Lately

Its hard to believe that its almost April, this year is already flying by! We had a great month, a busy month full of celebrations. 

First was a beautiful baby shower for my college friend Jill. The games were hilarious (including pin the egg on the sperm), the cake was delicious (of COURSE I would comment on the food) and she and baby Davis were definitely surrounded by lots of love. 

Is she not the cutest momma-to-be ever!?

Jill and Chad welcomed baby Davis Gray Neilson on March 1st. I am so so happy for the new family of three and can not wait to meet the little guy!

On March 3rd Chris and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary. We had such a wonderful day. We went to dinner at Print Works Bistro at the Proximity hotel where we had our wedding. 

 Then with the help of a wonderful friend (hey Meg!) I surprised Chris with a room there! I cant believe its already been a year since our wedding day, time flies when you're having fun (cliche I know, but SO true)! I'm a lucky girl to share my life with such a fantastic guy!

 

 Our friends were so amazing to help make our 1st anniversary one to remember!

We even returned home the next morning to an anniversary note from Parker (aka Allison)

subtle hint?

(I was then depressed for the whole following week remembering I was on my honeymoon last year at this time - if only someone would bring me drinks on demand at work)

This month we also welcomed a new furry friend to our group, meet Fenway!

   

Another dog for Parker to be a bad influence on. Maybe the puppy can teach him a thing or two. 

 I celebrated my 28th birthday. 

 

 The day started out great with bagels, flowers and balloons. I then had a low-key celebration of dinner and a movie. My how times have changed! I feel so spoiled and lucky to have such wonderful family, friends and co-workers. Looking forward to seeing what year 28 brings!

On a sadder note, this month we lost my childhood dog Lilly. She was the sweetest dog and will be deeply missed. In the words of my little brother "If I've learned anything from animated movies its that All Dogs Go To Heaven." Hope shes getting all the table food she could imagine up there!

A busy, but fun few months it has been!

White Bean Chicken Chili Recipe

Lately this cold winter spring weather has had me in the mood for some comfort food. However, comfort food usually comes with a hefty caloric/fat price. And being that both Chris and I usually dont get home during the week until after 6 we often aren't in the mood to whip up a gourmet meal. Enter White Bean Chicken Chili. This recipe is so easy, pretty healthy (until I add sour cream and cheese, but sometimes I just cant resist) and lets not forget, DELICIOUS!

What you'll need:

3 Chicken Breasts (can be frozen or thawed - doesn't matter), 2 cans white beans (I use great northern and cannellini), 1 can corn, 1 can diced tomatoes, 2 packs white chicken chili seasoning. (Sidenote: do not drain any of the canned veggies)

How you'll make it:

Now this is where it gets really tricky. You're going to dump all the ingredients, minus the chicken, into the crock pot, and stir to dissolve the seasoning. Then add your chicken breasts to the crock pot cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Shred the chicken before serving, and add any toppings you'd like - That's it!

This picture is from recipes.com because I was too hungry/lazy to snap a photo before eating

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it makes a ton, so there are plenty of leftovers!

Now that I've had my fill of cold weather comfort food, WHERE is spring?!

Hanging Out

For a town home our house has a lot of storage, but the one thing it lacks is the unappreciated coat closet. Because of this, Chris and I have taken to throwing our coats on the stairs, or over a chair, making for a really organized looking home (and a really wrinkled jacket). 

Another thing our house has a lot of is blank wall space, and another thing it I lack is money. So I put my thinking cap on/searched pinterest for hours on end, and came up with the idea to MAKE a coat rack for the naked wall behind our front door.

So we headed to the hardware store to pick up our supplies: a piece of wood (26x7.5), and some coat hooks. 

The wood was only $6, the coat hooks on the other hand were $5 each. I'm sure you could find some cheaper (maybe even cuter) options at Hobby Lobby, but it was Sunday and I'm impatient.

We then figured out where we wanted the hooks to go and marked and drilled pilot holes so that we wouldn't have to drill after it was painted.

The next step was to sand the rough edges and do a quick sand over the whole piece before painting. For the base color I chose to use some leftover paint that we used for our walls. I figured a: this is a cheaper option and b: it would tie the rooms together. Its gray, but I couldn't tell ya the name.

I used a small foam roller for the front and small paintbrush for the sides. I painted several thin coats until I thought it looked completely covered. I then let it dry completely before I started my taping.

I knew I wanted to do a chevron pattern, and I had looked for a stencil but had no luck. I figured how hard could it be to just use painters tape to create the lines? The answer: REALLY HARD, and REALLY time consuming!

A good 3 hours later the floor and dog were  covered in painters tape but I had nice, straight and even (for the most part) lines.

I then used my foam roller and rolled on a few thin coats of white acrylic craft paint. I would suggest using a higher quality paint and/or using a trim brush to paint between the lines, but that was what I had on hand and I think we've already discussed that I'm impatient/cheap.

After I finished my last coat I started peeling off the tape right away before it dried hoping to help create crisper lines.

My lines weren't perfect, but for the most part they looked pretty good. I then used a small sponge brush to touch up any smudges.

After the whole piece was dry we hung it on the wall and installed the hardware. We just used 2 screws with anchors to hang it, hopefully that will be enough. 

 Overall I'm really happy with how it turned out, and how it fills in the space. 

Now just to decorate the other 95% of my house.

(PS- Sorry for the grainy iphone pics, I'll try to get some better shots in the daylight)

Slack (but none in the waistline)

Well, seeing as I haven't posted in over a month, I think most of you would agree with me that I have been a slacker. However, I have not just been slacking in the blogging department, but in a lot of areas of my life. This time last year, I was a week away from my wedding date, had a strict exercise routine and was eating healthy all while getting the final details of my big day finalized. It seems like the wedding day came and went and with it went any type of accountability for my behavior. I went to to the doctor this week and I have officially gained 16lbs in the last year. 

Now I'll give myself a little slack, everyone goes a little crazy before their wedding, so a 5lb allowance would be understandable, 16 on the other hand is outrageous - I mean c'mon is this freshman year where the only food I have access to is easy mac and beer? No. 

You would think I would have gotten the clue as most of my clothes look like sausage casings, and many of my instagram posts are pictures of food with the hashtag "this is why my pants dont fit". 

But no, somehow I have persistently carried on. 

I am airing these embarrassing facts so that I can become somewhat accountable (I am asking you guys to smack my hand when I reach for that third first cookie).

While I don't expect myself to become as workout crazed as I once was, cutting out fast food, limiting my soda intake, and exercising at least 2-3 times a week, are easy goals to kick start a healthier lifestyle. 

Something better happen soon or I'm on the fast track to becoming this: 

But ya know what?! I think even SHE has lost some weight recently. I have NO excuse! 

A Year In Review - 2012

2012 has been a huge year for me, many milestones, and many memories, all of which I'm hoping to do a better job of documenting in the new year. While I'm looking forward to all that 2013 will bring, lets review what this past year has looked like:

January 

• My Bridal Shower! I was so lucky to have such a beautiful party thrown for me. I truly felt the love from my wonderful family and friends. Much love and appreciation to my generous hostesses and matron/maid of honor Allison and Amanda! (I'd love to share pictures, but I have yet to get them from Allison, perhaps i'll make that a goal for 2013)

February

• Chris and I purchased our first home, a lot of work has gone into it, and its still a work in progress, but its becoming "home" more and more everyday (I promise i'll eventually post before/after pics)
• Bachelorette Party in DC with my best friends! 

March (no big deal)

•  Married the love of my life on March 3, 2012. It was the happiest day of our lives and we were so blessed to share our big day with our favorite people in the entire world. Thanks to our wonderful parents, family and friends for all your love and support!

• Traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for the honeymoon of a lifetime. I now harbor insane amounts of jealousy for anyone else going on their honeymoon b/c of the wonderful time we had. If only my toes were in the sand (instead of the sitting at my desk) right now!

• Celebrated my 27th birthday

April

• Chris turned 28
• Spent Easter in Charleston, SC with my fabulous 2nd family

May

• Celebrated the beautiful bride-to-be Sheila, I LOVE catching up with old friends!

June

•  Spent a few wonderful days at the beach with our good friends Chris and Lauren, lots of laughs!

July

• Celebrated 4th of July in the classiest way we knew how - a kiddie pool in Allison and Marks backyard, its probably for the best that there is no photo documentation

August 

•  Hosted a bridal shower for sweet Amanda!

•  Amanda's Bachelorette Party in Wilmington - girls trips need to happen more often in my opinion 

• Amanda's rehearsal dinner. The dress she wore is her moms wedding dress with a few modern alterations, what a meaningful idea!

September

•  My Best Friend's Wedding!!! I was so lucky to be Amanda's matron of honor. She was such a beautiful bride, and I'm so happy for the new Mr & Mrs Bustle! (They even had a gelatto cart at the reception, huge highlight for me!)

• My big brother married his longtime love in a beautiful personal ceremony at the gorgeous Reynolda Gardens, it was such an honor to share in their special day. Congrats Ryan & Kat! (Yes, Ryan wore a Tuxedo T-Shirt on his wedding day, the whole event was perfectly "them")

October

•  Spruced the house up for fall
•  Pumpkin Beer Taste-off hosted by the Potters - Our beer won!

 November

•  Started a new job! This has been a wonderful blessing, I am so lucky to have found a job, and new co-workers that I LOVE!

•  Headed to Boone for our first, and only football game of the season. Gooooo Appalachian!

• Celebrated a Polish Thanksgiving at the Swantek's - love this tradition! 
• Our precious niece Addisyn was born 

December

• First work Christmas Party in Durham, what a night!

•  Hosted our first married Christmas party - Success! Hope to make this an annual tradition. (Best secret santa gift - a squatting gnome)
•  Spent Christmas with my family at my parents beautiful new home in FL. We also had Christmas celebrations with Chris's family before we left. It was wonderful to be able to spend time with everyone!

• We rang in the New Year with our best friends!!! The night was filled with delicious food, intense games of Pictionary, banging pots and pans, and laughter- what a way to end 2012.
 

Cheers to 2013!!! 

Sunday Getaway

For the past couple weeks Chris's grandmother has been talking about a place in VA that she read about in a magazine that serves a beautiful brunch on Sundays and she asked if we'd like to join her. Seeing that we never rarely turn down free food, we happily obliged.

We woke up this morning, put on our Sunday best (on an actual Sunday, fancy that) and hit the road. Up until our arrival at the resort I had no clue where we were headed, so for the duration of our 1.5 hour drive I was expecting brunch at Shoney's. So color me surprised when we made our way through the beautiful nauseating winding mountain roads and arrived at this beautiful lodge instead of a pancake joint.

Primland is located in Meadows of Dan, VA, it is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is the perfect getaway (or would be if you could afford more than brunch)

Brunch itself was DELICIOUS! It was an all you can eat buffet, but let me tell you, it was a billion few notches up from the Golden Corral (sorry Chris). Shrimp and grits station, omelettes, prime rib, biscuits with gravy, and much much more (trust, I ate it all).

Plate 2:3

After brunch we toured the lodge, it is LEED certified and gorgeous! They offer tons of activities (like hunting, ATV tours, and star gazing), spa treatments, and golf (if you're willing/able to fork out $200 a round)

Cozy Lobby

Wine wall

Chris and I would love to go back and spend a weekend, but it might take a while to save up enough moola, because I'm going to keep it real and tell you, they charge big bucks, I'm talking $125 just to climb a tree (for real they offer that). 

It was a great little Sunday and I highly recommend a visit!

Pumpkin Seeds

So as promised in my pumpkin planters post  (I know, I know,  you've been on the edge of your seats waiting) - here is my recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds

I've never been one tradionally to roast pumpkin seeds, they've never been my first snack of choice, and as Chris says "they taste like you're eating seeds" (hmm I wonder why?), but when I was making my pumpkin planters, the pumpkins had TONS of seeds and so I figured I'd try my hand at roasting some up.

What you'll need: Pumpkin/seeds, seasoned salt, butter - or you can use cinnamon and sugar and butter (I made both)

Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees, and line a baking sheet with foil

Step 2: pull all the globs of grossness out of your pumpkin, try your best to separate the seeds from rest of the mush put in a strainer and rinse

Step 3: Place seeds on paper towel and pat dry

Step 4: Melt 2 tbsp. butter - add a couple shakes of seasoned salt (or cinnamon sugar) and stir together

 Step 5: Put seeds in plastic bag and pour in butter mixture

Step 5: Shake to coat seeds

Step 6: Spread the seeds in a single layer on baking sheet - I added a few more shakes of seasoned salt (or cinnamon sugar) on top 

Step 7:  Bake for about 45 minutes (or until golden brown and delicious looking) - stir seeds around about half way through 

Step 8: Let cool for a few minutes (or as long as you can resist b/c these puppies smell GOOOOOD)!

Step 9: ENJOY!

I was addicted! And like I said, I normally don't love pumpkin seeds. Must be the butter...

Also, I'd like to thank Shannon for all her assistance with this recipe