Whew...Are you still there?

I'm not sure who I am referring to in that questions (ok, Jack - it's you) but maybe I need to ask myself that question! March 16 was the last post...really? Really? Ok, so how to catch up on two months..Well, I'm going to flip through my calendar and realize it may take a week or two to catch up - but I'm going to try.

So, since Nahm Lately, what's been going on. When I flip my calendar back to March - I realize why I went MIA. It's a sea of yellow high-lighter..and I think my blood pressure is rising. But wait, it's over. I made it out alive. So what was it all about?

Looks like a lot of meetings, I hosted my first Sangria Saturday on March 20th with Keri and Katie. For a moment it looked like it was just going to be me, but the gals pulled through, and Mom even stopped by! Although it wasn't toasty and sunny, we made it fun with fantastic appetizers. Keri had another party to go to, so Katie's hubby (our wedding photographer) joined us and then stayed for pizza and a UK game, I think! Fun times. Sangria Saturday's are "the thing".

I hosted two Best Buy Job Shadows on March 23rd and 24th. That was 76 5th graders that I accompanied on a half day experience w/ our local Best Buy. It's a win-win for us. We get student numbers and we get $500 a day in grant funds! Score!!

I assisted with some sketchy and bothersome sorority personnels due to Spring Break behavior. The younger generations really are a different breed. Oh my.

I also lured Chad into chaperoning a Chi Omega dance on Saturday, March 27th. When I say he is a trooper, HE IS A TROOPER. Amid the dates that were passing out, vomiting on the floor, knocking holes in the bathroom walls and girls randomly crying, Chad chatted it up with the DJ, had a few beverages and maintained his cool the whole time!

I worked with high school students to film a video for our JA office to show at events and breakfasts. Filming in local schools was really fun and we didn't some neat things. The video turned out fantastic.

Hello April...

Heather (boss) and I traveled to Corbin, KY to pitch some Junior Achievement things but the highlight was eating at Colonel Sanders hometown KFC. Honestly folks, it's the little things. That same night I met my friend Katie at Greener Groundz for $2 wine night, which is quite possibly one of the highlights of my weeks.

April 7th I traveled with my mom and my basically second Mom, Donna to Atlanta. We were going to the Apparel Market and took Donna along. One of my favorite things about going to ATL is seeing my mentor and dear friend, Christine. Here are some pics to liven up this post:

I can't get the damn picture to post...I've been trying for two weeks now..Oh well, I"m publishing and will continue to update!!!

Nahm Lately

I took off Friday - MUCH NEEDED - but instead of resting or piddling...I launched into a full on project. By Myself. I had purchased some bedding two weeks ago for our guest room - the room we ran out of steam and money on when we renovated the bachelor pad before the wedding. I remembered why we didn't tackle that room. Can we say wood laqured trim? Everywhere? Can we say it all had to be PRIMED and then painted with OIL BASED paint? Oh fun. Anyhow, I managed, by myself, to paint two coats of paint on the walls, edge the whole room and then prime and paint the trim. The door, closet doors and window probably need another coat but after 72 hours of painting, I just wanted the damn room DONE...so....I put it all back together and will think about painting another coat...Sometime...
Here is the new room...Note I need a new valance, some artwork and some pillows for the shams.These closet doors were a B*&TC*
I also decided last night, as if I hadn't done enough, I could start on a picture wall in the Pool Table room...(Chad will love this when he tries to play pool).And thanks to Savannah; my inspiration wall behind our bed, is complete:
While we didn't leave the house this weekend, we did celebrate some birthdays two weekends ago. It was a fun night out. We stayed out til 11, gasp! I got to dance...and dancing with girlfriends can be fun!
Whew...I'm ready for some more time off!

Another Year Older, Not Sure if Wiser.

Apparently the last time I posted was in February. That seems so long ago. In fact, I just turned my calendar back to see what my excuse could be. So, since Feb. 22nd, what has life produced...

A crazy busy week the week of Feb. 22nd...Yes, I remember it. I was on the road most of the week before and that week. Yes, it's all coming back. It was so busy in fact that by Saturday at noon I was in the bed with a headache and fever. Apparently my body was tired of all that running around. However, by Sunday the Birthday week celebrations were about to begin. Sunday we went to my in-laws for a Bday lunch and I was able to see my sister-in-law and dear friend which is always fun. She gave me the cutest little basket of fun stuff; the best being this awesome wine glass that says, "I'm Party Trained." Yes, I love it. I got a great Target gift card from my in-laws so Spring shopping is on the horizon.

Enter the month of March. Monday and Tuesday were busy but good. My birthday is on the 3rd but we did my families celebration on Tuesday night because my other sister in law wouldn't have been able to join us on Wednesday night. Traditionally my mom cooks my favorites; shrimp fettucini and strawberry cake with strawberry icing (all homemade) but with 3 neices and nephews, everyone working - it was just easier to go out. Chad had 3 volleyball games so he was only able to join us for beverages but I looked forward to us celebrating solo on the 3rd. (do you see all the 3's?). We had a good dinner at Red Lobster - the 24 year old waiter flirting with me made it all the better. Who turned 27? Not me :) It was fun. After that everyone fled but Mom wanted me to come over for cake and gifts. Just my parents and me. It was good; I was tired and the cake was store-bought. Oh well! It's not about me anymore! I got some cute spring clothes and gift cards...again...Spring shopping is on the horizon!

March 3rd marked my 27th birthday. I generally stay very low key on my birthday. Why extra attention. However, I am learning that this is the one day it is about you - so I decided to try to embrace it a bit more this year. Yes. It. Is. My. Birthday. Luckily it is also my best friend Kelley's birthday too. It's so heartwarming to wake up and know we both share such a special bond on this day. Last year we celebrated by my visiting her in Ohio. We shopped. We ate. We drank...We will be doing all of the above this May for our celebration!

My day started differently than I imagined. I imagined Chad cooking me breakfast...considering he had the 3 games the night before, he slept in the guest bedroom as he typically can't wind down from the games until into the wee hours of the a.m. I had also volunteered to take a child to school for a family I have babysat for years...so I was up and at 'em and playing Mom by 7:20 a.m. Their actual mom left me a cute gift so that was fun. My co-workers took me to lunch, Facebook sent me all kids of Bday wishes and my phone beeped all day. I felt loved! I got home, ready to have a great meal with Chad only to find him on the couch not feeling well. FANTASTIC. He rallied (thank god) and cooked an incredible meal of crab legs (which we devoured) and shrimp fettuccine...paired with bread and RELAX Riesling. OMG. Heaven. In bed by 9;30 -even better! It was a good day :)

The rest of the week has been good. We have our first work fundraiser of the year tomorrow. It's supposed to be sunny and almost 60 here. Everyone is on a sun -high. It's time for some SUNSHINE!

Chad has a game tonight. I feel like I'm 47 going to my husbands game on a Friday night.

27...what will you bring? Growing up - 27 was the magical, cool age in my head. I can remember writing short stories in 4th grade about being 27. Driving a red jeep wrangler, crusing around, dating someone with a name like Drew. Who knows. I told Chad this and he asked if I wanted to be in a red wrangler, babysitting and dating. No, I don't think I do - but what can I do to make 27 different? 26 was a great year professionally. I got married. I won two awards. It was fantastic. Now am I entering the mommy hood era? Is that going to be my next claim to fame? I guess when I'm 100% ready and ready to accept that, it will be great. Until then, I'm wondering what can I do to make this year a great year? I have everything I could ever want - relatively speaking. There are small things I'd like but don't have to have. Chad is fantastic to me. My family and friends are amazing. My sister-in-law is expecting. I am on the edge of still feeling young and independent and realizing life changes are soon to be expected.

Until them, I'm taking it a day at a time and trying to be thankful for where God has put me.

Just a hint of Spring

I think everyone in this geographical area got a much deserved taste of spring yesterday. Temperatures got up into the 60's and it was just so pleasant out. After another weekend of casual plans - here it is Monday, dreary and already chilly.

Friday night Chad and I met my good friend Keri and her long-distance beau for pizza and beer. We had a great time - how can you not have fun with friends, pizza and beer? YUM.

Saturday we caught Mason's basketball game and then grabbed some lunch w/ my brother and the crew.

Hallie made her way into our car and Mom and had decided to get pedicures with our gift certificates (Thank you, Valentine). Hallie of course wasn't missing this. We got there, and everyone else in Bowling Green had the same idea. So, after waiting for 30 minutes, we each got a chair and then basically waited for another 30 minutes. Hallie was a TROOPER. So much that she lucked up with the Princess Pedicure which cost Mimi $20...but the laughs - even the laughs today - were so worth it.


Mom and I then ventured to Nashville yesterday to browse some of the outdoor shops and go to Trader Joe's. LOVE. THAT. PLACE....Mom was needing some mother/daughter time and she got it! We had fun!

Came home to hubs and cooked a great meal and watched The Time Travelers Wife. A great night!! (maybe I can cross finishing that book off my list now?)

Chicken Pasta Bake 6 servings
1 pound penne pasta (I used organic, whole wheat....it was great) 2 pounds ricotta cheese 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 (12-ounce) can fat-free evaporated milk (I used 1 cup 1/2 and 1/2. Didn't realize I needed that). 1 egg 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and well drained 1 (10-ounce) package or 2 cups cooked chunked chicken breast 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare penne pasta according to package directions; drain. Coat a 9" x 13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, evaporated milk, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; mix until well combined. Stir in broccoli and cooked chicken; mix well. Add the penne and toss gently until well mixed; pour into baking dish and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes then remove foil and bake 5 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Exercise Update:
Friday - 20 or 30 minutes on treadmill. Can't remember
Saturday - a quick walk w/ Hallie and dogs
Sunday - shopping
Monday - woke up to walk...but just got in the guest room bed to watch the news. Yikes..I'm not doing very good.

Logging it in

Tuesday - no workout.

Wednesday - 30 minutes on treadmill in a.m.

Here goes Monday

Well, I know my one lone follower had been dying to get my update, so Jackie, here we go!

Since last week, I went to my fourth John Mayer concert. He was great, as always, but getting weirder by the day. The concert made some national press as he literally broke down crying during a random venting session...and...considering some of the horrible comments he's had in the media lately, I agree with John...SHUT UP and Just play your guitar...Wow..Strange, sexy man.

Any how, the ladies who went were fun. We ate at Whiskey Kitchen in Nashville beforehand. It was a trendy, quaint, cool place that had a great, affordable menu. In honor of Whiskey, I drank Washington Apple Martinis and oooo they were delish. We all got different appetizers and it was yummy! Fried green tomatoes, artichoke and sun dried tomato pizza, nachos, spinach dip, seafood mix, chicken bites and sweet potato fries! OMG! Here is a pic of us at WK. It is so fun to laugh with women who are in different stages of life. I don't know them all really personally but it was a blast! And here is Johnny boy (I feel after 4 concerts, I can call him that).

Getting home at 1 a.m. was worth it (and so was being called Cougars as we were leaving the show). Thursday was a long day but Friday was around the corner. We celebrated my mom's birthday on Thursday. In true Simpson family chaos style; we dined at Steak and Shake which is about all that 3 kids under 7 can handle. I splurged and bought Gigi's cupcakes in lieu of a cake...and due to the price, I made sure everyone ate one or at least licked on one. Whew. In deed those will be reserved for very special occasions.

This weekend was really nice. My parents and brother and his crew left for Gaitlinburg so we knew we would have a quiet weekend here in BG. Well, quiet if you consider three dogs trying to fight and hump each other (we had my parents dog). Wow...Friday night we rented Love Happens which was alright. Saturday we met Chad's cousins and brother/sister-in-law and bowled. It was fun to bowl one set and then gab with Rachel for another! We went to Mariah's bar that night to just get out of the 3 dog house. Eddie tried to 'romanticize' Jayla as long as we could stand it....

Valentine's Day was Sunday, as you know. I've never been a bit fan of Vday. I feel like it makes women look needy and the focus somehow shifts from expressing love to expressing the want for your mate to be a SEXY VIXEN. Yah, not for me. When Chad and I met, I decided that I would make us a really nice meal. Candles and all. I have kept that up and really enjoy it. I was telling him last night that around January 1st I start to wonder what I'm going to cook but then as if fate would have it - the recipes just pop up. We dined on:

Chicken Breasts stuffed w/ artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and Parmesan

Asparagus w/ olive oil and salt/pepper

Couscous (Thank you Jackie)

Cresent Rolls

Chocolate Mousse Torte

Pinot Grigio (used for cooking and drinking).

I found Jackie's delish dessert on her blog and then she helped recommend the other side dish. Thank you dear friend!

For the first time I pounded chicken and was not a fan. Seeing the juices splatter everywhere took me into GERM PHOB ALERT...Chad had to take over and I just agreed to wipe everything down. Even the coffee pot. You never know :)

We really enjoyed the meal and our exchange of cards and small gifts. Isn't it funny how really a card can be the best gift? It was nice to look at him over the candlelight and really not have to say much but know it was all being said.

We also went to see Dear John yesterday. I'm not a Nicholas Sparks book fan; but the movie was really sweet. I recommend.

So...It's almost lunchtime on Monday. WHOOHOO! More snow....but a slow day. Clearly I don't function as well with to many slow days!

Off to speak to a College Public Relations group tonight. No doubt I'll end up feeling like I'm 40. I was already stressing about what jeans to wear this a.m. Our intern just told me I was OK. Whew.

Workout Log (something new I'm adding): 30 min. on treadmill

To bad we don't have kids...

I say that only because I. Don't. Sleep. I have no idea what is going on but I am hoping that by 9:15 on Friday a.m. a doctor has a remedy. Most nights I wake up around 1 a.m. for any sort of reason; I dreamed something, I think I heard something, I think I heard something or I think I heard something. I toss for a while, get hot, get up, go to the guest room or couch...lay there for a while, doze off and on and then go back to bed at 4 a.m. Typically I wake Chad during this process - you know, "Can i turn the TV on?" He loves to hear my voice at those odd hours, I just know he does. Well, this a.m. might have been the breaking point. I went to bed at 9:00 p.m. with a HORRIBLE headache (thank you cocktail hour...I have to start eating when I have beverage or two...). This included taking a Excederin migraine (which is rare), putting a sleep mask on and asking everyone to be quiet. I finally fell asleep close to 10 p.m. and then woke up thinking I heard Eddie barking at 1 a.m. He wasn't. It was a dream but a really real one. I asked Chad if I could turn the TV on (just for reassurance), watched TV til 2 a.m., decided to move to the couch. Got there, realized I needed to use the potty, got there and realized I was blessed with my monthly visitor (does it get any better?), got back to the couch, realized I really could use a Midol but to hell with that...dozed off and on and got back to bed at 4 am...alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. for the treadmill and luckily we have SNOW so I was able to lay around til 7. I did get on the treadmill (my boss had text me to take my time coming in!) for 30 minutes; thank you highlight of the a.m., and proceeded on with my routine. In dog news, Eddie seemed a bit grumpy today. He did lay on the bed and watch me on the treadmill which I believe is true love and admiration. Perhaps he is cross eyed from it so when I leaned in for the hug - he was a bit overwhelmed? Emma on the other hand has warmed up to the snow. She found some great frozen poop treats in the yard. She was obsessed. GAG ME.

Did I mention our kitchen sink is stopped up and has been out of commission for 48 hours now? Yes, that is great fun for a dog who needs his food soaked and then drained and for those of us that like to rinse things off, and just use the sink. Maybe seeing a frozen hose, mud, mulch, leaves and snow in my kitchen last night started the headache. I'm not sure, bottom line I need a few things: 1. sink to be fixed by my non plumber Husband who swears he can fix it (Mr. Plumber, we'll be calling you soon), 2. Cramps to ease up - come on 3.) Sleep to happen upon me one glorious night 4.) John Mayer concert to be fun and safe...We don't get snow often so when we do - it's monumental. There was actually no mention of much snow last night and then about 4:30 it started to POUR snow...and it POURED for 2+ hours...and under it is ice. Oh yes, this is the big kind of winter weather. Police actually blocked off some roads last night because of the idiots out driving (not us, of course). Another headache prompter, I believe. Oh, and let me clarify. I did not drink and drive. I had a cocktail after work. Got home and Chad drove us in the ice and snow. What fun (not).

So Wednesday, here I face you. Not as motivated as yesterday, coffee, blueberries and Cocoa roasted almonds in hand. It's 10:00 a.m. - what am I going to accomplish today?