cooking

For my family, Christmas day is all about food and movies, movies and food. Traditionally, we gather at someone’s house in the morning, drink endless amounts of coffee and mimosas and eat my mom’s famous egg and cheese soufflé. Oh, and bagels too. Because you can never have enough carbs after you’ve had Chinese food on Christmas Eve. After we stuff ourselves (again), we head off to the movies (You don’t think we go empty handed do you? Please, we stuff candy and cookies into our purses like little old ladies who save Sugar packets). Tradition, people! Tradition! One year, for a holiday celebration, I had to bring Star of David-shaped  cheese sandwiches to Jonah’s preschool ...Read More
Right now, as you read this, Nana and her boyfriend Burt are on a cruise around South America. In just 46, excuse me 48 months, (because Burt did correct my husband on this number on Thanksgiving lest anyone get it wrong) these two 85 year old love birds have been to China, New York, the Caribbean and up and down the coast at least a dozen times, just because. Spend 5 minutes with them and you’ll see that their love of all things life only gets greater each day. It’s inspiring, awesome, and frankly, makes me downright excited to know that life just gets better and better. I could go on and ...Read More
I’m pretty sure at some point since the inception of Perfectly Disheveled, I’ve confessed how every now and again (every time) I go to Traders Joe’s (or Costco… or Whole Foods… or any supermarket, really), I hope and pray that there is some sort of “stample,” as Jonah calls it, being given out.  Luckily, there’s a TJ’s in my hood and I can always guarantee that no matter what time I’m there, there will be a jolly guy with a beard serving up some sort of brilliant, but totally funky concoction. Fried rice with honey and spinach feta balls?  Who knew?! A few weeks ago, they were giving out samples of ...Read More
Rosemary Ground Beef Bolognese With Baby Spinach & Brown Rice Pasta Part of “going gluten-free” is making sure I take these healthy habits I’m learning from eating KLEAN LA and integrating them into my family life and my family food! While I’ve been on the “diet,” I have found myself making meals that that are more balanced and that are less laden in the things that I’m not eating (evne if I’m not eating them). When Kiki of KLEAN LA suggested I try out the family meal, I couldn’t resist. The family meals come with 4 servings of a lean protein, complex carb and vegetable, plus 2 sauces to create a healthy ...Read More
Jonah’s example of an animal hibernating Lately, Jonah has been obsessed with using my computer to play online math games. These “games” are more like digital workbooks, and the kid cannot get enough. (Nerd alert). The games start at Kindergarten and go up to 8th grade. When Jonah found out that there was Geometry and Algebra and a chance to do 3rd, 4th, or even 5th grade math, he begged me to let him do it. I’m happy to support the curiosity over what “big kids” in 1st and 2nd grade are doing– as long as he can do most of it on his own. You can’t learn anything if I’m ...Read More
The other day, a friend told me that I’d make the perfect “1965 wife.”  Some women might find this to be offensive, but me, nah… I’m a full time working gal, with a plate so full and a life so busy. So the fact that I cook, clean, raise a child and sit patiently during tackles, touchdowns, and all things end-zone, kinda makes me feel like a badass. While I’m still the “not so queen of it all,” I actually feel proud that I have figured out a way to be “domestic” too. It may not look perfect, it may not always be pretty, but I can certainly try to be a little ...Read More
It seems like every Monday, I’m on a hunt for a recipe that is sort of a one stop shop– a recipe that I can get all the ingredients literally in one shop, put them all in one pot, and walk away. However, not only is this crock pot-codependent relationship hurting the feelings of my 5qt Le Creuset pot (I’m not bragging, I’m just saying it’s really pretty), but it’s starting to bore Jonah and Peter to tears: There’s only so much shredded chicken tacos and turkey chili a man/boy can take. Luckily, a few months ago, I went to New York and had the opportunity to cook with the very ...Read More
This post is sponsored by Nestlé, which compensated me to partner with California Pizza Kitchen® frozen pizza and share news about the “Adventures in Entertaining” campaign this summer. As a person who likes to party and entertain, you can imagine how over the moon I am about the fact that I’m engaged (to the man of my dreams, no less), and get to plan THE party of a lifetime. Weddings are no easy feat. I realize this. However, thanks to Pinterest and all things bridal, I’ve gathered dozens of ideas, inspirations, and, of course, DIY projects that I’m bursting at the seams to do. The summer is ...Read More
This post is sponsored by Nestlé, which compensated me to partner with California Pizza Kitchen® frozen pizza and share news about the “Adventures in Entertaining” campaign this summer. If you asked most of my girlfriends what would be their idea of the “perfect night,” I think most of them would say, (in this order): “Babysitter or Husband puts kids to sleep, get together with best girlfriends, drink wine and eat delicious food… and someone else does the cleaning.” Well lucky for them, I got to facilitate that night… And pretty much in that order.  I decided that hosting a girls’ night of ...Read More
Not so long ago, I whined about how Pinterest made me feel pathetic. I declared that the fashionistas, posing with their perfectly tilted heads, and baubled-out wrists made me feel ridiculously uncool and uncoordinated. I decided that the travel pins only made my wanderlust get worse and the reality of my current finances more clear. Finally, I determined that I’d never have time to be as crafty as I wish I could be and that, with my busy schedule, DIY projects were a distant dream. Guess what? I’ve soooooo changed my tune. That’s right. Pinterest is my new best friend and my newest full time obsession. Forget Facebook stalking. ...Read More