a rainy day...

calls for a happy list!

Here's a few things that have been putting a smile on my face:

New Music

This outfit from Anthropologie!


I daydream often and this is the outfit I'll be wearing in my imagination all Fall season long.

These candles from Bath and Body Works!


A co-worker recently introduced me to these lovelies and now I have them burning at work and at home. Pumpkin Patch and Leaves are my favorite...they smell exactly as Fall should.

And no happy list of mine could be complete without this guy:


I love him!
And this week, while his car has been in the shop, I've been lucky enough to take him to and from work each morning. It's the perfect way to begin and end each work day if you ask me. This morning we even got to have breakfast at Bobby E's!
*Thanks for the coupon Barzees!

Happy hump day loves.

delightful!

This past weekend was originally supposed to be packed full with a volunteer walk, a belated birthday party and a game night that all ended up not happening.
Although I was of course looking forward to all of our plans it was SO very nice to be able to do whatever our hearts desired.
We watched lots of football, ran lots of errands, worked out, relaxed and I baked cupcakes for the first time in months.

There aren't many activities I enjoy as much as baking.
I love feeling creative and it's so rewarding to see the finished product.
Although hubby and I are still on our diet we did split one of these beauties and they were quite tasty.
However, I must admit the banana cupcake was so good on it's own, it really didn't need icing.
These lovelies were adapted from this recipe and this one for the icing.

that salad.

I'm slowly working on making meals based on what ingredients we like and what I think will complement one another as opposed to following a recipe word for word.
I've mastered seasoning for meat and fish (cumin, coriander, chili powder, paprika, red pepper, salt and black pepper) and now I'm throwing together salads based off of versions I've had in some of my favorite restaurants.

We've had a lovely ginger vinaigrette sitting in our refrigerator for weeks that hasn't quite seemed right on anything.
That is until last night.
I combined mixed greens, red pepper, cilantro, green onions, rotisserie chicken and mandarins.
It was delicious. It was healthy. And it was very easy to prepared.

today.

This morning, like so many mornings recently, my alarm was set so that I would wake up early enough to get a little workout in, but instead I snoozed and spooned my 4-legged son for a whole hour.
I rushed to get ready for work and I left the house looking as if I belonged to a polygamist group living in Utah.
You think I'm joking, but let me assure you, I'm not.

Once I arrive at work I remember the toilets needed to be cleaned, my most favorite office manager task.
Then I sat on the phone with a help desk employee who spoke little English only not to have my problem resolved.
This folks, was going to be a heck of a good day!

Luckily lunch came early and I had enough time to visit Harris Teeter and pick up ingredients for an asian chicken salad I've been dreaming up since Sunday.

On the way I called my Mr. P because I always call him...even when the only thing I have to say is that I'm dressed like one of five wives.

Later that afternoon I received an email from my sweet husband apologizing for being "blah on the phone".
Funny thing is, I didn't even think he was blah.
He was just preoccupied with his fancy new Droid (the man loves his toys).

To say he was sorry he sent me this photo:


He sure knows the way to my heart...Flowers and fuzzy puppies. :)

Now I'm waiting for this last hour of the day to pass so that I can return home to my sweet husband, my own beautiful flowers and the cutest pup a gal could ever hope for.


Happy hump day!

*Roses were purchased at The Fresh Market last week and everyday I come home to them looking even more gorgeous!

The weekend....

was one fantasy football win away from being absolutely perfect.

Friday I cleaned the house, I made a birthday dinner for my sister that consisted of my melt in your mouth baked bbq chicken, roasted veggies and of course a celebratory dessert in the form of an eclair cake (thanks mama san for the wonderful/easy recipe).
After dinner we played a long round of Apples to Apples and then tucked ourselves into bed.

Saturday started early as we headed to one of our favorite places, Blacksburg, VA.
We meet up with parents-to-be, The Diemars, at Rivermill for a few pre-game libations (well minus Jilly Bean who had water).


The stadium was filled with Hokies in orange because unbeknownst to us it was "Orange Effect".
We had pretty great seats for cheering on our Hokies to their first win of the season.

Afterwards we headed back to Rivermill for the best bbq chicken tacos I've ever had, but more importantly to meet up with The Diemars once again.
They had waited until after everyone left the stands to open up their little envelope they'd been carrying around since Friday, in it contained the sex of their bambino/a.
I'll share that later once I'm certain it's public knowledge.

After frolicking around B-Burg for a few hours, hubs and I headed back to the always snazzy Econo Lodge where I later learned I won both our 'Friend's Pick'em' and 'Family Pick'em' for a total of 300 bucakroos. :)

Sunday, after a stop at Macado's, a restaurant we frequented in college, we spent the rest of the day the way every football Sunday should be spent...on the couch alternating between the games and shows on our DVR.

What a glorious time of year it is.
Tomorrow is the first official day of Fall and I couldn't be happier about it. After the Summer weather we just had (and are still having mid-September) I've decided Fall is now my favorite.

9.17.2010

When I think of what I want to say in this post it literally feels like my head is spinning.
There is just so much I could say.
So many memories I could share with you.
I mean where do I even begin?

You see...today is my sister's birthday.
My sister is my very best friend. VERY best friend.

We tell each other everything. And I really mean everything...what we ate for breakfast, lunch, dinner, what we watched on tv that day, what we are going to eat tomorrow.
Which is why we talk minimum, 3 times a day.

It will ALWAYS be that way.

I have a connection with my sister that can't be explained in words.
I have an unconditional love for her that could never be broken.

It hasn't mattered what phase of our lives we are both in, we've ALWAYS been by each others side.

She's been there for me through some REALLY thick and thin times and me for her.
Through my awkward high school years, my drunken college years, followed by a move to another state, she has been there. Thank you for that sis.
What would life have been without you sister? I'm so glad I don't have to know.

*Carlton, CaCa, Sistah Sistah, Sister, Best Friend, I love you! So VERY much.
One of my biggest hopes is that you know how special and wonderful you are.
Know that you deserve all the happiness in the world.
How cool is it that we have still have 50+ years of making memories left?!
Happy Birthday!
xo

09.16.2010

Today my not so little brother turns 17.

I still remember the day back in 1993 when my mother told Carly and I that we were going to be big sisters.
We were mortified.
How could our 33 year old mother be giving birth again?
Back in the day it seemed everyone had babies in their 20's, a far cry from the world we live in today.
Or maybe we were just being complete idiots (more likely the case).

Turns out it was one of the best gifts our mother could have ever given us.
She gave birth to a tan & chubby little ball of joy who we of course dressed in girls clothing from time to time.

With ease I remember my brother's torturous terrible 2's.
His tantrums usually took place at Wal-Mart.
If you are where I'm from you know that EVERYONE is always at Wal-Mart.
I was terrified someone from school would witness my little brother screaming bloody murder while hiding under a clothes rack.
I actually thought that if anyone saw, my life was going to be over.
Funny the things we worry about as children, huh?

Over the next few years I remember most spending time at the ball field watching my little bro', a true athlete.

Then about 10 years ago, right around this time, I left for college.
I was so very anxious to escape my small town and experience more.
What I wasn't prepared for was how bad I'd miss my family.

Luckily a few years later sister joined me and together we missed our mother and brother.
I have a hole in my heart that is only filled when the 4 of us are together.
Those moments are rare today with life happening around us, but when they do happen, they are perfect, they are comfortable, they are just plain RIGHT.

I shed tears when I think about all the years I missed watching my brother grow up.
But I take comfort in knowing he had the love and full attention of a wonderful mother who has played a huge part in the amazing person he is today.
I know that someday we will make up for the time we've all spent apart.
I know that the world has some really awesome things in store for my smart, talented and of course handsome little bro'.

*Bubby, I love you dearly. I truly could not be a prouder sister. Keep up the hard work.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

**Picture taken last week after my brother helped his high school football team win a game 15-13 and he was awarded MVP.

Our Wedding

This coming Saturday will mark the 11th month my sweet hubby and I have been married.
We'll be in Blacksburg, VA cheering on our Hokies (hopefully to their first win of the season).
As most of you know, Mr. P and I met in Blacksburg some 9 years ago.
I first laid eyes on my hubs in Rivermill where he bartended while in college and this is where I'm sure we'll be spending a lot of time come Saturday.

When we planned this trip we didn't even have this in mind, but how perfect it's turned out.

Check our wedding out in Charleston Weddings Magazine.
Barnes and Noble carries this magazine, but we've yet to find a copy.
Until we do I'll continue to visit their online site daily because it puts the biggest smile on my face.

Happy hump day loves.

yikes.

I disappeared. Again.
I'm sorry, I truly am.

This is going to be one of those posts where I catch you up on recent happenings in one fell swoop...bear with me.

Labor Day Weekend
Packed up the 'The Dood', outfitted him with a Hokie Flag and headed to Leesburg, Va.
That drive is breathtaking....mountains & farms, green everywhere you look.
We stayed with our wonderful friends Brian and Jill Diemar (who have a little one on the way).
Saturday they made us an AMAZING dinner of ribs, grilled chicken, cajun mac n' cheese and veggies...it was glorious.
Sunday we visited a beautiful Virginia Vineyard, Fire Works Pizza (words cannot describe my love for this place) and later a surprise birthday/hokie bash.
Monday with plenty of coolers in tow we boarded a charter bus and headed to Fed Ex Field in Maryland.
We tailgated, we had a ton of fun, we lost.
We freaking lost with 1:09 to go.
It was heartbreaking.
It stung for about a week.

We headed back home for what was a short two day work week for me.
Thursday I joined my wonderful co-workers for appetizers, wine and Mary Poppins at the gorgeous Blumenthal Theatre.

Friday I had breakfast with my sweetie, a doctor's appt. where I spent $50 to be told "it's a freckle", went to the farmer's market and cleaned our house from head to toe (almost).
That evening our dear friend's who we've coined "The Chorman's" came in town from Raleigh to spend the weekend watching football with us.
It was the weekend I've needed...even though we stayed busy it was still relaxing.
HOWEVER, we lost. We lost AGAIN. To J freaking M U!
Disappointing to say the least.

So that's about the past two weeks of my life in a nutshell.

Why do you not get lots of pictures to accompany this post?
Because like the bad blogger I've been recently, I've had my camera battery charging for a week and a half. I'm so scatterbrained recently that I keep forgetting to put it back in the camera.

So you'll have to settle for these camera phone photos I took at the VT vs. Boise State game.
My apologies friends.





See you back here tomorrow. I give you my word.

xo

zucchini boats

Sunday I headed home after a very short but even sweeter trip to my first home, Norton, VA.
I came back armed with goodies from my mother (because she's wonderful like that) that included rosebud salve, homemade lavender laundry detergent, jalapeno peppers and fresh herbs.
I stopped off on my way back to H-Ville to pick up more items so I could make my sweet hubby a good din din.
As you may or may not remember we are on a lovely high protein low carb diet which is somewhat limiting when you want to create a masterpiece.
Luckily I remembered coming across a recipe for stuffed zucchini and thought that would be the perfect healthy yet satisfying meal for our Sunday evening.


and satisfying it was my friends.

Recipe:

zucchini
99% lean ground turkey
olive oil
1/2 a medium sized onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 T. chicken broth
1 can of petite diced tomatoes (I opted for tomatoes + green chilis for a little extra heat)
fresh basil
fresh rosemary
fresh thyme
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
1 egg
fresh mozzerella
marinara

*Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out insides, leaving shells about 1/4 inch thick. Reserve about half of the insides.

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over med/high heat.
Add garlic and onion and saute for 2 minuntes.
Add reserved zucchini and continue cooking for 2 more minutes.
Transfer onion mixture to a plate.

Add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil to skillet and brown turkey.
After turkey is cooked through add back in the onion mixture.
Add chicken broth (or white wine if you so desire).
Then add the petite diced tomatoes and the fresh herbs, cook 2 minutes longer.
Remove from heat and set mixture aside.

Once it has cooled add one egg, lightly beaten, cheese and salt & pepper to taste.
Fill zucchini shells with mixture. Fill a baking pan with 1/4 inch of water. Place filled zucchini halves in pan and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes, until golden brown.
Top with fresh mozzerella and place zucchini halves on a plate of your favorite marinara.

Enjoy!