Christmas Stockings

Just trying to get a head start on the Christmas season.

"Charleston" and I need stockings....

I am leaning towards something like this:

Burlap Christmas Stockings  by ShabbieChicHome on Etsy

Yay or Nay ?

ROAD TRIP!

"I'm going to Harvard!" 

 "Like on Vacay? (ahhhh) ROAD TRIP!"

Not headed to Harvard but yes, this afternoon I am ROAD TRIPPIN' it with this diva above to Wilmington, NC for Leslie and Zack's wedding weekend!

Can't wait to see Leslie as a beautiful bride and have a fun filled weekend with Lauren, Sharon, Katie, Sister and Sarah!

I Just Had To Take A Picture

I went to the refrigerator one night to start dinner and this was the view from the outside looking in:

I instantly had to giggle.  Busch Marketing....job well done!

With hunting season in full swing it just wouldn't be the same without camouflage beer cans.  Awesome.  And of course since they are camouflage they are in my fridge via the boyfriend.

Trick-Or-Treat More-Candy-To-Eat

Halloween is probably my WORST holiday when it comes to eating habits.

Like I have said many times, I am constantly conscious about what I put into my body. Being “conscious” doesn’t always stop me from eating a cheeseburger or mozzarella sticks but it does mean I will have a salad for lunch if I am going to splurge on a dinner.

With most other holidays I have a very clear picture of how much sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, stuffing, and turkey will set me back, but Halloween candy just throws me for a loop. It is just so little and small right? I probably shouldn’t even need to “count” it. It’s just one piece….well maybe two or three.

Lets back up a minute to the fact that I don’t really have a sweet tooth. I don’t ever buy candy or chocolate and I can walk down the candy aisle at the grocery and not even pause, but something about Halloween candy just lures me in. I honestly think it’s because it runs rampant in the office and around friends’ houses and I just consume without thinking.

Again, it’s one tiny piece right? Or two or three.

Long story short, Halloween candy definitely does not help me fit into my jeans from last year.

It is straight up empty calories.

Not tooooooo bad if you only participate in this practice for a week or so but how many of your offices are like mine that have lingering Halloween candy well into Thanksgiving?

Not good.

Just to give you a heads up on what your consuming this Halloween, check out the calorie facts on some of your favorites with the articles here:

Carbs and Calories in Halloween Candy – Halloween Candy Unwrapped

And here:

Evil Halloween Candy


Some of my faves include:

M&Ms, Plain, fun size – 88 calories

Hershey’s Miniature Bars (Mixed) – average 42 calories

Kit Kat, fun Size – 73 calories

Skittles, fun size – 80 calories

Candy Corn, 11 pieces – 70 calories

Now if I devour an assortment of my favorites over the day….I could easily consume an extra 400 calories plus. This could equal a sandwich from Subway or a grilled chicken salad which I would have really rather have then candy.

This Halloween I vow to my body to pay attention.

Stone Mountain State Park

Bottom line, relationships have to be nurtured and tended to. They often have to be repaired, rejuvenated, and re-established. Ruts can occur. Complacency can occur. Then it just happens that the next day the relationship is more like roommates than soul mates.

The weekdays get jam packed with work, errands and independent schedules that not a lot of time is put back into US. Yes, watching an episode of Modern Family on a Wednesday night right before bed puts us in the same room together for thirty minutes, but that’s obviously not enough.

We often tend to fill our weekends full of friends and family that sometimes I crave to just have him by myself. We have been SO busy lately that last Friday night, I honestly did not feel guilty by responding “no thank you” to an invitation for a couple drinks with our friends. “Charleston” and I have to pay attention to our relationship and keep reigns on our quality of time together because it can easily get out of control. It’s not hard on a Sunday to look back on the weekend and realize that our sleeping hours were the only ones we spent alone together.

Therefore, last week, when “Charleston” texted me at work to see if I wanted to go hiking on Saturday and asked if I wanted to invite anyone to with us, my response was clearly: Yes and No.

We were long overdue for US time. He agreed and we did just that. We nurtured our relationship; got back in touch with each other after a very busy month and spent all day on cloud-nine as if we were in our second week of dating. I fell in love with him all over again.

It was the perfect day to bring us back to US.

Stone Mountain State Park
Roaring Gap, NC

Yeap, that's my mountain man!

It was a super great hike; about 5 miles of various terrains and levels of difficulty. 

This picture doesn't do it justice but "Charleston" has long legs.  I promise.  I know this for a fact after trying to follow Rambo up the side of this mountain.  For every massive man step he was taking, I was three toddler steps behind him.

The stair stepper has nothing on Stone Mountain!

It was a gorgeous fall day and after our hike back down to the bottom, we drove to an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoyed a picnic lunch before heading back to Charlotte.

I love my mountain man and I will forever appreciate every second we get to spend together, just us.

Warms The Heart

This doesn't even need an introduction, description or comment.  It simply warms the heart and reminds us that their is commitment, hope, love, soul mates and all things good in marriage:

(article below)

via

Long-Married Couple Gordon Yeager And Norma Yeager Pass Away Holding Hands

article here

For one Iowa couple, true love lasted until the very end.

Married 72 years, Norma, 90, and Gordon Yeager, 94, passed away in the hospital holding hands last week, one hour apart.

The couple was hospitalized after a car accident just outside of Marshalltown, Iowa. They were given a shared room in the ICU where they held hands in adjacent beds.

At 3:38 pm last Wednesday, Gordon's breathing stopped. Though he had passed, his heart monitor continued to register a beat.

The nurse told Gordon and Norma's son, Dennis Yeager, that the monitor was beeping "because they're holding hands, and [Norma's heart beat] is going through them," Dennis recalled in an interview with Des Moines' KCCI news station. "Her heart was beating through him."

Norma passed at 4:38 pm, exactly one hour later.

Gordon and Norma's children say they're glad the couple passed this way. "They just loved being together," says Dennis. "He always said, 'I can't go until she does because I gotta stay here for her.' And she would say the same thing."

Crock-Pot Meatloaf

Call me crazy but I had this really weird urge to use my crock-pot and fill my home with a comforting smell while I ran around after work like a chicken-with-my-head-cut-off getting things done.

Therefore, I did just that.  I googled a quick recipe before leaving work, stopped by the Harris Teeter on the way home, grabbed a "meatloaf meat mix" (I already had all the other ingredients!) and stormed through the door to get that puppy cooking.

"Charleston" was working in Raleigh yesterday so he would be home a little later than usual so I had plenty of time to get done all I needed to while my loaf of meat cooked.  I went to Wal-mart, cleaned out the fridge, went to the gym, started some laundry and did my nails!  Very productive little afternoon/evening!

At 8:00pm, after my house had achieved just the right scent and the man was home from work, salivating, my crockpot meatloaf was cooked to perfection.


Crock-Pot Meatloaf

By Gail Farber of Romeoville,Ill.

Ingredients:
2 beaten eggs
3/4 c. milk
2/3 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp salt
2 T. grated onions
1/2 tsp. ground sage
1 1/2 lb. ground meat (Harris Teeter makes a meatloaf mix: pork, ground beef and veal)  Use whatever combo you like!

Sauce
1/4 C. Ketchup
2 T. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Directions:
Put loaf in Crock-Pot on low 5-6 hours (Longer is OK.)
Pour sauce over meat in the last 15 minutes on high.

My theory still holds true that meatloaf is not a "looker" meal;  I mean it's a loaf of meat.

But, check out the heat coming off it!  Total comfort food!

With the meatloaf we had couscous and baked asparagus.  Quick and easy meal!

Piperlime Had A SALE

I was so excited.  Piperlime was having a sale AND I had several coupons and discounts that I could stack together!  I shopped and shopped and shopped (without going too overboard because I totally could have) and purchased three pieces.

The anticipation built as I received a "Confirmation of my Order" email, a "Your Order Has Shipped" email, and then on Tuesday a "Your Order Has Been Delivered" email.  I couldn't get home fast enough!

BUT

It all came crashing down as soon as I tried the first blouse on. 

I ordered the peasant top below in two sizes: Small and Medium

I always do that, just in case, since its free shipping and return!

I put the small on and it simply fell off my shoulders, down to my waste and ended up on the floor.

It was HUGE! 

I double checked the tag to make sure I had not ordered a "plus size small" and I hadn't.  It was a regular.

Bummer. 

RETURN.

Moving onto this beauty below.

Everything looked promising when I pulled it out of the bag.

(Ordered a Medium because that's all they had.)

Put it on and BUMMER too big.   Again.

Also, the area that looks light pink on my computer is really more of a "rose."  Also, the "rose" color material is 100% see through.  I'm not sure what you would wear under this part.

Sad times.

Last but not least...a blouse for work.

Ordered it in a medium because that is all they had in this color.

Good News!

Its a little big but actually looks nice!

I'm going to take it to my alterations lady and get her to take it in a little on the sides and it will fit like a glove! The blouse was only $21 and with $6 of alterations....can't beat the price!

One out of three isn't too bad is it?

Moral of the shopping story:  Order waaaayyyy smaller then your usual size when ordering from Piperlime!

Sunday Night Pot Roast

As I was recovering on the couch Sunday afternoon from my night out with the girls, "Charleston" decided that he was going to welcome the fall weather and cook a pot roast for dinner.....whatever ;)

I didn't argue or question because I was quiet content in my horizontal position so off he went to the store and home he came with a massive chuck roast.  

Before I continue, lets take one step back:

Several weeks ago I started watching one of my favorite bloggers on her own cooking show, The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond on the Food Network.  Well lets just say I wasn't the only one in my household to enjoy the show.  I have noticed that "Charleston" has been checking out some of her recipes on her website, hence the pot roast idea.

Anyway, long story short.  "Charleston" made The Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast.  Obviously it was a TON of food so right before it was done cooking, we pulled the roast out of the oven, hurried it over to his parents house, popped it back in the oven while I made mashed potatoes, and fed "Charleston's" dad while his mom was out of town.  Aren't we good children for taking care of the parents?!

Overall recipe rating:  10 on all scales. hands down

The Cook

Easy on the Eyes but a Devil in the Kitchen

brown some onions

(Notice the pot - Le Creuset.  That is definitely not mine, although I wish it was.  "Charleston" borrowed this from his mothers kitchen.  It's the Round Wide French Oven.  Find it here)

brown some carrots

sear the seasoned meat

add a little red wine and beef broth.  add back the onions and carrots as well as some thyme and fresh rosemary.  put the top on and in the oven it goes.

and that's when I forgot to take my camera to "Charleston's" parents to get a picture of the final product.  Whoops.  

Guess you will now have to try it for yourself to see what it looks like in the end!

Perfect Pot Roast

by The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• 1 whole (4 To 5 Pounds) Chuck Roast
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 whole Onions
• 6 whole Carrots (Up To 8 Carrots)
• Salt To Taste
• Pepper To Taste
• 1 cup Red Wine (optional, You Can Use Beef Broth Instead)
• 2 cups To 3 Cups Beef Stock
• 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme, or more to taste
• 3 sprigs Fresh Rosemary, or more to taste

Preparation Instructions

First and foremost, choose a nicely marbled piece of meat. This will enhance the flavor of your pot roast like nothing else. Generously salt and pepper your chuck roast.

Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Then add 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil (or you can do a butter/olive oil split).

Cut two onions in half and cut 6 to 8 carrots into 2-inch slices (you can peel them, but you don’t have to). When the oil in the pot is very hot (but not smoking), add in the halved onions, browning them on one side and then the other. Remove the onions to a plate.

Throw the carrots into the same very hot pan and toss them around a bit until slightly browned, about a minute or so.

If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pan. Place the meat in the pan and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.

With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a whisk to get all of that wonderful flavor up.

When the bottom of the pan is sufficiently deglazed, place the roast back into the pan and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway (about 2 to 3 cups). Add in the onion and the carrots, as well as 3 or 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary and about 3 sprigs of fresh thyme.

Put the lid on, then roast in a 275F oven for 3 hours (for a 3-pound roast). For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours.

Les Said Yes

We know each other like the backs of our hand.

We can skip over all the chit-chat small talk and delve right into the good stuff no matter how long we have been apart.

It’s why I have loved each of them dearly since we were in kindergarten!

They are my bestests and in three weeks, we will marry off one more.

Congratulations to Les!

Leslie met Zack several years ago through mutual friends at NC State and on October 29th, after a small wedding in downtown Wilmington, we will welcome Zack into our little Kernersville family. When you marry one of us, you are get us all! We have come as a package for many years!

Therefore, this past weekend in Charlotte, we came together to have a little girls night out for one of Leslie’s last weekends as a single lady!  Friday night we had dinner at Cantina1511 and then shopped on Saturday at just about every boutique in Charlotte.  We then enjoyed sushi from Ginbu at Lauren's house (as well as several bottles of wine) before heading out in Uptown.

(please excuse my picture taking...all of these were at Laurens house before going out. I was having too much fun out at the bar to even bring my camera out and stop the madness!!)

Me and Sister

(the perks of having a twin...I ALWAYS have had a best friend no matter where I go!)

Me and Muse!  Life has been ten times more wonderful since she moved to Charlotte!

Sharon

The bride to be and Sarah!

Lauren and Blair

(Sister has turned into a serious blonde!)

As you can see in the background, I attempted to make tissue paper poms poms. I made a total of 10 and hung them throughout the room.  They turned out fabulous but let me just say, they were a pain in the butt to make.  I don't have that gentle touch that it requires, or the patience!

I also tried to utilize what little creative skills I have to make a banner for the mantle and smaller ones to go over both entry doors into the living room.

The future Mrs. Nichols!

We bought our dresses that day at Ivy & Leo.  You like?

And of course....a snake picture!

It wasn't sad saying goodbye on Sunday because I will get to see all their gorgeous faces at the wedding in a couple weeks!

Katie and Ryan, you were extremely missed!.  Our group wasn't the same without you!

It's Friday, Friday, Friday

It's Friday.  Thank goodness. 

Usually this is my slogan for a Friday afternoon.......

But recently things has just been crazy.  As much as I want to be a couch potato, life (and friends) grab me by the reigns and take me for a ride every weekend.  BUT, I and not complaining and NEVER will.  I have been so blessed with the most amazing boyfriend and friends that I cherish every evening I am not in my sweats catching up on the DVR. 

Over the past couple weekends, "Charleston" and I have managed to catch a couple Panthers games.  (Thanks again to Ryan Anderson for the tickets!)

We have also managed to host several gatherings at the house to have dinner, watch football and hang out.

R to L:  "Charleston", Adam Z., John W.

I have celebrated several of my fabulous friends birthday's!

Happy Birthday to Miss Laura Faust and to Miss Jenna Luck!

And we have been fortunate to attend the weddings of Ashley and Ryan Smithson and

Marla and John Wadsworth.  Congratulations you guys!  We had a blast and can't wait to experience with you what the future has to hold for the rest of your lives together!

...and the fun doesn't stop there. 

This weekend, my "since kindergarden" girlfriends are coming into town to celebrate the upcoming marriage of one of our bestest :  Miss Leslie Ann Routh!

Leslie and Zack's Wedding Website

Definitely expect pictures and a little more detail to follow next week!

Shabby Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

Maybe it is a blessing in disguise that I dare not dabble in the lottery because if I were to strike it rich, I would buy a house, put enough away for my three unborn children's college education, take a trip to New Zealand and Bora Bora.....and.... buy every dress and accessory on Shabby Apple's website!

But thank goodness I am some what of a penny pincher, (and you can totally tell by my closet right now. sad times) because I have NOT struck it rich and am living off of an average American salary which, does not allow me to act out like a caged animal in Shabby Apple.  

In the meantime while I wait for the cash money, I will dream of sugar plums and fairies and of course one day taking my trip to New Zealand in this:

Trapeze

L'Artiste

Champs Elysees

Toe The Line 

Signed, Sealed Delivered Belt 



YUMMY YUMMY get around my tummy!

Peanut Butter Fudge

I scored the most amazing Peanut Butter Fudge recipe several weeks ago from one of my co-workers, Sara.  It is her Granny's "secret" recipe and I couldn't wait to bring it into my kitchen and get my hands on it!  Therefore the opportunity arose for "Charleston's" sister's birthday!  Happy Birthday to Lorene; lets celebrate with some fudge!

Granny's Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients

5 cups sugar

2 sticks butter (don't cheat, use the real deal!  none of that low fat stuff.)

1 large can evaporated milk

4 teaspoons pure vanilla

2 cups peanut butter (again, don't skimp!  be real here!  after 5 cups of sugar your calories are already out the window)

1 - 7 ounce can marshmallow cream

Directions

Combine butter, sugar, and milk in a saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.  When mixture reaches a full boil, cook 10 minutes longer (OR until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees).  Remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter, and marshmallow cream.  Blend thoroughly and pour into buttered baking dish.  Let cool.  ENJOY!

**Helpful Tip:  I line my baking dish with wax paper and then butter the wax paper.  Keeps things clean and a lot easier to remove fudge after it cools!

Let's Begin:

Gotta love a little bubbly!

And then because I was constantly stirring and adding ingredients after the bubbly was done, I didn't get a picture until this point. (and because I was a supper messy cook and I didn't want you to see the rest of my kitchen!)

After I let it cool for AT LEAST an hour (better be safe then sorry!) I pulled the wax paper out of the pan and cut each block into smaller squares.

Side Note:  I made two batches.....again, better be safe then sorry :)

It looks a little crunchy/crusty on top but don't let the pictures fool you; its really all melt in your mouth.  Honestly.  



Halloween Decorations

I want my house to look like this for Halloween this year.....anyone else totally feeling it?!

Totally sophisticated Halloween!