Meatless Meals

I try to do a meatless/fishless dinner at least once a week. Most of the time the menu includes a combo of any of the following staples:

1. Vegetable soup
2. Three Bean Chili
3. Salad
4. Grilled Vegetables
5. Pasta
6. Rice
7. Baked potato

Well I went to the Farmers Market yesterday after work to see what they had to offer and I picked up some red/green peppers, zucchini, squash and onion. Great, i'll make grilled veggie kabobs.

My next stop was Target. As I was scowering the rice isle looking for my favorite boxed couscous (with Targets new renovations in the food section, I have no clue where anything is!) I ran across something I had never seen before - Boxed Risotto! (OK, I might seem a little sheltered but… at the grocery I follow the simple rule of shopping only on the outside aisles. Therefore, I rarely venture into the inside unless I know EXACTLY what I want.) I have made risotto before with a recipe but it was kind of a pain in the ass. So the box came home with me and my veggies. Therefore the othe rnight became meatless Tuesday at the casa – veggie kabobs and Archer Farms Four Cheese Risotto.

Final Verdict….the risotto was AWESOME, super easy and super cheap. Try it. Trust me!

Living In The Front Yard Of A Middle School

I was snoozing it up like a baby one afternoon on the couch after work when loud commotion woke me up.

As I glanced out the window I saw this:

Yeap, thats my car..... yeap, thats a huge group of middle school kids...and yeap, Sedgefield Middle School had a fire drill right as school was being let out for the day.  I guess I can share my front yard with them since "Charleston" and I do use their athletic field all the time to run the track, play frisbee and play soccer.

Fair trade.

I laid back down on the couch to finish my siesta when, 10 minutes later, I heard little boy voices talking about some girl whose named sounded like Catrina, with giggles following every word.  I opened the front door only to find two boys, in their navy and khaki school uniforms, chillin' on the steps of my front porch. 
Hiding out as long as possible when released for a fire drill, boys of my own heart :)
(Don't pretend like you never tried to be the last one in after a fire drill!)

I love neighborhood schools like Sedgefield Middle!

An O.C. Update

Did you honestly think I could go a week without mentioning my niece Olivia Claire on the blog? UMMMM nope!

Sister keeps me updated at all times about their adventures and whereabouts. What in the world did people do before camera phones?

And again, I might be a little bias, but her face is so stinkin' cute...I can't even begin to fathom how proud Sister and Sam are to have created such a fabulous little girl!

Ok ok, enough bragging, i'll stop :)

**click pictures to view larger**

She loves going to the playground and the pool. She's a little fish!

What kid doesn't love cheeros in front of the TV on a Saturday morning?!
Or spaghetti for dinner....with her hands!

Sister sent me this pic yesterday after Livi's 2 hour doctor appointment that included 4 shots. She cried her little self to sleep.

Photographer Groupie

I love photography and I have always said that my dream job would be working for National Geographic..... BUT...if that fell through I would be a wedding/lifestyle photographer. Hands Down.

Yes, it would suck to always have to work on the weekends doing weddings BUT what a special gift you are giving to two people to capture that day for them. It probably feels so awesome and not only that, how awesome would it feel to be your own boss?!

Over the years I have accumulated a pretty solid list of some of my favorite wedding/lifestyle photographers in the business. I follow their blogs on a regular basis and admire every bit of their work. I actually ran into the husband and wife team of Candace and Daniel over at The Beautiful Mess at the Harris Teeter last week and at first glance, was slightly "star struck"! It was like seeing a celeberty! I was too shy to say anything but I told myself that if I ever ran into them again I would not be shy to tell them I am a Beautiful Mess groupie!

Some of my other slight obsessions include:

Kristin Vining: Kristin Vining Photography Blog

Critsey Rowe: Critsey Rowe Wedding Photography Blog

Jasmine Star: Jasmine Star Photography Blog

Sharon Clark: Smitten Photography Blog

The Schultzes: Love The Schultzes Photography Blog

Katie Neal: Katie Neal Photography Blog

Loft 3 Photography: Loft 3 Blog

Nancy Ray: Nancy Ray Photography Blog

Drowning In Tuna

"Charleston" and I were at the grocery last week and cans of Starfish Chuck White Tuna In Water were on sale, something crazy like Buy 1 Get 3 Free! I grabbed 4.

I went on my merry way while "Charleston" was doing his own shopping and right before check out I noticed we had 8 cans of tuna in the cart! He had noticed the same steal and scooped up 4 cans himself. You do the math; we now have 8 regular size cans of tuna. What-to-do...What-to-do???
Well....we make tuna melts this weekend for lunch! I can't wait; I loooove tuna melts :)

Thanks to The Pioneer Woman for also helping me this go-round mix up my normal recipe!
I'm going to try this:

Tuna Melts
recipe and pics courtesy of: Pioneer Woman

Ingredients
5 ounces, weight Tuna
1/4 cup Finely Chopped Red Onion
1/4 cup Finely Chopped Red Bell Pepper
1 whole Fresh Jalapeno, Finely Chopped
2 whole Hard Boiled Eggs, Chopped
6 whole Sweet Gerkins, Sliced
1/3 cup Mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
Splash Of Pickle Juice
Salt And Pepper, to taste
6 whole English Muffins Split
12 slices Cheese (Swiss, Provolone, Muenster)


Preparation InstructionsCombine tuna with onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, eggs, and gerkins. Stir in mayonnaise, Dijon, and pickle juice. Add salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed; be sure not to undersalt.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place English muffin halves on a large cookie sheet. Place a large spoonful of tuna salad on each of the twelve English muffin halves. Use the spoon to spread/flatten. Put pan into the oven for five minutes, then briefly remove and lay a slice of cheese on each muffin. Return to oven and turn on broiler. Watch carefully to avoid burning; bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Spelled Out In Pictures

I was sitting at my desk the other day at work, minding my own business and working away when all of a sudden my cell phone started blowing up with messages. I couldn't read the first before the second came through.

It was a series of photos and before I could download and view the first, the second was waiting in my inbox......Finally when all pictures were viewable I had this.....

I-L-O-V-E-U

"Charleston" is not a major romantic but....if I get sweet little things like this every now and then, I will always count my blessings!

He might need to spend less time being sweet and more time cleaning his keyboard ;)  

Are You Really THAT Busy?

It has always been a HUGE pet peeve of mine. ALWAYS.

You know those people that when you ask how things are going they ALWAYS respond with “ahhh, work is just soooooo busy”? All the while you both are standing at the gym at 5:00 on the dot, so you instantly think to yourself....it must not have been THAT busy because it seems like you got off work early to already change into workout close and hit the gym!

It’s like no matter when or where you are, and what you say, they are always going to be “busier” then you and they are ALWAYS “busy”! (Sure, sometimes all of our lives are hectic but come on…it’s not THAT bad)

Well I have had a lot of experience with those kinds of people. I have honestly never voiced my opinion on why I think these people do what they do but all I know is that it irritates the FIRE out of me.

I ran across the following article yesterday that 100% helps me explain my feelings and I don’t think I could have stated it better myself:

Does Stress Validate our Existence?
By: Julie Gray

I hear it a thousand times a day. I used to say it as often:

I'm so stressed out

or

I'm so busy

or

I'm so tired

It has become a badge of belonging here in Los Angeles, and, I suspect, across much of America as well. How often have you proclaimed your absolute exhaustion? And -- what does that mean, exactly? If you are so tired, go to bed earlier. If you are so stressed, do some meditating or yoga. If you are -- well, you get the point.

I have a two-part theory.

Part One: Many of us actually opt to feel terrible and stressed (or at least say so repeatedly). Sure we could do yoga or meditation or take a run to feel better. And we do those things. But we keep saying we are feeling so stressed out. Because we want to feel this way. We need to feel this way because...

Part Two: Being stressed out and tired validates our existence as being, in some way, indispensable. If you are relaxed, happy and rested, you must be a real slouch. But being tired, well, that means you are on the go, a real mover and shaker -- what you do is important!
We say it constantly -- I'm a wreck! The kids drove me crazy today! You wouldn't believe the day I had! I have so much to do!

But -- was it that bad? Is this how we really want to feel in the day-to-day?

I absolutely believe that we can, moment by moment, choose how we feel. And no, it's not easy. It's not easy at all, to choose to feel good when one feels excluded, or unimportant or overwhelmed. But it is possible to feel, if not good, a little bit better.

Ask yourself how you want to feel, most of the time. Most of us would say peaceful, happy and relaxed. Well, of course. But many of us proclaim just the opposite, over and over again each day.

In America, we value working hard and being tired. Our personal and professional lives are blurred beyond recognition. Being tired is a badge of honor. Being jaded is a badge of experience. Being sarcastic is a badge of great intellect.

I suppose it's just all too boring to be rested, optimistic and kind. There is no positive measure of success, only the reverse. Especially in Hollywood, the town of smoke, mirrors and broken dreams where to be hopeful is to be naive and to be happy with who you are is delusional.

To be a woman in this illusory city, this tinsel town, is to be challenged constantly:

If you live in a city of beautiful, young, thin, blonde women, can you still know you are beautiful just as you are?

If you live in a city of obscenely expensive sports cars but drive something older, can you still know you are successful?

Can you still know that what you are doing matters and is important -- even if the movie/show doesn't get made or the promotion never comes?

In a city, a country and a time full of people convinced that money and material trappings are equal to success and happiness, can you still know that this is not true and be happy just to be living and breathing?

Can you know that your conscious choices and thoughts can direct your life to new vistas -- just because you believe what you think about and you think about good things, even in a society that seems to value negative thinking?

It is truly revolutionary to opt to feel good, as much as you can. To describe your days positively, to self-soothe when it wasn't so positive, to be kind to oneself and to stop caring what everybody else thinks. You can change your life by adopting this way of thinking, a thousand times more effectively than taking up yoga to feel better. It's not the yoga, it's the thought behind it that makes you feel better. It's the choosing to feel better and recognizing that feeling good, as much as one can, is what life is all about.

For in feeling good, you are a more effective, loving mother, father, employee, performer, friend or boss. You enjoy your days and nights more -- for you don't really know how many of those were allotted you. So feel good. And stop saying you don't. Believe that you are needed, important, effective and hard-working simply because you live and breathe on this planet -- the weight room of the universe. It's not only okay to feel good, it's your prerogative and your birthright.

My Supermodel Is Growing Up

"God, can you please give me a kid one day as cute and as special as her?"

This is my prayer everyday, honestly.

I am the proudest Aunt ever. It's a little obsessive and ridiculous but...I just can't help myself. I would give this little girl the world!

Like stated in my earlier post, I am headed home this weekend to help Livi celebrate her 1st birthday and I can't wait to kiss that sweet little face!

Olivia's Party Dress for tomorrow!

Mimi and Poppie (my parents) were going to give Livi a sandbox for her birthday, but...for some reason she is already playing in it! Spoiled...I think so! (maybe sand will be the birthday present!)

She gets her studiousness from her Aunt :)

Babies in Polo....PRECIOUS!

 

The Sun Always Shines In The Morning

“Charleston” and I were having a “heart-to-heart” the other night right before bed, discussing just about everything. We don’t do it often but we discussed our relationship, where we saw things going in the future and what each of us wanted out of life. We were discussing our living situation, our desires to own houses, everyday and vacation. I was really getting into it because how often can you sit a man down and honestly get him to talk about these things?

The conversation was going PERFECT (of course with several immature comments from the male species that kept the mood light). We were just about to fall asleep when “Charleston” started being really sweet and telling me why he loved me (something must have been in the water today). I laid there quietly soaking up every drop when all of a sudden “Charleston” quickly rolled over and said… “I really do love you but….why does the sun always shine out of your butt hole in the morning?” (Said with an honest straight forward face)

I started cracking up.

I am a morning person and as soon as my feet hit the ground I am like: lets-have-a-conversation!, lets- talk!, lets-snuggle!, lets-get-up-and-make-up- the-bed-and-clean-the-house!, lets-cook-breakfast!, lets-take-a-shower-and-start-the-day!, lets-call-all-of-our-friends-and-see-what-they-are-doing-no-matter-what-time-it-is!, lets-have-fun!, happy-Monday!, happy-Tuesday!, happy-Wednesday!….

I am sorry. I am a morning person and I get excited to wake up and greet everyone else to a new day!

“Charleston” on the other hand doesn’t like to interact or talk for the first 20 minutes that his eyes are open. Don’t talk to him; don’t touch him…just let him go downstairs and get a diet coke and wake up ALONE.

That night I went to bed happy with myself that yes, the sun does shine out of my butt hole in the morning and I am darn proud of the girl I am!

What's Your Ringtone?

Have you ever thought that your cell phone was silent and then at the least expecting time, it went off and you were totally embarrassed? It always seems like a great idea to put one of the latest hit songs as your ringtone but….

A lady at my office walked onto the trading floor today with her cell phone in her pocket and it went off …

[Usher:]
A Town's Down!

[Lil' Jon:]
Yeah, Ok! Lil' Jon!

[Usher:]
Yeah, Yeah Yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeaah
Yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeaah

Ummmm….BAH HA HA HA HA. Bless her heart.

This entire situation took me right back to college. I was notorious in class for forgetting to turn my cell phone on silent. Never failed, at least once a week I was “that girl” who disrupted class. The worst part is, I disrupted it with some of the most cheesiest songs as ring tons!

The ones that survived the longest on my phone were Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, Summertime by Kenny Chesney and Your Love by The Outfield.

Did anyone else have total cheese ball ringtones that you questioned why you chose them because it embarrassed you every time it went off?

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