Gimme Some S'more!

A perfect night is when Josh finally gives in to my whining about wanting to make s'mores!

With a few ingredients...

And your kitchen stove...

You get to have something so delicious!

And messy.

Mmmm...even though you really can't eat more than one because after that you pretty much feel like you could never eat another s'more in your life!

But we all know it won't be more than a week until I'm itchin to make them again!

Go make some! 

Happy S'moring!

Caution: Romance Ahead!

Valentine's Day. 

My husband is an amazing man and my best friend.

With V-Day falling on a Sunday and Josh having to work on Sundays, we celebrated on Saturday (well, he spoiled me on Saturday and then I got to spoil him on Sunday.) We went to lunch on Saturday at Mangos. It was delicious, like always. The weather was beautiful so we decided to sit outside and really enjoy it. The sky was blue, trees overhead and love in the air.

Then we shopped around, got cookies from Sweet Cakes and spent the afternoon just enjoying the day together.

When we got home, I went into our bedroom to put some things away and I returned to the living room to a beautiful dozen roses.

I had to stay in the living room and watch tv while josh made a surprise dinner.

I was shocked when he was done...

Bacon wrapped Filet Mignon, rosemary red potatoes and steamed asparagus.

For dessert...something called Strawberries Romanov.

Fancy Right!?

He blows me away.

It was strawberries in a cream that is made of a bunch of things like melted vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and sour cream with a drizzle of orange liqeour.

Then topped with mint and chocolate shavings.

My husband did that!

It was soooo good!

I was so full and smitten with him.

I told him that even if the food would had not came out good, (though it was one of the best meals I've ever eaten) it was so amazing that he put so much effort into finding those recipes and making everything.

I slept like a baby.

I don't even remember him leaving for work at 5am.

 8:30 rolled around and of course the pup needed to go outside to do her little doggie business.

As I walk past our bathroom, something caught my eye...

Even when he isn't home, he amazes me.

So I got ready for the day and went to meet him for his lunch.  I called Pei Wei on my way and had them make our food so it was ready when we got there. He was surprised.

After I dropped him back off at work I went and bought a balloon, card and magazine for him.

I went back to his work, where I used my extra key to his truck to put those things on his seat.  Aww.

(Even though he can't read a magazine on his drive home, I know...)

I will be making chicken enchiladas for dinner and a berry crisp for dessert.  My man loves berries and I never really buy them because I could take em or leave em. So...on this Vday, he get's berries :)

And to top it off, (since he really would have no need for flowers) I bought him the car mount for our Droid phones.

He's gonna LOVE it!

No, we don't need a holiday to do things like this for each other, but it's just another chance for us to show our love in different ways.

Happiest.
Valentine's.

Day.

Joe's Crab Shack

Thursday night we had a PTO fundraiser at Joe's Crab Shack for my school.  Josh and I went for dinner with Kelle and her

boyfriend Will.  We had a blast!

I can't remember the last time (until now!) that I ate an entire meal with my hands! (and so did everyone else I was with!)  We were cracking crab, picking up corn on the cob and even just grabbing the red potatoes right with our fingers. 

I felt like a kid. No worries, no sense of proper etiquette.

Tons of fun!

Obviously, there was no way I was gonna put on an adult sided bib.  But we got Will to! 

Nothing like a big ol' bucket of crab to bond with your friends!

Folding Like Nobody's Business! (And recipe!)

One of the coolest things Josh and I each got for christmas are these calendars.

and

Each day we grab our calendars, sit down and fold-it-up! It's so much fun!

So far I have made a Nightingale and a dog's head.

We love it!

Recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup*
Be aware that I rarely ever exactly follow a recipe. I pretty much use the recipe to get ideas of what ingredients should be added and then I mix it up and make my own changes.

Here's the jist...
You will need:
shredded chicken ( I like to buy one of the whole roasted chickens and then just use all the meat so I dont have to cook the chicken and then wait for it to cool before shredding it, to me, it's less work.)
reduced sodium chicken broth (one really big can and one or two small cans)
one large can diced tomatoes (but I only ended up using 3/4 of it)
two jalapenos (you can leave in or take out the seeds depending on how hot you want the soup)
one small onion
vegetable oil
garlic
some cilantro
one can of rinsed black beans
one can of kernal corn
cumin, salt, pepper
shredded cheese
avocado
tortilla strips, a squeeze of lime and sour cream to put on top

Sautee the onion in about 2 tbsp of oil. when they are soft add the jalapeno (diced up) and garlic.
Add the broth, beans, corn and tomatoes and let it come to a boil.
Throw in your shredded chicken and any other spices you want.
The longer you let it cook the better the flavors get.
Use the other things as garnish on top :)
Mmmm tasty! Enjoy!

*I took this recipe from Danial Boone on the food network, it is really his and I just sometimes mix up what I want in it and how I make it.

Awesomeness by Mistake

Tonight I decided to make chicken tortilla soup. I made it sometime last year and it turned out awesome. This is what it looked like...

The reason I was excited to make it right now is because I got one of these for Christmas...

This cast iron pot is amazing.
So anyhoo, I was making my baked tortilla strips to put on top of the soup and when I started cutting them, I had created the coolest tortilla strips ever! Behold!...

I would tell you how I did it, but that would make no sense. Maybe sometime. Don't you love it when something awesome happens by accident!

Random

So...i'm sitting here thinking "What should I do a blog post about?" No ideas...

Well, I guess it will just be full of things very random! Yes, that sounds fun!

1. Josh keeps asking me to make him Scotch Eggs. Could that just sound anymore gross? Anyway, here is what they are...

hardboiled egg

wrapped in sausage

rolled in bread crumbs

then...

deep fried.

Ewww.

Apparently, they should look something like this.

I would love to try making this for him, but let's be honest, I don't make things that are gross.

2. The Simpsons are turning 20. They rock.

Every moment in life worth remembering can be related to a time in Simpsons history.

3. Purple nails rock my world. No picture. I should have taken one, but oh well.
They are so pretty!

4. Remember the game Mall Madness?

I am dying to break out this gem and play it again! Any takers?

Lastly, I can't believe I forgot to post about this when it happened...

Picture this...

Josh and I are driving down the road when all of a sudden he says " Holy crap, you have to look inside that truck. "

"There are tassels hanging from the roof! "

So, since I know you would all do the same thing, what do i do?!

Pull out my camera, of course!

I know what you're thinking.

"How do I get that in my car?" mixed with a little "Man, they must get all the ladies!"

That's all for now!

So loved. So appreciated.

Friday afternoon. A whole week with children who talk a bit too much all behind me now. Pull into the garage. Two single stem red roses on the washing machine. A smile emerges across my face. Thats how it started. I walked in the house to find a bubble bath being drawn for me with my book and two more red roses waiting on the side of the tub. As I soak, relax and read Josh is in the kitchen. He tells me I have about five more minutes and then dinner will be ready.

I eventually get out, put on comfy clothes(the best part of usual fridays) and go sit down in the living room. He brings to me, on a tray, our salads (first course) with my favorite dressing and even craisins on mine! Man, how I love craisins on my salads. We eat and then Josh takes them away to get the main course. Fresh salmon with asparagus and champagne. Two more red roses. Holy cow! Romantic! So we eat dinner and watch a movie and I am so relaxed, full and content when Josh says "Ready for dessert?" Three of my favorite words!

I am thinking we will have something like ice cream or cookies. I was wrong. My husband made (from scratch) TIRAMISU! Yes. He did it all. Coffee soaked lady fingers, the whipping of the egg yolks, whipped cream, marscarpone cheese and cocoa powder on top. it was served with, of course, two last red roses. (Or so I thought). I dont know if I have ever been more impressed. It was magical and it makes me feel so lucky to have found him. You may be sitting there thinking, "wow, im jealous". That's ok. Have your husband or boyfriend read this. Lastly, we were getting in bed and as I just lay down he pulls out two more roses from his dresser drawer and says, "that makes a dozen." Everything was so unexpected. A wonderful night with a wonderful man.