Legal Smorgasbord

AWESOME giveaway!!

2012-01-07T14:53:00.001-05:00

You have to check out this amazing giveaway by Crave Photography!! You can win either a Nikon 85mm 1.4 or a Canon 85mm 1.2 lens!! This is too good to pass up!! Check it out here: http://cravemyphotography.com/blog/25000-fans-giveaway/

One-year checkup

2011-10-11T08:24:00.005-04:00

My little man turned 1 on September 29. I still can't believe it. One years old. Eek! We had his birthday party on October 2 and I won't go into too many details because I will have an entirely separate post with photos to share! But yesterday we went to Knox's one-year checkup . . . he was weighed, he was measured, and he was found only somewhat wanting. {Quote from "A Knight's Tale" - leave me alone, I liked it} So for the official stats, drumroll please:

Head circumference: 46.1 cm ..................... 47%

Height: 28 1/2 inches .................................. 23%

Weight: 18 pounds 11 ounces ..................... 5%

Ok, well at least we know he's got a large head. I really thought he'd be over the 20 pound mark {he definitely feels like it when you hold him!!}, but he's almost there and the doctor said he is on the curve now so she is happy!

The little man also had to have a round of shots - not fun. Four in total and we have to go back in a month to get the second dose of his flu shot. :-( But he handled it like a man. Only a few tears. Love that kid!

Stay tuned for photos from his birthday party!!

Catching up with Knox

2011-08-26T09:24:00.038-04:00

Wow, I haven't blogged in so long. I haven't been keeping up with Knox's milestones, with his ups and downs, with his first words, with anything basically. I can't believe how busy I've been and how I am letting life slip me by without documenting it. As we approach Knox's first birthday (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?) I figured I really need to make a conscious effort to be better at this. So that is my goal. I did do an Easter post of Knox on my professional blog so it's not like I haven't done anything. You can stop laughing now.

Where to begin? I don't even know.

So I'll start here .... Knox's first word was "dada." Granted I don't think he registered what it meant (and I'm still not sure he does), but that was the first "word" he said. And when did this happen? See, this is where I feel like a horrible mother. Because I didn't take note when it first happened. I think I may have posted something on Facebook at the time, but it's too hard to scroll back through. What sticks out in my mind is sitting around my parent's dining room table in Pensacola, him saying "dada" or something awfully close and all of us clapping and cheering him on. So based on that recollection, I'm going to go with the rough estimate that his first word came in the beginning of June when he was 8 months old. Since then he babbles A LOT, but nothing coherent ever comes out and the only recognizeable word has been dada. Until yesterday. And then I heard the sweetest word ever. "Mama." He finally said it!!!! Just shy of 11 months. Again, not 100% positive he's associating me to that word, but I don't care. It melted my heart when he said it.

The other thing that melts my heart? When I go to pick him up from school. He'll be in the room playing, usually with his back to me. I'll show up at the door and his teacher will say "Knox, look who's here!" He'll see me, get this HUGE smile on his face and start flapping his arms. I don't know why he flaps his arms, but he does it anytime he's excited. Jeremy said he'd make a great bat for Halloween because he already does the arm flapping part. :-) I love that he gets so excited when I pick him up. But just this week you know what else he did that sent me over the top of the happiness scale? He actually REACHED out for me when I came to pick him up. Be still my heart.

He still isn't crawling, walking, or pulling himself up on his own. But he loves to stand! And he's pretty good at it. He can't do it completely on his own without at least an ottoman or something to hold on to, but he's pretty stable. Jeremy's mom said that Jeremy never crawled; he just went straight into walking. We'll see what Knox chooses to do. There are times it looks like he might crawl. I sit and hold my breath. And then, plop, back on his tummy he goes. So who knows.

This past weekend (August 20th) Jeremy dropped Knox's crib. I came home from shooting a wedding and went in to give him a kiss like I always do, and he was too low. :-( It made me sad. He's growing up way too fast. But that's a part of life.

And he's gotten so big. SO BIG. I can't believe he's the same boy who was born weighing 3 1/2 pounds. At last checkup he was just under 18 pounds! Granted at his 9 month appointment the doctor still said he was only in the 1% for weight and length, but whatever. To me, he is huge. On the plus side, he was in the 45% for head circumference. I have NO CLUE where he got the big head from seeing as both Jeremy and I have baby heads. Maybe it's something that skips a generation.... As far as clothing size goes, it is so difficult to buy for him. In most shirts, he fits into size 9 month. But for pants/shorts.... that's a whole 'nother story. In fact, he's still fitting into size 3 months! Yes, 3 months. The pants/shorts that are 6 months or, God forbid, 9 months, just slip right off him when you stand him up. He looks so funny because the 3 month ones are way too short on him. Poor kid.

We have finally moved Knox to an umbrella stroller and his other stroller without the car seat attached. He definitely looks so grown up sitting upright in his stroller, toys attached, and still reaching out for anything he can grab at the store.

I can't remember when he first started sitting up on his own unsupported. Yet another milestone I missed documenting. But I think he was somewhere around 9 months. I honestly don't know how this compares to other babies and what is "normal." But I don't care. Plus, always remember we have to adjust two months back for all that he does (until he is two I've been told). But it doesn't matter to me. I don't care if he sat up later than most babies, I don't care that he's not crawling yet, I don't care if he's not saying a lot of words that make sense, I don't care that he still eats mainly pureed foods. He's happy and healthy. And that's all I care about.

Speaking of food, he loves to eat.

I have been making his food (for the most part) and keep trying different recipes. Some are a huge hit, some not so much. One particular meal - sigh - I spent 2 1/2 hours making: beets, squash, and quinoa. It made a ton too! So I used all of my freezer containers and the entire top shelf of our freezer had beets in it. Well, turns out Knox doesn't like beets. At all. Oh we tried more than once. We had granny try. We had day care try. No one could get him to eat the beets. So finally this weekend I tossed it all. No use taking up freezer space (and freezer containers) with something he doesn't like. Another thing he hasn't quite warmed up to? Roasted red pepper hummus. I personally think it tastes pretty good. But the jury's still out on that one. We'll try a couple more times before calling it quits. However, he did love the broccoli & cauliflower. Go figure. That stuff smelled HORRIBLE making. But he liked it. So I have it on the agenda to make again (gag). I also tried coconut milk rice with peaches. He seemed to like that alright. And he definitely likes all the basics: sweet potato, pears, apples, bananas, squash, yogurt...and any combo of those. I made him a squash risotto and he thought that was ok. Basically, I don't think he likes to "work" for his food. So anything that requires chewing, he's only so-so about. Well kiddo needs to buck up because I'm about to introduce him to meat! Oh, we did give him some grits this past weekend and he really liked those! The egg.... he wasn't sure about.

Things he loves?

The pool.

Playing with Kai's tail (and taking her toys).

Bouncing.

Going out and about (doesn't matter where, as long as he's the center of attention).

(sorry no pic!)

Monkey blanket (thanks Samantha!)
(sorry no pic!)

Playing with sushi (thanks Kara!).

And He-Man. Yes, He-Man. Don't ask.

So there you go. Six months (or more) of updates in one post. I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting. But as I remember, I'll try to write. I regret not keeping better track of his milestones, of his life. But in the end, the only thing that truly matters I guess is that I'm there for him and that I love him with my whole heart.

We are currently planning his FIRST birthday party, so stay tuned for details of the big event!

Contemplating what I want for my birthday......

(All photos taken with the iPhone and edited with Instagram).

Asian Beef Noodle Bowl

2011-03-23T08:41:00.003-04:00

As any mom out there probably knows, my time has not been my own for the last few months. So I haven't had much time to experiment with new dishes. This makes me sad (and my husband crabby because I constantly want to spend money for food). It's been even harder since going back to work - especially during session - because I find even less time. But I'm trying. And I've quickly realized that the key to happiness right now - and full tummies - is quick and easy meals. I've been experimenting with my crock pot and gotten a few good results. But I tried this Asian Beef Noodle Bowl recipe last night and I have to say, I was really impressed! So I'm going to share. Hopefully it will make someone else (and their tummy) happy.

Asian Beef Noodle Bowl

Ingredients
4 oz uncooked angel hair pasta
8 oz fresh sugar snap peas (Next time I would use more - I love the crunch!)
5 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 lb boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 1/4-inch strips (I just cut it into bite size pieces)
1 medicum carrot, thinly sliced (around 1/2 cup). Since you can't just buy ONE carrot, I bought the bag of mini carrots. I'm not sure how many I used, but I would probably err on the side of using more rather than less. This recipe is really good with more veggies.
1/2 cup teriyaki baste and glaze
4 medium green onions, sliced
1/2 cup honey-roasted peanuts, chopped (whoops, I just saw this word "chopped" - I just put them on whole!)

Directions
1. Cook pasta as directed. Meanwhile, trim ends off snap peas. Drain pasta and keep warm.

2. In 12-inch skillet, heat 3 teaspoons of the oil on medium-high heat. Then stir-fry the beef in the oil until no longer pink. Remove from skillet; keep warm.

3. In same skillet, heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil. Stir-fry peas and carrots about 3-4 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Stir in pasta, beef, and teriyaki baste and glaze. Toss until well blended.

4. Serve in bowls and sprinkle with green onion and peanuts.

Ok, this was just delicious! Loved it. I did have to salt mine, but it is still a recipe aI highly recommend. I would add more peas and maybe even carrots next time - the peas add this amazing crunch to the dish. It makes it feel very light and fresh. I think next time I may also try to stir-fry some broccoli as well. The hardest part (and most time consuming) of this dish is just cutting everything up. The cooking part is really simple and fast. Definitely a keeper!!! I didn't take a photo, but here is one from Pillsbury.com.

Knox's Story

2011-02-27T12:43:00.013-05:00

I have been meaning to write this post for awhile now. For about 5 months in fact. But I just haven't found the time. And then the other day I was talking with someone and we were talking about Knox and they said something to the effect of "Well, he was just ready to come into the world." So, that statement pushed me into motion to write his birth story. To set the record straight. To let everyone know that it wasn't Knox's fault at all. It was all me. So here we go. Hopefully I can recount everything properly after 5 months!

This story starts the weekend of September 25 - the Alabama v. Arkansas game. It was a very close game - much too close for my comfort and I did a lot of screaming at the TV (because I truly believe that when I yell at the players on TV they can hear me). In the middle of the game I started to feel sick. Really sick to my stomach. And I even threw up at one point. I had Jeremy run out and get my some Maalox or something equivalent thinking I had heart burn. I took it and then curled up in the only position that made me somewhat comfortable and went to bed. Unfortunately, it was a very odd position and the next day (Sunday, Sept. 26) I woke up with a bad headache and crick in my neck. But of course I thought it was from sleeping funny. So this headache lasted all day and never went away. It just got worse. And I had a sharp pain all the way down the right side of my body. I could barely move my head from side to side it hurt so bad. I really thought I had a pinched nerve. I didn't sleep at all Sunday night because I was in so much pain. Work on Monday wasn't any better. Monday after work we had our birthing class and I even asked the instructor who she recommended for a chiropractor for pregnant women. Monday night was worse than the others and I ended up on the couch because I was crying I was in so much pain (and at this point I was extremely tired!). Finally around 4 a.m. on Tuesday September 28, I went in and woke Jeremy up in my passive aggressive way. He asked if I wanted to go to the hospital, but of course I didn't. My actual response was "They're going to laugh at me." I had no labor pains or anything of the sort so why would I go to labor and deliver (L&D)?!? Made no sense to me to do so. I just had a really bad headache. But finally Jeremy said "remember the instructor said if you just don't feel right to go to L&D." So we got dressed, I grabbed my pillow, and we headed to TMH Women's Pavilion.

When I got there I had to fill out all the paperwork - you know, the stuff they say to do BEFORE you have to come in for labor so you don't have to do it while you're sitting there in pain. Well, since I still had a full 2 months before I was set to have this baby, I hadn't done the paperwork online yet. So I had to sit there, in pain, and do it. LOL Ironic. I finally get taken back to triage and they take my blood pressure. It was 170/120. Yup, you read that correctly. The nurse definitely looked a little nervous. And then the urine results came back and there was protein in it. Hmmm, not looking good. So they decided to admit me to run more tests. I got put on magnesium to help stabalize me so I didn't have a seizure (something I guess they were worried about because my BP was so high). And getting the IV was only the beginning of several days of poking. I had blood drawn every few hours to check my liver enzymes and platelet count. And they continued to monitor my proteins.

Around lunch time on the 28th, I realize I'm starving. The nurses say I can have "whatever I want" so I go straight for the comfort food: McDonald's. Mrs. Daniell brought me and Jeremy hamburgers and fries and we all ate around my hospital bed. Well, unfortunately the Big Mac did not sit well on my stomach and I soon saw it again. :-/ Then the nurse says "well, you probably shouldn't have eaten something so greasy." UM, HELLO?!? You said I could have WHATEVER I wanted. If there were qualifications, you should have told me. Sheesh. Anyway, that was the start of me not being able to keep anything down. So that was a lot of fun.

Jeremy was a trooper and opted to spend the night in the hospital room with me that night. He didn't realize he needed to prepare like he was sleeping outside . . . in Alaska . . . in winter. The stupid magnesium made me so bloomin' hot! I was sweating to death and it was like 65 degrees in the room. Jeremy spent the whole night shivering, whereas I could barely stand to have a sheet over me and I had to have ice packs placed on my forehead throughout the night. Let's just say, I HATED the magnesium.

So the next morning there was a mishap and all the hard work we spent the past 24 hours of collecting and monitoring the proteins went down the tube - literally. One of the nurses spilled the collection. So I was told we had to start over for another 24 hours. ARE YOU SERIOUS?! So at this point, the doctor had basically told me there were three options: I would go home on bed rest, I would stay at the hospital on bed rest, or I would have to deliver. Going home on bed rest is what was initially considered as the most likely option. But as the morning progressed on the 29th, it seemed that staying in the hospital on bed rest was what was going to happen. You can probably guess how thrilled I was with that prospect. Two months of bed rest - in the hospital? Yuck! But whatever I had to do right? Honestly, throughout this, all is still hunky-doory. I had some friends visit me in the hospital (BTW, thank you for not mentioning how horrible I must have looked!) and Jeremy had brought up the computer. We were chilling. And then around 4 p.m. Dr. Dixon came to see me. And that's when our world was turned upside down.

Basically throughout all of the blood tests that had been done, my liver enzymes just kept increasing. Now, since I'm not a doctor I can't really explain what this means or why it's really bad. But supposedly it is. REALLY bad. So bad in fact that Dr. Dixon didn't bother telling me until my 6 week post-pardum appointment that basically my liver was on the verge of rupturing and I would have more than likely died. Hmm, yah, I'm glad he left that tidbit out while I was in the hospital. I remember it so clearly. Dr. Dixon said that I needed to have a c-section - that day. In a few hours. I didn't even know how to comprehend this. My first thought was "But I'm only 31 weeks. Will the baby be ok???" Dr. Dixon said that the baby would be very small, but that they had put me on steroids as soon as I was admitted, so that should help. But very vividly I remember him saying "But even if you were a month earlier than this, I'd still say we have to do the c-section." So that was that. C-section scheduled. And immediately we got on the phone to my parents and told them they better get on the road and get to Tallahassee because Baby Daniell was coming that night. Needless to say everyone was pretty shocked.

The rest of the afternoon we spent contacting people and taking bets on whether it was a girl or a boy. We joked a lot, laughed a lot. I remember my in-laws looking at me like I was crazy. But I had to keep it lighthearted because if I let myself think about how I was feeling inside I knew I would lose it.

So right before surgery, the nurses came in to prep me. And that IS when I lost it. I'd never had surgery in my life. Heck, I'd never stayed in a hospital before. And now I was being whisked away for a surgery to bring my baby into this world 2 months early. I remember bawling. Normally when a woman is taken through the doors in the Women's Pavilion they push a bell and this happy sound chimes alerting everyone that a baby was just born or was about to be born. The nurse wheeling me to surgery explained this to me and then pushed it as we went through the doors. That just made me cry even harder. This was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life and all I could do was cry - and not tears of joy either. I was petrified. My biggest, number 1 fear (that I refused to say aloud until the whole ordeal was done) was that they'd bring my baby out, but that he or she wouldn't cry. I remember that fear clear as if it all happened yesterday. So here I am, unable to control myself. I'm a sobbing fool and as they are trying to give me the epidural you want to know the next thought that went through my mind? "Ashley, get it together or else you'll be shaking so much that they will stab that long-ass needle in your spine and you'll be paralized." LOL Yah, I admit it. I had that thought. But luckily it all went fine.

They got done prepping me and it looked like they were about to start and Jeremy wasn't there yet. So I proceed to freak out (again!). Well wouldn't you?!? Finally they bring him in. But I found out later, they brought him in after they had already cut so he got to see me in all my glory. Thank God he loves me!

Anyway, he sat with me and held my hand and wiped away my tears. And finally, FINALLY, I heard the most beautiful thing in the entire world. I heard my baby's cry . . . oh heck, who am I fooling? His SCREAM. He was screaming at the top of his lungs. But it was the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard. I sighed a huge breath of relief at that moment. And then Dr. Dixon held my baby over the sheet and revealed that we had a handsome little boy. But then he was immediately whisked over to the neonatologist for inspection. Jeremy was able to go with him to the NICU while I was being stiched up. Then we met back in the rocovery room and decided on his name: Donovan Knox Daniell. Jeremy went out to tell the parents that we had a healthy (relatively speaking) baby boy. My parents came back to see me. (They had arrived at the hospital right after I had been taken for surgery). Jeremy's parents came back to see me. And finally I was able to go see Knox. He was so tiny. But they let me hold him. And I'm pretty sure I cried all over again.

You'd think the ordeal was over right? But no. My liver enzymes were still elevated so I ended up having to stay in the labor and delivery ward for another full day (instead of going up to the family unit). And while in L&D I had to stay on the magnesium. That stuff really messed me up. I hated it. I felt like I couldn't focus on anything, and it gave me this horrible headache and made me nauseas. Yuck. I felt so bad I wasn't able to go up to see Knox that next day at all. :-( Friday, October 1st, I was finally able to move up to the family unit. But that was difficult in and of itself. Because I saw all these other moms walking around with their babies. And I didn't have mine. I spent a lot of time up there crying to myself. But Jeremy was with me and tried to keep me peppy and we'd go visit Knox every chance we got.

So yah, that's a really long birth story. And it doesn't even go into the next full month of craziness that we went through until we were able to bring our little man home. But he's with us now. And he's thriving. I mean THRIVING. The boy is a chunker! That's his nickname: the chunky monkey. Mainly because so many of the clothes he was given had monkeys on them. But at 5 months old he is now 12 pounds. He has almost trippled his birth weight. And he's happy and he laughs and he's mine.

This week we are up for our next little adventure in his life - surgery on his hemangioma. But I realized through this entire process that I've got to let things go. Life has it's own plan most of the time. And I just have to go with the flow. Live each day. Cherish all the small moments. And shower him with kisses every chance I get.

Amazing Ziti

2010-09-26T18:16:00.002-04:00

This is another delicious recipe and it doesn't take too long to make.

Amazing Ziti

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

2 cups shredded carrot (I left this out when I made it because I didn't have any on hand)

2 (10.75 oz) cans condensed tomato soup

8 oz dried cut ziti pasta (about 2.5 cups)

2 tablespoons snipped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil

1 medium onion (chopped)

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 medium bell pepper (chopped)

1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (4 oz)

1 cup shredded Colby cheese (4 oz)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (1 oz)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cook ground beef over medium heat and add shredded carrot, chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, fresh or dried basil, and garlic powder into meat mixture. Cook until meat is brown.

3. Drain off fat and stir in tomato soup.

4. Cook ziti according to package directions.

5. In a 4 quart Dutch oven pan pour in meat mixture, mozzarella cheese, and cooked ziti.

6. Sprinkle top with parmesan and Colby cheese. Bake for 35 minutes.

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

2010-09-26T17:59:00.003-04:00

I know I haven't posted any recipes lately. It's not that I haven't been trying new recipes because I have. I just haven't taken any photos of the recipes. So I figured I shouldn't post them. But I've decided to just go ahead and post some of these recipes. After all, it's not fair to deny you the deliciousness of some of these recipes just because I was too lazy to take any photos of the final product.

This first recipe is one of my favorites. Mainly because it's not only delicious, but it is SO easy! This is one of those recipes that you can easily keep all materials on hand and then when you are short on time for dinner, this is the perfect recipe to pull out. It literally takes about 20 minutes. Perfect! Plus, it makes plenty for left-overs.

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cans of Veg-All

2 cans of condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

2 cans of canned chicken meat

3 packages of PIllsbury Crescent Rolls

1 package (2 cups) of shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Mix the cream of chicken soup, drained cans of Veg-All, the canned chicken meat, and the milk in a large skillet over medium heat. Add a little salt and pepper to season. Once mixture starts to bubble take off of the heat.

3. Spray cooking spray on casserole dish or metal baking dish. Line the bottom and side of the dish with the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (usually takes 2 packages).

4. Pour mixture into the lined dish. Top mixture with cheddar cheese.

5. Cover the dish with the remaining Pillsbury Crescent Roll. Cook for approximately 15 minutes or until the crust on top looks golden brown.

See? That's all. It's so easy! I love this recipe!!

Baby Belly - 30 weeks

2010-09-19T20:45:00.006-04:00

T. Bubba (a hilarious comedian - if you haven't heard him, trust me, you want to get his CD) has said that with your first child you have 3 scrapbooks filled with photos of baby. When the next child comes you have one scrapbook and, well, with the third child, the only photo you have the neighbor took. So is it sad that I have only one photo of Baby Daniell in utero . . . and this is our first child? Yah, I know it's sad. Especially since I'm a photographer. So I understand why I keep getting harassed to post more photos. I will try my best to be better at this. Today my friend - and fabulous newborn photographer - Beth Johnson and I went out to play. While we were shooting, she took a few photos of me and my humongous belly. But to satisfy the masses, I am going to post a few of the photos for you. Enjoy!!

(Sorry for the lack of clarity. Blogger just doesn't work very well!)

29 1/2 week survey

2010-09-18T14:31:00.007-04:00

How far along? I will be 30 weeks on Monday. Officially in the third trimester and the 7th month. Wow. I'm officially at the point of going to the doctor every two weeks now.

Total weight gain/loss? I think I'm done talking about this one. I feel like a huge cow. :-( My doctor said I'm doing good - 15 pounds total from my first drs appointment. But the number on the scale does not make me happy. And yes, after this post, don't be expecting to get any more numbers on this subject.

Maternity clothes? I really don't know what this question is asking. Yes, I have maternity clothes. Yes, I am wearing maternity clothes. What else is there to say?

Stretch marks? Well I guess I'm still lucky in this area. None so far.

Sleep? I wake up at least once in the night to go to the bathroom. And then maybe another time or two to change positions. But I guess I can't complain that much. I'm not completely uncomfortable when I sleep (except for being hot). The main issue is that my hands seem to be going numb at night. I'll wake up and my hands will be tingling. Sometimes the right hand will do it while I'm putting on my makeup in the morning. But I don't notice it the rest of the day. Very weird. Doc says its normal and that, unfortunately, there's nothing really to be done about it.

Best moment this week? Finding out that I passed my glucose test! Yippee!! (doing the happy dance). This means no change in diet!!!!

Movement? Yes, I feel movement, but not as much as I was. I brought this up to the doctor at my appointment this week and he had me do another ultrasound because I guess less movement is a big deal. See there? I learned how to cheat the system and get yet another ultrasound!!! :-) Don't worry, that was not my intention. I really just hadn't felt baby during the times I normally do and the movement was really light. But all showed up ok in the u/s. Baby was moving and drinking in the amniotic fluid and looked really cute. Supposedly the placenta is next to my belly wall (not baby) so it may be "hiding" some of the movement from baby. On another note, baby has finally flipped and the head is down low and butt up high. So that hard pressure I feel occasionally as I sit a certain way is baby pushing his/her butt into my ribs. Thanks kid.

Food cravings? Basically everything someone mentions. Ugh. It sucks. I am still craving fruit - fruit has definitely been a theme this pregnancy. But for some reason lately I've been craving sweets (Starbursts, M&Ms, donuts, Sour Patch candy, ice cream, etc.). Not so good. I'm trying to balance out my candy intake with fruit intake. We'll see how it goes.

Labor signs? No. Although Teacher at our birthing class said that a lot of the pressure we feel now are actually small contractions. But no worries, nothing to go to the hospital for. By the way, when do I need to start having bags packed???

Belly button in or out? In. If you've kept up with my previous surveys you know the belly button is a matter of contention for me. I don't want to talk about it.

What I miss? It's football season. I think you know what I miss. That's right. A nice frosty beer in my Alabama koozie. Sigh. And call me crazy, but very recently I've actually wanted to work out. Yah, weird, I know. Maybe it's just because I'm feeling SO huge right now, but a part of me just wants to work out.

What I'm looking forward to? Having my chair come in!! I ordered it August 27 and they said it could be here in 4 weeks. Can't wait!

Milestone? I'm finally starting to look and feel pregnant. I think that's a milestone, right?

Bonus Question - Swelling? YES! I know, this is a question I just added. But I have definitely felt my feet swell and my hands as well. My wedding rings are very tight. :-( I'm sad to think there may be a time I won't be able to wear them if this swelling keeps up. Luckily, it seems I'm the only person who has noticed it. I guess it could be worse and I could actually LOOK like Violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

On a completely different note, a lot of people have asked me (or my mom) where I'm registered. So I thought I'd just mention it on here. Baby Daniell's loot is located at BabysRUs and also Amazon.com.

Ready, Set, Birth

2010-09-18T12:44:00.011-04:00

Jeremy and I had our first birthing class last Monday night. This was something we debated about for awhile - do we take the class or not? We finally decided to just go for it. After all, I haven't really read much about this pregnancy. Scary huh? So right now, I'm totally unprepared for what's to come. I figured I needed some form of knowledge about what to expect when I enter that delivery room. Plus, I get a tour of the labor and delivery ward by signing up with the class. Extra perk.

So we show up for our class on Monday not knowing what to expect. First, our teacher is NOT what I was expecting. She's got this long hair (unusual for older women .... unless they are a hippy .... hmmmm) and she's so soft spoken. But she was highly recommended by two of my friends. So I keep an open mind. We sit down and start looking through our packet of information. What first caught my attention were the "affirmations." We received two sheets of paper: Affirmations for the Expectant Mother and Affirmations for the Expectant Father. There was definitely some corniness in there, but I still kept an open mind. I won't write out all of the affirmations but they were along the lines of: "Pregnancy is beautiful," "childbirth is a normal healthy event," and "my mate and I are the center of the childbearing experience." But the one that got me - and yes, I DID laugh out loud (I hope that doesn't get me kicked out) - was the one that said "I am able to flow with labor in perfect harmony with nature." Um, excuse me? Yah, right. As I'm shoving something the size of a watermelon out of my who-ha, I do not expect to be in perfect harmony. But heck, what do I know? I've never done this before. Oh and we had to fill out this information sheet. One of the questions asked how I feel about using drugs to help with the pain. My answer: BRING IT ON. Literally, that is what I wrote. I see no reason to lie. So that's about how the class started.

After the other classmates arrived - there are 7 other couples besides us - we went around and introduced ourselves. We are the "out of place" couple in that our baby isn't due until Dec. 1 and everyone else in the class is due early to mid November (and one woman is actually due the end of October). But come to find out that the hospital tour is done on the last class, so at least we know we'll be around to do that whereas some of these other ladies could easily go into labor before then! See? I'm always thinking ahead. Only two of the couples (we were one of them) don't know the sex of the baby. That was pretty cool.

We then split into groups of men and women to discuss the "changes" we've noticed with the pregnancy. The ladies' answers mainly were "we are always hot," "higher libido," "trouble sleeping," etc. The men's answers were more about dealing with our hormonal changes, worrying about the financial aspect, and sleeping less because we aren't sleeping well. It was sort of funny. But that was the fun part of the class. I enjoyed just sitting there with the other women talking about our pregnancy. It was reassuring to know that these other women felt a lot of what I'm feeling.

But after that it sort of went downhill. We sat while our teacher brought out photos of the female body showing us where baby is and how our insides get squished and manipulated as baby grows. Ok, so that part was actually quite fascinating. I mean, by week 34 or so your bladder has completely disappeared. Crazy! No wonder I have to pee all the time. I can't imagine how it will be in another month! But that part also scared the crap out of me - seeing the size of the baby compared to where baby is supposed to make his/her debut? Yah, scary.

Then teacher went over symptoms of pregnancy and what certain things mean and when we should go to the doctor. I guess that was helpful. The most helpful part to me was being told to take note of the time your water breaks and what color it is. I mean, who knew to take note of the color! But if it's green, well then that's bad news bears. I think the thought of green "stuff" coming out of my body convinced Jeremy that we may need to buy a waterproof mattress pad . . . and maybe even something for the couch. LOL Teacher is nice, but she loses her train of thought and therefore repeats herself A LOT. That's just annoying. But the most annoying thing of it all was when she decided to go over the above-mentioned affirmations. She literally read them word by word to us. Maybe it's just us, but at least Jeremy and I feel the same way on this: we can't stand when someone reads to us - when we have the paper right in front of us. We are all adults and, from the introductions, we are all educated. We don't need you to read to us like children. UGH!

Well luckily after that we went into our "relaxation exercises." For this first class we just both laid flat on the floor (interesting to me that she had us do this considering our doctors tell us NOT to lay flat on our back) and then we just did some breathing exercises to relax. I guess it worked. But there were times that I almost cracked up (and come to find out later that Jeremy did too). At one point Teacher starts talking about baby being all safe and comfortable in the amniotic fluid. Well all I could think about is this green fluid filled with baby's poop she had talked about earlier. I almost lost it right there. Jeremy confessed later that he almost started laughing when she was telling us to relax each and every toe: "Relax your big toe, now relax your second toe" and so on and so on. And he envisioned her saying "now relax your 6th toe." I have no clue why he thought this. He's weird. My weird husband. But as we were driving home and discussing all of this neither of us could quit laughing. We were cracking each other up. And it's then that we realized that we may not be able to look at each other in this class - or else we will start laughing .... and get kicked out.

So that was class 1. We'll see how the rest of them go.

What I learned last night

2010-09-10T15:20:00.006-04:00

As I sat home alone last night finishing my book and then watching the Auburn-Mississippi State game and the Saints-Vikings game, I learned a few things. Here's what I learned (ok, so "learned" might not be the right word for them all) in no particular order:

1. I need another really good book to read. None of the books I currently have at home interest me right now.

2. Cowbells may be obnoxious, but not nearly as much as Boise State's ugly blue turf.

3. Someone needs to take Newton out before Iron Bowl because he just scares me.

4. Left over pizza is not nearly as tasty heated up in the microwave as it is a toaster oven.

5. However, Papa John's garlic dipping sauce IS just as tasty coming right out of the fridge as it is when it arrives in the piping hot pizza box.

6. Rice Krispies cereal gets soggy really fast.

7. Mississippi State's stadium is REALLY small.

8. I really wanted Mississippi State to win . . . and they didn't.

9. I really wanted the Saints to win . . . and they did.

10. The Favre-ster needs to retire already.

11. I hate Thursday, Sunday, or Monday night games that start at 8 p.m. or later - don't people realize I have to work the next day?!

12. ShootQ is very cool.

13. Baby Daniell is probably going to come out of the womb knowing phrases like "hold on to the damn ball" and "tackle him you f*!#ing idiot!"

14. Never leave a hungry pregnant woman alone until almost 10 p.m. Otherwise, Baby Daniell will also come out of the womb knowing how to say "learn how to use the damn phone!"

15. To others, I probably sound like a very hateful person, but I'm really not. I was just hungry . . . very hungry. And I L.O.V.E. my football.

Speaking of football. There are so many amazing games on tomorrow. Can I hear an Amen?! I am stoked!! Can I also hear a ROOOOLLLLLL TIDE?! Hmmmm, I wonder what new words Baby Daniell will learn tomorrow . . . .

And the transformation begins....

2010-08-29T19:45:00.017-04:00

My parents came into town for an extended weekend to experience the 4D ultrasound and also to help me paint the nursery. The saga began on Thursday at NFWC for my 4D. Both sets of grandparents were there and I think seeing the ultrasound made this whole experience much more real for them. The u/s tech was very nice and never caved to my father's wishes to know the sex. But it didn't matter. Seeing how uncooperative Baby Daniell (BD) was, everyone in the room had a good guess at what they thought BD is: boy. Well, we'll see.

Once again BD didn't want anyone to see his/her face. Let me tell you how totally frustrating it was to pay $200 and see BD sucking on his/her foot! (But on the bright side, he or she is very flexible!) Even after going to the bathroom and having a nice little talk with BD (no threats I promise! It was more like pleading actually), BD STILL wouldn't show us his/her little face. I guess that's a little white lie. We were able to get a few unobstructed photos - BD even opened one eye! - but it was still a little disappointing. What a blessing the u/s tech was because she offered to let us come back this week - without charge - and try again. I plan to try either soda or chocolate this time around to get baby moving. Heck, I may even resort to bribing if I have to. We'll see. But despite Jeremy and my disappointment (don't worry, it was only minimal), the grandparents seemed very happy. So that's good.

Here are some photos until the next go around:

(This is BD saying "No photos please")

Friday I went for my glucose testing. That was just a whole ball of fun let me tell you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I passed so that I won't have to go again for the three hour test. So help me if I have to go back for that one! Although I did get a yummy sausage McMuffin and iced coffee with hazelnut afterwards. DON'T JUDGE ME!!!

When I got home, mom had already primed the room and we got right to work painting. I have to admit, that after a whole day of painting, I remembered why Jeremy and I paid to have most of the house painted. I hate painting! Especially all the detail trim work. I just don't have a steady hand. But somehow we got it done. And I love the color and think it turned out pretty darn good looking!! So if you ever come to visit and decide you want to take a closer look at the nursery, DO NOT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD mention anything about uneven lines or imperfections or I may just have to banish you from my home forever! :-)

So the crib is finally in one piece after several hours of Jeremy constructing, unconstructing, and reconstructing it (BTW, read the instructions before attempting to put a crib together) and the room is painted. The nursery is finally starting to take shape! I'll continue to post photos as more gets completed.

The crib assembled against the newly painted wall:

You can sort of tell the color of the nursery better in this photo. It's a very light beige color.

Something my dad bought at the downtown marketplace on Saturday. Disregard the fact that it's pink . . .

Samples for the nursery. The green paint swatch at the top left corner is the color we are going to refinish the old dresser in. We're going to have two pillows and hopefully the crib skirt made out of the striped fabric. We'll have another two pillows made out of the fabric with the circles. The green fabric swatch on the bottom left is what our curtains will be made out of and the swatch on the bottom right is the material our glider is going to be.

Here is a sketch of what the nursery will (hopefully) look like when finished.

(I really hate Blogger sometimes. In "edit" mode, the text is all the same size and the bottom photos are not cut off. Weird.)

Pillsbury Giveaway!!!

2010-08-26T11:50:00.004-04:00

Ok, who doesn't want some yummy Pillsbury chocolatey goodness right about now? I know I definitely do . . . . but maybe it's because I know I can't have it because I have my glucose test tomorrow. Stupid sugar. But after the test, well, the little Pillsbury Dough Boy better beware because I'm coming to find him!

Anyway, if you would like the opportunity to enter to win some free delicious goodness, then go to my friend Amanda's blog here and enter to win!!!!!!!!

http://therearetwosides.com/2010/08/giveaway-pillsbury-sweet-moments-prize-pack.html

26 week survey

2010-08-24T10:50:00.010-04:00

How far along? 26 weeks. Only one more week until my third trimester starts. Wow! My next appointment is only 3 weeks away instead of 4-5 and then I'll soon start the every 2 week appointment.

Total weight gain/loss? Ugh. I don't even want to talk about it. I gained 6 pounds since my last appointment. Technically, if the books are correct and I'm supposed to gain 1 pound a week, then I only went over by 1 pound (since my last appt was 5 weeks earlier). But that didn't stop the skinny, blond b!#ch at the doctor's office from saying "Whoa, momma, 6 pounds! Packing on the tonage are we? You might want to watch that or before you know it you'll be as big as a house and they'll have to take off the roof and remove you with a crain to get you to the labor and delivery room." Ok, so she TECHNICALLY didn't say that. But that's what I heard when she DID mention how 6 pounds was more than what I should have gained. Sheesh. Thanks lady. It's easy for you standing there all young and pretty and blond. Yes, it IS important to constantly mention that she was blond. It makes me feel better. I don't know why. Anyway, I bet she hadn't just gotten back from a 7 day cruise (+4 day land tour!) to Alaska where eating was like breathing - it had to be done . . . all the time . . . and in mass quantities. Yah? What the hell was I thinking scheduling a doctor's appointment the week after that trip?!? I must be crazy, er, have pregnancy brain.

Maternity clothes? Just before the Alaskan vacation, my mother in law and I went shopping and bought a bunch of maternity clothes. I feel pretty comfortable now with what I have. And I can finally wear some of the maternity tops and not look funny since I now have my baby bump!

Stretch marks? Not yet....

Sleep? Ok, I guess. I wake up a couple times a night to go to the bathroom and/or to change position, but I guess I'm sleeping ok other than that. I did wake up one day last week with really bad stomach and back pains that lasted for a few hours. I couldn't find a comfortable position to save my life! But luckily it hasn't happened since.

Best moment this week? Well, the best moment of the week hasn't happened yet. I'm anticipating it will be Thursday afternoon when I have the 4D ultrasound done! The best moment I had last week was picking up and putting the crib together on Saturday!! (Well, technically Jeremy put the crib together . . . ). I love it!

Movement? Yup, I'm feeling baby move. Jeremy can't feel him or her yet, so he's frustrated, but I feel those thumps all the time!

Food cravings? Fruit. This baby is going to love fruit! On the cruise I loved these strawberry lemonades they would make - yummy! I've also been in a ginger snap mood recently. Weird.

Labor signs? Nope.

Belly button in or out? So, I thought that the farther along I got, that annoying crease would disappear. You know, baby would just sort of push it out. From the time I was little, this was always my hope - that at least when I got pregnant, that crease would disappear, if only for 9 months. Nope. I was wrong. I think it's destined to be there for the long haul. So, my belly button is still in - hidden in my belly crease. :-(

What I miss? OMG, let me tell you how much I missed alcohol on the cruise. It killed me! I also miss sushi. I mean, the good stuff. I will still get some sushi every so often, but it is always something with shrimp tempura. Which is fine. It's still quite tasty. But nothing like tuna. Yum!

What I'm looking forward to? Painting the nursery this weekend!

Milestone? It's finally 4D u/s time? Is that a milestone? I made it home safely from the Alaska trip - which included a very bumpy ATV ride? Is that a milestone? How about the fact that I finally LOOK pregnant? Not sure if these things are milestones, but they are things I'm happy about.

Stay tuned for photos from the 4D! Here's hoping baby is cooperative and we get some good face shots . . . and NO shots of baby's goods. I've already had a talk with the u/s tech. NO MATTER WHAT, she is not to tell the parents the sex of the baby. I promised to pay her more than my dad. :-)

Baby Belly - 23 Weeks

2010-08-04T11:10:00.006-04:00

Ok, because so many of my so-called friends out there have been harassing me for photos - yes HARASSING! Didn't you know it wasn't nice to harass the pregnant woman?! - here, I will post one. So this is me at basically 23 weeks (one day shy). I'm looking a tad rough - don't hold it against me!

We leave tomorrow on our 11 day Alaskan adventure! Who knows, maybe I'll see Sarah Palen. One of my coworkers gave me a message to give to her, but I think if I did, I'd end up in jail. So I will be avoiding that.

I hope to have plenty of photos after it's all said and done. Unfortunately, I will have limited access to phone and Internet on the trip - I really don't know how I'm going to survive! But leave me love and I'll get it when I get back!

Slacker Pregnant Gal

2010-07-26T13:44:00.003-04:00

My good friend Vica is also pregnant right now and on her way to having a precious little girl! (maybe this week......?) But as I was catching up on her blog, I realized what a slacker I have been. I have absolutely zero photos of me pregnant. Zilch. Nada. And for someone with a photography business, that's pretty darn sad! Not a single belly photo. Then again, I haven't really wanted to show off my growing form . . . at least not for public viewing. Those of you who have been lucky (or not-so lucky...) to see me in person, well count yourself special.

But I guess this needs to change. I'm officially 22 weeks. It's about time I start documenting this journey. I need SOME proof of what I'm actually going through so years from now when my teenager is driving me crazy I can pull them out and say "LOOK WHAT I WENT THROUGH FOR YOU!!!" Yah, I'm going to be an awesome mom. :-)

So, photos will be on my "to do" list for this weekend. I will go ahead and forewarn you that I am doing this grudgingly and that because of the "wonderous and unique" body that I have - aka, the stupid crease that's always plagued my belly - I still just look fat, not pregnant (in my opinion). But I'll do it. For you. And maybe for some parental revenge in years to come.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!

2010-07-23T10:32:00.001-04:00

Are you a book lover by heart? Are you trying to get back into reading after a long hiatus? Are you just looking for a coaster? Whatever the reason, check out this awesome book giveaweay by Amanda at There Are Two Sides. It sounds like a fascinating book and I'm hoping to win! So join the competition and leave some love on Amanda's blog!!!!

Monthly Survey

2010-07-16T08:32:00.004-04:00

Hello there. I had my lastest doctor's appointment on Wednesday, but with how crazy work has been because of the looming special session, I haven't had time to post my survey. We were able to get another ultrasound on Wednesday because when we went in a few weeks earlier for the "big" one, Baby Daniell was being uncooperative and wouldn't let Victoria see his/her nose/mouth area. So we got another one! Baby Daniell was a tad more cooperative this time - at least Victoria could see what she needed to see. But, Baby still wasn't giving us a great profile view. Baby kept his or her hands up in front of the face almost the entire time. Baby definitely does not like the paparazzi! But we got a couple of good ones and when I get a free moment, I'll post them here. And according to Victoria everything looks perfect with Baby! And mom's doing ok too! LOL

How far along? 20 weeks . . . . Halfway there!

Total weight gain/loss? I have a quick question for this survey. Does anyone ever actually LOSE weight while pregnant? Just curious . . . . so I can seek these people out and slap them! Total of 8 pounds gained so far. I'm told that's good, but who knows!

Maternity clothes? I haven't bought a ton of maternity clothes. But my parents did just take me on a shopping spree at Chicos when I was in Pensacola and bought me some clothes that should last throughout the pregnancy (but they aren't actually pregnancy clothes). So let's see what my inventory is so far:

1 pair black maternity slacks from Gap
1 pair khaki maternity slacks from Gap
2 pair maternity jeans from Old Navy
2 maternity dresses from Motherhood (I love these dresses!)
1 maternity shirt from Kohl's - but I think I ruined it at my last wedding by leaning up against unfinished wood. It now has all of those annoying fabric balls on it. :-(

That's about it for TRUE maternity clothes. I still have this awesome long jersey dress from The Loft that I love and is great for pregnancy. And then my parents just got me this great skirt, tank, cropped jacket combo from Chicos (love it!). I also got a few more tops/tanks from Chicos that I should be able to wear for the duration (hopefully!). So that's about it. I'm sure the people at work are probably tired of seeing me in the exact same thing every week. Well, they are MORE THAN WELCOME to give me a gift card to Motherhood or someplace so I can go buy some new clothes....... ;-)

Stretch marks? Again, I haven't spotted any that weren't there before the pregnancy. Fingers are crossed....

Sleep? Yah, I'm still not sleeping well unfortunately. :-( But at my drs appointment on Wednesday I did talk to the doctor about sleeping on my back and alternative ways. So hopefully that will help a little. I've figured out how to become a tad more comfortable at night with multiple pillows positioned everywhere. Poor Jeremy! He can't even see me anymore! But lately, I've just had trouble falling asleep and then I wake up several times a night to either pee or change position. So I spend most of the week tired. I even caved on Tuesday and splurged to have a white chocolate mocha because I just couldn't function that morning. But I guess I better get used to it, right?

Best moment this week? Best moment of the week had to be FINALLY deciding what we want the nursery to look like!

Movement? YES! I mean, they are barely there. But I definitely feel the fluttering. And at the drs. appointment the baby had hiccups (you could see the baby hiccuping on the ultrasound - it was too cute) and I could feel those!

Food cravings? Hmmm, well I had a few days where I was craving sweets. One day I was in Publix and saw the cakes and wanted cake RIGHT THEN! So I bought a cake mix and some icing and made a cake that night and had a huge slice. But, um, yah, now I have this huge cake left over on the counter . . . . not so sure what to do with that. I've been craving Mountain Dew a lot - but that is one craving I try NOT to indulge in! I know how bad it is for me! But every so often, I have to have one - or at least take a sip of Jeremy's! Um, I've been on an applesauce kick lately. But I think that's about all. I'm still in my fruit phase, so that's good. Oh, and I have had cravings for popsicles, so we have some of those in the freezer now!

Labor signs? Nope.

Belly button in or out? Same as last time. :-( But Victoria (the u/s tech) told me that the baby is right about at my belly button area, so hopefully when Baby Daniell moves up a tad more, the belly will start to look more, well, pregnant-like.

What I miss? Ugh. I definitely miss alcohol at this point!!!!! I just want some wine or a cold beer in a frosty mug. :-(

What I'm looking forward to? I'm really looking forward to our family vacation to Alaska in August!!! But baby-related - I'm looking forward to buying the crib and chair for the nursery.

Milestone? Starting our baby registry and reaching the midway point in the pregnancy!!

Baby Daniell

2010-07-01T14:52:00.002-04:00

Please don't judge me by the quality of the photos. I couldn't get digital images, so I had to take photos of the ultrasound photo and then upload it. So, yah, the images are a tad blurry. But you can still see a baby in there!

Ok, here is Baby Daniell around 11 weeks. Just looks like a tiny little peanut, huh?

And here we are at 18 weeks. Hey, look there, it actually looks like a baby!

And here's Baby's foot. Yes, Baby has 5 toes on each foot and 5 fingers on each hand. Score!

That's all for now. Since Baby was uncooperative and didn't let Victoria (the ultrasound nurse) get a good photo of his/her nose and lip area, we get to have another ultrasound at our next appointment. So I will hopefully have some face shots after that! And for those of you wanting me to post some photos of me, I just have one thing to say to you: KEEP DREAMING! :-)

EXPOSED!

2010-06-25T15:24:00.004-04:00

I'm still plugging along. I've started to not worry as much about certain things, which I don't know if that's good or bad. But it is what it is. I decided I'm not going to stress about sleeping on my back, I'm not going to stress about eating lunch meat, and well, essentially I'm trying not to stress about too much. Which has me a tad discombobulated. I mean, I'm a stresser. It's what a do. I like to be prepared, but no matter how prepared I am, I stress. Well, for some reason I've taken a completely different mantra to this pregnancy. Heck, I'm barely reading any books about the whole thing. Can you believe it?!? It's not that I don't have plenty of reading material on hand (thanks to many friends!), but I just haven't felt the need to go pick them up. The good ole "What to Expect When You're Expecting" - you know, the Bible of pregnancies? Yah, haven't cracked it. WHAT IS UP WITH ME?!?! So not only am I not stressing, but I'm also not really preparing either. Oh well.

But I do need to vent about something today. Pregnancy. Three months (and that's if you're lucky) of feeling like you're in a constant state of being hungover, but without the fun the night before, followed by dry red eyes, breakouts, the "fat" stage (you know, where you don't yet look pregnant, just fat?), cutting out certain foods you love (aka, sushi!), and a whole host of other things. Don't even get me started on not being able to drink during football season. WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO?!? But, no, on top of ALL of this, your boobs get humongous. Yes, that is my vent today. The girls are huge. I'm feeling a little inappropriate at work even. Maybe I should quite my job and go be a Hooters girl. Oh wait, mine are REAL so that's out. Maybe there is a Hooters for pregnant women somewhere? Reminder to self: Look that up. Anyway, I'm feeling a tad, well, exposed. And I'm not liking it. But there's something worse. Men just get to sail through the entire nine months. And to top off the whole pregnancy experience, they get bigger boobs to look at as well. How is this fair?!? They don't have to outgrow all of their bras, all of their clothes, all the time being scared to death they're going to get cankles, and in the end push out an 8 pound baby. Oh no. They don't have to deal with any of that. But they get big boobs. Every guys dream. And they get it. Tell me, what did women do to piss off God that much?!? Was eating the apple THAT big of a deal?!?

*sigh*

That's all I've got.

On a brighter note, we have another ultrasound on Monday. Hopefully it will help me forget about my enlarged mammaries.

The Survey Part II

2010-06-16T08:18:00.003-04:00

So I went to the doctor yesterday and, yup, baby's still in there. The heartbeat was going a mile a minute - but I hear that's normal. It's so weird to hear the difference between my heartbeat and the baby's.

Completely random and off topic, but one of my biggest pet peeves is bananas that don't open properly. You know the kind right? Where you try to open it and it doesn't split right and then you're fussing with it to open and then the top of the banana gets all mushy? Ugh. So frustrating. I only bring it up because as I was typing this, I was trying to eat my banana and that happened. And it's the second time this week!!! This bunch of bananas are being completely uncooperative.

Ok, back to the topic at hand. Since I just got felt up by the doctor I figured it was as good a time as any to update my survey!

How far along? 16 weeks today baby! (Doing this survey on Wednesdays appears to be becoming a theme....)

Total weight gain/loss? 4 pounds - gained. But I guess I can't complain.

Maternity clothes? Well I still just have the one pair of black Gap slacks and the Old Navy jeans (although I can't wear those to work, which makes me sad). I'm waiting for my new pair of khaki Gap slacks to come in. Oh, and I did just buy three dresses from the maternity store yesterday! But I'm not positive I'm keeping them yet...... they definitely will look adorable when I have a bigger belly, but right now, I'm not so sure. And I'm about to have to head into bigger tops. The girls are just popping out of my old ones!

Stretch marks? Not that I can see. I'm counting my blessings so far.

Sleep? Ugh, horrible. I read in one of my many baby books that about this time I need to start trying to not sleep on my back. Well, I sleep on my side a lot normally, so I didn't figure this would be a big deal. Was I wrong! I don't know why, but my hips are KILLING me! I'm assuming it's from sleeping on them and never taking the time to get on my back or stomach. But they hurt so bad. And I am waking up every 2 hours or so because they hurt and then I have to switch sides. I can't believe it. This is going to be a LOOOOONG pregnancy if this keeps up.

Best moment this week? Finally starting to feel decent again! I think I may be over that stupid viral thing I had!! YIPPEE! And it appears that the morning sickness may be gone as well. Thank the Lord!

Movement? Nope, still just indigestion! LOL

Food cravings? I'm still craving fruit and smoothies. But my new thing is definitely Icees. Preferably the cherry ones (although I broke down and got a coke one yesterday because I HAD TO HAVE ONE and they were out of cherry). I am LOVING them! Granted it's been a bazillion degrees out down here and they are very cool and refreshing! Oh, and I am somewhat getting my appetite back for meat. But it is definitely not something I crave.

Labor signs? Again, no. Thank goodness!

Belly button in or out? Still M.I.A. :-( I'm really starting to wonder what my belly is going to look like with this weird belly button thing I have going on.

What I miss? I miss sleeping on my back.

What I'm looking forward to? Starting the nursery!!! (Oh, and also starting to show .... more. LOL)

Milestone? I have a few. They may seem small potatoes to you guys, but they are big to me. (1) Buying new (and bigger) bras.
(2) I'm starting to feel better!
(3) Going into a maternity store and shopping for the first time.

Hope you enjoyed my update! I have another doctor's appointment in two weeks, but that is for another ultrasound, so I probably won't do an update. Stay tuned for the next one .... I think I may just update right after my doctor's appointments. It's an easy timeline to remember! Plus, I'll know whether I want to post my weight loss/gain! LOL

Happy Hump Day!

Am I Human?

2010-06-04T08:38:00.003-04:00

I'm so ready to crawl into a hole and die. Or at least stay there until I feel somewhat human again. I had two days, two wonderful days, of feeling really normal again. And then it was gone. We went to Waco, Texas over Memorial Day weekend to visit Jeremy's brother and his family. They just moved into this huge compound and I am not exaggerating when I call it that. The place is massive. But I guess when you're breeding you're own small army it has to be. But it was beautiful. I did take photos. And no they are not attached to this post. They are still on my camera in true Ashley fashion. I bet you guys wonder how I ever became a photographer huh? LOL Good question. I'm actually pretty good about my client's photos - getting them off the camera immediately, uploading into Lightroom, backing them up, editing, etc. But then again - those people are PAYING me. When it comes time for personal photos, I just don't have the energy. It's weird, I know. I'm weird, I get it. Deal with it.

So we get to the compound last Thursday. We basically chilled around the house, playing games, watching movies, and swimming. There was lots and lots of swimming. But it was fabulous. And Friday and Saturday? Yup. Those were my two days of normal. My "morning sickness" (aka, feeling nauseas all day long - especially when I was hungry - but not wanting to eat anything because nothing sounded appetizing) was gone! I woke up feeling great. All day I felt great. I ate as I pleased. I even had some meat for dinner without the urge to vomit (although I only had a very small amount!). It was pure bliss. I finally had reached that stage in the second trimester where I was going to start feeling like a human being again. Sunday I still felt pretty decent but I did wake up with a case of pink eye. From where, I have no clue. I had been around 3 rugrats (two of whom had gone to birthday parties....) but none of them had it. Oh well. I did. Joy. But still, overall, I'm feeling pretty good.

Then Monday morning hit. It's 3 a.m. and I have my head in the toilet throwing up. But trust me, this was NOT related to the pregnancy. Oh no. I had felt like this once before. Back in my second year of law school, it's spring break, and Jeremy and I had gone to California to go skiing. And somehow I came down with some 24 hour bug - and it just so happened to be on the day we had to drive across the Sierra Nevada (yah, I'm horrible at geography, so I'm not exactly sure what mountain range it was....) from Reno to Mammoth Lakes. It's like 3-4 hours of nothing. Complete nothingness. And you're on winding mountain roads with no place to pull over. That is when I learned the art of throwing up in gallon sized ziploc bags. Yah, pleasant image huh?

Well that is how I felt Monday morning. OH and guess what. Another travel day. Monday we were leaving to come back to Tallahassee. Needless to say, I threw up again getting ready to go to the airport, threw up in the car on the way to the airport, threw up in the Dallas airport, and again on the flight from Dallas to Tallahassee. Let me just put it on the record that airplane throw-up bags are made for children. They are so small and the opening is not nearly wide enough. I totally felt like I was going to get it everywhere. But I didn't. I succeeded! I was so proud of myself. For all of 1 minute until I wanted to throw up again.

I know, this is all TMI. Whatever. You are my friends. Hence you get to know all of the gross details. So that's where I've been: sick. Luckily, all of the nausea ended on Monday. But Tuesday I woke up with a sore throat and a headache from Hades. Plus, all this time I had horrible body aches. Ugh. I finally went to the doctor on Wednesday, just to be told it is "viral." Those are the WORST words ever. Seriously. When you are feeling like shit and you want nothing more than to fall into a deep drug-induced coma so you don't have to suffer anymore, the last thing you want to hear is that whatever you have is viral. Because that means no drugs. No magic pill to help it all go away. Granted, even if they had a magic pill for what I had, I probably wouldn't have been allowed to take it. You know, being pregnant and all [rolling my eyes]. But I would have at least liked to have felt justified when I told people I had the flu. Because that's what it felt like. But no - it's VIRAL. Blah. They were able to give me something for the pink eye though. Some nice little eye drops that burn the cotton-pickin corneas out of your eyes. Oh my gosh they hurt. And this morning - I woke up with more crusties. I don't think this burning eye drop solution is working. And I'm pissed. But I'll give it a few more days.

Anyway, so that's where I've been. Home sick all week. I came in to work yesterday. Big mistake. I felt horrible the whole time. I came in late, took a long lunch, and left early though. But still. I should have stayed home and slept. I'm feeling A TAD better today, but still not very good. This is the longest a sickness has ever stuck around with me - at least in recent memory. So I don't know what to think. I guess I'll just continue to "get lots of rest and drink lots of fluids." Since that's the only prescription I'll get. Please, please, let me start to feel human again!

If you made it to the end of this post without feeling queasy. Congratulations! You are a real trooper and I appreciate your loyalty. Now if you want to slip me a few drugs, I'd really appreciate it . . . .

I'm Baaaaack!!!

2010-05-26T15:41:00.006-04:00

Hello? Is anyone out there? I would completely understand if all of my faithful readers abandoned me (all five of you). After all, it has been over two months since I posted last. I apologize.

Wait, you know what, I DON'T apologize. A lot has been going on in those two months. I mean, A LOT. Life has been crazy. Hectic. Turned upside down. I shouldn't have to apologize for that should I???

So let's see. What has happened since we last spoke, er, I last typed. I survived session! It's over once again. And once again I am sitting here anxiously waiting to see if Governor Crist will show some love to the state employee and veto the nasty little bill making us pay for our health insurance. I know, I know - "You should have to pay for your health insurance like everyone else does" - I've heard it all. And it's not necessarily the cost. Because let's face it, the amount they are going to charge state employees for health insurance is negligible compared to what many people pay. It's actually a really good deal. BUT that is NOT the point. I repeat: NOT THE POINT. The point is that we are state workers, getting beat up on every single session. We haven't gotten a raise in 5+ years (nor a cost of living increase mind you) and trust me, inflation hasn't stopped. So while things have continued to get more expensive, we've continued to get the same lousy paycheck we've gotten in the past. And I say lousy because state workers are not paid well. That's why the benefits HAVE to be good; otherwise, who would bother to work for the state??? In fact, Florida has the lowest paid state workers in the entire nation. THE ENTIRE NATION PEOPLE! And yet, we are one of the top 5 biggest states. It's utterly ridiculous. And insulting. And to add salt to that wound, they are now saying they are taking away one of the great benefits to being a state worker with a crappy salary by making us pay for our health insurance. Dear Jesus, let Crist veto that crap bill!

[stepping off my soap box and cooling down]

Ok, I'm back. Aside from the crap mentioned above, session was extra tough this year because we lost an attorney in our office the first week of session. Tracy moved on to bigger and better things over at the Department of Agriculture approving or denying people's firearm registrations. And because we are a small office and need to get along with whoever we hire (and more so because of Eric's intense and time-consuming interviewing process) we decided against hiring someone in the middle of session and figured we'd wait until the interim. So we went through session with just two attorneys this year, which put an extra burden on everyone.

Then to top it all off, I found out I was pregnant! There ya go. Those are the big beans I needed to spill. Whew! It's nice to have that off my chest! So on top of session and being down an attorney, I also wasn't feeling well. I was exhausted all the time, nauseas, and had this kill-me-now-and-put-me-out-of-my-misery headaches. Yah, fun.

So now you see why I'm not going to apologize for letting two months go by since writing last.

Oh and in honor of announcing the pregnancy on the blog, I am going to follow in Betsy's footsteps (check it out here) and do an occassional survey to let everyone know how things are going. So here goes the first one:

How far along? 13 weeks today baby!

Total weight gain/loss? Well, since I have decent news right now, I will share this information. But I'm sure as I get farther along, I will become more and more secretive. I have gained 2 pounds. But 0 pounds between my first and second appointment! That made me somewhat happy.

Maternity clothes? Call it pregnancy, call it I ate too much during session, who knows. But my pants definitely started feeling tighter a few weeks ago. And you know how I feel about tight things around my waist! So I bought a pair of black maternity slacks from the Gap (wearing them today in fact!) and a pair of maternity jeans from Old Navy. I know, I know - I could have bought a belly (bella?) band, but I was desperate to have something more comfortable and I had no clue where to get one of those bands and I couldn't ask because none of my friends knew about the pregnancy. Hence the maternity pants.

Stretch marks? No new ones....

Sleep? Well up until two nights ago I've been sleeping like a baby. Absolutely wonderful, minus the getting up to pee. But honestly, that's normal. I have a bladder the size of a pea, so this pregnancy is going to be a blast!

Best moment this week? Betsy's reaction when I told her about the pregnancy!

Movement? Yah, all the time. Oh wait, that's just indigestion. Nope, no movement yet.

Food cravings? Let's see, FRUIT. All I've wanted to eat is fruit. Oh and fruit smoothies. Those are my new fav. And I'm sort of embarrassed to admit this one, but Taco Bell. I totally crave some soft taco supremes. Yum! I've also eaten a ton of yogurt and cereal. Oh, and keep me the hell away from meat. PUKE! The thought of meat in large forms (aka, steak or chicken breasts by themselves) makes me sick.

Labor signs? Are you kidding me people?? Seriously. No.

Belly button in or out? How about M.I.A.?? Yah, I've always had a belly button caught between two love handles [sigh. :-( ] But it's become even less noticeable since the pregnancy. I'm interested to see what happens to it as I get bigger and start showing!

What I miss? Feeling normal - aka, not feeling like I want to throw up all the time or put my head in a vice to relieve the headache.

What I'm looking forward to? Starting to show!

Milestone? Well, I just entered my second trimester.....

And there you have it. Stay tuned for more updates!!

I'm behind. Don't shoot me.

2010-03-16T08:55:00.004-04:00

Ok, I am the WORST blogger ever! I STILL have photos from our European vacation to post. Can you believe it??? Yah, when did we take that trip - a year ago??? Ok, not that long, but you get my point. The portion of the trip that has yet to be posted was actually my least favorite part of the trip - Budapest. The city was just so . . . dirty . . . and . . . depressing. It was the only city I didn't feel completely safe in.

Anyway, you're probably all excited because you think that those photos will be in this post. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but they are not. I actually haven't even edited them yet. [insert expletives here] I KNOW! Please don't yell at me. Life has literally swallowed me whole and spit me back out. I'm not finding time to do a lot of things. Like get a pedicure. Or return some clothes that I desperately need the money for. Or clean the house (thank goodness for Jeremy!). Anyway, as you can tell, editing photos from my least favorite city on the trip is at the bottom of my to-do list. But I wanted to let everyone know that I haven't forgotten about them! I promise I will post them . . . eventually. Maybe like on the one year anniversary of our trip. Hmm, now that's an idea.

I will not be ashamed any longer!

2010-03-12T09:40:00.006-05:00

Let's talk about music for a minute. I have been told by some of my friends that I have no pop culture knowledge. You know who you are. And, you know what? It's true. There I said it. I have no pop culture knowledge. Growing up I read books and my mom banned MTV. So yah, I don't know a lot about music or artists or anything remotely tied to that. And I'm done being ashamed about it. So what if I don't know a single answer on Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture edition. I bet I could smoke you in Phase Ten. Or not, but that's not the point. The point is that I am embracing my lack of pop culture.

So now that you realize I am not a music-buff, I can continue with my story. I'm driving home the other day and listening to the radio. Or more accurately, Sirius Satellite Radio (shamless product plug) - if you don't have it already, I highly recommend it. I like my radio just like I like my TV - WITHOUT COMMERCIALS! Anyhoo, so I'm on my pop station and the new Michael Bublé song comes on and I have this sudden urge to drive into oncoming traffic. Ugh. Listening to him is so tedius. I really just don't like his music - guess it's not my style (yes, even someone with no pop culture knowledge can have a music style people!) So, rather than smash up my pretty Baby (and as a result, have higher insurance payments - yuck!) I quickly changed the station. I just hit whichever present I could find and it happened to be channel 9. And for those of you with Sirius you know that channel 9 is "90's on 9," which means . . . . yup, you guessed it: 90's music! And guess what comes on? "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer. And what do I find myself subconsciously (or maybe it was consciously . . .) doing? DANCING. In the car. To MC Hammer. That's right folks. I was getting my groove on to "U Can't Touch This." I'll give you a moment to let this sink in.

Ok, moment's up. NOW. It's up. Quit laughing.

I couldn't help myself. I was getting into it. My head was going from side to side, I was singing the words, and I probably even did the white-man's overbite. And you know what? I'm not embarrassed. It has a catchy beat. And it's way better than that Michael Bublé shit.

And this isn't the first time this happened to me. Another time I was driving and Michael Bublé came on (Sirius: for the love of God, please quit playing his songs on the Top 40 hits station - put him on the Elevator Music station or something!). So I changed the station (I think to the 90's station again . . . weird) and "Boombastic" by Shaggy was on. And yes, I choose to listen to that over boring, whiny elevator music. And, again, I found myself shaking my groove thing.

So, yes, I admit that I have no pop culture knowledge. I admit that I have danced in the car to MC Hammer and Shaggy. And I admit that it was FUN! And I am throwing down the gaunlet and daring YOU to have a little fun and to let loose and maybe shake YOUR groove thing to a song you secretly like. But here's the thing: DO IT OPENLY! Don't be ashamed! Embrace your crappy music taste!

To generate discussion, leave me some comments on what music you secretly like, but have always been embarrassed to tell others about. Come on. We won't make fun of you . . . . too much.

And because I like blogs with photos, here ya go:

= BORING

= FUN!

Deal with it.

DOG-gone diets!

2010-02-23T13:04:00.003-05:00

So, as you may have read, my dogs are on a diet. Sad, isn't it? You can see photos of my babies on my other blog here (by the way, I'd love for you to follow it!) They don't look that bad do they??? Well, according to the vet, they are "overweight." What does the stupid vet know anyway?

We picked Kai (our golden) out of her litter because of her small paws. I'm sure there were other reasons as well, but mainly, it was the paws. See, there's this mean little rumor floating around that you can judge how big a dog will get by the size of its paws as a puppy: big paws = big dog, small paws = smaller dog. It sort of reminds me of another little comparison rumor that floats around college (oh, who are we kidding? - and high school) campuses. Hehehe . . . yes, I am that immature. Moving on. Well, I have first-hand experience that this rumor is FALSE! (Oh, I'm back to the dog's paws one by the way). As Kai continued to grow . . . and grow . . . and grow, we soon realized that she just had baby feet and that the rest of her was not going to follow suit. I belive she topped out at 80ish pounds. Yup, that's right, our female golden retriever. But, you can't just judge a book from it's cover. You've got to do a little more digging. If we go back and take a look at Kai's mom . . . well unfortunately, I don't have a photo of her mom. But if I did, you'd see that she was sort of rotund herself. I think it runs in the family. Genetics, ya know? They are just big-boned!! I swear! Or, quoting from the fun animated movie Ice Age (BTW, do you know how much I love animated movies??? If you don't, I'm sure you'll soon realize based on my posts!):

Manny: I'm not fat. It's all this hair. It makes me look poofy.
Sid: Fine. You have fat hair, but when you're ready to talk, I'm here.

Yes, that is the ongoing joke in our household - Kai has fat hair. I think it's a perfectly logical explanation. Really. I can say that with a straight face. I swear. Well, the vet didn't buy that answer. So basically Kai has been on a diet since she turned 1. Yah, I know, sad.

And then there's Sequoia, our cute little sheltie. She may look like a miniture Lassie, but believe me, you do NOT want this dog saving you from a well. She'd be more likely to jump down there with you just so she's not alone. Severe dependency issues, I tell you. S.E.V.E.R.E. But you got to love her. Even if she slams her head into the door every morning as you leave the house. Yah, I think she may have brain damage. But she's adorable and I love her. And she really does have fat fur. If you've ever seen her in person, you can attest to that. But when she's wet she looks like a little drowned rat. So, she has a weight issue?? Naw, couldn't be. Damn vet. Again, telling us that she also needs to lose a few lbs. Did I mention that this is the same vet that now wants Kai to have a "Senior Wellness Exam" because she is a "senior citizen"? Yah, she's 7 people. Even in dog years (49), that's really not that senior. But, for the sake of argument, assume she IS a senior. Well then she should qualify for some AARP discount right?? Um, NO! They want to charge you MORE once they reach senior-status. Something seems backwards here. Damn vets. But I just got off track.

So now both of my babies are on a diet. We'd already been feeding them the weight management food. What else can we do??? Oh yah, well, I guess we could take them for more walks. You know, like responsible dog-owners. But we don't want to admit that THAT may be the problem because, ya know, that makes US look bad. So we decide to scale back on the amount of dog food they get - and supplement with foods that have more fiber so they feel full. Such as green beans. Yes, we are now feeding our dogs green beans. And pumpkin. And carrots. And rutabagas. Those dogs now hear a can opener and they are salivating at my feet. We've created monsters. But I have to admit, I have seen a noticeable difference. Especially in Sequoia. She has, well, a waistline. Imagine that! We have not had them weighed since the diet-edict came down, but I am hopeful. We shall see.

So needless to say, the entire household is on a diet. At least no one feels left out.

I did it!

2010-02-21T17:32:00.002-05:00

We had two beautiful days here this weekend! So guess what I did? That's right, I got off my butt and went outside and did some cardio. [gasp] Yes, I know this is somewhat shocking to those who know me. But let's face it, not that many people actually read this! LOL It's not that I abhor working out or never do it; I just haven't done it, well, since Thanksgiving. Yup, that's about right. I haven't worked out since Turkey Day. There are many "reasons" why (it's the holiday season, the days are shorter so it gets darker earlier, it's too cold), but the truth is, I haven't wanted to. That and, well, it HAS been too cold for me to want to get up at the crack of dawn to work out. So I've been lax. And now with the legislative session about to start in a week, there will be no time for working out. I'm not exaggerating; I really will have no time. During session I generally work from 8 a.m. until midnight. So, yah, getting up at 6 a.m. to work out is not my idea of a good time during this time of year. Although, if our committee meetings stay on their current course (Thursday at 8 a.m.) I'll have to get up at 6 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday regardless, so at that point I might as well get up the same time Monday, Tuesday, and Friday and work out. Yah . . . we'll see. Not likely. But I guess there is always a chance I could stick with that.

Anyway, it was gorgeous here this weekend. So Saturday, Jeremy and I went out for a bike ride. It was great! We got bikes for Christmas and have only had the opportunity to ride them 3 times! Like I said, it's been cold . . . and rainy . . . . So we went riding yesterday and loved it. Then today we took the dogs for a walk around the neighborhood. I love when I can let them off leash because it allows me to walk faster and get more of a workout. When they are on the leash they always want to stop and sniff. I know, I know - they're dogs and that's what dogs do. But sheesh! But when they are off leash then I can continue to walk and they can catch up with me. It's perfect. Plus, I think they tend to get more exercise because they have the ability to run around more.

Did I mention that my dogs are also on a diet? Yah, well, that's a post for another day . . .

My theory on why the baby-boomer generation produced, well, so many babies

2010-02-12T10:59:00.004-05:00

I solved one of life's questions last night. How come women back in the '30s or '40s (just pick a decade) popped out kids like a toaster popping out bread? It wasn't because couples were more in love back then or because women had more time on their hands or because it was "the" thing to do. No, it all had to with bed size. That's right folks. Size DOES matter . . . . at least in this sense.

Back in those days, couples most likely had double or full-sized beds. I would go out on a limb to say that having a queen bed was a luxury that most couples could not afford. Well what happens when you are sleeping in a double or full-sized bed? You touch, that's what happens.

As I'm laying in my queen-sized bed last night trying to fall asleep, I'm realizing there is no way to move without touching Jeremy. He starts out almost on "my" side of the bed to begin with! What do you think will happen as he tosses and turns throughout the night? OF COURSE he's going to end up on my side. It's inevitable. And being that close produces more body heat, which you know what that means . . . that I'm sweltering under the covers. And he wonders why I have to sleep with the fan on even if it is 20 degrees outside! It's because I'm so blasted hot under the covers and with the combination of our body temperatures.

So this gets me to thinking. If I feel this cramped in a queen bed, imagine what my grandparents or great-grandparents felt in a double or full bed. Sardines, that's what. And when you are that close to begin with, well, then there's really only one thing to do. Procreate. Hell, I bet sometimes it even happened on accident because everyone is just SO close. And as the decades passed and people became more and more obsessed with size, we eventually became a nation where a queen bed is unacceptable. "WHAT?!? You don't have a KING bed?" And then you're denied membership to your country club or something. I know I've been there . . . having that discussion with friends, coworkers, family, whoever, and someone asks what "size" mine is. And I sheepishly bow my head and whisper: Queen. And then everyone shakes their head in disappointment. Well, if it hasn't happened to you, then either you're the person shaking your head in disappointment or you're lying to yourself!

And let's be honest, who wouldn't want a king bed? I know I do. I have "king-bed envy." I think it's an actual disease. All that room. You don't even have to touch if you don't want to. In fact, if you get a California King, you could be so far on the other side of the bed that you don't even notice when your spouse crawls into bed! You can roll over approximately 3 times and still not be on your spouse's side of the bed. Genius! Now I'm sure this may hurt in the procreation department, but all it means is that you have to make a little bit of effort. Now has effort ever really hurt anyone? Plus, with all that extra room, it may create some wonderful opportunities for experimentation! (Not that I know anything about that or anything - remember, I have a queen bed).

So now you know my theory. Now, let's have some fun!

2010 Goals

2010-01-21T09:02:00.003-05:00

I seriously can't believe how far behind I am on posting. I mean, it's already like the middle of January and I haven't gotten around to posting my new year's resolutions - or goals as a friend of mine likes to call them (and I tend to agree with her that it's a better term).

So without further ado:

Goal #1:
Spend more quality time with Jeremy. Interpret this as you like. It has multiple meanings anyway. But the overall theme is that I want to spend more one-on-one time with him. No TV, no parents, no dogs . . . ok, that last one might be asking too much. But we'll see. We are so bad about getting caught up in life that we often don't take the time to just be together. We have a long, hard day and want to do nothing more than come home, have a glass of wine (or a bourbon in Jeremy's case) and watch TV. I admit it - this is a GREAT evening for me. After all, I love my wine and I love TV just as much. But then sometimes I realize, wow, I haven't spoken 5 full sentences to Jeremy today. Come on - I know I'm not the only one out there that goes through this. Right? RIGHT? RIGHT?!? So anyway, goal number one is quality time - however I can get it!

Goal #2:
Eat healthier. Yah, I know. This and the "work out" or "lose weight" are always on people's lists (get ready for goal #3 by the way....) And usually everyone fails miserably at these types of goals. I admit, I have. But so far we have been doing OK with the eating healthier goal. I'm not going to lie and say we've done a complete 180 with our eating habits because we haven't. But what I have done is made sure we always have a salad with our dinner and usually another veggie as well. I know. It doesn't sound like much. But for us this is huge. We are the family that used to think ribs and tater tots alone classified as a complete meal. You laugh, but I'm not kidding. So recently when I made our ribs and tater tots, I also made us a salad AND asparagus! That's right folks - two veggies were on that plate. And you know what that meant? It meant we ate less ribs and tater tots. So I say that is an accomplishment. We will eventually have to up our "eat healthier" game, but for now I definitely say we get an A+ for effort in this category.

Goal #3:
Be more active. There you have it. You knew it was coming and here it is. I sort of have to laugh at this one myself. Because we haven't done much of anything to get the ball rolling on this goal. It's just, well, it's been so darn cold. And that makes it hard to want to be active. But I am proud to say that last weekend we rode our new bikes (that we got for Christmas in an attempt to accomplish goal #3) for 1.5 hours. In fact, we could have been gone for longer, but I don't actually remember the time we left the house. Anyway, it was at least 1.5 hours. Which I have to say is HUGE! We hadn't ridden bikes in years and we go for that long?! Yah, I was proud. And more importantly, I was sore. Let me tell you, bikes HURT your, well, you know . . . . private area. I felt like I'd had sex for about 5 hours straight after that bike ride . . . . and I actually had almost the same sense of satisfaction as well. LOL OK, too much information I know. So, yes, I was extremely sore afterwards. We took the dogs for a walk after the bike ride and I almost fell coming down the front steps because my legs were like jello. It was quite comical. But we did it. We rode our bikes. And I can't wait until the weather gets nicer so we can go more often.

So those are my three main goals. I'm sure I could think of some other things (save more money, eat out less, etc.) but I wouldn't want to overwhelm myself.

Lucky #13!

2010-01-11T18:16:00.002-05:00

All I have to say is:

NUMBER 13 BABY!!! ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Roll Tide Roll!

2010-01-07T17:19:00.003-05:00

So it's T-minus two hours and 45 minutes until kickoff of the National Championship! All I can say is that I hope for a good game all around. If things happen to not go my way, I want to at least be able to say "we played a good game." None of that Utah Sugar Bowl bullshit from last year. Now if we can have another awesome game like we did in the SEC championship game that would be stellar. And even better if Texas plays like they did against Nebraska. But that may be asking for too much. No matter what happens, I love my Alabama boys and think the SEC kicks some serious ass.

So I'll see you on the flip side. Hopefully with number 13 in hand . . .

ROLL TIDE!!!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-31T15:03:00.005-05:00

Well Christmas is over and 2010 is almost here. I should be sad, but I got some great loot from Santa and I'm actually ready for 2010. Santa Jeremy was very good to me this year. Check out all of these presents! (No, they weren't all mine!)

Jeremy managed - once again - to completely surprise me with my presents. One of the biggies was new bikes! From the day we moved into Southwood I said that I wanted bikes. There are so many trails out here that are great for cruising on a bike. Plus, I have been told there are some great trails around Tallahassee. I have no personal knowledge of these since I haven't owned a bike since I was in elementary school. But I have it on good authority that the St. Marks Trail is a fun one. So we will eventually have to work our way up to biking it. But right now, I ride for 10 minutes and my butt is killing me. I guess I need to condition my butt to enjoy sitting on an itty-bitty bicycle seat. Anyone know any exercises that will help? ;-)

Jeremy did a great job picking out my bike too. I love the color and design he picked for me! Unfortunately, I don't have any photos, but I will try to take some and post them later. And at some point this weekend we have to go pick out our helmets. I know I'm going to look like a complete dork, but safety over fashion right? Unless you're Carrie Bradshaw of course.

Jeremy also came through with my Shootsac! I LOVE it! And he found the pattern I really wanted: Classic Fling. I didn't have much confidence - I hate to say it - because when I went to the Shootsac website prior to Christmas I didn't see either of my favorite patterns. I was devastated. But I should know to never doubt Jeremy. He found the one I wanted on another website and purchased it. So surprise number two!

And the best surprise of all? Well, it was actually from the parents, but Jeremy had a hand in it. My own MacBook Pro!!!!!!! Oh yes, pigs are flying. I never in a million years expected to get this laptop! But it is AMAZING!!!! I feel like such a cool kid now. I think there may have been dual motivations for the laptop - I think my father-in-law was ready to get his Dell laptop back that I had absconded with awhile back. But, whatever the reason, I'll take it!

Oh, I almost forgot my Christmas Eve present from Jeremy. FOOTIE PAJAMAS!!! Now, compared to bikes, or a shootsac, or a laptop, I'm sure footie pajamas don't sound like much. But the pajamas were one of my favorite presents. They are AWESOME! So comfy AND practical - they do a great job of keeping my feet warm. I honestly don't care if it looks like I've reverted back to being a toddler. I love my footie pajamas!

And to top it all off, my wonderful husband woke up extra early on Christmas Eve and went to Publix to find me a cooked turkey! There was just a small lack of communication when it came to food prep for the holidays. I just automatically assumed we were having turkey for Christmas dinner at Jeremy's parent's house. But, I guess steak is their tradition for Christmas - which is what I was planning on cooking for Christmas Eve dinner. So I was devastated thinking that there was no way for us to have turkey considering it was late on the 23rd. But Jeremy went online, did some research, made some calls, and found me a turkey. A big, wonderful turkey! So my mom and I spent the 24th cooking the rest of the sides and we had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for Christmas Eve. It was wonderful. But not nearly as wonderful as Jeremy for going out and finding me my turkey. I couldn't ask for a better husband!

So Christmas was all it should be - family, yummy food, fun presents, and lots of happiness. It really was a Christmas miracle - no one got on each others nerves!! And I think part of that had to do with this little one: Lucky.

Yes, my parents went out and bought a puppy two weeks before Christmas. But that little dog brought joy to us all. We were all a little worried about how Kai and Sequoia would handle having a new baby in the house. But they were amazingly great with the puppy and although Lucky was a little intimidated by Kai he still tried to play with her. Mom and dad have a handful with Lucky, but he sure is worth it. So I will close with some photos of the cutie!

One of the three dogs:

Lucky sitting for a treat:

The Night Before Christmas

2009-12-18T13:45:00.003-05:00

Here is a different spin on the famous poem "The Night Before Christmas." It is written in legalese, so some of you may not find it amusing and may even wonder if I've lost my mind. But after three years of law school and another four years practicing, I (and most of my attorney-friends I'm sure) find it downright hilarious . . . as well as frightening. Yes, this is how lawyers really speak. Scary, isn't it? Well here we go. And if nothing else, you can have a good laugh at my expense!

The Night Before Christmas in Legalese

Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to a mouse.

A variety of foot apparel, e.g., stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a/k/a/ St. Nicholas a/k/a/ Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus") would arrive at sometime thereafter. The minor residents, i.e. the children, of the aforementioned House were located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations, i.e. dreams, wherein vision of confectionery treats, including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort and otherwise appear in said dreams.

Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as ("I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the party of the second part (hereinafter "Mamma"), and said Mamma had retired for a sustained period of sleep. (At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of headgear, e.g., kerchief and cap.

Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the unimproved real property adjacent and appurtenant to said House, i.e., the lawn, a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause and/or circumstance. The party of the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the cause of such disturbance.

At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter "the Vehicle") being pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8) reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and in fact was, the previously referenced Claus.

Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically identified the animal co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (hereinafter "the Deer"). (Upon information and belief, it is further asserted that an additional co- conspirator named "Rudolph" may have been involved.)

The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle and the Deer intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House, and noted that the Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys and other items of unknown origin or nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at theHouse, and Claus entered said House via the chimney.

Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue from the chimney, and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items. He was smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances and health regulations.

Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minor children, which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minor pursuant to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Tax Code.)

Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side of his nose and flew, rose and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to the roof where the Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as "lookouts." Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination.

However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer and Claus from said House, the party of the first part did hear Claus state and/or exclaim: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Or words to that effect.

-- Author unknown

Cars, Cars, Cars

2009-12-17T10:35:00.005-05:00

I have been such a slacker lately. But with so many things going on in my life right, blogging has sort of been put on the back burner. And for that, I'm sorry. I don't have too much to report right now. But my car is in the shop - AGAIN. It's time number 5 I believe since September. It's getting a little ridiculous. But, I would rather get some of these issues fixed while the thing is still under warranty! It all started off with a window problem. My windows go down about a half an inch when you open the car door (due to the convertible top). But then it happened that they wouldn't go back up when the door was shut. That's how this mess all began. And then there is the tiny irritation of the steering wheel radio control not working properly. Each time I would take the car in, they would "fix" it. But once I got it home, I realize it wasn't actually fixed. But through all of these visits to the shop, I have gotten to "test drive" quite a few VWs. I guess that's helpful. I mean, if I'm in the market for a new car, I can knock three off my list of ones to test drive.

Let's see. The first car they loaned me was a beauty. It was the Tiguan. And they gave me the LOADED Tiguan - even better! I absolutely loved this little SUV. It drove great! We had test driven the Touareg at one point and were devastated to realize we didn't like it. It was just so heavy of an SUV. It didn't have much pick up. It was very disappointing. Because if we were going to replace Jeremy's 4Runner, we really thought the Touareg would be a logical choice - then we'd be a VW family. ;-) Anyway, the Touareg is off the list. So after our unfortunate experience with the Touareg, I was skeptical about driving the Tiguan. But I was pleasantly surprised by it. It drove great - not too heavy, but you also didn't feel like you would fly off the road with a small gust of wind. In all honesty, the Tiguan is probably about the same size (and in fact, looks very similar) to the Honda CRV. But I LOVED the Tiguan's sunroof - the whole roof of the car almost was a window. It is so amazing!

So fast forward a few weeks and my car is in the shop again. They tell me they are going to give me a loaner car and I got all excited - thinking I'd get to drive the Tiguan again. Wrong. No such luck. This time I get a base model Passat. I know. I have become a car snob. But come on! No Serius Radio?!? How am I to live???? I was very distraught. Plus, the breaks squeaked really loud. So I didn't get as excited about this loaner. But it was still nice that they offered me a car rather than making me get a rental like the people in the building before them (ahem, BMW).

(BTW, I don't recall this being what the Passat they gave me looked like. It didn't feel so . . . ergonomical. Hmmm....)

Now for the third time, I have been given a loaner car. And this time they were bringing the car to me, rather than me having to drive out to them. FINALLY! I was told via email that I was getting the Tiguan again. I barely slept last night because I was happy (ok, that's an exaggeration, but you get my point). So imagine my disappointment when they show up and it's not the Tiguan, but another Passat. :-( However, this time it is the Passat Wagon. WTF?!? You want to put me in a station wagon????? But then I took a deep breath, and realized "wow, this thing looks nice!" And it is! I just hope that I get to keep it over night so I can properly drive it. I'm in utter shock. Me. Liking a station wagon. Wow. But it's pretty nice. And at least this time they gave me a top of the line one, rather than base-model. Yes, I'm a snob. I've already acknowledged that. Deal with it.

So through all of this I have gotten to test drive three different VW models. I think I may be a VW expert. But through it all, I still love my little baby. She's the best. And I hope they send her back to me all patched up.

Sorry you had to sit through a post about cars. I promise I'm not being paid by VW! But this is what is on my mind today. That's all I got.

The Annual Christmas List Dilemma

2009-11-24T13:40:00.005-05:00

Well, it's that time of year again. The holidays. I love them, but they always catch me completely off guard. So over the year, I find myself saying "I really want X" or "I wish someone would buy me Y." Yet, I always seem to forget to actually add these things to a running list that I can then pull out around the holidays (or my birthday or Valentine's Day or our anniversary . . . well you get the point). So without fail, it always comes time to send out my Christmas list - and I can never think of anything to put on it! It's so frustrating. Especially because I know there are things I want. But my mind decides to have a bout of amnesia when it's time to actually come up with the list. So then I try to run around last minute thinking of things to put on the list - some of it is stuff I don't actually care about, but I HAVE to have something on the list. And it's always hard to balance out my price ranges. Usually I have no problem thinking of expensive items. What can I say? I have expensive taste. But when it comes to less-expensive things - you know, the things I'm actually more likely to get - well, my mind draws a blank. This is a yearly routine and you would think I would have learned by now. But, as always, I have received the yearly email from the relatives asking for my Christmas list. And as always, I am lost.

However, there is one definite thing I know I want - and that I actually have a snowball's chance of getting since it isn't overly expensive. It is a Shootsac. This is a wonderful creation by photographer Jessica Claire. She really is a genius. Not only is the Shootsac functional, but it is stylish as well. It could even pass as a large purse/shoulder bag, when you aren't carrying your lenses. This is a definite must-have on every photographer's list. And I want one!

Just look how handy they are!

And you know what would make me extremely happy? If I could also get a great Shootsac cover! They make your Shootsac so much more personal! Unfortunately, one of my favorite covers seems to have been discontinued. This makes me VERY sad. On the bright side, it does help me choose which one I want. Since I was torn between two and now one has mysteriously disappeared, I am down to one that I truly love. BUT, there's even better news. The Shootsacs and the Shootsac covers are on sale! That's right - so the early bird can save if they want to go ahead and buy this for me NOW! And because of the truly awesome sale, you can get me TWO Shootsac covers for the price of ONE. How amazing is that?!? I'm so excited. I will post photos of the covers I am currently intersted in . . . you know. Just in case.

Classic Fling is my top choice now since the other one was discontinued:

And Classic Stylin' is also quite nice. And with the sale, it is only $15!!!

Anyway, I just thought I'd throw this out there. Just in case anyone is reading this blog. And is interested in helping a girl out. Did I mention it's on sale . . . ?

Lednice Castle

2009-11-22T11:02:00.007-05:00

So to continue our Europe adventure story . . . We left Prague early in the morning to drive to Vienna. On the border of the Czech Republic, right before we crossed into Austria, we stopped at a little village called Lednice. There wasn't much there except Lednice Castle. Lednice Castle belonged to the Liechtenstein family and was their summer hunting house. Yes, you heard that correctly, the summer hunting house. Must be nice. The castle is surrounded by gardens designed in the "English Garden" style.

Before we left Prague, we went to the local grocery store and bought some cheese and bread and fruit. We also bought a bottle of wine. So when we stopped at Lednice Castle everyone took their food and picked different spots in the garden and set up little picnics. It took us a little time to find the perfect spot - mainly because we were looking for the bathroom and it just so happened that on that specific day every single public restroom was closed. There were some very unhappy - and nervous - people on the tour: me included! Because when I have to go, I HAVE TO GO! Luckily our tour guide was a smooth talker and talked the little hotel next to Lednice Castle into letting our tour group use their restrooms. But we finally got to enjoy our picnic right next to the huge greenhouse. It was very peaceful.

And then we all hit the hotel bathrooms again and were on our way to Vienna.

The "gate" going into the castle grounds.

Lednice Castle (it was under construction).

Lednice Castle was abandoned for so long that it was going into ruins. They are finally trying to reconstruct it.

Lednice Castle and the greenhouse.

The greenhouse.

The castle had a lot of gargoles on it.

The grounds were beautiful!

The English style gardens

All of the flowers were in bloom.

What's the Skinny?

2009-11-02T11:12:00.004-05:00

I am so excited about my new purchase I can't stand it. And, no, it's not camera equipment! (shocker I know!). The other day I decided to stroll through Kohl's with a pocket full of coupons, hoping I'd find some loot. And I did! Granted, not as much as I was hoping, but I was still very happy. I bought a few advanced Christmas presents and some bowls for the kitchen and a few drape options for the guest room. But the purchase I was most excited about was my skinny jeans! Yes, you heard correctly. I bought skinny jeans. I couldn't believe it either. I mean, me, in skinny jeans? It's like an oxymoron! Before you say I'm being too hard on myself let me explain. I know that I have curves. What can I say, I'm a curvy girl. And that's not a bad thing. My hips create the illusion that my waist is tinier - and I'm a big fan of that.

But being the curvy girl that I am, I never believed I could pull off a pair of skinny jeans. I usually see them on thin, stick-figured girls (they look more like little boys) and of course they look good on them. And it's not all in my head either - I have actually tried on a pair of skinny jeans before and OMG - they were horrible. A complete disaster. It looked like someone had shoved a pear into a condom. It just wasn't pretty. Ok, so I don't really have the "pear" shape - my legs are tiny. But I do have hips, so when you put something tiny on them and then there is nothing to flair at the bottom to balance them out . . . well I'm sure you can picture it (if you are brave).

But then I had some inspiration. We went to Tampa awhile back for our good friend Jen's 30th birthday. Now Jen is ALWAYS stylish and I've always envied her clothes. So when she came out ready to go out for her birthday, she looked adorable as always. And what did she have on? Skinny jeans! Now the reason this was inpirational to me was because Jen is built similar to myself (except she is in better shape!) - she's got some curves and hips as well. And the jeans looked AMAZING on her! Where did she get them? Ann Taylor Loft. I should have known. It's only my favorite store on Earth - my mecca you could call it. I truly believe I need to take a pilgramage there at least once a month. Unfortunately, Jeremy forbids that - seeing as we would be broke.

So fast forward to the other day. I'm in Kohl's and see some skinny jeans on the rack. And what really made me stop to look is that they are Vera Wang skinny jeans (ok, Simply Vera if I have to be 100% accurate). And I have always wanted to own something Vera! (I do need to give a shout-out to my good friend Laura for buying me my Vera toasting glasses for my wedding - that was my first thing Vera. But I want clothing as well . . . ) So I figured "what the hell? I'll just try them on." And I was pleasantly surprised. They were sort of cute. I put them on. Turned a little in the mirror. Took them off and tried on a few other things. Then put them back on again. This happened a few times. And each time I put them on, I liked them a little more. But what pushed me over the edge to take the plunge was the price. They were 30% off and I had an additional 15% coupon! I just couldn't pass this deal up. So I grabbed them and didn't let myself think twice about it.

The next day I decided to try them on. I rolled them up a tad so they looked like cute capris and then threw on flip-flops and my Alabama jersey and I was sporting it, if I do say so myself. I haven't worn them rolled down yet, but that time will come. I am especially looking forward to wearing them with my UGGs. Finally! A pair of jeans I can wear inside the UGGS without them all bunching up! I still feel a little self-conscious about my hips, but as long as I pair them with a long top, I'm A-OK! *sigh* I'm in love. Oh, so this means if you ever see me in them, and they actually look horroble, please do NOT tell me and let me just continue to be delusional. Thanks!

Prague - 2 of 2

2009-10-26T20:29:00.014-04:00

Welcome to America! Oh wait, it's not America, it's just Americanized!

We did a city tour at night with our tour group. We went to a local pub as part of our night tour and this guy came in and played his accordian for us.

Here is the city and Prague Castle by night. Sorry for the clarity of these photos, but I didn't have a tripod.

This is Prague's version of the Eiffel Tower. We were told by our tour guide that Mr. Eiffel was from the Czech Republic (ok, obviously it wasn't just the Czech Republic at that time) and they recreated it in Prague. And the Czech people like to say that their Eiffel Tower is taller than the original - due to the huge hill it is on!

While walking the Charles Bridge, we walked by these street performers.

One night we decided we didn't want to go out to eat and went to the local market across the street from our hotel. The market was completely Czech - nothing, absolutely nothing, was in English. It was a great experience - especially trying to find some cheese! So this is what we got - the local beer (Pilsner Urquell) as well as Budweiser, some cheese (I have no clue what one was and the other was some brie), fruit (apple and grapes), some sausage, and bread. Then we had a little picnic in our room. It was great!

There is a huge metronome (yes it really moves) up on the hill here. See the red pole-like thing? That's it.

Some more of Prague's beautiful bridges and the Vltava River.

The towers on Charles Bridge, Prague's most defining landmark. Until the 19th Century, Charles Bridge was the only bridge to cross the river. There is a statute on the bridge depciting John of Nepomuk - a saint. He was a 14th Century priest to whom the queen told her secrets. When he refused to tell the queen's secrets to the king, Father John was killed and thrown off Charles Bridge. Devout pilgrams touch an engraved plaque to make a wish come true (yes, I touched it!!!!!) There are now other statues on the bridge as well, dating from the late 1600's to early 1700's. However, most are replicas and the originals are in museums.

There were a lot of street vendors on the bridge as well - it reminded me of the French Quarter! The bridge is currently under reconstruction and it gets really crowded during the day because they have one portion of the bridge closed down. So we didn't cross the bridge during the day, but went back at night.

St. Mary the Victorious holds Prague's most precious treasure: The Baby Jesus (aka, the Infant of Prague). The Infant has become famous for worship and miracle tales in Prague and Spanish-speaking countries. South Americans come on pilgrimage to Prague just to see the Baby Jesus.

(yes that's the Baby Jesus in the case)

Church of St. Nicholas (built 1703-1760).

Someone having a little fun with the pedestrian walking sign. There was so much graffiti in Prague, but this was actually funny and unique.

Walking to Prague Castle (up on the hill).

The Na Valech Gardens within Prague Castle. It was so beautiful - a maze of greenery. And there were peacocks roaming around inside!

The Grotto - also in the gardens.

On our last night in Prague we went to Klub Architektu, which was recommended to us by Erin's (Jeremy's sister-in-law) parents (who used to live in Prague). It was also recommended by Rick Steves' guide book. It was in a medieval cellar - we almost couldn't find it because it was off the street in a courtyard-like place and then you had to walk down . . . a lot. Oh and it didn't help that the maps in Prague SUCK! None of them were right - some streets just weren't listed. It was weird. But it was well worth it! We had some original Czech food and it was delicious - the best goulash Jeremy had the whole trip . . . and he ate a lot of goulash!

That's all folks. Next up . . . Vienna!

Prague - 1 of 2

2009-10-26T16:39:00.027-04:00

"So, Prague . . . that's an interesting choice. How'd you decide to go there?" Yah, that was the normal response when we told people where we were going. I mean, most NORMAL people don't go to Eastern Europe for their first trip abroad. What can I say? We definitely are not normal. We like to be original and unexpected. Plus, we had heard from so many people how beautiful Prague was. And they were right. Prague was amazing. Unfortunately, the trip over there was less than steller. But, let's start from the beginning.

We woke up at the crack of dawn - yup, around 4:00 a.m. Why you have to be at Tallahassee Regional two hours before the flight is beyond me. I mean, it's Tallahassee - they have a total of like 5 gates! (yes, that's being overly dramatic, but you get my point). And since we are world-class procrastinators we didn't actually go to bed until around midnight. Needless to say we were exhausted. Then there was "bad weather" in Atlanta creating delays everywhere. So we were about an hour or so late. Thankfully since the problem originated in Atlanta we still made our connecting flight. Now New York . . . ah, New York. We arrive from Atlanta and realize that in order to get to our next gate we have to actually leave the airport and then re-enter and then GO BACK THROUGH SECURITY. Oh yes, you read that right. It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. And frustrating. And then we end up on Czech Airlines which is even smaller than most of our airlines. Jeremy had his butt fully against the seat and his knees still hit the seat in front of him. And everything was in Czech! We didn't expect that. We figured it wouldn't start until we were actually IN the Czech Republic. So that was interesting. But what WAS nice was the fluffy blankets and water and headphones they gave you - for free. Along with the wine. Oh yah baby! Luckily, the movies were still in English!

After being awake for almost 24 hours we finally made it to Prague. Customs was a breeze (but as someone told us - they'll let everyone in, it's trying to get back into the U.S. that is the problem!) We step out into the airport terminal ready to take on the Czech world. We mentally prepped during the plane ride. No Americanized food while we were in Europe. That was the deal. We step out and see . . . The Holiday Inn and Courtyard Marriot and McDonald's and Burger King and KFC . . . the list goes on. I think my jaw dropped.

But let's move on (since I just accidentally posted this and wasn't finished, so I have to hurry before people start seeing the unfinished version . . . lol)

Here is some of the local architecture (I loved that so many of the buildings had flower boxes):

The bridges over the Vltava River in Prague are so beautiful!

This was an art museum:

They had a ton of public transportation:

As we walked around the city, we stumbled upon Havelska Market, the local farmer's market, that was set up in the 13th Century for the German trading community.

There are lots of little alley ways around Prague:

This is Tyn Church (pronouned Teen) in the middle of Old Town Square. For over 200 years it was Prague's leading Hussite church.

This is Parizska Street - it had all of the really expensive stores on it (Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci, etc.). It was also the only street lined with trees leading into the town center, so that was an easy landmark.

Old Town Square has been the market square since the 11th Century - lots of history here! Today there are lots of outdoor cafes and horse & buggies.

Church of St. Nicholas viewed from Old Town Square.

This is a view of the Restaurant u Prince Terrace. It is located on the rooftop of the five-star U Prince Hotel facing the Astronomical Clock. It has the best view, but is supposed to be incredibly overpriced.

A view over the city from the top of the Old Town Hall. The Prague Castle is in the background at the top of the hill.

There were some beautiful murals made out of tiny mosaic tiles inside the Old Town Hall.

The Old Town Hall, which has the only elevator-accessible tower in town.

The Astronomical Clock. It takes several versions of time: two outer rings show the hour in Bohemian time and modern time. Arcing lines and moving spheres combine with the big hand and the little hand. The circle below the clock shows the Zodiac signs and was added in the 19th Century. At the top of the hour there is a very short show. First, Death tips his hourglass and pulls the cord ringing the bell; then the windows open and the 12 apostles parade by; then the rooster crows and the hour is rung. Unfortunately, the clock was heavily destroyed in WWII so most of it is a reconstruction.

This is the Pinkas Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. The walls are covered with the handwritten names of 77,297 Czech Jews who were sent from Prague to the gas chambers. Unfortunately, the entire Jewish Quarter was closed on the day we were walking around town so we didn't get to see the inside of the synagogue.

In the Jewish Quarter:

Statues that were at either end of the Cechuv Most (one of the bridges that we used as a landmark).

Lamp posts on the same bridge:

Statues off the side of the bridge:

Stay tuned for part 2!

Day trip to Dresden

2009-10-15T20:04:00.012-04:00

I have gotten a lot of slack from people lately. Everyone wants to know why I haven't posted anything about our Europe trip. Truth is - we didn't end up going. We decided to stay in town and camp out in the house for 12 days. What? I can't pull one past you, huh? Ok, fine, I've just been extremely busy catching up with work since I got home. But I'm tired of hearing all of the whining, so I put my nose to the grindstone to be able to get out at least SOME of the photos. In fact, this is only a very small portion of our trip. While we were in Prague we decided to take a day trip to Dresden, Germany. While it did cut almost an entire day off our Prague trip (which does sadden me greatly), Dresden was also amazing. The way the city was devastated during World War II and how it has come back to life - wow. It was so beautiful! There was so much green space, which I think is why we ultimately loved it so much. We always like to check out areas where the doggies can play when we are in new places. And when we ate lunch at a nice little outdoor cafe in the town square, we truly experienced the language barrier for the first time since being out of the United States. Lunch was interesting to say the least. We ordered traditional German crepes and cold German beer. We got a few laughs from the locals at the table next to us (at least, I interpreted it as laughing . . . since you know, they could have been talking about why Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent got a makeover for all I know. It's not like I could understand them. But since I'm a little paranoid, I tend to believe that they were snickering at us young Americans).

It was a short day trip, but we got to see the highlights. And we did at least make it back to Prague in time to go out and have an dinner at an authentic Czech restaurant. But more on Prague at a later date.

We almost ate at this Italian restaurant on the river - mainly because of the Beer Garden! But we resisted since we had eaten Italian the day before.

This building has always been a cigarette company. But they didn't want it to look like a factory so they disguised it as a mosque. So the pillars are actually smokestakes. It currently belongs to Phillip Morris.

There were some beautiful "homes" (more like castles) on this hillside right on the river. There was green space all around the river, as well as biking and walking trails. It was so beautiful! The yellow house below with the vineyards (on the left) was owned by a gold maker. Yah, this was his summer house. Must be nice. In the second photo, the castle-like home with vineyards (on the left) was owned by the inventor of mouthwash. The other castle looking home has been turned into a hotel.

I forget what this next building is (you better get used to that saying because I'll be writing it a lot - there was so much beautiful architecture in every country and I just snapped away . . . but of course I forgot what most everything was. :-( Sorry!) But, in Dresden they like to call it the lemon juicer. Hehe, it really does look like one doesn't it?!

After googling the phrase "Dem Vaterland Zu Zier Und Ehr" I realize that many people have taken a similar photo as mine and yet no one has explained exactly what this building is. Sheesh!

The next photos are of the church in the middle of the main square. It is right next to the Opera House and the palace. In fact, the Royals had the green bridge built (in a photo below) to connect the palace and the church so that they wouldn't have to walk outside during bad weather. Very smart, these Germans! Notice the different colors of the stone that makes up the church. The story behind the different stones is that the church was practically destroyed during WWII. But they had the skematics of the church, so the engineers disected the rubble of the church, and logged each piece manually. They then identified the missing pieces of the church and had those remade. So the dark, black stone is the original stone from the church that was inventoried. And the lighter stones are the remade pieces. Interesting, huh?!

And here is the palace . . .

This mural tells the story of the monarchy and the details depicted in the mural also comment on the history of the country for its leaders' style, religion, etc. For example, in the second photo, you can see that the first hoof of the horse is stepping on a rose. The rose was the symbol of freedom of religion essentially from the previous monarchy - that king allowed the people to practice any religion that they wanted. When the son came to power he banned all other religions except Catholicism - hence why his horse is stepping on the rose. But if you look very closely, you can see another rose directly behind the horse's back hoof. This rose symbolizes the king that came next that once again allowed the people to practice whatever religion that they wanted.

The statute in the square. I can't for the life of me remember who it is of though. There were way too many statutes of men on horses on our trip!

The Opera House. It was undergoing some reconstruction, which is why you can see scaffolding in the picture. I actually didn't take many photos of the Opera House because there was just so much scaffolding everywhere that it really wasn't as beautiful as it normally would have been.

This was like a huge courtyard inside the palace. Originally the entire city was walled in to protect the citizens. I believe this is part of the city walls.

This is still all the courtyard in the palace. But if you look at the photos in order, they show how the wall connects around. Think of it as a fake panoramic!

It was a great trip! I'll try to get the rest of the photos together as soon as possible!!!

The San Diego Zoo

2009-09-30T17:26:00.008-04:00

Although it is about as out-dated as "The Rachel," I just have to finish my California post series, which includes our trip to the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Jeremy hadn't been to the zoo since he lived in San Diego while in high school. Needless to say he was due a trip to see the animals. Although I had been to the zoo the previous summer, I still enjoyed our trip and I got to see the new Elephant sanctuary area that they were constructing the year before. There's really no need for narrating. Nothing too exciting happened while we were at the zoo - no stampeding elephants, no ravenous lions, no monkeys throwing poop. It was a very tame day. So I'll just post some of my photos of the beautiful animals.

The flamingos greet you the moment you walk in the gate.

Jeremy having some fun.

Hippos

We waited in a long line to see the pandas. I thought that maybe the experience would be different a year later - plus since Jeremy hadn't been to the zoo in so long I figured it couldn't hurt to wait in line to see them. But, just like last year, it was a tad disappointing. You stand in line to be shuffled through the viewing area and then the pandas are no where to be seen. Luckily I did get one photo of a panda's back. Joy.

The giraffes were fun and actively eating lunch.

All of the koalas were sleeping - as usual.

The camels were interesting. This one was foaming at the mouth and his hump was a little floppy. I was a tad concerned he had co-mingled with the pigs and caught the swine flu.

Here we are at the Elephant Odyssey. It was pretty cool! And, no, it was not simply because the elephant is the mascot for the best college football team EVER! ;-)

An owl.

At the end of the day we jumped in the air cart and rode over the park.

California Vacation - Part II

2009-09-13T10:12:00.009-04:00

The second phase of our vacation we spent in Los Angeles with Jeremy's cousin Michael and his wife Mia and son Jack. We got up bright and early and rode the train down the coast. I had done this last summer and it proved to be a very economical means of transportation. For this trip it was $108 total for both of us to go from Gover Beach all the way to San Diego! You can't beat that!! In fact, our rental car from San Jose to San Luis Obispo cost us a whopping $150 for one day!! It was ridiculous! So the train is the way to go. Plus, you don't have to deal with California traffic, which is always an added benefit.

On the way down, I was able to get on the computer and do some blogging and playing. But that is only because Jeremy brought his air card. Unfortunately, the train did not have wi-fi. But there were outlets so my battery would last the entire time! We had our little seating section all to ourselves, which was also nice. We arrived in LA around 11:30 a.m., which was pretty good timing.

Michael picked us up and we met up with the rest of the family and went to lunch at this great little Mexican restaurant. After a quick change of clothes (because it was sweltering hot in LA! Completely different from SLO) we met up with some of Michael and Mia's friends at one of the popular parks in the neighborhood. It was beautiful! Really high up and overlooked the baseball stadium, as well as the city. There were a ton of people out playing soccer, but we chose to play bocce ball. SO MUCH FUN! And of course we had beer, lots and lots of beer.

That evening we went to a local place that had true deep dish Chicago pizza that Mia raved about. She is from Chicago and was complaining that no place had been able to mimic "true" Chicago pizza, until this place came along. I wish I could remember the name of it. The pizza was HUGE! I had one slice and was done. Then we had some time left before they had told the babysitter we'd be home, so we went to this little bar they like and sat out on the rooftop. It was a lot of fun.

The next morning we headed out again on the train, destined for San Diego. It was a short trip in LA, but it was great to see Michael and Mia and baby Jack!

I took a ton of photos of Jack. He was just so cute!!
(And yes, that is him with a beer. What can I say? The kid loves the stuff! Ok, don't get your panties in a wad - he did actually drink it!)

(I promise, it wasn't open!)

A few of the family:

Michael and Mia's friends:

The view from the park we went to. This is the baseball stadium:

And the LA skyline, complete with some smog!

California vacation - part 1

2009-09-07T09:38:00.023-04:00

Our California vacation started out to a rocky start. As I mentioned on my pre-vacation post, we weren't flying out of Tallahassee until 4:30 p.m. Unfortunately, I completely underestimated the time we would arrive in Grover Beach. I had hoped we would get there around 1:00 a.m. California time - which would be 4:00 a.m. our time (yes, I miscalculated the time difference in the pre-vacation post!) Well, it didn't quite end up like that. Of course we were extremely delayed leaving out of Atlanta. Why was I even surprised?!? It is to be expected. It is Atlanta after all. Needless to say, by the time we finally arrived at my aunt's condo in Grover Beach and got in bed, it was well after 3:00 a.m. their time (aka, 6:00 a.m. Florida time). We were exhausted!

We did sleep until 10ish, but even that wasn't enough. But when you have limited time in a location and a lot of people to see, you have to get a move on. So we headed to San Luis Obispo, met up with my parents, dropped off the rental car, and then went out to see where my grandma was buried. Here is a photo of me and mom at grandma and grandpa's grave.

There was this house on the way to my grandparents' house that had boots lined up along their fence. It was such a cool photo op!!!

The sign above my grandparents' garage:

Beautiful flowers growing around the garage:

My grandpa's old '65 mustang. I really wanted to buy it and bring it home and rebuild it. But to haul it across the country would have cost a small fortune. :-( So I'll have to settle for the memories of it.

My always had grandparents' so many different types of fruit in their backyard: limes, loquats, oranges, grapefruits, pears! It was so much fun to grab fresh fruit off the trees.

A sentimental moment and some family.

My grandparents' house.

That night we still hadn't adjusted to the time change, so we headed back to the condo early and went to bed. It was glorious!

The next morning we were meeting my parents at The Apple Farm for breakfast. As we pull into the restaurant, I look over and recognize a cute little blue car. "Wow!" I thought, "it looks like a smurf . . ." Well, lo and behold, when we walked into the restaurant there was Kara and Ben!!! They had driven all the way down from Monterrey to surprise Jeremy and me! OMG!!! It was such a wonderful surprise! I had been a tad disappointed because it had looked like I wasn't going to the opportunity to meet up with Kara. And then next summer she is heading to China. So I was sad thinking that I wouldn't get to see her until possibly 2011 when we attempt to go to China to visit. So I was estatic when I realized she had come down to visit for the day!!

Mom and dad:

Jeremy and me:

Kara and me:

Kara and Ben:

And the four of us (it was REALLY bright out!):

After breakfast, Kara, Ben, Jeremy, and I headed out on our own. We went to Morro Bay and walked along the street looking at all the shops. Ben attempted to climb Morro Rock, as you can see from one of the photos below. And then we sat and chilled with a beer. It was a great afternoon. Then we headed back to my grandparent's house for the BBQ. It was about that time we realized that we (ok, more like Kara, Ben, and Jeremy) got really burned from our Morro Bay adventures. Whoops!

Ben trying to "climb" Morro Rock:

The boys. I just love this series of them.

An old woodie (hehe) all refurbished.

A fun (and yummy) candy store!

Morro Rock and the surrounding bay is so beautiful!

That night my uncle and some of the cousins bar-b-qued and we all ate outside on grandma and grandpa's old deck. At the end of the night I had an emotional breakdown. Kara and Ben had left to drive back home of course and then I realized as we were driving away from the house, that this was the last time I would get to see that house. My mom, uncle, and aunt were actually in negotiations at that time with a possible buyer. It happened so fast. All my life I had hoped that they wouldn't sell the house when my grandma and grandpa passed. I somehow hoped that I'd find a way to be able to purchase it from the rest of the family. The location is perfect and I have always wanted to live in California. There was always this little voice in the back of my head saying "this is the way to own land!" But unfortunately, we don't have that kind of money. And no one asked us anyway. So I realized that I would never again get to see the house that I spent so many of my childhood summers. It was a sad night.

The next morning we got on the train and headed down to L.A. But I'll save that post for another day.

California vacation sneak peek

2009-09-04T23:37:00.008-04:00

OMG, it's a miracle. Can I hear an Amen?! I finally got through my California pictures. It's been over a month since my trip, but when you deal with photography as your job, sometimes it's hard to want to spend your personal time on it as well. I'm sure you understand. But, when I finally sat down and concentrated on spending the time to edit the photos, it really only took me two days. Not bad! Anyway, because it's late, I will wait until tomorrow to post. But here is a sneak peek for your enjoyment!! :-)

Ode to bagels

2009-09-03T09:46:00.004-04:00

So I love bagels. I mean, truly lo-ove bagels. So round and soft and wonderful. No blog is complete without some photos, so here ya go.

And one of my favorite ways to eat a bagel: as a sandwich!

It may actually be an obsession. And I'm pretty sure it's not healthy, seeing as my waistline continues to grow. Do they make a 12 step program for bagel love? I've at least accomplished step 1, which is acknowledging there is a problem. I don't see myself getting any farther. It's sad really. I bust my butt working out each morning. Rather, Jillian Michaels busts my butt. She is one mean b!tch! But she gets the job done. And I always feel better afterwards, even if I do spend the majority of my workout cursing her name. But I digress. Yet, even with my continuous exercise, I don't seem to be losing any weight. On the plus side, I'm not gaining it either. So I guess that's good. But I want to LOSE! And so I grudgingly get myself up at 6:00 a.m. each morning and do my thing. Only to be disappointed when the scale never moves. Then this week I had an epiphany as I was chowing down on my morning bagel. Maybe this was the culprit? "But they taste soooo good," the devil on my shoulder was saying. And the angel rebuts, "but they aren't good FOR you." To which the devil counters, "but you NEED carbs after working out." You can see how this could go on and on for hours - which I'm pretty sure it did.

After my debate with myself, I came to the realization that I may never be able to give up my love for bagels. I love the look of bagels. The feel - when they are so fresh that they squeeze to the touch. The smell. Everything about a bagel I love. I don't think I've ever met a bagel that I DIDN'T like. Sure, there are particular flavors that I would prefer not to have, and definitely some flavors I can smell-out in a crowded room and make a bee-line for - sort of like a bloodhound tracks its target. I think I even let out a little howl once when I found the asiago I'd been seeking. But is there anything so wrong with loving bagels? Am I hurting anyone with my love? If not, then what is the big deal?! I just have to learn moderation. Everything is fine in moderation, right? RIGHT?!!! Have you ever seen a crack addict who is coming down off his high and needs more? Yah, me either. But I've been told it's a scary sight. Well, that is what I would be like if you take away my bagels. It won't be pretty. I promise. So let's just go with (a) I recognize there may be a problem and (b) I'll take into consideration the concept of moderation. (Except my cream cheese. I can NOT moderate my cream cheese. I love the stuff. But that's a post for another day).

On that note, I'll leave you with a little poem I wrote. I like to call it Ode to Bagels. Enjoy.

Bagels, oh bagels, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the debth, and breadth, and height

My soul can reach, when taking a bite.

For the softness and ideal taste,

I love thee for fulfilling my everday's

Most quiet need, by being in my belly.

I love thee untoasted, and topped with jelly;

I love thee toasted, and spread with smear.

I love thee from Publix or Panera,

For breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Plain, sesame, or asiago,

There is no way for me to say no.

Lord, I ask you to grant me this one wish please,

That Heaven be filled with plenty of cream cheese.

Stuff that pepper!

2009-09-02T09:06:00.003-04:00

I made this recipe a few weeks ago, particularly for Jeremy's benefit. He really loves himself some peppers! Me, eh, not so much. But I don't hate them and since I was in a giving mood, I figured I'd make this special for him. It actually turned out pretty good! Although, for me personally, I'd rather just make the stuffing part and call it a day. That was so delicious! I could do without the pepper. But Jeremy loved it all!

Orzo-stuffed peppers with feta and mint

6 servings

Ingredients:

3/4 cup dried orzo

4 oz bulk Italian hot or mild sausage

1 large onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups crumbled feta cheese (8 oz)

1/4 cup snipped fresh mint

1/4 tsp pepper

6 medium red, orange, and/or yellow sweet peppers (I only made 4 since there were only two of us; however, I still made the rest of the recipe as provided here. It meant I had left over stuffing, which I ate by itself for lunch!)

1 1/2 cups carrot or tomato juice (I didn't want left-over juice because it would go to waste, so I bought the only thing I could find with the proper amount: V8 juice in single servings. It worked well)

1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. In a 4-5 quart Dutch oven cook orzo; drain. Set aside. Wipe dutch oven dry. (I have no clue what a Dutch oven is. So I cooked in a regular pot. I have nothing against the Dutch I swear!)

2. In a large nonstick skillet cook sausage, onion, celery, and garlic until sausage is browned and onion is tender. (I put my sausage in first and got it going a bit before adding the other ingredients). Remove from heat; drain fat, if any. Stir in cooked orzo, cheese, mint, and pepper.

3. Cut tops from peppers; remove seeds and ribs. Slightly trip bottoms of peppers to stand upright. Spoon orzo mixture into peppers and replace tops. Set aside. In Dutch oven stir together carrot/tomato juice and salt. (Again, just used a big pot). Stand peppers upright in Dutch oven. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Simmer, covered 20-25 minutes or until peppers are tender.

4. Serve peppers on rimmed plates. Spoon over any remaining cooking juices.

And for leftovers, you can spoon some spaghetti sauce over the peppers or just the stuffing and it works the same magic as the carrot/tomato juice!

Dropping the ball

2009-08-26T09:33:00.002-04:00

Ok, I admit it, I have dropped the ball. I still have one more new recipe I need to post and what about my California vacation you ask? Well, I haven't even gone through my photos! Yes, I am that far behind. I just have no time to do anything personal anymore! I know this has got to change, but I haven't quite figured out how yet. So, I apologize for being behind. And before you know it, I'll be in Europe - and then I'll be even more behind on my blogging. Oh jeez. I think I'm breaking out in hives just thinking about it. Oh wait, that's just my sunburn from this past weekend of family photo shoots at the beach!

On a side note, I am finally ready to mail off my nasty-gram to the HOA. That's right - we received yet another non-compliance letter. [I'm rolling my eyes, but you can't see that]. We received the first one saying we needed to pressure wash our gutters. Are you kidding me? With all of the blatant and ugly violations going on and that is what they are bitching about?! Oh well, no skin off our back because we literally had JUST had the entire house - gutters included - pressure washed. Then a month or so later we receive another letter. Now this is the one that really frosts my cookies. They are saying that our trellis is in the easement and too close to the alley and therefore we must move it. UM, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! So the attorney in my gets pissed off. We proceed to write a little nasty-gram informing Betty Crocker [I will keep her anonymous for protection purposes - for now . . .] that we submitted an application, as required by HOA rules, to build the fence and trellis. Said application included a sketch of the fence/trellis, as well as actual photos from the fence company illustrating what it would look like. Oh, and what else do we have? That's right - an APPROVAL letter saying "go ahead and build it." The icing on the cake is that we submitted this application in 2007 and received approval in Feb. 2008. So over one year later they are going to come and bitch about the fence? I think not. Especially with every other violation and unfulfilled promise that is out there. I threw in words like "dispute," "appalled," "relied upon," "to our detriment" and the like. Just to show I'm serious. So we'll see where it goes from here. I am actually pretty proud of my nasty-gram. I hope Betty F-ing Crocker is too!

Let's NOT talk about food

2009-08-17T18:18:00.006-04:00

I started to realize that all of my posts are about food. Maybe it's because food is always on my mind. I do love it. Food is like my secret lover - except not so secret. Jeremy knows all about it. And he's never had a problem with it. Until this weekend. We were sitting around on Saturday and it was dinner time and I was like "Let's eat." And he responds with "But are you truly hungry?" Huh? What is that supposed to mean? Who cares if I'm hungry?! It's DINNER time. So he asks me again "Are you hungry?" And my hesitation gives me away. He knows the truth. I'm not. And in all reality, I shouldn't be. We had eaten lunch really late. As in 4:00 p.m. late. So it made sense that at 7:00 p.m. I wasn't hungry. But that wasn't the point. It was time for dinner, hence we must eat. You see my train of thought (and also why I can't ever seem to lose any weight). So then I go into pout-mode. This was the first time I can recall Jeremy denying me my lover. What is the world coming to?!? So I played his little game and held out. I held out as long as I could. And finally around 9:00 p.m. I asked him again if we could eat. And he once again asked if I was hungry. And I think I responded something like this: "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST FEED ME!" He finally caved. I think it was the crazed passion he saw in my eyes. He knew he better not get in the way once again of me and my lover. And because I must have looked really dangerous, he even took on the task of preparing me dinner. [gasp!] And it was delicious! Chicken quesadillas - mmmm. So good. And I was happy again.

Oh, but this post wasn't supposed to be about food. Whoops. Well, this post was initially going to be about Kai. She recently had a spa day and came back looking all cute. In all reality, she looks like a yellow lab with a huge fluffy tail. But I think she's adorable. It may be the cute little bandana they put around her neck. I don't know. But I am a sucker for clothes on dogs. Unfortunately, Jeremy does not allow me to partake in this passion (one lover is enough!). So I have to just hold out until the dogs go to be groomed before I can hope for clothes. Last time they returned with little bows in their ears. TOO CUTE! Anyway, I will post a few photos of Kai's recent haircut. It is SO short! But I know she's loving it in this Florida heat and humidity. And I love it because it means just a tad less furballs for me to clean up after!

Look at this adorable face!

A B&W of her back and bandana.

Look how sleek she looks.

One more of her back. It's so short!

Awwww!

Ok, I must close because . . . well, I'm sure you can tell why. It is 6:30 p.m. after all. And you know what that means . . . dinner time! Hehe.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya . . . Grits?

2009-08-16T11:11:00.007-04:00

Does anyone remember that movie? Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood? It had Sandra Bullock, James Garner, Ashley Judd, and plenty of others, but those are the big names I remember. It was an OK movie. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. But here's what I want to know: what is the meaning of "ya-ya"? I only ask because at this little restaurant in Pensacola that has become quite well known, their signature dish is called Grits a Ya Ya. Everyone knows where I'm talking about right? The Fish House! Heck, even their website has the word "grits" in it. Interesting! But I just don't understand the "ya-ya." It baffles me. Does it mean that the shrimp and grits have a wonderful friendship that they have dubbed "Ya-Ya"? Are the shrimp Siddalee and the grits her mother and they really just don't get along? FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD, TELL ME!

Well here is what I can tell you. Grits a Ya Ya is absolutely fabulous. Beyond fabulous. Decadent. Rich. Sinful even. I tried this delicious concoction over Father's Day weekend and had a craving for it for months afterward. It was like crack. I just had to have it! And then a good friend informed me that my crack (hehe) could be found online (oh, the horror! Ok, I swear I'm done with the crack joke). I printed the recipe off at once, but then still took awhile to get around to making it. But one day I just took the plunge and it was well worth it. Trust me folks - you want to be addicted to this.

Grits a Ya Ya
Serves 4

Ingredients:

Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits: (OMG! Doesn't that just sound heavenly?!)
1 quart chicken stock (I used broth. I've never figured out the difference between the two)
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups Dixie Lily grits (To all you true Southerners out there, please don't hate me. But I used quick grits. Yes, you read that right. Quick grits. AND IT STILL TURNED OUT DELICIOUS!)
1/4 pound butter
1/2 pound shredded smoked Gouda cheese

The Ya Ya:
8 strips applewood-smoked bacon, diced (I couldn't find applewood-smoked, so I just used thick smoked bacon. Make sure you dice very small - my pieces were a tad too big and I didn't like the chewy fat part)
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 Tablespoon minced shallots (I found out as I started to cook that my shallots had gone bad. I just used more garlic!)
3 Tablespoons butter
White wine
1 pound peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp
1 portobello mushroom cap, sliced (I diced because I don't like mushroom enough to eat large pieces of it)
1/4 cup diced scallions
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
2 cups heavy cream
3 cups smoked Gouda cheese grits
Salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste

Fish House Directions:
First, make your grits. Run the chicken stock into a thick bottomed saucepan and turn on high til it boils. Mix in the grits and stir like crazy. Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cream if you need more liquid. Then tumble in the butter, drizzle in the rest of the cream, and stir till it's all in the family. Then shake in the shredded cheese and stir very well til it's all nice and smooth.

While your grits cook, bring a large saucepan to medium heat. Add bacon and cook for about 3 minutes, then add garlic and shallots. Saute and then add butter and a splash of white wine. When the butter is half melted, add the shrimp. When the downsides of the shrimp become white, flip them and add mushrooms, scallions, and spinach. Saute for 2 minutes. Remove the shrimp. Pour in heavy cream and let simmer while stirring. When reduced by one third, add salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Return shrimp to the sauce and combine. Spoon the sauce and shrimp onto heaping mounds of cheese grits.

Ashley's Directions:
Bring a large saucepan to medium heat. Add bacon and cook for about 3 minutes, then add garlic and well, garlic (didn't have shallots). Saute and then add butter and a splash of white wine. When the butter is half melted, add the shrimp. (Next time I will not do this because I bought pre-cooked shrimp. So really they just have to heat up. And since you have to remove the shrimp from the pan, it makes no sense to put them in yet at this stage. Lessons learned.)

Somewhere in that time I got my chicken stock boiling and added my 5 minute grits. Then I let them cook (for 5 minutes hehe) while I continued with the Ya Ya.

Add mushrooms, scallions, and spinach to pan with shrimp. Saute for 2 minutes. Remove shrimp if you actually decide to cook them. Pour in heavy cream and let simmer while stirring.

While this was simmering, I finished my grits. Tumble in the butter, drizzle in the cream, and stir till it's all in the family. Then shake in the shredded cheese and stir very well til it's all nice and smooth.

Back to the shrimp. When cream sauce is reduced by one third, add salt, pepper, and hot sauce. (I did not use hot sauce!) Return shrimp to the sauce and combine. Spoon the sauce and shrimp onto heaping mounds of cheese grits.

So I'm sure that was a bit confusing. But if you read the way you are supposed to make the dish and then read my way, you'll probably understand better what I did. Of course you can follow the traditional recipe. But, really, who has 40 minutes just to make grits?!? Definitely not me. I like my 5 minute option. And honestly, you couldn't tell the difference! This was still amazing! It is very rich though, so a little goes a long way. And you can always have smoked Gouda grits in the morning for breakfast. Mmmmm!

Is it Thanksgiving already?!

2009-08-14T10:13:00.006-04:00

Every so often I get in the mood for Thanksgiving dinner. But to go through the hassle for only 2 people hardly seems worth it. One day when I was cruising through Publix they were making this recipe. I remember trying it and really liking it, so I took the recipe card and stashed it away for a rainy day. Well, last week was that rainy day. I decided I would finally try to make this on my own. I go to the store to get the ingredients - only to come home and find I already had a freaking boneless turkey breast in the freezer. Curses! Oh well, that's about how this whole process went for me. LOL

One-Pan Turkey, Vegetables, and Gravy

Ingredients:
3 medium parsnips (rinsed)
5 medium carrots (rinsed)
4 celery ribs (rinsed)
2 large onions (rinsed)
2 bay leaves (I used the ground bay leaves that comes in a regular seasoning collection)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt (divided)
4 ounces unslated butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup flour
2 (14 oz) cans reduced sodium chicken broth
1 boneless turkey breast (3 pounds; thawed)
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
aluminum foil

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400. Peel parsnips and carrots. Cut parsnips, carrots, and celery into 1-inch pices. Remove ends and peel onions; cut both into quarters. Place vegetables, bay leaves, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt into medium-size roasting pan. The carrots were my favorite part of this when it was done, so next time I will probably use a lot more carrots! I think my roasting pan must be large; hence why this didn't turn out exactly as it was intended. But more of that story to follow.

(those little flecks are my bay leaves)

2. Place butter in microwave-safe bowl; cover and microwave on high 30 seconds or until melted. Whisk in flour and 1 can of the chicken broth until blended. Pour into pan over vegetables. Place wire roasting rack in pan over vegetables.

3. Remove turkey from packaging (reserve turkey gravy package for another use*** story below) and pat dry. Do not remove the netting from the turkey! Sprinkle turkey evenly with poultry seasoning, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Well, remember above where I said I went to the store and bought the turkey - when I already had one at home? Yah, well, what I didn't buy was poultry seasoning because stupid me thought I had it at home. Of course I don't! So I ended up using this all blend seasoning from Costco (Kirkland brand) instead. Place on roasting rack or directly on top of vegetables. Cover losely with foil and cook 1 hour.

4. Remove foil. Cook 45-55 more minutes or until internal temp reaches 165 (Note to self: I MUST buy a food thermometer!) Transfer turkey to carving board and remove netting. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Transfer vegetables to serving dish; remove and discard by leaves.

5. Whisk remaining chicken broth (up to 1 can if needed) into pan gravy until desired consistency. Transfer gravy to a serving dish. Slice turkey and serve.

So, all in all this turned out quite good. The turkey was moist and yummy! That's a plus! Unfortunately, the vegetables/gravy mix did not turn out so well. Like I said earlier, I think it's because my pan was too big and therefore the gravy wasn't deep enough. So instead of just becoming, well, gravy, it sort of congealled up and there wasn't much liquid on the bottom of the pan after the cooking timeframe. And let me just tell you how annoyed I was! I mean, after spending 2+ hours on dinner and then to not have it come out perfect???? Yes, I was pretty livid. But luckily the little boneless turkey came with a gravy packet! (refer to the *** above). So what I did was heat up the turkey packet, added a little chicken broth and some flour and wha-la! Gravy! For the most part the vegetables were still good. Some around the edge of the pan got too overdone due to the lack of gravy, but most were salvagable. And those vegetables -especially the carrots - were DELICIOUS! So overall this was a great dish. I just need to make some minor tweaks the next time I make it.

(I apologize for the quality of this photo. But after almost 3 hours of cooking, I was frustrated and hungry and all I wanted to do was dig in! But then I thought of you - my faithful, loyal readers - and knew I had to get at least one photo of the finished product. **I made boxed stuffing and then added green beans as well for finishing touches).

Fish Tacos

2009-08-14T09:39:00.003-04:00

After arriving home from a wonderful - and very fast-paced! - week in California (a blog to come at a later date I promise), I wanted to make some fish tacos to remind me of the wonderfulness that is California. I just love it out there! Maybe it has something to do with the weather. Yes, I'm pretty sure that's it.

I had this recipe for fish tacos, but it called for sauteing the fish and since I'm not a big fish lover, I really wanted mine fried. So I basically combined two recipes to make this dinner. I made the fish according to one recipe that called for pan frying it and then I used the other recipe for the actual taco part.

Cheese-crusted fish

Ingredients:

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup egg substitute (or 2 large eggs, beaten)

2 cups crunchy cheese-flavored corn snacks (These were near impossible to find. Actually, they WERE impossible to find. I couldn't. What I was envisioning here were cheese-flavored Bugles. The only corn snack I could think of that came in cheese flavored. But Publix did not have any. So I used cheese-its for the recipe and it still turned out great!)

Large ziplock bag

1 cup panko bread crumbs

2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4 firm, white fish fillets (tilapia, cod, etc); 20-24 oz thawed (I used tilapia)

2 tablespoons canola oil

Directions:

1. Place flour on plate (may be paper); place eggs in shallow bowl. Place cheese snacks in ziplock bag; seal tightly and crush with fingertips until fine. Add panko, parsley, coriander, and pepper; mix until well-blended. Place mixture in second shallow bowl.

2. Dip each fillet in flour coating both sides; shake off excess. Dip each fillet into egg. Finally, dip into crumb mixture and coat evenly.

3. Preheat large saute pan on medium 3-4 minutes. Place oil in pan. Add 1/2 of the fish fillets; cook 3-4 minutes each side or until golden and crisp. Place on paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining fillets.

Fish Tacos

Ingredients:

4 ounces cabbage, finely shredded

1/2 small red onion (I omitted)

Tomato (optional; I used since I omitted the onion)

6-8 small flour tortillas (I used big burrito tortillas since it was what I had on hand)

Cheese-crusted fish (recipe above)

White sauce

White sauce recipe:

1 1/2 tablespoon minced cilantro

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon sour cream

1 tablespoon lime juice

Directions:

1. Mix the ingredients for the white sauce together.

2. Spread liberal amount of white sauce on tortilla. Then add fish, cabbage, onion, tomato, and whatever garnishes you desire. Serve.

The tacos came out very yummy! Jeremy and I did both think that the white sauce was a tad too lime-juicy for us. So next time I may cut back on the amount of lime juice I use. But to each their own! Also, I think adding some feta cheese to the tacos would just be the right touch to make these amazing! I will definitely add feta next time around. Enjoy!

Vacation/All I ever wanted/Vacation/Had to get away

2009-07-22T18:47:00.005-04:00

Those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE 80's music. I mean L.O.V.E. it!!! I know there were a lot of heinous things going on in the 80's, but luckily the music was not one of them (in my opinion at least). So yes, I titled this post after a classic 80's song by the Go-Go's: Vacation!

So, can you guess where I'm going with this? That's right! I'm going on VACATION! I can't wait! Jeremy and I are heading out of town tomorrow to sunny California. We don't have the most ideal traveling conditions, but I forgive Jeremy for this because he saved us a lot of money (or so he says). We don't actually fly out until 4:30 p.m., which puts us into San Jose, CA around 9:30 p.m. - IF we are lucky. Which, considering we have to go through Atlanta, there is a high probability we will not be running on time. If we were staying in San Jose, this really wouldn't be a huge deal. But since we actually have to get down to San Luis Obispo, which is a three hour drive . . . ugh. It makes for a REALLY long day. Again, if all goes according to plan, we would arrive around 1:00 a.m. California time - which if you do the math is 3:00 a.m. Tallahassee time. Yah, loooong day.

We will be spending a few days in San Luis with my family. I will get to hang out at my grandma's house, probably for the last time. It's actually pretty sad, so I'm trying not to think about it. I wish we were going to be there in time for the farmer's market. My fellow Tallahassians, let me tell you, that our "farmer's markets" are by no means anything compared to the one in San Luis. It is HUGE. And wonderful. Anything and everything they have. Fresh flowers, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, BBQ, homemade pita chips, the list goes on. I just couldn't believe it. They close off an entire street and the vendors line up on both sides. I was in love! Here are some photos from last year when I went:

*I apologize for the quality of the photos; They are SOOC.

Then we are getting on the Pacific Sunliner and heading down to LA to spend an evening with Jeremy's cousin Michael. I'm so excited to see Michael, Mia, and cute little Jack! We haven't seen them for a year, when Jack was just a wee-little one. But in the past year he has grown into a little man!

Unfotunately, we only have one night with them before we head on down to San Diego to see Jeremy's old high school friend Betsy and her husband Jeff. Now, I am SUPER excited about seeing them! I met them last year when I went out to California without Jeremy. I was so proud of myself - I actually called someone I'd never met before and arranged a get-together. Again, if you know me, you know how unlike me this is. But I am so glad I took the plunge. Betsy and Jeff are an amazing couple - so full of life and they are a lot of fun! Here's a pic:

Plus they are super-duper photographers. Seriously, check out their work. They are awesome! I just love their work! So hopefully I don't annoy them too much with all of my questions about the photography business . . . but there are no promises! LOL They live in such a cute little area of San Diego and there are some delicious restaurants around; I only hope they take us to the Lei Lounge! I love that place!!

Then next Thursday we will head home. We leave at some unreasonable time like 10:30 p.m. and have an overnight flight. I am SO not looking forward to that! But I am very excited about the overall trip!!

So, I guess I'll see you on the flip side!

Writer's Block

2009-07-17T11:17:00.003-04:00

I don't know what it is, but I have had writer's block lately. I sit down at the computer, hoping a great idea to blog about will come to me and I get nothing. I actually thought of a fun topic the other night as I was going to sleep, but wouldn't you know that in the morning, I had completely forgotten it!

While writer's block in my personal life is pretty bad, it's not nearly as bad as writer's block at work. Which it just so happens, I also have. I have two reports I need to be working on. One I actually told my boss I'd have a first draft to him by next Wednesday before I leave for vacation. What do I have? Nothing. Nada. Zip. I sit with my fingers on the keyboard, but nothing comes to me. I end up thinking "Oh, I need to check email," or "I wonder what my favorite bloggers have said today?" or "Hmm, let's see what's happening on Facebook." Yes, all of these distractions are not helping with my writer's block. How am I supposed to have a first draft done in 3 days when I can't concentrate long enough to put a title on my paper?!? This is bad. Very, very bad.

So, the other day, as I was busy procrastinating, I decided to come up with some photography equipment that I really need. Yes, NEED (not to be confused with want). As in, I want, um, I mean need, it now . . . or even yesterday. But, unfortunately, until I find a wad 'o' cash stuffed under my mattress, I will not be able to afford these things for awhile. Although, on the bright side, we finally have some money built up to start paying ourselves! Yippeee! So, I will be taking my small, yet very appreciated, paycheck from Woodland Fields Photography, and stuffing it under my mattress, in hopes of accumulating that wad 'o' cash needed for the following items:

Item #1:

Canon Eos 5D Mark II Camera

I desperately need another camera body so that I can have two bodies with different lenses attached. This will help me IMMENSELY when I'm trying to capture two different types of shots but don't have time to waste switching out lenses. And the 5D comes highly recommended! Of course many pros use this camera, but the best part is that my primo inspiration lately - Jasmine Star - uses this camera. I love, love, love her work. Go ahead, check her out. No, wait a minute. Don't check her out until you finish this post. If you go now, you may never come back to me. :-( Anyway, I do need a new camera body, so why not go for the best (or close to the best - there is an Eos 1D Mark III body that looks A-MAZING! But unfortunately, it is $4000, so I will leave that for another day). Anyway, take a look at this baby:

Item #2:

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L

This is another beauty used by non other than J*. I had already made the decision that my next lens purchase was going to be a wide-angle lens. This is a necessity for me. And why not go for the one that my inspiration raves about? And, to Jeremy's immense anquish, I have moved on to L series lenses. Yes, they cost a pretty penny, but are worth it. And besides, every pro must have a "red line" lens!

Item #3:

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L

This is another wide-angle lens, but not as wide as the previous one. J* discusses how this was one of her first lenses and she used it all the time. It's like a cuddly old teddy bear - there may be others out there, but this one is so comfortable you keep coming back to it. I really haven't decided if I want this one first or the 16-35 first honestly. I JUST CAN'T DECIDE!!! PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME! I'm not sure which one I'd get the most use out of initially. This one is a little cheaper, and since I like to consider myself frugal, I may end up opting for this one first only because of cost. But we shall see . . . .

Ok, those are the biggies. Yes, there are other items I'd like. Such as a tripod, an additional flash, some filters, a fisheye. You know, secondary items. But I won't bother in listing those now. That is another post for another day. Besides, I've already spent around $5,300 on my top 3 items (figuratively speaking of course, since I haven't actually purchased any of them yet)! Ouch! I've got to get a side job. Oh wait. This IS my side job. Uh-oh. I'm in trouble.

Why are they springy?

2009-07-10T09:04:00.003-04:00

I copied this recipe from one of my favorite bloggers of all time: The Pioneer Woman! If you haven't checked out her blog, you really should. She has got so much information on anything you might want to know. Plus, she is hilarious! I particularly like her Cooking and Photography tabs. So this is a recipe for "Springy Shells" that came from her blog. I really don't get the name though. They aren't really springy. Maybe it is a play on words? Like for the Spring season? The recipe uses a lot of veggies, which may indicate Spring. I just don't know. But I was attracted to the name and had to try the recipe for that reason alone.

WARNING: Yes, there is a warning that comes with this recipe. It is HUGE! I made the whole thing becuase I was too lazy to try and half it. And we will probably be eating Springy Shells until the cows come home. And, well, since we don't have any cows, that could be a very long time. Although there are cows up on Biltmore . . . maybe I could use those for my metaphor? Oh, sorry, I got sidetracked. Anyway, this is great if you need to feed a lot of people. But for two people I highly recommend halfing it. That is, unless you really love leftovers!

Springy Shells

Ingredients:

16 oz medium pasta shells or any other short pasta

1 pound asparagus, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces

1/2 pound broccoli, cut into small florettes

1/2 pound zucchini, diced

1/2 cup frozen peas

3 green onions sliced (white and light green parts)

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

20-22 oz whole milk ricotta cheese (Pioneer Woman would KILL me, but I used the skim milk version)

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

black pepper

1 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, greated

extra olive oil for drizzling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Cook pasta until extremely al dente - with still quite a bit of bite.

3. Melt butter with the olive oil over medium-low to medium heat, then add garlic.

4. Add the asparagus and cook for 5 minutes. Sprinkle in some salt. Add the broccoli and cook for one minute, then add the zucchini and cook for one or two more minutes. (the original recipe forgot to mention when you add the green onions, so I did it here). Add the frozen peas, stir together, then turn off the heat. Set aside.

5. In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta, eggs, salt, and pepper until well combined.

6. To assemble, butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add half the pasta, then spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture over the surface (I just estimated 1/3 of the mixture actually). Sprinkle 1/3 Parmesan cheese over the ricotta, then 1/2 the vegetables.

7. Repeat with the rest of the pasta, the rest of the ricotta, another 1/3 of the Parmesan. End with the rest of the vegetables and the rest of the Parmesan.

8. Drizzle with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, then bake for 25 minutes.

9. Serve with extra Parmesan, crusty French bread, and chilled white wine. (I skipped the bread).

The recipe had a good taste and was enjoyable. I won't lie and say it is one of my favorites, but I did enjoy it and will try to make it every so often to change up my routine!

Banana [Nut] Bread

2009-07-10T08:35:00.005-04:00

I don't know about you, but I like my bananas to be just past the stage of green when I eat them. Heck, I don't mind if there is still some green on them! But I hate, hate, hate, when they have any brown spots. Yuck! Unfortunately, this means I have to buy bananas in very small quantities - say, 2 at a time. And that is annoying. But when I don't do that, I often have 2 out of the bunch that get all brown before I have time to eat them. Whenever this happens I have a craving to make banana nut bread. But like I said previously, I usually only have 2 - and the recipe calls for 4. So what's a girl to do? Luckily, the lasted time I got this urge some nice person at work left 4 almost-completely-brown bananas in the break room. SCORE! So I took the 2 that looked the worst and brought them home to add to my overly-ripe bananas. I have to say, mine were a little more juicy than the work ones. If I hadn't been so impatient I would have let them stew for a day or two more. But I wanted banana nut bread, and I wanted it like 2 days ago! So I didn't procrastinate!

This is my mom's "famous" recipe. It's really only famous to her family and maybe some friends, but I adore it and think it's just the best around. I have also come to realize over the years that I prefer plain old banana bread, rather than banana NUT bread. Call me crazy. So I did not add the nuts to this recipe. After all, the original owner of the recipe (aka, mom) did say that nuts were optional!

Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening (I know what you are thinking; it's probably the same thing I thought when I read the recipe: "Shortening?!? People actually still use this stuff???" But, yes they do. And don't try to substitute with butter. Just buy the smallest thing of Crisco you can find - because let's face it, you won't probably use it that often! Unless of course you live in the deep south and then I've been told it's a staple to any pantry. However, aside from what some people may say, I do still believe Florida is a southern state, or at least north Florida is. So I guess I fall into the "south" category, but I still have never used Crisco in my adult life to cook, until now. Anyway, just bite the bullet and add it to the recipe. Oh, and if some true southerner out there can tell me how I'm supposed to store this stuff, that would be great! )

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 ripe bananas

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) (see it says it in the actual recipe!!)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.

2. Blend the shortening and sugar. Yes, it is a ton of sugar. Don't pay attention to that. Your ass may not thank you later, but your tastebuds will!

3. Add the eggs to the mixture and beat.

4. Mix in a separate bowl the flour, soda, and salt. Then slowly add this to the sugar mixture. Remember: SLOWLY! Trust me, you want to listen to me on this one! If you don't, you'll have a poof! of flour all over your countertops and in your hair. Good times!

5. Mash the 4 bananans in another bowl. Then add them to the mixture.

6. Add the vanilla (and nuts if using them).

7. Pour mixture into one large bread pan or use 2 pans like my mom. My mom uses 1 large and 1 small pan. Well I only had large or, well, large. So I thought I'd try to use just one pan. All of the mixture fit after all! Well, beware. I got lucky, but don't fill your mixture up too high because remember the bread will RISE! Mine turned out fine, but others may not be so lucky!

8. Bake for 60 minutes. As you can see, I overbaked just a tad. I was always taught to stick a toothpick in the center of the bread to see when it's done. If the toothpick comes out clean, it's done. Well my toothpick wasn't coming out that clean even though the edges looked done. So I baked for a tad longer. I probably shouldn't have!!! I'm sure the middle was done enough and because of the extra minutes my edges are sort of brown. :-( But it was still good!

9. If you want, you can let it cool. But I prefer to cut me a slice as soon as I can stand to touch the bread and then slather on some butter. Yummy!!!

Updated Schedule

2009-07-06T09:07:00.002-04:00

Ok, a few changes have been made; they are in bold:

July 12 - Wedding in Tampa
July 18 - Wedding in Port St. Joe
July 22 - Draft ART report to boss
July 23-31 - California
August 6 - Jeremy's birthday
August 7 - Draft OGSR report to boss
August 16 - Engagement photos in Tallahassee
August 19 - Draft OGSR report to boss
August 22-23 - Family photo shoots at the beach
August 26 - Draft OGSR repor to chair
September 1 - Final OGSR report due
September 16 - Draft ART report to boss
September 17-29 - Europe!
September 19 - Wedding in St. George (I will be on pins and needles to see Catherine's photos!!)
September 26 - Wedding in Melbourne, FL
October 12 - Draft ART report to boss
October 21 - My 3rd wedding anniversary!!
October 25 - Tentative maternity shoot
October 26 - Draft ART report to chair
November 1 - Final ART report due

My upcoming schedule

2009-06-29T11:48:00.002-04:00

Wow! I just realized I am swamped with stuff to do! Between vacations, Senate work, and photography work, my calendar is booked for awhile. Let's take a look:

July 12 - Wedding in Tampa
July 18 - Wedding in Port St. Joe
July 22 - Draft ART report to boss
July 23-31 - California
August 2 - Tentative engagement shoot in Tallahassee
August 6 - Jeremy's birthday
August 7 - Draft OGSR report to boss
August 15 - Tentative family photos in Apalachicola
August 19 - Draft OGSR report to boss
August 26 - Draft OGSR repor to chair
September 1 - Final OGSR report due
September 16 - Draft ART report to boss
September 17-29 - Europe!
September 19 - Wedding in St. George (I will be on pins and needles to see Catherine's photos!!)
October 12 - Draft ART report to boss
October 21 - My 3rd wedding anniversary!!
October 25 - Tentative maternity shoot
October 26 - Draft ART report to chair
November 1 - Final ART report due

Ok, that's it for now. Whew! It makes me tired just looking at it. Wish me luck friends!

The baking experience

2009-06-26T17:21:00.006-04:00

So the other night I really wanted to make cookies. And not the kind you buy in the dairy section of Publix and then break apart and bake. No, I wanted to try cookies from scratch! (Ok, I'm not sure if they were technically from scratch. I mean, I didn't make the flour or anything. So what does it really mean to say you made something from scratch?? That should be a topic for another day). So my cookie experience began with picking Lacy Oatmeal Cookies out of the Mrs. Fields Best Ever Cookie Book! On a side note, this is a great book - so many cookies to choose from!

The last time I tried baking cookies - several years ago - they came out disasterous. Maybe it was because I almost put actual coffee grinds into the batter rather than instant coffee, which the recipe actually called for. I don't remember what else went wrong with that recipe, but needless to say, my dear husband told me "please, do not bake again." So I took his advice . . . until now. With all of the cooking I've been doing lately, I thought maybe it was about time to try my hand at baking again. Well, I did have some issues . . . but at least I didn't mess up the ingredients. That's a step up isn't it?! Ugh - maybe I'm just not cut out to bake!

Lacy Oatmeal Cookies
Yields 8 dozen

Ingredients:
1 cup quick oats (not instant)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup granulated sugar (and this is why I don't make my own cookies - you have to actually see how bad they are for you!!!)
1 stick salted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325. Cover cookie sheet with foil, then coat with nonstick vegetable spray.

2. In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix well with a wire whisk and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine sugar and butter with an electric mixer at medium speed to form a grainy paste. Add egg and vanilla, and beat until smooth. Add flour mixture and blend just until combined.

4. Drop dough by teaspoons onto cookie sheets, 2 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until edges begin to turn golden brown. Let cool, then peel off cookies with your fingers.

**Um, ok, so here is the photo of my first batch. As you can see, they sort of spread together . . . like a cookie cake. I guess I put too many on the baking sheet at one time. Well, they may not look pretty, but they sure did taste good!

Here is my second batch - well, really my third batch. My second batch sort of burned a little - I put them in for 12 minutes. So this is my third batch, which was put in for only 9 minutes! I also only baked 5 cookies at a time so they wouldn't spread into each other. Perfecto!

5. Be sure to respray the cookie sheet between batches.

So I had some complications again. But, I think that with some more practice I may be able to nail this baking thing! They did turn out delicious!!!

A keeper!

2009-06-26T16:37:00.004-04:00

OMG - this recipe is amazing! (If I do say so myself). But then again, I'm a slut for pasta! I highly recommend everyone try this dish. If you don't love it, well, then there is just something wrong with you!

Baked Orzo with Fontina and Peas

Ingredients:
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 pound orzo pasta
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1/2 onion, chopped
4 oz mushrooms, sliced (I used portabella mushrooms, because as my friend Cass told me once, "Who actually uses the white mushrooms?!?")
1/2 cup Marsala wine or chicken stock (I used wine - um, hello! When a recipe calls for wine, YOU USE THE STINKIN' WINE!)
1/4 cup heavy cream or milk (I used heavy cream)
1/2 cup (2oz) shredded fontina (you can buy this in a block from the Publix deli, but you can use all mozzarella if can't find fontina. This is really yummy cheese, so I just bought 1/4 lb from the deli)
1/2 cup (2oz) mozzarella cheese, diced (I just used shredded cheese)
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated parmesan
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Bring the chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. Add the orzo and cook until almost tender, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

3. Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium heat in a medium skillet. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. (I decided to use asparagus as well. I cut the asparagus into about 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces and added them to the pan at this time and cooked for about 5 minutes). Add the mushrooms and continue to saute until the mushrooms are beginning to turn golden around the edges, about 7 minutes. Add the Marsala. Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan and cook until the Marsala has reduced by half, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the orzo with broth to the mushroom mixture. Add the cream, fontina (I think I used a little more than 1/2 cup!), mozzarella, peas, (asparagus), salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

5. In a small bowl combine the bread crumbs, parmesan, and dried thyme. (I also melted a few tablespoons of butter and added it to the bread crumb mixture to make it sort of clumpy - this will make the top crunchier). Sprinkle the break crumb mixture on top of the pasta. Bake until golden, about 24 minutes.

Next time I will probably use more peas and asparagus to get a good dose of veggies! When this comes steaming out of the oven, your tastebuds will thank you!

A light chicken dish

2009-06-26T16:15:00.004-04:00

It's summer time here in Florida, which means weather over 100 degrees and just about the same level of humidity. It is blistering hot! That usually means that when it comes time for dinner we don't want something straight out of the oven every night. Sometimes it's nice to have a refreshing dish. And this just happens to be that dish!

It's from Publix (Apron's Simple Meals), which just happens to produce some of my favorite recipes. Who would have thunk it?!

Chicken with Cream Bruschetta Pasta

Ingredients:
2-3 sprigs fresh basil rinsed (I used dried basil)
2 plum tomatoes rinsed (I used 3 - will explain later)
1 (8oz) package garlic/herb flavored spreadable cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat milk
8 oz tomato trinity mix (fresh diced tomatoes, onions, bell peppers) (I did not use - again, will explain later)
3 chicken fillets (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon canola oil (I used EVOO)
8 oz dry linguini pasta

Directions:
1. Fill large saucepan half full of water. Cover and bring to a boil on high for pasta.

2. Chop basil leaves coarsely. Cut tomatoes in small pieces. Place cheese in medium bowl; whisk in milk until smooth. (I didn't realize until I got home that the package of cheese I bought was only 4 oz. I highly recommend buying 8 oz because while we made due, you do need to use quite a bit of this sauce mixture over the top of the dish in order to make sure your pasta isn't dry.) Stir in tomatoes, basil, and tomato trinity mix; set aside. (Publix did not have the trinity mix when I was buying my ingredients, so I just bought an extra plum tomato and used that, then diced up some onion as well. I decided to skip using any bell pepper.)

3. Preheat large saute pan on medium-high 2-3 minutes. Season both sides of chicken with salt. Place oil in pan; swirl to coat. Add chicken; cook 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden. (If your chicken is thick, you may want to butterfly it in order to cook evenly. I didn't realize this at first and the outside got done much faster than the middle). Meanwhile, stir pasta into boiling water. Boil 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until tender.

4. Reduce heat on chicken to medium; cover and cook 5 more minutes or until internal temp reaches 165. Use a meat thermometer (I don't have one!)

5. Drain pasta. Remove chicken from heat; cut inot 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange chicken over pasta and top with cheese mixture. Serve.

This was a pretty good dish; Jeremy really liked it. It was pretty refreshing because nothing is too warm. I would have liked it better with more cheese sauce on top, hence why you should remember to get 8 oz! But, I will definitely make this again!

Tangerine or Clementine?

2009-06-17T10:28:00.007-04:00

As I was trudging through the grocery store yesterday, secretly wishing to have a personal grocery shopper so that I could go home after work and watch awesomely-'80s reruns of The Golden Girls rather than be stuck in a semi-frigid Publix, I spotted a crate of clementines. Well, right then and there my day was made. I know - it doesn't take a lot. But I really do love this little fruit. Unfortunately, I very rarely can find them at Publix. And no, tangerines are definitely not the same! They may look the same. Observe:

Tangerine:

Clementine:

But do not confuse the two (as I have done in the past). Let's go back a few months (or maybe years). I am enjoying a weekend at my parent's home in Pensacola. My dad is a big fruit person and they had all of these little "oranges" in a bowl. I had one and was immediately hooked. It was sweet, with just a hint of sour. Easy to peel. And best of all -no seeds! So when I came back to Tallahassee, I searched for my little piece of happiness in the produce section of Publix. I pick up several tangerines and put them in my cart. Now imagine my surprise - and ultimate sadness - when I got home and dove for one of these delicious fruits, only to find out that it wasn't what I ate in Pensacola. Needless to say, I was devastated. Ok, that may be a little dramatic. But I was pretty darn sad because now I had a bunch of tangerines that I really didn't want.

The thing about tangerines is that they have seeds. And I am adamontly opposed to seeds! I can't stand taking the time to pop them out of things! Take watermelon for example. Most people just flick the black seeds out and eat away. But not me. I can't stand the white seeds either! So eating watermelon is an entire afternoon of picking-out-seeds ordeal for me. Needless to say, I don't eat that much watermelon. Moving on. This is why clementines are so perfect: no seeds!

Eventually, I ask my mom what type of "orange" they had that fateful weekend and she solved the mystery for me. And ever since I have been on the hunt for clementines when I'm at the store. I don't get lucky that often. But yesterday the stars aligned and there was a crate of them. Right there. Calling my name. Who cares if I go out of town in 2 days. I HAD TO HAVE THEM! So I now have what appears to be 3 dozen clementines! I proceeded to eat 4 last night after dinner. And I have 2 for lunch. And I will probably eat another 2 as I cook dinner and then maybe another 4 after dinner. See a trend? I really do love them though. If you haven't had the opportunity to try a clementine, I really encourage you to do so. It's like a little burst of sunshine in your mouth!

Return of the '80s!

2009-06-16T10:44:00.008-04:00

This past the weekend, the '80s came back to haunt us with full force. Let me just say how happy I am that we no longer live in this decade of big hair, blue eyeshadow, and shoulder pads! The amount of effort that goes into making your hair THAT big and THAT poofy should stay in the past. But we embraced this craziness with gusto this weekend - leggings and all! And it was worth it; if only for the awesome '80s tunes!

So the point behind this madness? Party4Purpose of course! Go to http://www.tallahasseeparty.org/ to get more information. And then start shopping for next year because these rad digs go fast! Next year I'm gunning for a prom dress!

**There are a lot of photos, but they were just so awesome I had to put them all! And yes, I definitely felt like I looked cuter than what showed up on these photos. Sad. But I guess that's what the '80s was all about!

Until next year . . .

Potato, Zucchini, and Carrot Pancakes

2009-06-16T08:26:00.004-04:00

Or better known throughout this post as PZC Pancakes (it's just a lot easier to type!). What a name, huh? I know what you're probably thinking: "Pancakes with Zucchini and Carrot?!? Disgusting!" I know, because it's what I initially thought. I mean, this sounds REALLY gross doesn't it? Ok, to some of you weird foodies out there, maybe it sounds perfectly normal. But to us regular people who don't go looking for actual ginger root and rhubarb and all those other odds and ends, this recipe doesn't come off sounding all that appetizing. However, because I was feeling a little adventurous and because I just happened to have an extra zucchini lying around, I decided to give it a try. I was planning on making this for breakfast over the weekend, but ran out of time and it became a "breakfast for dinner" meal. Works perfectly fine both ways!

Anyway, here are the key players:

1 medium zucchini, 1 large carrot, 1 1/2 pound baking potatoes, flour, eggs, fresh/dried thyme, salt and pepper (because they ALWAYS come in a pair! You can't have one without the other, right?), canola oil, and spring greens.

Don't worry, I'll write it out for you later so you can easily copy and paste and then try this recipe at home. So, a few things first:

(a) I apologize for not having more photos

(b) I apologize for the quality of the photos - I just wasn't feeling it this night!

(c) I'm going to give you the recipe for the spring greens, but adding them is optional. And FYI - I did not make them and therefore my PZC Pancakes were minus spring greens and still turned out yummy!

Hmmm, I guess that's all. Ok, here we go.

The shredding is the hardest part about this recipe. And let me give you a hint: buy those pre-shredded carrots over in the produce section! You know - the kind you put on salads or in stir-fry. Trust me, it's much easier. I mean, first of all, unless you go around buying those bags of carrots, which let me tell you that I do not, then this recipe is hard. Because it calls for just one carrot. One. I mean, who buys just one carrot? No one - because "The Man" doesn't let you. He packages them up in bags where you are forced to buy at least 6 or 7 or 8. And because I just don't use carrots that often, that is a waste of money and good food. So, if you are like me, take my word for it and buy the pre-shredded carrots.

Ok, where were we? Yes, so shredding. This will be a lot easier if you have one of those handy dandy shredding devices. Which we just happened to have! I completely forgot about it and started doing my shredding using the cheese shredder (which, by the way, you can use it if you have to, but it's a lot harder!). Anyway, thank goodness for Jeremy! Because he remembered we had gotten this handy little mandolin (is that what it's called??? Isn't that some sort of guitar?? Oh well!) for our wedding. So we break it out for the first time (yes, it's almost been 3 years - shut it!) And this device was amazing! We just cut the potato (after peeling of course) in the little hand-holder thing with prongs and wha-la! You're set to shred! We used the "blade" that looks identical to the cheese grater (hence why I said you can get away with that if you want, but you won't have the awesome hand-holder!) Anyway, shred your potatoes and zucchini and then you already have your pre-shredded carrots (and after shredding the pototoes and zucchini, you'll thank me for having you buy those carrots already shredded! And if anyone ever finds pre-shredded zucchini and potatoes, please let me know!!).

Then you drain out the excess water in the zucchini - because it is very watery! I actually forgot this step. Oh wait! No, I didn't. But Jeremy was being so kind as to help me out by shredding and I forgot to tell him about this part and so he just piled up all the shredded potato and zucchini in one big pile. So I couldn't drain the zucchini. Oh well! It didn't really hurt the recipe, but I think I'd do it next time around. So then you put all the shredded stuff in a bowl and mix with the flour, egg, thyme, and the married couple - salt and pepper. Now, Jeremy thought the recipe was a little too thyme-y, so when I make it again, I think I may hold back a tad on the thyme. But by all means, make it to your personal taste preferences! You may love thyme! If that's the case just pour the whole bottle in there! (Ok, seriously, don't. Because then you'll hate this recipe and come back blaming me and that just won't do).

Moving on. Now you will take a handful of this mixture (about 1 cup) and press it onto a heated skillet (with oil). Make it as round as possible - you know, like a pancake! Cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side and then transfer to a baking sheet (also covered in cooking spray). Then you will make an indentation in the pancake. You can use a wooden spoon or a measuring cup bottom. Pour an egg into the "nest" and place in oven, uncovered. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until eggs are cooked. Wha-la! PZC Pancakes!! Enjoy! (I even used a little bit of ketchup with mine, but that about made Jeremy gag. He doesn't believe ketchup should be anywhere near eggs. Weirdo.)

(picture before egg is cooked)

Ok, here's a copy and paste version of the recipe! Oh, I made this for only 2 people, which obviously changes some of the amounts of things you need. But I still used 1 zucchini and 1 cup carrots and the potatoes. It actually gave me just enough for 2 people, with only a little left over. But maybe my pancakes were bigger than the usual . . .

Potato, Zucchini, and Carrot Pancakes

4 servings

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

1 medium zucchini, shredded (about 1 1/4 cups)

1 large carrot, shredded (about 1 cup)

1 1/2 lb. baking potatoes, peeled and shredded (about 4 cups) (I bought one large potato and then one very small one and it was enough for 2 people)

1/4 cup all purpose flour

5 eggs

2 tsp chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme, crushed

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 Tbsp canola oil (as usual, I used EVOO)

1 recipe spring greens (recipe below and optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425. Lightly coat two small baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. (make sure to use plenty because my pancakes did stick a little to the sheet).

2. Drain zucchini in a colander; press to squeeze out excess liquid. In large bowl, combine zucchini, potatoes, carrot, flour, 1 egg, thyme, salt, and pepper.

3. In extra-large nonstick skillet, heat half of the oil over medium heat (again, I used the entire amount of oil for only 2 - I didn't want them to stick). To make a pancake, spoon about 1 cup portion of potato mixture into skillet; evenly press and round edges wtih back of spatula. Cook 2 pancakes at a time, 4 to 5 minutes each side or until golden brown. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Repeat.

4. With the back of a wooden spoon or 1/4 cup measuring cup, gently press each pancake, slightly off center to make a 3 inch diameter depression, deep enough to hold an egg. Pour 1 egg in each nest. Place pancakes with eggs in oven, being careful not to tilt baking sheet. Bake uncovered 10 to 12 minutes or until eggs are cooked through. Transfer to serving plates.

Spring Greens

In large bowl, combine 3 cups watercress and 1 small carrot, peeled and cut in long strips with vegetable peeler. For dressing, in bowl combine 2 tsp white wine vinegar, 1 tsp dijon mustard, 1/4 tsp salt, and a dash of pepper. Slowly whisk in 3 Tbsp olive oil. Serve with watercress and carrot strips.

Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole

2009-06-06T16:08:00.004-04:00

Unfortunately for the recipe, the night I made this I had filled my belly with cheese and crackers prior to dinner and, therefore, was not very hungry when it came time to eat. Which ended up making this dish less than appetizing for me. But, in the dish's defense, that was my fault for not eating lunch and being so hungry when I got home from work that I wanted to eat everything in sight! Jeremy on the other hand - who had not gorged himself on wheat thins and gruyere cheese - really enjoyed this casserole. And when I had it for leftovers the next day, it was pretty good!

Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
1 tsp salt
1 cup plain yellow cornmeal
1/2 tsp Montreal steak seasoning
1 cup (4 oz) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 lb. ground chuck (I used lean ground beef because it's all I buy!)
1 cup chopped onion
1 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and sliced (about 2 cups)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
1 (6oz) can tomato paste
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (I did not use)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Bring 3 cups water and 1 tsp salt to a boil in a 2 qt saucepan over medium high heat. Whisk in cornmeal; reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking constantly, 3 minutes or until thickened. (I poured all of the cornmeal in at once and it became very lumpy. I'm not sure if this is what was supposed to happen or not. You may try slowly adding the cornmeal to the water while whisking. However, lumpy cornmeal and all, this recipe still turned out good! So maybe the cornmeal is supposed to be lumpy . . . ?) Remove from heat, and stir in steak seasoning and 1/4 cup of the cheese. Spread cornmeal mixture into slightly greased 11x7 baking dish.
2. Brown ground chuck in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 10 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain and transfer to a bowl.
3. Saute onion and zucchini in hot oil in skillet (I used the same pan as I cooked the beef in) over medium heat 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. (Side note - what does "crisp-tender" even mean?? I mean, how is something crisp AND tender? I just don't understand this concept and yet, it is used all the time in recipes! Even the online-all-knowing-dictionary does not recognize this term! If someone could please explain it to me, I would be greatly appreciative!! Now, moving on . . .) Stir in beef, tomatoes, and tomato paste; simmer, stirring often, 10 minutes (FYI - there really wasn't anything to simmer per se. So I just let it all heat up for a few minutes - say 3 or 4 - and then moved to the next step). Pour beef mixture over cornmeal crust. Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese (and you know me, I of course used more cheese! I think I put approximately 1 cup of cheese over the top. Mmm, Mmm Good!)
4. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle casserole with parsley just before serving.

Sorry, the picture doesn't do it justice.

Pecan-Crusted Sliders

2009-06-02T22:00:00.006-04:00

Do you ever get tired of the traditional hamburger? Yah, I do too. I mean, sometimes I want some yumminess on a bun, but I'm just not in the mood for a cow patty. So the other night I was in this mood and decided it was a perfect night to try this recipe. It turned out better than I could have imagined. I mean, who would have thought Wilbur would have made a good burger?! Anyway, if you want a change and are willing to walk on the wild side, these burgers are for you!

Pecan-Crusted Sliders
Makes 8 servings
*Because I did not use pork tenderloin, I was able to make only 2 - the perfect amount for me and the hubby!

Ingredients
12 oz pork tenderloin, sliced crosswise in 8 pieces (instead I bought pre-sliced pork pieces and it worked out great!)
1 egg
2 Tbsp honey
1 cup finely chopped pecans (I used those salad topper pecans - the ones that are roasted and glazed - Mmmm, yumminess in my mouth!)
2 Tbsp cooking oil
1 small green apple
1 1/2 cups shredded broccoli (broccoli slaw)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
8 small buns or dinner rolls
Dijon-style mustard (optional)

Directions

1. With palm of hand flatten pork sllices to 1/4 ince thickness. (I did not have to do because I bought the pre-sliced pork). In shallow dish whisk together egg and 1 Tbsp honey. In another shallow dish combine chopped nuts, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Dip pork in egg mixture, then nut mixture, pressing to coat.

2. In 12-inch skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook pork in hot oil 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden and slightly pink in centers.

3. Meanwhile, for slaw, quarter apple, remove core and seeds; thinly slice. In bowl, combine apple, shredded broccoli, mayonnaise, and 1 Tbsp honey. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Place pork on buns/rolls and top with slaw. Add mustard if you wish.

These really were delicious and I can't wait to try them again! Just look at this baby!

Penne with Shrimp, Zucchini, and Tomatoes

2009-06-02T21:41:00.006-04:00

Because I had left over shrimp from my Baked Orzo recipe I decided that this would be a great new recipe to try. It was really easy to make, especially if you pre-cut things. It's perfect for a quick, weeknight meal. It was good too, although, it lacked a little taste. I am contemplating adding some feta cheese in (at the same time as the ricotta) the next time I make it. But I will definitely make it again!

Penne with Shrimp, Zucchini, and Tomatoes in Vodka Sauce
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
Olive Oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (I used probably 1/4 onion, which may have accounted for the lack of taste)
1 medium zucchini, quartered vertically and cut into thick slices
Kosher salt and course ground black pepper
1 cup vodka sauce
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
8 oz penne pasta
8 oz (about 20) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onion, saute until just beginning to turn golden, 2-3 minutes. Turn heat to medium and add zucchini, season with salt and pepper. Continue to saute until onion and zucchini are cooked through, 3-5 minutes more. Add vodka sauce and diced tomatoes with juices, heat through.

2. Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of water to a boi.. Add penne and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add shrimp to pasta pot. Drain pasta and shrim. (My shrimp was already cooked, so I just added the shrimp with about 1 minute remaining in order to heat them).

3. Add pasta and shrimp to zucchini and sauce mixture. Add ricotta and gently mix all until combined. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste.

Here we go again

2009-05-29T11:50:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again. When we rummage through stacks of intern applications and try to narrow down a handful (or two) of potential candidates to bring in for interviews. I have to say, I really hate this process. How much can you get to know someone from an application? And if that application isn't as up to par as some of the others, they get the axe? I know that out of the stack of 30+ applicants this year, all of them are qualified and would probably do a good job (ok, all but maybe one or two . . .) But who will really stand out? Who is the best for THIS committee? Basically, who can stand up against Big Daddy's extensive editing process and survive? So I loathe this process of sorting and reading and sorting and interviewing. It makes me realize the exact reason I never want to look for another job again. Ever.

But the process of actual interviewing has begun. And I do believe this process is at least a little more beneficial than weeding through applications. At least you get to see someone face to face. Can they put together a coherent sentence? Are they willing to do grunt work? Are they personable? Do they have bad hygene? Do they have bad breath? Is that a bird's nest in their hair? You know. The important things! Because if they don't mesh with our unique office dynamic then they better keep on walking.

We have interviews today and the beginning of next week. And, with any luck, by Friday we will have narrowed it down to the potential top 3. And then the waiting game begins. Did another committee pick your number 1 choice as well? Will you get the top of your list? Did your applicant choice want another committee over us? Oh, the nail biting that occurs during this time. Until we get the call telling us exactly who we are getting the pleasure to work with . . . or, depending, getting stuck with.

It's not really that cut throat around here. I promise. Let the fun begin!

Baked Orzo Update

2009-05-26T13:28:00.002-04:00

In my post this morning I raved about a new recipe: Baked Orzo with Shrimp. Well I just wanted to add a comment that the recipe passed the second most important test (the first test being that it was actually edible the night it was made). The second test to a good recipe (in my book at least) is whether it reheats well. And let me say, this recipe passed with flying colors! It was just as delicious today - Tuesday - as it was Saturday night when I made it. This recipe is a definite keeper!!!! But next time I will add more shrimp!

What you've been waiting for!

2009-05-26T11:18:00.003-04:00

I know everyone has been on pins and needles waiting for my next recipe post! Right?! Well, whatever - here it is anyway! I decided to make this on Saturday night when I didn't know what else to make and I had nothing thawed. It was an amazing dish! I highly recommend it!! I apologize, but we were so ravenous that we ate the meal before I remembered to take a photo. Use your imagination!

Baked Orzo with Shrimp
Makes about 4 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
pinch of dried hot red pepper flakes (or more to your taste!)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1/2 can (28- to 32-oz) crushed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound large shrimp (about 18), shelled and deveined (I used about 22 shrimp and could have even used more. Don't be shy about the shrimp!)
8 ounces orzo
kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 pound feta, patted dry and crumbled (1 1/2 cups) (I used an entire container from Publix)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat an 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and salt, then reduce heat and simmer briskly, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Stir shrimp into sauce and simmer, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are just cooked through, about 3 minutes. (since I bought my shrimp the way I did, they were already cooked, so I just needed to heat them up a tad).
Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water, then drain orzo VERY carefully (a fine-mesh sieve helps). Return orzo to pot and toss with remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil.
Add orzo into sauce with shrimp and mix gently. Add reserved cooking water as needed (I didn't feel this was really necessary and only used maybe 2 tablespoons). Season with salt and pepper if necessary.
Spoon half of pasta into prepared baking dish, then sprinkle with half of feta. Top with remaining pasta and feta, then bake in middle of oven, uncovered, until cheese is slightly melted and pasta is heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.

Like I said before, this dish was amazing! It had so much taste! Jeremy and I both loved it. For the shrimp, I bought the frozen bagged shrimp at Publix, where the shrimp are already shelled deveined (seriously, I am NOT cut out for that type of work!). As I started making this dish, I was like "Oh crap! The shrimp are still in the freezer!" So I remove them and start reading the directions to dethaw. Well of course it says that it is best to dethaw overnight. But, me being the complete non-planner that I am, did not do this and my tomato sauce was already on the stove boiling, and my orzo was 8 minutes away from being done. I started to panic! What now??? Luckily, there was another method of dethawing these little babies - run cold water on them for, guess how long? That's right 8-10 minutes! I couldn't have planned it any better. Ok, well maybe I could have, but that's not the point. So I ran my shrimp under cold water and then removed the tails (because, unfortunately, you cannot buy the shrimp detailed). And they were ready to go in the tomato sauce. Perfect! I even ate a few extra shrimp and they were delicious! Note to self: Publix shrimp are delicious and would be perfect for a dinner party appetizer!

And, yes, I used a lot of feta, but really, you can't go wrong with feta. It's delicious and one of the better cheeses out there for you (sort of . . .). And for all of you calorie nazis out there, just suck it up and buy the real feta for this recipe - it melts much better and makes the recipe delicious!

Enjoy!

Check out my new toy!

2009-05-21T11:24:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago I took the plunge and purchase a new toy: the 100mm f/2.8 macro lens!! Here's a picture of my new prize:

Imagine my excitement when the package just happened to arrive on my birthday. It was like a birthday gift from the photography gods, urging me to go out and be brilliant. And so I did . . . or at least tried. As I practiced with the lens, I realized that it is very temperamental. Not so unlike a woman - after all, it's our perogative to change our mind and be perfectly beautiful (or in focus) one day and the next just be a mess (or, did you figure it out yet? Out of focus!). And even more of a coincidence is that this little lens likes to be out of focus in low-lighting areas - just as a woman tends to not care as much if she knows there won't be a huge spotlight on her! (Or is this just me?!) Anyway, the more I've practiced, the better I've gotten. And let me tell you, this little lens is a gem. It really can do wonders. Check out some recent work:

And although it doesn't replace my 50mm f/1.4 as my favorite lens, it may run a very close second! I can't wait to try it on a newborn's eyelashes . . . any taker's?

While I'm on the subject of babies, I'd like to give a huge shout-out to my friends Janene/Michael and Betsy/Gavin for their recent good news on the expansion of their families! Congratulations!

It's over!!!! (sort of . . .)

2009-05-05T13:43:00.005-04:00

I have nothing fun to report. Session is sort-of over, but not really. Which creates an odd atmosphere around the office. For most people it's over, so that means the days of long lunches and surfing every newspaper online for some entertainment are back. However, for me it's not really over. See, one of my first reference bills is one they decided to "conference" over. Which means any day now, any hour even, they could decide to conference on it and then require us to run back to our office and draft a version of the bill both sides agreed upon. The problem is I have no clue when all of this will take place. So it's sort of a lot of sitting and waiting . . . for all hell to break lose. At least that's what it feels like to me. I'll be sent a flurry of emails: "what about this?"; "please respond ASAP"; "does this look right?"; etc., and then all is quiet. Until the next flurry. So I sit and wait. And rush to answer emails. And wait. And rush to answer emails. And wait. See a pattern? So that makes this week just peachy keen fun for me.

On top of it all, I have sinusitis. Yup. Sounds like a big ball of fun doesn't it? Starting last Thursday I have been sick as a dog. Ranging from chills and aches on Thursday (and everyone telling me I have the swine flu and to stay away from them) to not being able to breath the rest of the weekend. But, alas, after trying to get into my primary care physician all day yesterday I gave up and went to Patient's First (which I despise!) and I finally have some relief. $50 worth of relief to be exact: $10 for my antibiotic and a whopping $40 for a freaking nose spray. What a rip-off! But at this point, I don't care as long as it makes the week more bearable.

And in true sinusitis fashion, I have lost my train of thought (it happens a lot with all of the congestion and sinus pressure building up . . . in fact, I think "losing one's train of thought" may even be listed as a side effect of sinusitis - I promise). So I will close for now . . . and return when things are a little less cloudy.

The NEW and IMPROVED mullet

2009-04-20T17:03:00.009-04:00

So, Ladies and Gentlemen, I discovered the new mullet today. No longer is it the in-your-face, impossible-to-miss mullet. You know what I'm talking about:

Oh no. Those days are long past. Unless you live in Alabama (or Louisiana or Mississippi or West Virginia . . .) of course, but that is a post for another day. No, today's mullet is a tad less intrusive. A tad less obvious. But it is still there. It still exists. Even here in Tallahassee, FL. Yes, you read that right. I saw a living, breathing mullet today at the Capitol. Let me explain.

As I was walking through the Capitol, minding my own business, I see this woman facing me. She is a decent looking woman, definitely not the "mullet-type." Or so I thought. As she turned to walk away, I almost didn't see it. But then I caught a glimpse. And realized this may be an even more obscene mullet than the kind shown above. Because this woman was trying to be inconspicuous. It's like she didn't even realize she had one. That's right. She had a skirt mullet.

Her skirt was an acceptable length in the front. Maybe a tad too short, but not completely unprofessional. But then, when she turned to walk away, she had a slit up the back of her skirt. And it was such a looooong slit, and the skirt was already short, that . . . you do see where I'm going with this right? Sort of like this, except, imagine the skirt a just a tad longer and the slit in the back:

Yup, business in the front, party in the back. That's right, you could basically see her who-ha. And who needs to see that?!? Definitely not me and definitely not anyone else at the Capitol today. So there you have it folks. The skirt mullet. A new phenomenon. Watch out - it may take you by storm.

Amy and Jeremy's Wedding

2009-04-06T08:21:00.006-04:00

Catherine and I had the pleasure of shooting Amy and Jeremy's wedding on Friday. In all honesty, they paid us the biggest compliment in the world: we shot their engagement photos and they loved them so much that they asked us to come shoot their wedding as well. It was truly an honor.

Amy and Jeremy are one special couple. The love they have for each other showed in every movement they took on Friday, especially when they kissed. And they sure do like to kiss - a lot! :-) But I love that about them!!!

Anyway, I just couldn't wait to post two of my favorites from the evening. But, please beware: these are straight out of the camera! I can't wait to see Catherine work her magic in Photoshop!

Congratulations Amy and Jeremy!!

Busy Bee

2009-04-02T15:23:00.001-04:00

Sorry for not updating in awhile and I'm sure I will get a lot of groans, but this isn't really an update either. I just don't have the time right now! But I wanted to write and say "hi" and let everyone know (you know, the handful that follow me! I love you guys!) that I have not forgotten about you and that I will write as soon as I can breathe again!

Only 29 more days of session!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Black Bean Tacos

2009-03-21T23:31:00.005-04:00

We enjoyed these - Jeremy a little more than me. But they were still quite tasty and something different.

Crispy Black Bean Tacos

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked black beans (I used 1 15 oz can, drained)
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne
2 tsp olive oil
1 lime, juiced
2 c. coleslaw mix
2 green onions, green part only
1/3 c. cilantro, copped (I used a cilantro paste - not a full 1/3 c.)
6 corn tortillas
1/2 c. feta cheese
Hot sauce or salsa to top (optional)
Sour cream or plain greek yogurt (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. Place beans, cumin, cayenne, and garlic powder in bowl and partially mash. In a separate bowl combine coleslaw mix, green onions, cilantro, lime juice, and 2 tsp oil. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Place bean mixture in tortillas and place tacos on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until tortillas are crispy (15 min almost burned my tacos, so I say go for 8 minutes and then leave in longer if need be). Remove from sheet and stuff with feta and coleslaw mixture. Serve immediately. Top with hot sauce or sour cream.

Chicken Taco Soup

2009-03-21T23:21:00.002-04:00

Sorry, no photos. But this was quite delicious and easy to make - I love when you can just throw everything into a crockpot and be done with it.

Chicken Taco Soup
Makes 6-8 servings

Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (12 fluid oz) can or bottle beer (anything but light) - I used Stella
2 (10 oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 (1.25 oz) package taco seasoning
2 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut in half (I used 3 chicken breasts)

Directions:
1. Place the onion, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, beer, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients.
2. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 5 hours.
3. Remove chicken from the soup, and allow to cool long enough to be handled. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup, and continue cooking for 1-2 hours on low.