2 months from today...

I will be married.

I wish I could describe what happens in my head when I say that, it's like a comic book fight with words, but better.

Amazing actually.

We had a really great weekend. Friday night was spent mostly at home and ended at our BFF's house over several beers and a domestic dispute between the neighbors. That is always fun as long as no one gets hurt.

Saturday was an especially fun day. All of my girlfriends have been wanting to help me with something for the wedding. I had a designated craft day for all of us and we got a ton of stuff made. We did all of my centerpieces, table runners, my birdcage veil, the card box, and a few other crafts. My centerpieces turned out awesome! I'm having individual cakes at each table as the centerpiece and we had to make "stands" for them. I got the clever idea to take two grapevine wreaths and stack them. Todd and I made 100 teeny felt bows and four of them go on each stand. The girls wired them all together and glued the bows and plates on. They look so awesome! I really love the whole homemade, warm look we have going for the big day.

Saturday night was a doozy. We had a(nother) big poker party, this time for T's step-sister. We had 24 players and my baby won the whole thing! It was a nice party, until the tequilla came out and then things get fuzzy. All I know is that I woke up Sunday afternoon feeling like I had been run over. I was sick, sick, sick. Honestly, I have no idea how I played soccer two hours after I woke up, but I did. How's that for commitment? I was actually with it enough to take two awesome shots, one that was with my left foot and the other went in the keeper's face, hard. Shortly after my game, Toddles had a hockey game and they lost pretty bad. Oh! I didn't mention that last week he got a hat trick... He scored two shots and took an awesome penalty shot. I love watching him play. Anyhow, after all of that last night I made an awesome dinner and we watched the newest Harold and Kumar movie.

I'm recovered today but I slept too much yesterday. I think I'm going on two hours from last night. Ah well, second cup of coffee is on it's way down.

Nephew update before I forget. Little Wyatt was born on 8/20 at 2:55 - just in time for his Mimi, Aunt T, and Uncle Tyler to get there! He is beautiful and amazing and perfect. It is beyond awesome to watch my little brother as a father. He's a natural. When he gets down close to the baby and talks, Wyatt goes nuts because he knows Trev's voice. We are all so in love with him already! Last I heard, my friend was still waiting to have her little guy, her doctor isn't as nice as my SIL's.

Peace out and happy Monday!

babies and a meme

Today I become an aunt. Hopefully anyhow. My little brother and his wife are being induced at 1:00 and I am over the moon ecstatic, ready to meet my nephew. I have another nephew, he's my stepsister's kid, but I don't get to see him much and he's not blood-related. This is different. This is my little broski becoming a father. I can't stop smiling.

Also, one of my oldest friends is supposed to deliver today, at the same hospital as my SIL. How funny is that? I sent her a text this morning and she hasn't started labor yet but I really wish she would so I can be an auntie times two today!

I've been stressin... The wedding is so close and our families are really putting us in a tight spot. Over a year ago, all four sets of parents agreed to give us $2k apiece. Well, his mom and my dad have paid up but the other two haven't and it's making me want to vomit because there's only 66 days left. Plus, I don't think we're going on our beautiful, dreamy, Mexico honeymoon. I can't even talk about it. Makes me want to cry. Maybe it will all work out.

Babies. Think about cute, squishy, new, wrinkled, little babies. Ahhhh... back to my happy spot.

I found a new blog today, Dog Hill Kitchen, because she had these kick ass chili cupcakes that were on Photograzing. Aren't they delish? Anyway, there is a meme of 100 foods everyone should try and from the food blog Very Good Taste and everyone has been passing it around, highlighting what they've eaten. I doubt I do very good. You know, landlocked Midwesterner that I am.

If you'd like to play along, here are the rules:
1. Copy the list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2. Bold all the items you've eaten.
3. Cross out any items that you would never consider eating. (I did italics)
4. Optional extra: post a comment on Very Good Taste, linking to your results.

Those I've eaten are in bold.
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (alligator)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Ghoulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Not bad for an Okie... 47 out of 100.

for goodness sakes

It's August. Can you believe it? Just one year ago we were newly engaged and getting ready for Montana and Knoxville. We forgot to celebrate our 1-year of engagement. Oopsie!

Well, the lists are made and I think I'm ready for this weekend. I've got the diaper cakes made, Gram & Gramps present is here, I've got menus planned and helpers assigned. Today I have to get decorations, a new dress, and order balloons. I really hope everything turns out nice. I am going to attempt to make 6 quiches tonight. Hehe. I bet they don't get finished. I have to go get the kids a pack n' play. Can't forget that. Ah, I'm really not stressing about it. No one would notice anyway.

Have I told you that the wedding nightmares have started? They're stupid and annoying. I have had two dreams that T has left me at the altar. The first time he told me I was fat and I make everyone around me miserable and the second time he showed up in ugly clothes and told me he couldn't do it and walked away. I told him about them and he just looks at me like wtf is wrong with you. I'm sure it happens to every bride. I ain't every bride though, this caca needs to go away.

I've got phone calls to make and corsages to order so I better get back to it. Happy weekend!

couplehood

It's interesting. This moving in together thing that is.

odd
exciting
comfortable
scary
fun
annoying
cozy

A damn roller coaster, that's the best way to describe it. A girlfriend of mine asked me the other day "Did you guys get all moved in?" and I replied "Yes, finally". Her next words were "Are you still getting married?" and all I could do is laugh because I know why she asked. It's a learning experience, and Lord knows I wouldn't trade it, but it can test the strongest of couples.

After two weeks of it, I can honestly say that we're getting the hang of things. We have our routines, things we do together, things we do alone, and things we do for one another. We have learned to choose our battles and that sometimes it isn't about who's right or wrong. We have bought a vacuum cleaner instead of a Wii. We have agreed on pictures, furniture, and that we need a new trashcan. We've eaten dinner at the dining table more than once and we go to bed together every night.

We're definitely figuring it.

Toddles has been happy - he gets a home cooked dinner almost every night. I've made several things that have surprised him, I don't think he thought I was that good of a cook. I've made homemade mac & cheese, pulled pork, stuffed chicken, pork loin, killer quesadillas, and gravy that was pretty tasty. He got a little upset that I didn't want to cook last night. I was honestly too tired to cook and he tried to get me to anyway. Little stinker, he ended up with a delicious cheeseburger that topped anything I would've concocted.

I'm still elbow deep in planning what feels like a dozen events. Finally got the invites out for my brother's baby shower and my grandparent's 50th anniversary party. They're both next weekend and I've got to start working on menus. I ordered one gift and I'm making the other tomorrow morning while T plays golf.

After these are said and done, it's back into full swing on the wedding. It's 3 months from today. I had my first fitting two weeks ago and my dress is absofuckinglutely amazing. It almost made me cry. It fit almost perfect, my alterations are already finished, that's how few I had to have. I had to change my MOH's dress because she is too tan and it looked like she was naked in the burnt orange I had picked out. Brown is much more suitable and it will look neat because I will be the only person in the wedding party not wearing it. I'll glow up there. It's kind of cool because we have my shower scheduled, starting thinking about my bachelorette party, and all of the fun stuff. Now if the parents would get their shit together and start paying for the things they promised, I'd be a lot less stressed. We're getting our tickets to Mexico next week! That's all I care about anyway, my dress, my vows, and the honeymoon.

Eh, you want some Friday Fun? Why not... It's been awhile.
I picked the Feast because it's my favorite.

Appetizer

When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed? Eek! In December I think. I'm getting it cut today because it's way too long and I want it to grow back out before the wedding.

Soup

Name one thing you miss about being a child. Family vacations. My dad was my age when my parents divorced and he was left with three kids under the age of 8. He would throw us in the truck and take off to places we hadn't seen, somewhere we could learn, or experience things that made us curious. It made the three of us who we are today.

Salad

Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil. Butter. Seriously, is anything else even an option? Alright, I'll admit to using the other two but if I had to pick...

Main Course

If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why? I want to be able to speak Spanish more fluently than I already do because I think it's importante for our future.

Dessert

Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be… raising children. That's scary to say.

Have a good weekend, I'm going to enjoy this one - it's the only time I don't have 100 things scheduled for the next month.

glee

Can you guess what I've been up to?

Moving.

After several long years of waiting, I'm moving in with my darling fiancé and it's been fun. We haven't stayed at the new place yet but we are going to on Saturday. We've rallied all of the man friends and 6 of them are going to get it done early Saturday morning. I lured them all with the promise of donuts and beer. My friends are easy. I unpacked the kitchen and bathroom last night, and being the great wife-to-be that I am, I put T's new desk together and organized all of his boxes. Yes, I rock.

So, did you see that counter to the right?

107 days.

I got hit with the wedding brick this week. I've got showers, craft days, engagement pics, and dinners on my calendar now. I logged onto theknot.com to see what my checklist had left to do and I about peed in my skirt (it was at work and I wasn't wearing pants). It said I have 147 things to do. That's like 1.373831 things to do per day. Riiiiiight. Let me get right on it after I bake these cookies from scratch.

I'm doing my first fitting in my dress today with my MOH so I had to fix my hair today and actually put makeup on. First time in two weeks I've actually fixed my hair. Really. So, I've never had MY dress on and being the slacker I am, I didn't know I needed all my under-pretties for my dress for the fitting. I told the lady I was going to go commando and she didn't think it was very funny. MOH is also trying her dress on so we can get it ordered, skinny little bitch. Guess I should have put lovely before that part since I do love her so much.

Moving. Wedding. 50th anniversary party for Gram and Gramps. Baby brunch for Lil' Bro and SIL. Eh, just a few things to do. Oh, and I'm supposed to be nice to the fiancé since we're in the adjustment period. Hahahahahahahaha...

I'm going to try to keep this thing but you'll understand if I'm scarce.

really?

Seriously? Not one luxury apartment in Tulsa?

That's right folks. We. Cannot. Find. A. Stupid. Apartment.

We have called everyday since Sunday, asking if something has come available in 7 different complexes with no luck unless we want to pay over $900 and live on the third floor. I don't freakin think so. And then of course, I've been scouring the 'net looking for a nice condo or rent house and we can't find any of those either. I don't know if it's because the whole damn country is in a recession and everyone is foreclosing on their homes so they're in apartments or if it's because kids are back from college or what but it's making me crazy.

We have one last little game plan and then it's back to the ghetto. Not really, we just won't have 9 foot ceilings, frisee carpet, and nice cabinets. Boooo.

My neck is still effed up from the soccer game on Sunday. I got four shots on Monday and they didn't give me any relief so my boss sent me for a MRI. We're still waiting on those results. Good thing it's not broken, huh? BossDoc seems to think I have stenosis on the left side because it's still constantly hurting. I've doped up on pain pills and muscle relaxers since Monday. BossDoc also told me make sure I keep pooping, which is really kind of funny to hear from your boss. Any poop story is funny to me though. Anyhow - we're waiting on those results to see if I am going to have to have more injections. I just want be able to sleep normal again.

The transition from long distance to one teeny room has been smooth so far. We're getting along, having fun, and doing fun couple stuff. We've been staying super busy so that we're not smooshed in one room until we get a place to live. I think the only we've argued over has been the stupid TV, I want to watch my girl shows and he wants to watch his man shows. It's funny.

That's it for now, happy Thursday to all.

well...

I didn't get to write on Friday because I had 800 things going on. I left work early to head to the Lou to pack my honey up and head home. We got back with all of his belongings in a small trailer, a truck, and his car. It didn't take long at all and it still doesn't feel real. It's like we should meet for dinner tonight and he'll have to leave like normal. But he gets to stay.

We've already done normal couple stuff and it's been so exciting. All day yesterday we went apartment shopping and had a lunch date. Looking at apartments sucks, or maybe it's just us, but we can't find something we will be comfortable in for a year. He's making an appointment with the newest apartments in town today and I totally gave him permission to put a deposit down if it's something he thinks we'll like.

I played soccer last night and got hurt at some point in the game. I have not been able to turn my neck since and I've got this awful shooting pain that makes me want to cry like a baby. I'm getting shots in the neck today from the doc I work for. They are going to hurt like a mutha but it's got to be better than the pain I've got right now. My left shoulder is about 4" lower than my right currently, that's not normal.

Anyway, I'm pretty much a happy camper right now because my fiancé is at home waiting for me. That's pretty fabulous.

i'm a great quitter

My official quit (smoking) date was June 7, 2008. I have had approximately 3 ciggies and they all tasted like crap, or at least what I'd imagine crap to taste like. Maybe a little sweeter. Still gross though.

My skin looks great, it's almost glowing and I can't help but think that it's because I am no longer filling my lungs and bloodstream with toxic, addictive, chemicals. I have been running. It's really fun when you can breathe.

I'll be back tomorrow, for FF#26. Then I'll be off to the Lou, to help my honey pack and get him moved home. More updates then, I've got some good stories.

friday fun #25

From Friday's Feast, I haven't done this one in a bit...

Appetizer

Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist? Um, ya - if you've followed this blog at all, you can tell I'm a tad bit pessimistic about pretty much everything. Unless I'm giving advice and them I'm all opti.

Soup

What is your favorite color of ink to write with? Black, it's all I can use at work so it's pretty much all I have. And yes, I steal pens from work, we have a box full of them from drug reps.

Salad

How often do you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them? I give myself manis and pedis almost every week. I've never had anyone else touch my nails.

Main Course

Have you ever won anything online? If so, what was it? Not yet... *note to self - go check COPW and see if I won a Zune yet.

Dessert

In which room in your house do you keep your home computer? Well, I live with The Roomies and they keep the computer in the dining/living room. In a week, Toddles and I have will have our own place and we'll keep it in the den of our apartment.

Have a great weekend! I'm finally going to watch Sex and the City today and I'm super excited.

if anyone cares...

I've got on a pair of dress pants that I haven't worn in two years.

I didn't have to lie down to put them on. I don't have a muffin top hangin out. I didn't have to secure them with a rubberband like a pregnant lady. They slid right on with no wiggles, grunts, or sighs.

I'm down to my bangin 2-summers-ago size.


Toats exciting.

cannot stop...

playing this silly game...

Sushi Go Round

I played for 1.5 hours after work last night. Yeah, I'm a dork. A sushi dork.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I'm just a little pumped...

We found out last night that T gets to keep his job and we're both so relieved and excited that we could fly over the moon. We don't have to buy a computer either. All he has to do is pack and come home. It's completely unbelievable but totally exciting, I feel like we got engaged all over again or something.

It was really hard not to smoke last night because I needed to settled down from the commotion but I didn't. Did not smoke. Go me. That was the hardest craving yet.

My baby's comin home in 9 days!!!!!!!!!

The whole world should be as excited as I am!!!

maybe i'm just boring...

Nah... Have actually been a busy bee, that's what Summertime brings. That was the longest I've gone with blogging. Oopsie!

Hi anyone that's still checking for updates. I've had a ton of stuff going on... Where to start?

My honey is moving home. In 10 days. I absolutely cannot believe that the time I've been waiting for, 3 years in the making, is finally about to happen. He told his boss straight up yesterday, "I'm moving on the 20th, job or no job." Can you believe it?!?!?!?!! We're crossing our fingers that the final answer on him working from home is going to be positive today. It's unbelievable but true. We also have a backup plan if his current job falls through... A company he applied and interviewed for in February contacted him last week and there is a possibility that an opening has become available and they said he is a "viable candidate" for the position.

What else you ask? Since hubby-to-be is moving home and we've made it this long without living together, I've been looking at apartments for him. Now, I have no idea how we are going to be able to NOT stay together EVERY night until the wedding, but we're going to try. Yes, I am a good future-wife, I will continue to live with my in-laws until the wedding. ACK! I cannot believe I've agreed to this, and it is completely possible that I may change my mind in a month, but that's the plan for now.

Speaking of apartments... Do you know how much I hate them? I've gotten spoiled over the past 5 years. I had a huge 2400 sq ft house, then I moved into my super cute "finding Tara" house for 3 years, and now I'm living in my own "wing" at the in-laws. I look at apartments and I hate the dingy little things - the countertops, the carpet, the closets. They all pretty much suck but like T said, it's only temporary. I keep forgetting that we have a foosball table (not TaraTot approved) so we have to get a pretty good-sized 2 bedroom and the only ones we can really afford are old. Yuck.

I haven't told anyone this other super exciting news... I haven't smoked since Saturday night. My best friend's mom starts radiation for throat cancer (40 year smoker) and I am trying my damnedest to quit so I don't end up like her. I am too young and too beautiful to continue harming myself like that. And it's really not that great. I've done well so far, the cravings have been minimal, but I haven't gone out yet or done anything that would tempt me. I have actually made myself stay home because all of my friends smoke and it would be too easy to pick one up.

I found a really great support group for endometriosis and I have been dealing with a lot of girlie issues lately. Won't go into detail about that but let me tell you, have sympathy on anyone you know with endo. It's horrible and awful and painful, and you cannot understand it unless you have it. Ladies, it's not in your head. The one thing that makes us a woman can also make us more miserable than any other thing in the world. That's my two cents on that for today.

Are you ready for the wedding update? Four months and fifteen days. I think I'm going to put a counter up on the side, but when I see one, it really makes my hands sweat.

I'm still playing soccer, except our season has been screwed up with power outages and such. We have a double header this weekend, hopefully we'll kick some ass in our new league. I'm also still working out. I am up to 2 miles on the eliptical in 20 minutes, which is pretty damn amazing if you ask me. I tried it outside on the track behind the house and I still did 2 mi/20 mins but I couldn't run the whole thing, I thought I broke my lung. Just more inspiration to quit smoking. At first I could only 1.25 miles in 20 mins so I've already improved greatly. I look better now than I have in a long time. I curl 40 lbs, no problems and I can finally do a damn pushup. Boy style. Word up!

Okay, time for a celebratory luncheon for my long ass, 7 years of wonderfulness at this J O B that I love so much. Blah. New restaurant though - I'll let ya know how it is.

I'm going to be better about blogging, I promdiggityomise.

friday fun #24

Keeping it short and sweet this week. I blabbed a lot on Monday! haha I did everything I set out to do this week and more. Keep your fingers crossed for T&T - we'll find out Monday or Tuesday if he gets to keep his job and move home in the next month, which would be the biggest blessing ever. I'll update as soon as I know anything... Have a good weekend!

Oh, and look at my counter, I've had over 1,000 visitors! Sweeet!

From Friday Fill-in.

1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to eat celery!
2. The smell of freshly mowed grass reminds me that summer is almost here!
3. I cannot live without my coffee and Triscuits .
4. Knitting and cycling are two things I'd like to try.
5. When life hands you lemons make a lemon drop.
6. Traveling one entire summer break with my dad and two brothers is my favorite childhood memory.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Lost tonight while waiting on Todd to get home. Tomorrow my plans include hosting a big poker party and Sunday, I want to relax, relax, relax!

neglected bloggity blog

It's that time of year where every weekend fills up... And almost every week night too. And then I forget about TTEAL. So, what have I been up to you ask? I've been to a double-header baseball game, the lake to see my Mama, watched every show saved on the DVR, played soccer (injured at that), made the best waffles ever, and got tons of laundry done - all in 3 days. This week is just beginning too. Tonight I have another soccer game, tomorrow I have bunco, Wednesday is blank right now, Thursday I have a graduation to attend, Friday is blank, and Saturday I'm throwing a bday/poker party for one of the Roomies. I think I thrive on this stuff though. I'd be a very bored and lonely lady if I didn't have things to do.

Speaking of things, kind of... Okay, so no one warned me about the wedding nightmares. We're down to 5 months and 13 days. Yikes! Last night I dreamt that T decided the day before the wedding he didn't want to get married. And on top of that the rental place kept screwing things up, annnnnnnd he found a cute little blonde twit that he wanted to date. It was one of those awful dreams that I couldn't get out of either, like you wake up and go right back into it. Those suck something bad. And then they really ruin your day once you remember everything. I've got my catering taken care of, invitations are here and perfect, my dress should be in this week, and I just have to find a DJ that I like. I'm on the ball and feel really good about everything. It's just crazy how things are flying by but I'm really glad we didn't do this any faster because I wouldn't make it to the altar, they'd be checking me into the mental ward for obsessiveness.

I cooked a little this weekend and I realized how much I miss making dinner and baking. I really only get to cook the good stuff when The Roomies are gone. I don't like being in someone else's kitchen, ya know?

Everytime Toddles and I eat waffles I have to order a side of sausage, I have a bite of sausage with each bite of waffle. So I keep saying that I'm going to make my own waffles and put sausage in them. Oh. My. God. They were just as delightful as I expected. I browned some breakfast sausage and crumbled it up into small pieces. Then I added it to plain old Bisquick made for waffles and poured into the new waffle iron I went to 3 stores to find. I ended up eating 3* of them because they were so tasty. Shortly after that, I went into a hypoglycemic coma because of all the syrup. Totally worth it.

*3 little square Eggo sized waffles, not giant round ones, thanks Mike.

I also made pizza this weekend. I bought the dough because dough is a pain in the arse to make without my bread machine. I used Gorgonzola, roma tomatoes, and Kalamata olives. It was good, a little salty for me. I think I'll add some spinach to it tonight when I reheat it.



I almost forgot it was Menu Plan Monday... Ch-ch-check it out.

Breakfast: whole wheat English muffin and a poached egg.
Lunch: either leftovers or a spicy black bean patty and a frozen steamed veg pack.
Snack: Kashi bar or apple
Dinner
Monday: leftover pizza
Tuesday: bunco night - cheesy olive bread (thanks P Dub!)
Wednesday: spicy turkey empanadas
Thursday: pinto and cheddar patties, salad
Friday: whole grain penne with ground turkey and marinara
Saturday: snacky stuff - it's poker night
Sunday: lasagna - I've been craving it for 3 weeks and I want to make it for the fam

lazy blogger/friday fun #23

Actually, not lazy - I've been really busy at work and since I don't have a home pc just yet I haven't been able to update.

Spent last weekend in the Lou with my honey, 4 of his fraternity brothers, and their wives. We went to the Cards game Friday night and had a good time. We got tipsy during the 2 hour rain delay so T and I went for a walk around the Arch and to the car for warm clothes. Somewhere along the way, I injured my ankle and was hobbling even after consuming more alcohol than I should have. When we woke on Saturday, it was bruised and swollen so that put a kink in our weekend. We ended up driving 2 hours to stay at one of the brother's house. We ate and drank and played games, it was a really great time. Sunday we drove back to the Lou and spent the day together before my flight home. Which, by the way, cost less than it would have for me to have driven there. Hmpf.

We had great food that entire weekend and I think I gained the 5 lbs back that I had just lost. Friday we had bar food and beer before and after the game. Saturday we had Joanie's - our fav pizza place in Downtown St. Louis. That night our friends grilled steak, and we had baked potatoes, a beautiful salad, mushroom and sour cream crepes, and a few other yummy things I can't think of. Sunday we woke up to a breakfast of mushroom and red pepper quiche, rum cake, fruit trifle, and oj. I seriously did not want to come home...

When I did get home and settled, I wound up getting an x-ray of my ankle because the pain isn't getting better with ice and elevation. There's no fractures but Dr. Bossman seems to think that I've pulled a tendon or ligament and that it could take 8-12 weeks to heal. There goes the wedding diet and soccer for awhile. So, that's what I've been up to...

How about some Friday Fun? Let's Feast...

Appetizer

What was your favorite cartoon when you were a child? I loved the Smurfs and the Jetsons.

Soup

Pretend you are about to get a new pet. Which animal would you pick, and what would you name it? The only pet I can imagine having is a fish or a kitty and I can never name a pet until I get him/her home and see what fits.

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy getting all dressed up for a special occasion? I love, love, love getting dressed up so that's definitely a 10!

Main Course

What kind of music do you listen to while you drive? Something I can sing along with...

Dessert

When was the last time you bought a clock? And in which room did you put it? I bought an alarm clock and put it in my bedroom.

menu plan monday

Don't forget to visit orgjunkie.com and see what everyone else is cooking!

Okay, so my breakfast and lunch is really boring because I eat pretty much the same thing every week. I'm not sick of it yet so I'll keep eating it...

Breakfast
Either organic poached egg on whole grain English muffin with natural peanut butter, Kashi bar, or oatmeal.

Lunch
I usually pick two of these: steamed veggie pack in/on whole grain pita or flatbread, cottage cheese, apple, or hummus and carrots, grilled chicken and salad, or leftovers.

Dinner
Monday: macadamia-crusted mahi-mahi tacos with lime aioli, and sweet potatoes.
Tuesday: grilled chicken caesar salad
Wednesday: dinner with friends - it's about time for some sushi!
Thursday: chicken and artichokes on whole grain penne with evoo and parmesan
Friday: stadium food - I'm going to the Cards game with my honey!

What are you eating this week?

friday fun #22

The Feast was back up today - yay!

Appetizer

Name a color you find soothing. Green - in all forms except limey, electric green.

Soup

Using 20 or less words, describe your first driving experience. Father's Day, 1991. Grandpa wanted me to move his truck and I rammed it into the garage.

Salad

What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of? Cotton, the magic of our lives...

Main Course

Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see? Good ques, I'd say Madonna, Beastie Boys, or Portishead.

Dessert

What is the most frequent letter of the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last, etc.)? A, I, and T all appear twice.

Got big plans this weekend? I don't... The niece and nephew are staying the night tonight, hope they're not too wild. Hitting the gym. Taking niece and nephew to lunch with Gramma. Going flower bed shopping with BFF at the nursery. Maybe some margarita time tomorrow night. I think that's it... Second boring ass weekend in a row. Oh well, the next one will totally make up for it.

Have a good one!

did you know

that it's National Grilled Cheese Month? I didn't and that's a shame. I have let 17 days of probably the best month ever slide on by without notice or even a sammich.

So, I'm going to post lots of yummy grilled cheese recipes and let any readers post their favorite grilled cheese recipes. I know what I'm having for dinner! Wait, that's not on the diet... Maybe I can find a healthy alternative while I'm searching for recipes.

Bobby Flay did a Throwdown on grilled cheese this week:
Bobby's sammich- brie, goat cheese, bacon, and green tomato
The Calvert - bacon, turkey, guac, and balsamic mayo (more like a Cali to me)

Allrecipes.com:
The bachelor - A funny and lazy way to ruin a good sandwich.
quick and easy - this one has herbs added
Greek - sounds good with feta and red onion

Wisconsin Dairy:

Tuscan style - with asparagus and balsamic
havarti and spiced apples - a touch of cinnamon and cardamom
the triple - mmmm... three kinds of cheese

Epicurious:
spicy - chiptole, molasses, cilantro, sounds a little complicated but really tasty
fontina and mushrooms - this is the one I want for dinner
the ultimate - prosciutto, basil, and tomato - yum!

Elise.com:
white cheddar, bacon, and pear - cheese and bacon and fruit, yeah!
salmon and gruyere - definitely interesting!

Chow.com:
Jalepeño and aged jack - I like it spicy!
An article "Bread Plus Cheese Plus Heat" with 10 different recipes a la cheese that I loved!

Betty Crocker:
double decker - looks delish!
The Mexican - mmm taco seasoning

What can you come up with?

Oh, I almost forgot the Grilled Cheese Blog!

menu plan mon, er... tuesday

I forgot to do it yesterday because I was slammed at work, we were shorthanded. I lost 3 lbs last week by sticking to my menu, the only bad thing I had was a brat at the Drillers game on Friday and Subway for lunch on Saturday. Woohoo!



Monday
B: poached egg, whole grain english muffin, and a tbsp of natural pb
L: steamed veggie pack, cottage cheese, and an apple
S: Kashi bar
D: leftover pot roast quesadilla with broccoli and carrots

Tuesday
B: same
L: whole wheat pita with steamed veggies, apple
D: whole grain penne with ham, mushrooms, and peas in a light cream sauce
S: Kashi bar

Wednesday
B: poached egg, english muffin, and cheese
L: garden salad and roast beef on a flaxseed roll from McAlister's Deli.
D: out - MIL and I are trying a new restaurant
S: pita and hummus

Thursday
B: egg, muffin, and pb
L: pita and hummus, apple, cottage cheese
D: chicken/veg tacos
S: Kashi bar

Friday
B: egg, muffin, and something
L: leftover chicken/veg tacos
D: sushi hopefully - I didn't get it last Friday

Saturday
B: Kashi bar
L: out with my BFF
D: probably nothing or leftovers from lunch