Dinner

This week my parents are out of town and well that means I'm in charge of cooking!! I actually cook a few times a week for all of us, but my Dad is a master chef (sorta) and enjoys cooking...so why would I steal his joy?! I really really enjoy cooking. It's fun, creative, relaxing, and rewarding. I remember after Violet was born I would try to cook something and she would either end up crying or wake up in the middle of it. But once I got around to finishing a meal, I felt human again! It was wonderful!

I wanted to share two recipes I made this week for dinner! They are delicious!! The first one was Ginger Steak Salad from Pioneer Woman


This pic is from her website, it really is that good! I didn't use the sherry, well because we didnt have any. It was super easy, because we had all the ingredients already! I had leftovers for lunch today!

For dinner last night we had Jalapeno Basil Pork Chops! Again, another delicious easy recipe! I found this on the Southern Living website!

I had to improvise a little bit with this recipe. I couldn't find a jalapeno pepper jelly, I know they usually sell them in specialty stores, but I wasn't about to go around CYP to find it. So I bought Plum Jelly and chopped up a jalapeno = jalapeno pepper jelly! Also I just cooked these on the stove top instead of the grill. We couldn't stop saying "this is so good!" I served sauteed zucchini and rice as sides!

I WILL be making these again!! Hope you try them for yourself! :)

100th post!!

In honor of my one hundredth post lets make a random list of rambles:

1. It has taken me since October 2008 to write 100 blog posts. Maybe I should blog more often. I mean I know I have a few followers out there! thanks for the comments!

2. I recently been browsing the new IKEA catalog ::oh bless:: I want/need most of what's in there! Now dont get me wrong a lot of IKEA stuff is cheeeeap and you are paying for the cheeeeapness, but it is really cute.

3. That being said a few of my friends have moved into new houses and other few have moved into new apartments! I love visiting new places of my friends homes to see how they decorated, what it looks like, and to see how happy they are in their new places.

4. This topic also leads me and Bryson missing all our stuff that has been in storage for the past 5 months. It urges me to want to decorate my home or a space that's mine! But it's hard to do when we dont have a place of our own yet.

5. Also, it makes me remember the purpose behind moving in with my parents. To save money and to build our savings. I'm thankful they are letting us live with them! I'm also thankful for the job Bryson has that we are able to save.

6. With the job that Bryson has leads us to be able to afford things like an oil change, but with further inspection of the car it needs new tires and brakes. oh my me. That's a lot of moola la! But keeping a car in good well maintained with every 30,000 miles is better than having if break on you in the long run.

7. It has been raining like were back in Noah's time! Everyday last week it rained, not just a sprinkle, but hard down pour type of rain. What's up Houston?!

8. I want cupcakes all. the. time!!! or a few friends introduced me to "cake balls" and they are delish! I'll have to make some a blog about it!

9. I dont understand these legalized Marijuana states, laws, and dispensaries. I mean seriously? Medicine? I just dont agree with it! Apparently there is now a to university earn a college degree in medical cannabis/marijuana...

10. Last but not least, Violet has learned to hum. She especially likes to show off her humming skills while nursing.

Sunday Blues

I was introduced to the "sunday blues" from my college roommate Grace and now Bryson. It's that feeling you get Sunday (sometime it creeps in Saturday night) knowing your weekend is over and another work week is on it's way. I woke up this morning a little bummed that it was already Sunday. (Like I have the power to stop time or something!) I had a great weekend! Bryson had the whole weekend off so we had a lot of time together! It was a little more busy than usual (meaning we didn't just sit around at home) but we ran errands, went out for coffee with my parents, took the car to get an oil change (and later find out it needs new tires...so thankful Bryson has a job!), took naps, hungout with friends, and visited our friends who moved into new houses and apartments! It was a great great weekend! I'm just blue the weekend is over to spend time with friends and family.. So I guess now you can understand the blues, do you ever get them?

Dont Forget to Laugh

Just like when I was pregnant I get weekly newsletters from babycenter.com giving tips, advice and information about the growth of Baby V! The website also is great for a "go-to" place when I have a question! It has been a great tool for me and Bryson, especially those late nights when Violet would not stop crying, or wasn't eating or had crusty stuff in her eyes....seriously it's a great website! I received this in the email today and thought I'd share

Five things you wish could be a little more dry:
• Your baby's chins.
• Your shoulder and hair, after a burping session.
• Your underwear, after sneezing.
• Those two spreading circles on the front of your shirt.
• Your eyes, whenever you see a hurt animal, your baby's face, or an even vaguely sentimental long-distance phone service commercial.

Game Day

Most mornings Bryson leaves for work before V and I are up. Every morning he gives me a smooch, I ask him what time it is and he tells me bye. I've come to realize that I'm delirious at this time in the morning and sometimes I remember him telling me something, but then I wake up a few hours later and think it was a dream. We have this on-going game of when we talk later in the day I'll try to recall the color of his shirt of the day....or if I said anything funny when he said bye. Sometimes I can recall the color of his shirt and sometimes I remember what was said. But days like today (he had to work for just the morning this Saturday...) I remember he told me bye and asked if Violet woke up in the night; but I cannot for the life of me remember what color shirt he was wearing!! In fact I dont think I even opened my eyes! Oh, the little things in life that entertain me...

Girls Weekend!

This past weekend my best college girls got together for another girls weekend! I'd like to say our annual or monthly weekend...but it wasn't, just a fun weekend with the girls! We just try to spend a weekend together as often as we can! Amanda and her Hubs, JP, recently moved to Marble Falls and hosted us all at her new pad! (which is super cute!) Bryson semi-attended; but at the Lake with JP...and babysat V while us girls went swimming! Thanks B!

Mandi has told us how pretty it is out there at Lake Buchanan, but until you see if for yourself you really can't imagine it! JP took all us girls out on the boat and dropped us off here:

We swam, sang songs, went under the falls so many times, got freaked out about snakes and fish (okay that was just me), and imagined we were in Bora Bora....


Later in the afternoon we all went to the famous Bluebonnet Cafe! I definitely ate my portion of Chicken Fried Steak! so delish! They are known for their pies...as you can see in the picture Kim and Nikki are holding a box.


We stayed up waaaay to late both nights laughing, talking, watching Lady GaGa videos, making Kim tell us more Aunt Kathleen stories and eating sweets! We may have had a few heated discussions about Labradoodles and Shannon GaGa...I apologize, I brought those up! Sorry Grace :) It was such a fun weekend to connect with these girls again! I really needed it! I'm so thankful for their friendships! I really L-O-L-O-L-O-V-E each one of them so much! (Jessie and Lindsey included!) I'm glad our friendship has extended and continues to grow even when we dont live in the same apartment like college! Looking forward to when we can all be together again!

Violet was such a good girl the whole trip! Her Aunties really spoiled her with too many hugs and kisses! On the way home Kim, Bryson and I stopped at Jack in the Box and this is what happened:

She pressed onion rings...so we got them for free! haha!