Dinner This Week

Sunday: Going out to dinner (Gerber is in town!)

Monday: Spicy Grilled Chicken and Green Onions with grilled zucchini

Tuesday: Taco Salad (I love to top it with doritos)

Wednesday: Grilled Shrimp and Corn Salad

Thursday:Lettuce Wraps

Friday: Spinach Pizza (with TJ's whole wheat pizza crust)

Love Month: Vacations

In 10 days we will be getting on a plane and heading to Cancun, Mexico for Spring Break 2011! I am so excited I can hardly contain myself.

I'm really looking forward to:

sleeping in

laying out at the beach and pool

reading a book and some magazines

checking out Chichen Itza

soaking in the local culture

taking long walks on the beach

eating some tasty Mexican food

shopping at the local shops

going to Senor Frogs, Carlos and Charlies, or Pat O'Briens

not having to make my bed!

and RELAXING in general!!!

I'm also excited to wear my new beach gear, but I'm still searching for a cute beach bag!

bag, Bikini, tunic, shoes, beach

Dinner This Week

Sunday: Chicken Noodle Soup

Monday: Yogurt-Basil Chicken Kabobs and Arugula Salad

Tuesday: Buffalo Chicken Tender Salad

{I’m going to substitute with buttermilk for ff greek yogurt}

Wednesday: ?

Thursday: BBQ Shrimp, zucchini, and brown rice

Friday: Turkey burgers (sans bun) with sweet potato fries

Turkey burgers:

Ingredients:

1 package of 99% Fat free ground turkey

Chulula (add as much as you like depending on taste)

½ cup chopped red onion

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

4 slices of fat free Kraft Cheese

Avocado

Directions:

Preheat grill to medium heat.

Mix turkey, chulula, red onion, and garlic. Divide into 4 equal patties.

Grill burgers until thoroughly cooked.

Top with cheese and avocado

Sweet Potato Fries:

Ingredients:

2 sweet potatoes

Pam Olive Oil

Sea Salt,

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Paprika

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450F

Line a sheet tray with parchment.

In a bowl, coat sweet potatoes with just enough oil to coat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Spread sweet potatoes in single layer on baking sheet. Bake until sweet potatoes are tender and golden brown, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

I've missed you

I have been sick as a dog for the past 7 days

Temperature of 100+ for 4 days

Only leaving the house to go to the doctors

Laying on the couch watching countless hours of reality tv, movies, DIY shows, etc

My best friends have been Kleenex, tylenol, and azithromycin

I decided that I was sick of being inside on Saturday and ventured out

Unfortunately, I couldn't get off the couch yesterday

Today is a new day

I'm feeling stronger

I am going to accomplish something today (but make sure I do not burn out!)

It's supposed to be 76 degrees out today!!! I'm ready to be back in the real world

Love Month: Phones

phone

i love phone calls

it is so nice to be able to get in touch with someone across the country in a snap

it is wonderful to be able to talk to friends and still feel connected no matter how far away they live

just a quick hello can brighten my day

i'm setting a personal goal to make them more often

if i lost my iphone i would feel completely lost...not sure if that's a good thing or not...

Love Month: My Mom

I kept my most special post of love month for Valentine’s Day. Today’s post is dedicated to my MOMMA!

I am so blessed to have her in my life. She is such a beautiful woman with a heart of gold. She always puts others in front of herself and goes above and beyond to help others in need. She is the true rock in our family, and I am so thankful for her strength and support. She inspires me to be the best person I can be. She is always patient with me and listens to my stories (no matter how lame or mundane they may be). She has a wonderful way of making everyone feel special and loved. She always knows when to call, text, or write an email.

I have always thought she was amazing (even when I was being a rotten tween and teen pushing the card WAY too far at times). She was always did a wonderful job of letting me knowthat she loved me and would be there for me, even though she could be “strict.” As I look back on it now, I fully understand why I got grounded, was not able to do everything, or get everything that I wanted. I know that this lead me to be a better person.

One of my favorite qualities of my mom (there are sooo many it is hard to narrow it down to just one) is how wonderful of a party planner/hostess she is. She loves to entertain and wants to make sure everyone is having a great time. She makes everyone feel at home and there is no way anyone has left her house hungry! Not to mention, she is also wonderful at dancing and karaoke.

I was so very fortunate to go on atrip to Europe with her this summer. It was by far the best trip I have been on in my life. We had a great time bonding as we spent time together in the beautiful, quaint streets of Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, and Budapest. We would share countless hours walking, eating, chatting, drinkingwine, and just being together. I often think about how lucky I was that she invited me to go on this trip with her. This trip contains some of my favorite memories and I reminisce about it often.

I hope one day I can be half the mother that she is to me.

Love you momma! Can’t wait to see you in three months!

Dinner This Week

I have seen some bloggers who post their weekly dinner menus, and I thought, "Hey, why not give it a try? Maybe it will help spice up our regular weekly meals that we always seem to rotate." So, without further adieu, here is what we are going to eat this week:

Sunday: Rosemary and lemon chicken with roasted red potatoes and asparagus

*Recipe via Peacock's Roost

Monday: "Chicken" Parmesean

*Recipe

Tuesday: Asian Grilled Salmon Salmon with sweet potatoes and asparagus

*Recipe

Wednesday: Chicken and Cabbage bowl with black beans, avocado and Cholula

Thursday: "Taco" Salad

Note: Anything with quotation marks around it will be a vegetarian meal. I am going to start to participate in "Meatless Mondays" and "Vegan Thursdays" with some of my friends from work...I'll keep you updated as to how it goes.

Sorry that there is not a recipe for the last two, I usually make it up as I go, but I will do my best to measure this week!

Love Month: Date Days

Every once in a while Wick and I will have a “date day.” We like to plan a day where it is just the two of us. We think of relaxing, fun activities to do and plan a whole day based around them. Sometimes it is staying in and watching movies as we snuggle or other times it is being outside wondering around town. Yesterday was one of our “date days” and it was perfect!

1 2

We slept in then laid in bed talking about how excited we were for our special “date day.” We finally dragged ourselves out of bed and headed over to Parker and Otis for brunch. I love looking at all of the nick knacks as we wait for our food. I got their #1: Open-faced egg sandwich on whole wheat toast with two eggs any style, cheddar, tomato and mixed greens. It was delicious as always.

3

From there we headed to East Campus to walk around the trail. It was a great day out and the trail was full of walkers and runners. I love to walk by some of the houses on Buchanan Blvd. and pretend that we live in them.

4

After our walk, we headed back to our place to relax on the couch and watch a movie. Redbox had delivered Extraordinary Measures on Friday, so we decided to watch it. Talk about a tear jerker. I cried numerous times throughout the movie! I would definitely recommend it, but have your box of tissues close by as you do.

5

Next we got ready and headed to Raleigh for our massage. It was amazingly relaxing. My masseuse was wonderful and focused on my back and feet. L.O.V.E.D. it! On our way home my stomach was growling as I started thinking about the yummy dinner ahead.

6

For dinner we headed to 604 West. The ambiance there was perfect for our nice, intimate chat. I love having time with just the hubby where we talk about any and everything we can think of. I also need to mention that the food was delicious. I got the filet mignon and it was divine. I love a good steak, but I honestly cannot tell you the last time I ate one. Last but not lease, we ordered crème brulee…yummy! It is by far my favorite dessert.

With our bellies full, we decided to call it a night and head back home. It was one of my favorite days with Wick. I just love spending quality “date days” with just the two of us. Love him!

Love Month: Snow Flakes

Each is so unique, just like all of us.

Love Month: Tulips

Hands down tulips are my favorite flower. I am drawn to them in any color. There is just something about their simple beauty that is easy on my eyes. They can add so elegance to their setting. I wish they were in bloom year round.

Tulips

Love Month: Socks

There are few things better than putting on a new, warm pair of socks. The gentle way they warm my feet reminds me of sitting in front of a warm fire on a cold winter day. Their soft, smooth, cotton stitching snuggles my toes and warms my heart.

Although I can be a little bit of a sock snob, I always do my best to find them at a good price. I always search for them when I am at gap, nordys, or tj’s. They seem to have the perfect colors, lengths, and thickness. Finding a new, swanky pair makes me want to break out in a dance (but I do my best to wait until I get home, don’t want to get weird looks from the other customers).

I just love coordinating them with my outfits. It’s a finishing touch that can put me in a good mood for the rest of the day (even if I am the only one who sees them). I wonder which pair I will wear tomorrow.

pic

Love Month: Magic Bullet

A smoothie in 10 seconds or less! What's not to love?

I must admit that I use this handy, dandy gadget at least once a day. You can make salsa, dips, margaritas, pasta sauce, or just about anything else you can imagine.

My favorite recipe is Yumminess in a Cup (made it up all by myself!). We usually don’t measure, just put the ingredients in the blender and let it do it’s thing.

Yumminess in a Cup:

½ banana

1 Cup ice

1 or 2 t peanut butter

1T l-gutamine powder

½ cup milk

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

Fill the rest of the cup with water

pic

Love Month: US Weekly

On my way home from work on Thursday there is always a huge smile on my face. I cannot wait to get home and open our mail box. I know inside will be a new US Weekly. Looking at the cover and checking out what articles will be inside just brings me happiness. I love seeing ‘Who Wore It Best,’ even thought I do not always agree. I wonder how they pick who they spotlight in ‘25 Things You Don’t Know About Me.’ I daydream about buying the clothes “Hollywood” wears in the ‘Hot Picks’ or ‘Just Like Us.’ Ok, you get the point.

But want to know a secret? I usually wait to read the articles until Friday so I can savor it just a little longer. :)

logo

Love Month: Frozen Yogurt

I love frozen yogurt!

They are building a new shop 1.2 miles away. I cannot wait to walk there this Spring!

It’s going to be right next to the library, so now you know where to find me on Saturday afternoons. I’ll be sitting outside the local yogurt shop reading a book that I just checked out of the library.

Speaking of local yogurt…

I love that place. If it was a little close, I would eat there every day; thank goodness it isn’t!

It’s where I first learned about my new FAVORITE yogurt creation: plain (tart) with strawberries, granola, and honey. You should try it. You might love it too!

pic

Weekly Menu and Shopping List

I have been looking for an easy way to organize my shopping list and weekly menu. I found an adorable format at The Crafting Chicks. I liked their layout, but wanted to create one for the month of February. Because I am a Publisher novice, mine is quite simple. I plan on creating more once I figure out all the fancy tricks Publisher can do. Until then, this is what I got. Feel free to use it!

I got the idea here

Love Month: Rainy Days

i love falling asleep to the sound of rain

i love the way it can make the world feel so peaceful
i love the beautiful image it creates on window panes
i love the smell of wet cement
i love to curl up under warm blankets and read
i love jumping in puddles
i love rainboots
i love gazing at beautiful rainbows after the rain ends

rain photo

Love Month: Fresh Cut Grass

i love the smell of fresh cut grass

i love the how it tickles my feet as i run on it with my bare feet

i love all of the childhood memories that come rushing back as i look at it

i love how calming it is to run your hands along it's blades

i love having a picnic on it

i love how it entices you to go outside on cold days

i love it's beautiful color

photo: here

Love Month: Books

i love going to libraries

i love looking at book covers

i love reading book blurbs

i love the black letters on the white pages

i love the way authors can string sentences together

i love making mind movies in my head

i love getting borders coupons in my inbox

i love that i took a speed reading class to read faster

i love bookswap

i love beach reads

i love anything by nicholas sparks

or jodi picoult

or kristin hannah

or marian keys

i love talking with friends about good reads

i love sitting outside on a warm day as i read

i love listening to books on tape

i love teaching kids to read

i love watching my students learn to sound out words

i love helping kids find THE books that makes them a true, lifelong reader

i love listening to my students have rich, engaging book talks

i absolutely love getting lost in books

Love Month: Nail Polish

I love nail polish!

I used to hate it. I would get a manicure and within a few days my nails would chip. I would tell myself to take it off as soon as I got home, but then...something would happen, and I would forget. I would walk around with semi painted fingers for a week or two and promise myself that I would NOT get them painted again, only to return to the nail salon a few weeks later asking for a manicure.

Well, all that has changed since I have decided to paint my own fingernails.

I love walking the makeup isles of Target or CVS looking at the beautiful colors and reading their names, and grabbing one that matches my mood.

Don't they have the most unique names? Pump up the Jam, Feisty, Sand in My Swimsuit. Love it!

I enjoy the guilty pleasure of relaxing on the couch and painting my own fingernails. There is something about it that is so calming to me. Plus, once they are wet, I cannot get off the couch until they are dry! I just hang out and read, watch tv or talk with Wick.

I have come to changing my polish at least once a week. This way I (usually) have pretty polish on ALL of my fingers for the whole week.

As of now, I do not have a favorite brand, but I will let you know if I find one that blows the socks off of the rest.

I am smiling now as I think about what my next color will be...

Love Month

February is love month!
In honor of love, I am going to post something I love (almost) ever day this month.

Love #1: Chadwick
i love his laugh
i love his dimples
i love the way he always falls asleep in cars on long drives (when he's not driving)
i love his dance moves
i love his patients
i love his heart of gold
i love his commitment to me
i love his sense of self
i love his determination to accomplish his goals

i love his kindness

i love his friendship

i love that he's known me for 20 years

i love that my favorite memories involve him
i love his hugs and kisses
i love that he will make an amazing father one day
i love that he accepts me for me (with all my faults)
i love that he helps me clean, even though he hates toilets

i love that he is so laid back

i love that he loves my family
i love that he is learning to cook

i love that he's mine
i love him