double JK

your daily quote

2012-02-11T00:44:00.003-05:00

found here

your daily quote

2012-02-08T21:03:00.002-05:00

Dolly Parton's Facebook status today:

I never, ever get involved in politics. With politics you are not allowed to be honest. I don`t have time to deal with that. I would rather work with kids.

Amen to that, Dolly!

pretty girl hair

2012-02-06T22:29:00.000-05:00

So remember that one time when you didn't really want to get ready but you had to leave the house and face the world? Yeah, that's me...every dang day. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a gal that likes to get dressed nice and do my hair and make up. BUT when you roll out of bed before 7 AM(!) and know that you're going to spend the day with 3 boys under 6 years old you don't really feel like it's a make up and high heels kinda day. So, I usually indulge in the bare minimum--foundation, mascara, perfume, earrings, clothes that are somewhat acceptable in public but I won't die if I get puke/poop/dried up food remnants on them.

Where am I going with this, you may ask? I came across a great and easy hair tutorial that you can do at night (yes, I'm a night showerer) and look pretty fabulous when you wake up. Of course I'll share it with you because I want y'all to look fab while doing as little as possible too.

And here's the link. You're welcome.

your daily quote

2012-02-02T23:07:00.002-05:00

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.

Andy Rooney

movies, lately

2012-02-02T20:50:00.001-05:00

Y'all, I wanted to like this movie. Like, I really, really wanted to love this movie. I mean because it has DOLLY freaking PARTON and Queen Latifah in it!! It was supposed to be amazing! But it wasn't. It really, really wasn't. I feel like I'm committing treason stating that I didn't like it. Because I LOVE Dolly. A lot. But honestly, half the time I didn't know what was going on or what the plot was or why they were doing whatever the heck they were doing. I'll be the first to admit it when I don't like something but I really had to dig deep in myself to admit to my friend that I wasn't impressed. The ending performance (which I couldn't find on youtube so I could show y'all, sorry) redeemed about 30% of the awfulness of the movie. There, I said it and I wipe my hands of this movie. Sigh.

Now, this movie I really liked. I really like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen. They were great together. The movie is about a 27 year old guy who is diagnosed with cancer and the way he and his friend deal with it. This is a true story and the guy diagnosed with cancer (Gordon-Levitt) is Seth Rogen's friend in real life. And I'm pretty sure Seth Rogen is playing himself in the movie (of course they all have different names). Did that make sense? Hope so. But really, it's sad (of course) but also funny, clever and witty(sounds redundant but whatevs). I definitely recommend it!

your daily quote

2012-01-29T17:34:00.003-05:00

You know that place between sleep and awake; that place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I will always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting.

Peter Pan

p-i-z-z-a

2012-01-28T14:40:00.000-05:00

Did y'all ever watch this Mary Kate and Ashley sleepover video? They had the ~~most annoying~~ cutest little song where they sing about pizza and spell out p-i-z-z-a like the entire time. It kind of gets stuck in your head especially if you watched it 2,345 times during your childhood. And more often than not I sing it in my head when eating/making pizza. Anyway, remember when I told you about how I plan out our meals for the week? Well, John and I really like pizza, like a lot. And since Fridays are kind of special (you know, the whole not having to work for two days thing?) I've kind of designated Friday night as our pizza night. And pepperoni gets sort of old week after week. So here are some tasty looking (and healthy!) pizzas I found and thought I would share with y'all.

Chicken and Herb White Pizza (Mom, I thought you would like this one)

BBQ and Blue Cheese Pizza

Pizza Supreme

Four-Cheese Pizza

Turkey Alfredo Pizza

Herbed Cheese Pizza

Being a pizza expert of sorts, I have a few things to say about various crusts you can purchase. No, I don't make my own...that's just too much. I don't suggest generic brand refrigerated crusts (unless your generic brand is great) but ours isn't and since I'm cheap I've bought it multiple times hoping for different results only to find that it sticks to the pan or ends up really crappy.

This one is pretty good.

I really like this one.

And this one is really great too. It requires a little more planning ahead (you have to let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before using) but not much.

(crappy picture but it's the only one I could find...Trader Joe's Pizza Dough and it's only $0.99!)

Do you guys have any delicious recipes that you like?

your daily quote

2012-01-25T22:41:00.001-05:00

found here

hiking (in november)

2012-01-22T22:02:00.002-05:00

So clearly, I have just gotten hold of our camera. Because here are some more pics from months ago. These are from a hike we went on in November, before John's birthday. That's mid-November. And yes, I'm posting them in mid-January. Yep.

Right before Dixie tried to run after some fellow hikers.

beautiful overlook

whitewater rapids...I think...

late christmas pic

2012-01-22T21:58:00.000-05:00

Remember when I said I would post a picture from our 2011 Christmas? Well here it is. A day late and a dollar short.

This was right after we went to see The Nutcracker. John was pissed at the self timer, Dixie was of course not looking at the camera and I was trying not to run upstairs and change into my PJs. Oh the holidays...

soldiers' angels

2012-01-22T18:27:00.000-05:00

While trolling PostSecret today I came across a link that connects you with a deployed soldier so that you can support them. What a great idea, right?! Here's the link: Soldiers' Angels. They are a nonprofit that connects you with a deployed soldier so that you can send letters/care packages/blankets/etc. to them. I'm going to be honest, I think it's really easy to forget about our soldiers and what they're doing over there. Which is very sad because they're sacrificing a lot to defend and serve our country. They are truly amazing men and women and what better way to serve them? We can send them goodies and things they need without it being a financial burden to us. Or if you're short on money you can send them letters. That way you're only paying for paper, envelopes and postage. And you're probably making someone's day! As I began to read more on their website, especially the testimonials, I was really moved. So I adopted a solider. Wahoo! I've been wanting to do something like this (support our troops in some way) for awhile now and I just didn't know exactly how to go about it. So, I'm not sharing this to guilt you into adopting a soldier or a "hey look at what I did", but in an attempt to just extend the information in case you feel like you want to do something like this too. Here's to our soldiers!

your daily quote

2012-01-22T18:10:00.004-05:00

One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.

Sigmund Freud

the girl with the dragon tattoo

2012-01-21T22:06:00.000-05:00

We saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo today and it was FANTASTIC! I mean, don't get me wrong it's dark, eery and there was a part where I thought I might throw up, so you definitely have to be prepared for that but it was great! I thought they did the book justice, which I feel rarely happens when it comes to books made into movies. You should definitely go see it but maybe you should read the book first, just because that's the way it's supposed to be, right? I give the movie an A+.

Here's my review of the book. I think seeing the movie made me want to move on with the next book.

tasty dishes

2012-01-21T21:49:00.003-05:00

Here are some delicious dishes that I wanted to share with y'all:

parmigiano panko herb encrusted chicken breasts

braised brussels sprouts with bacon and beer

crockpot barbeque chicken

Enjoy!

your daily quote

2012-01-18T20:56:00.002-05:00

(found here)

the hunger games

2012-01-16T21:17:00.000-05:00

These books are AMAZING!! Like, it took me a little over a week to read them all and I think the only thing that slowed me down was having to go to work. But seriously, if you haven't read them you really should! I'm a little pissed at myself for not picking them up earlier. They're Young Adult fiction so you'll fly through them quickly. Although, so that you're warned: the first is definitely the best, like "oh my gosh this is amazing holy cow" kind of awesome, the second is really good and the third is good in a "well I needed to read it to finish up the series and know how it ends, and yeah it was OK good" kind of way. There you have it. Get your paws on them now! I mean, whatever...

PS-The Hunger Games movie is in theaters March 29 (yippee!!!)

miss america

2012-01-14T14:19:00.001-05:00

Tonight I'm tuning into ABC at 9 pm to watch Miss America (and you should too)!! We'll be cheering for Miss North Carolina, Hailey Best!! I mean, seriously, doesn't she look amazing? And she has the sweetest personality! Go Hailey!!

(image borrowed form Miss NC facebook page)

Check out this cute video of her:

your daily quote

2012-01-12T21:26:00.005-05:00

May you grow up to be righteous, may you grow up to be true. May you always know the truth and see the lights surrounding you. May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong. May you stay forever young.

Bob Dylan

this week

2012-01-11T23:21:00.001-05:00

I've pretty much been consumed with this all week.

So that's why I dropped off the face of the earth. I probably won't return until Friday or Saturday at the earliest. I haven't made a legit meal since Sunday. The house is kinda messy. And I haven't worked out (eek!) all week. To be fair, I've been sick too. So that kinda accounts for the not working out, right? If you haven't read these books you need to, like...NOW! I'm a little pissed at myself for not reading them earlier. Now it's off to bed and I'll begin reading the 3rd book tomorrow (during nap time).

be still

2012-01-06T23:40:00.000-05:00

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

(found here)

2012

2012-01-05T21:57:00.001-05:00

So I don't do New Years resolutions because honestly, they're overrated and I always seem to fail at them. So why set myself up for failure year after year? Exactly. So this year I came up with a plan in October/November. It was to go through the holidays enjoying the food that you enjoy once a year but not go insanely insane with the consumption. I mean there was definitely a level of insanity, no one in their right mind eats that many sweets and carbs just 'cause. So I balanced it with some fruits and veggies and a constant amount of exercise. Then around the start of the new year (read: holidays are over, this did not begin just because of January 1) I would go back to healthy ways and working out more consistently. So...yeah, great.

Then I came across something one of my friends posted. She accepted a challenge to list 5 things she didn't hate about herself. Before I went to bed that night I decided to do the same in my own (personal) journal. And it.was.tough. Now I don't hate myself but it's really hard to list 5 things that you don't hate about yourself. You don't want to be vain. You don't want to be self-righteous. It was awkward and hard. And I hated that. It shouldn't be hard to list things that you like about yourself, right? Try to do it. And if you can and it comes easy then I'm real proud of you, like really.

So here's my list of things I don't hate about myself:
1.(to borrow a phrase from my friend) my ability to sense others' needs and feelings
2. my honesty/bluntness
3. my sense of style and what looks good/doesn't look good on me
4. my patience
5. my sassiness

And after being upset about how long it took to come up with those things I declared that 2012 will be the year that I will (and I say this in the most selfless way possible) learn to love myself. I mean I can be pretty stinkin' hard on myself and I'm willing to bet that a lot of you can too. And I think it's probably just not worth it. I mean, what's the point? Yes, we push ourselves to be better people and to accomplish more but I know I push myself beyond that point and that's not cool. I came across this awhile ago on Pinterest and it kinda stuck with me.

Soooo that was a deep post. I don't like going too deep on the blog because I like to keep it lighthearted and whatnot but I just felt like sharing that with y'all. I encourage you to list 5 things you don't hate about yourself, just in your head or on a piece of paper or whatever...you don't have to post it to the world unless you want to, which is cool too :) Here's to 2012!

your daily quote

2012-01-05T19:25:00.004-05:00

Enjoy the blessings of this day, if God sends them; and the evils of it bear patiently and sweetly; for this day only is ours, we are dead to yesterday, and we are not yet born to the morrow. But if we look abroad, and bring into one day's thoughts the evil of many, certain and uncertain, what will be and what will never be, our load will be as intolerable as it is unreasonable.

Jeremy Taylor

20 new year's resolutions

2012-01-03T20:34:00.000-05:00

Love this post.

20 New Year's Resolutions for 20-Somethings

nerd

2012-01-02T22:02:00.002-05:00

So I got a KINDLE for Christmas!! Yay!! And I'm pretty much obsessed with it. Also, I'm really cheap, which means that I will completely be taking advantage of the free classics that Amazon offers. And the books under $3.99 section. Here are the books I've downloaded today:

I had to make myself X out of the Amazon tab on my browser so I would stop looking at books. An overwhelming meltdown was looming because there were so many that I wanted and not enough time to read them! With that said, are there any books you recommend? Any cheap or free books that you like on your Kindle?

I have a Kindle gift card and I will eventually buy books but I want to save the gift card for something good. Probably The Hunger Games trilogy or something. And I hear that you can share books with other Kindle users and get books from your local library...can I read up on this on the Amazon page? Does anyone have any directions or helpful hints?

Also, I checked my Goodreads site and I read 41 books last year. 41. Holy cow. Here's to topping that in 2012...

your new year's quote

2012-01-02T20:40:00.004-05:00

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

Neil Gaiman

(found here)

christmas, new years and everything in between

2012-01-02T20:37:00.001-05:00

Sorry it's been weeks since I last posted! The past few weeks have been filled with:

family
friends
hugs
love
presents
kisses
cookies
Christmas decorations
HUGE meals
never ending snacking
good books
sweet time spent together
football
driving
wine
champagne
movies
late nights and late mornings
and no pictures to prove any of it...we're awesome at that

Alas, it must come to an end. Not all of it, but most of it. We had a wonderful Christmas in Tennessee with John's family! Thanks to everyone for the sweet time together, the delicious food and thoughtful gifts :) We then hustled on up to PA to prepare for my family to come in for New Year's. We were able to squeeze in some great time with them! Thanks to y'all for driving all the way up here to spend a few days with us, thanks for the food you brought and the sweet gifts :) We are so incredibly blessed to have such great families and friends! You all are wonderful and I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here's to a fabulous 2012!!

lovely

2011-12-20T22:57:00.001-05:00

hee hee. found here.

On an unrelated note, I'm pretty sure my teeth are going to fall out soon due to my recent sugar intake. Lovely.

crispy chocolate peanut butter cookie dough truffles

2011-12-18T21:26:00.002-05:00

Don't be intimidated by the ridiculously long name. You should probably make these like now. And eat a lot of them. But eat a lot slowly, because they're really, really rich. But oh man, are they delicious!

recipe and photo cred: how sweet it is

4th married christmas

2011-12-18T11:56:00.003-05:00

It's hard for me to believe but this is our 4th married Christmas! Where has the time gone? So since I'm feeling a bit nostalgic I thought I'd share some pics from our past Christmases.

Christmas 2008, downtown Pittsburgh

Sadly there's no pics of our 2009 Christmas, so we'll just skip to 2010...

John's department Christmas party 2010

Our Christmas party 2010 (see, we made up for '09 by taking 2 pics in '10)

And today we'll be going to see The Nutcracker (John's gift to me!!) so I'll try to sneak in a pic of us before we leave for that. Merry Christmas!! Good luck with all your last minute preparations!

your daily (christmas) quote

2011-12-18T11:43:00.004-05:00

He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!

Dr. Seuss

cute christmas

2011-12-17T16:26:00.004-05:00

If this isn't one of the cutest things then I don't know what is.

(found on facebook)

your daily quote

2011-12-14T23:07:00.004-05:00

found here

Lord, help us

2011-12-11T16:16:00.001-05:00

found here

your daily quote

2011-12-06T23:36:00.001-05:00

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.

Pablo Neruda

been a few days

2011-12-05T22:26:00.001-05:00

Hey y'all, I feel like it's been a few days since I posted. I looked at my last post and it said Thursday but I could've sworn it was like a week ago or something. Anyway, it's been hustle and bustle around here (like every other American home); working, Christmas shopping (almost done--fingers crossed!), decorating, cleaning, prepping for a Christmas party...the usual. I'm trying to think of some things to update you on...I finished my 30 Day Shred awhile ago but I haven't set aside enough time to give you my clear thoughts (they're positive ones!). We watched this movie this past weekend:

Hilarious. But really, really crass. Some of the crass was a little unnecessary but what are you gonna do?

Finished this book today:

I thought it was good. Not incredible, but good. I kind of had to push myself through it a bit. I guess because I've heard a lot of hype about it and the movies (which I know I watched a looong time ago but have to go re-watch now) and I felt like it didn't live up to the hype. Oh well, I'm going to read The Edge of Reason next because, well, I feel like I kind of need to. Moving right along...

I finished this book a few weeks ago:

And it was AMAZING! I loved it! One of the best books I've read in awhile! I highly recommend it :)

Also, I'm totally obsessed with Gossip Girl. Which I watch during nap time at work. Very addictive. Darn you Netflix with your easy availability and darn you dramatic shows with your easy addictiveness.

On that note, xoxo.

lessons from a southern belle #73

2011-12-01T20:56:00.001-05:00

We Southern Belles may appear to be as dainty and delicate as Magnolia petals, but we are as strong as Cypress roots.

found here

your (not so) daily quote

2011-12-01T20:37:00.001-05:00

In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.

Michael Jackson (found here)

thankful 30

2011-11-30T18:47:00.001-05:00

30. Today I'm thankful for how beautiful our Christmas tree is. It just warms my heart and makes any troubles or sad times just wash away. :)

thankful 29

2011-11-30T18:44:00.001-05:00

29. I'm thankful for online shopping. Specifically Amazon. Because really, where else can you get such a wide variety of products? I searched their website for the last few presents I needed to pick up and it was just so easy. Love that.

thankful 28

2011-11-30T18:43:00.001-05:00

28. On this day I was thankful to have a job that I enjoy to return to after spending time with the people I love.

thankful 27

2011-11-30T18:40:00.001-05:00

27. On this day I was thankful for cars and highways. Although it took us 11 hours to get home I tried to think positively and imagine how stinkin' long it would take if we had a horse and buggy. I mean really, how did people travel back in the day? That would take for-ev-er.

thankful 26

2011-11-30T18:23:00.001-05:00

26. On this day I was very thankful for my immediate family. While it was great to see a lot of people on Thanksgiving day, it was very rushed so that we could see everyone. It was nice to just hang out with my family and run errands on Saturday. And we picked up a Christmas tree. And decorated it! Love ya'll!

last Christmas

thankful 25

2011-11-30T18:22:00.001-05:00

25. On this day I was just down right thankful for some good shopping deals! (Side-eye to Macy's--your coupons sucked) Yes, I'm a Black Friday shopper. I was just raised that way. Sorry you didn't know it earlier. It's a pretty awesome thing.

thankful 24

2011-11-30T18:21:00.001-05:00

24. On this day I was obviously thankful for Thanksgiving. What a great day to be reminded of all the wonderful people and things in my life. Oh, and the delicious food didn't hurt either.

thankful 23

2011-11-30T18:19:00.001-05:00

Looks like I've got a lot of thankfulness to catch up on...

23. On this day (11/23) I was thankful for our arrival in NC. When you cross that state line, you know you're home.

thankful 22

2011-11-22T23:20:00.001-05:00

22. I'm thankful for sunshine. Which we haven't had around here since I don't know when...

thankful 21

2011-11-21T20:54:00.001-05:00

21. I'm thankful for online shopping. It just makes things so dang easy.

thankful 20

2011-11-21T20:53:00.001-05:00

20. I'm thankful to have a healthy, fully functioning body.

your daily quote

2011-11-21T20:51:00.001-05:00

In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.

John Bunyan

thankful 19

2011-11-19T13:48:00.001-05:00

19. Today I'm thankful for John. I love this man. He's really great and pretty handsome too :) Happy birthday to my awesome husband! Seriously, have we celebrated 6 of his birthdays together? Yes, we have. Where does the time go?

(he did not willingly pose for this photo)

thanful 18

2011-11-19T13:30:00.001-05:00

18. Today I'm thankful for Dixie. I know I listed being thankful for her last year, so you can call it a repeat but I think it just means I'm double thankful.

Here's the latest Dixie story: John has been playing football with friends the last couple of hours. I'm at home baking his birthday cupcakes. I conveniently forgot cupcake liners when I went to the grocery store 1.5 hrs earlier. I quickly set the alarm (yes, I'm a spaz), lock the door and dash to the car to make a quick trip for freaking cupcake liners. While I'm in the store chatting on the phone with a friend I notice that ADT is beeping in. I frantically click over and the sweet lady basically says that our "alarm has gone off and can she send the police?". I'm thinking "umm I was in our house 3 minutes ago, what the heck" then I ask "can you tell me what sensor it was that set off the alarm?" to which she replies "the living room window". Heart rate slows down a little and I tell her "oh don't worry about it, that's just my dog barking at the window, everything's OK, thanks". Really? I'm gone for 3 minutes. She sets off the alarm barking at God knows what...probably a squirrel...or some leaves blowing through the yard. When I get home I stare at her and say "way to go, champ" to which she ignores the jab and barks and wiggles wildly because ohmygodthankgoodnessimnotaloneanymore! Neurotic. For the remainder of baking time she randomly barks at the mailman/leaves/squirrels/neighbor sweeping porch outside like they're all aliens just waiting to attack our home. Oh and she barks at me because she really really really wants a sausage ball (also for John's birthday). But right now all of that just melts away because you really can't beat the feeling of a dog laying their head on your lap and wanting to be scratched when you sit down on the couch with your laptop. Like, I type very quietly because I don't want her to jump up and leave this spot (which she has done at the point in the post...grrr...) because these times are few and far between and so precious. Dixie, you make me so happy even though you are really super crazy. I wouldn't have you any other way, precious girl. :)

thankful 17

2011-11-19T13:29:00.001-05:00

17. I'm thankful for the joy I get from baking. Like, if I could pay for things in cookies and cupcakes I totally would. I've been baking since 10:30 today and I couldn't be happier. Well, if some of my favorite people were with me I guess I could be a little happier...but that will happen soon enough :)

your daily quote

2011-11-19T00:21:00.001-05:00

You can never be overdressed or over-educated.

Oscar Wilde

thankful 16

2011-11-16T22:01:00.001-05:00

16. Today I'm thankful for The Big Bang Theory. We started watching this a couple months ago and it brings me so much joy. Mostly because I can totally relate. If you're a geek or you have a geek that you love, this show is worth checking out.

thankful 15

2011-11-15T21:45:00.001-05:00

15. Today I'm thankful for the way small children talk. I love the stuff they come up with and the way they say it. Precious.

thankful 14

2011-11-15T21:38:00.001-05:00

14. Edy's Peppermint ice cream. I. LOVE. THIS. STUFF. It's Christmas all up in your mouth.

Thanks to ABby for telling me about it. Thanks to Pallas for encouraging me to make the plunge and buy it.

thankful 13

2011-11-15T21:37:00.001-05:00

13. I'm thankful for people who are crafty and the crafts they create. Also, I'm jealous.

quick, easy, healthy meal ideas

2011-11-12T19:53:00.001-05:00

Pesto grilled cheese sandwich. Great way to fancy up a grilled cheese.
Crunchy cajun chicken fingers. One tweak: next time I'll use 2 tbsp. cajun seasoning instead of her suggested 3 tbsp. It was a little too cajuny.
Pork and brussels sprouts stir fry
Buttermilk baked chicken
Family style calzone
Easy chicken pesto pizza

These have been a few of my faves lately. As I think of more, I'll post them.

thankful 12

2011-11-12T19:50:00.001-05:00

12. Today I'm thankful for modern technology.

meal plan

2011-11-12T19:24:00.001-05:00

Call me neurotic. Call me a planner. Call me a spaz. But I like to think that I am very productive when I have a weekly meal plan for us. This little thing came to life when I was sick of eating whatever we had on hand (i.e. steamed broccoli and scrambled eggs don't go great together and they get old after awhile), tired of making multiple trips to the grocery store throughout the week and not wanting to make healthy recipes that take an hour before you can even tell what the end product will be.

Introduce: the meal plan.

I know this is nothing mind blowing nor is it anything new, people have been doing this forever. But it's new to me. So, I drew up a google document (spreadsheet) and now (attempt to) plan out each week of meals. I usually do this on Saturday or Sunday so that I can go to the grocery store and make sure I have everything I need for the coming week. It's cost effective. The meals I choose are quick and easy to make. I feel like I have a grasp on what's going into our bodies every night. And we have a healthy meal each night of the week. Win-win-win.

So I'm here to tell you that if you're tired of getting home after a long day of work, don't know what to cook, want something healthy and you're almost ready to admit defeat...you should totally do a meal plan. You'll feel like you have some control over meal time, you're using your money in an effective way and you're giving your body (and your family's bodies) the respect they deserve by providing healthy meals.

Here are some of my favorite sites to discover meal ideas each week:
1. Plain Chicken
2. Cooking Light
3. Skinny Taste
4. Allrecipes
5. Rachael Ray Magazine
6. Pinterest
7. How Sweet It Is

Also, when I type the name of a dish I'm making in Google documents I add the link to the recipe so I'm able to access the recipe and not spend another 10 minutes hunting it down in my browser history.

colonizing the cosmos

2011-11-12T11:39:00.000-05:00

Colonizing the Cosmos is a local Pittsburgh band that I saw last year at a Halloween show with my friend, Pallas. I really enjoyed listening to them but had kind of forgotten about them. Then I heard them on the radio the other night and remembered how much I enjoyed their music, especially this song. Enjoy!

your daily quote

2011-11-11T18:13:00.001-05:00

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Dr. Seuss

thankful 11

2011-11-11T18:08:00.001-05:00

11. I'm going to be real predictable here and say that I'm thankful for all of our veterans and their families. I mean seriously, these people are awesome! Thank you so much for putting your lives on the line for our freedom! And thank you to all of the families that sacrifice so that their loved ones are able to be great soldiers and serve our country well. We will never be able to do enough to repay you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

thankful 10

2011-11-11T18:07:00.001-05:00

10. I'm thankful for Christmas music. That's right, I started listening to it yesterday. It just brings me so much joy. I'm going to limit myself until Thanksgiving and then it's full on Christmas music, all the time.

thankful 9

2011-11-09T22:32:00.001-05:00

9. Today I'm thankful for really good customer service. Thank you, Amazon.

your daily quote

2011-11-09T22:29:00.000-05:00

found here

thankful day 8

2011-11-08T22:53:00.002-05:00

8. Today I'm thankful for frozen yogurt. Yummy! Even if it does make my stomach feel a little uneasy afterwards. Large dairy intake = not good.

your daily quote

2011-11-07T22:24:00.002-05:00

Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow.

Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

thankful day 7

2011-11-07T22:09:00.004-05:00

7. Today I am thankful for television and the entertainment it provides. Just keepin it real here.

rachael ray's pork and brussels sprouts stir fry

2011-11-06T23:01:00.000-05:00

I'm not a huge fan of pork but it was on sale buy one get one so I figured I could find a recipe that I could choke down. And I opened my Everyday with Rachael Ray mag and found this! I'm sharing it with you because this is hands down the best Chinese dish I've ever made! It's really the sauce. And the brussels sprouts. I could do without the pork and sub in chicken. But really, the sauce is like the sauce in Chinese restaurants! Seriously, it's super easy, you probably already have almost all the stuff, it's cheap and you should totally give it a try! Here, I'll even post the recipe right below...

Ingredients

3 tbsp oil
1/2 lb. boneless pork loin chops, cut into 1/4 in.-thick-strips
1 lb. brussels sprouts, halved (I used frozen because my grocery store didn't have fresh)
2 scallions, whites and greens sliced separately
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 c. soy sauce
2 tbsp. brown sugar

Directions
Heat 1 tbsp. oil inlarge nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add porkand cook until golden; transfer to plate. Add remaining2 tbsp. oil and sprouts to pan; cook, stirring occasionally,until brown and tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Add scallionwhites and garlic; cook 1 minute. Add soy sauce, brownsugar and 1/4 cup water; cook until sauce is slightlythickened. Return pork to pan and toss to coat. Top withscallion greens.

(recipe and photo cred to Everyday with Rachael Ray...again, because I'm lazy and can't take my own pictures)

thankful 6

2011-11-06T22:49:00.002-05:00

6. I'm going to get real sweet on ya and say that today I'm thankful for quality time with my husband. (A lot of quality time is going on around here, right?) We took Crazy for a hike today in Ohiopyle (like this time last year). It was great to be in the middle of nowhere (although, I was a little scared that a mountain crazy would come out of nowhere and get us, normal fear, right?) with no one else around. Nothing to do but walk, look around, listen and talk. It was really nice and I do (surprisingly) enjoy hikes. Just not the major uphill portions. But I can push through those and call it a work out. Anyway, our time together was very refreshing. And that's enough sappiness for today.

thankful 5

2011-11-05T20:22:00.002-04:00

5. Today I'm thankful for quality time with old friends. Lunch and great conversation, enough said :)

thankful 4

2011-11-04T22:32:00.000-04:00

4. Today I am thankful for red wine. I love red wine. Doesn't matter if it's Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Shiraz or whatever the newest kind may be. It's always been my preference. I think it's because I grew up in a house with both parents loving red wine, maybe it's just in my genes.

thankful 3

2011-11-03T23:33:00.001-04:00

3. Today I'm super thankful for my cousin Abby! That girl always be making me laugh and she has a great way of making me feel loved :)

Happy Birthday Abigail Boo Boo and Will of Fortune!

your daily quote

2011-11-02T23:13:00.004-04:00

hmm. found here

thankful 2

2011-11-02T23:05:00.000-04:00

2. Today I'm thankful for bluegrass music. I was blessed to be given two last minute tickets to a bluegrass concert tonight. John couldn't go, but I was able to take a close second, my sweet friend Pallas. And man, do I really like bluegrass! It feels like home to me. Except home to me should feel like beach music (which is definitely true, love me some shag music) so I guess it's those good ol' Tennessee vibes I get from John and his people. I can get down to some bluegrass! :)

thankful days

2011-11-02T23:00:00.001-04:00

So, since this is the month of Thanksgiving I'm going to participate in stating what I'm thankful for each day (may be a day late, but whatever), so yay! The thankfulness is in no particular order, just what strikes me as being particularly thankful for that day.

And for yesterday...

1. I'm thankful for cool, crisp, fall-like weather.

your daily quote

2011-10-31T19:42:00.005-04:00

There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.

Friedrich Nietzsche

things

2011-10-30T18:43:00.001-04:00

Things that aren't cool before Halloween:

Temperatures in the low 30s
Snow
Salt covered parking lots
The beginning of perpetually gray skies (for the next 6-7 months)

Things that are cool always and forever:

Our local grocery store just started carrying Mount Olive Pickles!! My life is complete!!

your daily quote

2011-10-28T21:34:00.005-04:00

God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way.

C. S. Lewis

plain chicken

2011-10-26T22:47:00.001-04:00

When I discovered Plain Chicken I decided to pretty much hijack all her recipes and try them. I must say that I am thrilled with how simple and delicious they are. Here are the ones I've made so far :)

I made Mississippi Sin on Saturday night. Might be my favorite dip. Ever.

Buttermilk Baked Chicken was Monday night.

And Family Style Calzone was tonight.

All of the recipes and photo cred go to Plain Chicken. Sorry I'm too lazy to take and post my own pictures. The last two recipes are great for week night dinners, the baked chicken requires minimal planning ahead. Enjoy!

your daily quote

2011-10-26T22:39:00.003-04:00

found here

your daily quote

2011-10-21T23:29:00.003-04:00

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

E.E. Cummings

kudos to my hubs

2011-10-19T22:02:00.000-04:00

On Sunday we came across this article. If you read this blog I would really appreciate you reading that article. John works in that lab and I'm pretty freaking proud of him and the rest of the team for what they've accomplished. I teared up when I read it. It's a good reminder that what he's doing here and all the sacrifices we've made are really going towards something. Love my husband and couldn't be more proud :)

the shred

2011-10-19T21:52:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've been MIA so far this week. When I get home from work I usually Shred, then cook/heat up leftovers, zone out on Facebook/Pinterest/stalking blogs, shower and go to bed. Pretty exciting, right? Yep, try not to be jealous.

Anyway, to the Shred report: it's intense. I'm keeping it low key this week and sticking to the Level One workout. I don't want to hurt myself too bad, ya know? I started on Sunday and I'm happy to report that today is the first day that I didn't have to go down the stairs like a 94 year old woman. That's how much the muscles in my thighs were aching. And the first couple of days I could feel my abs (there's actually muscles there?) contract with every move I made. But I really like it, like a lot. I like that Jillian is intense and the workouts are rather quick. I told my sister that when I approach the workout out I think "I can do anything for 20 minutes". She questioned that. To be fair, there are some things I couldn't do for 20 minutes but when it comes to exercise I like to think that I could. Confidence is where it's at ya'll. After each workout I really feel like I've given it my all and the workout has in turn kicked my butt. A good kind of butt kickin. So I'm definitely sticking with it, although I'll be taking Fridays off to kind of give myself a little break.

your daily quote

2011-10-17T22:29:00.003-04:00

found here

your daily quote

2011-10-16T12:16:00.004-04:00

You just need to have a love for what you’re doing. It’s not about thinking that it’s the cool thing; it’s about really believing in it.

Anna Wintour

want(need) this now

2011-10-15T23:47:00.000-04:00

So I came across these pretty young things the other day and I thought: "OMG TOMS! And they're leopard print! Could this get any more perfect?!". And the answer is yes, it could get more perfect. The dang price could drop about $50 or so. You know they're only $95 at Neiman Marcus. No big deal, right? Wrong. I mean holy cow I really do LOVE these things. Like I'm pretty sure I would wear them all the time. Because they're freaking leopard print. And TOMS. But come on, I think like 3 kids should be getting a pair of shoes when it costs this much. Just sayin...

Or I wouldn't mind having these Snow Leopard print shoes...

I mean they are so similar, yet a solid $40 cheaper. Either way...Santa, if you're reading this...I would be a really happy gal if these came to me on Christmas morning...or a few a days after Christmas (cough cough Mom).

weak in the knees

2011-10-15T16:08:00.003-04:00

So I'm sad to say that I'm thinking about cutting back on the running. Not that I was ever an extreme runner but it's going to have to be my secondary form of exercise because my knees are not taking too well to it. Like, they really hurt. Here's the deal; I was trying to run every other day and wasn't seeing the results I wanted. After consulting John on the issue he told me that I was basically just running to sustain the shape that I was in, not really increase my endurance/strength. Sooo I decided to run every day except Friday (rest day at the end of the work week, duh) and let's just say that didn't go too well. It was a really hurt knee here, screaming shins there, and a couple of weak ankles every now and again. And I'm sure that it doesn't help that I regularly walk a dog that thinks she was born to pull a sled through icy tundra. I got to thinking and realized I didn't want to have to have knee replacement surgery before 30 just because I wanted to prove to myself that I could run. Now I kind of feel like a failure (term is to be taken lightly...kind of) because I couldn't keep up the running but again with the knee replacements before 30. Which brings me to this...

I've been looking around and this seems to be a pretty intense work out. Which is what I want. I want to be kicked into shape. I want to be fit and strong not skinny minny. So as you can see from the picture this is a 30 day workout. Each workout is less than 30 minutes (totally doable) and guaranteed to whip me into better shape (per the reviews). I saw where one blogger took her measurements (hips, legs, bust, tummy, etc.) before she began The Shred (let's call it The Shred, ok?) and continued to take (and post on her blog) them week after week while she continued the workout. I'd like to do that and measure my success by inches lost/body changing instead of pounds lost/gained because I don't think that's always telling. However, I will not be posting my measurements online, sorry people, I'm just not that into sharing personal details on the internets. I will post my total lost inches (pllllease lose inches) at the end. So that's what I'm thinking...what do ya'll think? Have you done this workout or heard of it? What do you know about it? Am I total failure for not continuing to run?

*Obviously I will continue with The Shred or some other workout after the initial 30 days.

your daily quote

2011-10-12T23:02:00.003-04:00

found on pinterest

flake

2011-10-12T22:57:00.000-04:00

This is the song that made me fall in love with Jack Johnson. I was listening to it today and thought I would share it with ya'll :)

books, lately

2011-10-12T22:53:00.000-04:00

Great book. It basically follows the lives of two best friends through three decades. Focuses on female friendships and the other relationships in their lives. I really love how you see the characters evolve throughout the decades. I thought Hannah painted a very realistic picture of women's lives and all that really goes on with full inner dialogue and everything. It reminded me a lot of an Elin Hilderbrand novel. I really enjoyed it :)

Oh my goodness. This book was described as a "psychological thriller" which of course hooked me. And thriller it was, I've been glued to this book for the past few days! Lots of twists and turns. I mean, I literally couldn't turn the pages quick enough. Here's a peek (taken from goodreads.com):

So begins The Doctor's Wife, a stunning debut novel about four people and the cataclysmic intersection of their lives. Michael is a rising OB/GYN at a prominent private practice in Albany, New York; he also moonlights at a local women's health clinic. But Annie, his wife, has become tired of her workaholic husband's absences, and the soccer-mom lifestyle has worn thin. She begins a passionate love affair with bad-boy, fading celebrity painter Simon Haas an affair that quickly goes awry when Simon's wife Lydia, who is also the model upon whom he built his career, discovers the truth. Abortion, local evangelism, marital disenchantment, and the rifts of social class: Brundage takes on the fault lines of our era with a deft hand.

diva

2011-10-11T22:55:00.000-04:00

If ya'll thought I could be a diva you clearly haven't met my dog. She is the ultimate diva.

(probably barking at me because something didn't go her way)

She has her diva tendencies from day to day but she has been in full on Diva Mode the past two days. You see, John's parents were here this past weekend (we had a wonderful time with them) and I am convinced that Dixie's best friend is John's mom, Kathy. Dixie looooves her. (Probably because she knows that Kathy suggested her cute little name.) Nonetheless, Kathy loves Dixie very much too. This translates to Diva that she has a playmate 24/7. You should have seen her this weekend. She wouldn't let Kathy sit down without a ball instantly being thrown in her lap. If Kathy got up, Dixie got up. Dixie would even go as far to bark (bad girl!) when Kathy didn't throw the ball as quickly as Diva wished.

Now that they've traveled back to TN Dixie is in full swing. Yesterday, when I tried to take her on a walk she refused and tried to drag me back to the house twice. There were no loud noises, no impending danger...I'm guessing it's because her buddy wasn't with us and she simply didn't see the point in a walk. We've got her pretty well trained that we'll play with her for a bit but after that she doesn't need to annoy the crap out of us with her ball. Au contraire my friend. She's been throwing the ball in my lap (read: face) all night tonight. When I just let it stay there instead of throwing the sliminess back towards her she deliberately barked real loud-like in my face. Umm no. Not cool, Diva. Just a few minutes ago she slumped down on the ground and flailed her body while simultaneously letting out the biggest sigh I've ever heard. Poor Princess. Nobody is attending to her every need. Now I'm off to indulge her and do a little ball throwing...Lord help me.

your daily quote

2011-10-09T15:27:00.000-04:00

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.

Maya Angelou

your daily quote

2011-10-06T22:19:00.001-04:00

found here

squirrel on the loose!

2011-10-05T23:50:00.000-04:00

Since baseball has been on nonstop lately (side eye, husband) I happened to look up and catch this the other night (last night?). Sooo funny! I'm sure the fact that I think this is hilarious is a defining moment in the official decline of my cool factor...oh well. Also, people are really trying to catch this thing? Really? I mean, really? Yuck. Just let him do his thing.

your daily quote

2011-10-05T21:07:00.002-04:00

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.

John Lennon

the lion king 3D & new bucket list item

2011-10-04T22:44:00.002-04:00

Ever since I saw the preview for The Lion King 3D at Glee 3D, I knew I had to go see it! And seeing as it's John's fave Disney movie, I knew we had a date night in the near future. Tonight was the night. It was sooooo wonderful! I think it was part-amazing story and part-reliving our childhoods. I loved it, I really did. And I may have cried...twice. Once when Simba was introduced to the kingdom and once when (spoiler alert) Mufasa dies. Sad times people, sad times. But all in all it was definitely worth the inflated price for the 3D viewing. Although, judging from the previews I won't be going to see any more 3D movies in the near future. Slim pickins. And can I get an amen on being sick that everything is 3D now?

Also, during the movie I made a major life decision. Which brings us to.....

18. When we have a child I will present him/her to our family as Simba was presented to the kingdom.

No I'm not kidding. No, I didn't consult John nor do I plan to, he will simply agree that it's a necessity. Family, be prepared.

your daily quote

2011-10-03T21:44:00.003-04:00

found here

it got cold real quick-like

2011-10-02T14:19:00.001-04:00

Which means this weekend has consisted of:

chicken pot pie
cleaning the house
washing clothes
plenty of coffee
pumpkin spice muffins
sweatpants and hoodies
potato soup & cornbread
warm autumn salad
decorating the house for fall

Welcome fall! Happy you're here :)