An honor & a delay...

Hey everyone!  Sorry for my delay...hope this week is flying for you like it's flying for me! J

So now I have to back track to my Monday night salad and just check out this beauty...

• Red Leaf lettuce
• Strawberries
• Feta Cheese
• Scallions
• Diced Basil
• Balsamic Vinegar 

And despite the fact that I left work on Monday night and it was absolutely FREEZING (OK...not "freezing"...but certainly not cropped pants/flip flop appropriate!) this salad was a bright little glimmer of sunshineJ  Those sweet strawberries are such little gems...they've been part of my daily diet since SaturdayJ

And since that cold weather continued into yesterday, once I felt that chilly weather I was cravin some Apple Cheddar soup somethin fierce! 

I swapped some ingredients from last time, including a sweet potato instead of white... 

And some of my favorite English Cheddar with caramelized onions.....

I have to say, I don't know if it was SHARP enough to go up against all the sweet ingredients, but who can complain with that fabulousness?

Between the sweet apples, butternut squash & sweet potato along with the savory sage, this pot just smelled like heavenly Fall!

Boiled up and hit with the handheld blender, it made for a silky & creamy soup = HIT. THE. SPOT!  Especially with a little help from the Trader Joe's pretzel breadJ

And since I told you that I was going to share with you my "detox" lunches....well, they haven't varied but both days have pretty much looked like this:

I go through a love/hate thing with celery & peanut butter.  This week-lovin it.  Next week-who knows?J  But I always love me some watermelon, 2% cheese and Vitatops!

OK...so confession time.  Why did this blog post take me so long??  Well, first...I might say a VERY rousing THANK YOU to the adorable Amee at Amee's Savory Dish for giving me my first blog award!!! 

 Thanks Amee!  And visit her page....her dishes and tips are awesome! 

Sooooo...Step 2 of the award is:

1. You thank the person that awarded it to you and list a link back to the blogger
2. Tell 7 things about yourself
3. Pay it forward by sending it to your favorite recently found new bloggers
4. Contact the blogger that you have awarded and make them aware

#1.-"Thank Amee": check

#2.- Seven Things about myself = 1 day blog hold up! Jhahahahahahhaa....I drew a total BLANK on that one for some reasonJ  But here's what I came up with after 24 hoursJ

Seven things about me:

1. I never loved school more than when I attended Temple University for my degree in Film & Media Arts.  
2. One of my favorite experiences was interning for Joel Silver's production company on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles after graduating. 
3. I love traveling more than almost anything else in the world (not counting my husband and family, of course) and my favorite place so far was the sunset bar at hotel LaMariposa in Costa Rica. 
4. If I could go anywhere tomorrow it would be the Amalfi Coast and then to Cape Town, South AfricaJ  
5. I scrapbook the entire year as a Christmas gift to Scott every year.  This causes massive stress and late nights from October to December, but it's worth itJ
6. I'm slightly obsessed with all things "The Shining" and can't wait to visit the Stanley hotel one dayJ 
7. I'm pretty sure my version of heaven will involve the people I love, fall foliage, sunsets and lots & lots of coconutJ hahahahahahha

And now, my favorite part, paying it forward!

Miriam at Meatless meals for Meat Eaters
Faith & Daisies
Heather at Mom Says Just One Bite
Karen at Tasty Trials
Angie at The American Homemaker
Aipip at US Masala
Lynn at Life of a Foodie and her Family
The dynamic duo at Tadka Pasta
Rachel at Rachel's Recipe Reviews

And last but not least, my fellow Jersey gals:
Kim at Piece of Cake Decorating
Jess at Forgiving Martha
Amanda at Our Italian Kitchen

Phew...alrighty!  Now that you've heard all THAT, I hope you guys have a GREAT Wednesday! J