Nostalgia.

Smoosh, smoosh, smoosh… pat, pat, pat… those are the very first steps I learned in my pottery throwing class. You probably think I am taking a class for five year olds but learning the wheel is an incredibly difficult task. Let me start out by saying, the class was AMAZING and I loved it! I have had a passion for clay since I was in high school and being reunited with clay has made life a little bit better.

Our teacher warned us that she would speak to us like children because the less direction, the better. I couldn’t agree more. The worst kind of teacher is someone who throws out a bunch of information at you and expects you to get it on the first try. Our teacher has been doing pottery for twenty years and has her own studio so she knew exactly how to teach us. The class was filled with advanced students, intermediate and then the four of us beginners who took to throwing with an open and quite silly mind.

I am the youngest in a class full of women, my mother being one of them, and I couldn’t have had more fun. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. It reminded me of when I was little, when I would tag along with my grandmother to her painting classes. I think back on those warm summer days when she would pick me up and take me to her painting class with her old lady friends. During the couple of hours away from everything, they would chat about their kids, their grandchildren and enjoy the company of their fellow painters. After my first pottery class I felt nostalgia for the times I shared with my grandmother and her painting friends. I miss her everyday and I wouldn’t be the artistic person I am today if it wasn’t for her, I hope she’s proud. So whenever I smoosh, smoosh, smoosh and pat, pat, pat, I'll be thinking of her and all the good memories we shared.



Our first project was to make bowls... they definitely didn't come out this pretty (or round)



A cold-blooded killer.

Okay, I am not a cold-blooded killer but I did kill my first plant. All I had to do was add a couple of ice cubes once a week and I still managed to kill the poor plant. In my defense, I am told they are one of the most difficult plants to keep alive but maybe the person who told me that was trying to be nice. I think they are one of the most beautiful and unique plants and they are one of my favorites, the spectacular Orchid. Poor thing didn’t stand a chance with me.

I told myself if I could keep a plant alive then maybe I could get a dog. Then I thought about it, a dog is much more expensive than an Orchid, silly me I think I will stick with plants… for now. I would love to start an herb garden, a small one that I can grow in my apartment and then when I eventually (maybe some day) get a house, I can have an herb garden… but I won’t get ahead of myself since I had a hard time remembering to ice my poor orchid. Does anyone have any suggestions on what kind of herbs or plants I could grow in my apartment? We have a room that gets amazing sunlight and it would be perfect for a couple of plants, email me. 

  

Spring is my favorite season, it always has been. The weather starts to warm up, people actually have smiles on their faces, the days are longer and the best part is the flowers begin to bloom. I have always had a fascination with flowers, my mother was always big on planting flowers around our house and I hope some day I can do the same. I have great memories of helping her as a child and then I would run away screaming because I saw a spider ha. Oh well, we still bonded and I can thank her for my love of flowers and for my fear of creepy crawlers.



I am going to do some research on herb gardens and plants, I will let you know how it goes. Until then, may your days be brighter and filled with lots of flowers! Happy Spring… Don’t forget to water your plants.

 



I think this is such a cool idea for herbs

DIY herb garden



Tiny fingers, tiny toes, a little button nose..

Last night I received the first photograph of my new niece or nephew and I am so very excited to meet this precious little nugget. I have named him/her baby nugs. Tomorrow will make baby nugs 12 weeks old. I know I have a while to go before I actually get to meet this little angel, but I love baby nugs already.  :)

As I told you in a previous post, I am going to keep you posted on the baby that is baking in my sisters belly (thanks Kate for allowing me to post it!). When you become an aunt or an uncle, it is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. Obviously, it is not the same feeling as having a child of your own but when you can enjoy this little person and you don’t have to be the one to discipline them when they are being a B-R-A-T and your only job is too spend time with them and spoil them rotten, it is such a great feeling. I will hopefully have kids of my own some day, but until then, I am going to enjoy loving my niece and soon to be niece or nephew with all my heart.

Ten things I can’t wait for:

1. To see the baby open his/her eyes for the first time.
2. Baby nugs holding onto of my fingers so tightly when they are sleeping.
3. His/her first giggle.
4. Watching baby nugs take his/her first wobbly step.
5. Hearing him/her rip a fart louder than Travis and look so confused afterwards.
6. Watching baby nugs dance to his/her favorite show.
7. Letting him/her take my hand and want me to follow.
8. Getting a slobbery baby kiss.
9. Cuddling and reading a bedtime story to him/her before bed.
10. I can’t wait to love baby nugs forever.



Oh hello precious, I can't wait to meet you.



A day dreamer.

If I had a million dollars… I would open a boutique and sell trendy, affordable clothing and accessories from upcoming designers, cool home/apartment décor and have workshops for DIY (do it yourself) crafts. My boutique would be girly and artsy all bottled up into one. That is my ultimate dream job, but the reality is there are probably thousands of boutiques just like that around the world. How do I get this dream job of mine? I need money…

If I had a million dollars… I wouldn’t have to worry about paying the rent for my business, I could open this great shop that I have thought up in my head, it’s so beautiful, I wish you could see it ha. I am the ultimate dreamer, always coming up with new ideas for a new career that I think would be perfect for me. I hope someday I can fulfill this or any dream of mine. It would be amazing to travel the world, attending tradeshows and selecting new merchandise to buy to sell at my trendy little boutique.

If I had a million dollars… Life would be so much easier and I could make my little boutique a success but if it failed, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I would be doing something with all of the creativity that is bottled up in my head right now. I would help market new designers and market my boutique with my design skills.

If I had a million dollars… I think a million dollars might be pushing it but hey a girl can dream right? :) … I think I just heard my alarm clock go off, back to reality. (Sigh) Until next dream...  

Ease the mind.

 Years ago, when I was in my early years of high school, I tried yoga for the first time. My best friends sister was really into yoga and she talked us into trying it. I am not sure if it was my immaturity but you hear stories about people doing yoga and becoming so relaxed they relieve some serious gas. That is what happened the first time I took yoga, not to me ha, but someone else decided to let one rip and I could not control my laughter... talk about embarrassing. I am not sure if it was more embarrassing for me or for the person who let one slip. From then on, I didn't think I could handle yoga because oh my god, what if I accidentally farted or again, couldn't control my laughter when someone else did!?

I guess I have grown up, even though I still giggle at the sound of a ketchup bottle making a farting noise, thankfully I can now get myself under control and take a yoga class. It only took me six years and I now love it. Yoga has become a stress release for me when I am feeling overwhelmed and well, crazy. It is so incredibly relaxing that I get lost in the stretches and it helps me keep my flexibility and gives me a good stretch after a hard workout. You hear stories about how celebrities swear by yoga and I now understand why. Your muscles stretch, which will help you towards a leaner figure and a better posture. If you have the patience to try it, you should.

Last summer, a friend and I decided to try Bikram Yoga. You are probably thinking we are crazy and who on earth would ever want to take yoga in high heat. I loved it, my friend not so much. It is a hard class to get used to as you need to learn to breathe and stay under control in 100-degrees. After a class, you feel as if you have sweat out the bad toxins in your body, your joints feel a sort of release, and you are more flexible.
On Living Social (a website that gives you discounts, similar to Groupon), they had a deal for 10 classes for $45 at a yoga place close to where I live. A class for Bikram Yoga is extremely expensive (I am not sure why – maybe the heating bill) and is around $18 a class depending on where you go. Again, call me crazy but I am excited to get back into it, even if it is only until my 10 classes run out.
So, if you are brave enough to try a class, you should. You would be surprised how great it will make you feel. Who would have thought that a type of exercise could be so relaxing… but don’t get too relaxed, you might let one rip. ;)

A Wicked great show.

Five years ago, I had one of the most memorable Thanksgivings I will ever have, for several reasons. It was the first Thanksgiving away from my family, the first Thanksgiving without my aunt Shelley who had passed away that September and.it was my first time visiting London. My friend Kristin and I traveled to London (in first class, let me rub it in) to visit our good friend Jamie. The trip alone was one of the most memorable experiences I will ever have but that Thanksgiving, I will remember forever.

The day before Thanksgiving, Kristin and I were supposed to wake up early and wait in line to purchase student discounted tickets for the amazing Broadway production Wicked.  They were performing in London and the lead was the infamous Idina Menzel, we HAD to see it. Our plan didn’t go accordingly though, Kristin had a few too many the night before and was unable to get out of bed to wait in line… “maybe tomorrow,” we said. Thanksgiving Day, we finally found the place (we weren’t the best navigators, especially in a huge city such as London ha) to buy tickets that were $25 USD, insanely cheap right? Unfortunately, it was Idina Menzel's only night off, most likely to spend the holiday with her family, just our luck... thanks Kristin ;) Oh well, the show must go on and we had incredible seats.



Before we could go to the show, we HAD to find a Thanksgiving feast… somewhere. In London, that is not an easy task. Well, for us college kids, the cheapest place we could find was KFC. Yes, we had fried chicken with french fries because they do not serve mashed potatoes at KFC’s in London… at least we tried.



When we arrived at the theater, we found our front row seats (literally, row A) and sat down with the utmost excitement as the show began. A piece of the set flew into the crowd (that is how close we were) and hit us in the head during the show. Are you surprised? Of course the two clumsiest people in the world would get hit with part of the set (don’t worry, they were only tiny sticks).  We thought it couldn't get better but it did, after the show we rushed to the back entrance and met the entire cast. Wicked is by far the most amazing show you will ever see. You laugh, you cry, you sit in awe of the performers and their incredible voices.  The show takes you back to when you were little and the memories of The Wizard of Oz.



What made me think of that day, was a commercial I saw on TV last night... Are you ready for it?? Wicked is coming to The Bushnell in Hartford and I am beyond excited. Guess who will be the first one to buy tickets? Yes, this girl. I hope it will be as memorable for me as that Thanksgiving five years ago, but if not, I will always remember the special day I spent with amazing friends, when I saw a WICKED great show.

The lead Fiyero

 

Outside the theater in London









A simple Sunday surprise.

Sunday afternoons I usually spend the day with my niece Paige, but today was different. I let myself sleep in.. well, I thought I slept in. Waking up feeling like it was 10:00am and then looking at my clock and seeing it was 8:30am was a pleasant surprise. Although I love sleeping in on occasion, I usually hate it because I feel like it is a waste of my day. I tend to have the mind set that I have to go go go on my days off and try to get as much done as possible. Slowly getting myself out of bed this morning (let me tell you, it took me a good half hour) I decided to make "cheesy, chicken and spinach stuffed shells." I made a dish for my boyfriend and me for tonight's dinner and a dish of shells for my grandfather. It felt good to make my grandfather dinner and spend some time with him this afternoon. I feel like I should enjoy each moment with him. 

Another pleasant surprise this afternoon was a text from my mom saying her and my dad were stopping by. I love surprises, I think it is the best feeling when someone surprises you with a gift, with dinner, or simply stopping by to say hello. I bet my parents didn't even realize their visit would make my day. 

Today I was extremely productive and it wasn't planned at all. I watched my brothers dog, made dinner, saw my grandfather, had lunch with my parents, went grocery shopping for the week, baked an appetizer and baked cookies all in one day! 

Although I love days like today when I feel so productive, I miss spending time with Paige. I feel if I miss seeing her on my usual Sunday that I miss so much in only a week. She is growing so fast and just like I want to enjoy each moment with my grandfather, I want to enjoy each moment with Paige. Time moves so quickly and I want to take in all the little surprised I get in my life. Today, I will enjoy the surprise I received from my parents by stopping by and the surprises I will receive in the future. Surprise someone tomorrow, this week or next month with something as simple as a coffee or a visit to say hello… it could make their day. 

Fun finds on this fabulous Friday.



It's Friday!!! And this is how I feel right now! haha

Hooray for Friday! A Friday afternoon is my favorite part of the week. The work week is winding down, everyone is in a good mood because they are looking forward to the weekend, and I have nothing to do at work (but I really don’t do much at work on most days), which is why I am sharing with you... lucky you. To top off this wonderful Friday afternoon, it is beautiful outside! I could smell Spring in the air as I walked to my car this morning. Spring is right around the corner, get ready. 

I have been spending quite a bit of time reading through blogs lately, it is not quite an obsession but a way to pass the time and find some really creative ideas. I want to share some of my favorite finds this beautiful Friday afternoon. Happy Friday.




Clear vases covered with cool paper.



Are you always losing your keys??

Stay organized. Does anyone have an extra shutter I can have?

I am definitely making these.

Great coasters.

I love these photographs and it is so easy to do with your favorite photos.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Are you wearing your green today? For most, St. Patrick's Day is a great excuse to drink like the irish and wear green while doing it  ;) Since I am part Irish, I will share some creative DIY ideas with you for this St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy 

Cool St. Patty's Day or Spring Decorations - They are split PEAS! ha



Super cute, just cup up a pepper!

I thought this was adorable

Try a green smoothie.

Mint Chocolate Chip cookies.. yumm

Braids. Crimpers. And Curlers.. Oh My.

I have always had this fascination with hair and the crazy things I can do with it. Not as much anymore but when I was in high school, I used to do things with my hair that most girls would be horrified to arrive at school looking the way I looked. I didn’t care… I wish I was more like that now. I never cared what people thought of me, maybe because I felt comfortable enough with myself that freshman year, new to the school, I would wear leopard, snakeskin and pleather pants. Who does that? And why did I throw them out? Today, girls are so worried about what people think of them that they begin to morph into someone they are not and they become the same person. I have definitely toned down my wardrobe quite a bit since then but at least I can look back and say I wasn’t ashamed of expressing myself. Anyways, back to hair..

 I love braids, but I hate pigtails, I think that pigtails only look cute up until the age of twelve.  Remember that Christina Aguilera look when she had small braids all around her head? I’m not going to lie -  I wore my hair like that to school once, I received looks from “oh my god” to “that’s awesome.” I love crimped hair, curled hair, BIG hair, anything that makes hair look different from the normal straight, no volume hair. You can have the most simple outfit on but if you have great hair, you look stunning. I think I should have lived in the 60’s when it was normal for hair to be big and where the Snooki poof originated. I change my hair more than most people do because it is an easy way to make you look different.. I don’t think I will ever be the type of person to have my hair the same for very long. It is not that I want to change myself; life is more fun when you aren’t always looking the same. Spice it up a bit.

Looking through some really great hairstyles, I wanted to share some of my favorites. Today, I looked at my boring straight, flat hair and decided I should get back into doing some fun things with it. Maybe not the Christina Aguilera look or the famous Snooki poof but there are so many great things you can do to hair. Wear your hair a new way this week. It doesn’t hurt to be a little different.



 

A few of my favorite things.

After looking through my basket of makeup this morning, it made me want to share some of my favorite products with you. There are so many products out there that I would love to try but I stick to the same products because they are what I am used to and I have found that please my face. My face tends to be on the sensitive side, if it doesn’t like a product, it will break out… it’s really pretty. So to avoid breakouts due to bacteria, I try to use products that won’t irritate my face.




bareMinerals

  One of my all-time favorite products is bareMinerals. It is a light powder that keeps my face feeling clean.  

Clinique tinted moisturizer

Clinique tinted moisturizer is what I like to use when I don’t feel like putting makeup on but who wants to leave the house without makeup on? Not me. It is light and the bottle will last you a couple of months.

Nars Blush

Bobbi Brown blush

Nars blush: color - orgasm.

Bobbi Brown blush: color - sand pink

I refuse to spend more than $5 on mascara. I have used the same kind for a while now and it doesn’t clump, Maybelline Great Eye Lash.

I have also been using Maybelline liquid eyeliner. The Sephora brand eyeliner pencils are also my favorite and they come in a variety of colors.

Sephora Eyeliner

Maybelline Mascara

Feel free to share your favorite products, I am always looking for new products to try.

Same place, same time.

He even listened to me as a child

Ring ring, “HELLLOOO,” he says the same way he has answered the phone since as long as I can remember. “Hi Poppie! Are we still on for lunch today?” I ask. “Yup! See you at 11:30,” he responds. “Ok, see you then!” Click.

Every Friday, this is the same conversation my sister and I have with our grandfather. Every Friday, we go to lunch at the same place, at the same time and always have the same waitress. My sister started this weekly tradition and since we now work together, this has been our Friday routine. I walk over to her cubicle at 11:25 and we are out the door to Union Street Tavern, we park behind his car where he is waiting for us and we all walk in together.

Our Friday lunches are a way for us to catch up with him and for him to hear what is going on in our lives that particular week. Poppie is such an amazing person with so much love for his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren. It makes his day when we call him up only to say hello and see how he is doing. Our Friday ritual gives him something to do and also something to look forward to. It doesn’t matter if we are complaining about work or a sibling, or telling him something great that just happened, he listens carefully and most of the time he sits there and laughs at the ridiculous things that we are saying.. I wonder if he's wearing his hearing aides..

We are lucky to have this tradition every Friday, we take time out of our day to spend some quality time with our grandfather, which I think everyone should do. Make a weekly or monthly tradition with someone special in your life.. it might make their day or even their week. Next Friday, I will be at the same place, at the same time..

New Adventures.

There are so many new and exciting things that are happening in my life right now. Since I am focusing on all the good things in my life, I thought I’d share some NEW things about me, with you.

• I cut my hair off! This does not sound like a big deal but for ME, it is a huge deal. The past two years, I had really long hair and as much as I love long hair and all of the fun things I could do it with, it was time to say goodbye. I now have a shorter, blonder do that I really love – so far. Hello Spring!

• My sister is having her second baby! I will now be an auntie to TWO babies and I cannot wait. The baby looks like an alien right now but I will post (with her blessing of course) some pictures of the ultrasound when she is far enough along. So far, her cravings have turned into my cravings, which isn’t really a good thing for me but I must admit that the milkshakes are delicious. ;)

Hello iMac!

• I am making a really big but really exciting purchase tonight. For the past year, I have been contemplating buying a new computer and it is finally time! Having this blog has made me realized how much I miss design. I worked as a graphic designer for two years and in September took on a position at a power company… super boring, I know – but it pays the bills. The iMac will be mine in only a few hours and hopefully I will soon feel like my artistic self again.

• As I wrote in a previous post, I will be taking a pottery class starting March 30. I paid yesterday, so it's official and I a kind woman gave me a tour of the studio - I am anxious and excited for the first day of class. I will keep you posted as I begin my new journey.

I guess that is all for now. Hey it’s almost Friday J

One for you, two for ME.

Every once in a while, you should do something for YOU. You should always stay true to yourself and the things that you enjoy because if you forget about them, you might lose them entirely. Set a goal for yourself that only you can accomplish, take a class that will teach you something new - something to challenge you and make your life that much more exciting. Do something just for fun. Take on new hobbies, like this blog for instance, it is a creative outlet for me while I sit at my cubicle making travel arrangements and doing expense reports. If you do not have the ability to do what you love every day, then find a way to make it happen… even if it is only for a couple of hours a week.

Sign me up please! A couple of months ago, I contacted a woman from a pottery studio about taking a class, not just any pottery class, a class to learn the pottery wheel. This is something I have wanted to do for a really long time. The end of my senior year of high school, I received the 3D (pottery) Award which was a great accomplishment for me. I know how to build objects with clay but what I really wanted to learn was the wheel but it wasn’t available to us in high school. I took sculpture in college but it was still not the wheel. Finally, the kind lady who put me on a waiting list got back to me, she has informed me that I am in the class! Every Wednesday night for nine weeks I will learn the pottery wheel. 

Find something you like and just go for it. You only live once – try as many things as possible. Every Wednesday night until May, I am going to do something for ME and I can’t wait. 

I hope I learn to make cool things like these...



both of the above are by: wildcardpottery



Back on track.

Last week, the idea of going to the gym wasn't appealing to me.. at all. Being a bum and eating candy was much more enjoyable. I usually go to the gym 4-5 days per week and workout for about an hour each day. Last week was 3, which really isn't bad at all but to me, I could feel a difference. Have you ever been in a gym rut?  I think everyone goes through it. Boredom takes over from doing the same thing every day or week. Winter is a hard time for me when it comes to working out. Actually, I hate everything about winter. Not that I don't love the gym as much in the Winter, I just don't have the options I usually have in the Spring/Summer. I enjoy going for runs outside or going to the gym and being able to walk outside with just my shorts and a tank top on. I HATE being cold and for some reason my gym is always freezing.. Then, having to bundle up after you are sweaty and disgusting is well, disgusting.
For over a year now, I have had a subscription to Women's Health Magazine, which I love and I am constanly on their website. I recently purchased a book by Women's Health called Look Better Naked. The book consists of six weeks worth of healthy eating tips, meal suggestions, as well as workout routines to get you from weeks 1-3 and then a harder routine for weeks 4-6. I will admit that the workouts have been pretty hard. I will do about 20 minutes on the elliptical or run and then begin the workout. The workouts have made me extremely sore, which I like because then I know they are working. The book is really meant for you to follow it exactly for six weeks to get the results but I don't have the patience to follow it exactly or the money to buy all of the food to follow it. So for now, I will do the workouts as I please. I have never been a person to diet for that exact reason, I can't force my body into doing something it doesn't want to do. I really wouldn't say I eat THAT bad either but I'll admit, I've been slacking.. I NEED to get back on track. Below is the workout I am going to do at the gym tonight.

My goals this week:

• Drink more water.
• Workout 4 days this week.
• Eat less sweets.
• Run more.
• Eat more vegetables.

I'll let you know how it goes.. I just ate a handful of peanut butter M&M's while I was writing this.

Waddle for a good cause.

Excitement has taken over me and it is all for a 5k run for penguins… who would’ve thought!? As I was creeping on facebook yesterday, I came across my best friends’ post that she was running a 5k in the Bronx Zoo. Immediately, I googled it and within ten minutes, my sister and I were signed up! The 5K race is being held by the Wildlife Conservation Society on April 30 in the Bronx Zoo. This year, the contributions are going towards saving penguins. We each have to raise $250, which I am not really sure how we will manage that one.. but I am sure we will find a way.

It may not be a run to find a cure for cancer or diabetes but it is still for a good cause and I know we will have a good time running and making a day out of it. I have always had a special interest in penguins and most sea life. Actually, funny story… My aunt adopted me a humpback whale when I was little, I had this weird fascination with whales (I think because of Free Willy – even though I am terrified of Killer Whales ha …and the ocean). Out of all the names I could have picked for my whale, I picked the name Salt. Really?? Salt?… I loved Salt like he was a pet, even though my aunt probably just paid a set fee and they send everyone the same photograph but oh well, I think I was 10 and I didn’t know the difference. I wonder what happened to him…

Anyways, I am looking forward to running for a cause with good company. Being active is important to me and I look forward to running for more causes in the future. If you’re interested in participating or making a donation, you can do both here: Wildlife Conservation Society

How cute are they?

A little bit of this and a little bit of ... well, Giada.

Giada De Lauretiis' cooking show is definitely one of my favorite shows on the food network. She makes everything look incredibly easy and she always makes a dish for family or friends (I know it's for TV but I don't care, I still like it). Giada seems like a person that women can relate to but I don’t understand how she is so small when she’s constantly making the most delicious, not so healthy, meals. Good genes I guess.

Today I decided I am going to make my boyfriend dinner tonight. I usually cook during the week but I haven’t really cooked anything this week. It is definitely one of my favorite pastimes. The best part is that my boyfriend will eat anything and even if it is not so great… he’ll still eat it and tell me its good, what a great guy! ;)

So, I was looking through her recipes (I actually own her cookbook but have never made anything from it) and I have come up with what I will make: Chicken Saltimbocca. When I told my boyfriend this he responded, “ok cool…salt??” It is definitely not how it sounds. For those of you who do not know what it is, it is chicken wrapped with prosciutto and spinach and parmesan cheese on top… how good does THAT sound? I am excited, it looks pretty easy and I have never made it before so hopefully it will come out good.  Here is the recipe… you should try it too.

 Ingredients

• 6 (3-ounce) chicken cutlets, pounded to evenly flatten
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 paper-thin slices prosciutto
• 1 (10-ounce) box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 (14-ounce) can low-salt chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Place the chicken cutlets flat on the work surface. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Lay 1 slice of prosciutto atop each chicken cutlet.

Squeeze the frozen spinach to remove the excess water. Season the spinach with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, toss the spinach with 1 tablespoon of oil to coat.

Arrange an even, thin layer of spinach atop the prosciutto slices. Sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over each. Beginning at the short tapered end, roll up each chicken cutlet as for a jellyroll. Secure with a toothpick.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook just until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice, and scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Cover and simmer until the chicken is just cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Simmer the cooking liquid over high heat until it is reduced to about 2/3 cup, about 5 minutes. Season the cooking liquid with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove toothpicks from the chicken. Drizzle the reduced cooking liquid over the chicken and serve immediately.