Meet Me on Monday

1.  What are you wearing right now?

Ink stained jeans and my work polo!

So sexy right now :-)

2.  Do you have any freckles?

Really only on my nose...they are more like sun spots...I do have moles and birth marks though!

I like that say that I wouldn't be the same if I didn't have the mole on my left cheek under my eye..ha!

3.  What is your favorite Lifesaver flavor?

I love the pineapple flavor! 

Yummy,  I know want to walk to the store and buy a pack!

4.  What is the last movie you saw in the theater?

No Strings Attached. 

I saw it with my cousin and we both very much enjoyed it!

5.  Would you rather live without tv or without music?

That is a tough one because I don't watch a lot of TV or listen to a lot of music...

hmm, I would say probably TV, if I was put in a life of death situation and had to chose...ha!

I hope you all are having a Merry Monday!!

I know that it has just been the busiest 9 weeks of my life...

Is anyone else on board with me on that one?!

Big Day for Sweeter!

Hello All

I know that I have pretty much gone MIA! 

I have been super busy at work and now spending a whole lot of time on the internet :-(

Yesterday was a big day for my Sweeter!!

He turned 24...and was on CNN!

All in the same day!

Who knew that I would be marrying a National TV Celebrity?!

I sure didn't...

...it is just an added perk, I guess :-)

Happy Belated Birthday to my most Wonderful, Handsome, Amazing, Loving, Sweet Sweeter!

I hope you all are having a fabulous week!

Brewbies

On Saturday, Sweeter and I took our friends Downtown to this fun beer festival called "Brewbies." It was $25 and all proceeds go to Breast Cancer research and we get to taste 4 microbrews. We had a blast!

We ended up getting there a little late, so we had to drink up, really fast, but we had a lot of fun anyway!

Happy Wednesday!

Future..

I got this as a gift and I drank from it for the first time today!

I love it!

I will make a damn good Trophy Wife!

:-)

Happy Tuesday to All!

Mess Night

When I was offered my current job, I was told that I was going to have to go on a work trip this past weekend. I was bummed that I was going to be gone for Valentine's weekend, but it wasn't the end of the world because we could celebrate Valentine's Day and Sweeter's Birthday over the long President's Day Weekend.

A couple of weeks ago, I got an email telling me that they changed the weekend to be over the long President's Day Weekend. So you can imagine my upset!

On Thursday, Sweeter told me that the battalion still had room for guests to attend the Mess Night...on Friday. I lit up! I love seeing Sweeter all fancied up! So, Sweeter started calling around to figure out how to pay and was unable to find anything out. So we decided to leave it up to the God's of Friday.

As I said in my post from Saturday, I think that I have carpal tunnel, or something like it. With that, My arms are so achy that it wakes me up in the middle of the night and I have a lot of trouble sleeping. So I woke up not very well rested. I went to work and Sweeter told me around noon that we could go to the Mess Night.

I left straight from work and headed to the local outlet mall. I went into the BCBG outlet and tried on a few dresses. Nothing stood out.

I then went to the local Westfield Mall and checked out Macy's. Sadly we are not in the season for long formal dresses.

I walked in to Express to ask where I could find one close by and the woman asked me if it was for Homecoming. Now, I am 23...I understand that I look young, but REALLY?! Do I really look that young?!  Honestly, please tell me! haha! I had to laugh when she asked me if I was looking for a Homecoming dress! Haha!

Anyway, I ended up not finding anything and I didn't have the time to drive to the next closest mall. So I went back to the outlets and I picked the best of the dress choices there were. And it ended up working really well!

So I went home and we got all dressed up! Oh boy, my Sweeter is so handsome! We ate dinner and hung out at the Mess Night! We had a great time!

I did my own hair...

...this is a later in the night pictures, so that is why it looks so messy

I was looking at wedding hair updos and I found this and I think that it looks so elegant!

It looked really lovely and I am so proud that I did it myself!

It was pretty easy to do, I definitely recommend it! 

I think that my hair may be a bit too long, but it still looked nice!

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Can-Do Challenge- Always Do Your Best

On a Side Note:

I am running out of Can-Do Challenges

I am asking all of you to give me some ideas!

Is there anything that you want to add to one I had already posted?

Do you have one you want to share?

Please email me!

The most recent book that I read that has absolutely changed my way of thinking is called The Four Agreements written by don Miguel Ruiz.

This is the last agreement ... enjoy :-)
(I have decided that I am going to share a quote from the chapter and the information from the inside panel so that I don't give away any juicy information!)
I would absolutely recommend this book! I have been wanting to do a little personal make-over recently, so this book really helped me!

I would absolutely recommend this book! I have been wanting to do a little personal make-over recently, so this book really helped me!

The Four Agreements written by don Miguel Ruiz shows its readers what self-limiting beliefs we have that restrict us of experiencing joy and creates suffering. The Agreements are based on Toltex wisdom which offer powerful codes of conduct that can allow us to experience freedom, true happiness and love.

I hope that you all have the opportunity to read this book, and if not, please read my posts because they really do help :-)

Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

"Under any circumstance, always do your best, no more and no less. But keep in mind that your best is never going to be the same from one moment to the next."
"If you always do your best there is no way you can judge yourself. And if you don't judge yourself there is no way you are going to suffer from guilt, blame, and self-punishment.:


This week, do your best. Remember that we are incapable of doing more than our best and if we give our best to everything that we do, we can't say that we failed.


Enjoy your Sunday!

3 Weeks in Bindery

Wow, it has been a long 3 weeks! 

Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoyed my experience in this rotation, but it was a hard, hard 3 weeks!

I learned how to use a stitcher, a folder and a cutter. 

It was really neat!

{the  following videos are really loud...i have to wear ear plugs!} 

The following videos are of the cutter.

The first machine is what we throw the paper on to jog it (to make sure it is all in line)

The second is the cutter.

The third is what takes the cut paper and puts it on a skid!

The following videos are the folder

these 3 videos are the stitcher :-)

The problem?

I had never seen 3am on the day side...for 3 weeks, I was waking up at 3am and going to sleep around 7pm.

Also, from throwing paper and from all of the small movements that I make with my arms, wrists and hands, I think that I may be suffering from carpal tunnel! Ugh!

Sweeter is treating me to a massage this afternoon, I cannot wait!

On the bright side?

I have been so lucky!

My Sweeter was waking up with me in the morning: getting my breakfast ready and making my chai then walking me to my car.

Sheesh! 

He is the best and I am the luckiest gal alive!

Anyway, I am looking forward to my next rotation!

I start in the Press Room on Monday with a more normal schedule: 6am-2pm!

Have a fabulous Saturday!

Red, White and Green Pesto Torte

Sweeter and I were invited to a Super Bowl party on, you guessed it, Super Bowl Sunday.

Let me back up a bit. In December, a friend of mine threw her parents a surprise Anniversary party and made all of the food. There was a dip that she had at the party that was to-die-for. I just had to have the recipe.  She emailed it to me and I have been waiting for the perfect time to make it. I knew that Sweeter would like it because he loves, loves pesto.

My friend found this recipe in a  Do-It-Ahead Diva.

It is fantastic!

I definitely recommend it!

{the one piece of advice that I would give is to not add EVOO to the sun dried tomato pesto...because it already has EVOO in it. It makes it look like the torte is melting..it was still delicious though!}

"Perfect Party Food" by the Diva of Do-Ahead

Red, White, and Green Pesto Torte

Description: velvety layers of cream cheese interwoven with spicy green and red pestos make this spread a visual and sensory delight.  Serve with sliced baguettes, cucumber rounds, pita chips, or water crackers.

Torte Recipe:

Ingredients:
Two 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
1 lb (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 T garlic salt
3.25 c Basil Pesto (recipe below)
3.5 - 4 c Sun Dried Tomato Pesto (recipe below)
Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, and cut into strips for garnish

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, or in a food processor, cream or process together the cream cheese and butter.  And the worcestershire and garlic salt and blend until smooth
2. Line a 4-6 cup mold (loaf pan, souffle dish, or lotus bowl, I used a regular bowl) with plastic wrap letting 4 inches hang over the edge.  Wet your hands with warm water and pat a 1/2 in layer of the cream cheese mixture into the bottom of the mold.  Spread a 3/4 in layer of Basil Pesto over the cream cheese.  Spread with another 1/2 in layer of the cream cheese mixture.  Cover with a 3/4 in layer of sundried tomato pest.  Continue to layer the cream cheese and pestos ending with the cream cheese.  Freeze any leftover pestos.  Fold the plastic wrap over the top of the mold.
DIVA DO-AHEAD: At this point, refrigerate for at least 1 hr and up to 2 days to firm up the torte, or freeze in a zipper-top plastic bag for up to 2 months.  Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before continuing.
3. Unmold the torte onto a serving plate, peel off the plastic wrap, and decorate the top of the torte with basil leaves and sun dried tomato strips.

Basil Pesto
(recipe says it makes 3.5 cups, but I only came up with about 1.5 cups... I'd double it to be safe, or maybe I didn't pack in the basil enough, both are possible!)

Ingredients
2 c fresh basil
1 c fresh grated Parmesan
1/4 c pine nuts (these were $8 at the store so I used walnuts instead)
3 cloves garlic (I used like 6)
1/2 c EVOO (Extra virgin olive oil)

-In the food processor blend basil, cheese, nuts, and garlic.
-Gradually add oil, and the blend for 30 seconds
- pour into jar with 1/2 inch EVOO on top for up to 5 days storage (or skip the EVOO top to make torte right away)


Sun-dried tomato pesto
1.5 c oil packed SD tomatoes
6 med garlic cloves
1 c. fresh basil
1 c fresh grated parmaesan
1/2 c EVOO
2 T balsamic vinegar

-blend everything in food processor, add EVOO and vinegar last, blend for 30 seconds
-pour into jar to keep up to 7 days

Yummmmmm!!

You all MUST try it!!

The Cake

When Sweeter and I went up North for me to try on my wedding dress

{i.e. the one I am wearing on our wedding day}

{i.e. not a sample}

{i.e. the most beautiful dress ever}

Sadly, I won't be sharing any wedding dress pictures until after the wedding...

We stopped at a bakery and we tasted cake flavors!

My Madre and I went to taste cakes in December before he got home from his deployment. And when we were tasting the cakes, there was a cake flavor and a filling from another one that we really liked so we asked the bakery to create a new cake for us.

So Sweeter and I went and tasted the new flavor and since we were there I figured that we should try them all and we could pick our flavors then and there!

So we tasted cakes!

Wow!

It was amazing!

We loved it!

The bakery pretty much gives an entire piece of each flavor to try!

What?!

How delicious to they all look!! 

Yummy!

We decided on 3 different flavors.

We also decided that cakes are ridiculously expensive and so we are going to have a small cake for display and to cut in to and the rest of them are going to be sheet cakes. This way it will be a little less expensive.

We decided that the cake that we cut in to will be a coconut cake with a coconut filling (the slice in the middle of the big plate  that is right below the carrot cake) and the other 2 flavors will be in sheet cake form. We decided on a chocolatey and a not so chocolately :-) One will be the one my Madre and I had made {which is the single slice on the lone plate which} it is an almond cake with a chocolate/caramel filling and the other one is a red velvet cake with a hazelnut filling {the one next to the fork on the plate...the one that is most eaten :-)}

All of this is happening so quickly now!

I feel like we have been engaged for so long and we haven't had to rush anything and now all of a sudden we are less than 4 months away!

Yay!

This is all so exciting! 

Invitations are on deck!

I can't wait to share when the designs are finalized!

I wish you all a Tip Top Tuesday! 

Learning through Blogging

Top 2 Things You've Learned About Blogging

 1) I learned the blogging is a great way to get ideas from outside sources.  Something that I love about blogging is the fact the I don't know any of you in person but I love reading what is going on. And I appreciate that you all take an interest in what is going on in my world.

2) I am doing my best to keep things interesting on here! There are so many things in the world and in life to write about/talk about and blogging is a great outlet to share all of those things! No matter the topic, it is ok to talk about it {at least to the extent that you feel comfortable}

I hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday!!

Chicken With Parmesan, Garlic, and Herb Crust

This is the most tender chicken!

image

We made this and fell in love with the recipe! 

It is super light and a great cozy night dinner!

We ate it with a yummy salad and we thought that it would be delicious in a sandwich!

Buon Appetito

Can-Do Challenge- Don't Make Assumptions

The most recent book that I read that has absolutely changed my way of thinking is called The Four Agreements written by don Miguel Ruiz.

The next two Sundays will list the remaining agreements and give a little snippet about each one :-)
(I have decided that I am going to share a quote from the chapter and the information from the inside panel so that I don't give away any juicy information!)
I would absolutely recommend this book! I have been wanting to do a little personal make-over recently, so this book really helped me!


I would absolutely recommend this book! I have been wanting to do a little personal make-over recently, so this book really helped me!

The Four Agreements written by don Miguel Ruiz shows its readers what self-limiting beliefs we have that restrict us of experiencing joy and creates suffering. The Agreements are based on Toltex wisdom which offer powerful codes of conduct that can allow us to experience freedom, true happiness and love.

I hope that you all have the opportunity to read this book, and if not, please read my posts because they really do help :-)

Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

"Often we make the assumption that our partners know what we think and that we don't have to say what we want. We assume they are going to do what we want, because they know us so well. If they don't do what we assume they should do, we feel so hurt and say 'You should have known'."
"We make all sorts of assumptions because we don't have the courage to ask questions"
"We make the assumptions that everyone sees life the way we do. We assume that others think the way we think, feel the way we feel, judge the way we judge, and abuse the way we abuse."

This week, do your best not to make any assumptions. I know that I am definitely one to say "you should have known." Making assumptions isn't fair to anyone, so do your best not to make them. Say how your feel, ask for what you want and ask questions if you are confused and remember that everyone has their own reasons for feeling and thinking the way that they do!


Enjoy your Sunday!

Happy Birthday!!

Today is the one of my favorite people's birthday!

I met her our first year in college in Speech 100.

She was sitting at a desk, alone, when I walked in.

I thought that she looked very nice so I sat next to her.

I introduced myself to her and we got to talking.

I asked her where she was from and she told me "Sacramento...area."

I responded telling her that I used to live in a neighboring city.

To our surprise, she was actually from the same city that I had previously lived in.

I told her that I lived there when I was in elementary school and I told her the elementary school.

She said that she went there as well.

I told her my teacher.

She had the same teacher.

We were in the same fourth grade class!!!!

We became great friends and always had dining center dates.

After our first year, we kind of lost touch.

Our third year in college, I was hired as an RA and she and I worked in the same building.

We gained our friendship again.

Our fourth year, we kind of lost touch, again.

Our last year at school we ended up keeping a great, strong friendship lasting the entire year.

We saw each other every day.

We ate almost every meal together.

She would come home with me for some homecooked dinners.

We had sleepovers.

We chatted into the wee-hours of the night.

She became one of my very best friends

And still is, to this day!

She is amazing.

She is beautiful.

She is kind.

She is always smiling.

She is generous.

She is warm.

She is loving.

She is one of the best people that I have in my life.

I am lucky to know her.

Melissa, you deserve to have the very best year!

I am there celebrating with you, in heart and spirit!

Happy Happy Birthday, beautiful!

Meet Pearl

This is Pearl

My new Mountain Bike

Isn't she a beauty!?

Sweeter and I got her this weekend when we went up North (more updates to come) and we have ridden our bikes everyday since!

It has been a hectic week!

I hope you all have enjoyed the first three days in Feb!

Happy Birthday to My Baby Brother!

Today, is my baby brother's 10th birthday!

2/2/2001

How adorable is this kid?! Seriously?!

10, wow! 

I can't even believe it!

I still call him "baby" because he the most adorable little munchkin there ever was!

I am sad not to be there celebrating this mile stone with him!

He deserves to have the best birthday, EVER!