a gal's best friend

Ok, I have 2 little stories leading up to a bigger story, so follow me...

Story 1: During our move to the burgh I somehow lost my ipod charger, therefore leaving me without an ipod since August. Well it is kind of my nature that when things don't work to keep on living without them, so this didn't really phase me until I wanted to start getting serious about working out and then I missed my pod. Well I guess complaining CAN get you somewhere and it got me 3 different chargers! One that plugs into the wall, the computer and the car (thanks hubby!). So now I am reunited with my pod, thank goodness!

Story 2: I can be dramatic. I was just raised this way and I am completely comfortable with it.

The story that started this post: Like I said, my pod and I were reunited (and it feels so good) so then I went walking on my treadmill. This may sound dramatic but I felt so excited and connected to the music on my pod, songs that I haven't heard in months! They just made me so happy!! I was so energetic that I walked for almost an hour and didn't even realize it! I was also occasionally dancing while walking or adding a little sass to the walk (imagine that) depending on what song was playing. Man I love that ipod, it really is a gal's (who's trying to be fit and trying even harder to be excited about trying to be fit) best friend! Love it!

new recipe

The JKs are getting healthy this year; we're eating right and staying/getting fit (you can guess who is staying and who is trying to "get fit")! With that being said we are eating light, good for you meals. I received my first issue of Cooking Light a few days ago many thanks to Heather (and Patrick)! It was my Christmas gift from them. Not trying to sound dramatic, but I vowed on the day that I got it that I would not live without it again. It is incredible! All of the recipes look so good, they're healthy and look fairly easy for the most part. Seriously, I'm so excited to have this subscription, I suggest all of you look into it. Anywho...tonight I chose to make a recipe from the magazine (its actually for a Campbell's soup ad in the mag...but a healthy recipe all the same).

Quick & Easy Chicken Vegetable Paella

2 tbsp. olive oil
3 (6 oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-in. strips
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp. turmeric (I didn't have this nor did I take the time to figure out what it was so I just used fajita seasoning)
1 red bell pepper, large dice
1 (8oz.) pkg, frozen pearl onions
1 1/2 cups converted white rice (that just means white rice)
1 can of condensed tomato soup
2 cups water
2 tbsp. lemon juice, fresh
1/2 tsp. cracked black pepper
1 (5 oz.) pkg. frozen peas, thawed

Heat large skillet over med. heat, and add oil, coating bottom of skillet. Add chicken, and cook until slightly browned. Add garlic and turmeric; cook 1 minute. Add bell pepper and pearl onions; cook and stir 2 minutes.

Combine, in separate bowl, soup, water, lemon juice, and black pepper, mixing well.

Add rice to skillet, mixing well. Then add soup mixture and stir to incorporate.

Cover and set heat to low; cook for 22 min. Remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in green peas and serve!

It was quite a delicious recipe, enjoy!!

simple pleasures

You caught me, I'm trying to make up for my lack of posts over my Christmas vacay. Right now I would like to list a few of my new found simple pleasures:

1. Hot apple cider: so delish! I love it! I've only tried it in the last year and I really enjoy it. I had a cup at my aunt Cissy's house on Christmas day and told her how wonderful it was so she gave me a little bag of mulling spices to make some of my own (sanks Cissy!). Tonight was the night, I poured a bottle of apple juice in my crock pot and mixed in the spices. Some of you may say that this is a festive drink, therefore it is out of date. I may say I've been drinking only water for the last 8 days and I need some flavor in my life and its 21 degrees outside and my Southern body was not created for this icy coldness so I need something to warm me up.

2. This blog: I've just figured out that this blog is my outlet of humor. It seems that no one up here really "gets" my humor (yes, I know this is breaking many of my close friends and family's hearts...as well as my own). I am surprised when I make a joke at work and the person simply looks at me and smiles or looks away and pretends they didn't hear when the joke would atleast warrant a rolling laughter! Therefore all of my creative, comedic energy is thrown into this blog, so I hope you all are enjoying it and atleast laughing to yourselves (please tell me you're laughing to yourselves...I'm desperate).

3. Spending time with my hub. He hasn't gone back to classes yet so this past week we've been able to hang out/I follow him around the house watching whatever random project it is that he's doing. But it is nice to be married to a person who is less stressed (for the time being). I'm soaking up every bit of this "pre-semester niceness" that is encompassing my husband right now. :)

Jon & Kate book

First of all I love, love, LOVE this family! I'm addicted to their show, Jon & Kate plus 8!! They have an adorable family...that's right, with 8 kids! They first had twins and then sextuplets, and they are all so cute! I am definitely ok with admitting that I'm obsessed with this family, if they didn't live on the other side of PA I would volunteer to watch their kids one night each week so that they could go on a date. The thing I love about the show is that they are very real, the parents argue, the kids annoy them and fight with each other. Now don't think that this is WWF family style, there are many sweet, sweet moments. But what I'm saying is that I love that they are not pretending to always be happy go lucky, you know me...lovin' that honesty. And they love the Lord...which segways me into my next topic...their book! Yes, they wrote a book on what it was like to have 8 children in less than 4 years. Can you imagine? (Since Santa knows me so well, he just so happened to leave this book in my pile of gifts on Christmas morning (wahoo!) and by Christmas night I was already halfway through it.) It is a really great book and they are a really great family. Seriously, can't express how much I adore this family. Their show is on TLC on Monday nights at 9 (and no, I'm not getting paid to advertise for them). And here is a pic of their book!

Happy Birthday Momma!!

Hey everyone today is my mom's 50th birthday! 50 years young, right Mom? She is quite a wonderful woman and I love her so much! In honor of her birthday I will list 10 great qualities about her, and awayyyy we go:

1. She is very giving to everyone (the needy, loved ones, etc.), she would give you the bracelet off of her arm if you wanted it.
2. She can whip up a flower arrangement in minutes (displayed at my wedding and both of my cuzzies' weddings).
3. She has balanced being a working mom so well throughout mine and Katie's lives.
4. She will listen and talk for hours (John can attest to this...he walked in on many talks throughout Christmas time).
5. She gives great advice, I've always sought her advice...since I was in first grade and even to this day and she always seems to know how to handle the situation.
6. She has provided me with many things throughout my life but most importantly she's taught me good character, morals, responsibility, how to really love someone, humility and helped me to mature.
7. She is an incredible shopper! I mean I tell this lady one thing I just so happen to be looking for and what do ya know, 3 days later she's found it and is shipping it to me!
8. When I'm home she will stay up with me as late as I stay up even if she has to wake up at 6:30 and go to work the next day (sanks Mom!).
9. She is absolutely beautiful, always has been, always will be! I'm banking on inheriting those "staying gorgeous as you age" genes from her (please God!).
10. She has tremendous faith. I've learned many lessons from her like how to trust God in any situation and to always be thankful for what you have no matter how much or how little it is.

Mom, you're awesome! I love you so much and I'm proud to call you my Marmey!!!!!!!

The end of a lifelong love affair

Haha, I bet that caught some attention. Well the day has come and I have ended my love affair with my beloved Diet Mountain Dew. (side note: I've only loved DMD since college but before that I loved its painfully 'worse for you' sister--Mountain Dew for as long as I can remember) Since I was a kid, if I had a choice I would choose Mt.Dew. Its just so wonderful and delicious and I am convinced it is full of goodness from heaven (or tons of carbs, calories, and sugar...eh, you say tomato, I saw tomAto). Then there was a month of my life where I drank only water...I then craved any drink with flavor and turned to DMD....hallelujah, thank you Lord!!! (seriously) Well, I'm sure there have been very few days since that glorious day that I've gone without a DMD for a day. I had my limits...one per day and I stuck to it for the most part. Some of you may even know that John's marriage proposal to me involved a vintage, glass DMD bottle (man, I DO love him!). So yes, I am...was obsessed. And for my loyal readers you will know that I said awhile ago that I was giving up my sweet soda goodness for a stupid new year's resolution. Well, I am proud to announce that I have been DMD free since January 1! And the saddest thing to me is that it crept up on me and I didn't even get to have a "final drink" with a can of DMD...I know it sounds dramatic, but I'm sad about it. Well I've been jonesin for a DMD and it ain't easy weaning yourself off of something so irresistable. For instance, today had some low points and I was CRAVING a DMD but I resisted, I thought that warranted applause but no one in my office seemed to notice...jerks. Anyway, be proud...but not too proud because I'm not making promises. I'm holding out for as long as humanly possible.

New post for a new year!

Hello everyone we're baaaaack! Yes, yes we've made it back all in one piece after a long, wonderful vacay (the other JK would love the I'm abbreviating, that's his fave thing that I do...please take note of the sarcasm)! Anyway, we had an awesome Christmas! Thank you everyone for the gifts and for taking time out of your schedules to visit with us! For those of you that we couldn't see, we'll see you next time :) Seriously, it was a great Christmas...I will highlight a few of the gifts that we got, since it would be ridiculous to list them all. Hubby gave me a very, very soft bathrobe and blanket. I gave him a telescope (what else do you get a techie who has everything?)...which he loved! We received a handcrafted swing for our front porch from my parents (wahoo!)...which will be making its way up here this spring, who knew that a porch swing wouldn't fit in a coupe? Amongst all of that there were many clothes (thank you Lord!), shoes, tools, DVDs, and other various items that we loved and were thankful for! So to everyone thank you, thank you, thank you!!! We loved it! It was so relaxing and fun :)

We also visited Washington DC before we went to NC for Christmas. We were able to see my friends Grace and Liz and John's friend JT. It was great to see them in the actual city that they live in! We had a really fun time visiting the monuments, memorials, and museums. We even saw the national Christmas tree (pictures will be posted soon)!

After Christmas we still lounged around NC for awhile being lazy and we were able to ring in the New Year with my parents, my sisty and her boyfriend Andre. We had a great night of dinner and dancing! We then swung by SC to see John's brother Patrick and his wife, Heather and our sweet niece, Anna. Thanks for letting us come guys! We had a great time being lazy with ya'll and just visiting. Its bittersweet to be back. Good to be back in the swing of things even though I will quickly get tired of it and bad to leave a lot of the people we love. Anywho...that's our holiday update!