Friday, April 30, 2010

Surprise!



It's my birthday today!!! 
I love birthday days...
they are one of those days where everyone you love takes the time to give you a special birthday wish. 
A phone call...a note...
a gift...a card..
a night out...
it just makes me feel unbelievably loved each and every year:)

This year my hubby and I are heading out to a wonderful dinner alone (yay)
and then meeting some of our closest friend's to listen to a friend's band play! 
All in all...a great evening!

I'm puttin on something sparkly...with some tall heels...sipping some champagne...eating some great food...gazing into my sweetheart's eyes (cheesy, I know...but we actually do this;)...laughing with some friends...and dancing my heart out!

I thought I would post a few photos that just scream "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY"!!!!  aaahhhhh....








Tuesday, April 27, 2010

my recent obsession...



what can I say about music...it just makes me feel...& once in a while I run across a song that just gives me the permanent chills...i listen to it over...and over...and over...until someone wants to kill me...or I just have gotten my fill ;)
a friend at work introduced me to a song by a woman named Sia...and HOLY shit was I hooked! 
so, sink down and take a listen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHDHoyhm2QQ

Sia ~ "Soon we'll be found"

"Come along it is the break of day
Surely now, you'll have some things to say
It's not the time for telling tales on me

So come along, it wont be long
'Til we return happy
Shut your eyes, there are no lies
In this world we call sleep
Let's desert this day of hurt
Tomorrow we'll be free

Let's not fight I'm tired can't we just sleep tonight
Don't Turn away it's just there's nothing left here to say
Turn around I know we're lost but soon we'll be found

Well it's been rough but we'll be just fine
Work it out yeah we'll survive
You mustn't let a few bad times dictate

So come along, it wont be long
'Til we return happy
Shut your eyes, there are no lies
In this world we call sleep
Let's desert this day of work
Tomorrow we'll be free

Let's not fight I'm tired can't we just sleep tonight
Don't turn away it's just there's nothing left here to say
Turn around I know we're lost but soon we'll be found"

Monday, April 26, 2010

carry on...

Between going to school full time, working full time, being a mom and wife full time, housekeeper, trying to be a good friend, daughter, sister, aunt...and trying to have another baby...it gets to be A LOT!!!!!  Life is good...life is grand...but wowzers! 

I took a week of my Math class and am already frustrated!  In case you forgot...or don't remember...or just don't know...I.HATE.MATH.  With a capitol HATE!  I don't like it, my brain literally shuts down...and  most of it, I just don't understand.  But, for some reason, the world thinks we need it...(p.s...we don't...).
But, they won't let me drop it (I tried...) or go further in my program until I take these two Math classes.  Darnit!

Anyway, I thought I would focus on some beautiful things while my brain takes a much needed break from LIFE!


My absolute favorite flower...


here is my motto for the week...


Happy Monday!!


Thursday, April 22, 2010

come on over!...

Now, I know I said that I was taking a break from hosting parties at my house...but I just LOVE to host parties at my house!!!  Now, if I was hosting a Spring Party at my house...this is what I would serve...
(just in case you wanted to drop in ;)

Artichoke Bruschetta {because I l.o.v.e. bruschetta...}

Ingredients
Serves 4

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 4 slices rustic bread, about 3/4 inch thick
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• One 12-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained
• 1/2 cup fresh ricotta cheese
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• Shaved Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Directions

1. Thinly slice 1 garlic clove, and set aside. Gently crush remaining clove, and rub over one side of each of the bread slices. Brush both sides of bread with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toast slices on a grill or in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden and crisp on both sides. Transfer to a serving platter, and set aside.
2. Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add reserved garlic and artichoke hearts. Saute until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside.
3. Season ricotta cheese with salt and pepper; spread about 2 tablespoons of mixture on each slice of bread. Top with sauteed garlic and artichokes. Season again with salt and pepper. Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese, and drizzle with olive oil.

From Martha Stewart Living, March 2002


Sweet Onion Dip

Ingredients
Makes 2 cups

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 Vidalia onions (1 pound total), finely chopped
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 ounces reduced-fat bar cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup finely chopped chives
• Potato chips, for serving

Directions

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onions; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
2. In a medium bowl, combine onions, sour cream, cream cheese, vinegar, and chives; season with salt and pepper. Chill dip until slightly thickened, about 1 hour; or cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Serve with chips.

From Everyday Food, July 2007

Marinated Mozzarella

Ingredients
Serves 4

• 1 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• Olives, crackers, bread, and sliced cured meats

Directions

1. Combine oil, herbs, red-pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Drizzle over mozzarella. Let stand for at least 20 minutes (or up to 1 hour). Serve with olives, crackers, bread, and cured meats.

From Martha Stewart Living, May 2008


Salt-And-Pepper Shrimp with Aioli



Ingredients
Serves 4

• 2 garlic cloves
• 3 large egg yolks, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Coarse salt
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds (24 to 30) large shrimp
• Freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Make aioli: Pulse garlic in the bowl of a food processor until it is finely chopped. Add egg yolks and mustard, and season with salt; process until mixture is blended. With machine running, add half the canola oil, a few drops at a time, until mixture is emulsified. Add 4 teaspoons lemon juice. With machine running, add remaining canola oil and the olive oil. Season with salt and lemon juice. Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate, covered, up to 2 days.
2. Season shrimp with pepper. Place a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat; lightly cover bottom with salt. Arrange half the shrimp in a single layer. Place a pan on top as a weight; cook 2 minutes. Remove top pan, and turn shrimp; cook until they are pink, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a plate; wipe pan with a dry paper towel. Repeat with remaining shrimp. Serve with aioli.

From Martha Stewart Living, June 2002


DAIQUIRI

1½ ounces light rum
1 ounce simple syrup
¾ ounce fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a small cocktail glass filled with fresh ice.

MINT JULEP

2 ounces bourbon
½ ounce simple syrup (or level teaspoon sugar)
2 sprigs mint (use tender, young mint sprigs)

Gently bruise one sprig of mint in the bottom of a highball glass with syrup or sugar. Add half the bourbon and fill glass with crushed ice. Swirl mixture with a barspoon until the outside of the glass frosts. Add more crushed ice and the remaining bourbon. Stir again to frost the glass. Garnish with second mint sprig.

images: http://www.marthastewartliving.com/

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

understanding...


The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.

— M. Scott Peck

If you're happy and you know it...


I always knew I would be a wife...and a mother...I knew it like your body knows how to breathe...you don't even really think about it...it just happens...
every once in a while you run into some bumps in the road...life takes you on a detour that you didn't expect...or didn't really even want to drive down.

sometimes, life changes...
sometimes, the life you didn't think twice about having, becomes one you never dreamed would be...

I always wanted kids...2, maybe 3.  (lately, i think i would be perfectly, crazily, swooningly ecstatic with 8!)
  but...probably 3...just because I came from a home of 2 and it always felt, well, a little to little...

lately, i have been given an opportunity to understand what it means to really want kids...not just want them because it is how you just thought it always should be...the house, the husband, the job, the family...
but, to really really want a child...

& in that opportunity, you learn to appreciate the miracle you have already...the time that is given to you a seems a little bit more precious...

i dream of a house full of life...of laughter...of arguments...of tears...of complete chaos...

but right now...i am most definitely clapping my hands...;)






Friday, April 16, 2010

sunshine...



 

COME ON!!!
These pictures just scream Happiness...Summertime...and FUN! 

7 down...


We were her "best class EVER"!  This is what my teacher posted yesterday about my Lit Composition class I just finished. This was my last pre-requisite class before I start my Elementary Education program! 
I am pretty proud of myself for going back to school!  (tooting my own horn, hee hee).  No really, if you knew me back when the rest of the world took college seriously, then you would be proud too!  I must say I treated MSU as a party...a really long get-together...Now, I wouldn't change a thing, because it all was a path that led me down to where I am today.  & of course I wish I wouldn't have upset my family for not graduating the first time, but with "with age comes wisdom"?...isn't that the saying...?

I have a long road ahead of me, but my dream is to become a teacher and somehow attempt to help all the sweet little kiddies out there...sometimes you run into a kid that just needs someone...sometimes they don't have the right person in their life to lift them up...to help them succeed...to make them smile...I hope to be that person.  

We shall see...

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Piece by piece...

A few of my dreams (for my house anyway)...;)
Filing them away for when I win the lotto!
...How darn beautiful are these...!!!










images:  http://www.lalalovelythings.blogspot.com/;

the tea party...

I decided to start this blog because I needed an outlet...a place to just, talk.  & really, I don't have time...:)  I work full time, am a full time mom and wife...and a full time student!  (Yikes!)  But, in spite of all this, I still didn't have a place to just express me...

A friend of mine started a blog a year or so ago and throughout the months spent reading about her family, her struggles and her ups and downs...the idea of it slowly started to creep in my mind as a good thing to do.

Some of these pages will be lighthearted and breezy, while others may get a little deep and dark...but they all belong to me... and if you know me, then none of this will be a suprise :)

my cup overfloweth...



I have a good life...a beautiful life...a blessed life... I know that God looks after me and carefully chooses what I need...not what I want.

I have a wonderful husband, no seriously, the one that rides in on the white horse, picks you up and takes care of you always...he is strong, supportive, patient, kind, humble, generous, smart, caring, and if I do say so myself...extremely handsome...(I could go on and on, but you get the point!) 
He lives for his family and each and every action is filled with genuine care and concern for us.  He somehow knows how to keep himself balanced, while holding us up at the same time...I believe deep down in my heart that he was hand picked from God...just for me.
 
I also have the most incredible son in the world...he has a ton of energy, is sweet, empathetic, smart, patient, giving, and FULL of Love...  Every morning he says "good morning mama...good morning daddy"...every day I come home he asks me "how was your day mama?"  He tells me he loves me EVERY DAY...at least 3 times throughout the day...and it melts my heart every time...he rubs my back and lays his head on my shoulder and tells me that I am his best friend...
he absolutely HAS to figure out how to do things all on his own (Mr. Independent;), he never takes credit for something he didn't do & gives props and praise to someone if it is deserved...(even if it is a kid on the playground that did a cool flip and he doesn't even know who he is...).  He is a really, really good (deep down good...) & happy boy.  I am blown away each and every day by this wonderful gift that God has given me and even in my darkest hours this little boy brings joy to my heart... 





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