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Monday, August 31, 2009

flash forward


If you are a Lost junkie like me, you have probably heard of the upcoming series Flash Forward. I feel pretty pumped about the season premier airing September 24th. Hopefully this new series will feed my craving until Lost resumes in January.

Here is a little excerpt from ABC.com about the new series:
A mysterious global event causes everyone to black out simultaneously for two minutes and seventeen seconds, and each person sees a glimpse of their lives six months from now. When they wake up, everyone is left wondering if what they saw will actually happen.

Click here to view the trailer



Sunday, August 30, 2009

aqua and red

This has been a crazy weekend!! In the last 48 hours I have attended a rehearsal dinner, wedding, and threw a yard sale! Also, my wonderful friend Shannon and her bf A have been staying at our house! I am so excited that she is home visiting! So excited, that I have been staying up late chatting it up. Between Thursday and Saturday night, I think I got about 9 hours of sleep! Last night after the wedding, I was exhausted. I slept a good 12 hours last night & I'm feeling great! Since the weekend has been so crazy, I have not had a lot of time to blog. I'm feeling refreshed after my long night's sleep, so I thought I would share a favorite color pair of mine that makes me smile.

Aqua & Red
Enjoy the last hours of your weekend! If you're local, take some time to soak up the amazing sunshine we have been blessed with!


Friday, August 28, 2009

will you be my bridesmaid?

I am already a married lady, but if I wasn't I would totally make these! Absolutely adorable!
Click here for the step by step.

Happy Friday to you all! I have a busy weekend planned. E is in a wedding tomorrow, so we will be attending the rehearsal after work. The rehearsal dinner is at Malone's & I am super excited to chow down there! Also, on Saturday I will be joining my good friend Katie's yard sale. I love purging and throwing away stuff, so I hope everything sells! If you're in town, stop by and see us! To top it all off, my friend Shannon is staying with us for the weekend! What a treat :) It's going to be a busy, but very fun weekend!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

made for walkin'


If there was one thing I wanted for the Fall, it was a pair of flat riding boots! Every pair I found was at least $150. I couldn't find anything that was cheaper & still the look I was going for. Until last night, when these boots walked into my life. Ok maybe they didn't walk into my life, maybe I walked into Target! Whatever the case, I love them and they were surely not as pricey! Fall is my favorite season & it will be ever sweeter this year with these lovelies on my feet!

On a side note, during my trip to Target, I picked up a dog toy for Stella. On the tag it said "Pet toy shall be taken away if tears, seams open or other damage is detected." All I can say is they have not met my little Stells. To her, tearing toys open is playing with them - duh!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

flat iron steak

One of my favorite nights of the week is Tuesday. Every Tuesday E and I have "date night." With our crazy schedules, it has been such a blessing to have this time each week. Last night we had an "at home date." Sometimes staying home for the night is better then any classy restaurant. I feel like I am becoming more and more of a homebody all the time. Can anyone relate?

Last night E and I enjoyed a little surf and turf! I didn't take any pictures because E did the grilling, and raw meat is not very appetizingg anyways! Our meal was delicious. E brought home fresh shrimp from SC. Another thing I did not want to post pictures of - peeling shrimp! Peeling shrimp is also not very appetizing.

E told me that he bought the shrimp "from a man with a stand at a gas station." I was a li
ttle skeptical, but I ate them anyway because I love seafood. I am not sick...yet.

We also grilled flat iron steak for the first time. I have never bought this cut of meat before, but I will definitely purchase it again. Flat iron steak is much cheaper than many other cuts of meat, and I thought the taste was just as good! I only paid $6.00 for a cut that was a little over a pound (it was plenty for the two of us). If you are trying to save some cash (who isn't these days) and you would still like a nice meal, then I recommend the flat iron steak!

Flat iron steak is packaged like this in the grocery
This is how you should slice itI know I said I didn't want to post any pictures of raw meat! So sorry! I wanted you to know what to look for.

E and I also worked on the chalkboard in our office. I will spare you the details. Let's just say it didn't go well. Things went down hill we noticed that our walls are not flat. E wants it to look perfect, but I'm about to get out the caulk and call it quits! Once we fix it I promise to post some pictures.

To relieve some stress, E and I adventured out to Sonic for some cherry limeades! They hit the spot!


All in all, it was a great date night! I highly recommend setting aside time each week to simply be together. I know it's so easy to get busy and come up with excuses about why you can't make the time, but in my opinion it has been very valuable in our marriage!

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday. Don't forget to set aside time to spend with the people you care about the most!

By the way, wish my luck this evening as I go to my night class. It has officially began!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

feeling a little sappy

Tonight I finished a Nicholas Sparks book and as a result I am feeling a little sappy. I think Nicholas Sparks books are self-induced misery. I know they're going to break my heart in the end, but I am compelled to keep reading anyway. I am really not sure why I put myself through it! Anyways, finishing this book has left me feeling a little warm and fuzzy. In response to this feeling, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share some of my favorite pictures from our love day!!

All pictures were captured by my cousin Meg. She does great work. Check her out here.

jumping through hoops

This week I start the last semester of my life. I thought this day would never come. I have three classes left of graduate school. In other words, I have three more hoops to jump through!

I am not a huge lover of school, but I am ready to get this show on the road! I always love the Christmas season, however, this year will be extra special. I will be a free woman! No more classes or practicum hours (aka working for free). I love the time I have spent at the Chrysalis House, but I will not miss the 60 hour work weeks. I am very eager to see where God leads me after I have that diploma in my hand!

These hoops are more fun than the ones I am about to jump through
If you are looking for a cheap way to add a little excitement to a sad looking wall, then these embroidery hoops are what you're looking for! This is a very inexpensive way to add a little art in your life. With the variety of patterns and arrangements, the possibilities are endless.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

zucchini lasagna

This spring I planted my first garden. It has been a great learning experience! I enjoy the feeling of planning and preparing a meal that I have put hard labor into. Another benefit of this agriculture adventure is how perticular scriptures have become real to me. One scripture that has taken on new meaning is

1 Corinthians 3:7
So neither he who plants or he who waters in anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

This verse reminds me that anything good I can contribute is really to God's credit, not mine. This verse is refreshing. When I rest in the assurancece that God is in control, I find peace of mind. We contribute to the process (watering/growing), but nothing could happen if God didn't make things grow. He is in absolute control.

When I began planting the seeds in my garden, I listed to my neighbor what I was hoping would grow. I told her that one of the plants in my garden was zucchini. Her response was "plant zucchini, feed the world." Was she ever right? We are up to our ears in zucchini. I've grilled, sauteed, baked bread, and anything else I could think of.

In an effort to decrease our surplus, E and I invited a couple friends over and serv
ed them zucchini lasagna. I was a little nervous, never having made this recipe before. I am here to share because it turned out delicious!

Here are a couple things you will need to make your own zucchini lasagna:

2 1/2 cups zucchini, sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 2 medium

1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 small tomatoes, cut up
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup water
1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 egg
3/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon flour

Slice zucchini and chop onion
Cook zucchini in boiling water until tender Fry meat and onions - drain fat
Add next 8 ingredients and bring to a boil - reduce heat, simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes
In a small bowl slightly beat egg
Add cottage cheese, half of shredded cheese, & flour
Arrange 1/2 of meat mixture in a 1 1/2 qt. baking dish Top with half of the zucchini & all of the cottage cheese mixture Top with remaining meat and zucchini
Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes Sprinkle with remaining cheese & bake 10 minutes longer

Let stand 10 minutes before serving
ENJOY



Friday, August 21, 2009

postmarked with love

I just wanted to share with these vintages treasures I stumbled upon this afternoon....

All of these postcards are straight out of the 50's. Ohh Marilyn - you made my Friday!

I know that the bottom postcard doesn't quit "go," but I simply couldn't resist. I love the London taxi driver and the classy poodle. I love using postcards or old calendar photos as cheap artwork. You can really find some unique pieces when you recycle things.
______________________________________________

I think I have made my final decision on the window treatments for the office, but I would love to hear some of your opinions.
This is what I have landed on


Here are a couple pictures from the room so you can visualize the spaceI am hoping that this weekend I will get around to adding molding around the painted chalkboard & pretty glass knobs to the desk. The office is coming along slowly but surely!

Please let me know your questions, comments, or concerns you have about the fabric! If you have any other textile ideas, copy me a link!
Thanks friends

hip hip horray for friday


It's finally Friday friends!

This has been a really long week for me. We are starting a new research study at my office & the prep work is draining me. I am ready for a relaxing weekend with E. E is driving home from Hilton Head today, so if you think about it say a quick prayer for his safety. Stella and I are very excited for his return!

I hope your next two days are loaded with fun! Spoil yourself...and spoil someone you care about. True joy comes when we serve other people :)

PS: I love this picture, but I would not love to be the girl swinging! Unfortunately, I have inherited a bad case of motion sickness! Swinging looks like fun, but I always end up a little queasy.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

get creative & earn cash



Last week my good friend Angie informed me that anything you buy at the Habitat ReStore and revamp can earn you $25 store credit. All that they require is that you bring in before and after pictures.

So what did I do?? Snapped some photos of the brass chandelier I purchased for $1 and took them to the habitat store for $25 credit! I'll admit I was a little skeptical that they would actually give me a $25 credit when I only spent $1 on the chandelier, but it worked!


I apologize - these pictures aren't the best
(the office remodel is still in the beginning stages)

Before After


The $25 credit can be used at the warehouse locations & the furniture store!

Considering I bought 4 chandeliers for $1 each ... I may never have to spend another penny at the ReStore!

After the office & spare bedroom are complete ... I am thinking about heading back to the ReStore and implementing this idea somewhere in the house