Send Something Good Reveal!

So one of my best friends Gentri Lee started this amazing project called Send Something Good, formerly the package pals. It is basically bloggers getting to know each other and sending each other packages from all over the country/world! I missed out on the first round but was determined to get in on it the second time! I had so much fun shopping for my blogger Amanda. She is a graphic designer/screen printer. She loves dragons, trying out new recipes, and has an adorable dog! I wanted to give her a good mix of some local and personalized things along with some things she would like! And check out her amazing blog here!

- Cinnomon Strusseul Candle made in Maryland - I want to eat it... in fact there is a warning on the outside of their candles not too they smell so good!
- Virginia boiled peanuts! They are a specialty here in local taverns.
- Essie nail polish, what girl doesn't like to have painted toes?
- A really pretty scarf
- A book with secret family recipes written inside!
- Polka dot socks, because socks are awesome and so are polka dots
- Reese no bake bars. YUM.
- A book ( I forgot to take a picture) because she, like me, loves to read!
- Dragon toy for her dog. My Dog carlos has a smaller version of it and it's one of his favorites.

I hope Amanda enjoyed her package as much as I loved putting it together! 

Now on to my stuff! Kylie was my secret package sender and you can visit her blog here to find out just how amazing she is! 

 Isn't it pretty?? I got these adorable books, some lip gloss, nail polish, amazing smelling cherry blossom lotion, sparkly nail polish (in the exact color I had been eyeing literally 2 nights before) , a Grand Canyon keychain! (I already have our mail key on it!) And the most amazing hand crafter earrings and hair pieces! She also sent a card a few days later that had some amazing recipes written on paint swatches, how clever is that?! I am so always going to use those as recipe cards now! 

Are these not the most adorable things ever? I LOVE them. They make my inner Blair Waldorf beam with happiness! This project was amazing and I'm so glad I got the change to participate and can't wait to do it again next time!

xoxo

The Mrs.

Tag your it!

Well this must be the adult version of tag. Instead of actually running around trying to catch one another, we just sit at our computers and electronically "tag" each other in posts. I'm in. haha! A while ago ( maybe like a month) my bestie bri tagged me in this post going around. I am finally feeling bored enough and don't have anything to blog about to respond so here we go.

11 random things about me:
1. I really love garlic. On anything.
2. My favorite drink is Dr Pepper, followed closely by pom juice and ginger ale mixed together
3. I am a mac geek, and apple addict
4. I love to garden
5. I really like to eat cheese for dessert when we go to fancy restaurants
6. When I get really worked up or passionate/mad I start talking in a southern accent
7. I have 14 nieces and nephews with 2 more on the way
8. Costco is my favorite place to eat lunch
9. I hate doing dishes
10. I really dislike the color red
11. I love umbrellas


1. Where are you at right now?
I'm at home in my quaint little condo.
2. What is your favorite thing about your current job?
My paycheck..... and having my own office. Work and I are in a fight right now...
3. Would you rather... Have free gas for the rest of your life or be exempt from speeding tickets for the next 5 years?
Free gas please, than I could drive the most baller car ever and not feel bad paying $80 bucks to fill up.
4. What is your favorite joke?
What did the tractor say to the plow?
..... pull me closer John Deer.......
Never gets old! One of the kids I used to nanny told that to me when he was 5!
5. How often have you checked your phone today?
Probably half way to a million.
6. Would you rather go on an African Safari or sail through French Polynesia?
Oh I do love the water, but I think an African Safari would just be so fun!
7. Fitness class or at-home DVD?
Fitness class - ZUMBA!
8. What one political policy do you have a strong opinion about? What is that opinion?
I don't really care for politics most of the time and I really don't get involved over debates. I think that in general I feel like the government should probably require drug tests before handing out free stuff, I feel like they should probably reinstate the space program because lets be real at the rate we create plastic on a daily basis we are going to need a new planet eventually... but other than that I just try to mind my own business.
9. What is one thing you would change about your wedding? If not married, what is one thing you will make sure to include in your wedding?
I would try and remember more of it! Maybe have a longer gap between the wedding part and the reception part. Everything went so fast. Also I would have eaten food at my reception, cause it looks darn good in the pictures. 
10. Favorite appetizer? Dessert?
Favorite appetizer = mozzarella sticks
Favorite dessert = chocolate lava cakes or anything similar
11. What is your dream job?
Working at Disney 


Well there you have it. I completed this round of tag. I am not going to tag anyone else, probably cause I am the slowest runner on the playground, or because I'm already late sitting here blogging when I'm supposed to be going to zumba class. either way! Tag to anyone who wants to do it!


xoxo


The Mrs.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

(My Momma and I attending cooking school onboard the Ms Eurodam)

My mom is one of the most creative, driven, smartest, nicest, caring, amazing people ever. When my sister and I were kids she really tried to instill in us a love of cooking, knowledge of ingredients, spices things like that. I am ashamed to admit that for most of my tween/teen years, I shunned learning cooking skills from her. However in college I realized that cooking was fun, and if you were a good cook, then all the boys in your Ward would want to come over. Before I knew what had happened I had a culinary emphasis for a minor! Boy did I wish I had payed more attention to my mom when I was 14! 

Now cooking is something that my Mom, Sister and I all love to share with each other. It brings us closer together and we are always taking pictures of our meals and texting them to each other. 

My mom recently sent me a package that had several cookbooks in it. One was called Slow Cooker Revolution. It has 60 slow cooker recipes in it! So of course I had to try one right away! I love using my slow cooker, especially on Sundays because it is so wonderful to come home to a house that smells delicious after 3 hours of church in the middle of the day! 

I hope you enjoy this easy and delicious soup. It was especially tasty today as it's been really cloudy and rainy out here in VA. We missed the super moon last night due to cloud cover. BOO! But thats besides the point. Enjoy the soup!

Ingredients:

8 ounces bacon (about 8 slices) chopped

1 onion, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 tsp minced fresh thyme, or 1/2 tsp dried

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

3 lbs russet potatoes (about 6 medium spuds) peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra for topping your soup

1/2 c heavy cream

salt and pepper

3 scallions, sliced thin

Directions:

1. Cook bacon in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until crispt, 5 to 7 min. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and refrigerate until serving time. Drain all but 2 tbsp of bacon fat. Leave that in the skillet. 

2. add onion, garlic, and thyme to fat in the skillet and cook over medium heat until onion is softened and golden, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for another minute. Slowly whisk in 1 cup broth, scraping any browned bits, transfer to slow cooker.

3. Stir remaining 3 cups broth and potatoes into slow cooker, cover and cook until potatoes are tender, 4 to 6 hours on low.

4. Transfer 2 cups cooked potatoes to a bowl and mash smooth. Stir cheddar into soup until evenly melted, then stir in mashed potatoes and cream. Let soup sit until heated evenly again.

5. You can microwave your bacon to heat it up again, or just leave it out while your mashing your potatoes etc and then crumble it. Season your soup with salt and pepper to taste and put bacon, extra cheddar and scallions on top to garnish.

xoxo

The Mrs. 

Do the Derby

 Well many people in the Nation will recognize today as Cinco De Mayo. However here in the South, we recognize that it's the first Saturday in May, aka Derby Day! I may have been raised in the Tropics, but I am a tad bit obsessed with Southern Culture. 

I secretly wish that we all had southern drawls and wore sun dresses and hats every day. And that the worst thing going on in town was that Sally Mae was caught kissin' Paul behind the garden gate. A girl can dream right? 

Anyway my obsession with Southern culture probably comes from my love of good down home food, manners, and southern fashion. The Kentucky Derby is a historic event that showcases all of these things. 

Just some fun facts for the day:

- The first Kentucky Derby was held May 17th, 1875

- The first winning horse was named Aristides

- It is estimated that more than 10,000 parties are held in Louisville during "Derby Week"

- The track is approximately 1.25 miles long

- Mint Juleps are the drink of choice

  

 What would your Derby hat 

look like?

I love tea sandwiches. My favorites are cucumber and cream cheese and chicken salad. Hope you enjoy this recipe for my mamma's chicken salad. 

Ingredients:

1 rotisserie chicken (Costco for $5!!) or 2 cooked chicken breasts

2 stalks of celery

1 green apple

1 tbs mayonnaise

1 tbs greek yogurt

1 or 2 scallions/green onions/chives 

onion powder

fresh ground black pepper

garlic powder

dried parsley

1. Shred chicken or cut into small chunks. 

2. Dice green apple, scallions, and celery into small bite size pieces and combine with chicken, mayonnaise, greek yogurt.

3. Season to taste with black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley

*Best if served on White bread, or fresh water rolls

Happy Derby Day!


xoxo
The Mrs.

Just another Thursday in Utah

This last week John and I had the opportunity to go to Utah. YAY! To most people this doesn't sound like as fun a trip as perhaps the Caribbean, but it holds its charms! It was a super great trip! We got to see so many friends and spend a lot of time with family, which was the main reason we went. Johns little sister Brittany's husband graduated from BYU. YAY! So to show our family support we rallied and headed out to party!  

The trip started out super exciting, even at the airport! Not only did we both get the pat down... sexy... but the recently arrived Space Shuttle Discovery was being towed out to the hanger while we were on the runway! So cool! I am a space nerd, just FYI. To celebrate the space shuttle retiring a few days earlier we watched Stark Trek.... NERD ALERT ... I know.

Do you see it? It was a bad view, and blurry and raining, but it's there in the corner, under that smear.... 

Utah was much sunnier and warmer when we got there! But I forgot all the little quirks of Utah in these last 8 months. Like for example we flew into Utah on a Thursday. Not weird to most people right? Long weekend, cheaper air fair... Well let me tell you what Utah Thursdays are like in the Salt Lake Airport. 

Screaming, cheering, and shouting. 

Flags from different countries and balloons galore. The entire family takes the day off to sit in the airport. Why you might ask? Because it's Thursday, aka Missionaries come home day! As John and I headed to baggage claim we were bombarded my mothers bawling their eyes out and Brazilian flags. 

Awesome. We love Utah. 

We headed straight to Downtown SLC once we got our rental car to take in the sights of Temple Square and catch one of Johns best friends by surprise at work! The tulips were so beautiful in Temple Square! I love Spring. And this year not only did I get Spring in Virginia, but I got an extra Spring in Utah! Beautiful yes? 

 We went to brunch with my bestie, Christyn, you might also know her as princess A-rod, Sleeping Beauty, or Aurora. We worked at Disney together and we lived together while John and I were engaged. Bottom line is she is awesome. Also we got to see my childhood friend Kendra, her husband Jeff, and their adorable little girls. They are so much fun and I wish we lived closer so we could get together more often! 

 Just another Thursday in Utah 

 We of COURSE had to grab some In-N-Out Burger. YUM. We maybe went twice... I had to ok? I know I don't eat fast food, (not since April 2011) , but I don't think this counts.... Or at least don't tell Jamie Oliver ok? 

 Don't these pictures just make you smile? Nothing says I'm going to be an awesome dad like rough housing with the nephews. John is so good with all 14 of his nieces and nephews I can't wait to start our own family. someday... in the future... distant future.... ALSO can you look at that little girl? RUBY is the perfect baby. I would have 12 children if they all turned out like her. She is all smiles and pigtails.

 John and I with his little sister Brittany and her husband Janssen. We had so much fun with them and can't wait to get together again at the Family Reunion in June! YAY Good Times. We are so blessed with so many wonderful family members! 

Whelp that's our trip in a nutshell, ya know, just another Thursday in Utah. No biggie.

xoxo
The Mrs. 

Must be the Playoffs

I love hockey.

And I love the playoffs. Because there are twice as many fights as the regular season and everyone plays way better. This was a game between the Penguins(whom I strongly dislike) and the Flyers (meh) on 4/15/12. But this tension and this fighting, that is why hockey is my favorite sport. Barbaric, maybe. Awesome, definitely. 6 players were ejected from this game and 2 left injured. Check it out.

Project Time

Some of you may remember my dining room table from our apartment in Idaho. It was large, rectangular, spray painted black and red. It functioned mostly as a place for us to put stuff and we rarely ate at it, mostly because when we actually got it, it was cheap and painted poorly.

When we were packing up to move to Virginia John and I decided to sell it and buy a new table when we got back east! Well after looking at what felt like thousands of tables on Pintrest I finally settled on the look I wanted.

White and wood country chic.

I wanted a dark stained wooden top with antique white legs, a fairly popular style so it wasn't hard to find the color combination. But.... then I got to thinking that if I was going to buy a table, I want it to be something I'm going to love for years. So that meant it had to be kid friendly as well.

Solid wood was a must, rounded edges, also a must. I wanted it to have four legs as opposed to a pedestal in the center to make it easier to clean up cheerio crumbs that I was envisioning on my floor someday. This was much trickier to find.

BUT, I am happy to inform you that after a solid month of scouring Craigslist and furniture stores we found our perfect dining table, and it was 50% off! Impressed yet?

I absolutely love this table, the only reason it was in the scratch and dent section of the furniture store was because the manufactures accidentally forgot to ship the leaf with it so it had been a floor model.

SCORE.

It is a six seater, made right here in the USA out of solid maple. The only problem? no chairs. Because the table wasn't discontinued the chairs were still full price at a lovely $249.99. YIKES. We opted to take the table and figure out the chairs later. Which brings me to the title of this post. John and I repeated our furniture shopping process and started scouring Craigslist and other stores looking for some chairs to go with our new table. Finally we found this place called Bare Wood Furniture. They have all sorts of unfinished wooden furniture, you can either customize your finish and have them do it before they ship it to you, or you can take the unfinished piece and finish it yourself. We choose option #2!

These are the chairs we got to go with our table, they are very comfortable and hit your back just right! We are going to paint the legs and back a white color to match the table legs and stain the seat to match the table! Now the only challenge is fining the right paint colors!

Too many choices! Wish us luck! I'll post pictures as the project progresses!

XOXO

The Mrs.