Meet George

Not even an hour after I posted yesterday about our search for a new member of our family James texted me and let me know that he went to the animal shelter and met the cutest little guy in the world -  13 week old George. I saw him online and was instantly interested, but when James went to see him in person at the animal shelter he just couldn't leave without him.

I got the text "pick up a litter box, food, and a scratching post- I am bringing him home". I was instantly nervous and excited at the same time. I have never had a cat before, I am a dog person. How do you even train a cat? Well I learned you don't. They have these crazy instincts and just know to go in the litter box when it's time to do their business. Or maybe that's just George. He is very wise.

He is half Russian blue and half domestic long hair. He has big beautiful eyes and has the softest fur. When he first got home he was very shy, he didn't want to come out of the carrier and when he did he hid under the couch. Eventually he started to warm up a little.

Fast forward to today and he is already getting pretty comfortable with his new home. He is an explorer and very active. He loves playing with his little mouse toys and looking out the window watching the cars go by. He hates loud noises though.. We have that in common. 

As he warms up to his new house he is also warming up to his new family. He loves to cuddle, and his favorite spot is curled up on my neck. 

I can feel the love from him already. It amazes me that someone could have just dropped him off at the shelter because she just didn't feel like having him anymore. This little guy is so lovable and extremely smart, and I could never see myself letting him go. 

People say shelter animals are the best because they really truly love and appreciate you. I wholeheartedly agree with that. I can tell how happy little George is to be in his new home with a family that truly loves him. 

This was a very happy 4th of July!

xo. Casey 

We've Got the Russian Blues

Here is a little life update for you blog friends - 

After much going back and forth James and I have decided to adopt - a beautiful Russian Blue cat. We have been going through tons of posts on Craigslist and Petfinder searching for a Russian Blue that needs a good home with loving parents. 

When we were searching for what type of cat to get we knew we needed to go with a hypoallergenic breed since James is allergic. When we saw the Russian Blue's we fell in love. Their grey coats and beautiful green eyes weren't the only thing that attracted us to the breed. They also are very active and love to play fetch which is just the kind of cat we are looking for. 

The search has been hard however. We have been searching but we either get no responses or they are too far away. Currently we are waiting to hear back from two different owners trying to find homes for their little guys. We have also been looking at shelters as well. I knew that I wanted to adopt a cat instead of buy a kitten because there are just so many out there that need homes. 

We are going to continue our hunt and hopefully find a new member of our little family soon. 

If anyone knows of a Russian Blue that needs a home let me know, we would love to give them the happy life they deserve!

This guy is a 14 year old Russian Blue who needs a good home. 

Fingers Crossed his owners will get back to us soon!

Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

xo. Casey

Waterman Grille

As you know by now when it comes to my boyfriend and I brunch is our thang. 

We decided to try somewhere new to get some breakfast before a day of kayaking and fishing and decided on Waterman Grille in Richmond Square by a coworkers recommendation. 

The restaurant is tucked away and looks tiny until you enter its doors. It has nice outdoor and indoor seating, multiple bars, and plenty of entertaining space for large parties. The place was pretty busy so we got a table inside right by the window.

The restaurant has views of the river, and although it is not the prettiest body of water it is still a nice change of scenery from the other downtown breakfast spots. 

We started off with some french pressed coffee, a nice touch and enough for about two cups each. Service was a little slow (the servers seemed to be in the weeds) but we were in no hurry and the coffee held us over as we looked over their amazing menu. Everything looked great and I was having a hard time choosing what to get. 

Normally I go with my old standby - the eggs benedict, and they did have a couple delicious options to choose from. The one that kept catching my eye were the potato pancake eggs benedict. I almost skipped on lunch all together and went with the lobster grilled cheese which was practically calling my name but breakfast won me over. 

I finally decided on the breakfast burrito with house made sausage, poblano peppers, sour cream, and salsa in a grilled tortilla. I asked to substitute bacon for sausage but was informed by my server that they are pre made and there can be no substitutions. I wasn't quite sure how they pre-made the burritos but I went with it anyway.  It was good, but I wish I had went with my gut and gotten the benedict. My boyfriend got some extra sausage out of the deal though so he was pleased. He went with his standby - an omelet with Gouda cheese, sausage, and mushrooms. I loved how all of their breakfast plates came with both potatoes and fruit. It was a nice touch. 

The atmosphere at the Waterman Grille is wonderful, and they have an amazing menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We will definitely be back for lunch or dinner one day soon, and will make a point to make a reservation to guarantee an outdoor seat. 

Waterman Grille is a hidden gem in Providence hidden away from the busy city. 

xo. Casey

Discovering Block Island

Last year when my family decided they wanted to go somewhere new for vacation I was skeptical. The Jersey shore had been our summer home for years and I wasn't ready to go somewhere else. They had suggested Block Island in Rhode Island. "I live in Rhode Island, why would I want to vacation here" I thought. But when I got there, things changed. 

I fell in love with the atmosphere and the island way of life. It was like stepping into a new world far far away from my little state. 

I did a whole restaurant series about my stay in block island which you can read all about in my July 2013 archives. The food on the island is phenomenal, and I suggest checking out those posts if you are planning a trip there this summer. 

I love Block Island, and my boyfriend has never been. 

By some freak glitch in the universe we have today off together (yay!) and so I knew right away that this would be the perfect time to sail away to block island together.

I know he is going to fall in love with it just like I did. 

Hope your Sunday Funday is full of adventures too! 

xo. Casey 

Friday Five- June Favorites

1. Iced Raspberry Caramel Macchiato's from Starbucks. Ask for Raspberry syrup instead of vanilla so it's not too sweet.  

2. Cuban Sandwiches from Rosemary & Thyme in Newport. Pork loin, ham, pickles, mustard, on a Parmesan panini. Perfection

3. Fruit in mason jars. What started as a way to bring fruit to work before I bought tupperware has now become my favorite way to bring any food item to work whether it be fruit, salad, or even pasta. 

4. Orange is the New Black. If you have not watched this show yet do it now! It is a Netflix Original Series about a girl who's life got flipped turned upside down and winds up in jail for something that happened years ago when she was a lesbian drug mule. I finished the first season in a week and the second in two days. There are so many big personalities in this show you never know what they are going to do next. The only bad part about this show is that I need to wait until 2015 for season three. 

5. Spontaneous dinners with my favorite guy. When being in a relationship with a chef you get used to the long hours and crazy schedules that come with the job. This makes our spontaneous dinner dates and time together that much more meaningful.

xo. Casey

Ellie's Bakery

If you asked me what my least favorite meal was a couple years ago I would say breakfast. I absolutely hated breakfast foods (except bacon of course).After I started dating James things changed. This boy is in love with breakfast, and after many many brunch trips I am now too in love with breakfast. 

I recently stopped into Ellie's bakery on Washington Street for a quick breakfast before work. Ellie's, owned by Gracies, is a parisian style bakery. They are open from 7am until 4pm on the weekdays and open at 9 on saturdays. They have a simple mission- "All of our products are prepared with the season in mind. We source our ingredients responsibly from local farms and producers. Our team is passionate and filled with pride. Each product is made with integrity and attention to the tiniest detail. We strive each day to stand out in the community as a loyal, soulful, nourishing neighborhood bakery".

They offer a variety of pastries, scones, and cakes as well as a daily frittata special. The thing that caught my eye was their signature sandwich - an egg and cheese sandwich with a tomato jam and your choice of bacon or breakfast sausage. Breakfast sandwiches are my favorite thing so I knew right away that is what I would choose, and for a little over five dollars it's unbeatable. They also have a wonderful selection of coffees and espresso drinks. 

They also serve lunch showcasing five different seasonal sandwiches and a soup du jour that changes constantly. But my favorite thing at Ellie's is not a sandwich or a drink. It is their absolutely delicious french macarons. These too have seasonal falvors that change constantly. No matter what the flavor they are absolutely perfect.

From the cute plates to the mason jars all the little touches make Ellie's unique. They have limited bar seating inside and a few outdoor tables. They have a serious eye for detail which gives Ellie's a warm and inviting atmosphere. 

If you have not stopped in to Ellie's Bakery yet you need to make time to visit soon. Everything is fresh and delicious, and will give you that feel good feeling the minute you walk in. And really, that makes all the difference. 

xo. Casey 

Simple Pasta Frittata

In our house we usually strive to cook a different meal everyday- we don't like to be bored with our meals- which tends to leave a lot of leftovers. The other morning I decided I was going to utilize the leftovers from three different meals to create one super easy and delicious breakfast. What I came up with was a frittata. But not just any frittata- a pasta frittata. 

Ingredients list:

1. leftover angel hair pasta 

2.sugar snap peas              

3. six eggs                            

4. mozzarella cheese           

5. brie cheese                      

6. milk                                   

7. salt & pepper                   

Take whatever veg you have, give it a chop and sautee in a well oiled pan. Add your pasta and mix well. 

Whisk the eggs, milk, salt & pepper in a bowl. Pour the egg mixture over the pasta and veg and top with your choice of cheese. Now I didn't time it, but let your fittata mixture cook on the stove top until it is just about cooked through. 

Put your oven on broil and place the frittata in the oven. I transferred mine (very carefully) onto a sheet tray because I did not have an oven safe sautee pan. However, if you have a great cast iron pan, even better. Let it bake until the cheese on top is melted and is crispy on the edges. The pasta creates this awesome crust and gives the egg dish a whole different texture

 Confession - I am not an egg fan. I am very picky about how my eggs are cooked (I am a big poached egg fan-love that runny yolk!). Honestly, I just didn't want it to taste too eggy..if that makes sense. The pasta balances the flavors very nicely. I have a strange feeling this is going to be my new go to when I have a ton of leftover pasta. 

Try it out, I think you will be surprised by how awesome - and easy this is to make. 

xo. Casey

Welcome To Creatively Casey

Hi There!

Whether you are a loyal reader or brand new, Welcome to my blog. I am Casey, a passionate hobbyist for all things creative 

I grew up in Northern New Jersey surrounded by the best bagels, pizza, and diners around. When it came time to go to college culinary school seemed like a no-brainer. I moved up to Providence Rhode Island and started my culinary career. 

Come Sophomore year I began my internship at Chef Mickey's in Walt Disney World. Many people would ask me questions about what it was like, and so my first blog "Simply Casey" was born.This became a place where I would talk about my days as a Disney Cast member in the College Program. I loved writing and continued on after I left Florida posting the occasional restaurant review or recipe. I was now in my Junior year of College. This was about the time I realized being a chef was not my calling. 

My last year of college I began working Front Desk at a hotel and started taking Event Management classes. In those classes I found my niche. I moved down to the Sales office a year later as an Event Coordinator- moving one step closer in my career goals. 

The blog however began feeling forced. I began posting about things that were boring to me just because I felt like I had to post something. I realized that this was not me, and I needed to stop emulating other bloggers, and create something entirely my own. I did not want to be tied down to the title of a certain blog genre - food, fitness, just restaurant reviews etc.I wanted to share all of my passions with you. I realized that starting over, taking a break, and reevaluating my page is what I needed to do to become re inspired. 

Creatively Casey is a blog all about the little things that inspire happiness. Whether it be a recipe, a unique restaurant or shop, decor inspirations, or simply a look into my life I want to be able to inspire you. No matter where you are in life, you should never stop learning and discovering new things. 

Lets create inspiration together!

xo. Casey