Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

Have you ever made your own vinaigrette?  You probably have most of the ingredients already in your kitchen, it’s fresher than the store bought options (some have 20+ ingredients!) and something about it feels fancy!   Oh, and did I mention how fast & easy it is?

Here’s a video of an awesome basic kitchen skill to add to your repertoire~

What you need:

1/4 cup White or Golden Balsamic Vinegar (or vinegar of your choice)

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon shaved shallot (or onion)

2 tsp brown sugar

salt & fresh ground pepper

1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Ready, Set Whisk!

Whisk together everything but the Olive Oil until well combined.  Then gradually whisk in the Olive Oil.

Use right away or store in the refrigerator for about 1 week.

Let come to room temperature a bit before tossing with your fave greens & veggies!

Would love your feedback in the comments below & please let us know if you have ideas for future cooking videos? Thanks!

XO,

Your Sus Chef

Last week I checked off one of my Life List things. Life List = Bucket List but I prefer it as I think it sounds a little more uplifting, don’t you?!  And one of my Life List things was to take a horseback riding lesson.

(Side note: I had a bad experience on a horse one time on the beach in Ensenada when I was about 19 so I hadn’t been back in the saddle since and had always wanted to tackle this fear by taking a lesson the RIGHT WAY!)

And there is no better place in Orange County to do so than Ivy Gate Farm in San Juan Capistrano. Ivy Gate Farm is a hunter / jumper training facility in OC and trains people of all levels from children up to adults, beginner (like me) up to people that go to the top horse shows. I wrote about Ivy Gate HERE if you want more info on the amazing facility.

And it was completely exhilarating. I am also afraid it might be a tad addicting.  My experience is outlined in the short video above. Hope you enjoy!

[Disclosure: Ivy Gate Farm is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor.]

Last week I had a totally surreal experience when I was invited by Coca-Cola to attend an American Idol Finalists party in LA to learn more about their “Make Tonight a Family Night” best music cover artwork contest on www.MyCokeRewards.com.

The contest is all about bringing families together, showcasing your creativity and how your family ROCKS!  You can personalize your cover with all sorts of fun graphics and easy-to-use icons, backgrounds, fonts and accessories.

The winner that designs the best music cover wins a trip for 4 to the American Idol Finale Show!

Just make sure to submit your designs before March 13th and you might be taking your family to see the finale this year! Click HERE  and get to work designing yours!

Now let me tell you a little about the party…

Susanne and I headed up there last Thursday night and didn’t quite know what to expect. But, when we walked into the tented party, we both looked at each other in disbelief because we had no idea we would actually be a part of the American Idol party! 

I hyperventilated with excitement a little (not gonna lie) because I am an American Idol fanatic.

I have watched every single season from auditions to finale and still remember when Kelly Clarkson sang “Respect” on Season One and I called it right then and there that she would be the winner. Love you, Kelly.

The mom bloggers got their own media area compliments of Coca-Cola to preview the music cover contest and make our own. So much fun, mamas!  Your kids will love doing this with you!

So there we were having a great time mingling and making our own music covers when all of a sudden there was this hushed excitement as everyone gasped at who had walked in.

That would be RYAN SEACREST.

I met Ryan Seacrest. And immediately transformed from a 37-year-old mom into a giggly 13-year-old girl as you can see in the video above.

[Photo credit: Casey Rodgers / AP Images for Coca-Cola]

Unbeknownst to me, Susanne was videotaping our whole interaction trying to be inconspicuous while still chatting at the same time. I still can’t believe she pulled that off! 

Check her out in the picture above nonchalantly holding the video camera. So funny.

The best part about meeting Ryan Seacrest you might ask? He was a SUPER nice guy.

Very charming, personable and surprisingly easy to talk to. It is so refreshing when a star of that magnitude is actually better in real life than you would have expected!

I got to stand next to him and put my arm around him for a picture! You guys, I was just dying!

[Photo credit: Casey Rodgers / AP Images for Coca-Cola]

As if that was not enough, the mom bloggers were then escorted onto the blue press carpet and able to pose for a picture with the 13 American Idol Finalists and the next thing I know I am standing right next to Elise Testone who is one of my absolute FAVORITES!  She is in the hat below, I am to her left.

She is crazy talented. I just love her. She started chatting with me and again, was just so NICE and we were sort of both laughing together agreeing “this is wild!”

[Photo credit: Casey Rodgers / AP Images for Coca-Cola]

I also got to video the contestants talking to the press and spot my mom crush, Phillip Phillips. Is he a cutie or what?

It was the MOST incredible night EVER! Quite a departure from my normal Thursday night!

A huge thanks and big hugs to Coca-Cola for such a memorable evening. One of the highlights of my blogging career thus far for sure!

And if you are not watching American Idol this year, WATCH!!! The finalists are AMAZING! One of the best seasons I can remember. Check it out on FOX Wednesday and Thursday nights. I know I will and remember with fond memories the time Ryan Seacrest shared with the Tiny Oranges’ gals!

[Disclosure: I was invited to attend this event compliments of Coca-Cola but this is not a compensated post or video. Susanne and I received access to the party as well as a yummy dinner and dessert bar that was to-die-for. And oh yes, the opportunity to meet Ryan Seacrest and the finalists!! Thank you Coca-Cola!!! We love you!]

Do you know how to properly cut an onion??

In this video, my Tiny Oranges partner, Susanne (aka Your Sus Chef), shows us how she was taught in culinary school.

I have never seen this before! The technique is brilliant! Even my mother-in-law who is a fab cook learned something. I hope you do too!

Think you know how? Watch to find out!

And would LOVE your feedback on these vlogs! Please comment! Do you want to see more?

Do you have new fitness and health goals this year? Would you like help reaching those goals faster? Ummmm, who wouldn’t?!

This video is about an amazing service called Metabolic Testing offered by Registered Dietician, Christine Cortez, of www.FoodWorks4U.com in Irvine.

Christine did the Metabolic Testing on me recently and in this video you can watch exactly what it involves and how it can help you take the guess work out of weight loss and help you achieve your fitness goals by working smarter (not harder!)

Make sure to watch all the way through to the end to find out Christine’s top 3 tips on HOW TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM (they are easy and doable!) as well as a SPECIAL OFFER for Tiny Oranges readers on this testing for January and February 2012 (it’s affordable!)

www.FoodWorks4U.com
Follow Food Works 4 U on Facebook * Tweet with @FoodWorks4U on Twitter

[Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Vlog to help spread the word about Christine's services to OC moms!]