I bought a new wedding dress

So as I've mentioned Alex and I are getting married Nov 7th. I'm very excited! However, I was having my wedding dress customized, and when it came in the mail for the first fitting, I just didn't like it! I guess that's the chance you take.

Wedding dress shopping in general was frustrating because of the lack of plus size dresses I could try on. And the general policy is that if you buy it, you can't return it. So I wasn't in a position to even order any of the dresses that weren't in my size to try them on.

So when the dress came in recently, I made an appointment to at least try some options at the new David's Bridal that opened in Manhattan knowing that at least online they have more plus size options.

While they didn't have any of the dresses I had liked online, they did have things in my size I could try on. (yay!)

So on a whim, I got a new dress (shown here). It was a steal of a deal price-wise which made it not as bad that the first one didn't work (that one was a steal too!)

The catch is, I had to take a guess on the size since I'm losing weight. So I ordered one size lower than what I tried on.

So nowwwwww, I better get to losing! The dress arrives early October, and I'll be upset if it doesn't fit. Of course, I've already thought I might be wearing double spanx if it doesn't fit! ha!

The wedding isn't until Nov 7th however, so I have 2 months to lose one dress size. Definitely doable.

One more day!

It's Sunday night so only one more day until my surgery!

I really really wish I didn't have to work tomorrow, but I do. However, I have the rest of the week off after that. I did agree to work from home Thursday and Friday if I feel up to it. At least just to check in on email.

I'm partially looking forward to this week because I get to stay home! I won't be having a proper vacation for a while, so I'll take what I can get. Everyone at work is taking vacations, and after the last few very hectic weeks at work, I'm happy to have the down time. I know I wont feel the same way post-surgery when I'm in pain and bored though.

As for today, I'm just trying to get stuff done before surgery. It rained today and that seems to have been all the excuse I needed not to do a bunch of stuff!

After surgery I wont be able to lift more than 10 pounds for more than a month as at least one of the incisions will cut through the muscle (to get the lap-band and port in place), so I had wanted to refinish a table but it rained.

Originally I was told that I could call Friday to find out my surgery time, but that was incorrect. I have to call after work Monday night to get the time. So I'll email friends and fam then with details.

I've just been rereading my surgical materials this weekend. On Tuesday I can't have any fluids or solids after midnight. Then I'll begin the thin liquids diet for 10 days. At least two protein shakes a day after the first day or two.

The countdown has begun!

Fresh chives from the Farmer's Market

So I went to the Union Square Farmer's Market this week looking for some more ramps, but unfortunately there were none to be found. Not sure if it was because I went on a Monday or whether they are just past their season as this point.

So I took a look around to find something else new and interesting and discovered these lovely fresh chives. The best part is that the chives still have their blossoms. When you smell them though, you get that great, oniony garlic smell.

I didn't even know chives were a flowering plant. I'll have to find something interesting to cook them in.

Uh Oh! Sabotage!

So I've completely fallen off the wagon. Luckily, I have this blog to confess my sins, pick myself back up and keep on going.

I'd been slipping a bit, but then yesterday I just went all-out-off-the-diet. We ordered a pizza and had chips and dessert. Ug. And had my usual old Starbucks breakfast this morning and pizza again for lunch.

No good. I'm just cranky, and that's what I do when I'm cranky.

So I need to just accept my temporary defeat and start over. But I have a trip planned this weekend, so we'll see how this all goes! I will however report back!

I'm a Fan of Chef Tom Colicchio

For the rest of you out there who are also fans, the New York Times has an interesting interview with Tom Colicchio. Colicchio owns the Craft chain of restaurants, including my absolute favorite restaurant ever Craft. He's also on the show Top Chef.

In this article, he discusses his West Village apartment (which he rents surprisingly), his family, his life, and of course cooking. He also recommends the one book no one should be without. Jacques Pépin’s book “La Technique.”

See Colicchio's own books on cooking here. He definitely espouses a philosphy about cooking and technique rather than recipes.

Read the complete article here.

Greenmarket Cooking

Despite the rainy weather, I made my way over to the Union Square Farmer's Market today to get some of the ramps I posted about earlier this week. While exploring, I met this lovely woman, Robin, above who was giving a cooking demonstration on how to cook with ramps. She recommended dicing the white bulbs and cooking them first. Then the leaves later as they don't take as long to cook. Though you can cook them all together at once.

The ramps themselves smelled garlicky and rich! YUM! The recipe she provided was for Skillet Potatoes with Ramps which included paprika. I never would've thought of that! Can't wait to try it this weekend. For the potatoes, I got some purple Peruvian potatoes from the vendor Berried Treasures, shown below, also at the Union Square Farmer's Market. That's where I got the ramps too.

The gorgeous purple potatoes are shown at the very bottom.

Visit Robin's website NYKitchenco here.