CIAO BELLA INDEED

Man oh man have any of you had this stuff? I had it the first time at my parents house and I was hooked. I went to the Fresh Market on Monday and got some for us to have at the house.

I got Blood Orange, Mango, Coconut Sorbets and then some Pistachio gelato which Kenny says might be the best ice cream he has ever had. Which is big for him to say since it is not chocolate.

And the sorbets are pretty low calorie and low fat. I think the Coconut Sorbet might be my personal fave. I was a little leery at first because I thought it would taste like a Pina Colada which I hate. But instead it is creamy with little pieces of real coconut. Soooo good.

AM I 13?

I think I might be. I having a growing obsession with Taylor Swift. It is getting kind of serious. To the point where I check her website that is obviously geared for tweens and pre-teens every single day because I am trying to find out when tickets go on sale for a concert of hers I want to go to.

I am dying to go to one of her concerts. Are you worried about me yet? I would probably be the oldest person there except for parents that have brought their much younger than me daughters. And her concerts sell out in minutes so it would be quite the accomplishment to get these tickets.

I just think her songs are so fun and embarrassingly enough they really do sum up how you/I feel/felt when you are young and in love.

And has anyone seen her video that she did as a Mother's Day gift to her mom. The song is called The Best Day and it will make you cry. Go to You Tube and watch it now.

Is anyone else 13 with me? Please make me feel better. This girl is talented so I don't feel like obsession is totally unwarranted.

CHATTANOOGA WEEKEND

Kenny and I made our way to Chattanooga for our anniversary getaway on Friday. We got into town around 10 Friday night and pretty much went to bed so that we could wake up and go white water rafting the next day.

We booked our rafting trip with Raft One and these guys were so great. If you are going to go you have to book with them. They are a small company that gives you a really personal trip down the river. Our guides were sooo nice and knew so much about the river and the area. Not to mention that everyone we talked to that worked there was so friendly. They really gave us a great experience. (Not to mention all of them are cute to boot)

We did the full river trip that had some heavy duty rapids. It even included a section where the 1996 Olympic rafting competition was held. Which is where our raft ran into a little bit of trouble. The section has two Class 5's back to back and our raft flipped on the first rapid so we got pulled through the second one. I was pretty terrified and won't go into details about it. But Kenny was really excited after the fact because he thought it made for a good story. And since the Olympic park was where we flipped there was a professional photographer to capture it all on film, along with about 100 other spectators waiting to see carnage.We are still in the boat here. Not for long.

We are all under water here. Except for our guide who was trying to keep our raft from flipping completely over.

The person you see in the water here OUTSIDE of the raft would be Kenny getting pulled through the second Class 5 rapid.

That would be me getting pulled through the rapid,and wearing my "Oh my god I am going to die face." Attractive right?

And just wanted to include this one because if you look in the right bottom corner you will see my Chaco that I lost. That day was the first day I had ever worn them. They were brand new. Sad huh? We were all still in the water.

So I was finally pulled ashore by another guide having to throw me the safety rope. I was so freaked out by this point I could not control my arms and legs to swim to the bank.

And this is what my leg looked pretty soon afterward. This actually is not as bad as it got. Sunday it was soooo swollen. And then on Monday I went to the doctor and received antibiotics for an infection that was spreading up my leg from the cuts. Wonderful.

But do not fret, despite all the excitement Kenny and I had a fantastic time together. Saturday night we at an amazing restaurant, St. John's. It was so good and they even had a strawberry mojito that I enjoyed before Kenny and I drank an entire bottle of red wine. Then on Sunday we got up and made our way over to the Tennessee Aquarium before going to see an under the Sea 3D movie at their IMAX theatre.(Which I would highly recommend, it was so neat) And finally before heading back home we ate at a really good restaurant Bluewater Grille where I enjoyed a watermelon margarita that was divine.

It was so nice to get home Sunday night and fall into bed and then wake up and have Monday off. Still got some things done. Stay tuned for Menu Wednesday tomorrow. Kind of thrown off as to which day it is. But I made a really good recipe last night.

THE PERFECT EVENING

Kenny had to go out of town yesterday. Even though it was our anniversary I was totally okay with him going out of town. We are celebrating our anniversary this weekend so no worries. But Kenny being the amazing husband he is surprised me with a spa appointment to make up for him not being home last night. It was heavenly.

I had a hot stone massage. (The same kind of massage Kenny and I had on our honeymoon) It felt so good although I will admit that my shoulders and neck are pretty sore this morning. The girl told me afterwards that I had a lot of knots in my shoulders and neck. She said that they are caused by stress. I guess I am just going to need more massages to take care of that.

After my massage I had a really nice Fiji manicure and pedicure and I was practically falling asleep in the chair by the end of it. On my way out the door they handed a dinner to go from the deli next door and I headed home just in time for

AMERICAN IDOL!!!I am such a nerd but I literally jumped up and down and screamed when they announced he had won. I had voted for him at least 20 times the night before and was so nervous when it was time to announce the winner. I just wanted Kris to win so bad.

It was so sweet when his wife came up stage and he was getting emotional. The whole thing just made me so happy.

So all in all it was a great day. Our three year anniversary, a total pamper session, and then my pick wins American Idol! I'm a happy girl!

3 YEARS AGO TODAY

Three years ago today I married the man of my dreams. Cheesy I know.....but the absolute truth. I am so lucky to have him. Happy Anniversary sweetie!

So since I gave you some pics from the wedding last year. You can read that post here. I thought I would tell you our engagement story today.

Here it goes:
Kenny's final semester was wrapping up at Mississippi State. It was nearing the end of the semester. Finals were coming up and Kenny was going to graduate and leave me behind at State to move home and get a job. I still had two semesters to complete.

One morning when we were at the library Kenny asked me to go to a nice dinner with him. It would be our last real college date he said. (Sad right) We had dated all through college, so this date really was sentimental. I had no idea anything was up. In fact I even tried to postpone the date because I was stressed about school and I had chapter that night. He insisted that we go so I finally agreed to skip chapter and go on our date.

Coincidentally his mother was coming to Starkville that same day to help him move everything out of his apartment that he had lived in for several years in the Cotton District. (and to bring the ring from the jeweler in Jackson) There were lots of memories in that apartment.

So we go to dinner. The place's name escapes me now but we went there because they really knew how to cook a rare steak, which I love. It was a really nice dinner. Kenny did not eat very much where as I thoroughly enjoyed my fillet. Talking over dinner we decided we would go grab a movie that Kenny had at his apartment and get the dog and go watch the movie at my house.

So we leave the restaurant and head towards Kenny's apartment. We pull up outside and Kenny tells me he is just going to run in and grab everything and to just wait in the car. A few minutes later he comes back to his car and starts looking through the console. He tells me he is looking for his checkbook and then runs back inside. I still had no idea anything was going on. Everything up until this point was pretty typical.

Then he calls my cell phone and says I probably need to come inside because Lena chewed something up and he wanted my help cleaning it up. I said okay and start walking in the apartment.

I step in the door and the apartment is empty and dark. But there were roses, and petals and candles EVERYWHERE! Frank Sinatra who I loooove was playing and there were pictures of Kenny and I throughout our relationship on mantle of his fireplace surrounded by more candles. It was so pretty and intimate.

I come around the corner to find Kenny down on one knee where he he tells me about all the amazing time we will have together in the future and asks me to marry him. He said a lot of really sweet stuff but that is private. Sorry peeps!

Of course I said yes! On the counter there were two Crystal champagne flutes that he had ordered. They are the same flutes that we used to toast at at our wedding and now have our wedding date etched on them. We poured glasses of champagne and then danced together to Frank Sinatra. The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra was our first dance song at our wedding.

It was such a special night and I will remember it for ever and ever. And that brings us today. Almost 5 years later. (we had a long engagement so I could finish school) I can't believe it has been three years! Can't wait for 80 more!

Oh and one more thing (I know this a long post)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!

MENU MONDAY

Kenny and I had a really amazing weekend.  It was relaxed enough, but still very productive. We ended up not going to BBQ fest for fear of rain and it being a hassle to get to and from down town. I am sure a fun time was had by all.  Maybe next year.  

On Sunday, Kenny and I went over to my parents house to go fishing.  Kenny has been dying to go for a while now.  It was a successful trip because he caught the only fish of the day.

Sorry this picture is so blurry.  But I had not brought my camera down from the house so we had to improvise with the phone. Pretty good size fish.  So proud! 

Now I am counting down the days until our anniversary weekend away.  Our real anniversary is this Wednesday but we are celebrating with the weekend.  Can't wait!  Three years!

I had a week full of recipes planned out but I believe Kenny might be going out of town at some point this week and we ate at my parents last night so I think I am only going to end up cooking once or twice this week. I made the lasagna yesterday and we are eating it tonight.  The leftovers will probably last all week.  Yea!

MENU MONDAY

Monday- Lasagna from Semi Homemade Cookbook- See recipe below. (I know serious cooks hate Sandra Lee but I am sorry this recipe is awesome and is so good. It is my go to lasagna recipe. I also add Swiss cheese to every cheese layer.)

Tuesday-Artichoke Chicken (see recipe below) served with brown rice and green beans. I got this recipe from Kelly's Korner recipe blog. It looks delicious.

Wednesday- Not really sure

Thursday- Lasagna leftovers

Lasagna
Salt
1 package lasagna noodles
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 cans tomato soup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups cottage cheese (small curd)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Boil noodles according to package directions. Drain and arrange in casserole (see below).

While noodles are boiling, brown beef in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, adding chopped onion, garlic and oregano to meat as it cooks. When meat has browned, drain off fat and then add tomato soup and apple cider vinegar. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven for 350 degrees F.

Spray a medium casserole dish with a nonstick cooking spray. Lay noodles lengthwise across bottom of casserole dish. Spread a layer of cottage cheese over top of noodles. Add a layer of meat mixture, then cover with mozzarella cheese and repeat for a total of 3 layers. Finish with a layer of cheese and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

Artichoke Chicken

1 (15 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

3/4 Cup Grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tbls garlic salt

4 skinless boneless chicken breast half

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together the artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic salt. Place chicken in a greased baking dish, and cover evenly with artichoke mixture. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear.

(sorry this was a weak Menu Monday)

KRIS! KRIS! KRIS!

Am I the only one that thinks that Kris could pull this one out. (BTW I cannot stand the way he spells his name) I really really dislike Adam and I really love Kris. I have not voted in the past few weeks but I will be voting next week for sure.

Not only do I think Kris is so cute and amazing, I think is Adam is an over confident arrogant prick who thinks he has already won the competition and I want to tell ol Adam. I would never buy your screechy cd! Who's with me!!!!

SMELLS GOOD

So you might remember THIS post from a few months ago about the really neat gift my step mom gave me for Christmas. It included several samples of perfume along with a gift certificate to Sephora to receive a bottle of perfume of my choice after smelling and wearing all the different samples.

This weekend I used my gift certificate to get my new bottle of perfume.  My choice was Stella McCartney's perfume.  Man this stuff smells sooo good.  I really love all perfume but I am so excited about adding this new scent to my collection. ( I have around 12 bottles of different perfume, maybe more never counted)

WORN OUT

This weekend turned out to be an extremely productive weekend that frankly I am mentally and physically exhausted from. Wednesday night my mom came in town. I cooked dinner and we all just hung out.

On Thursday Kenny and I went to work and my mom painted our office a new color. I was supposed to help but she finished it before NOON. I know awesome right. I am in the process of putting that room together now that Kenny works from home. I have already ordered a desk and two large bookshelves to go in there. I am going to buy a rug next. I am eying one at Pottery Barn. But Kenny put the desk together this weekend. It looked great and with the new paint that room is finally coming together.

Thursday night my sister came in town and we went to see Fiddler on the Roof for Topol's farewell tour. You know, this guy from the movie. It was so good. Topol is 73 years old and sings in dances far better than I EVER could. The Orpheum was packed and the show was so fun. I am going to be sad when our season tickets are over. I have loved being able to go to all the plays. I still have wicked to look forward to.

Friday, I had taken the afternoon off to paint but since my mom had finished already we debated painting the kitchen and then decided to go shopping instead.My cousin's wedding is coming up in July in Atlanta and we both need lots of cute dresses for all the fun events. The wedding is black tie. I found a really adorable dress for the wedding but am still searching for rehearsal dinner and bridal luncheon dresses. My mom managed to find something for all the events. Lucky her. Friday night, I cooked a pot roast and we watched The Changeling. Despite my bitter hatred for Angelina Jolie I have to give her some credit for this movie. She did a good job. The movie was pretty intense though.

Saturday, my mom and I went to the Pottery Barn outlet and did some more shopping and then came home to drag Kenny away from working. We all went to see Wolverine. I have never seen any of the X-Men movies and thought this movie was pretty good. Kenny loved it and I can't really complain about watching Hugh Jackman and his muscles (P.S. You see him naked at one point) then we grabbed some Mexican in honor of Mother's Day.

Sunday, (aren't you worn out yet????) my mom left really early and then I tried to get some things done around the house before my dad got there at 11:30. Kenny and I had decided to FINALLY look into buying a car. So we invited my dad to come along and off we went. So.....I am so excited to say!!!!!

I GOT A CAR!
It was exactly what I wanted to! A Nissan Murano that looks just like this one. I love it!!! I have been wanting a Murano for a while now so I was so happy when we found one that we were able to make work with our budget and our wants and needs.


NO MORE CAR TROUBLE!!!! (please everyone for the love of God knock on wood for me right now)

We were at the dealership for five hours and buying a car can be very exhausting I found. When we finally got home last night we were both so tired and worn out. But like I said, this weekend was extremely productive.

Now the rain needs to go away. It is BBQ fest this weekend!

POSITIVE NOTE

Stress+Comfort Food = 1.5 LBS LOST

I try to see the good in everything. Even if it does not make logical sense.

BAD LUCK(ie. CAR TROUBLE) COMES IN THREES

UPDATE: JUST GOT THE ESTIMATE 700 EFFFING DOLLARS (EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE)BUT THAT IS COMPLETE AND UTTER B*LLSH*T. I WOULD OF PROBABLY BELIEVED HIM IF HADN'T TRIED TO TALK ME INTO A FAN BELT THAT I KNOW WE DON'T NEED. FRICKING CON ARTIST! I HATE MECHANICS. ANY CAR EXPERTS IN MY SMALL BLOGGER COMMUNITY.

Last night I went to my final Junior League meeting as a provisional member. I am now an active and I am extremely happy with my community placement that I received for next year. I got my first choice. Kids in the Kitchen. Kids, cooking, recipes....right up my alley.

As I am pulling out of the parking lot and sitting in all the traffic trying to leave the meeting (my friend Megan in her car behind me) my car dies. The headlights go off, the dash lights go off, the radio turns off and then the car turns off. Dead. Please keep in mind that we just had to sell our other car for scrap metal a week ago AND we just spent over 1000 dollars to fix a lot of stuff on this Explorer last month!

Megan and I get out of our cars and she pulls out her jumper cables. Which we don't know how to use, nor can we even figure out how to open the hood of my Explorer. Let me tell you this might sound a little sexist but the worst place your car could ever break down is a Junior League meeting. Not a man in sight.

Kenny leaves the house and is on his way and then Megan's boyfriend comes and manages to get the car to jump off. But as soon as I hit the gas the car dies again. We jumped it off again, then the car died. The Explorer spent the night in the parking lot it broke down in last night.

We are having it towed as we speak. Two tows in two weeks. I can admit that I am feeling a little sorry for myself. Car trouble really really stinks. Not only do you have to deal with not having a car but there is always that nervousness as to what the auto shop is going to tell you is wrong with it and whether they are being truthful.

But then the big girl voice comes out and says "this is life. Deal with it and get over it."

Just say a little prayer that it is nothing serious. Because really....enough is enough.

BOOKED

So just got finished booking Kenny and I's 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY trip.  I am so excited.  We are traveling to another part of Tennessee for a weekend away.  We will be doing a full day of white water rafting(Kenny has never been before) and then going to a really fancy shmancy dinner.Best of both worlds right!

It can't get here fast enough!  Not to mention that I cannot believe we have been married for 3 years!  

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

So despite the fact that it literally rained all day all night this weekend, Kenny and I still had a really good weekend. Friday night we went on a double date with new friends. We went for Mexican at Salsa. I had never been there before and it was awesome. Then we hopped on over to Brookhaven pub before heading to a nearby karaoke bar that will remain unnamed.

Needless to say it was a really fun night that Kenny and I were still feeling the affects of into the day on Saturday. Once we finally got up and around on Saturday we went to Best Buy to have a cd player put into the car my mother so graciously gave us. Kenny just could not deal with not having a cd player. Poor boy. After that we went to see the house our good friends Tracy and Joe bought. They were in the middle of sheet rocking and stripping wall paper but the house is great and we are so excited for them.

Saturday night we wanted some greasy food after our long Friday night so we went and ate at Central BBQ. Can I get an AMEN for some BBQ nachos. It was sooo good. We were stuffed. We then went and watched Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. It was really cute.

Sunday I went grocery shopping and we watched movies all day and night. It was a rainy and lazy Sunday. Hopefully the sun will come out at some point this week!

Here is what we are having to eat this week!

MENU MONDAY

Sunday- Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti served with green beans

Monday - I have my last Junior League meeting as a provisional tonight.  I will officially be a member after tonight so we are having a fend for yourself night.
Tuesday- Chicken Spaghetti leftovers

Wednesday -Blue Cheese and Bacon Rollups Served with brown rice and broccoli ( I am completely changing this recipe up.  But this is the recipe I got the idea from)

Thursday - Fiddler on the Roof at the Orpheum, eating out!

Friday- Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Saturday - Eating Out