Everyday Ellis

Weekend Style

2011-10-20T19:05:00.001-05:00

Weekend Style by raheckmann featuring timberland boots

American Eagle Outfitters brown cardigan
$30 - ae.com

American Eagle Outfitters slim bootcut jeans
$40 - ae.com

Timberland boots
$195 - zappos.com

Jamie Joseph yellow gold earrings
$510 - ylang23.com

Carolee LUX gold bangle
$125 - bloomingdales.com

American Eagle Outfitters loop scarve
$20 - ae.com

While I Was Out

2011-10-16T17:57:00.000-05:00

Even though last month was crazy busy, I did finish my nephew Noah's blanket in time for his first birthday.
A little embroidered patch:

Quality control check by Bruiser. He agreed it was just the right weight:

Noah's smash cake was my Grandma A's Banana Cake recipe. It was pretty delish. This was so easy for lettering. Melt some dark chocolate in a double boiler and pipe it onto wax paper. You can put a font under it if you find a certain lettering you like. Freeze the letters and then pull them off and stick them on the cake. That way if you mess up, just pipe a new one!

And the man of the hour...isn't he a doll?

Back from Break

2011-10-14T17:39:00.000-05:00

Wow, how quickly a month goes by! September was quite the whirlwind for us in the restoration business. The fires in Bastrop completely overwhelmed our staff and crew, but in the end, customers were happy and homes were restored.
Even though I haven't blogged, I have been up to some of my crafty ways. Bunco was back at my house this past Monday. Can you believe it has already been a year since I started our group? I get a little over the top for Bunco, but I love entertaining. The bad part is that I was so busy cooking, that I didn't take pictures of the food! My brother came over on Saturday and we cooked while the UT game was on. We made homemade chicken and seafood stocks and started the gumbo. Saturday night I baked the desserts. Yup, I baked again and they all came out great! I guess I'm getting the hang of it. I made apple pie bars, pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and a candied walnut, and pumpkin tiramisu (the big hit of the night). The recipe for the tiramisu can be found here, trust me, you will want to make this for Thanksgiving. It is that good. I did manage to snap a picture of my cupcakes. Funny how a gold wrapper, a sprinkle of some cinnamon/nutmeg, and a candied nut can make a plain ole cupcake look so fancy:

So, we had gumbo, shrimp etoufee, cornbread, cucumber salad, and desserts. For a fun cocktail, I mixed pretty much equals parts of Applejack brandy, Woodchuck hard cider, and sparkling apple cider. A used thin slices of granny smith apple for a garnish. It was great to have something different than our wine and it was autumn-y without being heavy. All in all, dinner was a success. There were barely any leftovers which is also a good sign. I'll also give you my cornbread secret. I tried this awhile back and I will never make cornbread again without adding about three to four heaping spoonfuls of canned creamed corn to the batter. It makes the cornbread so moist that you can't stop eating it!
Bunco and parties also give me a reason to get my butt in gear in the decorating department. The mantle is always a good focus spot.
So, I started with these that I found at Jo Anne Fabrics:

I sprayed them with two coats of this engine spray paint. Why engine paint? Well, its orange...and free. Clay had some from a car he had been working on. I would suggest spray painting a base coat on these cardboard letters since you can do light coats and avoid them getting soggy. Plus, the spray paint hardens them up a bit.

I got this. They were a little too red-orange

So, I added some streaking with some different colors of acrylic craft paint

Then, I cut out the backs, took out all that zig zag cardboard in the middle. I used an ice pick and punched holes all over the fronts of the letters. Then, I filled the back with orange Christmas lights and put the backs back on. I left a little slit in the bottom for the cords to come out.

Then, I added some little spiders I found at Michaels and set them on my grass boxes that I get soo much use out of from the wedding. When I plug in the letters, they look like old school marquee lights. Not too bad for about $15 worth of supplies!
p.s. that fake raven still catches Bruiser off guard. Every now and then, he come running in the living room and bounces back like its about to swoop him up. Dogs are so simple...

On Hiatus

2011-09-13T16:19:00.000-05:00

I'll be taking a bit of a break from the blog for about a week. I'm sure you have all heard of the horrible fires we've had here in central Texas. This is the worst fire event in history that followed the hottest and driest summer on record. We keep praying for some relief from the drought, but we're still having weather forecasts in the 100s with little to no rain in sight. But I digress, I work for a restoration company. In this case we work insurance companies to come in a remove all the smoke odor and try to get these people's homes back to a livable condition. To make a long story short, I'm buried under mounds of paperwork but will promptly return to blogging once I have dug myself out. My nephew Noah turns 1 next week so I'll have lots of posts ready to go!

In the meantime, please take minute to donate to any of the following charities to help out the fire victims. Many of these had their whole lives burned down to a pile of ash. There are also many animal shelters that have set up in Bastrop to round up all the pets that were evacuated with their families and get them food and medical attention (and hopefully get them back with their families).

Please keep Texas in your prayers. We need it.

Austin Disaster Relief
Sufi Center of Bastrop
Bastrop Christian Outreach
Capital Area Food Bank
Austin Pets Alive

Pie for Two

2011-09-08T05:56:00.000-05:00

It is so hard to cook for two without having a ton of leftovers. Its even harder when it comes to sweets. Clay and I don't eat them that often and it definitely isn't because we don't like them. A lack of willpower has a bit to do with it. As I wrote earlier, this past Monday was Clay's birthday. I was going to do baked apples in the crockpot, but we were running around all day and I ran out of time. I looked around my pantry and freezer and found some frozen pie dough and the Granny Smith apples I was going to use. So, mini apple pies it was. This was so easy and sooo cute!

Mini Muffin Tin Apple Pies (makes two minis with extra apples for sauce)
1 roll of pre-made pie dough
2 apples (whatever kind you like to bake with) sliced or diced (diced in small chunks fits better in tins than sliced)
2 tsp of flour
2 tsp of sugar (I substituted with Splenda for baking)
1 tsp of cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
a little butter
Turbinado sugar
Apple cider

Pre heat your oven to 425. Spray your muffin tin with cooking spray. Roll out your pie dough and cut out four circles a bit larger than your muffin holes. I happened to have a tupperware that was the perfect size. Mix your apples with the flour, cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg in a bowl until apples are coated. Take two circles of dough and line two of the muffin holes with them. Fill with each one with enough apple mixture so it is a little over the top (the apples will cook down). I added a little tiny dollop of butter on top just like you would with a normal apple pie. Take the remaining two circles of dough and cover the two pies. Pinch the edges together to make sure the top and bottoms doughs are adhered and cut a few slits in the top for steam. Brush with a little melted butter and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. Bake in the oven at 425 for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 350 and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. I used a butter knife to loosen the edges and they popped right out. Then I took the leftover apples and cooked them down with some apple cider until the juice thickened up to form an apple sauce. I plated the mini pie, added some frozen yogurt, and topped with the cider apple sauce. Loved it.
p.s. warm apple pie and birthday candles DO NOT mix. Clay pulled his candle out only to get the wick. The rest of the candle had melted down into the pie. I ate the one. Oh the things we do for love.

I

Wino Wednesday

2011-09-07T20:59:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted a Wino Wednesday in awhile for a simple reason. I found my new favorite cab, the Bota Box, at Costco for a little under $14. $14 for 4 bottles on wine...that doesn't taste like rot gut? I'm sold! However, I don't know if having wine on tap is such a good idea. Anyway, it has been so hot here that I thought I'd try something new. I usually don't like white wine at all. In fact, I refer to it as the White Devil. It sneaks up on you and before you know it, you are "accidentally" a little tipsy. But, I figured it was worth a shot, and a blog post. I went for sparkling wine just to give it a little fizz. I have to admit, I really liked it. The bad part is that it does go down really easy, but it is refreshing on a hot day. My favorite was to drop in a few blackberries and let them get soaked while I sipped. The first one I got was il Dolce. For about $10, it was a great buy. Not overly sweet and so good with the berries. It obviously went fast since I only got a picture of the empty bottle:

Tonight we found a stash of Martini sparkling wine up in the pantry. I threw a bottle in the freezer while I cooked dinner so that it would be nice and chilly. For some reason I thought I 'd mix it with some concord grape juice for a little spritzer. I think I used a little too much juice the first time around. It tasted like fizzy communion wine. The second try was all sparkling wine with a splash of juice. It was great and a nice change to our normal reds.

Birthday Breakfast of Champions

2011-09-05T09:01:00.000-05:00

Today is Clay's birthday. I wanted to make something really yummy and warm for his breakfast this morning. We are HUGE breakfast people. You'll never hear either one of us say that we forgot to eat in the morning! His birthday also gives me a reason to use my blue plate. My grandma had a plate like this and it was always a big deal to get to use it at her house:

I made it a few years ago at my friend's pottery painting birthday party and plan to use it for all our special days. Moving on. I found a recipe in my Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook my Tosca Reno for Carrot Bread. It looked like a good choice for my birthday man. I grated all the carrots last night so it would be at least that far along and mixed up the rest this morning. It turned out great but is a little heavy. I might do it in a muffin pan next time. She also recommends topping it with unsweetened applesauce instead of butter which I think would be awesome.

Carrot Bread:
1 lb (454g) of loose sweet carrots, peeled and grated
1 1/4 cu of whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cu of cornmeal
pinch of sea salt
1/4 cu of flax meal (I already had flax seeds and just put them in the blender to grind into meal)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 egg whites
1 egg yolk
2 tbsp of canola oil
1/2 cu organic honey
3/4 cu skim milk or low fat soy milk
1/4 cu of raisins
1/4 cu of dried cranberries
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375.
In a small saucepan, place carrots and enough water to just cover them. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, and let cool.
In a medium bowl, place dry ingredients: flour, cornmeal, salt, flax meal, and baking powder.
In another bowl, whip egg whites until stiff.
In a small bowl put egg yolk, oil, honey, and milk. Mix well. Add to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add whipped egg whites and fold until just combined. Add dried fruits and cooked carrots and mix until just combined. Do not over mix, or your bread will be tough.
Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 60 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
**After an hour, my tester came out clean but it was little on the uber moist side. I cut the slices I was serving and put them on my pizza stone under the broiler just long enough to toast the top. I buttered the warm bread and topped with banana slices. Yum!

I completed the breakfast plate with scrambled Soyrizo eggs and turkey bacon. Never heard of Soyrizo? It is one of the best products EVER. Regular chorizo is great, but so full of fat. This cooks up just the same and the only difference I can tell is that my plate is not swimming in red grease.

I should've added a little watermelon for color, but I know he started the day with a full belly.

Beat by the Heat

2011-08-26T20:37:00.000-05:00

I could apologize for my lack of posting lately, but its nothing new these days. It is just too dang hot for much around here. All I do is sweat! This weekend is supposed to be record breaking heat again at around 110. Seriously? It has been like this since May. So, I haven't really had the desire for much craftiness around the house. Lots of crock pot dinners (because they don't put off that much heat) and salads. However, Clay was out of town last night and that' s the time I use to experiment. I looked through my pantry and concocted quite the tasty meal.

Tex Mex Crispy Chicken
4 Skinless Chicken Breasts
Baked Tostitos Tortilla Chips
Milk
2 Eggs
McCormicks Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
Block Colby Cheese (in a block)- I got some raw milk colby from the market and it is the best cheese ever...seriously
Olive Oil

Preheat your oven to 400 (if you have a convection, even better. The outside will be even crispier). Crunch up enough tortilla chips to get about 2 cups of crumbs. You can leave them a little large, they don't need to be as small as panko. Sprinkle in a some of the taco seasoning. The amount is up to you. I LOVE taco seasoning so mine is pretty heavy. Then drizzle the crumbs with olive and toss to coat. Take your chicken breast and cut a slit in the side to form a pocket. Insert a small (or whatever size you like) sliver of cheese inside the pocket. In a small bowl, combine your eggs with a heavy splash of milk and whisk to combine. Hold the chicken together and dip in the egg mixture and then into the crumbs. If the crumbs are falling off, just press on some more and then place the breasts on to a baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes or until cooked through (it depends on the thickness). I loved how it came out! I topped it with a little super hot salsa and an avocado salad with lime dressing. Clay came home today and had already crushed the leftovers before I got home from work. He loved it.

House Wren

2011-08-16T20:44:00.000-05:00

I went to the City Wide Garage Sale last weekend here at the big event center downtown. It usually happens about once every six weeks and you never know what you'll find. There are a few vendors there that are my go to spots for certain things that I love to pick up. I'm a sucker for vintage linens. I picked up a few rose printed tablecloths that I think I'll turn into aprons and some napkins that I'd like to embroider. He also has a huge pile of vintage clothes that if nothing else can be used for the fabric. That's where I got my holiday party skirt last year (remember this post?) for $8! Once that main guy is hit, I'm on the prowl for little odd ball what nots. I'm also known to hit the brakes any time I see something sparkle. I adore old brooches and costume jewelry. However, to my disappointment, it seems as though everything has gotten a lot more expensive, especially the jewelry. Bummer. I thought this was a bust until I came across the coolest booth, House Wren.

They just posted a bunch of pictures on their blog here. If you haven't seen the show, Picker Sisters, then please disregard the comparison. I totally thought of that show when I walked into their booth. Picker Sisters airs on Lifetime (ooh, I think tonight now that I type this) and is about two sisters that live in L.A. but travel all over the U.S. picking great antiques and taking them back to their builder to make really cool furniture.
Check out the culvert that they converted into a backyard swing. The only thing is that in Texas, you would basically be putting yourself in an oven to sit in that during the summer. Definitely made more for California.

I never thought to use an old tin sign as a headboard but it looks great! I wonder if it rattles?

House Wren is a husband and wife that do basically the same thing. The lighting really caught my eye. Check out these pendant lights made from the whisks of old commercial mixers. Wouldn't they be cool over a kitchen sink? Check out their blog to see where they will be next...

What makes this couple even better? They have two Boston Terriers...and one is named Ruby.

Semi-Homemade

2011-08-15T20:16:00.000-05:00

I got a call from my mom on Saturday wanting to know if we wanted to come over for supper on Sunday. Of course we did. I told her I'd bring a 2 sides and a dessert. Well, two out of three were hits. I made summer pesto pasta salad, balsamic portobellos and polenta, and a sorbet trifle. The pesto pasta was great but I used brown rice pasta which got a little soggy when I warmed it back up. I think if I was going to make it again, I'd cook the pasta until it was almost done so that when liquid was added back during warming, it would be perfect.
The portobellos were great. Since I'm not eating bread (the whole gluten/wheat thing is a bummer), I thought I'd do the mushrooms and polenta as a base for my hamburger. I could have definitely skipped the burger (even though they were great thanks to my brother) and just had the huge marinated fungus (as Clay refers to them). The recipe can be found here on Martha Stewart.
The dessert was also Martha inspired from this recipe. I bought a pint of raspberry sorbet, a pint of mango, and a half gallon of pineapple/coconut ice cream. I added some fresh berries to the raspberry and some chopped pineapple to the coconut ice cream and then layered them in a loaf pan. I let it refreeze overnight to reset. When we were ready for dessert, I put it in a sink with a little warm water to loosen up the edges and took it out in slices. It looked so pretty with all the colors. I put each slice over a little piece of store bought pound cake. It was a great dessert that not only was fairly easy, I didn't have to heat up the house with the oven.

American Eagle Contest

2011-08-15T06:28:00.001-05:00

I love American Eagle. In fact, I used to work there when I was in high school. I'm not sure why I thought working retail was a good idea to save money since I basically exchanged my paycheck for a wardrobe. I haven't done one of these in awhile, but Polyvore is sponsoring a contest for American Eagle for a chance to win a $1000 gift certificate and to see your work on a billboard in Times Square. All you have to do is use the mini editor below, create a look, and publish it in order to be entered in the contest. The last day to enter is Thursday the 18th.

Get your own Mini Editor from Polyvore

Best Ever?

2011-08-15T06:22:00.000-05:00

I've noticed that a lot of pins on Pinterest are claiming to be "best ever" recipes. Best ever potatoes, best ever cupcake, best ever crock pot recipe...you get the idea. I pinned the "best ever" broccoli recipe and one of my cousins commented on it that it really is the best ever. I had to try it. What was even better is that it wasn't that hard.

Best Broccoli Ever
Broccoli cut into florets (I used two small bunches)
2 cloves of garlic-sliced
1 tablespoon of parmesan-shredded
1 lemon
salt and pepper
olive oil

Pre heat the oven to 425. If you washed the broccoli, make sure it is completely dry or it won't get crispy. Like I've read before, what you would be washing off will get baked off in the oven so you can skip that part. Toss broccoli in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay out on a foil lined pan and sprinkle the garlic slices over it. Place in the oven for about 25 or until the edges start getting brown and crispy.

BEFORE:

Once it is done, pull it out, and zest the lemon over the top. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice over it and then sprinkle with parmesan. I put it back in the oven for about 8-10 so that it would get all crispy again with the lemon and cheese. It was THE BEST broccoli ever

AFTER:

On a Roll

2011-08-02T20:01:00.000-05:00

I've been on a roll with recipes from Skinny Taste. They are all fairly simple and most include ingredients that are already in the fridge. After a long night of sushi and cocktails topped off with dessert on Friday night, we were back to a nice light dinner at home on Saturday. I love Italian food, but don't want to eat a ton of carbs before bed. I tried the Chicken Rollatini with Spinach a la Parmagiana. It was delicious! I loved every bite. No pasta at all and I didn't even really miss it. For the side, I made a caprese salad with a twist. I was inspired by this picture I found on Pinterest. I roasted the tomatoes first and then sliced them like the picture. Then I tucked a few small pieces of mozzarella in the slices and stuck it back in the oven. Once the cheese oozed a little, I took them out, added a little fresh basil and topped it with balsamic reduction. Even though it was really good, Clay decided he likes it better raw. I just had a couple of small roasted tomatoes with the balsamic reduction and they were great.

From Pinterest:

Another great thing about this rollatini recipe, it makes for awesome leftovers. It was just as good today as it was on Saturday.

How Quickly A Week Goes By

2011-07-28T14:57:00.000-05:00

Poof! There goes a week since my last post. Crazy how that happens. I'll blame it on Pinterest. Seriously, it is so incredibly addicting. I still have lots of decorating to do in the house and many things to cross off my 30 in the year of 30 list so the blog will definitely pick up again. I didn't buy any wine this week (I guess hell must have frozen over), but we did take a bottle to a friend's house last weekend that was one I will put on my "to buy again" list. Clay and I have always been a fan of Becker Vineyards. It is a Texas winery not too far from Austin. In fact, once it cools down a bit, I'm going to see if I can talk him into a little day trip to check it out. While perusing the wine aisle, I noticed that they had a Merlot Reserve 2008 that I have yet to try. It was delish and a great buy for about $13/bottle. It went perfectly with our steak and not too heavy or woody. I didn't take a picture of the bottle before we left and all I could find on their site was this tiny picture:

Also new on the Ellis front, I joined Weight Watchers online this week. I was killing myself with workouts and not seeing anything budge. I knew my portions were out of whack and just needed a way of tracking that is easy to stick to. Since I started it after I had done the weekly grocery shopping, I've had lots of meat and salad this week until I can sit down and plan it out. What I like about it is that it tracks your points daily as well as weekly. Basically, you can save your points for when you eat out and know you'll have more than a little 4oz shot of wine. It also gives you extra points for your activity. I'm a little skeptical since supposedly you can eat as many fruits and vegetables as you want. Fruit has a ton of carbs so we shall see. It is worth a shot and makes me more aware of how much I am eating. I'll keep you posted.

Need to send flowers?

2011-07-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

We've used 1-800-Flowers at work to send flowers occassionally. You know how it goes, use them once, and then you're on the email list for eternity. Usually I just delete them, but today they sent an email about the new A-Dog-Able collection. I don't know about you, but one of these sure would brighten up my day.

Wino Wednesday

2011-07-20T18:20:00.000-05:00

Finally! I found one that I like. This week was 2008 Red Velvet from Cupcake Vineyards. I've been on the hunt for a good blend that could work for big groups of people. At about $10/bottle, this one fit the bill. The blend of cabernet, merlot, and zinfandel creates a really smooth taste that would go well with just about any meal. It is a little on the sweeter side, but I'm thinking that is just in contrast to some of the drier, heavier reds that we've tried lately. Perfect in a sangria.

Bookshelf Redo

2011-07-19T20:21:00.000-05:00

This wasn't really a redo, more like taking what I already have and rearranging it with the addition of some much needed green. I love succulents and since all my beautiful flowers I planted this spring are barely making it through this extreme summer, I decided to bring a little green to the inside. I've never planted succulents before so I hope they get enough direct sunlight in the afternoon. Have any of you ever had them inside? Do they last in the winter without the summer sun? Regardless, I love them for now. All I need to do to the breakfast area is find a rug and sew the roman shade. I'm thinking a heavy braided jute rug would be nice to give it some texture. Oh, and if I figure out how to fashion a wine bottle chandelier, I'd be in heaven (Grandpa, I may be calling you about this)! I may need to either figure out how to move the top shelf down so that the middle space isn't so big or get bigger candles and holders. The best part about this project is that all the pots are just cheapy terracotta pots that were only about $2/each. I used Rustoleum spray paint in oil rubbed bronzed and voila...pots on a budget.

Before:

After:

My little tabletop succulent garden:

I'm Built to Quilt

2011-07-17T14:30:00.000-05:00

Spoiler Alert: Mom, if you are reading this, close the screen!

I finally finished my mom's quilt. This is the largest one I've done so far and since it is for my mom, I wanted to hand quilt the whole thing. I did machine the top, but as far as quilting it together, that is all by hand. After finishing this one, I realized I can figure out a lot of technique on my own. I read a few articles and got over the thought of hand stitching the binding. For some reason, I thought it would take forever, but that was one of the quickest parts! I also wanted to sign it somehow and have been meaning to figure out embroidery. Guess what? That isn't hard either! It isn't perfect, but I'm happy with the way it turned out. I also learned that before you start quilting, you need to use safety pins and get all the layers lined up right. There is a part on the back that is a little wonky, but we'll just say that it adds character :). So, it is on to the next one for my nephew Noah who will be one in September. Now that I'm feeling more confident in my skills, hopefully this one will go much quicker than the others.

Finished product:

The signature and an excuse to use my craft room tags:

Another lesson learned, if you leave a very cozy quilt laying around, a certain Boston Terrier will very quickly and quietly make a home in it:

My Newest Obsession

2011-07-14T06:10:00.000-05:00

After talking with a few ladies at Bunco the other night about Pinterest and hearing lots of "what is that" and "ooh, send me the link," I came to the conclusion that not everyone has found this gem of a website. I know it has already blown up in the blog world, but it seems like most people outside of it have no idea what they are missing. I don't know about you, but I used to have tons of links saved in my favorites and would have to go through them to find something. Now, I can use Pinterest to organize my links, share them with others, and have almost a binder of sorts for my sites. You can organize them by category and share them with those that follow you. You can also find your friends through Facebook to follow as well as others with the same interests as yours. Beware, it is extremely addicting!

I just started, but if you want to follow me and see all the boards that I've created so far, click HERE.
Happy Pinning!

Wino Wednesday

2011-07-13T20:33:00.000-05:00

Today's pick is 24/7 Pinot Noir. I usually trust the wine lady at H-E-B grocery and this one was her pick. I normally love pinot noirs, but this one was a little on the grassy side. I kind of felt like there was a clump of lawn clippings in there somewhere. It was all in the nose, not the taste. If I held my nose, it didn't taste like grass. Definitely not my favorite. I really need to try to find one next week that knocks my socks off!

Keen on the Bean

2011-07-12T06:15:00.000-05:00

Need a little chocolate fix but don't want the guilt? Try out this trick. All you need is a sugar free brownie mix and a can of black beans. I've read in some recipes to just dump them together in a blender and bake. However, you can eliminate the salt and preservatives by rinsing the black beans and adding half a can of water to the mix. Blend in a blender and bake. They are super dense and pretty tasty with some berries. This took more than one time to get right. A whole can of water made it way too runny and wouldn't bake. These are really heavy, but pretty good when warm. You cannot taste the beans at all and you don't use any eggs or oil. Plus, you get the fiber benefit from the beans. And no, there are no bean after effects (if you know what I mean). Maybe adding some walnuts would help give them a little texture next time.

Side note: any leftover brownies do have a weird texture if they are cold or at room temperature. They are best served warm so give them a quick spin in the microwave.

Loco for the Coco

2011-07-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

As you remember, I recently cut off 10 inches of hair. I've had cutters remorse and can't wait for my hair to grow again. I'll try anything. I've been diligent on taking my vitamins and fish oil everyday and have spaced my haircuts out to every ten weeks instead of six. I was reading the latest Glamour mag on the elliptical the other day and came across an article that said that massaging coconut milk into your hair and letting it set for an hour will speed up growth and make it stronger. You can also use olive oil. Just massage it into your scalp for five minutes and then wait for an hour and wash it out. I have to admit, my hair smells like a tropical vacation! Whether or not it helps for real, only time will tell.

Follow up: I wrote this post right after I had doused my hair with the coconut milk last night. I was working on the quilt for my mom and kind of forgot how long it had been on there. Well, FYI, it gets hard like gel if you let it dry. However, it washed right out and my hair was already shinier this morning and not flat. This is definitely a winner in my book.

The Sunday Sip

2011-07-10T20:00:00.000-05:00

The winos have spoken (a.k.a my mom and aunts). Wino Wednesday was apparently very missed this past week. So, I'm making up for it. I have recommendation tonight and will have another on Wednesday. This week, we tried a new boxed wine. Again, I hate to be swayed by the package, but this one was pretty stinking cute. We tried Pinot Evil. It was great. The thing I've noticed about boxed wine is that it already tastes like it has been aerated. There is no bite to it, just smooth (sometimes a little too smooth). I really like the lightness of a pinot noir when its 105 degrees outside. I believe it was about $19. For 4 bottles worth of wine, that is quite the steal!

Why It Takes So Long

2011-07-04T08:30:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder why it takes me so long to finish a project. I have two reasons...Bruiser and Ruby. Just the other day I was trying to sit down and get to some of my projects on the list and was overrun by these two...
It's usually Ruby first. She feels the need to stretch on whatever it is I'm working on like it is her personal yoga mat.

Then enters Bruiser, usually with a toy. The so called yoga mat (a.k.a my project) then transforms into their wrestling mat.

I try again later, quietly sneaking into my sewing room hoping that they don't find me. No such luck. It took all of about five minutes for Bruiser to pancake himself on it and Ruby to follow after with her toy. Maybe I just need to lock them out!

Wino Wednes...Errr...Thursday

2011-06-30T20:05:00.000-05:00

Yup, I'm a day late again. Month end at work is crazy busy, but never too busy to stop and do a quick wine review. This week's pick was Beso de Vino (I have to admit that I was swayed by a cute label). So far, my Wino Wednesdays have been pretty great, this one...not so much. It was flat and was just kind of eh. It's a blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Garnacha. I wanted to start throwing some blends in the mix since usually they are pretty good. I'm thinking maybe I'm just not a syrah fan, but you never know. I'm not giving up on them.

Great Balls of...Cake

2011-06-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

After my family and I made 250 cake balls for my wedding reception last year, it has taken me this long to want to even look at one again. My friend Montana was hosting and I told her I'd do the dessert. She had a Mexican themed menu, so for some reason the idea of doing key lime pie and pina colada cake balls popped in my head. I forgot how much work these little suckers are! However, they were a huge hit and since it was just a bite of cake, no one turned them down. If you plan on making these, read all the way through the directions so you can make sure you have everything you need. With cake balls, the sky is limit. Get creative!

Pina Colada Cake Balls
I started out with baking just a normal white cake from a mix, letting it cool, and then cutting off any crusty edges. Then, crumbled the cooled cake in a bowl and add some chopped pineapple and enough pina colada mix to get the mixture to stick together. I then rolled the balls in graham cracker crumbs and put them in the freezer to set up. While they were freezing, I put some unsweetened coconut flakes and finely chopped almonds in a skillet with sugar and let it caramelized. Once it had browned enough and the sugar was melted, I put the mixture on parchment paper to cool. Once cooled, I broke it up with a knife and mallet to make a crunch. After about an hour in the freezer, I took the balls out, dipped them in almond bark (that I had already melted in a double boiler) and topped with a little crunch while they were still tacky. The crunch is a great compliment to the smooth, truffle like cake mixture in the middle.

Need a reason to throw a party?

2011-06-29T12:49:00.000-05:00

I do! After coming across Sweet Lulu, I need a reason to use their amazingly cute party supplies. Maybe I can throw a "just because" party? This is definitely a bookmark worthy site. Here are some of my favorites:

How cute are these push pop containers? I love the idea of stacked cakes. You can even buy the lucite holder too.

These candles would make any plain Jane cupcake a little brighter

These containers are so pretty. I love the color. They would liven up any picnic buffet. That turquoise is a great compliment to any summer fruit (and my personal favorite color).

A milk and cookies display makes for a great dessert table. These milk glasses come in sets of 12 and the striped straws (also available) give them a true retro feel.

I love perfectly round balloons. They really look clean and professional. Just using one on each each of buffet table tie it all together. The colors that they have available are great too for any season.

Feelin HOT, HOT, HOT

2011-06-27T14:23:00.000-05:00

One of the benefits of all these discount websites like Groupon, Urban Dealight, and DealSwarm is that you can try out new classes, restaurants, etc without paying a ton of money for something you may not like. I've been dying to try bikram yoga but it is pretty pricey. Urban Dealight had a 6 class deal for $20 at YogaGroove. Pretty hard to pass up and it is really close to my office. What's even better is that they offer a 5:30pm class which gives me enough time to get there, change my clothes, and get to a spot. So, Friday after work, I loaded up my mat, beach towel, and water bottle and headed into what I now refer to as a human oven. Oh my gosh. For all of you fellow Texans (especially this summer), image walking outside in the middle the afternoon on a day when it's 105 degrees with no wind. You know the feeling. Now imagine doing a workout in that. I started sweating before class even started. I was a little distracted by the human rubber band working out next to me. From lifting weights over the years, I have lost some of my flexibility but thought I was still doing okay. I think the one that got me was when they told us to put one leg on top of the other and then curl your foot around to hook onto the opposite leg (all while twisting your arms into a pretzel too). I'll admit, it was an awesome workout and 90 minutes flew by. I felt completely loose (and somewhat dehydrated). The next day, however, was a different story. You see, when you are working out in a room that is 105 degrees and sweating more than you have ever sweated in your life, your muscles and tendons are nice and loose. Not so much the next day. The tendons in the backs of my knees of all places felt like I needed to cut them in order to give a little. Just goes to show that I have a lot of room for improvement in the bendy category. Honestly, I can't wait to go back this week. So take advantage of all the great deals in your city to try something new. You never know what you might discover.

Don't Diss The Swiss

2011-06-24T21:05:00.001-05:00

Do you love oatmeal but think it is too hot to eat in the summer? Give Swiss Muesli a try. Even if you hate oatmeal (hmm hmm, Mom), this may be a way to eat your whole oats. It is so easy and such a great breakfast when it's steamy outside. With the way I make it, it is loaded with all kinds of good-for-you goodness. (Keep in mind I'm trying to be better about measuring and not eyeing things)

Swiss Muesli
1 cup-ish of old fashioned dry oatmeal (I really need to make this again and measure the oats)
1- 24 oz container of Greek yogurt (I like Greek God brand personally, 0% fat)
1-2 tbsp of ground flax seed
Toppings and mix-in suggestions:
Agave nectar (kind of a must, Greek yogurt is pretty tart if you aren't used to it)
Chopped green apple (great for texture)
Fresh berries
Chopped raw almonds
Chopped dried apricots
Dried or fresh cherries (yum, and a great antioxidant)

CORRECTION FROM MY SMART ALEC BROTHER: It is not muesli unless it contains citrus. Apparently, people add a splash of lemon juice and my Aunt Jane uses a bit of OJ. This would actually help the greek yogurt thin out a bit and add a little more zip! Thanks for the tip Matthew...

Mix the dry oats, flax seed, and yogurt together until combined. It will look a little on the yogurt-y side (don't you love my technical terms?). If it is really soupy, add a little more oats. Keep in mind, this will sit overnight and the oats soak up a ton of yogurt. I was amazed the first time I tried this at how much yogurt I had to keep adding. Once combined, cover and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, dish out about a half a cup per serving. It is pretty thick so if you feel like you need it to thin a little, add some more yogurt or a bit of warm water. I just mashed some fresh raspberries and mixed them and topped it off with a little agave nectar and whole blueberries. It looked very patriotic.
I almost forgot to snap a picture before it was gone this morning. Food goes fast at our table!

This is such a great breakfast (especially if you have a side of egg whites or whole eggs). It is loaded with clean protein, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants from the toppings, and calcium. The whole oats are great source of fiber too. Can't ask for much more than that.
I hope you all have a great weekend. Ruby and Bruiser have a play date with another Frenchie tomorrow. Lots of snorts and toots to come!

Need Some New Recipes?

2011-06-23T12:01:00.000-05:00

I'm always looking for new resources with healthy recipes. My friend Paige introduced me to SkinnyTaste. They are great recipes that have been adapted to follow Weight Watchers guidelines. Even if you don't do Weight Watchers, you can be sure that they are healthy and pretty low in sugar, fat, and salt. From what I can tell, they really aren't that complicated either. This week, I'm trying Broiled Tilapia with Thai Coconut Curry Sauce, Greek Turkey Meatballs, and Skinny Chicken Tikka Masala (it will be a very ethnic week!).

It's Like Butta...Well Kind Of

2011-06-23T06:17:00.000-05:00

Food allergies among children and adults are becoming an increasing frustration. Gluten free, wheat free, lactose intolerant, dairy free, peanuts...how can you keep up? Even more frustrating, what do you cook? If you have found that you have a dairy allergy, but love to bake, here is an alternative. Coconut butter. I used to hate coconut with a passion and I think it was because all I had ever had was sweetened coconut flakes...yuck. Those little sugar doused flakes kept me away from coconut for years, then I had the real stuff. What a difference. So, when I heard about coconut being used as a butter substitute, I was all for it. I don't have a dairy allergy, but a raw alternative full of the good fats is hard to beat. You can buy coconut butter at natural grocers or in the raw/organic section of your supermarket, but why pay $10 a jar when you can make it at home for about a third of the cost? All you have to do it buy a bag of unsweetened coconut flakes (I used Bob's Red Mill) and put them in the blender until they are smooth. It takes about ten minutes of blending and scraping down the sides to get it all done. Then, pour the mixture into a shallow mason jar (the smaller the jar, the easier it is to get it all out when you are using it) and secure with a lid. You can stick it in the pantry or in the fridge. It will solidify at room temperature, so if you find it difficult to get out, just nuke it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. In Tosca Reno's The Eat Clean Diet Cookbook 2, she uses quite a bit of coconut butter, especially in baking. Clay loves banana bread, so I gave this one a try. The results were great. I actually made them into muffins since I have a bad habit of not baking the inside of thick breads enough without burning the outside. Like I've said before, I'm not a baker.

Super Moist Banana Walnut Bread

1/4 cu + 1 tsp of raw coconut butter, divided

1 1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour

2 tbsp ground flaxseed

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 cu organic raw turbinado sugar

2 tbsp unsulfured blackstrap molasses

1/2 cu low fat or soy milk

3 large very ripe bananas, mashed

1/3 cu chopped unsalted walnuts

1. Place oven rack in lower third of oven and reheat to 350F. Grease a 5x9" loaf pan with 1/2 tsp of coconut butter
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, flaxseed, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. In another bowl, use an electric mixer to combine remaining coconut butter with sugar and molasses on medium-high speed while mixture resembles course grains of wet sand. Stop mixer and use a rubber spatula to scrape sides and bottom of the bowl, and then mix for a few more seconds to ensure that all the ingredients get thoroughly combined. Add milk and mix on low until just combined. Remove bowl from mixing stand, and fold in bananas and walnuts until combined.
3. Scrape batter into greased baking pan and place in oven to bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly before unmolding from pan. Serve warm or let finish cooling on rack. Can be stored for two days at room temperature with a tea towel draped over the top and then in the fridge for an additional three days (like it would last that long in my house).

Her Face Says It All

2011-06-22T14:28:00.000-05:00

It has been ridiculously hot this summer in Texas. We did get a break with a rain storm last night so the temp is at least bearable today. We went 31 days straight without any measurable rain. Our grass is dying, our plants are on their last leg and poor Ruby looks like this all the time.

She is not happy about the heat and is not a fan of playing in the hose like Bruiser. She's become noctural, sleeps all day and wants to play all night.

Wino Wednesday

2011-06-22T05:52:00.001-05:00

Not only is it Wino Wednesday, this post is on time! This week's pick came from the recommendation of the employees at Twin Liquors. I love Twins, they have such a great inventory as well as employees that actually know what they are talking about have good suggestions. I usually don't go for Merlots, but I figure through this experiment, I'm bound to find a few that I like enough to buy again. I decided to try The Velvet Devil Merlot Washington 2009. Hands down this gets a big thumbs up. It was smooth, not woody at all, and only about $12 a bottle. This one goes down as a keeper for sure.

Not Too Bad Having a Chef in the Fam

2011-06-21T08:08:00.000-05:00

As mentioned before, my brother is currently in culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu here in Austin. He is doing amazing and I'm in awe every time he cooks. Needless to say, family gatherings are quite a bit fancier than they used to be. For Father's Day, we loaded up the pups and went to my mom's house to have dinner with the family. Matthew prepared Coq au Vin (chicken braised in wine) over homemade pappardelle and served with green peas in fresh tarragon and butter. We had my roasted tomato bruschetta with ricotta for a starter, a pear and bleu cheese salad, and peach cobbler for dessert. Needless to say, no supper for me last night, I was still stuffed!

The recipe for this bruschetta can be found here. It is so easy and always a big hit.

Matthew had lots of four legged company in the kitchen once the smell of roasting chicken wafted through the house

Rolling out and hand cutting the pappardelle

The chicken with the spices, wine, carrots, celery, and onion smelled so good. Once the chicken was done, the liquid was strained and reduced as the sauce. On a side note, can you believe this big pot pictured below was only $40?! Matthew took my mom to Ace Restaurant Supply and what a goldmine it turned out to be. There is one of these only about 15 from my house. Can you guess where I'll be next weekend?

Who knew what a difference a little frest tarragon and butter would make to peas? Loved them.

Homemade noodles are pretty hard to beat. These were perfect.

Get Me To The Church on Time

2011-06-20T12:02:00.000-05:00

~~27. Be more active in my church-this one is tough since we live pretty far but I'll be back on board to paint VBS murals this coming year now that a wedding is out of the way~~

#27 on the list is to be more active in church. I can't sing, I don't play an instrument, but I can paint and I can cook. Last year I took a break from VBS banners since it was right after my wedding, but this year I was back at it. I'm not sure how it happens, but it ALWAYS sneaks up on me. No matter how prepared I think I am, all of a sudden I'll see in the bulletin that VBS is the next week. This year was no exception. So, I spent almost every night last week painting until 11 at night and all morning Saturday. I was in such a rush to get it to the church on time that I used a blowdryer to finish drying some of thick spots. Just in the nick of time, it was done and headed to church. For real, next year I'm starting sooner so I can do more than one and add some 3D effects with the poster paper.

My breakfast table looked like this all last week. It sure was nice to get that area all cleaned up again. I'm still amazed that the pups didn't walk through the wet paint!

The finished banner...

Let Them Eat Cake

2011-06-17T15:12:00.000-05:00

I forgot to post pictures of the final butterfly cake. MUCH better than the trial run. I still think it would be fun to take a cake decorating class. I'd like to learn how to use and manipulate modeling chocolate. I love it when cupcakes are topped with cute little what nots.
First off, when you have been in three weddings and hosted a baby shower within a year, decorations are not hard to come by. I had kept the butterfly cutouts from Lily's baby shower (remember this post?)and we used them again to decorate the chinese lanterns (leftover from Tressa's wedding). They turned out great and are now hanging in Lily's playroom. Such a simple project that makes for a big impact.

I also kept my grass covered boxes from my wedding that were part of Clay's golf themed groom's table. Tressa used them as props for the cupcakes (also topped with more of the cutouts).

For the flowers, I use different colors of stock (which were a little puny because of the heat), sunflowers, and billy balls (a fav from my own wedding) The colors looked great

Butterfly cake #2 turned out much better than the first. Lots of piping, but it looks pretty cute. From the pictures, seems like Lily thought it tasted pretty great too!

Maybe I Should Call it Wine Thursday...

2011-06-16T11:23:00.000-05:00

I missed it again. Wednesday came and went with no wine post. However, we do have a new wine on tap at the Ellis household. This time we went for Black Box Cabernet Sauvnigon. This one was a bit more than the first but still a great deal at $24.99 for a box that holds four bottles. I started thinking about it as I poured my glass from the spout last night. My family went a vineyard in New Braunfels, TX a few years back and was told that when aerating your wine, all you have to do is pour it "violently" to get the same effect as using a fancy carafe. When the wine comes out of a box wine spout, it comes out pretty fast and violent. I think it helps aerate as you pour. Just chalk that up to another benefit of the box...

If you crave margaritas, but hate the calories and sugar they pack on, try this skinny margarita cocktail recipe from Prevention.com.
1/2 cup of seltzer water
1 oz tequila
1 oz triple sec
1/8 cup of fresh lime juice
1 tsp of agave nectar
This will save you about 160 calories compared to a margarita made with pre made mix. Not too shabby.

Under Construction

2011-06-10T16:37:00.000-05:00

This blog needs a makeover. The pink and black forks were cute, but I'm over it. So, I'm sure I'll change my mind...a lot. If you click on my page and everything seems out of whack, just try again later. I have a feeling this blog will get about ten wardrobe changes before I make a final decision.

I can't believe today is already Friday. This week has flown by! Lily's birthday party is tomorrow so tonight is filled with cake baking and flower arranging. I went to the flower market today and got my supplies. I also stopped my Michaels yesterday to grab some icing tint so that my 2nd attempt at the butterfly cake comes out much better than the first. I still don't plan on being OCD about it since Lily is just going to tear it apart. Lots of pictures to follow...

p.s. I FINALLY figured out how to get those pesky black outlines around my pictures to come off. I'm sure all of you bloggers are thinking DUH, but it was just one of those little things that I guess I kept skipping.

Wino Wednesday...A Day Late

2011-06-09T21:56:00.000-05:00

I meant to post this last night and got too busy before I crashed. Are you in a wine rut? Do you tend to buy the same wine all the time because you know what is good and you're petrified of getting something that you can't even choke down? Well, I'm here to help. I'm stepping out of the box (but not the wine box as previously posted here) and pledge to try a new wine each week. Clay and I always bought basically the same three wines. They're all good, but I know there is so much more to try. I try not to be swayed by pretty labels and quirky names and I don't pay attention to the "experts" ratings. I'm going off trial and error. I'll eventually use this as my little go to guide for wine in the future.
This week's try is Rare Find Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. It didn't look too like it was trying to hard to get my attention but did get a good rating from the in store wine lady. I do trust her. She works the wine the and cheese sections in our local H-E-B (our chain of grocery stores) and has given me stellar recommendations before. This one did not disappoint. Sometimes cabs tend to be too sweet and flat. This one almost tasted like a borderline merlot. It was a little heavier and had a woodier taste but didn't leave you feeling like you drank pureed bark. I loved it! And at the sensible price of about $10/bottle, this one is definite keeper.
Survey says: KEEP

My Dirty Little Secret

2011-06-05T16:40:00.000-05:00

We all have one. That closet in the house that somehow becomes the catch all dump zone. Somehow, my craft room closet became mine. Stuff got piled in there like crazy and it was actually pretty scary that I would get lost in an avalanche of fabric one of these days. So, today I faced it head on. I pulled out everything and spread it across my room. I have no idea how so much stuff can fit in a small walk in closet. Holy cow. I can't believe I'm even posting this picture.
Here is what came out:

All that from this little closet:

After everything is put back that I actually need (and a big garbage bag later)

And my bookshelf on the left wall inside. Now I can finally see what I have!

Smash Cake

2011-06-04T17:35:00.000-05:00

I didn't know there was a term, but apparently, baby cakes are now referred to as smash cakes. It makes sense, I'll they do is pretty much put their face in it. Lily Jane turns 1 this month and her party is next Saturday. Tressa came over so we could do some trial runs for the party. Her theme is butterflies and Tressa found a butterfly cake pan at the bake shop nearby. I saw an idea on Hostess with the Mostess to split the batter into four and color each bowl differently. I am not a fan of food coloring, but it only took a few drops. You then put a scoop of each color in the bowl until all the batter is used. If you swirl or layer, it doesn't matter, the colors won't bleed into each other. Then, you bake it like normal. When they tear into the cake, there a ton of colors that come out. Here is the pic from the Hostess with the Mostess blog:

Here is my batter, we stuck with pastels

Lily was pretty entertained with the pups keeping watch under her for the occasional crumb

Looks like Lily could have done this part. The colors were really bright once it baked.

So this isn't the prettiest cake, it is just going to be used as a smash cake in her 1 yr pictures. I think I need to do something a bit better for the party cake. I think if I pipe the whole thing, it won't look like a five year old made it!

I couldn't believe she had never had a popsicle before! Well, thank goodness this Fairy Godmother had some in the freezer. She wasn't too sure about it at first but loved it after a few tries.

#11 off the list

2011-06-03T19:53:00.000-05:00

~~11. Plant and (here's the kicker)~~ ~~maintain~~ ~~an herb garden. I waste so much money on buying fresh herbs!~~
Another one bites the dust. #11 is done! I don't have a huge yard, so we improvised with little window planters that Clay attached to the wrought iron railing on the back porch. I had to line it with some weed control fabric because the mossy stuff that they come with don't hold water at all. I actually planted this about two months ago and since it is still alive, I can say that it has not only been planted but maintained. I'll plant all day, I just have a hard time keeping it looking good. We are battling brutal heat here in Texas. We've been in the 100s for awhile now and summer has barely started. Between energy zapping heat and no rain, it is quite the project to keep all all plants alive at all. I hope we catch a break soon.

Here is my parsley, dill, basil, and sage (which is growing like crazy)

This one has my lavender, chives, tarragon, and fennel

And look what a found when I got home, my lavender bloomed! What a pretty color purple

With an Open Mind

2011-05-31T20:15:00.000-05:00

This post is dedicated to a certain aunt of mine that has been slow to come off the box...the wine box, that is. Lets call her Aunt X. It is no secret that my family (especially my mom's side) is a bunch of bonafide winos. You know, it is good for the heart. We've all done it. At some point or another, you can think back to a time when you looked in your fridge and saw a gallon of milk, leftovers from the night before, some fruit, and a box of wine front and center. However, there comes a point when you forego the box and graduate to the bottle. You may even start to care about what notes it has and the vintage. All sounds so fancy, right? Well, Aunt X couldn't let go of the box. She was always given a hard time, but she stood loyal. Now Aunt X can throw in our face because watch out, boxed wine is back. Apparently, the new trend is all about the box. Less waste, stays fresher, and more cost efficient. I was skeptical, but I figured it I would give it whirl and be the guinea pig for all my wine lovers. Plus, our family is huge and all my millions of cousins are becoming of age to drink so it seems that we are having to buy a lot more wine then we used to. Even though it doesn't seem as refined, the lack of cork and pour spout are pretty convenient. I think I may even use it at my next Bunco. It gets pricey to keep those ladies fueled with the golden grape. And so it goes, I decided to try Bota Box Cabernet Sauvignon. Its actually not that bad. It almost tastes like a wine that has been open for a day, no bite, just smooth. One box equals three 750mL bottles of wine and will stay fresh for up to a month (like wine lasts that long in this house) and is roughly $18/box. At the average price of $6/bottle for wine that doesn't taste like rot gut moonshine, I give this a definite thumbs ups. Winos everywhere (especially Aunt X) rejoice!!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

2011-05-27T11:16:00.000-05:00

All of us in the office have been so busy that we almost forgot we have a three day weekend coming up. We will busy busy this weekend. We are going to celebrate a friend's birthday tonight with dinner and a movie (Hangover 2) at Alamo Drafthouse. Then, tomorrow it is off to Fort Worth for my oldest goddaughter's confirmation and cousin's high school graduation. By Monday, I'm not sure if we have anything planned and that might be the best plan of all. I hope your weekend is full of grilling (especially for the ladies), sun, and fun.
Let's all remember what Memorial Day is all about, those who have died serving our country. They made the biggest sacrifice of all. Lots of prayers to all the families missing their loved ones.

Next week is going to be full of posts. June is already filling up quickly with parties, events, etc. My littlest goddaughter, Lily, is already turning one! My BF is coming over next week so we can start crafting for it. Then, it's time to crank out some vacation bible school murals for church. It always sneaks up on me! Hopefully, I can start crossing things off that LIST last seems to be looming over my head.

The Long and Short of it

2011-05-25T12:14:00.000-05:00

Have you ever cheated on your man? And as in man, I mean your hairdresser. Why do we feel dirty if we go somewhere besides your regular stylist? Well, here is the story. About two weeks ago, I decided to finally cut off my hair. The appointment before that, he cut off 4", but this time I was ready for the whole sha-bang. I had a picture in hand and took a deep breath as I saw chunks of hair fall to the ground. You have to realize that I haven't had short hair in 11 years. Its kind of my thing to have it really long. But, it is already hot, and it will only get hotter and I needed a change. Clay always tells me to cut it, especially when he can see me glistening (a.k.a profusely sweating) under all that hair. Well, I hated the cut. I thought it would grow on me, but it didn't. I called back and asked if he could squeeze me in to take some more off the bottom and shape it. So I went in again only to get another inch whacked off the bottom. I left with it wet and went home to fix it. I came out of the bathroom in tears. I looked 10 yrs older...at least. After two tries, I asked a friend of mine the name of her stylist since her hair is always super cute. I couldn't wear mine in a nub day after day. So, I went yesterday for the fix. Even the new stylist had that look on her face like oh my, you're hair is a hot mess. She worked her magic and three cuts and almost 10" later I went from this:

To this: I have to admit, even though it still takes just as long to fix since now I have to round brush it, it is a lot cooler on my head!

Summer Grilling with Martha

2011-05-24T11:17:00.000-05:00

I was listening to Martha Radio in the car the other day (p.s., Clay loves it when I borrow his car and gets in it only to hear Martha). They had a group of pitmasters on answering questions about grilling. One of the guests guessed that in about 90% of homes, the men do the grilling, the women do the inside work. He suggested that for one meal, switch places. There are a lot of women that are scared of grilling and a lot of men that don't know the first place to find a measuring cup in the kitchen. To make it even easier for us ladies, Martha and some of her chef friends put together a free grilling cookbook that you can download from this link:
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2011Q2/radio-grilling-cookbook.pdf
It is a 52 page pdf file full of appetizers, main courses, sides, and even desserts that are almost all done on the grill. There are a ton of recipes in here that I can't wait to try. Now as far as getting Clay to do the inside cooking...stay tuned.
Ladies, get grilling...just don't burn off any eyebrows :)

Practice What I Preach

2011-05-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

I've written before about my last ten pounds that I can't seem to shed. I go up, I go down, I go up, I go down. The scale is not my friend. In fact, there are days that I want to through it out with the trash. The worst is when my husband gets on it and says, hmm...weird, I've lost five pounds. Ahhh, why is it so easy for them?! Anyone who is working out and not losing weight has the same complaint and I've always told them not to look at the scale, but at the way your clothes fit. Umm, guess I should listen to myself. So, I made a spreadsheet with a row for each week for the next 16 weeks. The columns are for measurable body parts (waist, calves, thighs, hips, biceps, neck, shoulders, and chest). Each week, I will measure each part and mark it on my spreadsheet. I do have a column on the end for weight because hopefully it will eventually get lower. But again, just like I tell everyone else but don't listen to myself, the more muscle you gain, the heavier you will be. Muscle is much heavier than fat. However, at some point, the weight number will come down. So, yesterday was my second time to take measurements. Not sure why, but I started off with weighing myself. I was 3 lbs heavier!! Seriously? Did I eat a side of cow the night before that I don't remember? After the initial shock, I continued with the measurements. Funny thing, they were all going down. Go figure. Overall, down 12 inches in week 1 (a half inch there, an inch there, it adds up). So ladies (and gents, if any read this), here is the bottom line:
Use this:

Not this:

I'm back...for real

2011-05-22T20:25:00.000-05:00

Belize was UNBELIZEABLE! If you want a tropical vacation where the people are so nice, it isn't over touristed, the diving is out of this world, the food is delish, and the first language is English...then Belize is your place to go. I loved it. The barrier reef is the 2nd largest in the world and that alone made the trip. The reef isn't that deep in most places so our half day snorkeling trip was way more than I expected it to be. I think the deepest water where we were was about 25 feet and most of the coral and "action" was actually much shallower than that. We saw (and touched) nurse sharks, stingrays, angelfish, eels, and tons of bright tropical fish. We then went into the mainland and through the jungle to see Mayan ruins. What an amazing sight. To think that they are a thousand years old is pretty crazy to comprehend. And talk about a leg workout! Clay and I bounced up those narrow stairs all the way to the top and then turned around and thought...whoa. It was really steep and really high, but talk about a great view. I can see why everyone that I talked to fell in love with it. We also celebrated our first anniversary while we there with a rooftop dinner at the resort restaurant. It was perfect. I can't believe a year has gone by so fast. It feels like we just got married. I had to laugh that Clay was actually the one to bring up eating wedding cake when we got home. We actually had a couple of blackberry cobbler cake balls from his groom's table in the freezer. I thawed them out in the fridge and we both had one just to say we did it. I have to admit, they weren't too shabby for being in the freezer for a year! Those suckers have some staying power.
So, in honor of Belize (and for my new love of their food), we are having a traditional Belizean dinner tonight. A simple dish of rice and black beans, plantains, and stewed chicken. I made some short grain brown rice and once it was done, mixed in some rinsed black beans and warmed them through. For the chicken, I just had to guess how it was made. I took a whole cut up chicken with the skin on and put it in my big pot with a little olive oil. I HEAVILY seasoned it with some fry seasoning (a blend from the local Cajun market because I knew it had a lot of the spices I would be using anyway), a red Cajun blend from the grocery store bulk section, and black pepper. I'm guessing the spices blends consisted of a little oregano, chili powder, garlic, a little salt, paprika, and red pepper. I browned the seasoned chicken and then put the heat on low and added a half of a chopped sweet onion. I let it slow cook for about an hour. It was falling off the bone by the time it was done and nice and stewey just like I wanted. Once all the main stuff was done, I sliced up a plantain and cooked them in a skillet with a little olive oil until they caramelized on the outside. I think I'm in love with plantains...seriously. I have one more I need to cook and I'll either make it with the leftovers or maybe cook them and put them on top of some oatmeal with a little agave nectar for breakfast. This is a pretty simple meal and sooo good. Definitely a keeper as Clay would put it. He did say the rice was a little bland which is an easy fix. I'll just use chicken stock to boil it the next time.

And, just in case you've missed them, the duo of Ruby and Bruiser.

So, I'm back. Really. It may not be everyday, but definitely on a regular basis. I've missed it and missed being amongst so many great bloggers with their inspirational ideas.

So much for being back

2011-04-15T12:13:00.000-05:00

I was all ready last month to go full force and start blogging. Life sure has a sneaky way of sucking every minute out of my day! With that said, I'm on hiatus. Not forever, just for now. Clay and I leave next week on our super belated honeymoon and will get to spend our first anniversary in Belize. I can't wait. We both need a break and time to clear our heads. So starting in May, I'll be back...or not. That will be a serious decision I'm going to make. I don't want to half a*s this blog. Either full on again or nothing. Until then, I'm on the countdown until my toes are in the sand and I'm enjoying a view like this:

Spring has Sprung

2011-03-25T22:03:00.000-05:00

Another project I did while Clay was gone was to plant all new plants in the front and on the back porch. Last year, we had bees come and make our fountain their hang out spot. After they were here for just a week or two, all of our flowering plants went crazy thanks to all their pollinating. So, I wanted to get lots of blooms to attract them back. It worked. A few days after the new plants were in, our little buzzing friends were back and hard at work making our flowers explode with color. Ahhh, I love spring. These yellow plants called Sweet Broom showed up in all the nurseries just bursting with blooms. I like the natural look as opposed to overally landscaped and generic. The deep purple salvia all also a new favorite and a nice complement to the yellow.

Checking off number #8

2011-03-25T21:50:00.000-05:00

From my 30 in the year of 30, off comes #8
~~8. Not only select a paint color for the dining room, but actually paint it too.~~

We have lots of builder's beige in this house. However, it is a very open floor plan, so all the colors and spaces have to blend. My mom came over to help me paint while Clay was out of town. She was a master at taping off these stupid rounded corners! I have an idea for a dining table centerpiece. Once I figure out how to fashion it, I'll upload pics of the finished room.

Dining room before:

Dining room after. It is actually a little more blue in real life and really looks nice against the white shutters, base, and molding:

Slacker

2011-03-25T21:26:00.000-05:00

Yes, that's what I feel like when it comes to blogging which is obvious since it has been a MONTH since my last post. Geez, you'd think I would have fallen off the face of the earth or something. 2011 has been a really busy year so far. I've actually contemplated stopping this blog. I just feel like I haven't been making the time for posts that I need to be to keep it current. It may not be as often as I like, but for now, the blog will continue.

Win an American Eagle Gift Certificate

2011-02-25T08:34:00.000-06:00

I love all these contests from Polyvore (obviously, since I put them on here all the time!). They are so easy to enter and let you play around with all the new styles for the season. Just use the items in the editor below to make a set featuring at least two items from American Eagle's new styles and enter to win a $250 gift certificate. All you have to do is hit "enter contest" to go to the editor, once you finish the set, just click the small "enter contest" button. Good Luck! Just a hint, the more you put in your set, the better it looks. You can add text and backgrounds as well in Polyvore. I love the style of American Eagle, it just keeps reminding me that the lazy days of summer will be here in no time.

Get your own Mini Editor from Polyvore

Dear Upholstery People...

2011-02-23T20:57:00.000-06:00

It is NOT necessary to staple fabric every millimeter when securing material to wood! Holy Moly. I finally started on the rocker that was given to me to redo by my friend, Paige. I love this rocker. The design of the frame is so cute. However, it has chicken fabric on it. I don't think there would ever be a time that I thought, hmmm...this chair is cute, but it could really use some chicken fabric. Seriously? Who does that? Plus, I think this was a recover job. So if you are going to put fabric like that on something, please don't staple the heck out of it because someone...at some point...WILL recover it. After several hours, millions of staples, blisters, and some blood, I finally got the material off. Now I have to decide how to redo it. I'm torn. Do I paint the frame white or stain the wood dark? Do I do a patterned material or leave it somewhat neutral and use fun pillows to keep it versatile? Decisions, decisions. At least I got the hard part done.

Seriously, I should name him Shadow. Every time I turn around, there he is. He's actually snoring in my lap as I type this.

I was working on some silhouette art using Ruby's picture. I guess she figured she needed to model for me. Ridiculous. I'll post these once I get them done. I think they are going to turn out really cute, and soo easy!

Moving on up

2011-02-23T20:40:00.000-06:00

I have been made fun of for years for still using a Caboodle. That's right, I still have a cobalt blue, fully glittered Caboodle. I LOVE IT. However, I finally felt the need to grow up and move on. I told my mom it was time to retire her and she gifted me with a new shiny, silver, adult train case to house all my makeup for my birthday. It is kind of a big deal to rid my bathroom of the big blue box, but don't worry, she is getting a new home in my craft room to organize all my notions, bottles of glass glitter, rhinestones, etc. I wouldn't dare throw it out! I'm pretty sure I've had it since I was in middle school or early high school. Needless to say, I've gotten my money's worth. On a positive note, (at least in Clay's eyes I'm sure), it is too big for me to take in my car and forces me to get my makeup done at home instead of doing it while I drive to work. Yeah, that's me, the girl next to you at the stop light doing my eyeliner in the rearview mirror. I will admit, I used to do my eyeliner while I was driving. Now I'll at least wait for a red light.

And of course, you can usually find one of the furbabies hanging out with me in the bathroom while I get ready...

Sparkle and Shine

2011-02-23T20:20:00.000-06:00

Back when I did my craft room update, I bought a bookshelf off Craigslist that I loved. However, it had a door on the front of it that was a little too crafty looking. So, I just took it off and left it as an open shelf. However, I kept that door just in case I could figure out what to do with it.
I started with this:

With a little paint, some lettering from Michaels, and some nails...know I can see all my jewelry! I still have to dig out more that has ended up in purses, drawers, and boxes and add it to the wall of bling so I can see everything at once.

Spring into Color

2011-02-16T09:15:00.001-06:00

spring into color by raheckmann featuring wrap around dresses

Spring is almost here!! I can't wait. It is my favorite time of year. I was literally drooling over my last InStyle magazine that featured all the bright hot colors that are big this year. I love bold color in small bits or mix and match for a big pop. That dark bright blue is amazing and I don't think there is ever a time that I don't like hot pink. Its beginning to feel more and more like winter is leaving which means sundresses and flowers in the flower beds are right around the corner

Valentines at Home

2011-02-15T06:38:00.000-06:00

Poor Clay, my birthday is two days before Valentines so he gets a double whammy. However, we decided a long time ago that we really didn't want to fight the crowds at a restaurant and to just have a nice dinner at home. And you know what the best Valentines present was? He went to the grocery store for me. I didn't have time yesterday and I would've had to try and race through after work so I emailed him a list and he braved the aisles for me. Our dinner turned out great. We had steamed mussels in a tomato/garlic broth, filet mignon, red potatoes, green beans, and what was supposed to be my attempt at crossing off baking a successful souffle off my list. Big fail on that one...

Ohh, I love mussels. They are so easy to make and always look fancy.

I always love when Clay cooks. He made a great mushroom sauce for the steaks

We normally call it Rachel's Cafe when I cook at home but since Clay cooked with me, last night it was the Ellis Eatery :)

Have I mentioned that I'm horrible at baking?! My souffle turned out more like a flourless cake. It wasn't too bad when I topped it with sweetened strawberries but I definitely can't cross it off the list yet.

I Survived!

2011-02-14T15:51:00.000-06:00

This weekend was amazing. The weather was great. The sun came out and cold disappeared. Clay and ran errands on Saturday and then headed out for a small dinner and night out on the town with friends for my birthday. I keep telling everyone that I haven't had that much fun in forever. We definitely have gotten older. The first bar was got too loud and crowded so we quickly made a move across the street. The dj played some oldies but goodies (to us at least) and tons of booty shaking jams. We were bummed on Saturday when Clay called the golf course and the earliest time we could get for Sunday was 12:12p. That ended up being a blessing. We weren't too spry on Sunday and noon even came quicker than we would have liked. I was really second guessing my great idea to play golf. However, the weather made up for the tiredness and we had a great afternoon together. I tuckered out by the 16th hold and became the official cart driver. I'm really glad we went and enjoyed these few days a year that it isn't cold or blistering hot. Plus, I love playing golf with Clay. However, my game was not at its best which caused a little more aggravation than desired. That just means I need to play more! So here's to 30, bring it on!

A Sight to Behold

2011-02-11T14:51:00.000-06:00

I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear when I saw this on the news:

Starting on Sunday, seventies and sun. I hear a golf course calling my name! If you haven't realized it yet, Texans are babies when it comes to cold weather. We can't take it! I hope all of you are starting to thaw out. Hope you have a great weekend! Oh, and I'll post my potsticker making experience tonight. All I have to say is that it is totally worth it to make them at home. I couldn't stop eating them!

Winter Relief

2011-02-11T11:23:00.000-06:00

I guess I should have posted this sooner than now since hopefully, winter is almost over. I just wanted to do a quick product review of some things that have saved my skin and hair through this harsh winter.
#4 Burts Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

This stuff is awesome. It has a nice light lemon scent and is not too greasy. My cuticles tend to get really dried out and sometimes crack or get hangnails. It also helps keep my nails from splitting.

#3 Johnson and Johnson 24 Hour Moisture Lotion

As far as lotion goes in the winter, it's pretty much indispensable. However, I hate being greasy and oily all day. I found a trial size of this lotion and gave it a try. This is the best daily lotion I've ever used. It soaks in quickly and leaves your skin feeling like silk. The scent is very faint and smells great. All those scented lotions from Bath and Body Works, etc usually don't actually moisturize enough and I'm not that big a fan on overally scented lotions. But that's just me, I hardly ever wear perfume either.

#2 Pantene Replenishing Mask

Every now and then I'll break down and buy salon shampoo. The longer my hair gets, the better products I've had to use to keep it healthy. Before using salon grade products (on sale of course), I was always a Pantene girl. I love the way it smells and the conditioner makes it possible to get a comb through my wet hair without pulling out a huge hair ball. The strengthening shampoo and conditioner from Paul Mitchell that I've been using has worked. I've noticed that I don't lose as much hair as before but the conditioner isn't always conditioning enough. That's where this little pot of magic comes in. I bought it after the Tough Mudder race because my hair was wrecked from all the mud that had been caked in it. Even after I had washed it a few times and let the conditioner set in, my hair was still frizzy and the ends were terrible. I bought this and thought I'd give it a whirl. After one use, my hair was back to shiny and smooth. A little goes a long way and it works best to concentrate it on your ends. Since my hair is usually a bit drier in the winter, this has helped keep it in much better condition. I great buy.

#1 Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil- MY ULTIMATE FAVORITE

I blogged about this sometime last year, but I have to reinterate how amazing it is. I was using it before pretty sporadically, but over the winter season, I've used it daily and now can't live without it. I've found that the easiest way to use it is to use a body scrub of some sort in the shower to slough off any dead skin and apply the oil. Rub it in, and then after a few minutes, lightly towel off to get any that didn't soak in. I've been using it at night before I go to bed and sometimes again in the morning. My eyes have been really dry and itchy because of all the wonderful central Texas allergens so I've even put the oil around my eyes to keep them from getting red and dry. I'm prone to breakouts and I haven't had any even putting it on my face. If you have any healing wounds or scars this also helps you heal quicker and scars will diminish. Truly a wonder product.

Breaking out from under the ice

2011-02-10T12:08:00.000-06:00

This past week the weather has been crazy. I mean downright CRAZY. When the weather gets crazy, we get really busy at work (which explains the lack of posting). I have a ton of stuff to post, just hadn't had the time to do it. Working for a water and fire restoration company means that with a freeze comes busting water pipes. I think a lot of Austinites learned their lesson when it happened last year because this time around wasn't as bad. It usually just doesn't get that cold here. Last Wednesday through Friday, we had temperatures in the teens and twenties and then by the weekend, it was sunny and in the 70s! I took full advantage of it and went for a long run on Saturday and then took my stir crazy Boston Terrier for a walk (which turned into a run by his doing) on Sunday. Then, another arctic blast comes in on Monday night making the temperature plummet back into the twenties. By Saturday, it's going to be sunny and back in the 70s again. No wonder everyone is getting sick! With my schedule being so crazy, I really needed some quick dinners for this week. Since I'm still squeezing in workouts at night, I started doing most of the prep work before work in the mornings so that it's halfway done when I get home. The little Everyday Food cookbooks from Martha Stewart are usually full of easy and quick recipes that pack a bunch with flavor. I don't have the recipe in front of me, but I think I remember it...

Turkey Pineapple Wraps
1-turkey breast (I got the Jenni-O pack of two)
1-pineapple (I got the kind that is already peeled and cored)
1-small red onion
3/4 lb. of tomatillos (husks removed)
1 fresh jalapeno
wheat tortillas
2 small avocados
1 bunch of cilantro, stems removed (I don't mind using cilantro stems)
1 cup of low fat buttermilk
cajun spice mix (I used the magical mix I found at our local Stuffed Cajun Market)

This is the way I made it which is different from the original one:
The following steps I did in the morning...
Preheat oven to 375. Rub the turkey breasts with a little olive oil and season with cajun spice. Bake for about 20 minutes or until its done. Take out and let cool to room temp. Wrap in foil and place in the fridge.
Place the whole tomatillos and jalapeno (I did cut this open and scraped out some of the seeds, you never know if you're going to get a super hot one. Also, make sure to cut the stem off) in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes and then reduce the heat to medium and cook about another five or until the vegetables are tender. Once cooked, remove from the heat and strain out from the water. The original recipe calls for the red onion to be added raw, but that tends to give you onion breath all day. Instead, I roughly chopped it and cooked it until it was lightly carmelized in the skillet. Dump the cooked tomatillos and jalapeno, the half of one avocado, buttermilk, cilantro, and cooked onions into a blender or processer and blend until smooth. It says to add salt in Martha's recipe but I don't think you need it. If you need some acidity, add a squirt of fresh lime juice instead. This makes a lot of sauce but it would be great on chicken, eggs, sandwiches, etc so keep the extra to add a little punch to other meals during the week. Put the sauce in a tupperware and once cooled, place it in the fridge.
To assemble that night:
Remove the turkey from the foil and slice into thin medallions. Toss in a hot skillet to warm it up. It won't take long at all. Slice the other 1 1/2 avocados into thin strips. Remove the turkey from the skillet and put in a bowl and cover with a towel or foil to keep warm. Slice the pineapple into thin strips longways. Put them in the hot skillet and cook until lightly browned and carmelized. Warm your tortillas in the microwave. Place a handful of turkey, some avocado, two strips of pineapple, some freshly chopped cilantro if you like, and a smothering of tomatillo sauce. Add a side of baked sweet potato fries and you're good to go.

Stay tuned: I'm making homemade shrimp potstickers tonight. This should be interesting...

Domestic Diva Fabric Deal

2011-02-02T10:49:00.000-06:00

I have loved this collection by Emily Taylor forever! Fat Quarter Shop has a deal right now for 50% off any fabric from this entire collection (the link takes you to everything included in the sale)! I've ordered from them before and they are super fast on shipping. They actually ship right outside of Austin, so if you're in my area, you usually get your package in a day or two. Make sure to enter coupon code "diva" at checkout to get your 50% deal. If you are a quilter or craft/decorate with designer and novelty fabrics, make sure to friend Fat Quarter Shop out on Facebook. That's where they post all these great coupon codes. This deal is on until February 4th.

I ordered this fat quarter bundle:

And a yard of this to make myself a quilt one of these days. Maybe it will be one of the three I'm bound to finish this year! I love these colors together.

Here are some more examples are super cute yardage in the collection. The first one is my favorite.

Get Me To The Greek!

2011-02-01T21:56:00.000-06:00

About a year ago, I finally started cooking lamb more often. I was in the protein rut of chicken, fish, and beef. I've expanded since then and lamb is one of my favorite loves. It has the texture of beef with a little bit more exotic and gamey taste without tasting like you just cooked something that got run over on the road. Clay and I are huge fans of Greek food and this recipe was just up our alley. It was pretty simple and made for a great dinner.

Lemon and Oregano Lamb Chops- from EatingWell.com
Ingredients:
Freshly grated zest of 2 lemons

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
Freshly ground pepper to taste
8 lamb loin chops (1 1/2-1 3/4 pounds total), trimmed
1/4 cup tahini (see Tip)
1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt, preferably Greek-style
1/4 cup diced seeded cucumber, peeled if desired
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1-3 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Combine lemon zest, oregano, 3/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the mixture onto both sides of lamb chops and set aside for at least 10 minutes or refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
My note- I think this marinade would work a bit better if you pulsed it in the blender or processor with a little olive oil and put it in a ziploc with the chops overnight.
Meanwhile, combine tahini, yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, parsley and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Whisk in enough water to thin the sauce to desired consistency.
My note- The sauce was good, but this needs to be pulsed a bit too and made a day ahead so that the flavors can meld. If you make it right before you serve it, the flavors aren't as pronounced as they should be.
Heat oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lamb chops and cook until browned on one side, about 2 minutes. Turn them over and transfer the pan to the oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into a chop registers 135°F for medium-rare, 8 to 14 minutes, depending on thickness. Serve the chops with the tahini sauce.
My note- YUM-OLA!
I served it with a Greek salad with feta, peppers, and a great Greek dressing I found. Hummus and pita bread on the side would be great too.

Rinse, Lather, Repeat...and Repeat...and Repeat

2011-01-30T10:39:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was the big day. The Tough Mudder. Six months of training, miles of running, jumping into Lake Travis in January, all for this. It was worth every bit of it. I had such a great time! Don't get me wrong, it was hard...and really muddy, but that was all cancelled out by the great weather and excitement among the racers. The idea behind this race is that it isn't about your time, it's about finishing it and helping others do the same along the way. There were lots of obstacles that would be impossible for someone to do on their own, but with the boost of perfect strangers and teammates, were easily accomplished. For being in January, we really lucked on the weather. It could have been much, much colder than it was yesterday. That didn't stop them from figuring out a way for us to still get the idea of being in winter water. One of the first water obstacles was a watery mud pit that came up almost to my waist that they kept dumping bags of ice in. That will wake you up! The next big obstacle was the sloped 15 ft platform that you climb and then jump off of into a 15 ft deep pond. The water was so cold that it actually took my breath away. I've never had that feeling before and it was a little scary. Every obstacle that had water up to my chest would do that all over again. The mud, oh the mud. Some was watery and thin, other pits were like sticky Play-doh, and some must have been quicksand. I'm shocked I didn't lose a shoe. There quite a few obstacles that I was really proud for doing myself. It helps justify all the training! All in all, this was the best race I've ever done. I think after three showers now, I've gotten all the mud out of my hair.

Here we are at the start line, rearing to go!

The course was built on a motor cross track. Running up and down hills sure made the legs burn!

Remember when monkey bars were easy? Apparently they are much harder as an adult. Plus, my gloves were so caked with mud that I barely made it to the second bar before hitting the cold mud pit below. Now I know what I need to work on for next year.

Nice little run through the pastures. Watch out for cow patties!

This is towards the end, we can see the finish line. Of course, not until we go through another water obstacle.

Up the cargo net and over the tower

I'm still not sure how I didn't shocked by a single live wire. Beginner's luck I guess! That poor woman to the side of me got shocked over and over again.

We made it! We are officially "Tough Mudders."

More pictures from the race can be found on Tough Mudder's Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=321523&id=121520047789

What a Beautiful Day in Austin

2011-01-28T16:35:00.000-06:00

We had the most perfect weather ever today in Austin. The sun was out, blue skies, and a temp that fluttered around 80 degrees. It was so hard to make myself go back to work after lunch. I just wanted to go lay in the grass somewhere. I can't wait for it to be like this every day! Of course, the rain comes tomorrow and a hard cold front hits next week. Winter just keeps reminding us that it's still here.

Big weekend for me. Tough Mudder is tomorrow! I'll post pictures tomorrow night. I can't wait!

Happy Weekend to you all!

Desserts to Die For...And a Learning Experience

2011-01-28T06:20:00.000-06:00

We all know I don't bake. It's not that I'm horrible at it, but I have a lot of room for improvement. I think it is because I don't do it that often and practice does make perfect when it comes to a lot of these recipes. I decided to do a dessert trio when I had my friends over last Sunday for a dinner party. There were lots of lessons learned while trying to pull this off. At least it looked pretty...

First up was the Brandied Pear Walnut Tart. This is the one that my brother made at Thanksgiving, I just made mini versions. The recipe can be found here on Chow.com. Lessons learned on this one:

1. The crust was wayyyy too thick. I haven't made a tart yet and kept thinking it needed to be thick so that it wouldn't fall apart. I also pre-baked it a little too long. Overall taste was amazing but took a really strong hand and sharp knife to cut through.
2. If you don't have pear brandy and you're in a bind, just use bourbon. I did and it still tasted great.
3. Make this one the morning of your party! The dough and filling can be made 2 days before and the tart 8 hrs before. It is pretty time consuming so the earlier the better.

Next up, Lemon Creme Brulee. Recipe can be found here on Epicurious.com. This one was actually a lot easier than I thought but takes a lot of time to chill, bake, and then chill again. This is where I screwed up. It was getting pretty late after sugaring the top, I served them right away. The inside was room temp and no one like room temp egg custard...at least not me. The lemon flavor wasn't as strong as I'd like so I think if you made these the morning of or even the day before, maybe the flavor would intensify a bit more. Clay helped me with the topping. I tried to do it way too thick. He mastered the caramelizing and they looked really beautiful.

Last but not least, Chocolate Whiskey Cake. Recipe is also from Epicurious.com here. No lessons had to learned on this one. This is a great, moist cake recipe with tons of flavor. As recommended in one of the reviews, I used the glaze from this recipe. Beware, it makes a lot! You could probably get away with cutting it down to about a fourth of this recipe. I just brushed it over the warm cake a few times and it really made the bourbon flavor come out. This is a keeper of a recipe for sure.

New York Fashion Week Contest from Polyvore

2011-01-28T06:02:00.000-06:00

I know I've posted a lot of these lately, but they are so easy to enter that I wouldn't want you to miss out on it. Simply create a set using the mini editor below and enter to win a chance to go to a New York Fashion Week with the fashion editor from Bergdorf Goodman, Linda Fargo. You'll also win a $2500 gift card to Bergdorf, and hair and makeup restyle, and a personal shopping experience. You'll also receive $1000 towards traveling expenses. Make sure you put your set together by 11:59pm on January 31st! Good Luck!

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Mantelscape

2011-01-27T06:45:00.000-06:00

Once I took down all my Christmas decorations, my mantel looked like this:

So sad...

I really wanted to pull the turquoise out of the curtains so I found these great colored candles and hydrangeas that didn't look too fake. The moss covered E is actually from my wedding and the iron piece was a Christmas gift from my mom. The bird in the glass case isn't permanent. He looks trapped. I'm going to make a terrarium inside with much smaller birds and put him somewhere else. Geez, our walls are so light! I still think we need to paint them...all of them.

Always guaranteed to find one of the dogs roasting themselves in front of the fire.

All they want to do is snug when its cold outside. Bruiser has been especially lovey these days.

I finally got the setting right on this camera so I can take a pup picture and not have them get alien eyes!

I've Hit the Motherload

2011-01-26T16:02:00.000-06:00

I blogged about Lulus.com back in August. I haven't checked them out in awhile. I'm on the hunt for a dress to wear on my b-day night. I already have these awesome shoes (that look like stripper shoes according to Clay) and need a very simple dress to go with them.

I should check out Lulus more often! I don't know why I always forget about this site. All of these dresses are $40 or less.

I think this one is a little too casual for these shoes, but it is a super cute dress. It would be great with nude patent leather pumps for Easter.

I LOVE this one, but it may be a little over the top...

I really like this one shoulder style. At least one of my arms would be warm! I'm thinking maybe the navy since I don't have any navy dresses and technically (even though I'm fighting it), it will still be winter next month. Your thoughts? Leave a comment!

Great Find on Zulily Today

2011-01-26T09:11:00.000-06:00

All of you know by now that I love a good deal and that I don't pay retail for anything. One of my favorite sites is Zulily.com. I think I've mentioned it before. I signed up because they have great deals on baby, toddler, and children's clothing; toys; and clothing for women. I've gotten a couple of blankets off of here for my bf's daughter and my nephew but it wasn't until today that I found what I've been looking for everywhere! Since our trip to Belize is a mere three months away, I've started looking for steals on bathing suits, cover ups, and brightly colored clothing. Between the sale at Victorias Secret right now and today's sale on Zulily, I'm off to a good start. I really wanted a sheer, but bright tunic to wear over my bathing suit. Everywhere I've looked, they are so expensive! Even on Ebay, they are either ginormous or over $100. So you can imagine how happy I was when I came across these on Zulily from Raj Imports...

What's even better? They're only $26.99!! I bought the one in bright green and pink. If you are interested in joining Zulily, here is the link to my personal invitation:

These scarves are on here too. I love scarves like these. So easy to dress up a tank and jeans with a little something like this. They're priced at $15.99. Not too shabby. I love the green/navy combo.

P.s. if you are looking for steals on bathing suits, head over to Victorias Secret! They have a ton on clearance. I scored this one for $8!!! I'll have to make sure to mystic tan a lot before we go so that it doesn't match my skin!

This Month's Book Read

2011-01-26T08:26:00.000-06:00

On my 30 for the year of 30 list, #9 is to read at least one novel a month. I'm really glad I added this one. I've actually started making time to read, whether it's before work or late at night, and have really enjoyed that quiet time. I always forget how books really spark your imagination. You invision the characters, the scene, the action in your own personal way and depending on how good the story is, really feel like you can relate in some way to what is going on. I have to admit, I love girly, love stories and was thrilled when I was passed the collection of books from my aunt by Norah Roberts. This is a four book series about a wedding planning company started by four best friends. Of these four, there is a baker, the main planner, the florist, and the photographer. Since planning my own wedding last year, it was really fun to read all about the process, the crazy brides, and of course, the hidden love story that is always in Norah's books. The first book of four is "Vision in White."

From Publishers Weekly:

The frighteningly prolific Roberts kicks off a frothy series about four friends who form an all-inclusive wedding service called Vows. Mackensie Mac Elliot loves capturing happy and playful moments with her camera, but her own life is all about work—until she meets English teacher Carter Maguire. He's escorting his bride-to-be sister to a meeting with the Vows team and recognizes Mac as the girl he crushed out on in high school. Funny sparks fly: he's a geeky guy who quotes Shakespeare, she's a trendy workaholic who loves shoes. He's crazy about her, which makes him verbally clumsy and, to Mac, charming, though she's saddled with a needy mother, an absent father and difficulties with both that make falling in love complicated. Roberts pulls off a nice switch in making the woman afraid of saying I do, and her gentle humor and likable cast will immediately endear this series to readers. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Overall, an easy, light-hearted read. Next up in the series is "Bed of Roses." In addition to this book, I will also be reading "Photoshop C5 for Dummies." Nice combo, huh? That book is huge and is going to take me awhile to get through. However, it is really frustrating to have this great software and no clue how to use it. Clay recently got the Canon Rebel SLR (which I also have to figure out), so that paired with Photoshop...the possibilites are endless.

Dinner with Friends

2011-01-26T06:37:00.000-06:00

I think the cold weather and my horrendous allergies have made me want to curl up and hibernate for the rest of the winter. I'm a true Texas girl, and we don't like the cold. I'm counting down the days until daylight savings time so that it will stay light outside past 6! I feel like I can't get anything done before the sun goes down and then my Benadryl takes over. To get myself back up and going, I invited my friends Tressa and Paige to come with their significant others and baby to dinner this past Sunday. I definitely bit off more than I could chew. Not that I can't cook for that many people, I only gave myself the afternoon to do it and had three desserts...no smart. Everything was okay, but I had so many different things to focus on that they were just okay, no fabulous. However, it was a great time.
The table was set...

And as it usually happens, the girls sit and chat...

And the guys watch football...

And Baby Lily was a perfect angel the whole time...

Get those creative juices flowing

2011-01-19T12:29:00.000-06:00

Polyvore is giving you another chance to use your artistic eye and make a great set to win the Rebecca Minkoff "Dee" clutch! Just make a set and click the "enter contest" button. Easy Schmeezie.

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Dazzling in Diamonds

2011-01-18T09:44:00.000-06:00

What girl doesn't love to play with diamonds? Check out the new Mini Editor from Polyvore sponsored by Tacori below. All you have to do is drag items from the bottom of the editor and put together a collection. There are tons of beautiful pieces from Tacori as well as amazing shoes and evening gowns to use to make a show stopping set. The winner of the best set will be chosen by Polyvore to win a piece from Tacori's 18k925 collection. You can view the 18k925 collection on their website here. Make sure to scroll through the whole editor so you don't miss out on great items to add. Once you are done with the set, hit "enter contest" to submit. I think the more you add to your set, the better overall aesthetic. Good Luck!
p.s. examples of other entries can be found on Polyvore's website here...just to see what you're up against!

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First to go on the list!

2011-01-13T15:24:00.000-06:00

I get to make my first check mark on the 30 in the year of 30 list! Since putting my list together on this post just a meer 2 weeks ago, I can cross # 1 off. Done, Finito, Completo...you get the point.

"1. Finish changing my last name on all my accounts. Who knew it was such a pain to change your name after you get married!? I told Clay that is a good reason (among many others) to never get divorced. I'm about 85% done, but those stragglers need to get done before they get forgotten about."

In those two weeks I have changed my name on three credit cards (even the ones I don't use), on my student loan, my car loan, and got a new passport. I think that is it. I'm so glad that is over.

These articles just fuel my OCD

2011-01-13T10:26:00.000-06:00

(via)

I'm a huge germaphobe. I get made fun of quite often because of it, but weird...I'm never sick. Funny how that works. Today on GoodHousekeeping's website, they have a list of the 10 germiest places in your home.
1. Vacuum Cleaner Brushes & Attachments- You clean out the dust container or replace the bag routinely but when was the last time you cleaned the vacuum upholstery tool or brush roll? Check your manual for the how-to. Using scissors, cut off any carpet fibers or hair entangled around the brush. -Umm, why didn't I think of that? I use the pet hair attachment like crazy to get Bruiser and Ruby hairs out of every little nook and cranny and the long one to get dust bunnies out from under the fridge and between the washer and dryer. Mental note to soak them all tonight in a diluted bleach solution... As far as the brush roll, I have to clean that out all the time anyway. Seriously, how am I not bald? I pull enough hair off that thing to make something a really nice wig. It's ridiculous.

2. Purse- Spot clean fabric bags with a gentle detergent solution like Woolite and flip the purse inside out to wipe down the inner lining. On finished leather purses, use a leather conditioning cleaner -- I love Guardsman Leather Wipes. And, if you place your purse on the floor in a restaurant or even worse, in the ladies' room, never put it on your kitchen table or counter top. -I'm REALLY hoping that all the women reading this clean their purse at least every now and then. Just think of all the places you sling that thing around. It is a germ cesspool. I wipe mine down with Lysol wipes pretty regularly and then use a clear leather polish to keep it sealed from water and whatever else. I also use a purse hanger if there isn't an extra chair to put it in when we eat out. They are popping up everywhere and super cheap. They hang onto the table and provide a little hook underneath to use for your purse. I pretty much throw up in my mouth if I see a purse on the floor in a public restroom. I mean, really? Use the hangers in the stalls ladies! Have you ever seen the studies they do on what they find on the surface of most women's purses? It is disgusting.

3. Credit/Debit Cards These everyday essentials get handled by lots of people, and germs can lurk in the crevices around the numbers. Give debit and credit cards a quick cleaning with an alcohol wipe and let them air dry before placing them back in your wallet. This had honestly not crossed my mind before but all my cards are now air drying on my desk as I type this. The good thing these days is that most places have a swiper that you use instead of handing your card to someone else.

4. Blinds The material they're made of -- metal, wood, or fabric -- determines how you dust them. For metal blinds, wipe with a sock lightly dampened with water or multi-purpose cleaner. For wood blinds follow the same procedure using only a little tap water. Do not overwet the wood and be sure to buff dry right away. For fabric blinds, go over the blinds with a dry microfiber cloth. -I just use a diluted solution of Murphy's Oil Soap for our plantation shutters and lightly wipe them off. They come clean easily, it is just a huge ordeal to do all of them
5. Yoga Mat After a few sessions, you probably notice that your sweaty hands and feet are leaving dirty marks on your mat, which can lead to yucky bacteria growth. Most mat manufacturers recommend occasionally hand cleaning their products with water and mild soap. All-purpose cleaners can eat away at the material. -I've had a little trouble cleaning my mat after using it for an outside boot camp. I even took it to the carwash and powerwashed it with soap to try and get the asphalt marks of it. Have any of you cleaned your mats? What do you use?

6. Toothbrush Holder Soak the holder in a solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water and rinse. Then air dry upside down. Or simply wash on the top rack of your dishwasher. -I use the dishwasher for this, easiest and cleanest way to do it.

7. Plants Outdoor plants are cleaned off by the rain, but houseplants become caked with dust. Spiff them up with water and a soft cloth, like an old t-shirt. Don't forget to inspect the dirt for mold. Overwatering plants can cause mold to develop on top of the soil. If you notice any, replace the soil. -I haven't had to worry about this one yet, I'm not that great at keeping plants alive...but I'm working on it.

8. Underside of Rugs To remove dust and dirt that's gone deep down into the rug, simply flip it over and vacuum the underside. -Much easier to do with help! Somehow dirt doesn't just get under the edges, it's all up in there.

9. Top of the Refrigerator I guess it's true what they say: "out of sight, out of mind". This definitely applies to the top of the refrigerator. Don't forget to wipe it down when you do the sides and handles. -I have a husband that is 6'5", it is much easier for him to do it, plus he's the only one that can see it.

10. Kitchen Trash Can Clean your can or the plastic liner in your utility room sink, the shower, or outside. (Be sure to disinfect the sink and shower afterwards). Thoroughly spray the trash can with a cleaner that contains bleach and let it stand for 10 minutes. Rinse and wipe clean. Before adding a new garbage bag, be sure the can is completely dry. - Yup, the kitchen can gets the worst. We always make sure the outside is wiped off and do occasionally clean out the whole thing. The inside isn't usually that bad as long as the bag hasn't fallen down in there.

Where's Your Head At?

2011-01-13T09:20:00.000-06:00

My gift from Clay for Christmas was a collection of hand painted oils that he bought while he was in Thailand. They just came back from the framers and look amazing. We don't have a ton of empty walls in our house because of all the windows, but they all found new homes. Monet's "Wild Poppies Near Argenteuil" was a perfect fit above our bed. Even though I was proud to say that I was the one that shot the kudo that was there before, a painting in place of a head sure fems it up!

Before:

After: we still need to center it over the bed, but it looks great in real life. Now I'm thinking we should paint the walls and change the throw pillows...

This Van Gough is on the opposite wall above his dresser.

This Renoir is in the dining room. It is HUGE! I love that there are so many colors I can pull from. The dining room is definitely on my priority list to get finished with paint and table decor.

I've also started on my "mantlescape." My mom got me a beautiful iron wall hanging to put there and I'm slowly but surely getting all my elements together to really make it pop. I found a huge cloche bell jar at TJ Maxx for $19! The bird I got to put in it is too big and Clay said it looks like he's trapped. I decided to built a terrarium inside it instead and just put the bird somewhere else. Now that all the Christmas decor is down, it feels like the whole house is a blank slate!

Just when you thought the holidays were over...

2011-01-11T15:21:00.000-06:00

Clay and I finally got our Christmas tree out of the house and on to the recycling/mulching center last weekend. What a huge mess!! I still can't understand how it takes soo much longer to take everything off the tree than it does to put it on. Our house looks bare, but cleansed. It now time to focus on new spots that need a little work and attention. However, now that Christmas and New Years are over, everywhere I go there are decorations out for Valentines Day! Geez, can't there be a break in there somewhere?! Clay and I don't do much for Valentines Day (especially since my birthday is two days before it). It usually consists are of us making a really great dinner together at home and enjoying the peace and quiet. But, if I ever had a reason to have a Valentines party, the one featured on Hostess with the Mostess today is beyond words cute. Gotta give them props for the layered Jell-O cups. I can't remember if I've professed my love of Jell-O, but it is one of those things I could eat until I'm sick. Is that even possible with Jell-O? Plus, I'm a huge fan of candy buffets at parties. You can put them together inexpensively and still make a big statement. By only using a few colors like they've done below, the overall effect is much bolder. Did you notice that the "lanterns" in the second picture are made from paper plates? They really look cute. It doesn't hurt that the kids in these pictures are adorable.

The Difference Between a Man and a Woman

2011-01-06T14:42:00.000-06:00

There are many, many difference between us but the way we shower is a big one. This made me laugh out loud. Guys are so simple.
Just a heads up- this is probably rated a PG13. Just want to make sure no one is offended.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

New Year's Eve Dessert

2011-01-04T09:15:00.000-06:00

Clay and I had a pretty laid back New Year's Eve this year. We were just happy to be together since he's would usually being travelling this time of year in the past. We had dinner at a friend's house and then went on to my boss and his wife's home for a small get together. Dinner was great. I made that salad that I posted a couple of days ago with the orange vinegarette and Bryan cooked up some filets with green beans and a peppercorn mushroom sauce. I was pretty tired of all the holiday desserts but it was New Years so we had to have something. I found this recipe from Tyler Florence and it turned out great.

Ginger Spice Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup buttermilk

Warm Cranberries -see note below!!
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup dried cranberries
2 cups water
2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 cup whipped cream, for garnish

Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Coat a 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Cut a circle of parchment paper to fit the pan bottom and place it inside; then spray the paper. Set aside. (I used a bundt pan and it came out perfectly)

Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg, molasses, sugar, and melted butter until thick. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Beat for 1 minute after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the cake’s structure. Mix until the batter is smooth.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth down the top of the batter until even. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
While the cake is baking, combine the ingredients for the cranberries in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow the cake to cool completely before removing it from the pan, then slice it in wedges. Serve with the cranberries and whipped cream.
** I would NOT make these cranberries again...WAYYY too sweet. I 'd rather just whip up a homemade cranberry sauce like I made for Thanksgiving. All I did was boil about 2 cups of frozen cranberries with enough water to cover and about a half cup of orange juice. I put four wide strips of orange zest in there and then made a spice bag with lots of whole allspice, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until it is the right consistency. I also used about a 1/2 cup of Splenda for Baking as well. Also, I added a capful of good bourbon to the whipping cream and a little sugar before I beat it. The bourbon was a good compliment to the cake. The cake was nice and light and not too sweet at all. This recipe is a keeper for sure.
Here is what my version looked like:

Still haven't found it...

2011-01-03T09:52:00.000-06:00

With the Tough Mudder training going, I keep wondering when I will find that magical "runner's high." Every time I add more mileage to each run, I think maybe today is the day. No such luck. I read on my training partner's Facebook yesterday that he did a 10 mile on Saturday. The holidays had put a major crimp in my running and I'm trying to play catch up in order to be ready by the end of this month. So, I figured I'd do an 11.5 mile run. Ummm, I think I might have died and miraculously come back to life last night. Keep in mind that the longest run that I've done so far is only a little over 6 mi. I was doing okay until hit about mile 8, then the pains kicked in. My hip flexors felt like daggers were being jabbed in them and I was pretty sure I had huge blisters on the insides of my feet. I managed to walk/run the last 3.5 miles home and came pretty close to calling Clay to pick me up. Somehow, I made it home. It was the best feeling ever to walk in the front door. After a hot shower, some dinner, and two Benadryl to help with my cedar fever, I was out cold by 7:30pm. So, obviously, there is a lot of work to do in the next four weeks but at least I know what I'm up against.
I did come across a really cool website to help with tracking my runs and for finding new routes. If you go to http://www.mapmyrun.com/ and type in your city, you can browse through tons of pre-mapped runs in your neighborhood with the distance calculated. It always makes it easier for time to pass on a new route because you are spending more time checking out the new sites around you.
I've also decided that I probably need to get one of these:

There is a good chance that something could happen while out on a long run or running a new trail. This bracelet from RoadID.com can help whoever finds me get in contact with Clay or my mom. Especially if you run or workout by yourself, this would be a good idea.

A Year in Review

2011-01-03T06:40:00.000-06:00

2010 was a BIG year. In fact, when I think back, it was downright exhausting! Clay and I got married in April (I can't believe that has already almost been a year ago!). We bought a house in February. I was a maid of honor in two weddings and then became an aunt and godmother twice over. I started this blog in May and am trying to get it growing. I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading. It has been a good platform to talk about all my projects and passions. It also gives me a reason to keep up with those projects. I can only imagine was this year has in store for me. I'll be conquering the Tough Mudder in four weeks (ahh!) and then celebrating my 30th two weeks after that. Clay and I will finally be taking that belated honeymoon in April (it is beyond words how exciting I am for that) to Belize and I cannot wait for us to have time together...alone...with no iphones or Blackberries! As far as what else is in store for me, only time will tell. But, when I'm in doubt, I just remember...

(via Z Gallerie)

Happy New Year to All of You and Best Wishes in 2011

30 for the year of the 3-0

2010-12-29T12:03:00.000-06:00

I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions. No one sticks to them and they are usually pretty unrealistic. Many tend to notice that they have the same one every year which means making a resolution isn't working! Since I turn 30 in February and did not do a "30 before 30" list, I decided to do a "30 for the year of 30" list. Here are thirty things that I'd like to do next year. Twelve months is a long time to challenge myself to everything on this list and a long time to get it done. I'm a list maker and nothing is more satisfying than checking things off of one. I'll apologize in advance that this is a long list!

1. Finish changing my last name on all my accounts-who knew it was such a pain to change your name after you get married! I told Clay that is a good reason (among many others) to never get divorced. I'm about 85% done, but those stragglers need to get done before they get forgotten about.

2. Make a homemade marshmallow-I don't even really care for marshmallows, but for some reason I'm really intrigued to learn how to make one with flavor infused.

3. Start AND complete 5 craft projects -not being specific on this one, small or large, just finished

4. Take a formal sewing class

5. Then make a garmet from start to finish that is not only wearable, but doing it without calling my mom (that's the easy button when it comes to sewing).

6. Take more pictures and print them out! I'd like to even say that I'll put a photo album together, but lets not get crazy. I'm the one that always brings my camera and then is too busy chatting to take pictures.

7. This goes along with sewing-to take three pieces of clothing out of my closet that I haven't worn in a year and make them into something new

8. Not only select a paint color for the dining room, but actually paint it too.

9. Read at least one novel a month. I know that doesn't sound like a lot but this list is going to be pretty time consuming. Just keepin' it real.
10. Complete a half marathon-this sounds like a lot, but after my Tough Mudder training, it will be a piece of cake
11. Plant and (here's the kicker) maintain an herb garden. I waste so much money on buying fresh herbs!

12. Plan a dinner party for all my married girlfriends where we wear our wedding dresses again. How many chances do you get to do that?!

13. After said party, sew a personalized garment bag for my wedding dress and properly store it-I already have the pattern

14. Teach my dogs a new trick. This sounds easy but Ruby could care less to learn a new trick and Bruiser is so A.D.D that it is hard to keep his attention long enough to teach him something new. Now if I could only teach them to put their toys away...

15. Play golf at least six times-this isn't so much about playing golf but spending quality time with Clay doing something that we really enjoy together

16. Bake a successful souffle.

17. Figure out a permanent storage solution for the huge hole of cabinet under my stove where all the pots and lids are teetering on top of each other (its scary down there)

18. Clean out and organize my craft closet

19. Get certified to scuba dive (hopefully before our trip to Belize at the end of April)

20. Teach someone something. Not going to specify this either, what good is knowing how to do something if you don't share it?

21. Learn to make macaroons. This is a big food trend for next year and they are so pretty!

22. Refinish the rocking chair given to me three months ago as well as the dining set in our office warehouse that I saved before it was going to be thrown out.

23. Plant a pomegranate tree. Now that we are getting more neighbors, we need a fun way to create more privacy. What better way than a pomegranate tree?

24. Complete Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving 100%. I usually get really close, but next year it will be done

25. Complete three quilts
26. Practice my conversational Spanish more often with co-workers while teaching them English at the same time
27. Be more active in my church-this one is tough since we live pretty far but I'll be back on board to paint VBS murals this coming year now that a wedding is out of the way

28. Pay off all credit card debt. This isn't much so it will just be a matter of being extra tight for a couple of months and knocking it out.

29. Perfect the "smoky eye" without looking like I'm from the Jersey Shore.
30. Plant a hanging square foot garden.

So, there you have it. Some are big projects and some are pretty trivial but I'll update it as they get checked off.

Cleaning out the system

2010-12-29T10:08:00.000-06:00

My body needs a full detox from holiday goodies. I usually eat really healthy, but I'm not gonna lie, I have a deadly sweet tooth when it comes to anything fruity sweet or minty. Now that we are home and back in the swing of things, it felt great to make dinner last night and try one of my new vinegars that I ordered from Greenling. I forgot that I had placed an order before we left town so I'm really glad it was cold outside and all my goodies stayed fresh. They had a sale for Christmas for 40% off your entire order so I got a few things that normally I'd be too cheap to splurge on. I ordered the Orange Infused White Vinegar from Texas Olive Ranch. I figured it would be a great vinegar for light salad dressings and sauces for chicken and fish. I was itching to try it so I made a simple vinaigrette last night and loved it. Here is a rough recipe (I'm guessing because I don't measure much especially on dressings) 2 tablespoons of olive oil
2-3 tablespoons of orange vinegar-maybe more depending on your taste
juice from one small orange
1 tablespoon-ish of non sweetened shredded coconut (Bob's Red Mill makes this)
1 small section of shallot finely diced (about a tablespoon)

Whisk together to combine. I just made a spinach salad and added some pomegranate seeds, toasted walnut pieces, and supremed orange sections then lightly tossed it with a little of the dressing. It doesn't take much which saves you on calories. It was great!

Restaurant Review: Whiskey Cake in Plano, TX

2010-12-28T15:11:00.000-06:00

On our way to Oklahoma this past weekend, we stopped and stayed the night at a friend's house in Plano, TX (a suburb of Dallas). One of their friends has just opened a new restaurant right around the corner called Whiskey Cake. I really wasn't in the mood to go out for dinner, but am so glad that we did. This place was so great. It reminded me a lot of the restaurants in Austin. It has a laid back atmosphere with a kind of vintage feel to it.
We started out with some hummus and deviled eggs (great choices for a long car ride, huh?). The deviled eggs were delicious and had a slight crunch to them due to the fried capers. I was seriously tempted to order the fried green tomatoes, but controlled myself and passed. I opted for the Honey Basil Collins for my cocktail and loved it. It was a blend of gin, clover honey, basil, lemon, and soda. It didn't taste like one of those nasty, syrupy filled drinks that are normally served at restaurants but more like one I'd make at home. The honey lent just enough sweetness without being over the top plus I like the idea of honey instead of sugar any day.
For the entree, I had the special which was smoked Texad Red Fish served over a bed of orzo with a small green salad on top. The fish was cooked perfectly and not drowned in butter like they do at most restaurants. The orzo and greens were a great compliment to it as well. Clay had the Slow Roasted Prime Rib. It was soo good. You could basically cut through it with a fork. It came with root vegetables and fingerling potatoes. I'm pretty sure he would have licked the plate if no one was looking.
Our friend insisted that we try the whiskey cake for dessert. I'm not a huge lover of cake...at all. It's just not my thing. That is until I had this cake. It is a toffee cake with whiskey anglaise, toasted pecan bits, and fresh whipped cream. It wasn't overly sweet at all and still warm in the middle. No wonder they named the restaurant after it...it's that good. To makes things even more interesting, instead of plain 'ole coffee or lattes, they do french press coffee. They bring freshly brewed french presses tableside and pour some of the best, richest coffee ever. The cream is served in porcelain cows just like my grandma had.
You can see the full menu here.
So the next time you are in Dallas, make a stop over to Whiskey Cake, you'll be glad you did. I sure hope they open one of these in Austin!

Chicken on Steroids

2010-12-28T13:02:00.000-06:00

The Sunday before Christmas, we met up with my mom's side of the family for lunch after the Lessons in Carols service at church. My Uncle Bruce made the best Chicken Parmesan I've ever had in my life! Have you ever brined your chicken breasts? I've only seen it done with turkey, but man, it will make your chicken breast pump up to almost double in size. He had even pounded them and you couldn't tell at all. They were spewing with juice.
From Uncle Bruce's email...
"The compound butter recipe basically is 2-3 tablespoon each of up to 3 spices/ingredients you like in your butter, 3-4 tbsp of olive oil (for blending, taste) and 4 sticks of butter. You can mix the oil and herbs/spices first, then mix it in with the butter. You can make the butter savory or sweet (could use cinnamon, fruit preserves). We then freeze it and use it also for sautéing veggies, melting over steaks, etc...
For the chicken I used a blend of italian bread crumbs and panko. I think you could use just panko with some spices (including some parmigiana) and do fine..."

Slamma Jamma Parmigiana
Ingredients
4 (5-ounce) boneless, skinless, trimmed chicken breasts
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups dried bread crumbs
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/4 pound Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus extra for garnish, grated
Olive oil, for frying (about 2 cups)
1 pound penne rigate, cooked al dente
Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
1/4 cup minced Italian parsley, for garnish

Directions
Lightly pound the chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thickness. Combine the kosher salt, sugar, and 1 quart of water in a 1-gallon size resealable plastic bag; shake until dissolved. Add the chicken breasts and soak at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Place the flour in a medium bowl. Remove the chicken from the brine. Shake off excess moisture and, with tongs, lightly dredge the chicken in the flour. Shake off the excess flour and transfer to a large plate.

Mix the eggs and milk in medium bowl and whisk thoroughly. In a separate bowl combine the bread crumbs, oregano, basil, parsley, sea salt, and pepper. Dredge the chicken in the egg and milk mixture with tongs and let excess mixture drain off. Now dredge the chicken into the bread crumb mixture, and lightly pat down in the bread crumbs to adhere.

Preheat the broiler.

Let the breaded chicken sit for 5 minutes before frying. In a medium saucepan on medium-high heat, add enough olive oil to come 1/3 up the side of the chicken. Cook the chicken in batches until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the pan when cooked and place on a sheet tray. Repeat with remaining chicken.

When all the chicken is cooked, sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top. Place under the broiler until the cheese melts and is golden brown.

Serve chicken over pasta and ladle tomato sauce on top. Garnish with additional Parmesan and parsley.

Tomato Sauce:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, minced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
6 cups peeled and diced Roma tomatoes
1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and cook until almost brown, then add tomatoes. Saute for 30 minutes over low to medium heat. Add the basil and oregano and continue to cook for 30 minutes longer. Puree in a food mill or let cool and puree

The Christmas I Missed

2010-12-28T12:51:00.000-06:00

This year was a first for me. I was away from my family for Christmas. It was really weird and a little teary to not be home. But such is life (married life that is) and I'm really glad we spent time with Clay's family. I got an email from my mom that gave the rundown of the Christmas dinner she and my brother (the aspiring chef) prepared for them and my sister and her husband. Here is the menu, I think I'm hungry again...

Appetizers-

Bloody Mary Soup with Shrimp and Pickled Vegetable Skewers

Crostini with Fava Bean Spread, Greens, and Blood Oranges

Main Course:

Veal Chops-kind of glad I missed this one, not a fan of veal (I can't eat baby cows) with sherry gastrique and roasted pepper relish

Fresh Sage and Chestnut Dressing

Sweet and Sour Green Beans

Homemade Gelatin with Fresh Squeezed Orange and Pomegranate Juice (I LOVE Jell-O!)

Dessert:

Figgy Pudding- I've never had this before but she described it as a spice cake with figs that was wrapped in cheesecloth and soaked in brandy. Yum!

This is the same wine Santa that I bought for the Bunco sweater winner. I also bought one for our house.

Matthew hard at work. Remember this face, you'll see him on the Food Network someday...

I love the gelatin in cups...even though from the sound of it, I could've eaten a lot more than just a cupful of it!

Tacky Christmas Sweater Bunco

2010-12-28T12:03:00.000-06:00

Oh my gosh, I can't believe how quickly this past week has gone by. I haven't blogged since the 17th! So sorry, but the holidays were a blur. We made it back in one piece from our road trip to Oklahoma/Arkansas with the pups in tow. They loved being country dogs for a weekend. I'm pretty sure the cowdog made fun of them in their sweaters but oh well. It was pretty chilly but we woke up to snow on Christmas morning which is a rare treat for Texans. It was a shame that we had to turn around so quick, but thats how it goes sometimes. At least we got a little time with Clay's family.
Honestly, I'm so glad that after New Years, the holidays are officially over. I can clear my office and home of Christmas cookies and leftovers and get back on track for the Tough Mudder. The holidays put a little crimp in my training but I'm back on track starting yesterday.
I never got to post pictures from our Tacky Christmas Sweater Bunco. Rachel Z was the host this month and really outdid herself on the food. We had a pear and bleu cheese pizza, baked brie, hummus/dip, and cookies just as appetizers! Dinner was great with pork tenderloin, frenched green beans, stuffing, yummy sweet potato casserole, and bread pudding for dessert! Man, my jeggings were stretched to maximum capacity after that meal! We had so much fun with our Christmas sweaters and Rachel Z won the big prize of a wine Santa. I wish we had a picture of the back of her sweater. She topped it off with a tinsel wreath and Rundolph face complete with light up nose. Here are a few shots:

Me, Mitzi (an avid quilter), and BF Tressa

Is there ever a time when jazz hands aren't appropriate?

It is harder than you think to keep a straight face when you are trying to recreate those Olan Mills pictures you took when you were little.

The Mind Readers at Etsy are at it Again!

2010-12-17T16:59:00.000-06:00

Today's post on Decor8 was about Etsy's latest feature, the Taste Test. It is just a series of two columns in which you pick which of the two you like better. After about ten series, they give you a list of favorites that they think you might like from the choices you made. So, I thought their "suggested shops" tab was created by magical mind-reading gnomes somewhere as it was. But this is downright creepy. I loved 98% of what they sent me. Here are some of my favorites.
OK, this was the one that was weird. Don't these remind you just a little of my party shoes I did here?

How great are these with feathers?!

I promise, I only clicked on ONE thing that had a Boston Terrier on it and they sent me a ton. I guess they know I'm a little psycho about my "kids."

I do love bright colors and vintage jewelry. Isn't this dress so cute?

To view my whole list click the following link:
http://tastetest.etsy.com/?id=be477210-ec58-012d-39aa-123139182a6f/#/recommendations/be477210-ec58-012d-39aa-123139182a6f?r=118003

Busy Busy Weekend

2010-12-17T16:40:00.000-06:00

The last weekend before Christmas and where am I going? The mall. I would rather clean toilets than be at the mall this time of year. Since I already know exactly what I have left to get, I'm hoping for a very quick in and out kind of trip. I'm just praying that I don't run into crowds that look like this:

I'm also going for my first trail run on Saturday morning after kickboxing class. We're going to try and make it 8 miles on the trails wihout stopping. I keep hearing that trail running is so much harder than running the pavement. Hopefully, I don't have any incidents like when I tried to mountain bike (remember this post?) I still have scars from that ride. Only 42 days to go until the Tough Mudder!!! Tick Tock

Sunday is our day to be with my family before Christmas. Clay and I will be driving to Arkansas to visit his family so we won't be in town for Christmas. We're going low key on Sunday, but with lots of my favorites including chicken parmesan and caprese salad. The choir at church is doing their Lessons in Carols service which is full of beautiful Christmas music and an entire orchestra. It will gets you in the Christmas spirit and reminds you what this time of year is all about.

And last, but not least, I'm hoping to get a quick (but cute) snapshot of Clay and I with the furbabies and crank out some very last minute Christmas cards. Better late than never, right? I hope you all have a great weekend!

Party Planning by Pottery Barn

2010-12-16T15:50:00.000-06:00

Have you checked out Pottery Barn's website lately? They have so many great resources for party planning now! There are nine different parties to choose from ranging anywhere from a wine & cheese party to a bridal shower. Each party plan comes with downloadable invite templates, a link to playlists on iTunes, planning guides, and links to other sites that go along with each theme (drink websites for cocktail parties, chef's websites for dinner parties, etc.). Their tablescapes are to die for!

Wine and Cheese: even the little goat cheese marker is a template to download. Have I mentioned how much I love cheese...and wine? Drool. I'd wash my hair in cheese if I could. Just kidding (?).

The vase in the middle with grapes is a great idea. Great, I've gone and made myself hungry.

The Olive Oil Tasting Party: Don't get me wrong, I use a ton of olive oil and I do love herbed oil with fresh bread, but I don't see having a whole oil party. Plus, I can't imagine many people getting jazzed over this theme. I know if I opened my mailbox and saw an invite to an oil party, I wouldn't be high fiving Clay or anything. There would have to be something else going on with this. The table is pretty though:

Pizza Party: Who can resist a pizza party? What better way to get people interactive than to have a build your own pizza bar? I love to make homemade dough and bake it on a pizza stone. If you don't have a stone for your oven, they are wonderful. All my breads come out nice and crispy on the bottom and soft on the inside. Plus, this party is the trifecta of culinary bliss-wine, bread, and cheese. Yum

For My Next Pet...

2010-12-16T14:40:00.000-06:00

If you've ever been around goats, you probably know that they aren't the brightest animals on earth. However, baby goats are hilarious and sooo cute! I'd have a goat farm in a heartbeat, but only for the milk of course. I loveeee chevre.

Speaking of food...my brother got accepted to culinary school today! He starts in two weeks! I'm so excited for him (and a little jealous). I'll just live vicariously through him. I'm so proud and can't wait to hear about all the cool stuff he learns.

Now, back to baby goats...

Whoa!

2010-12-15T15:18:00.000-06:00

Did anyone watch the finale of The Biggest Loser last night? OMG?! It is truly amazing the life change that these people have made. The winner of $250,000 lost a whopping 181 pounds. What an accomplishment!

Mark was the at home winner. He won $100,000 and lost 213 pounds...most of that at home! Incredible.

The big news was that Jillian won't be back next season. I wonder who the next trainer will be that is tough enough to help get the contestants in shape.

Playing with Makeup

2010-12-15T14:59:00.000-06:00

I have a confession to make, I actually watch Jerseylicious on the Style Network. I don't why I get sucked into it every Saturday morning but I guess I get the urge to lose a few brain cells on the weekend. Anyway, one of their makeup artists, Olivia, taught a fantasy makeup class. It was all about over the top, crazy, theatrical makeup. Most of it was totally unrealistic except for her introduction of ColorOn Pros press on eyeshadow. They are these pre-cut strips that already have pressed eyeshadow on them. All you have to do is press it on to your eyelid and set with with their setting powder. I love playing with makeup and these look amazing. Some of them would be really great for a night out on the town or special occassion, some would be the perfect touch to a Halloween costume, and some are actually pretty neutral for daily wear.
***Oh, and for those of you that asked, all the rhinestones that I hot glued onto my party shoes stayed on. They didn't budge! Definitely a quick way to spice up an old pair of shoes.

These two I really like a lot. The bottom is a little dark for daytime but the colors are perfect for green eyes.

This would obviously be the one of the ones to go with a costume. They have a ton of feather prints, wing prints, and animal prints. I've seen really pretty peacock costumes that would look great with their feathered ones (and feather eyelashes which are awesome!).

These two would obviously be for nighttime. I'm not sure how green would look on my skin but supposedly anything purple really makes your eyes pop if they are green or blue.

These two are in their smokey eye collection. The smokey brown is so pretty but the gray and black is a little too Jersey Shore for my coloring.

Party Update

2010-12-13T11:52:00.000-06:00

The office holiday party Saturday night was so much fun! The casino gaming was a huge hit. I'll have to admit, my vintage party skirt was probably the most comfortable thing I've worn in years. They kept telling me I looked like Office Manager Barbie.

Since Clay was out of town, I went as my friend Montana and her husband's third wheel.

Really wished I didn't have gum in my mouth...or disheveled hair!

I was the Vanna White for our raffle giveaways. Acting out each prize was my highlight of the night.

The ladies of Blackmon Mooring...

Another day, another party. Tonight is Tacky Christmas Sweater Bunco. I can't wait!

Adding A Little Glitz

2010-12-11T17:10:00.000-06:00

Our holiday office party is tonight. I've had a terrible time trying to find something to wear. I've returned several dresses that I ordered online and really haven't wanted to face the malls. What's a girl to do? Raid my closet and make something work. I pulled all kinds of stuff out the other day and finally tried on different combos last night (and may or may not have sent a picture or two to my girlfriends for 2nd opinions). I wasn't too sure about it at first but actually decided on a vintage party skirt from the 50s that I found at the City Wide Garage Sale about six months ago. There is a vendor there every month that has literally mounds of vintage to sort through and at the bottom I found a pleated taffeta skirt that fits like a glove. I'm pairing it with a hot pink (shocker) top and huge cz drop earrings. I had some old heels that had these bows on the side that I was totally over. They needed a facelift. So I cut off the bows, heated up the old trusty glue gun, and went to town with some bling. Since the rest of my outfit is pretty subdued, I needed a little sparkly somewhere. I think they will work great (as long as my stones don't come off!). I'll post a full outfit tomorrow. I have to go now to get ready...

Pantone is Reading My Mind

2010-12-09T15:34:00.000-06:00

If you haven't heard of Pantone, they are the supposed "color authority." Each December, they name the next year's color of the year. Last year, they announced that the color for 2010 was turquoise...as in the color of my bridesmaid's dresses. Well, they just announced the color for 2011 and drumroll please...HOT PINK!!! My favorite color. They are calling it Honeysuckle, but please, its hot pink no matter what fancy name you want to give it. My Pantone is also a great online resource for making color palettes, finding products in a certain color, and color inspiration. Another great Pantone resource for brides to be is the Pantone Wedding section of Dessy.com. It helps you put together your wedding color pallette and even find dresses for your girls to match. You can also page through tons of inspiration boards to get your creative juices flowing.