WIW: Wedding Edition

I know... I never do WIW, but I couldn't resist the wedding edition!

My dress... hmmmm, well, I didn't "know it" when I put it on.  I found myself comparing every dress to this one dress that I liked the best, but wasn't sure about the flowers on it.  My mom actually convinced me that this was MY dress.  It was Ines DiSanto and cost OH-TOO-MUCH money and we had to search for it again... I ended up finding it 86 miles away in La Jolla, CA.  So we had to go down there several times for measurements, etc. (don't find a dress at a trunk show! LOL)

My shoes had to be red, period.  I tried getting plain wedding shoes and dying them, bad idea! I had red feet just trying them on... and I really didn't want ruin my dress with red dye.  I was on the hunt for the perfect shoe... when I stumbled across these puppies at ALDO... never would have looked there for wedding shoes!  Oh and I wore them all night without blisters or anything!  Such comfy shoes!

I have a thing for shoes... here are my bridesmaids.  I think that they hated me because these shoes weren't so comfy.  I found these in a bridal magazine and my sister tracked them down and had to have Charles David order them in for me.  P.S. The Charles David staff at South Coast Plaza, amazing!

My hair piece is Erin Cole.  Only by accident did I get these beautiful pins.  It just so happened that I wasn't at work when one of our vendors came by to drop off a part.  He asked where I was and my sister told him about the wedding, etc. etc.  He came back with a gift... Erin Cole pins!  Ok, so I had been eyeballing Erin Cole's pins for months, but I waited too long to order them in time so I couldn't get them.  BUT guess what?  Erin just happened to be my vendors wife!  I will never forget this gift! My earrings are my moms... my something borrowed.  My necklace and bracelet are Tiffany, gifts from my hubby.

Want to see the rest of my wedding?  Here are a few shots.

March 14, 2009

Coordinator: Kerrie @ Platinum Weddings by Kerrie
Photography: Amy Squires
Floral Design: Kristin @ The Treasured Petal
Location: Huntington Beach Hyatt
Invitations & Signs: Jocey @ Joceybella Designs
Hair: Darlene @ Mane Moves and Body Works
Makeup: Tina @ Flawless Faces

I am linking up with Megan at Absolute Mommy.  Happy Anniversary Megan!

My Menu Monday {week 2}

Monday: Easy Chicken Enchiladas recipe here

via allrecipes.com

Tuesday: Fettuccine Alfredo recipe here

via kraftfoods.com

Wednesday: SUSHI night with my sister!

via yelp

Thursday: Malibu Chicken Burgers and French Fries

via baseball-fever.com

Ingredients:

Banquet Chicken Patty

Deli Sliced Ham

Swiss Cheese

Mayo

Mustard

This is a cheater cheater recipe, perfect for a busy weeknight. 

Cook the chicken patty as described on the package.  In the meantime, mix mayo and mustard, I am not sure the exact ratios.  I usually use 2-3 Tbsp of Mayo and a squeeze of mustard to taste. Once the chicken is heated through top with sliced ham and swiss cheese.  Put it back in the oven until the ham is warm and the cheese is melted.  Use the mayo / mustard as a dip.

It is delicious just like this, but the hubby requested burgers, so I just put the mayo / mustard on a bun and it's a burger.

Friday: Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze recipe here

via allrecipes

Saturday: Happy Cinco de Mayo

via festevents.org

We are partying with the family today, so I am not making dinner!  BUT I am making my favorite Sangria and Ceviche for the fiesta!

Sunday: Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole recipe here

Diet Diary {week 3}

No weight loss for me this week but I didn't gain any either!

I started Jullian's 30 day shred this week with my neighbor, S.  Holey hell, the first day I thought that I was going to die.  Thanks to your encouraging words, I tried it again on Saturday.  It wasn't nearly as bad as the first day!

I hang out with my neighbors a lot... I see at least one of them everyday.  On Sunday, I convinced M, D, and S to count calories with me.  It is easier to do in groups and since we are always together we can motivate each other.  My neighbor, S and I decided that once she lost 10 pounds we would get eyelash extensions... so now I just have to keep her on track so that I can get them too!

I learned something new this week... I can't hang out at S's house for too long or her hubby feeds me... and I will eat anything in front of me.  We call him "The Sabotager".

Flip Flop Swap with Wicked Chaos!

I am loving these "gift" swaps!  I did the Covert Robin Mystery Gift Exchange last month and the Flip Flop Swap this month.  Who doesn't like giving AND receiving a gift in the mail?!?  I love it!  

Anywho, I was partnered with Holly at Wicked Chaos.  Thank God she emailed me, because I was clueless that we were partnered!  Oh Lordy, sometimes I am a mess.  Thanks Holly!  

Holly got me out of my comfort zone, my usual flip flops are plain and well just flip flops.  I received these awesome new out of my comfort zone pair!  LOVE Oh, and they are super comfy too!  

My package also included Peanut Butter M&M's and 2 dog balls... sorry, no pictures, they were enjoyed before I got the camera out!  oops 

Thanks Holly for the flippy flops and thank you Cole for hosting the swap!  

My Menu Monday {week 1}

SO I know that I am not the best at writing new posts... But I have been thinking.  I do a menu at home every week, why don't I start sharing them with you?  Who doesn't need more ideas for dinner?!?

Welcome to My Menu Monday!

Monday: Turkey Tacos recipe here (I cheat and use the ground turkey taco flavor)

via Jennie-O

Tuesday: Roast Beef Dip on Garlic Bread

Ingredients: (serves 2)
1 Frozen Garlic Bread Roll
1/2 lb. Deli Roast Beef
4 slices Provolone Cheese
Au Jus Sauce (I use Johnny's French Dip)

Heat garlic bread according to package.  Mine comes sliced long way in half.  In the meantime, heat Au Jus according to package.  Once the bread heated top one side with roast beef and cheese.  Place back in the oven to heat roast beef and melt cheese.  This only takes a few minutes.  Place the 2 sides of bread together and serve with Au Jus.

Wednesday: SUSHI (my standing dinner date with my sister)

via sushilinks.com

Thursday: BBQ pork sandwiches recipe here

via all recipes

Friday: Chicken Pesto Pasta 

Ingredients: (serves 4-6)
2 Chicken Breasts
11 oz Pre-made Pesto Sauce
1 lb Any type of Pasta
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil

Heat oil on medium heat in a large skillet.  Salt and Pepper chicken breasts and place in skillet.  I typically cook them approx 10-15 minutes, flipping them 1/2 way through.  Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed.  Once the chicken is cooked through remove it from the skillet and cut into bite sized chucks.  Put them back in the skillet on medium-low and add 2 TBSP of the pesto.  Once pasta is done, add it to the skillet and mix in the rest of the pesto sauce and heat thoroughly.  Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and serve.

Saturday: Easy Lemon-Chicken Picatta recipe here 

via Kraft Foods

Sunday: Cheesy Meat Lasagna recipe here (I used ground turkey)

Enjoy!

Diet Diary {week 2}

Do you watch The Biggest Loser?  I don't unless I see that it is on. If you haven't seen it, you should watch it at least once... the contestants are amazing!

If you have seen a week 2 episode then you would know that week 2 is always the worst week.  My week 2 wasn't great either.  I met my goal of 2 lbs per week, but I was hoping it would be more.  I guess that I can't be down on myself for 2 lbs right?  I started going back to the gym this week... I used to be very good about working out 5 times a week, but that was before my wedding and I had lots of motivation to fit into my dress!  This time I am starting slowly, I make myself go to the gym 5 times a week and do cardio... then I leave.  I figure once I get back in the groove I will start lifting again.  I don't want to over do it otherwise I will find tons of excuses as to why I can't go, etc.

via johnisfit.com

This is TOTALLY me!  I workout so that I have enough calories left over to eat ice cream!

I count calories, it's the ONLY way I lose weight, I have to see the numbers!

It's Party Time

I am partying over at The D.I.Y. Dreamer today!  It's a Hellocotton Blog Hop!  Come on over and join us!

My Birthday Weekend and a Diet Update!

I don't know why but I wasn't ready for my birthday this year.  (sorry, no giveaways over here)  Maybe because it didn't seem like a year had passed already?  I lagged on making any plans so we just ended up having a low key family dinner at Duke's HB.  At dinner my nephew convinced my Dad to buy him a lei... but once he had it turned to me and said "Happy Birthday Auntie" I got this for you.  Such a doll that kid!  Oh yes, my neighbors mixed up a potent beverage before I left for dinner on Saturday... oops.  By the time we were supposed to leave for dinner, I didn't care what I looked like.  I went to dinner in a t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops.  (good thing we ate by the beach so I didn't look too out of place!)

On Sunday my neighborhood had an impromptu BBQ.  I love my neighborhood it's kinda like living in a college dorm... party!  OK, not all the time... but we hang out with our neighbors a lot, actually the hubby is next door right now!

Back to the diet update... even though I ate like a pig on Saturday, I controlled my self in front of all the food on Sunday AND I lost 5 pounds last week!  Hooray!

I even went to the gym... amazing, right!?!?!

Looking for Me?

I am guest blogging today at abbydid!  Head on over there and check out her stuff while you are there!  So super duper cute!

Thanks for having me Abby!!

Back on the Diet Wagon...

I start again... and again... and again... and I keep falling off again and again.   Well, I started again and I am going to try to stay on that baby this time.  I did it once... I can do it again, right?!?

Help me stay on track... I put this button up to the right... if you don't see my weight decreasing feel free to call me out on it! It's already Spring, I don't want to be stuck in sweatshirts this Summer!

Join the lose weight team at LIVESTRONG.COM

The Covert Robin GUEST POST by Ella

Back in March I participated in The Covert Robin Gift Exchange.  Rachael at imagine gnats came up with the greatest idea ever... a "round robin" type handmade gift exchange.  Crafting and gifts... my kind of party!      

I am so happy to introduce you to my amazing Covert Robin, Ella... this girl is my new sewing idol, I would love to quilt like her!! 

I'm guest blogging today as part of the Covert Robin swap over at imaginegnats! I'm Ella! I blog over at throwawenchintheworks. I must admit, I'm a big of a swap addict over on flickr. But a Covert Robin? That was new. As was getting a partner who didn't give me a mosaic to build off of. So, the stalking commenced. First, I read up on Nichole's blog. I found out she had dogs. Idea #1! I could make doggie treats. I have a certain cocker spaniel who volunteered to taste test.  

 I hunted for a bunch of recipes. I opted for a fairly simply peanut butter based one. Peanut butter is really popular in our house. Stinky sits pointing at me whenever I have peanut butter toast for breakfast.

 This one came from all-natural-dog-treat.com: 1 1/2 cups each of whole wheat and white flour 2 tablespoons of oil 1 cup of water 1 cup of peanut butter Mix the liquids with the PB. Then add in the flour a bit at a time. Roll the dough into small balls. (I'd actually flatten them next time if I made treats for a small dog. Stinky required that I break them into 2 pieces because he's missing some teeths.) Bake them in an oven heated to 350 degrees for 20 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet. Be prepared for LOTS of company in the kitchen if you are baking these with a doggy around. Let them cool. You can store these for awhile, but, here in GA, you have to keep them in the fridge. 

 Ok...that was part #1 of the gifts...but I wanted there to be a part #2. That was harder and required more stalking. 

 I wanted to make something useful. A bag? Yes! But, what colors? Thankfully, her blog had lots of places for me to check out. Pinterest was next. Since Nichole had turquoise/teal and red in her wedding pics, I thought I should raid my stash for those colors. I used my go to tutorial for shopping bags over at Canoe Ridge. (It's the same tutorial I used to make all those shopping/tote bags for The Pirate for his birthday.) And...I'm a lame-o and didn't take pics while I was sewing/constructing. In fact, I didn't take pics at all. So, thank you, Nichole, for providing me with pics upon their arrival!

I'm glad the package arrived safely...and that my nerves about making the right things settled. I'm really glad Rachael put this all together! It's broadened my internet bloggy world a bit more...and it was FUN!!!!

Thank you sooooo much Ella, you are amazing!  Here is what happened when I opened my package:  The first thing I saw were the doggie treats, melt my heart.  You are too kind to include my fuzzies.  (p.s. they loved them!)  The next thing I saw... the bag!  The bag, it is soooo me!  I love bags, I buy random shopping bags all of the time just because they are cute!

Didn't Ella do an amazing job of getting to know me without contacting me at all?  She sure can stalk a gal!

This was an amazing experience, thanks Ella and thanks Rachael!

Check out the rest of the gifts here.

For the Love of Eggs

Easter is right around the corner and I love eggs.  I try to at least dye Easter eggs every year, but this year I am going to sit down and decorate them all purdy.  {at least that is my plan}  Look at all of this Pinspiration!