jealous

So since John has been logging in lots of hours with the yard (yes, I pulled weeds too!) I have been logging in some Dixie one-on-one time in the house (aka making sure she doesn't rip apart our place while we're only a few feet outside). After we've played fetch, gone on a walk and played a game sort of like chase (until she gets bored and wants to do something else) this woman gets tired! So naturally, I get on my computer to catch up on the blogs that I follow (I am a blog stalker...go figure) and as soon as I pop open my laptop the "content in the corner little puppy" gets very jealous. And I mean VERY...she does not hesitate to bound over to the couch, jump up on the couch without permission (going against everything we've trained her to do...go figure again), and start nipping and scratching me. She literally wiggles her body over the keyboard so I can't type or see the screen anymore. So, being the good dog owner that I am, I rub her belly and love her and go back to my computer. No, that is not enough. Needless to say, tonight has been a juggle of playing games, sitting on the computer, trying to appease a puppy with a looong belly rub and trying to go back to the computer. Fun times people.

flowers!

On Monday John and I (finally) went to buy some flowers for our yard! We were able to buy all sorts including: rhododendrons, azaleas, peonies, hydrangeas and a rose bush! I forgot how much I absolutely love flowers! I guess I've just never had a yard all to myself (and John of course), so it was really thrilling to be able to buy flowers that we could help grow and show more of God's beauty. I was sad because I couldn't get all of the plants that I wanted but that's ok, maybe one day. Plants on my wish list: gardenias, honeysuckles, and crepe myrtles...love them! I also want to start a little herb garden in a few pots that we have...and one day when our yard is big enough we'll have a vegetable garden, yum!

tasty black bean dip

Yep, I've got yet another recipe for ya'll...last night I made my own rendition of black bean dip and it was soooo gooood!! Here ya go:

Black Bean Dip

• 2 (15 oz.) cans refried black beans w/jalapenos (if you don't have these just buy two cans of black beans...rinse and drain, add a couple of chopped jalapenos and a little of the juice then pulse in a food processor until paste-like)
• 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced (I LOVE garlic so I used 4)
• 4 sprigs of green onions chopped
• a couple of dashes of salt
• a couple of dashes of cayenne pepper
• a couple of dashes of cumin

Basically you take all of that and mix it up, then enjoy! It's so easy and delicious! I looked at a recipe on cookinglight.com and then kind of created my own from what I had on hand. I think there was like less than a gram of fat in a serving and about 19 calories. So it's packed with protein and low in calories and fat...could this be any better!? I served it with tortilla chips but if you want to go real healthy serve with celery sticks and/or carrot sticks.

that time of year

It's that time of year again...graduation and wedding time! This time last year I was basking in the amount of gifts that I was receiving and now the tables have turned...which I also love! Most of you know that I LOVE to buy gifts for people! For those of you who have read "The 5 Love Languages" my love language is gifts--that's the way I feel love the most (no, this is not a materialistic thing--a gift can simply be a flower or a sweet note) and the way that I show love. I just got home from buying two gifts for graduates and a wedding gift! Now we have 3 more wedding gifts to go before the end of the season and I'm pretty sure I already know what I'm getting them too. I want to say thank you again to all of you who gave such sweet, thoughtful gifts last year during my graduation and our wedding, I felt so loved! I hope you all enjoy this time of year as much as I do :)

i feel old

Lately work has been SUPER crazy leaving me super tired. I like to think of myself as a calm, laid back person however when things get crazy for a long period of time (aka few months leading up to my wedding) I go into overload and get very overwhelmed. In the few months leading up to the wed when someone asked me a question, for example "what center pieces are you envisioning?" and "what song will the mothers walk down the aisle to?", I would have to close my eyes in order to concentrate hard enough to answer the question. Fast forward 10 months and now someone asks "did you get that registration that I turned in?" or "have you heard the details on that worker's comp claim?" and I'm back to having to close my eyes in order to concentrate in order to answer the question. My boss even walked in my office today and smirked, then said "yeah, you look like a really frustrated, burnt out HR assistant" and I simply laughed when really I was praying he would just send me home and tell me he would take care of everything. Haha, wishful thinking. Anyway, back to being old...I've come home everyday for the past couple of weeks feeling like I could just pass out and fall asleep as soon as I walk through the door. But then there is a dog to be walked, a husband who I haven't seen all day, a dinner to be made, dishes to be cleaned and clothes to be washed...and oh yeah before I realize it, it's already 11:00 and I need to get ready for the next day. Lovely! How did I go from being a carefree, fun-loving college student to an overwhelmed, burnt out HR assistant? And oh yeah, a big shout out to all of the working parents! I don't know how you do it but more power to ya! I'M OLD!

pittsburgh pirates

That's right, John talked me into going to a Pittsburgh Pirates game on Friday night. Well not so much talked me into it but asked if I wanted to go and me being the sweet wife that I am said yes because I knew that he would have a great time. (He was able to get discounted tickets through his graduate program) Well, if any of you know me well you know that I'm not a sports person and certainly not a baseball person, I find it particularly boring (except the intro music for each batter!). So I was dreading it to be honest. But we arrived at PNC Park and I have to say that it is a beautiful ball park! Not that I'm an expert at ball parks but it was very clean and nice and seemed pretty new. Plus the view from our seats was INCREDIBLE! (Don't tell John but that's what I looked at most of the time--well that and the big screen) Despite my initial feelings, I quickly found out that I was really enjoying myself! I really had a good time and wouldn't mind going back! We got "baseball food" and sang "Take me out to the ball game...". The night was perfect too, the temperature was great and only white fluffy clouds were in the blue sky. And I think John was very happy to have attended his first MLB game even though the Pirates lost. So yes, I would (gasp!) go again! Here's the view from the park:

light alfredo sauce

One of the delish recipes I tried this weekend was a light alfredo sauce...enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 pound uncooked fettuccine
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 1/4 cups half-and-half
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half-and-half, cheese, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; add pasta, tossing gently to coat.

I used fat free half and half (as always) which I'm sure knocked a few grams of fat off the sauce. This sauce is quick and easy to make and its sooo good! And trust me, I'm very picky about my alfredo sauce, I hate it thick and creamy/fatty...this is a thinner sauce and very tasty. Its a very versatile dish for example you can top it with sauteed shrimp or with asparagus (can you pick up on who ate what?). Also here's a tip I learned, its better the next day after the sauce has had time to soak up in the noodles.

Here's the nutrition facts (these are the facts with real half and half):

Calories:427 (31% from fat)

Fat:14.6g (sat 7.8g,mono 4.2g,poly 1.3g)