Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Time Has Come!!

Ladies and Gentleman, it has finally arrived!


Dynamite Weddings is OFFICIALLY open for business!! I am a contributing writer to the blog so please be sure to check it out! And tell all your engaged, soon-to-be-engaged or newly married friends!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Hello lurkers!

I know you are out there! Reading away! But what you don't know is I LOVE it when you comment! I love it when Gmail tells me "You have a new comment." LURVE it. So comment lurkers! Don't read and dash!

Tell me a bit about yourself- who you are, where you’re from, what you do, what you like the most and what you would like to see on this site. This can encourage me to also post more frequently!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Yumminess

I made some YUMMY food tonight. And I totally forgot to take pictures. I suck. BUT I did want to share the recipes! Because they are DELISH! I stole all these from a very old Rachel Ray magazine (yes, I know Mamasita, you HATE her, but it's good stuff!), so ENJOY!




Spicy Honey-Glazed Chicken
(I cut this recipe in half b/c there is only two of us)
1/4 cup of Extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon lemon juice
8 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 4 pounds)
Salt
1 pineapple - peeled, cored & cut into 8 thick rings (or buy canned like I did!)

1. In a small saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until translucent and beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the honey, hot pepper sauce and chili powder and simmer for 1 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the lemon juice and set aside.

2. Preheat a grill or large grill pan to medium-high. Rub the chicken with the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive olil and season with salt. Grill until well marked, about 7 minutes. Flip and cook until the bottoms are well marked and the chicken is cooked trough, another 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and brush with the reserved honey glaze. Cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, grill the pineapple until well marked on one side, about 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Serve with the chicken.



Serve with:



Grilled Corn with Parmesan Butter
1 stick (4 ounces) butter, softened
1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon pepper
6 ears corn, husked
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil


1. In a medium bowl, beat together the butter, cheese and pepper until creamy. Spoon onto a sheet of plastic wrap or waxed paper, roll into a log and freeze until chilled, at least 20 minutes or up to 2 days.

2. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Cut the corncobs in half. Brush them lightly with olive oil and grill, turning occasionally, until the corn is tender and just getting charred, 12 to 15 minutes. Cut the chilled butter into small pieces and serve with the corn.

And for dessert:

Berry Cakes with Cinnamon Whipped Cream
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 large eggs, AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
2 tablespoons plus 1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
1 cup mixed fresh berries, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons canfectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly grease a muffin pan. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and 3/4 granualted sugar until pale, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons cream, the vanilaa and the salt and mix until combined, scraping as necessary. Beat in the flour until incorporated. Using a spatula, gently stir in the berries.

2. Spoon the batter into each muffin, cup and about three-quarters full. Top each cake with a few berries and sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar over the cakes. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in the pan, then run a knife around the edges and remove.

3. In a small bowl, whip the remaining 1 cup cream with the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon until soft peaks form. Serve with the cakes.

Enjoy people!!

Hanging with my homies

I got to hang with my two favorite little people today. I haven't seen them in a MONTH! They are so funny and they make me laugh. I just love this girlies.

The Lovebug. Although she doesn't look very Love-buggy here!
It's the look in her eye that worries me.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Riding with Unky

Unky took me for my first ride on a Harley tonight. It was cut short by rain but it was fun. I told him he will have to take me for a long ride once the weather gets nice. I have to say, there is something about riding around with the wind all around you. You feel free. Now I know why people do it!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

A Conversation about Books AKA Obsession Revealed


ME: I need to find a way to get rich fast. FAST. SOON. PRONTO.
MAMASITA: You could dump some of your giant book collection.
ME: Have you lost your ever loving mind? I can't sell my friends!! I would be devastated and so would they. But its a nice thought if you aren't crazy like me.
MAMASITA: I think you may have a psychological problem with your attachment to books. Remember, PEOPLE are our friends. Books can't give us hugs.
ME: Watch it. They might hear you.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

M-O-O-D-Y.

Well, let's see. It's raining. It's cold. Work is INSANE. I'm still not sleeping well. MY VACUUM CLEANER BROKE (GRRRRRRRRRR). My dog needs a haircut and boy, does her breath smell. I don't like my new hair color but it will be cheaper to upkeep. My house is dirty (because seriously if I can't vacuum what's the point?). There is NOTHING on TV (so over the writers strike, just pay them already!). BLAH. I'm in a mood.

BUT. . .then there was this. Oh salad, how you warm my heart.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Today is NOT your day.


Yes, this is exactly how I feel today.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Yummy for my tummy


I think the Hubby liked dinner tonight. I did good! I took a little of that recipe and a little of that recipe and made my own! YEA ME!!

Bree's Breakfast Casserole
2 medium potatoes chopped into small squares
1/2 medium white onion chopped
1/2 polish sausage chopped
1/2 cup of milk
3 eggs
Cheddar cheese
Monterey Jack cheese

After you chop up your potatoes put them in the microwave them and zap them for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile saute your onions until they are slightly brown. Add your sausage for about 2 minutes. Preheat your oven to 325.

Once your potatoes are done put them in your baking dish and put them in the oven for 25 minutes. After they are done add your onion/sausage mix and stir. Add milk and stir. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of cheese in and stir. Beat eggs with salt and pepper and then stir into the baking dish. Add as much cheese as you want. Place in oven and back for 30 minutes. AND VIOLA!

I realize I probably didn' t type this recipe up just like I should but it's how I made it! And it was GOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDD!!!

Monday, January 14, 2008

Sometimes a little silliness goes a long way.

I HEART this. It makes me laugh out loud everytime.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Aw, puppy dog

She may be cute but GOOD LORD her breath sure does stink!!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Suzy vs Me


So I was talking to one of my girlfriends the other day (Shut Up Shari). She is fairly newly married herself. Only about 2 years in. Anyway we were talking about being married and how things change including your expectation of yourself, your spouses expectations of you, etc. Anyone that knows me knows that I have always been the career girl. I've always been too busy to worry about cooking, baking or anything of that nature. I was climbing the ladder and fighting the crowds to get to the top.
But what happens when you get married? I find myself suddenly under this pressure to be the perfect little Wifey. And it comes from no where in particular. It's not as if the Hubby is standing over me demanding I be his perfect little homemaker. But I feel it. I feel it everytime someone comes to our little homestead. I want to make sure it is clean and smells good, candles lit and I should have homemade cookies ready for them. In fact when my parents came to visit for the first time I felt SO guilty I didn't have anything to cook for them for dinner. They weren't orginally planning on staying for dinner but I begged them to hang out so they did. It wasn't my fault there wasn't a plan but I seriously felt like a bad hostess!
So where does this pressure come from? I think it's just ingrained in us as women. Sort of like that maternal instinct. I just figured mine was broken after laying dormant for so long. Apparently not so. So I run around doing all my usual stuff but also suddenly trying to be this super Suzy Homemaker with the homemade meals, the perfectly clean house, not a dirty shirt to be found and a happy husband. I'm wondering how long this will last. I wonder if I will lose myself in this shift. I hope not. I kind of like who I've become. I survived my 20's to become someone I really like in my 30's. I don't want to lose that. So I have to find a way to merge my inner Suzy Homemaker with my personality I've always had. I'll let you know how it goes. Right now, I have to make a cake.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Mo' rain, mo' photos

So the boredom caused by the Storm '08 continues. Which drives me to my camera, my books and my computer. Because I'm bored you are forced to look at my pictures.



Which way do you like it better? Muted. . .

or vibrant?

Self-portrait in the jewel on my wedding shoe.
People hope this boredom doesn't continue or you will continue to be pestered with my pictures.




It's coming!


I'm working on a project. It's a very special project with my wedding photographer, Jen, and a few other former brides. I am SO excited about this and I have told a few people about it too. But I just wanted to tell you it's getting closer! Only a few more weeks and all will be revealed! Are you on pins and needles? You should be! Stay posted!!


Rain, rain go away

Do you want to stand under my umbrella-ella-ella?

Goodness! Have you seen the weather out there? The Hubby and I were cooped up in the house all day. Can you say BORED? WAY too much TV, internet and harassing the pooch. So I took pictures. Enjoy the rain.

Well, it's a light.

Wet and soggy branches.

Playing with Picasso.

And then I started playing with some Christmas pictures and found this love. Awwwwwwwww.


Chicken & Bell.






Thursday, January 3, 2008

Happy Birthday Baby

Today is hubby's birthday! My old man is another year old. We kept it low key tonight. Just dinner for him and I and the pooch. His present today is to be in complete control of the remote. Very hard for me to relinquesh that power!

I DID make my very first batch of cupcakes for him tonight. I found this really cool mix that is specifically for cupcakes and makes about 12 at a time. Now, that's WAY more than these dieters need but it's better than the 24 that the other boxes make! And I had lots of fun decorating all of them differently. I made a huge mess but hey! It was fun!






They are so not kidding

'nuff said.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Day 1, Picture 1 *EDITED*

A snowman in my home.


So I told you I was going to take a picture a day for 365 days. So I figured what better time to start then at 12:10 on January 1, 2008. :-)


UPDATE!!! I have created a blog JUST for these pictures. Check it out at The Photo Shoot of My Life to see my life in pictures!