May 29, 2009

Number 11

Can be checked off the list.

These three recipes are not only good, they're also easy. I'm no whiz in the kitchen, and even I managed to make these taste fantastic. Feel free to try them out and let me know what you think!

Greek Pasta Salad
8 ounces pasta
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
3 cups sliced mushrooms
15 halved cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup feta cheese
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1 can black olives

Slice your mushrooms, boil your noodles and chop your tomatoes and green onions. Then combine all the ingredients in a BIG bowl for a fantastic lunch or dinner!

Sweet Salsa Chicken
6 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
2 cups salsa
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey dijon mustard

Combine all ingredients in a pan and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Grilled Honey Soy Chicken
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup Soy sauce
1 small onion, sliced
1 small bell pepper, sliced
Black pepper

Combine honey, Soy sauce and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Arrange chicken on the grill. Baste both sides with honey/Soy mixture as the chicken cooks. Add the onion and bell pepper slices and cook until they are carmelized.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

May 28, 2009

Number 23

Can be checked off the list.

These fabric flower headbands and pin were part of Brianne's 25th birthday gift. I used a pattern I found here and modified it a bit to make the flowers smaller. It was super easy, and they came out way cuter than I had expected. I'm not sure who liked them more - me or the birthday girl.

May 26, 2009

On a porch, In the sun

Sunshine and sprinkles. Boat rides. Slow dances. Meals eaten on porches. Gin and tonics with lime. Crawfish, corn and mushrooms. Hawaiian necklaces. Deer sausage and tacos and too many sweets. Blue Bell icecream. Fishing poles. Lake water. Family and friends and good times.

Today I'd give almost anything to be back there - on a porch, in the sun - with some sweet iced tea, a slice of banana bread and a smile.

May 21, 2009

On My Way

When you're looking forward to something, time always moves so slow. Last night I packed and got all ready to go. Tonight I'm going to bed early so it'll hurry up and get here.

Texas here I come...

May 20, 2009

Birthday Nights

She picked sushi - the perfect place - and we talked about Texas and told old stories that most of us had heard before. When we got home, she opened presents while we ate cupcakes. New music, homemade gifts and cups of coffee - all in all, it was the perfect birthday night.

May 19, 2009

On Birthdays and Sisters

She drives me crazy, keeps me sane, makes me laugh, lets me cry and reminds me who I am when I forget. She is both my sister and my bestfriend, and I am so, so happy she was born.

Happy Birthday, Brianne! May your 25th year be full of good food, good friends and plenty of good fun!

May 15, 2009

TGIF

This week has been a strange week - hard on my emotions for a variety of different reasons - but alas, the weekend arrives in just under 2 hours, and my weekend plans can be described as nothing short of fun, fun, fun.

Saturday will be spent at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire eating turkey legs, drinking ale and saying things like "Whither be the privies?" (or "Where are the restrooms?" - a very common question when consuming large amounts of ale), and Sunday there'll be picnicing, fiddles and banjos galore at the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest.

Mix in a little line dancing, a little two stepping, and a whole 'lotta sunshine, and I'm not sure it gets much better than that.

Until Monday...

May 12, 2009

Sickey

He's sick - has a cold - and doesn't want to leave the bed. When he sneezes, it makes my heart hurt and I want to forget about work, scoop him up and hold him all day long. Then I think about how it must be to have a baby - how BIG of a love that is - and I realize I'm nowhere near ready for that.

May 11, 2009

Pina Coladas and Birthday Cake

Photobucket

Plenty of naps with Cajun.

Photobucket

Pina Coladas and Manu Chao.

Photobucket

And a suprise birthday party.

All in all, a mellow weekend, with lots of laughs involving cakes and elbows and plates of cheese.

May 8, 2009

Introducing...

Cajun - the new man in my life.

Only two days in and already I'm smitten.

Funny how an itty bitty ball of fur can make someone so, so happy.

I'm sure you'll be hearing about this little trouble maker plenty more in the future so stay tuned!

Oh, and have yourselves a wonderful weekend! You deserve it!

May 6, 2009

Fallen to Pieces

The whole day I knew I would have preferred to stay home and watch American Idol, but I let them convince me that margaritas would be more fun. Turned out they were wrong.

There are only a few things that really push my buttons. Last night one of them turned up. I was sad that the night had fallen to pieces.

"I'm sorry tonight wasn't very fun," I said.

"Well, there's always tomorrow," he replied.

And for that, I am thankful.

May 4, 2009

A Good Day

I couldn't motivate myself to leave my desk, even though I knew it was warm outside, but when I finally did, it was so worth it. I went to the gym and brought a mat outside so I could lay down and look up at the sky. When I went back into the office, I felt happier.

Right now I'm eating strawberries with my shoes off.

Today has been a good day.

May 1, 2009

Baking a Cake

Last night, I suddenly got a craving to bake a cake, and boy am I glad I did because that cake turned out to be one of THE BEST cakes I've ever baked. Since I had some cake mix left over, I whipped up a few cupcakes to take to work for everyone (Although not the ones above - Those are courtesy of flickr since I forgot to take a picture). So far, I've eaten one for breakfast and one for lunch. Normally, I wouldn't condone this type of behavior, but it is Friday, and like I said, it really is one of the best cakes I've ever baked.

In other news, I'm hoping to get a new roommate this weekend - one of the furry, purring variety. Cross your fingers we find the perfect one - preferably fat and preferably orange.

Until next time, enjoy yourselves!