Tuesday, April 13, 2010

My lost calling

Yesterday I came to the knowledge that I missed my calling in life. Sadly there is nothing that can be done about it. However, I can share with y'all what it would have been.
I went to Dairy Queen to get there new anniversary blizzard. Carmel fudge brownie. Sounds good, right. The brownie was really chalky tasting. That's when I had my "Ah-Ha" moment. I should have been an ice cream flavor creator! Next year's anniversary for Dairy Queen needs to be "M&M's and Gummy Bears in Vanilla ice cream! Maybe some fudge swirled in there. It would be so good!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Dinner Party

This may be an annoying blog, sorry in advance. But I really have the best "in-laws" a girl could ask for. Last night I was making shrimp and grits for dinner. Since it is almost impossible to cook a dinner for two, I had enough for 4. So I had Chris call his parents and invite them to dinner about 6:30 last night. After dinner, while I was cleaning the kitchen I just stopped and thanked God that I had been blessed with such a great family. My "In-laws" raved about dinner, never mentioned my messy house from keeping 4 kids all day and I didn't even have that nervous feeling about having company over. It was just a really good night.
Now the point of this blog actually is to share the best and easiest shrimp and grits recipe ever! Usually when I hear "easiest" about a recipe I think its going to cut corners and be just average. But this recipe is from the cook book "Doin' the Charleston". Chris got it for me on our first anniversary. Its a collection of different Charleston restaurant's favorite dishes. The Shrimp and Grits came from Tommy Condon's.
You'll need:
1 1/2 lb. small shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/3 C red onion
1/3 C green onion (I omitted this b/c I didn't have it)
1/3 C Chopped Celery
4 T butter
1/2 t Garlic chopped
1/2t cayenne
1tsp Worchester (I used about a T)
4 T diced tomatoes (I used diced tomatoes with zesty green chilles)
2 T flour
1 C half and half (I just used whole milk)

1. In Sauce pan Saute' vegetables and shrimp in butter until shrimp is firm
2. Add garlic, Cayenne pepper, Worchestershire sauce, tomatoes then saute' at low heat about 2 minute.
3. Add flour and stir quickly, blending evenly.
4. Slowly add milk until mixture is smooth and creamy.
5. Prepare 4 portions of grits in bowls.
6. pour shrimp mixture over grits and serve.

So Yummy! I hope ya'll try this, its amazing! Let me know if you try any of your own substitutions!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Joys of Motherhood: Potty Training!

Yes, its that time for my two year old. And if it wasn't already the thing I was most dreading it is now. Not only do I have my daughter to cohoarse into using the toilet but I also watch 2 more two year olds during the day that I am also trying to convince "the potty is fun"!
I always hated hearing people say "potty" and told myself my kids would never say that! Well she doesn't. She says poop. All the time! Just recently we were at a restaurant enjoying dinner (I use that word loosely, does anyone ever enjoy a dinner when two infants are screaming the whole time.) None the less, We're enjoying being out of the house and Nataly starts telling every one, " I poopin' Mommy, I poopin'." That's when I decided "Potty" would be an okay word to use at least for the first couple years.
Yesterday was a semi successful day for my mission. I bribed them with M&M's. They each went twice, but I think they had it all planned. They were wearing me down. After the theatrical of taking each of them twice Ben had a blow out (aka bad diaper). I carelessly left the M&M's on the counter in the kitchen with the lid only 1/2 on. By the time I returned to the kitchen Nataly and Jude had pushed chairs to the counter, were standing on them and throwing M&M's to Emma with one hand and eating handfuls at a time with their other. Needless to say I am out of M&M's and they didn't use the potty again.
I'm on a mission today! They will be potty trained by this time next week!!! hopefully

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Preview of Life before the Blog

I grew up in the South in a Christian home. I'm the youngest of 6 kids. I think I was always forgotten until everyone else was out of the house and then it was over load over protection. But both my parents and I made it thru. I jumped around colleges as well as my major and finally ended up in cosmotology. I hated it thru school but I just wanted something. I enjoy doing hair now on the side for family and friends but I would never encourage someone to pursue the field unless they loved it!
I met my husband at church in '05 and we spent a weekend at a Christian camp together. We both fell in love with each other but were in denial about it because we were both seeing other people. So we didn't see each other again until November '06 and since that day we have not spent a day apart. As I mentioned in my "About Me" we loved being crazy! We've done all kinds of things I could never write on here! But we just lived life to the fullest and loved every moment together.
After we got married we had Nataly and one year and ten days later we had Ben. After Ben I just stopped working out and stopped thinking about health. I honestly was just trying to make it thru most days with out losing my mind. So January '10 I weighed 140 (20lbs. more than I did when we met). Thats when I decided that the reason I felt so bad all the time was because I was fat! As of this morning I weigh 119! I've been eating a vegetarian diet and working out about everyday at 5:30 in the morning! Its been tough but very rewarding!
My next step in weight loss and getting healthy is going on a raw vegan diet. Today is my first day. Wish me luck!
And now you are pretty well caught up on my life and where I come from.