Kittens!

My dear friend Rachel is being a foster mom to a cat mom and her three babies! Today I went to visit them and I've never seen anything so cute in my life! I thought I'd share how cute they are!!!

Greek Wrap...yummmmmmy!

I'm going through a hard-core Greek phase...and by "greek phase" I mean feta cheese and olives phase. So i decided I would make a greek pita wrap at home because going out to eat is getting expensive and fattening. I started out by heating a "flat out" pita bread on the stove. I just wiped a little olive oil in the pan and turn it on medium. Each side took about 4-5 minutes.

While the pita was cooking I cut up- tomatoes, onions (my breath is awesome right now) and olives from the olive bar at Fresh market. I bought already shredded romaine hearts at the store

I bought this amazing reduced fat feta cheese at Fresh Market (my new obsession!!) It is fantastic and you feel less guilty about enjoying it...go get this, I swear you wont regret it...

I also made my own greek dressing! ( I really hate the store bought stuff, it's really processed and there is no reason people don't make their own, it's so easy and it takes 10x's better) I used the following ingredients and poured it on the wrap!
1 cup olive oil
3 teaspoons dried oregano
3 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon regular French's mustard
1 cups red wine vinegar
Directions:
Simply pour all ingredients into a container (bottle is best).
Shake vigorously until well mixed.

Here is my finished product! It was so good and really cost no more then1.25per serving! 

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Spring Time!

It's almost spring time, which makes me so happy. Not only does the weather start getting better but it's also my birth month. I know 26 is hardly old but I can't believe how fast each year goes by...it really is unbelievable. Anyways, I'd like to actually feel good about my body by my birthday this year so I am trying to make some changes (unfortunately I just polished off a bag of salt n vinegar chips, so maybe it will start tomorrow?). I previously posted about the Julianne Hough dance DVD I bought. While I think she is adorable, that video is awful. Its for people at her level...not people like me who don't know what a double snake leg spin with a booty drop is.... I need a solid explanation of everything that she is doing, and unfortunately, that isn't there!
I also decided that because we lack the sunshine right now (it's here but it's not what I think of when I think south) I bought some products that give me a nice glow! I'll let you know if any of these actually do what they claim to do or if I look like a streaky ommpa lompa with bad hair and a bloated face.

Also, because I am going through this homemade phase I have decided I am going to make a body scrub! I found this one http://elleandblair.com/blog/post/beauty-diy-yummy-body-scrubs which looks great!! I don't have any essential oils unfortunately, but it's OK if it does not smell fancy...I just want it to work. I don't know if I can remember a year that my skin has been so dry. Even my lips have taken a beating!

I also found this organic homemade lip balm on this blog- Food for my Family. I am going to give these a try as soon as I order the beeswax necessary and the containers-which this blogger found on amazon! 

I have downloaded the Fitness App for iPhone. I am kind of obsessed with it. It does an awesome job of charting everything and making sure you stay on track so you don't guess how many calories you've had. 

I've also thought about doing the Dr. Oz cleanse they keep showing on Pinterest.
Dr Oz: Slimdown Drink - Combine 1 C grapefruit juice, 2 tsp apple cider vinegar, and 1 tsp honey. Drink this combination before every meal. Apple cider vinegar helps you burn and break down fat. This drink combination also burns away your fat, literally. Drink it 3 x per day before meals. 

And it has this picture with it...which is motivating all by itself!

(and if you're not following me on pinterest you should be!)

Easter Sunday!

It all started with church. I didn't have a lot of experience with churches around here (sadly) so I thought we'd try the catholic church I pass on my way to Wilmington. It's only 15 minutes away and seemed like a good option. It was packed, holy cow. We kind of lost the experience because we were so far back...but that's ok we tried! Here are pictures from after mass with Drew...
and with Momma! You have to admit for a women almost in here 70's she is looking fine. 

After Church we got into our "comfs" (what were were calling comfy clothes and got all the food ready) My mom was such a HUGE help! She always keeps me from becoming distracted and on-track when I am trying to do things like this!

Emily came over and brought these flowers for us...aren't they perfect??? Plus my mom's favorite flower is the spider mum! 

Here is our set table...with each persons basket (huge hit)! The table cloth is just a shower curtain (mom's idea) the whole setting cost 15 dollars!

       Silly girls acting goofy in our "comfs" before preparing the dinner. Emily helped make the caesar salad which was hysterical. When she went to add the pepper she mistook the pepper shaker for a pepper mill and was able to spill 2 cups of pepper everywhere...but damn, she makes a good salad! The second picture is before we got more comfortable!

 The set up baskets for the furry kids- we had three cats (Chloe, Finn, Fatty) and three dogs (Wyatt, Maya, and Boomer!)

I decided to do a wine pairing on the new cutting board the Drew bought me in Southport yesterday. Oddly everyone really loved the cheese (which normally goes untouched) and of course the wine was gone!

                    Everyone but Drew and me at the table getting ready to eat! It was beyond a nice day!

                           Afterwards Dad and Chloe played with the new chick toy from Emily!

They're here! After a 12 hour drive, my family has finally arrived! I am beyond excited, frankly I lack a word that would properly describe how nice it is. I do wish Dana, Jen, Shawn, Sammy, and Nannie could be here, but hey I'll take what I got! When they arrived yesterday we started off their visit by food shopping. I wanted to make sure I had whatever they like in the house and I needed their help to get the stuff for Easter dinner. My dad is making Prime Rib and I know nothing about buying that! After food shopping we went to the italian restaurant Osteria Cicchati in Wilmington where we had meatless dinners (good friday) and lots of fun! Finishing the night with The Hobbit, which I loved (NEVER thought that would happen!) Today we were going to go to the Rigley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach but  opted to go to Southport, NC instead. So nice! It was a perfect day for strolling outside and looking at all the nicknacks. 

I insisted Emmy come with us, as did my family who asked about her roughly a million times! She always makes everything wayyyy more fun! Plus I knew she wanted to explore NC just like we did. 

My momma decided to fix my scale (which I honestly preferred broken but I guess I have to accept reality now...boo hoo)

These two get a real kick out of each other...which I adore. Its beyond important that they get along!!!

We arrived in Southport. They had a beautiful Spring Festival with lots of crafts and food. It was so fun. And they filmed Safe Haven here so there were lots of sights to see!
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Easter Stuff is coming together! We have acquired quite the collection of chocolate and candy....even though Drew and my father have hit it hard.  

 These are the flowers I bought at Whole Foods and Harris Teeter. I love Hydrangeas and couldn't say no when I saw them! The sunflowers made me happy and will be an awesome  centerpiece!

Here are the baskets, finally complete! I think they turned out great. Baskets are from Garnish, candy from target, cookies are homemade, and all the rest is a little bit of everything. 

"Christmastime is Easter time all the way back home" Dana, age 3.

Lastly, I opened by door today to find birthday gifts from my second family! I watch Samantha from the age of 1 to almost three. I just adore her and her wonderful family who treat me like gold! 

My family comesss soon!

3-25-2013

I am so beyond excited because my family is coming soon. They leave Buffalo on Thursday around ten then plan to spend the night in Fredericksburg VA and finishing the trip Friday ( I didn't expect them to make it in one day, these are the same people who made us get a hotel ONE hour way from our destination). But anyways they arrive on Friday at around 2. I work, but it's just a teacher workday and I plan on spending it with Rachel, getting stuff done. I have lots of work to catch up on (such is the life of a school psychologist). It will be so nice to have something to do this weekend. Last weekend, Drew and I tried to keep busy, because otherwise we just stare at each other. Friday we watched movies and cuddled with Chloe (I love my little family) and I also assembled my easter baskets (partially). I did some of the candy and fillers, just missing the wine, and the frosted sugar cookies. For sugar cookies I used 

The recipe found on this blog- http://www.foodiecrush.com/. It's completely fantastic and super easy. I found the cookie cutters in the $1 section in Target. I froze those along with cupcakes for my Sunday party. 

These are the stickers I had made through an online sticker company.They are going on the mini wine bottles in the easter baskets! They say- Happy Easter! NC style, love Shea and Drew. I'm kind of obsessed with them!

The baskets were ordered from Garnish and are just fruit containers. They were .85 cents each and a cheap way to make sure everyone gets one! Inside will be

Jelly Beans

Chocolate

Easter Card

Wine Bottle

Sugar Cookies

Peeps skewers

They are a work in progress and they are yet to be finished but they will get there

Found these great apothecary jars at Michaels for 5 dollars each! I may have to go get a couple more. Sadly they WERE filled with candy, however, Drew has limited to no self control and takes a piece of candy every time he walks by....which is about 22 times a day. In the other glass jar are the cookie cutters I used- I'll post my final products later

I had to make sure I made the animals easter baskets from Chloe. For Rachel we have- Finn (Cat), Fat Cat, and Boomer(Dog), Emily has Maya(Dog) and Wyatt (Dog) and Emily's new "friend" (as my father would call him) has a cat named Simba. Chloe has been a very busy easter bunny!!

Hopefully it will be nice weather to eat out on the porch...and if not, that's ok. It's better than the 20 degree weather my family is dealing with! 

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Our Saturday out! We decided to actually leave the house this weekend. As with most weekends when we leave the house, the entire night revolves around food. Saturday was no different. I had been CRAVING Carrabba's Chicken Bryan so Drew and I decided thats were we were going. We even saw OZ The Great and Powerful (fantastic- I recommend it!)  

It was sort of a cold night so I went with my old faithful sweater from Forever 21. I'm obsessed with my new mascara! I am also wearing 18 pounds of make-up to overcompensate for my stress acne which I have decided to develop. Does anyone know a good treatment for that? I already drink 16 glasses of water a day, eat healthy, and wash my face! 

Look at my stud! He always drives on the weekends. We figure I drive all week (he works at home) so it's only fair! Wilmington is only 30 minutes away and it's nice to take a drive together. My parents have been together for 35 years and I swear one of their secrets is taking long rides together! 

Drew thinks he looks "unnatural" when he fakes a smile...somehow I don't think this look is better. On our way into the movie! 

 my favorite movie theater snack! I love these 12 dollar balls of chocolate gold (price may have been exaggerated) however two tickets, two snacks, and one water cost 40 dollars...I hate to seem cheap but COME ON!