaking of passionate kisses, here is a montage of some other kiss worthy scenes:

V-Jay Day in Times Square: Photographed by Alfred Eisenstaedt.

Vancouver Riots: A moment of love, fierceness, and defiance.

Spiderman: Saved by a superhero, soaking wet and impatiently peels part of the mask sharing a unique kiss full of sensuality.

Dirty Dancing: Hot Summer nights filled with dancing. The best part of a kiss is those moments leading to it. She seems to be the aggressor. I like it!

The Notebook: "So it's not going to be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're going to have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday."

Sin City

Vintage Kiss

Friends With Benefits: The way she looks at him!

Gossip Girl: This is where I see it going next.

My "Hold Me Tight, Neck in Hand, and Kiss Me" Playlist:

* Sam Smith: Latch

* Sam Smith: Lay Me Down

* Arctic Monkeys: Do I Wanna Know?

* Arctic Monkeys: I Wanna Be Yours

* The Neighbourhood: Flawless

* The Neighbourhood: Sweater Weather

* Troye Sivan: Touch

* Chris Brown: Don't Judge Me

* Chris Brown: New Flame

* The Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody

* Etta James: At Last

* Belle and Sebastian: Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John

* Charlie Puth: Kiss Me

* Little Dragon: Ritual Union

* Bon Iver: Skinny Love

* Ed Sheeran: I See Fire

* Ed Sheeran: Kiss Me

* Ed Sheeran: Give Me Love

* Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud

* Ed Sheeran: All Of The Stars

* Chris Issak: Wicked Game

* Fleet Foxes: Can't Help Falling In Love

* Franz Ferninand: Take Me Out

* Jack Johnson: Banana Pancakes

* Plain White T's: Rhythm of Love

* Alice Jemima: No Diggity

* Parachute: Kiss Me Slowly

* Fleetwood Mac: Dreams

* Milky Chance: Stolen Dance

* Taylor Swift: Wildest Dreams

* Hozier: Take Me To Church

* The 1975: Sex

* The 1975: Chocolate

* Nick Jonas: Jealous

* The Weeknd: Wicked Games

* Zendaya: Replay

* Selena Gomez: The Heart Wants What It Wants

* Jack and Jack: Cold Hearted

* All American Rejects: Dirty Little Secret 

* Neon Trees: Sleeping With A Friend

* 5 Seconds of Summer: Never Be

* The Cab: Bad

* Ray J: Sexy Can I