birthday, diets and catastrophes, oh my!

Let's start this blog post off on a good note!

My niece, Emilee, celebrated her golden birthday on March 20 (she turned 20).  We went to Pasta Brioni in Old Town Scottsdale with her best friend, boyfriend, my mom and John and Justin and I.  We brought along $30.00 worth of decadent little desserts from AJ's for everyone to share. Since Emilee is pregnant this year, there wasn't any crazy partying but Pasta Brioni is seriously amazing if you ever get a chance to visit! Authentic Italian food with an all male wait staff... great scenery :)

 (Emilee and I trying to take pictures at a flattering angle but no luck!)

(Emilee and her friend Cecily!)

On a different note, I started a diet a few weeks ago and have been steadily getting back into my workout routine.  I've lost 5 pounds! I am simply counting calories, cutting back on sugar and carbs, exercising when I can and as much as I can and hoping for the best.  It came true when I saw the scale at the gym today! I was really happy and it gave me the strength to push on through my 60 minute spinning class!

In order to keep healthy and stay under my calorie intake for the day, I tried to come home and make mini cauliflower pizza bites (I found the recipe on DashingDish.com, an amazing health food website with alternatives to everything you love that is unhealthy for you!) and couldn't wait to try it.  Instead, I think my ghetto, old school blender had a different idea (see for yourself).

The blender exploded with the cauliflower in it, a knife fell off the counter onto the tile and the handle broke, cauliflower proceeded to fly through the kitchen at top speed and in the end, I ended up with no cauliflower pizza bites but instead a huge mess with nothing to show for it.  I guess since we're getting married soon, a food processor will be on the gift registry? Anyone want to buy it for me? Anyone?