august 2012

Congratulations to the Shannon's!

Their wedding was so much fun!
CJ showed off his dance skills and I...eh...I don't have dance skills.  I have moves.  My moves sort of have a strong resemblance to a couple of movie scenes because I may or may not have tried to memorize the dances at one point or another.
Check 'em out.
Napoleon Dynamite Dance Scene

&

Buddy The Elf Dance Scene

...yep.
Totally awesome, dude.
I didn't get a picture of me and the hubs together, but I did snap this quick one.
  He's so handsome!

We've been busy trying to finish refurbishing furniture before our move in ONE month.  We're covered in sand paper residue and polyurethane most days of the week lately!  I suppose that's why this post is so short...there's only so much I can say about paint colors and finishes...and my brain is probably a little foggy from painting indoors.  Woopsie!

Tonight I made Thai Curry Coconut Shrimp from Skinnytaste.
YUMMM.

Dessert?  Yes, please.

(Skinny) Cheesecake with chocolate crust...plus the chocolate pie my mom just brought me.  I must run, I have sweets to eat!

Have a wonderful week, lovelies!



easter weekend

April has been a beautiful so far!
I am enjoying the warm days, sunshine, and cool evenings.

Easter weekend came and went too quickly!
I had one of my favorite weekends so far this year.
My mom and I spent Saturday shopping.  I'm not sure how my mom does it, but she just doesn't stop.  She's hard to keep up with.  I was actually getting TIRED.  I couldn't believe it.  Me?  Tired of shopping?  Just as our shopping trip was coming to an end and I was within feet of the store exit, my mom comes to a complete halt as her eyes focused on a pair of shoes.  Thankfully, after a closer look she decided not to try them on.  I went home and took a nap!

Saturday evening we went to Cocina Superior for our friend Brittany's surprise birthday dinner.  It was so nice seeing her and Corey as well as the rest of our friends.

On Sunday we spend the entire day at my parent's house.  I loved every second of it.  It was nice being 'home.'  I made sure I snapped a few pictures of the pretty flowers in their yard while my brother, John helped hubby work on his Jeep.  My mom and I spent the day talking mostly.  
Mom made roast beef, rice, potatoes, carrots, potato salad, ham, corn, butter beans, green beans, rolls, lemon meringue pie and chocolate pie.  It was delicious...we ate it for lunch and then again for dinner before we left.  Homemade cooking is even more delicious when it's homemade by mom.
Fact:  Every time I say or hear 'roast beef'  I think of the movie, How The Grinch Stole Christmas when the Grinch calls it 'roast beast.'

As for day to day life...
What is it with animals acting pitiful when they're wet from a bath?  Dale loves, loves, loves to go swimming...but when he gets wet from a bath he acts as though he's disgusted with himself.  Bill acts like he's embarrassed.  I'll give him some slack - he should be embarrassed, he looks really dumb when he's wet.  Anyway, do they really think that tap water has some supernatural power to dampen not only their fur, but their moods?  Eh, probably.

happy #31, hubby!

Each year that CJ and I have been together I've managed to do something special for his birthday.  

#1 - His 27th

The first year we were together, I threw him a surprise party with our friends.  

#2 - His 28th

The second year, I threw him a surprise party with his family.  

(Those pictures aren't on our new laptop or else I would've posted them here.)

#3 - His 29th

The third year, I invited all of our family and friends to our local State Park for a cook out, some fishing, and a game of kickball.  Our friends brought their fun kids and some even brought their dogs.  The following weekend we went to a Braves game in Atlanta.  So fun!

#4 - His 30th

I surprised him with a trip to New Orleans with his oldest sister and BIL, mom and aunt.  Hubby was so excited the whole time.  It was so fun and memorable.  He had a blast.  We all did!  CJ asked me to be his wife two months prior to this trip so it was our first time on vacation being engaged.  :)  

#5 - His 31st

Friday night we went to watch the Barons play with Brittany, Corey, their daughter Tyler, Katie and Joseph.  It was so nice of them to watch the game with us and we had a blast - minus the chill in the air!  CJ and I stayed after the game for the fireworks show.

Saturday morning Hubs got to open his gifts from me.

Yes, those frames still have the 'Pier 1' insert in them.  Woops.

Next, I made my sweet man a caramel cake.  Not just any caramel cake.  When we were in Mississippi last, a sweet lady made made the best caramel cake for my family after we lost our grandparents.  Everyone, EVERYONE, loved that cake.  I asked my dad to get the recipe for me and was so happy when he called to tell me he had it.  The sweet lady told my dad to tell me that it would take me several tries to get it right.  Several is three, right?  Well, it took me four tries.  I still wasn't convinced the fourth time that it was right so I left it at home instead of bringing it to CJ's birthday dinner.  I'm positive I gave the cake my evil eye a few times.  Although the consistency appeared to look right, I just knew there must be something off with the taste.  I told myself the cake needed to set.  I refrained from tasting it later that night, thinking it would taste wrong and I didn't want to get upset or wake our neighbors with the fit that would inevitable follow said tasting and would probably involve the pan flying out the back door.  Finally, on Sunday morning I got the courage to take a bite.  It was delish.  CJ loved it.  We may or may not have eaten half of it yesterday.

After cake baking, we went to dinner with our family to Papa Saia's.  CJ got a lot of funny and sweet cards. He's looking forward to buying a new piece of gym equipment with his birthday money.

Well, that makes five birthdays that I've spent with the most wonderful man in the world.  

Honey,

I hope that you had a great birthday weekend and felt as special as you are.

Looking back at each year that we've celebrated brings back fun memories.  I think back to those times and how I probably thought that I couldn't be any more in love with you.  Not so!  As it turns out, I seem to fall more in love with you with each hug, each glance, and each hour that passes.  I am constantly reminded that I was put here to love you and to be loved by you.

You make life make sense.

Prayer Request
My mom's sister, Nancy is in the hospital. 
Specifically and earnestly please pray for:
 her blood clots to dissolve quickly and safely
her to be able to breathe on her own comfortably
the spot on her lung to disappear
that your prayers bring her peace.
I'm sorry to be so brief.  I don't feel comfortable posting more details here.
 If each person who reads this blog takes just one minute to talk to God and pray for my aunt, my family and I would greatly appreciate it.

xo

Chocolate pie and such.

I'm going to run through last weekend so that I'll have it here as a memory... Last Friday I gasped when hubster handed me a bouquet of flowers for no reason.  My first flowers as a wife!  I'm ridiculously sentimental, I know. 

We went on our usual Mexican date on Friday night.  I love our weekly dates.  There is nothing better than spending Friday night in a booth, gazing at my hot husband, munching on salsa, chips and tacos, having a margarita and laughing about our week. 
Saturday morning we woke up and made beignets.  Yum!  They were just as delicious as I wanted them to be!  Later that evening we went to dinner with our friends Katie and Joseph.  It's always nice catching up with friends.
On Sunday we went to my mom's for tender roast, savory potatoes and carrots, cream corn, butter beans, and my mom's delicious chocolate pie.  She even made us an extra pie to take home...which is probably why this skirt is snug.

Monday morning came...I walked into my office and was told that I got a raise, full time status, and benefits.  SCORE!  I'm so excited for the opportunities that this will afford me and hubster.  So happy!   
Monday night the ever so boring National Championship game was on.  We went to Meredith and Adam's house to watch the game with them, Adam's brother Simon, Katie and Joseph.  We had a great time, too much pizza, and some birthday cake for Simon's birthday.  Not to shabby for a Monday night, but definitely more eventful than usual! 

xo

Uhm, YUM.

I stumbled across a recipe online for Brennan's chicken lazone.  The recipe had great reviews, looked easy, and five of the (only) seven ingredients were already in our kitchen.  I made the dish last night and it was superb!  Cook this for dinner one night and consider it a favor to you and your family!

Chicken Lazone

1 tsp Salt

1.5 tsp Chili Powder

1.5 tsp Onion Powder

2 tsp Garlic Powder

4 Whole Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1/4 c Butter Divided

1/2 c Heavy Cream

Combine seasonings.

Coat chicken breasts.

In large pan, melt half of the butter.

Add the chicken breasts. 

Cook on medium heat for 7-8 minutes, turning only once.

Pour cream in pan and lower the heat.

Let simmer, stirring until sauce thickens.

Add remaining butter.

Once butter is melted, add chicken to plates and top with sauce.

Done!



My best friend Meredith made this casserole for us one night a few weeks ago.  She dropped it by our house with all the sides and desserts.  I know, we have the best friends/neighbors anyone could ask for.  Best casserole ever!

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

1 Whole Shredded Rotisserie Chicken

2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup

 8 oz Container Sour Cream

2 Envelopes of Crushed Ritz Crackers

1 Stick of Butter - Melted

Salt and Pepper

Poppy Seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter a 9x13 baking dish.

Layer shredded chicken on bottom.

In separate bowl, mix soup, sour cream, s&p. (Greek seasoning is good too)

Pour mixture on top of chicken.

Pour crushed crackers on top of mixture.

Drizzle butter on top of crackers.

Sprinkle with poppy seeds.

Bake 20 minutes uncovered.

My SIL's good friend, Sky makes the best dessert.  It's like heaven!  She was sweet enough to give me the recipe and now I find myself craving it.  It's wonderful after dinner or for breakfast the next day with coffee.  I'd love a piece right now!

Blueberry Dessert

20 oz Can Crushed Pineapple - Not Drained

3 c Fresh/Frozen Blueberries

1 c Sugar

1 pkg Yellow Cake Mix

1 Stick of Butter - Melted

1 c Chopped Pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter a 9x13 baking dish.

Put pineapples and blueberries in bottom of dish.

Sprinkle sugar on top.

Pour dry cake mix over mixture.

Drizzle butter over cake mix.

Sprinkle pecans on top.

Bake for 45 minutes.



8 Days!

It was wonderful being off of work for four days last week!  We enjoyed our little vacation!  We spent Thanksgiving in Mississippi with my family and had a really great time eating all of the yummy food.  We had dinner with some old friends at Jefferson's and watched the Iron Bowl with more old friends:)  Supurb.

This week has been absolutely exhausting.  I have had something wedding related to do every night after work and in some cases before work.  I haven't slept in what feels like ages.  Suddenly there are a million and one things to do and there's not enough hours in the day to do them.  I have been going over and over all of my lists of what not to forget to bring to our hotel, the honeymoon, the ceremony, etc.  You name it, I have a list for it!  I've emailed our vendors, wrote checks, made last minute appointments.  I can not and will not write about my wedding dress fiasco on here...that started Wednesday night.  Oddly enough, I'm ok with the craziness.  I am not ok with the sleep loss!  Luckily I have a super great doctor that prescribed me something to keep my eye lids closed for the next week...well, at night anyway:)  I should mention that I never go to the doctor, ever.  All of that said, I am soaking in every second of being a bride and am very excited to celebrate with friends - but most importantly to become a wife to such a wonderful man.

Last night we had dinner with Meredith and Adam at Slice and it was incredible!  We really enjoy spending time with them.  I feel like I say this too much - but I have no idea what I would do without her.   We oredered the cheese platter with fruits and nuts, two different pizzas to share, then the smores calzone for the four of us to split.  Uh-May-Zing. 

Tonight we're putting together our new book shelf and watching movies.  I am really looking forward to my date with the couch!  I hope we spend the rest of the weekend completing some wedding chores and enjoying each other at home. 

Sidenote:  We watched Christmas Vacation this week!  It's officially Christmas time and my most favorite movie ever.  It took us three nights to complete:)  I could quote the movie all day:

Russ: "Dad, this tree wouldn't fit in our back yard."
Clark: "It's not going in our yard, Russ.  It's going in our living room."

I'll stop myself there.  After all, I've got emails to write, phone calls to make, checks to put in the mail, a guest book to order...