Happy Memorial Day and Make Me a Meal Monday

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day... and I hope you had a chance to think and reflect what this day is about! i appreciate every man and woman who has ever and who is currently serving for our country... they go every day and protect us so we can live freely... so thank you for anyone who has ever served.

this weekend has been quiet eventful... cookouts, friends, spending time in the sun

friday at work we had a cookout... its so nice to have something other than cafeteria food or frozen meals for lunch - and what better way to start Memorial Day weekend. we are all asked to sign up for a dish to make, and this time Nancy made smores - however i couldn't resist taking a picture of this kodak moment... roasting marshmallows over a charcoal grill
We had two cookouts this weekend - one on Friday at work and the other tonight with my parents next door neighbors - both times I brought the same dish (pretty convenient). I made cowboy caviar (trust me it sounds much more fancy than what it is)

Start by spreading cream cheese on the bottom your dish

Black Bean Mixture
1 can rinsed black beans
1 can black olives
1 small red onion
1 fresh squeezed lime
2 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of EVOO
3 tablespoons of fresh cilantro
3 dashes of cumin
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of black pepper

Top with hard boiled eggs

Top with Green Onions

Serve with Tortilla Chips
(You can also just serve the black bean mixture as a dip without the cream cheese, green onions and hard boiled eggs)

I hope you had an enjoyable weekend. We had lots of fun with friends and family and enjoyed our time in the sun!

Like Justin told me on our way home tonight from our cookout - its the unofficial start of the summer!

Show Us Your Life - Things that make you Most Happy

This week on Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life is things that you LOVE/make you happy and here are a few of mine - in no particular order of course...

• driving on a beautiful summer day with the windows down and listening to one of my favorite songs (Red Neck Yacht Club by Craig Morgan can put me in a good mood no matter what kind of day it is - it makes any day better!)
  

• Laughing so hard that your cheeks hurt, and you have tears in your eyes
• giving gifts to others
  
• boating
  

• snowboarding

• being completely caught up with laundry
• OSU football

• getting a manicure/pedicure
• getting a new shampoo and conditioner

• planning parties/cookouts/things for all of our friends to do together
• Fountain Diet Cokes with crushed ice in a Styrofoam cup

Head on over to Kelly's Korner to see what other bloggers favorite things are... what are yours?

BBBlocks

I'm pretty sure that if you have been following my blog for long enough you are well aware of my most favorite baby shower gift to give...

BBBlocks

Well you are in luck - because this week, Taylor from Undomestic Momma is featuring a give-a-way for a set of blocks.

Here are a few examples of some of my favorite babies modeling the bbblocks

my goddaughter Molly

in the cute little pillowcase dress that I made her

and i realize this is not in chronological order, however i wanted you to see that normally Molly is a very happy baby, however she was not having much of the picture taking at the time of this picture - and it makes me laugh every time I see it!

Madison

Even though these are an older set of the BBBlocks - I had to put up a few of my favorite pictures of Jude. Laurie has been so creative in taking Jude's weekly pictures.
**I may be biased but i'm pretty sure that my friends have some of the cutest kids in the world!**

So make sure that you go on over to Taylor's blog and register for this awesome give-a-way!!!

Happy Wednesday :) I hope the weather is as beautiful where you live as it has been here lately!

I promise for more eventful postings coming up (this weekend is chuck full with softball, hanging out with friends, golfing, and boating - BRING ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!)

Top 2 Tuesdays - Favorite Dates

Today's Top 2 Tuesday theme is.....

Top 2 Dates

My favorite date of JM and mine, had to be our first date, when he surprised me with tickets to the PGA Memorial Golf Tournament here in Columbus. I was already pouting because I wasn't going to get to the tournament at all because of something that had come up but J pulled through with tickets and it was the best first date, and date ever in my opinion.

my second favorite date had to be valentine's date of that same year. i had never had a boyfriend on valentines day, so i was VERY excited to finally get to celebrate feb 14th [rather than just sulk around and wear black on the worst holiday of the year]. i had made dinner reservations at the fish market
which is a nice restaurant here in Columbus, however mother nature had other plans for us.. it was a Level 2 snow emergency... but i told justin that we were going to make it to dinner, come hell or high water [snow] because if we didn't celebrate our first valentines day, i would make every valentines day from here on out miserable for him [nothing like threatening your boyfriend..] but we went to dinner, and had a great time.
not that dates are all about getting presents but that was when I received my Pandora bracelet and every time I look at it I remember our dinner and how special it was.

I asked Justin before he headed off to softball tonight what his favorite date of ours was, and he said the Memorial Tournament [which i was relieved that we had the same one], and i asked him to pick another of his favorite dates, and he said he couldn't think of one... i think this just means we need to go on more dates...ha!

Now head on over to Taylor's blog and check out other bloggers Top 2 Dates!

Make Me A Meal - Asian Chicken Chopped Salad

So i am slightly obsessed with the Asian Chicken Chopped Salad from Mimi's, it is just soooo good and so refreshing, and every time I leave, I try and remember all of the ingredients so I can re-create this delish salad on my own... well I have finally figured it out - and boy is it tasty!!

• 2-3 chicken breasts
• Baby Spring Mix Lettuce
• Sliced Red Pepper
  
• Sliced Snow Peas
• Shredded Carrots
• Sliced Water Chestnuts
• Green Onions [not pictured - my grocery store was out - really!?! who runs out of green onions]
• Madrian Oranges
• Chopped Cilantro
• Sesame Seeds
• Wonton Strips
• T Marzettis Asian Ginger Salad Dressing
• Ground Ginger [Seasoning for Chicken]
• Seminole Swamp Seasoning [Seasoning for Chicken]
  

Toasting the sesame seeds

start with a piece of tin foil and make a little tray
Broil the seeds

and make sure to set a timer - these things will go from non toasted, to perfect to burnt in a second
Voila

For the chicken we use Ground Ginger, Seminole Swamp Seasoning and Black Pepper

**you can only get the SWAMP seasoning via ebay - and its delicious - we use it on everything we grill!**

Mix everything together in your salad (minus the sesame seeds and wontons) and then top with sesame seeds, wontons and dressing - and voila, you have a VERY refreshing summer salad! Enjoy!

Thanks for the love:)

Thank you Julie for giving me the Versatile Blogger award, I am truly honored. I love reading your blog everyday, and I love your creativity and the gorgeous pictures that you find for your blog. The rules of this this wonderful award are that I need to post 7 interesting facts about me

1. i could eat peanut butter for every meal. i go through a container of pb in about a week and a half, i have a spoonful for breakfast everyday, and when i can't figure out what to have for dinner, i look to my staple - pb... its true!

2. i have some pretty weird quirks about food - i.e. i won't eat shredded meat of any kind - if you want to read more about my food issues - click here

3. i have a count down with a friend for kate plus 8 to return to tv (yes - even if is just Bri and I who intend on watching it - I am still VERY excited it!)

4. i have had my dog names picked out waaaaay before i had even thought about kids names. i love the names mulligan (for the dog i get from a shelter, a mulligan is a second chance in golf, and i want a second chance for the dog) and bogey. and justin wants to name a dog palmer (After palmer street where he went to college) however i'm okay with it because it went my golf theme

5. i have a VERY large extended family, i have 4 grandmas, 3 grandpas, and 2 great grandmas all still alive. i consider myself very fortunate to have known 5 of my other great grandparents before they passed as well.

6. i get really uncomfortable around people who wear socks with flip flops - like squeemy uncomfortable and i will probably walk away you because i can't look at it

7. i ALWAYS shop online or look through a flier before I go shopping so I don't impulse buy - i also make a list before i go out so i can make sure that i know EXACTLY what i am after, and i will make sure to bring any coupons with me that i may have - yes am i partially turning into my mother - absolutely, but its the only way that i know how to save money - lists, sales, and coupons!

While were on the topic of Julie from Brown Eyed Belle - I won this fabulous give-a-way from her a few weeks ago and I keep meaning to blog about it! it is perfect because i LOVE limes, and i am always about throwing fun parties for all of my friends! thanks Julie its awesome :)

and look how freakin' cute this envelope is - maybe its because i never go to the post office - but i never knew they had such cute things to ship your stuff

have you ever heard of an airplant?

I picked up this today when I was out... have you ever seen such a thing?!?!

**her name is Lola, you see if she has a name I will be much more interested in keeping her alive**

well i hadn't either. its called an airplant. it doesn't need any soil to grow, and it grows just in
air - hence the name

The more and more I learned about this $2.50 plant, the more I was intrigued

you only have to water it once every three days by dunking it in water, until it gets a to 2 or 3 years old, and then you can reduce it to once a week

they are nearly impossible to kill, which is ideal for me (well the lady at the store convinced jaci and i that it was next to impossible to kill, until jaci informed her that she had killed one a few years back)

the plant will take on the shape of whatever you put it in

i am excited to watch mine grow (which i am informed is a VERY slow process) to see what it will look like

I found these other images online of what a airplant can look like after a few years

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am i just living under a rock because i haven't seen these before, or am i onto a new trend??? have ya'll seen these in the past?

Top 2 Tuesday - Things to do in your lifetime

Its Top 2 Tuesday time...

this weeks theme is top 2 things you want to do before you die

1. mentor an under privileged child

I have been slightly addicted to the story behind the Blindside for the past month or so. Justin and I watched the movie a few weeks back, and then his parents got me the Blu Ray for completing the half marathon (and I could honestly watch it everyday), but every time I watch the dvd, i have to immediately watch the E! True Story behind the blindside - it is such a moving story. I think the Touhy's are amazing family, and to watch Mrs. Touhy's determination in making Michael successful is pretty motivating. I also happened to watch Extreme House Makeover this past week where the Touhy's helped in designing the house/field house for the dad of the family. I just think that there are so many more opportunities to help out an under privileged child in your community and that I could hopefully be half as committed and dedicated as the Touhy's I could make a difference.
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2. getting a hole-in-one in golf
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i used to be a pretty competitive/decent golfer in high school, and kind of lost interest after i graduated HS and got to college, but this year JM and I are going to work on getting out to the links at least 2 times a month together. i can't guarantee that a hole in one will happen any time soon... but it would be nice to get one :)
**on a side note I do need to give a shout out to my dad who got his first hole-in-one ever on Saturday! he has been playing golf since he was in middle school - so it was about time he got one! CONGRATS dad!**

Honorable Mentions

• Adopt a pet from a local shelter
• Find my dream job, one that I don't feel as if I am going to work every day
• Run an entire half marathon, not stopping and walking
• go to Augusta for the Masters
• go to the Winter X games
  

What are the top 2 things that you would like to do in your lifetime? Head on over to Taylor's blog and see if anyone else has your same ideas!

well hello piles......!

I started sorting my laundry today when I got home from work, and I quickly realized how far behind I am in the laundry department... its weird how I didn't miss not doing it... perhaps that is how all these piles accumulated!

alright back down to the laundry room to change a load over! i hope your Monday night is more exciting than my laundry!

The 39 hour standoff....

I have no clue what got into me yesterday, however I showed up to work at the golf course at 7am and never once reached for a diet coke (they only serve pepsi and I normally bring myself a diet coke or 2 to get me through my shifts) however, at the end of 9 hours of working, i felt pretty good without any caffeine, i came home, went for a run, went to B&L's for Sunday dinner, and then came home and went to bed. Thought NOTHING of not having a pop (okay, well i kinda did, but didn't think that I really needed one, so I refrained!)

**i did however try and put my chicken from work on a shelf, and put my phone in the fridge - i just chalked that one up to being tired, not the lack of caffeine- but who knows!**

this morning i met my director at first watch for breakfast, and decided to just order a water, i have some will power right? i don't need caffeine.

i got to work, and continued about my day, and then i realized i was becoming HIGHLY irritable.. and that i had no patience for anyone. so i decided it may be the lack of caffeine, and i have a slight headache, which too is from the lack of caffeine... so i decided for lunch that I was going to end my 39 hour drought of my beloved diet coke... and I surrendered to my favorite beverage in the entire world! the DC won!

Welcome back DC - I missed you!

Race for the Cure

This morning Justin and I woke up and ran Race for the Cure along with 50,000 others from Central Ohio.

This year we ran in celebration for:

• My Aunt Cami
• Justin's Mom, Tonya
• My 2nd grade teacher, Debbie U
• My good friends mom, Barb B

In memory of:

• Justin's, Aunt Carolyn

Chris Speilman came and spoke at the starting line, he lost his wife to a 9 year battle with breast cancer earlier this year. It was very motivating to hear him speak this morning before we started running. I think Columbus is more dedicated than ever to find a cure since we have lost Stefanie and Heather Pick, a news anchor for one of main news channels. They had an entire team dedicated to Stefanie and Heather, and they all wore pink wigs.

I get emotional every time we do race for the cure, especially at the beginning of the race, whenever I see a survivor tee-shirt, every time we pass a band who got up early to preform along the race course, but the thing that gets me the most every year is all of the Harley Davidson riders who come down and line the last part of the race... they rev their engines and it is so nice to realize that there are supporters of all walks of life who are fighting to find a cure for breast cancer (sorry i took the picture while running)
here is a picture of all the people crossing the finish line
and Justin and I at the end of the race. I was proud of Justin, he finished the race in 25 minutes and I wasn't too far behind him, and i crossed the finish line in 30 minute (which I will take because I am the worlds slowest runner!)
I hope you take a chance to participate in a Race for the Cure, it is very powerful. I am very proud to be able to participate in the 3rd largest one here in Columbus.

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday morning, I know I sure did!

Show us your life - Favorite Children's Books

This weeks SUYL topic is favorite children's books... which is ironic because my sister, mom and I were just talking about our favorite children's books a few weeks ago at Sunday dinner. When we were younger we would make a weekly trip to the library and my sister and I would get the same two books EVERY week.... my poor mom for having to read the same book over and over again.

Alli and I loved Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni. When we were talking about it recently we realized the underlying diversity lesson it had in the book, however, we didn't realize that at the time we were reading it. It is about little blue and little yellow meeting and creating green, even though the rest of the community was against the two colors "together".
i also LOVED any eric carle book i could get my hands on, but my ultimate favorite has always been the very hungry caterpillar

but my favorite newer children's' book has to be Chica Chica Boom Boom, I love the colors and the rhyming in the book, and KIDS love it - which is the best part!

What were your favorite children's books?

Don't forget to head on over to Kelly's Korner to check out other bloggers favorite kids books! you may get an idea for yourself of maybe a great shower gift for someone expecting!