Diners, Drive-ins and Dives = Cravings

“Charleston” and I do it to ourselves all the time. We plop down on the couch after work to discuss dinner/evening plans and somehow, at the same time, the TV ends up on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

We become instantly hungry, irritated because we have yet to go to the grocery store and really don’t want to take the time to cook anything because all we want is the five-tier-cheeseburger from po-dunk Pennsylvania or the BBQ Ribs from no-mans-land South Carolina. Why do we put ourselves through it? (Lately I have offered up running to Mr. K’s down the street or even hit up The Penguin but, “Charleston” has reminded me each time that I don’t have “the points” for that. Such a good fiancé to keep me in check!)

On Monday night, we watched the episode “Where the Locals Eat” and it featured Captain Chuck-a-Mucks in Rescue, VA. This joint is right near the Chesapeake where they cook all fresh fish and Guy Fieri featured their famous crab-cakes. Captain Chuck-a-Mucks had me at hello and all I want now is fresh fried seafood; especially a crab cake!

Charlotte lacks when it comes to hole-in-the-wall seafood joints so instead, I am going to try this crab-cake-recipe this weekend.

Baked Lump Crab Cakes with Red Pepper Chipotle Lime Sauce

Crab Cakes

9 ounces lump crab meat, picked free of shells

1/2 cup (about 13) reduced fat Ritz crackers, crushed

1 whole egg plus 1 egg white, beaten

2 finely chopped scallions

2 tbsp finely chopped red bell pepper

1 tbsp low fat mayonnaise

2 tbsp fresh cilantro (or parsley)

1/2 lime, juiced

salt and pepper to taste

cooking spray

Zesty Chipotle Lime Sauce

1 tbsp roasted peppers (jarred)

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

1 tsp minced canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce

1 tsp fresh lime juice

Red Pepper Chipotle Lime Sauce:

In a small blender (or magic bullet) puree mayonnaise, lime juice, roasted pepper and chipotle pepper.

Crab Cakes:

In a large bowl, combine crushed crackers, eggs, scallions, pepper, mayo, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Mix well, then fold in crab meat, careful not to over mix so the crab remains in large chunks. Gently shape into patties using a 1/2 cup measuring cup.

Chill in the refrigerator at least 1/2 hour before baking.

Preheat oven to 400°. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray. Bake about 8-10 minutes on each side, until nicely browned.

Drizzle red pepper chipotle lime sauce over crab cakes and serve.

No, they don’t look as good as the captain’s and they are not deep friend to perfection but…my fingers are crossed they satisfy my craving.   



Just Loving!

I am just loving this wedding cake:

 And this dress:

(I never thought I would pray for cold weather on my wedding day but if I could wear this, bring on the frost!)

 Love how soft and romantic this one is! 

and if only my hair would do this!

This weekend my mom and sis are coming into town to do some bridal and bridesmaid dress shopping and I am getting more and more excited to feel like a bride!

Body by Victoria

It was long overdue.  I needed a new bra, bad.

I am far from sexy when it comes to items in this department for my everyday wear therefore, several years ago I got addicted to one specific bra.  It is all I have owned in the past couple years and this weekend, after wearing the same two for more then a year (I know, gross), I went and bought two replacements and I am in underwear heaven:

The Demi Bra - Body by Victoria

 via

via

I am not joking when I say this is THE MOST comfortable bra you will ever own.  The important aspects for me are that the straps stay up on my shoulders and when  I bend over, everything stays in place; no gaping! This bra honestly looks like it has been molded to my body AND it is SUPER soft.

If you have never tried on the Victoria's Secret Body by Victoria line you owe it to yourself to AT LEAST give it a shot before your next bra purchase.  You might follow in my footsteps and always turn back!

WWW Week Three

Weight Watchers Weigh-in Wednesday was yesterday!

I don’t think I have ever been this nervous of a stupid scale before. I will give those people on The Biggest Loser all the credit in the world not only because they face a national audience when they weigh in each week but they do it in the most god awful, unsupported, ugly sports bras and stretch pants. Anyone else watch the show and find it funny that for every weigh-in they have to wear those midriff showing outfits but when they come back for the finale show they wear tank-tops to hide the spanks and every other gut sucking equipment? Why do they do that to those poor people..?

Anyways, this week I lost another 1.2 lbs which gave me a gold star on my “report card” for losing a total of  5 lbs on the program so far! (You get a gold star for every 5lbs lost.)

Not too shabby I guess. If I stay on the pound-a-week team I will be happy with myself. I set a date last night for our engagement photo session in June and if I stay on track, I can be at my goal weight for these photos to be made! Can’t wait!

It Starts Today

I heard it once in a sermon at my church several years ago; it was about the purpose of Lenten “giving up.” Too many times I think we overlook the actual reason for this sacrifice.

So many of us chose to give things like chocolate up for Lent. But then, as soon as that giant Easter basket is sat down in front of us, we devour every poor bunny and Cadbury egg in sight because YAY, Lent is over! These types of actions only prove that most of us only partly understand the purpose of this “giving up” practice during Lent.

Lent is really about conversion, turning our lives more completely over to Christ and his way of life. That always involves giving up sin in some form. The goal is not just to abstain from sin for the duration of Lent but to push sin out of our lives forever. Conversion means leaving behind an old way of living and acting in order to embrace new life in Christ.

You don’t give something up for Lent because of a personal gain (giving up sweets for the purpose of weight loss) or because of the “Just to do it” approach (giving up gum just to give up gum). Give your “giving up” a purpose; a sin that you want to work out of your life so that you are living your life more like the life Christ intended for you.

For Lent this year, I am giving up negative gossip. Let’s be honest, we all do it. We find ourselves sitting around with our buddies and the conversation turns negative when someone starts to go off on how obnoxious “Julie” was at the bar on Saturday and how ugly her shoes were. (Don’t lie; you know you have participated before). Majority of the time (and yes, I am preaching to myself) we partake in negative gossip because it almost makes us feel better about ourselves. How twisted is this? I want to fully adopt the approach that I should have been following for the past 28 years, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.”

During the times that shall come when my mouth wants to open up and join in on the negative gossip conversations, I want to turn my heart towards Him. Instead of joining in and agreeing with how much I can’t stand that “Dave” always has to be the life of the party, I will pause and remember that God satisfies me more than “this thing” does and I CAN live without it in order to be a better person.

What are you giving up for Lent?

The Date Is Set

March 9th, 2013

Our Wedding Day!

This day has been on the radar for quite some time now BUT, we finally have some dollar bills down at both the church and reception site which makes me 100% more comfortable to finally put this information out to the public! 

Right after I turned in the check for the reception site, I came home from work one afternoon to a delivery on the front porch!  Inside was this:

One of my bestests Laura sent us a countdown clock to our wedding day!  How cute and super sweet is this! LOVE it!

Besides setting the date, booking the church and reception site, as well as putting a deposit down on a photographer (which I am SUPER excited about and will leak that information at a later date)...I think I have a pretty good start and have not really done much else  I have several bridal gown appointments coming up in March which my Momma and Sis are coming down for and "Charleston" and I went to Diamonds Direct to take a look at wedding bands for both of us.

When it comes to my ring....I am 100% in love.  "Charleston" went above and beyond what I could ever have asked for and it has "BLAIN" written all over it.  Before we got engaged, "Charleston" and I obviously had talked marriage and he asked me questions about what kinds of rings I liked.  I always told him I wanted something simple and classic.

Back in college at NC State, I used to teach this water aerobics class at the YMCA on Hillsborough Street every Monday and Wednesday morning at 7am.  It was the highlight of my day for years.  I had the same group of elderly men and women (mainly ages 75 and up) who would venture out, rain or shine, to make it to class.  They were ultimately my home-away-from-home grandparents, slipping me $2 here-and-there, telling me to buy myself something good for lunch!  God love them. 

Well there was this one sweet lady Ellen.  She not only had a heart of gold but she was absolutely beautiful even in her late 80's.  Ellen was not married but after some time of observation, I noticed she wore a diamond everyday on her left hand.   It was a single solitaire set in a standard gold setting.  I made the comment to her one day that her ring kept blinding me as it sparkled in the water and she proceeded to tell me that it was her engagement ring that she has been wearing for 60 plus years. 

Ellen was married for over 55 years before her husband passed away.  He gave her that ring the day they got engaged and she has worn it since. It melted my heart that even to this day, she still wears the exact same one!  It was inspiring.  She proceeded to tell me how important it was to her and how honored she was to wear it everyday of her life and to be his wife, even after he was gone.  Love is beautiful. 

Therefore, there was no doubt in my mind that one day I wanted to follow in Ellen's footsteps. The ring I would hopefully someday receive when I got engaged, I would wear everyday for the rest of my life; the exact same one.  It has so much meaning, significance and love surrounding it that I can't wait in 60 years to tell my great-grandchildren about the day their great-grandfather gave it to me.

I sent "Charleston" this picture on my way home from work one day last month.  I want him to know everyday how much I love my ring, I love him, and I will cherish everyday that I get to be his wife.  I will be honored.

Skinny Chicken Enchiladas

On Friday night "Charleston" and I joined his sister Lorene and brother-in-law Brett at Zio's for dinner.  If you live in Charlotte and have never been there, you HAVE to try it.  It's basic Italian home cooking and it is amazing!  I had the Uncle Duff's Cheese pizza and it was puuurrrfect!

Because I used plenty of WW points on my pizza Friday night,  I opted to cook Saturday night and make something a little healthier.  I decided on the Skinny Chicken Enchiladas from Gina's Recipes and as usual, they were delicious and super easy and each enchilada was only 4 Points+ ; I had two and was good to go.  "Charleston" loved them as well and asked me to make them again last night for dinner but with it being cold and rainy outside, I was not about to head out to the grocery store.  Sorry babe. 

Skinny Chicken Enchiladas

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Low-fat Chicken Enchiladas

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 enchilada • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 4 pts
Calories: 159.5 • Fat: 5.9 g • Protein: 16.2 g • Carb: 17.8 g • Fiber: 8.3 g

Ingredients:

For the sauce:
2 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 tbsp chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
1-1/2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
3/4 cup fat free chicken broth
kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste

For the chicken:
1 tsp vegetable oil
8.5 oz (2 breast halves) cooked shredded chicken breast
1 cup diced onion
2 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup cilantro
kosher salt
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp chipotle chili powder
1/3 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup tomato sauce
8 (7-inch) reduced carb whole wheat flour tortillas (la tortilla factory)
1 cup shredded low fat Mexican cheese
non-stick cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped scallions or cilantro for topping

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, spray oil and sauté garlic. Add chipotle chilies, chili powder, cumin, chicken broth, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onions and garlic on low until soft, about 2 minutes. Add chicken, salt, cilantro, cumin, oregano, chili powder, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
 
Spray a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick spray. Put 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each tortilla and roll it.
 
Place on baking dish seam side down, top with sauce...

Then top with cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the oven on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes. Top with low fat sour cream or scallions if you wish. (Extra points) Makes 8 enchiladas

Basketweave Sweater Jacket

I swore to myself that I was not going to buy anything new this month until I lost 8 - 10 lbs but I caved....

"Charleston" and I went to the mall last weekend JUST to return a couple things but who can go to Southpark without stopping by the Banana Republic sale rack?  Not this girl!

I was enticed by the $20 Birthday Reward I just got in the mail from my BR Visa credit card and it was burning a hole in my pocket!

This sweater was calling my name from the depths of the rack:

I just couldn't resist.  After I petted the sleeve, it had me at hello. 

Its 46% Wool, 21% Nylon, 20% Viscose, 8% Acrylic, 3% Cashmere, 2% Alpaca = 100% HEAVEN

Originally it was $140 BUT with the rack sale and a $20 off Birthday Coupon, I stole this puppy for only $59. 

It also comes in a Camel color which is still on Sale here. (just not as good of a sale price)

Thank goodness Charlotte is starting to see some colder weather to give me a chance to wear it this year!

WWW Week Two

And again, yesterday was WWW, Weight Watchers Wednesday, whoo hoo.
Well it’s time to be real, yesterday was not as good as the Wednesday before :(
It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good.

I only lost 1lb.

I was a little disappointed but our WW Coach reminded me that their goal on the program is 1 – 2 lbs a week so I was still on track and at least I didn’t gain anything! True that!

She asked me what I did different between my first week and my second week and there were three prominent things that stood out…

#1. I worked out more this week then the last. Working out = possibly gaining muscle

#2. I am a girl and I have that time of the month which just so happened to be this week. Not sure about you but this always causes me to weigh a little more at the time due to who knows what… it just happens.

#3. I ate the same amount of points both weeks but this week I chose to eat foods with higher point values which means I ate less and ate foods that were not AS GOOD for me as they could have been.  I found myself a lot hungrier this week then last because I was eating more calorie dense foods

So…long story short, it was an OK week. I am still sticking to the program and 100% paying attention to the simple food decisions that need to be made every day. It’s not easy but it is also not rocket science; it just takes effort. I was proud of myself for skipping the bread basket while I was out to dinner on Saturday and so happy that “Charleston” supports me in my efforts and keeps my eating habits in mind when cooking dinner or choosing places for us to eat! Having the support really helps.

There are several things I need to work on this week which include developing a better grasp of when I am actually hungry versus just being thirsty; yes it happens and many times we mistake the dehydrated feeling for hunger. I also need to learn how to eat more often and work on not letting myself get to the starving point where I want to eat everything in sight which can lead me to making poor food decisions.

Let the games begin! I will get to that 2lbs or more next week!

Steak Dinner + My Hunny = Valentines

LOVE

below was my valentine last night when he got off work

poor baby, he was exhausted

but he rallied

after i sent him on a little scavanger hunt around the house (which might have been five clues too long ) for his valentine "treat", he saw me off to spin class at the gym while he whipped up an amazing meal in the kitchen

steak, baked potatoes, sauteed onion and mushrooms and steamed broccoli

it was perfect....

...and so is he

happy valentine's day my future husband

i LOVE you always and forever

Weekend Favorites....I'm Lovin' It

I thought I wanted the cold air to get to N.C. but.... I was wrong.  I was miserable walking outside at times this weekend just to get blasted by the cold air and wind.  NO THANK YOU.

Therefore, I had a very laid back weekend watching movies and catching up on "life" and sleep.

Between my hours of doing nothing I did find some time to do more wedding research and ran across a couple new ideas which I am realllllllyyyy loving!

Slight obsession with bows and this dress tops my list!

 I am coming to like bouquets with some fillers and not all flowers like this:

Love the color of the bridesmaids dress paired with the chunky necklace!

Doesn't even need an explanation....jaw dropping. 

Gotta find me one of these for my right hand! 

Yum. Gorgeous. 

Love the soft color and the gray berry looking thingies.  Again, obsessed with fillers! 

Simple yet elegant cake!

  Can anyone else picture this cake as a wedding dress? A fit and flare style with this type of ruching around the body and a flower detail at the bottom?!   Ok, maybe I do watch too much 'Say Yes To The Dress'

Love everything about these B-maids dresses...color, fit, fabric...EVERYTHING!

So sophisticated!


Welcome Back To The Work Week Friends!

DIY Framed House Key

How cute is this idea from Erin McLean Events:

DIY Framed House Key

How To Here

I think I am going to do this with the townhouse "Charleston" and I are in now! Not only is it the place that we will be in as we start our lives together as Mr. and Mrs. but,  it is also the spot where we got engaged; our living room has a lot more meaning then just a place to watch TV!  It will be a nice piece to take with us forever.

 

Maybe then over the years as we move...build a little gallery wall with these special keys sprinkled in! 

WWW Week ONE

Yesterday was WWW, Weight Watchers Wednesday; our weekly meeting here at work to see how we are doing on the program. Just my luck, my first week on Weight Watchers (WW) brought about a weekend out of town, a Super Bowl Party as well as a night out for my birthday; all of which included food options that are VERY tempting and more difficult to manage.

For those that are not familiar with the WW program, basically it’s a simple point system. Every portion size of a specific food has a particular point value based on its fat, carbohydrate, fiber and protein content. Depending on your weight, you are assigned a daily point value and everyday you choose whatever-in-the-world you want to eat but, after adding up each food, the total cannot exceed your daily point value. Also, each week, you get 49 free points to blow however you see fitting AND you can earn activity points when you workout! Seem simple? Well it really is IF you plan and work at it! It’s not a diet; you’re not restricted to particular foods. It’s just about managing and paying attention to the foods and the amount of each you consume. It is a healthy eating strategy!

My plan this week was to stick to my given 26 points/day during the week when I was able to totally control what I packed for breakfast and lunch and what I cooked for dinner. This then allowed me to stock pile my 49 free points for what was to be a tough “food” weekend. I used my free points at our Super Bowl party and on wine at my birthday dinner! I kept my hand out of the chip basket as much as possible while “Charleston” and I were out to a Mexican dinner with Sister, Olivia and Sam and I passed on the butter bread at our spaghetti dinner for my dad’s birthday. It’s the little moves like these that totally add up!

With all that being said, at the weigh-in yesterday I lost 2.8 lbs in my first week. Not too shabby. With the WW program, because it is supposed to be a sustainable weight loss, you are expected to lose around 2 lbs a week in order to keep it off. I kind of wish I would have gone above and beyond but….any loss is fine by me!

Like Miss Lindsay reminded me last week, it’s a slow process but it does work, just be patient! Best piece of advice I have gotten! It does seem like a lot of work in a week just to lose 2 lbs but…..I am keeping my eye on the prize in the end!

I will toot my own horn...go me!



Happy Birthday To Me!

Birthday's are big, I mean BIG in my opinion!  I made it another year. 28!

I don't say that in a negative sense like this year was so long or tough; I say it in true rejoice and appreciation.  Life is precious and I have been blessed!

Therefore at dinner last night, when all my friends told me to make a wish, without even thinking I said "I don't know what to wish for, I have everything I want."  It's true, I do. (So I wished something for someone else.  It was needed and I need it to come true.  Come on birthday fairy; back me up!)

blowing out my birthday candles

Me and twenty-two of my dearest Charlotte friends went to dinner at Brixx and it was the perfect birthday treat thanks to the organizers "Charleston", Laura and Lauren.  You guys are the best for pulling it all together!

I also have to brag on my babe for a minute.  He knows me better then I know the back of my hand and he pulled through with an AWESOME birthday gift:

Aldo Hayth Pumps

and the matching clutch!

Simler Clutch

Happy Birthday To Me!

Thanks hunny and my fabulous friends!

It was the best!

Wedding Palettes...Tough Call

I go back and forth when it comes to color palettes for the wedding.

If you would have asked me 2 years ago what I had in mind for my dream wedding, you would have gotten the answer of some shade of purple + green + gold + white.

If you would have asked me two months ago you would have gotten Peach + Camel + Antique Gold + Olive + White.

When the question came up yesterday in a conversation with my mom, I said Powder Blue + Nudes + Gold. I feel like I have been all over the spectrum. 

Well now that “Charleston” and I have ALMOST chosen our venue for the reception (we are waiting to sign the contract) I feel that I might need to pick a color scheme that could be a little easier to pull off in this particular space. Maybe something like this:

Copper, Antique Gold, Gray, Silver + White

all pictures via: The Perfect Palette and Martha Stewart

I really love the sophistication and elegance. (and also the fancy party feel)  I am getting the feeling that it is classic enough that I will not look back in 60 years and wonder what-in-our-lords-name was I thinking.

Am I going down the right path or totally getting derailed?  What's your opinion?

Watching My Weight

Why is it so hard for me to admit that I am overweight? I am. I could stand to lose 20 lbs on my size frame. It’s just frustrating.

I think it’s hard because MAJORITY of the time I feel fabulous and beautiful. I talked about this issue in a blog post last year about how I feel comfortable in my skin and I am usually OK with looking in the mirror but, when I see a picture of myself, especially standing beside my friends, the weight really shows up and I get frustrated. As soon as I get that email notification that someone has tagged me in a picture on Facebook, honestly, I immediately panic. God knows my arm probably looks like a ham hock and I can’t get on Facebook fast enough to check it out and un-tag myself. Anyone else ever feel this way or am I just crazy and shallow? (OK, don’t answer that!) After reality hits and I see myself in a real setting, that confidence I had slowly gets chipped away.

I don’t want to feel this way…especially on my wedding day. I don’t want to look back at my wedding pictures and see my insecurities show up on the page like a pop-up book. I want myself on the outside to reflect what I feel on the inside; I am selfish and want the total package! I have already asked myself many times “why is it taking an engagement and wedding to make you want to lose weight?” and to that I say I don’t know. I should have cared about this five years ago but I was too lazy to take action. My wedding day will be the biggest day of my life (besides the day my niece Olivia was born!) and I want to be in the best shape of my life so that I start off my marriage in the right direction.

In order to achieve this goal I have decided that I just can’t do it alone. I have looked into personal trainers but decided that my problem is not the exercise aspect of the equation. I don’t mind going to the gym and working out. I love it. The issue lies in my eating habits. I try and eat healthy but I love food. I love to cook and don’t mind absorbing the calories if it means my taste buds are satisfied. I just lack portion control, accountability and all things in between. I need control of this side of the equation. To do this and get the support and tools I need, I have decided to join Weight Watchers through work. There is a group of 36 of us doing it together and we meet every Wednesday at lunch (in our office building) for the next 13 weeks. The best part is that WW is supported by our companies Live Well program so 75% of the cost is subsidized by Duke!

I am super excited now to learn some new things and get started but I will be honest, at first I was embarrassed to admit I was going to be participating in Weight Watchers. Admitting I need help to learn better eating habits and lose weight is 100% accepting the fact that no matter how I feel on the inside, I need help and am overweight on the outside. It is also admitting that I am not strong enough to make the right decisions on my own etc which, for someone as independent as I am, is VERY hard to swallow…….. BUT, walking around carrying this extra weight is THE most obvious way of saying I need to do something so...Which is more embarrassing - Carrying the weight physically on my body for everyone to see or going to WW once a week, admitting I need help and taking control for life?

First meeting was today and it was awesome!  I can't wait to get jump started with this plan and hopefully keep you updated on my progress! 

(Thanks for also letting me feel comfortable enough to share this with all of you!  It was hard to push the "Publish Post" button because I'm putting my insecurities out there but, it feels so good to know I have support! )

A Backyard Wedding

Seeing this makes me almost re-think the backyard wedding idea.



OMG

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This is absolutely the most gorgeous backdrop piece I have ever seen used at an outdoor ceremony. I would have to have....

via

 I wish I had the risky bone in my body to pull off an outdoors ceremony and reception.  I am too much of a planner and without a solid back up plan...my blood pressure goes up!

Your Birthday Song

If you didn't know....my birthday is just right around the corner!  The big 28 on February 6th!
Well in honor of my special day, thanks to and idea from Let The Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore blog, I thought I would share with you my birthday song! 

Your birthday song is the number one hit song on the charts on the day you were born and you can find your birthday song here:  Number One Songs On This Date

My birthday song is:  Culture Club - Karma Chameleon (I bet my momma remembers this one!)

What's cool about this site is that they list the hit song on your birthday every year!


1984  -- Culture Club - Karma Chameleon 

1985     1st birthday:  Foreigner - I Want to Know What Love Is 

1986     2nd birthday:  Dionne and Friends - That's What Friends Are For

1987     3rd birthday:  Madonna - Open Your Heart 

1988     4th birthday:  Tiffany - Could've Been

1989     5th birthday:  Paula Abdul - Straight Up

1990     6th birthday:  Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract

1991     7th birthday:  C+C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) 

1992     8th birthday:  Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy 

1993     9th birthday:   Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

1994     10the birthday:   Celine Dion - The Power of Love

1995     11th birthday:  TLC - Creep

1996     12th birthday:  Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day 

1997     13th birthday:  Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart 

1998     14th birthday:  Janet Jackson - Together Again 

1999     15th birthday:  Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time 

2000     16th birthday:  Savage Garden - I Knew I Loved You 

2001     17th birthday:  Shaggy feat. Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent - It Wasn't Me 

2002     18th birthday:   Usher - U Got It Bad 

2003     19th birthday:   Jennifer Lopez feat. LL Cool J - All I Have 

2004     20th birthday:   OutKast - Hey Ya! 

2005     21st birthday:   Mario - Let Me Love You 

2006     22nd birthday:   Beyoncé feat. Slim Thug - Check on It 

2007     23rd birthday:   Beyonce - Irreplaceable 

2008     24th birthday:   Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain - Low 

2009     25th birthday:  Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You 

2010     26th birthday:   Ke$ha - TiK ToK 

2011     27th birthday:   Bruno Mars - Grenade

 
I am a HUGE fan of my birthday playlist! 

The Green Energizer

Did I tell y'all back in November I bought a Juicer?  Well I did.

After much research, I decided on the Breville Juice Fountain Plus and I LOVE it.

It was kind of expensive but I already feel like it has paid for itself after seeing how many times I use it!

I make juice for my afternoon snacks, breakfast, post-workouts and sometimes as a beverage with dinner if I am consuming mostly carbs and protein in my meal.  There are many critics out there when it comes to juicing but I look at it this way....

I am not using my juicer to consume all my veggies; I still eat salads and cooked veggies with every meal.  I use it in addition to all other foods and I feel in general that its an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients from foods that I normally would not eat!

Last night I juiced my way to a "Green Energizer" drink after my run which included:

3 stalks of celery

2 small apples

1/2 peeled lemon

1" ginger

3 cups spinach

4 leaves Romain lettuce

1/2 cucumber

It was actually awesome.  The hint of lemon and ginger did the trick!

"Charleston" snapped this pic while I was in the process!

If anyone has any good juicer recipes or good reference websites, please share!

New Big Girl Bed for Olivia

Olivia is growing up so fast and with a new baby brother on the way she transitioned into her "big girl" room last week with her "big girl" bed so that Sister and Sam can keep her room as the nursery. 

Blair said they set up her bed, trapped her in with pillows and told her to go night-night and sure enough...she was out cold....

Sister said she checked on her several times before she went to bed and not once did Livi try and climb out.  Around 3:30am Blair heard her talking over the monitor and when she went in to check on her Livi was sitting straight up in her bed saying "socks, socks".  She had pulled her little socks off and her feet were cold! (But still, no effort in trying to escape!)

She's such a good little girl; makes me melt.

Back In The Kitchen Again

I haven't cooked a complete meal in FOREVER and I am itching to get back into the kitchen.  I used to make Crockpot chicken tacos (my own throw together recipe) ALL of the time because it was super easy and a little on the healthier side then some of my other go-to dinners. 

To get back in the swing of things, I am trying a little spin on my usual thanks to How Sweet It Is:  Crockpot Cheddar Beer Chicken Taco



via

Crockpot Cheddar Beer Chicken Tacos


4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3/4 cup beer (I used an amber ale)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
pinch of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoons pepper
3/4 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese + more for topping
taco shells
your favorite toppings: greek yogurt, avocado, cilantro, salsa, chopped onion, black beans, shredded lettuce, etc.

In a bowl, mix together chili powder, cumin, garlic, onion, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. Measure out 3/4 cup of your favorite beer, and whisk 1 1/2 tablespoons of the taco seasoning into the beer.

Place chicken in the crockpot and dump in beer with seasoning. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

When you first remove the lid, it will seem as though there is a lot of liquid and the chicken is just sitting in it, but take two forks or kitchen tongs and shred, shred, shred until it all comes together. Taste and season with additional taco seasoning if desired, then let sit in the crockpot for another 15 minutes or so. Turn the crockpot completely off, and right before serving toss in cheddar cheese. Once combined, immediately transfer the chicken to a large bowl so the cheese does not stick to the crockpot. Make your tacos!


I can't wait to get back in the kitchen again.....especially to use my crockpot! 

Mini Milestones with Ulcerative Colitis

When one person in the relationship develops a bowel disorder it puts the relationship on the fast track of being comfortable around each other in ALL sorts of situations.  

I have had some girlfriends that refuse to go "number-two" with their boyfriend or husband in the same room or in the same vicinity.  On the flip side, usually the guy is a little more "advanced" in discussing and expressing his bowels, like farting in the same room as you but.... there is still that weird fine line that most couples just don't cross.

Well, "Charleston" and I have totally crossed all lines, several times, back and forth since his diagnosis.  It just happens; it kind of has to happen, its part of this disease.  

We can still be immature at times when it comes to discussing his "poo" as being "pudding like" etc (sorry for grossing some of you out) and we can giggle like five year olds in the middle of describing some of his symptoms but it has become our reality and honestly, it has brought us a million times closer.

I have been in Chapel Hill this weekend with "Charleston" while he has been receiving another treatment to bring this ulcerative colitis flare up into remission and while I have been here, he seems to be making some progress.  Besides performing another colonoscopy, the best way to tell if this drug is working is if he starts to go to the bathroom less then three times a day, starts hearing and having normal bowel sounds and functions,  and if there is less blood in his stool (I hate the word stool but its what all the docs use so I will try to be as politically correct as possible).

Well yesterday "Charleston" called me into his room and he was so proud, gleaming from ear to ear.........

As soon as I walked in, I was floored.  It smelled TERRIBLE.  "Charleston" informed me that he just farted and before, he had not been able to poot in like two months without having to go to the bathroom just-in-case!  He was like a kid on Christmas he was so excited and honestly, I almost had a tear in my eye I was so excited for him.  It was a sign that his bowels were moving in the right direction to being back to normal.  It was a mini milestone.

Its the little things in our relationship that mean so much now :)

This is the weirdest happiest moment I have ever had!

(There is a huge smile under there if you can't tell!)

Blair and Sam Are Having A......

i totally forgot to tell you!!!!

See this little cutie-pa-tutie below...She told us awhile ago that she was going to be a big sister and I couldn't be more excited to be an aunt again!

(She sent me this pic the other day to show me her new pink Carhart coat!)

Well.......

She found out that she is going to be a big sister to a little BROTHER!

Sister and Sam are having a BOY !

This is big news; we don't have boys in our family unless they marry in so I can not wait for this new adventure!

Can't wait to meet Mr. Baby Howard #2 around June 15th!

Love Me Some Family!

A New Face

I have been a Bare Minerals user for MANY years.  It was appealing because, thanks to my parents and their good genes, I have clear skin so I never really needed a make-up to "cover" anything up.  Bare Minerals evened out my skin tone and gave me some color without having to paint my face everyday.  It worked but, yesterday I just realized I was bored of my morning make-up routine.  After (at least) six years I was ready for something new. 

While at the mall yesterday I stopped into Sephora to pick my new poison!  A sweet girl Lindsay set me down and gave me a new fresh face. 

She washed my face and started with a moisturizer.  I requested one with SPF because I NEVER leave home, no matter what time of year, without a little protection!  I really loved this product because it was not greasy at all and if I did not already have two bottles of face moisturizer at home I would have bought it.

(But Lindsay was sweet and gave me a sample to go so maybe next time!)

Philosophy Hope In A Jar

She then proceeded to teach me all about primer; never used it except to paint my walls!

Primer sets your skin up to "hold" makeup without it absorbing into your pores.

This stuff is amazing because it is all natural and after it is applied it actually makes your face feel really clean.

Boscia Skin Perfecting Primer

She then set me up with a new compact powder foundation.  It is still light like the Bare Minerals but goes on smoother and creamier.  The coverage is just a little stronger then loose powder which is definitely what I need in the Winter with no tan!

Sephora Collection Matifying Compact Foundation  

And then a new bronzer.  I am a true believer in the rule that if you only have a couple minutes to do your make up in the morning, never leave home without a powder to even out the skin, blush and mascara.  But, if I had those extra 30 seconds...Bronzer would be my number 4 product. 

Benefit Boxed Powders Hoola Bronze

I left home this morning with the freshest new face and I am excited! I can already tell a difference with how well this make up has stayed on even through the morning hours where I have a tendency to rest my head on my jaw bone and forehead while working :)