Plated

After talking about Plated as one of the vday specials in this previous post, I decided to give it a try myself.  So I ordered three different plates and chose to cook Mushroom Parpadelle, Chicken Sausage Gumbo, and Beef Randang. Unfortunately, my Beef Randang turned out unappealing in the photos so I decided not to share those. :)

I found the entire process super convenient and good for dinner dates! This is also great for those who want to try cooking but don't want to fill up their pantries with spices that they're only going to use once. Here's how to order - go to their website, choose the date you'd like them to be delivered, choose your plates from their 5-7 item of choices, and you're done! You can customize how often you want them to deliver, and how many plates you'd like. My favorite? The Chicken Sausage Gumbo. If you're a first time user, don't forget to use the Facebook deal (buy 2 plates get 4 free)!

5 Emergency Valentine's Day Ideas

Did you totally forget this Saturday was Valentine's Day? Are you out of ideas on what to do because the good restaurants are full and you don't want to get him/her flowers and chocolates? Here are 5 last minute emergency ideas based on a scale of laziness, 1 being extra lazy to 5 being boyfriend or girlfriend of the year... 

1. Buy a Reservation

Ever heard of buying a reservation? Yea.. you can do that.. *poof* mind-blown! With Resy and Killer Rezzy, you can now reserve a table at those restaurants with impossible lines and ridiculous waits for a fee . Its like slipping the host a 20 to cut in line except through an app. 

2. Cook at home with Plated

If you want a romantic dinner at home but don't have time for a quick trip to the super market, try Plated. You can choose any item from their weekly selection of dishes and they will deliver you all the ingredients you need plus the directions.  

3. Spa Day at Home

Instead of spending $200 on a spa day package at a fancy hotel, how about a spa kit from Body Shop and spend the night comfortably in your own bed!

4. Have an Adventurous Night

There are hundreds of things you can do in a city besides eating at a fancy restaurant. How about having an adventurous night by choosing a random show, concert, or event and let the night take it's own course! You can find a bunch of activities on Time Out!

5. Staycation

Staycations are so much fun! And with the help of airbnb, you can find a cute little apartment somewhere not too far from home and see the city from a different perspective! Better yet, take advantage of this long weekend and take a surprise road trip!

As for me, I'll probably be having a super productive work day at home, or I'll sit on my couch, order in and binge watch Netflix all day. The latter definitely sounds more enticing :)