Me and Beau at Charleston Grill for drinks with friends on Christmas Eve.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Dinner upset
April was in town last night and she doesn’t eat a whole lot of meat. So…I made fish. I made flounder. I baked it with a sauce made of lemon juice, capers, tomatoes, olives and garlic. It wasn’t good. L It just goes to show you that flounder is always best fried. Next time…fry that fish!
I did make a yummy salad and pasta dish.
Linguine with Asparagus and Pine Nuts
12 oz linguine
2 lb asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
¼ c pine nuts
¼ c olive oil
4 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 c Shaved parmesan
Cook the linguine to al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat and add the pine nuts and garlic. Cook until nuts are toasted and fragrant. Add asparagus and cook, tossing occasionally, until just tender, 3 minutes.
Add asparagus mixture to pasta, along with 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper and toss. Sprinkle with parmesan before serving.
Spinach and Apple Salad
DRESSING
¼ c minced sweet onion
3 T apple cider vinegar
3 T white vinegar
2 T sesame seeds
Pinch paprika
3 T sugar, divided
½ c EVOO
Salt and pepper, to taste
BUTTERED ALMONDS
2 T unsalted butter
¾ c sliced almonds
SALAD
10 oz bag of spinach
2 medium apples, any variety, sliced thin (I sued Granny Smith)
Cheese, any variety (I used goat cheese)
Mix all the ingredients of the salad dressing, using only 2 T of sugar and store away. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the almonds and cook, stirring constantly, until almonds are browned and fragrant, about a minute or two.
Add remaining T of sugar to almonds and gently toss to coat. Continue to cook until sugar is melted. Remove almonds from heat and set aside to cool. Assemble the salad and toss with dressing. Enjoy!
Thankful Thursday - Take 22
447. A friend who called and asked to have tea with me. Just to chat. Meant so much to me.
448. My new favorite tea flavor – Sleepytime Vanilla
449. Shared Christmas with both mine and Beau’s family. I was so thankful and grateful they shared their day.
450. Lots of sleep and rest last week
451. Ability to run again. I’ve run two miles a few times! Huge progress.
452. A FROG that’s finally clean with stuff put away!
453. Pictures and picture phones. They allow me to be a part of things I otherwise would not.
454. Lunch with Beau on Wednesday. Always nice to see him in the middle of the day!
455. My good friend, April, is coming into town tonight to see us! We knew each other in China and I haven’t seen her in over a year!
456. Beau is able to see all of his closest friends this week. He loves them so much!
457. A wonderful sister that is so encouraging and understanding.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Spreadsheet
Beau knows I LOVE spreadsheets. I love creating them and adapting them and just in general, working with them. If I can put it in a spreadsheet format, it will be there!
Therefore, I gladly accepted the task of compiling and working through a spreadsheet for work. I started this spreadsheet on October 28th! October 28th! And it was only today that I finished. And what is today? December 28! Two months later I finish this spreadsheet.
Beau and I celebrated with lunch at Madra Rua. Btw, delicious fries!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The Happenings
Beau and I have had many adventures in the last 10 days!
On the 17th of December Donna, Beau and I piled our stuff in the Subaru and pulled out of the driveway at 3:08 am to drive down to Port Canaveral to get on the Carnival Dream for our one-week cruise to the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. My first cruise! (Pictures and stories to come!) We had a great time and came back rested and relaxed!
We drove back from Port Canaveral on Christmas Eve and arrived in Charleston around 4:00 pm. We picked up Chinese takeout at our favorite Chinese joint, Golden Garden. They have been named one of the top 100 Chinese restaurants in the country! I knew we had a good one! My parents were in town so we shared Christmas Eve dinner with them and my brother. We opened gifts with my family and then Beau, Donna and I headed out on the town to join in her tradition of drinks with friends.
We first met up with Joe and Richard and 82 Queen and then walked down King St. to Charleston Grill where we also met up with Ben. We had a great time at both places and tried to finish off the evening at the Mills House, but much to out dismay, they were already closed for the evening. We headed home…
Christmas morning was busy with mom and I making our typical Christmas breakfast, Monkey Bread and Grits Casserole. Yum! We ate together and then all headed to church, meeting up with Donna, Meme and Dick. Buster preached a wonderful sermon and we enjoyed the singing of Christmas carols.
We all headed home to get our food together and went out separate ways: my parents to Pop-Pop’s house and me and Beau to Aunt Lynda’s house. This was my first holiday spent with his side of the family and I truly enjoyed it. We sat around drinking wine and talking prior to dinner and then enjoyed a feast! They had corn pudding, which I love! The macaroni and cheese was the cheesiest I’ve ever had and the dark meat on the turkey was cooked perfectly. It was wonderful. I really enjoyed the whole afternoon.
We left around 4:30 and headed to Pop-Pop’s house to see him and have dessert. At the end of the evening we left with my parents and brother packed in the Subaru and we leaded to the James Island County Park to see the lights. I was wonderful! We hadn’t been in years and they’ve added so much!
Monday was spent mostly cleaning the house. The FROG was still packed with boxes that we had yet to do anything with and because of all the company we have coming into town this weekend, we need the space so we got to working on it! We made quite a dent for sure!
Julia came over for lunch (used the leftover Chinese to make some fried rice and it was delicious!) and we got to catch up which was so nice! I miss that girl!
Beau and I got back to cleaning and then met Donna and Ben at Charleston Beer Works for Ben’s birthday celebration. We had a great time of laughing and sharing stories and celebrating Ben. And we ended the night with an oyster roast with the Woofters.
Whew! What a great time! Pictures to come…
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Backpacking Trip
Check out all of our pics! We went to Jones Gap and had a wonderful time! Memories filled with steep climbs, some throwing up, some crying, some laughing, etc. Great time!
Monday, December 12, 2011
A full-on weekend of fun
Beau and I had a full weekend! Rehearsal dinner Friday night, my company Christmas party Friday at the aquarium, Chet and Stephanie's wedding Saturday afternoon/evening and then the Evans family Christmas on Sunday. Whoo! Definitely a full-on weekend. And we had a BLAST! And we are...tired! But check out the pics and see us all decked out. Btw, my company Christmas party was not a formal event, but Beau insisted on wearing his tuxedo. He bought it; might as well wear it! He looked o handsome!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thankful Thursday - Take 21
421. Safe travels for everyone on the backpacking trip.
422. That Beau and I were able to take off work and go sleep in the mountains with friends and family. We had a great time!
423. A hot fire while out in the woods.
424. There were no encounters with bears.
425. Beau and I got our fix of Taco Bell…and that will do us for a LONG time!
426. My knee, nor my hip hurt the entire backpacking trip!
427. Donna came over Tuesday night to clean up after my baking mess. So helpful!
428. A coupon for a free meal from Whole Foods. We’ll be getting those again btw; they are delicious!
429. Completed enough of Christmas baking to get some gifts out the door this week!
430. Everyone is in a good mood at work, which makes it all the more wonderful!
431. My company bought everyone breakfast Tuesday morning. So nice!
432. Those revelations that pop into my head as I drive down the road. Revelations that are clearly from the Lord. He shows me that I had been looking at/thinking about something all wrong the whole time! Perspective my dear…
433. Being able to console and help a friend.
434. The beautiful sunflowers Beau brought home for me on Monday in honor of our 9 month anniversary!
435. And that wonderful man mowed the lawn and edged the yard one last time before spring comes back ‘round.
436. Ladies’ night tonight! It’s such a wonderful treat to be with them one night each month!
437. Continued knee healing
438. Feeling sporty
439. My husband’s support in everything – means so much to me!
440. Laughing with the man of my dreams
441. Having a dog who runs to me when he’s hurt.
442. I have a reliable car to drive.
443. I live in a safe neighborhood where kids run and play.
444. Having friends at work.
445. My mom and sister, who have become my best friends!
446. A fabulous church to attend.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Some People
Yesterday I ate half a bowl/can of Campbell’s Southwest Chicken Chili and put the rest back in the fridge at work (with the lid on it). Today I go to the fridge to finish that bowl/can off and it was gone! Someone stole my soup right out of the fridge!
I attached a note to the fridge that read:
Shame on you for eating or throwing out my soup!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thankful Thursday - Take 19 & 20
I know it’s Wednesday, but I’ll be incommunicado tomorrow because of the great Thanksgiving Day! I’ll be spending it with my husband and my immediate family. I’m super excited! But here’s the Thankful Thursday on Wednesday!
378. Getting to spend Thanksgiving with my family in North Carolina!
379. The feast we get to enjoy tomorrow. There are so many around the world and in this country that will never have a feast such as the one many of will have tomorrow.
380. Conversations that bring me and Beau closer together.
381. A closer walk with the Lord for me and Beau.
382. Ability to offer free blessings to friends
383. Prilosec
384. DVR
385. Enjoying the Citadel/Carolina game with familiy and friends
386. Mini oyster roast with the Hlavaceks and the Beechs! So fun!
387. Time with my brother and Hannah. Such fun people! Thanks for coming down to spend time with us!
388. Silliness
389. Three-day work week!
390. Pina Coladas! Oh how I love those flavors!
391. Tears of joy
392. Loving someone more everyday
393. Walking
394. Saving grace
So I thought I sent this last week and then realized I hadn’t. So…there will be two posted today! Aren’t we all lucky!?!
395. Gamecocks beat Clemson 34 to 13! That’s three in a row!
396. A wonderful Thanksgiving Day with family. Super fun and relaxing!
397. 50% off at Ann Taylor Loft!
398. Laughter. So much laughter!
399. That we saw so many family and friends over the last week. So great to see people and share memories with them.
400. The second year to share Christmas decorating with Beau. Such a special time of year that I wouldn’t want to spend with anyone else!
401. Creating new traditions with each other.
402. Our little crockpot that helps to make delicious fondue!
403. Safe travels since we were driving all over kingdom come.
404. Gracious people to allow us to park our car at their house.
405. People opening their homes to us to crash for the night.
406. Rested and relaxed after a full-on weekend.
407. That we have so much to be thankful for!
408. My husband’s thoughts on what he’s thankful for. So sweet! I’ll never forget it!
409. A fried turkey breast from Donna. We’ve been eating on it all week and haven’t had to think about dinner! Yea!
410. A wonderful husband who thinks of things like watering the Christmas tree, which I inevitably forget! J
411. Time to do some Christmas baking.
412. Free pecans from Meme!
413. Lunch with Beau and Donna. Such a treat for me.
414. Abililty to run, though short, with Beau.
415. A husband who likes to do thinks right the first time.
416. That today is my Friday!
417. Christmas music, Christmas movies, Christmas goodies. I love it all!
418. It’s hot chocolate time baby. Love it! Williams-Sonoma hot chocolate is the best! I have to get some!
419. The bag of Cheetos Rosa brought into work for me. She knows that they are my “bad” treat.
420. God’s faithfulness in growing me and helping me see hope.
A few things
A few things that have been humorous to me lately…
Beau walked past the dining room the other day to see me decorating the table with Christmas dishes, napkins, cups, candles, etc and laughed. He laughed because we won’t be using that table or those dishes since we don’t have any chairs. But I wanted to decorate it anyway. J
I should also mention that Beau tricked me into watching “Gremlins” telling me that it was a Christmas movie. It takes place at Christmas. It is NOT a Christmas movie. Beware ladies. Don’t let what happened to me, happen to you! J
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