A Perfect Saturday

I missed Mother’s Day the other weekend because I went to the beach with “Charleston” and some friends. Therefore this weekend was my “make up” Mothers day! My momma and Aunt Sharon came down to Charlotte for a little day trip and some girlie time. When they arrived to my house around 9 I had coffee and Monkey bread waiting as a breakfast treat!

Monkey Bread

3 cans buttermilk biscuits (the cheap ones)
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 stick margarine
1 cup light brown sugar

Cut biscuits in quarters. Shake biscuit pieces in a bag of sugar and cinnamon mixture. Place pieces in a tube or bundt pan. Do not grease pan. Boil the stick of margarine and cup of brown sugar for one minute. Pour this mixture over the biscuits. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Leave in pan for 5-10 minutes. Dump onto plate.

We continued the day with a trip to Southpark to shoe shop. Because my Mom has been wearing a pair of my hand-me-down black flip flops that I bought in college, she wanted a new pair of black sandals to replace my old ones that had seen better days. The search resulted in mom finding two pair from Nine West that she absolutely loved. Because she is the most amazing momma in the entire world, I didn’t want to see her have to chose one over the other so I just got her both! She is totally worth it in every way!

Mom is stylin' in her new kicks!

Our shopping journey then took us to Handpicked and Paper Skyscraper before settling into a booth for lunch at 300 East. It was my first time at 300 East for lunch and like their dinner menu, I was just as highly impressed. We all three ordered The Usual and hands down, I would recommend it to anyone! It was amazing!

300 East

Overall I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day with my momma and aunt. I love the fact that my family is only an hour and a half away so days like this can happen!

Almost A Full Year Has Passed

I got this in the mail last week.....

It is so hard to believe that almost a year has already passed since this: She Is My Little Supermodel

Our family has been truly blessed with this new little addition and it is so hard to believe that I am going to have the most amazing opportunity to watch Livi grow, go to school, play sports, have boyfriends, go to college, get married, and the list goes on and on.

I know how much I look up to my aunts, Aunt Lori and Aunt Sharon for not only being amazing women but because they were my second mothers with a little "flair!" They let me stay up late; bedtimes were a "rough" estimate. They took Blair and I on trips to the beach and the mountains where it was fun to be away from Mom and Dad for the week. They spoiled us. Aunt Sharon always had the best crafts to do and Aunt Lori turned me onto shopping! They let us cook and bake and make messes in the kitchen. They were idols when I was five and they are still very much idols today. They have been 100% involved in my life since the second I was born and for this I will always be grateful.

I want to be this for Olivia and can't wait to be able to provide her with a second mother figure like my aunts have always done for me. I know my mom would not have survived raising twins without these women's help and I want to be there for Sister when it comes to raising Olivia!

Happy almost Birthday little peanut! I can not wait to celebrate with you on the 21st!

Through The Conflict

When I first moved to Charlotte, my roomie Jenna found a church that had just started establishing its roots in Charlotte, Elevation. We attended on Sundays and I can honestly say that it was a life changing experience. For once, I understood what being a Christian meant. I was experiencing and hearing the bible in ways that I never knew were possible. I was learning and growing and understanding my purpose that He put me here for. Sunday worships were experiences that stuck with me all week until next Sunday when new words were spoken.

I grew up in the Methodist church, Main Street Methodist, in Kernersville where everyone in my family was involved in every aspect of the ministry and congregation. After moving to Charlotte and attending this contemporary form of worship I started to miss the more traditional aspects of what I grew up knowing. Therefore when “Charleston” and I started dating, I began to attend church with him and his family at Myers Park Presbyterian. It felt like home and I loved it. But again, there were some Sunday’s where I longed for the inspiring words of Pastor Steven as he connected bible verses directly to the aspects of my life.

Something had to give.

I made the choice to continue to attend Myers Park Presbyterian on Sunday’s with “Charleston” and his family and then listen to Pastor Steven preach online through Elevations online video sermon archive. Therefore I was able to experience traditional church on Sunday and then also have Pastor Steven “speak to me” on Monday nights! The best part for me about experiencing Pastor Steven’s sermons online is that because he says SO many good things, I am able to rewind and go back and hear it over and over again until it really sinks in, and trust me, I go back over and over and listen to the same sentence to make sure I really get the point.
Sometimes when I get in a rut or a predicament and need someone to “preach” to me, I go back and re-listen to Pastor Steven preach on specific topics.

Today was that day. I needed to hear it. I needed it to connect to the Bible and what God would want me to do in these situations.

Therefore, I remembered a relationship series we covered over the course of several months called Visionary Love, Dream Sex. And in that serious was a sermon entitled Through The Conflict. Today I listened and took notes all over again.

The entire sermon was how to handle conflicts in your relationships. I scribbled thoughts, versus and specific points that Pastor Steven spoke of and walked away with a little of this:

You have to speak life into your relationships. When I open my mouth to speak to the people in my life, I have the ability to either kill or to bring alive. You have to speak to their potential.

Many people can speak words. “I love you” means nothing if you can’t back it up. You have to back up your words. If you are really going to love someone and prioritize someone you have to spend time with them. Spend time with your children. You can’t just say you love your wife, you have to take initiative to serve your wife (or husband).

“Too many people are waiting on their prince (or princess) to come instead of crowning the prince they already have.”

1. The success of a relationship doesn’t depend on IF you fight but HOW you fight
2. Conflict is the result of UNMET EXPECTATIONS and UNFULFILLED NEEDS.
3. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
4. Leave room for God to change the heart. Only God can open certain doors.
5. Make it right before the sun goes down. (and not the 24 hours sun)

I don’t even know how to put into words everything I pulled from this sermon but above is a wonderful summary. My eyes were open again and I realized how I needed to handle conflict in my relationship as a woman and as a Christian. If you have the free time to spare, and even if you don’t, I suggest searching the Elevation archive yourself…there is some powerful material in there!

Obama vs Osama...too funny!

Osama or Obama....eh, who cares :) Bless some of these reporters hearts who didn't even notice they had said something wrong! I don't know why I found this comical but I did! Enjoy

Anthropologie Aprons

I own two super cute aprons given to me by Ashley, Laura and Lauren for my birthday but I am ALWAYS hesitant to wear them while I am cooking! They hang right there on the side of my fridge always within arm’s reach (they make fantastic kitchen décor!)! I will b*tch, cuss and scream when spaghetti sauce bubbles out onto my T-shirt but would rather mess the $10 sorority T-shirt up then my cute apron! Many times I will cook and prepare the food in my comfy old clothes and then slipping the apron on at the very end so that I serve dinner in something cute :)

But really, would you want to mess up any of these cutisie little aprons from Anthropologie?!

I think I have a new obsession!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Apron

Twilight Telopea Apron
Charmed, I'm Sure Apron
Tea-and-Crumpets Apron
The Lady's Apron
Seasonal Specialties Apron
Gray Gardens Apron

Play Date with Livi

While I was in Kernersville for Easter, Sister needed to run some "kid free" errands so I kept Olivia while she was gone.

We did a little bit of this:

follow the leader, crawler style

and more follow the leader, crawler style.....
Livi LOVES to strol in her stroller so we put back on both of her baby crocks and took advantage of the beautiful weather by taking a walk around the neighborhood!

She is the cutest thing in her stroller- she cuddles up with a blanket and sings/makes noises the entire time! It's precious! She is such a happy little squirt!
Then "Charleston" came home from hunting and him and Livi played together like two peas-in-a-pod! Their favorite game: Hide and Seek!

So they hide:
and then they seek:
and then they hide:
and then they seek!
It melts my heart to watch them play. Olivia loves her some Uncle "Charleston"!
Always plotting their next move

Homey G Funk's Birthday

See this little lady below......isn't she just the prettiest, cutest little thing you've ever seen?!

**click any picture to view larger** Well I believe so! And I am soooo proud to call this pretty little lady my bestest! I met her in preschool and have refused to let her go!

I posted here about her birthday in 2009 but the sad thing about that was I was unable to spend that special day with her because she was a resident of D.C. Kind of a far hop-skip-and-a-jump.

Well in the past year, things have changed and she is now my neighbor right down the street here in Charlotte! I don't think I could be any happier and I can not thank her enough for making this move! [I like to tell myself I had a little influence in her decision to relocate even though I GUESS her work, sister, family and all her other friends had a little pull as well :) ]
Wednesday, April 20th was Lauren's birthday and of course we had to celebrate now that we had the ability to celebrate on her exact birthday! I met her at her house when she got off work and we gossiped (which we do best!), split a bottle of vino, and she opened her birthday present! New gold earrings for the birthday girl!

We then met her sister Erin and several other friends for dinner at Cantina1511!

Lauren and Erin (no they are not twins but you can definitely tell they are sisters!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN MUSIOL! I AM SO BLESSED THAT YOU ARE A PART OF MY LIFE!Me and My Homey G Funk on the patio of Cantina1511!
Lauren and her "little sis" Lisa. Lisa and Lauren were in Kappa Delta together at UNC.
Erin and Patti
During dinner, Carrie, one of Lauren's friends from D.C. called and set up a guacamole appetizer for the table and a margarita for the birthday girl! Carrie had talked to Lauren that afternoon and Lauren told her where we were eating at Cantina so Carrie called the restaurant and had the order waiting! This was such a cute and thoughtful idea for an out of town friend! I have to remember this one for future reference!

Market Creations

It seems that I am ALWAYS on a search for different lunch ideas to bring to the office. I know I have raved and ranted over it before but even when I find something I enjoy, it’s not like I want to eat it every day of the week. I guess this is going to be an ongoing struggle as long as I need to pack my lunch.

But….last week I did find another item to throw into the mix. I have said it before that I am not a fan of the Lean Cuisine meals but I do enjoy their Panini sandwiches. Well Lean Cuisine has stepped it up again and came out with the Market Creations line of frozen entrees. There are 10 options of steam fresh meals:


Asiago Cheese Tortellini
Chicken Alfredo
Chicken Margherita
Chicken Poblano
Chicken Pot Stickers
Garlic Chicken
Mushroom Tortellini
Shanghai Style Shrimp
Shrimp Scampi
Sweet and Spicy Ginger Chicken

So far I have tried the Mushroom Tortellini, Sweet and Spicy Ginger Chicken and the Asiago Cheese Tortellini. The first two get a thumb up!! The Cheese Tortellini, in my opinion was just super bland. Not enough flavor to satisfy. The best thing about all of them is that they all tally less than 300 calories!

Mushroom Tortellini

Sweet & Spicy Ginger Chicken
Asiago Cheese Tortellini

"My Colors Are Blush and Bashful"

I do a lot of HGTV watching and have gotten "Charleston" on board as well. It has become one of those channels that stays on all the time since it is something we both agree on! Between Income Property, House Hunters, Selling New York, Designed to Sell, My First Place, and Property Virgins I have seen my fair share of the male species (including 'Charleston") requesting "man caves" in their new and renovated homes. Well what about a ladies lounge? Many men say that the ladies lounge is in the kitchen (ha ha funny joke) but honestly, I love to cook so I do not take that in a bad way but....if the ladies lounge is in the kitchen shouldn't the man cave then be in the backyard? Doesn't every guy love to drink beer and grill out? Why do they get their own separate room in the house? I want my own space in the house with a "blush and bashful" theme that would include this:

and this: and this: and this: and this:

and some of these on the walls:

and this:

and then of course this!:

Now that's a Ladies Lounge!

Crisp Tuna-Cabbage Salad

Several weeks ago I was on a search for the ultimate cabbage recipe. I had leftover cabbage from fish tacos and had no idea how to get rid of it but hated to throw it away. I stumbled across this recipe at The Kitchn.com and it turned out to be an awesome idea to pack in my lunch! I made individual batches every night before bed and let it chill in the fridge over night. It's fresh, light, and satisfying. Perfect!

Crisp Tuna-Cabbage Salad

Find it here: Recipe online

2 servings
One 5-ounce can tuna, drained

2 cups finely chopped cabbage

1/4 cup minced chives

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

3 tablespoons yogurt

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Shred the tuna with a fork and stir in the rest of the ingredients. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. Eat immediately or else refrigerate for up to two days.

**click the pics to get a close up**

New Workout Gear

For the longest time I always worked out in a pair of yoga pants or running shorts and an old sorority T-shirt (what else do you do with all of them after five years?). I am very self conscious about my “sides” (every girl knows what I am talking about) and my arms, therefore, T-shirts always covered these trouble spots up. BUT...cotton T-shirts are not breathable. They hold in sweat and weigh 10lbs heavier then pre-workout. I also had several pairs of yoga pants that, no matter how loose they were, always seemed to cut me right in my “side” area and give me a side muffin top. Not cute! Between my cotton on the top and my muffin top on the bottom I was insecure and never felt “cute” at the gym. When I didn’t feel cute and positive, it was not motivating to workout. Last month I lost 5lbs (mainly by changing my eating habits) so I rewarded myself….new workout clothes! I could not be happier with my purchases and it is motivating me to get to the gym because I now feel put together and productive like the cute girls in spandex from head to toe. I now love busting a sweat which gets whisked away by the new material. My arms are covered enough but not restrained by a heavy T. My shirts have enough shape to feel cute but loose enough not to cling to my “sides". My new pants don’t give me muffin tops and when I sweat on my butt ( I know that’s gross) you don’t see the spot where the sweat is pooling! As much time as I spend in my workout clothes there is no excuse for not putting a little money into quality clothing that will ultimately pay off with good healthy habits at they gym. Wanna know what I bought?

Under Armour Women’s HeatGear Get It Started Run Tee

(I bought two colors at Dicks Sporting Goods and am considering ordering two more; one for every week day!)

lululemon Wunder Under Crop

I don't know how else to say it except for that these pants make your ass look amazing! Instant butt lift!

Nike Dri-Fit Tech Women’s Running Capris

I have the shortest legs known to women. I always have an issue with workout pants hitting me at the wrong place on my leg. These are the PERFECT length even for someone who is vertically challenged.

Did You Know?...Bread

Do you ever pay attention to the color of the twist tie on your fresh store bought bread? I never have, why would I?! I always thought the store picked something to go along with the packaging and look pretty!

Come to find out, that twist tie color has a purpose: It tells you how fresh the loaf of bread is!

These twist ties are color-coded to reflect the day that the bread is baked!

Blue = Monday

Green = Tuesday

Red = Thursday

White = Friday

Yellow = Saturday.

It’s true; you do learn something new every day!!!

Check out the article here: Color-Coded Bread Bag Ties: Who Knew?

Plan and Prepare to Shop and Save

Last night “Charleston” came home with a $30 grocery receipt from Harris Teeter with a total VIC savings of $46.32. Yes, he saved more then he ultimately spent! Within his purchases were 6 packages of boneless skinless chicken breasts (3 breasts per pack). The VIC special was buy 1 pack get 2 free! He also had a massive can of pineapple juice and the biggest jar of Soy Sauce they sell; both also VIC specials.

After seeing his purchases, I knew exactly where his brain was and I gave myself a little pat on the back. Maybe we are rubbing off on each other!

I am a planner and I am cheap. When it comes to some things this could be a train wreck waiting to happen but when it comes to meals, it’s a blessing in disguise! There are many things I do throughout the week to ensure I always have good healthy food ready to go, convenient and at a good price so that I am not making bad choices by opting to eat out because of the convenience. A little preparation every week can go a long way!

Want to know several of my secrets?

1. Shop with a plan. Set aside an hour or so of free time, make up several lunches and dinners for the week and hit the grocery. I like to do my planning while I am eating lunch or dinner on Sunday and hit the grocery right after my plate is clean. This way I am stuffed when I shop reducing my risk of impulse buying!

2. After bringing my groceries home it’s time for the prep work! Don’t just stick the food “as is” in the cabinet or fridge. For example: If I buy grapes to take to work for breakfast, I immediately wash them and divide each out into 5 small plastic baggies or plastic containers; one for every day of the week. That way, right before work every morning, I grab my lunch bag, open the fridge and everything is already pre-assembled to throw right in and go; even when I am running late! I do this with baby carrots, pieces of cheese and even humus. I go ahead and scoop out personal portions of humus in little containers to take with my carrots every day. Grab and go!

3. Chicken. We eat a lot of chicken (hence the introduction story above). When I find chicken on sale I buy as much as I can. At home I trim each piece, divide them up and put two pieces of chicken per freezer zip-lock bag. Line each zip-lock I pour whatever marinade I want, switching up several varieties (hence the pineapple juice and soy sauce purchase above). Then each bag marinades in the refrigerator overnight and the next day all the bags go in the freezer. On a morning when I know I am going to want to bake/grill/fry chicken that night for dinner, I pull a perfect portion bag out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge while I am at work. When I get home, boom, ready to go, already marinade and trimmed! Waste no time; just throw it on the grill.

4. I don’t buy 100 calorie pack items. They are WAY overpriced and you are paying for the packaging. So… I make my own. I have a TON of small plastic containers so I buy a box of Cheese-It’s (or whatever your obsession may be) and divide them out into my own 100 calorie packs using the food label on the box. These then go in the cabinet for a ‘grab and go’ just like my fridge items! If I don’t have plastic containers I grab some cheap cling wrap and make tiny sacks of 100 calorie snacks to place in my lunch! I do this with all crackers, nuts, fruit and sweets. Don’t pay someone else to do your math!

5. Salads. I eat salads with at least four meals every week and the one thing I hate doing more than anything before having a salad is chopping all the ingredients. Its so time consuming and after a long day I hate standing in the kitchen and dicing. Therefore, I pre-chop all my vegetables. I ALWAYS have a container of lettuce, onion, green/red/yellow pepper, celery, carrots, etc. etc. ready and waiting like my own personal salad bar! Some things like cucumbers which are not as good chopped in advance I hold off on but everything is already done and just added to my bed of lettuce. (Hint: After chopping lettuce and celery, line your plastic containers with a very damp paper towel and then add the veggies. This will prevent them from becoming brown so quickly!)


Overall, I have many little “Blain O.C.Ds” I do during the week to stay organized and on a budget, these were just some in the kitchen. Maybe next week I will move to other rooms of the house.

Buy on Sale, Plan and Prepare Ahead. I promise it will save you so much time during a busy week!

Homesick

It hit me like a brick wall last week.

I was homesick.

I NEEDED my family in a desperate way.

I wanted to be in Kernersville and hang out with the people that mean the absolute most to me. I felt like a left alone 2nd grader at summer camp.

So on Wednesday afternoon I told “Charleston” that I was going to go home and hang out with my parents and Sister on Saturday. I know gas prices are high and I was just putting miles on my car, but at that point, nothing was going to stop me, I NEEDED my family. “Charleston” asked if I wanted him to go with me and in the most polite way I told him that really I wanted to go alone; have them all to myself.

On Saturday at 6:00am I was on I-85 headed north toward Kernersville so that I could get to Sister’s house in time to get Olivia and her bed head out of her crib when she woke up! I needed hugs; I needed kisses and I needed all things laid back and familiar.

I made it just in time for the little peanut to open her eyes and need a diaper change. Blair and I simply hung out and played with Livi which made the perfect start to my Saturday morning. Mom came over several hours later and joined right in to the “do-nothing” Saturday activities.

We had lunch with Grandma at The Loop and before I knew it I was on I-85 South headed back to Charlotte. It was a quick trip home but just the right dose of family I needed to get over part of my homesickness.

(I think it also helps that I knew I would be going home again this coming weekend for the entire weekend! :) )

**Click any picture to view larger**

Olivia is getting to be such a big girl. She just crossed the 10 month mark and she can crawl up a storm. She is working on being able to stand on her own but the second she begins to tip over, she crumbles to the floor like a scaredy-cat.

Olivia rocked out her new pink crocks to lunch! She melts my heart.

"The family. We are a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." - Erma Bombeck