Wedding Weekend is finally here! Troy and I are both done with work until after our honeymoon and now all that's left for us to do is relax, spend time with our friends and family and have fun!
The dress is picked up, the seating chart is done and all the presents are wrapped. We'll just be dropping things off and running last minute errands. My college roommate Leah came in from San Francisco yesterday and I haven't seen her for nearly two years. I'm looking forward to spending every minute of the next three days with her and the rest of my family and friends.
This has been a great two years of being engaged, but I am ready for it to be over and to be married! Stay tuned for pictures of the big day!
5.26.2011
5.16.2011
'Single' Bride No More!
There are lots of things happening in our household right now. The wedding is 12 days away and best of all, Troy is home for good! It was so nice not having to rush around and get everything done by 6 p.m. on Sunday because he had to drive back. It was also nice being able to carpool downtown this morning and spend together in person and not just on the phone.
We're definitely in crunch time though, and having Troy here to help is great. Yesterday's project was making the labels for the out of town welcome bags. My friend Allyson who designed our invitations designed a square label with our names on it that I was able to print off. I then used scrap booking photo stickers to mount the labels onto white card stock, and then stuck them onto craft gift bags. Here's the result:
My college roommate and bridesmaid, Leah, will be arriving on Wednesday of next week and she has graciously offered to help with any last minute tasks, including filling these goody bags. We'll be giving our guests granola bars, candy bars, goldfish crackers and water among other things. Hopefully they'll enjoy! One more task ticked off the list!
We're definitely in crunch time though, and having Troy here to help is great. Yesterday's project was making the labels for the out of town welcome bags. My friend Allyson who designed our invitations designed a square label with our names on it that I was able to print off. I then used scrap booking photo stickers to mount the labels onto white card stock, and then stuck them onto craft gift bags. Here's the result:
5.07.2011
Three weeks to go!
In other wedding news this week, I met with the DJ company to start walking through the reception music. We have songs selected for all of "special" dances, I just seem to be stuck on which song(s) to play for our grand entrance along with the bridal party. Some suggestions I've received are:
- Thunderstruck
- Teach Me How to Dougie
- Bring 'Em Out
- Beautiful Day
- Signed, Sealed Delivered
- I Gotta Feeling
- Raise Your Glass
Oh and I forgot to share the best new of all -- my days as a "single" bride are nearly over! Troy will be home for good in SIX days! Yahoo!!!!
5.01.2011
It's Wedding Month!
The time has come. After 24 months of waiting, it's finally THE month that Troy and I are getting married! I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little freaked out about all that's left to be done, but it's still very exciting that we're getting married in less than four weeks.
There's a number of meetings coming up to finalize all the details -- with the florist, the DJ, the photographer. I swear I have more meetings for the wedding than I do at work! But the one meeting I was able to pass off to Troy was the one to finalize our cake. We're working with the fabulous White Flower Cake Shoppe and Marianne has been just fabulous. Below is the sketch of what our cake will look like.
It's everything that I would want in a wedding cake and best of all, it's so yummy! We'll have white, chocolate and red velvet cake on the inside. If you've never tasted cake from White Flower, I strongly suggest you stop by their bakery or their kiosk filled with goodies. I know I will be looking forward to mine for the next 27 days.
There's a number of meetings coming up to finalize all the details -- with the florist, the DJ, the photographer. I swear I have more meetings for the wedding than I do at work! But the one meeting I was able to pass off to Troy was the one to finalize our cake. We're working with the fabulous White Flower Cake Shoppe and Marianne has been just fabulous. Below is the sketch of what our cake will look like.
4.13.2011
Tigers Love Pepper
This post is coming straight from gate B11 at the Philadelphia International Airport. After a fun work trip to NYC, I'm delayed and waiting to get home; home, SWEET, home. I love traveling to exciting places, but I also love sleeping in my own bed and hanging out with Coco (who also hates when I travel). So it really makes me think of how hard it must be for Troy to be away from home five nights a week.
This week, however, Mr. Troy will be away for a full two weeks. Because instead of coming home this weekend, he will be jetting off to Vegas tomorrow for his bachelor party. Yes, you read that right. He will be getting his party on Hangover style at Caesar's Palace all weekend. Thankfully in that story, the groom-to-be just gets locked on the roof, and not attacked by a tiger or pulling out his own incisor.
Now I'm a lucky girl because Troy doesn't drink, and I don't think there's any massive hangover in his future. What's more likely to happen is the scene from Vegas Vacation where Chevy Chase loses all his money and they steal a dead man's winning lottery ticket.
After my day of delayed travel and sitting in airports, I hope I have sucked up all of the bad travel mojo destined for the two of us and that Troy and his buddies can make it to Vegas without a hitch. And if you see a group of fools hanging around Caesar's asking "if the real Caesar lives here," I apologize on their behalf. Because chances are, that group of fools belongs to me.
This week, however, Mr. Troy will be away for a full two weeks. Because instead of coming home this weekend, he will be jetting off to Vegas tomorrow for his bachelor party. Yes, you read that right. He will be getting his party on Hangover style at Caesar's Palace all weekend. Thankfully in that story, the groom-to-be just gets locked on the roof, and not attacked by a tiger or pulling out his own incisor.
Now I'm a lucky girl because Troy doesn't drink, and I don't think there's any massive hangover in his future. What's more likely to happen is the scene from Vegas Vacation where Chevy Chase loses all his money and they steal a dead man's winning lottery ticket.
After my day of delayed travel and sitting in airports, I hope I have sucked up all of the bad travel mojo destined for the two of us and that Troy and his buddies can make it to Vegas without a hitch. And if you see a group of fools hanging around Caesar's asking "if the real Caesar lives here," I apologize on their behalf. Because chances are, that group of fools belongs to me.
4.09.2011
Invitations are in the mail!
It has been a hectic few weeks, that's for sure. Between work travel and wedding planning and a lovely bridal shower hosted by my future mother-in-law in Cincinnati, we have accomplished an enormous feat -- the wedding invitations are in the mail! After hand-addressing 155 inner and outer envelopes, and barely escaping a crippled wrist, they are complete and I am feeling some of the stress dissipate.
I'm fortunate to work with a number of great designers, one of which, created our custom wedding invitations.
Clearly, I'm not a photographer, and these snapshots don't even do the invitation pieces justice, but I'm over-the-moon with how they turned out! Now, the part my type-A personality has been craving; keeping track of the yeses and nos and the meals and making sure all of the data is perfectly organized.
One more thing finished. Now on to the next! 49 days to go...
I'm fortunate to work with a number of great designers, one of which, created our custom wedding invitations.
Clearly, I'm not a photographer, and these snapshots don't even do the invitation pieces justice, but I'm over-the-moon with how they turned out! Now, the part my type-A personality has been craving; keeping track of the yeses and nos and the meals and making sure all of the data is perfectly organized.
One more thing finished. Now on to the next! 49 days to go...
3.24.2011
Weekend Wedding Wrap Up
I know what you're thinking -- wow, writing about last weekend when a new one is upon us? Let's just say it's been a long week of recovery after a great weekend that was packed to the gills with wedding fun.
The bridal shower was such a good time. The food at Coffee Creek Estate was delicious, the desserts by Sweet Treats were delectable and the company was out of this world. It was so nice to have all of my friends and family in the same room. And let's be honest, everyone's generosity just blew me away. I mean, take a look at all of this swag.
After the fun and games were over in the afternoon, we all went home and rallied for the evening. A cat nap can do wonders for your stamina, let me tell you. My girlfriends went all out for my big night and it's one I'll never forget. We had a yummy dinner with my mom, aunts, grandma and cousin Hannah (who is still underage) and then the craziness ensued. But before we did, we had a little bubbly to kick off the festivities.
Now to protect the all parties involved, this video snippet is as much as I will share. But just know, we all survived and will live to tell the tale of my bachelorette party. Lord help us for the next one. We're not getting any younger -- and neither are our livers.
The bridal shower was such a good time. The food at Coffee Creek Estate was delicious, the desserts by Sweet Treats were delectable and the company was out of this world. It was so nice to have all of my friends and family in the same room. And let's be honest, everyone's generosity just blew me away. I mean, take a look at all of this swag.
After the fun and games were over in the afternoon, we all went home and rallied for the evening. A cat nap can do wonders for your stamina, let me tell you. My girlfriends went all out for my big night and it's one I'll never forget. We had a yummy dinner with my mom, aunts, grandma and cousin Hannah (who is still underage) and then the craziness ensued. But before we did, we had a little bubbly to kick off the festivities.
Now to protect the all parties involved, this video snippet is as much as I will share. But just know, we all survived and will live to tell the tale of my bachelorette party. Lord help us for the next one. We're not getting any younger -- and neither are our livers.
3.13.2011
Party Time. Excellent.
Well the fun is finally upon us! After two years of thinking about the wedding and all of the fun leading up to it, it's finally time to get this party started. My first bridal shower and my bachelorette party are this Saturday and I couldn't be more excited. I am so thankful to have such a great group of family members and friends who have been planning these events.
I'm really looking forward to the shower because it's going to be a brunch and hey, who doesn't love brunch? When my mom said she was forgoing the traditional lunch shower, I thought "Hallelujah because I HATE lunch." It's my least favorite meal of the day. But breakfast? I could nom on some pancakes three squares a day, 365 days a year. Plus I really feel blessed that she wanted to do something tailored to my likes and that she's put so much care and meticulous thought into this special day. So if you're joining us on Saturday, bring your appetite and saddle in for a great time. Oh, and did I fail to mention there's going to be a DONUT CAKE. I think that deserves an all caps shout out (see pic below to start the drooling five days early).
After stuffing my face all day, I'll be squeezing into a teensy dress and painting the town red with my favorite people. At first, I thought I really wanted to go big for the bachelorette party with a getaway to a warm location for an entire weekend of fun and debauchery. Think "The Hangover" but with a bunch of Midwestern girls taking on the strip instead of Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper. Then, my practical side got to thinking, and I decided it was probably best to not shoot the wad two months before the wedding, and that my friends and I could have just as much fun in Cleveland.
Now, I do not have a clue what we are doing and I think that's best. It's easier to deny later (wink, wink). I've only been given a loose outline of the evening's events so I can plan my wardrobe changes. But I do know one thing -- if my ladies are planning it, it's going to be one of the best nights of my life.
So come one back and I promise to provides details on the swag, the shenanigans and everything in between.
I'm really looking forward to the shower because it's going to be a brunch and hey, who doesn't love brunch? When my mom said she was forgoing the traditional lunch shower, I thought "Hallelujah because I HATE lunch." It's my least favorite meal of the day. But breakfast? I could nom on some pancakes three squares a day, 365 days a year. Plus I really feel blessed that she wanted to do something tailored to my likes and that she's put so much care and meticulous thought into this special day. So if you're joining us on Saturday, bring your appetite and saddle in for a great time. Oh, and did I fail to mention there's going to be a DONUT CAKE. I think that deserves an all caps shout out (see pic below to start the drooling five days early).
So come one back and I promise to provides details on the swag, the shenanigans and everything in between.
3.01.2011
License to Wed
Here is a little known fact for all of you non-Catholics out there -- in order to get married in the Catholic church, you need to complete six months of pre-marriage counseling and preparation.
Now this was no shocker to us; Troy and I knew all along that we'd be in for a few awkward meetings with the priest and maybe some sessions with an older married couple in the church to hear all about the ups and downs of married life. But sadly, we did not get assigned to a sponsor couple. Instead, after meeting with the priest, we were told we needed to attend an all-day, pre-marriage retreat with other couples getting married in the diocese. I immediately thought I was in for my very own "License to Wed" scenario... you know, that movie where Robin Williams plays a crazy minister preparing a young couple for wedded bliss.
There were no mechanical babies helping us to experience the joys of parenthood; no role playing to uncover deep-seeded issues between each another; and sadly, there was no young "minister-in-training" running around to keep us on our toes. I guess that's why it's a movie and not real life.
Our real retreat was 7-hours long (not fun), but extremely interesting and helped Troy and I to understand the history of marriage in the Catholic church, as well as what we're agreeing to in May when we say "I do." Best of all, we had to "enjoy" the extremely awkward DVD about Natural Family Planning with roughly 46 complete strangers. Now, if that's not the perfect way to spend a Saturday, I don't know what is.
Now this was no shocker to us; Troy and I knew all along that we'd be in for a few awkward meetings with the priest and maybe some sessions with an older married couple in the church to hear all about the ups and downs of married life. But sadly, we did not get assigned to a sponsor couple. Instead, after meeting with the priest, we were told we needed to attend an all-day, pre-marriage retreat with other couples getting married in the diocese. I immediately thought I was in for my very own "License to Wed" scenario... you know, that movie where Robin Williams plays a crazy minister preparing a young couple for wedded bliss.
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| Ringing any bells? |
Our real retreat was 7-hours long (not fun), but extremely interesting and helped Troy and I to understand the history of marriage in the Catholic church, as well as what we're agreeing to in May when we say "I do." Best of all, we had to "enjoy" the extremely awkward DVD about Natural Family Planning with roughly 46 complete strangers. Now, if that's not the perfect way to spend a Saturday, I don't know what is.
2.20.2011
One month down, less than 100 days to go
Not only are we counting down to the wedding (97 days to go), but we're also counting up. Troy has been living in PA for a little more than a month now, and as one countdown continues, so does the other. But that's not to say we haven't been busy!
This weekend we were lucky enough to have my future brother-in-law Adam and his girlfriend Kristen pay us a visit. It was nice to be able to spend time with them and chat about the upcoming wedding with the Best Man. He's surprisingly interested in it all! But easily, the highlight of our weekend was taking Adam to get measured for his tuxedo
Now, I have never seen Adam in dress clothes; and neither has Kristen. So when he walked out of the dressing room all fancied-up, it was most definitely a treat. The groomsmen will be wearing pretty traditional wedding day garb -- a black tuxedo with a charcoal gray vest. Something along the lines of this:
In other apparel news, I had another gown fitting this weekend, which was great. It's crazy to think I will be wearing the dress to get married in a few short months. Let's just say the transformation of my mom's 1980s gown into its current state has been amazing. Additionally, the seamstress was able to make a number of wedding accessories from the leftover lace, including a pillow for our ring bearer, a garter and a hair piece for both me and the flower girl. Not only is everything perfectly coordinated, she was able to do it for a fraction of the cost of buying things online. Now it seems like everything is coming together, and with less than 100 days to go, it couldn't be better!
This weekend we were lucky enough to have my future brother-in-law Adam and his girlfriend Kristen pay us a visit. It was nice to be able to spend time with them and chat about the upcoming wedding with the Best Man. He's surprisingly interested in it all! But easily, the highlight of our weekend was taking Adam to get measured for his tuxedo
Now, I have never seen Adam in dress clothes; and neither has Kristen. So when he walked out of the dressing room all fancied-up, it was most definitely a treat. The groomsmen will be wearing pretty traditional wedding day garb -- a black tuxedo with a charcoal gray vest. Something along the lines of this:
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| Stylin', no? |
2.13.2011
I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends
Honestly, what's been keeping me sane during my weeks without Troy are my girlfriends. I'm so fortunate to have such a wonderful group of ladies that I can count on and I'm glad that we've been able to get together once a week. It's really helped me get through my first month of flying solo. I'm not sure it's helped my wallet or my waistline, but eh, that's what jobs and gyms are for!
Needless to say, most of our get togethers have been over lovely meals. And in addition to the great company, I've also had the opportunity to try a number of new restaurants in the area. Good friends + good food = GREAT night. I love that Cleveland has such an amazing restaurant scene. But out of all our meals, my favorite has to be the delicious dogs at Happy Dog.
We met at Happy Dog on a Thursday night after work, before heading to an event for our lovely friend Lauren. I think what I love the most about Happy Dog is that for $5, you can have a juicy hot dog, on a fresh bun with as many toppings as you like, no questions asked. I went with the sausage, topped with house made ketchup. bourbon baked beans, smoked gouda and blue cheese coleslaw. I know it seems like a lot, but it was so tasty. Add some tator tots with an array of dipping sauces, and call it a night!
But regardless of where we are or what we're eating, all that matters is that I'm with some of my favorite people in the world.
Needless to say, most of our get togethers have been over lovely meals. And in addition to the great company, I've also had the opportunity to try a number of new restaurants in the area. Good friends + good food = GREAT night. I love that Cleveland has such an amazing restaurant scene. But out of all our meals, my favorite has to be the delicious dogs at Happy Dog.
We met at Happy Dog on a Thursday night after work, before heading to an event for our lovely friend Lauren. I think what I love the most about Happy Dog is that for $5, you can have a juicy hot dog, on a fresh bun with as many toppings as you like, no questions asked. I went with the sausage, topped with house made ketchup. bourbon baked beans, smoked gouda and blue cheese coleslaw. I know it seems like a lot, but it was so tasty. Add some tator tots with an array of dipping sauces, and call it a night!
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| Oh Happy Dog...You make me happy :) |
But regardless of where we are or what we're eating, all that matters is that I'm with some of my favorite people in the world.
2.07.2011
Weekend Wedding Wrap Up
Troy was home for the weekend so you know what that meant -- time to do some wedding planning! So on Saturday morning we set out, I withdrew some cash money from my wedding fund *sigh* and we hit the ground running.
The main stop on our agenda (after a little gratuitous shopping) was the Flower Factory. If you don't know what Flower Factory is, think of it as a dollar and craft store the size of a Costco. It's cheap, has pretty much anything you could imagine, and best of all, the store is closing meaning this weekend... an extra 15% off.
After meeting with our florist, we decided to assemble one of the centerpiece options on our own. So I wanted to hit up the Flower Factory for some inspiration and/or to find materials. The centerpieces have been the biggest point of contention in this entire wedding planning process. Dress? Easy. Venue? Donzo. Food? No arguments. But centerpieces? Kill. Me. Now. Especially since my mother hates flowers ("what a waste of money") AND candles ("they make me nervous"). GREAT.
To be fair, I've been extremely indecisive too. But lately, our two non-floral front runners are:
I know what you're thinking: both of those incorporate candles, duh. Here's the kicker; they get the Kim seal of approval because flame is contained. To my delight, we're in the clear! This might actually be the end of the great centerpiece debate!
Sadly Flower Factory had NOTHING similar, so we're going to order one of these items from a garden wholesaler (www.jamaligarden.com to be exact).
On the bright side, I was able to score a great deal on 216 bottles of bubbles (what's a wedding without bubbles?), 100 traditional and classic ivory thank you notes and 12 cube vases the florist needs for my peony centerpieces. A whole cartful of stuff and only $98 later, we were done. To all my fellow brides -- or anyone planning a major party -- get thee to a Flower Factory. And stat.
The main stop on our agenda (after a little gratuitous shopping) was the Flower Factory. If you don't know what Flower Factory is, think of it as a dollar and craft store the size of a Costco. It's cheap, has pretty much anything you could imagine, and best of all, the store is closing meaning this weekend... an extra 15% off.
After meeting with our florist, we decided to assemble one of the centerpiece options on our own. So I wanted to hit up the Flower Factory for some inspiration and/or to find materials. The centerpieces have been the biggest point of contention in this entire wedding planning process. Dress? Easy. Venue? Donzo. Food? No arguments. But centerpieces? Kill. Me. Now. Especially since my mother hates flowers ("what a waste of money") AND candles ("they make me nervous"). GREAT.
To be fair, I've been extremely indecisive too. But lately, our two non-floral front runners are:
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| Beaded candle holders |
 |
| Pewter lanterns |
I know what you're thinking: both of those incorporate candles, duh. Here's the kicker; they get the Kim seal of approval because flame is contained. To my delight, we're in the clear! This might actually be the end of the great centerpiece debate!
Sadly Flower Factory had NOTHING similar, so we're going to order one of these items from a garden wholesaler (www.jamaligarden.com to be exact).
On the bright side, I was able to score a great deal on 216 bottles of bubbles (what's a wedding without bubbles?), 100 traditional and classic ivory thank you notes and 12 cube vases the florist needs for my peony centerpieces. A whole cartful of stuff and only $98 later, we were done. To all my fellow brides -- or anyone planning a major party -- get thee to a Flower Factory. And stat.
2.02.2011
The Best Part of Waking Up
The only thing that makes getting up during the week worthwhile are the Saved by the Bell reruns on TBS. Two glorious hours of Zack, Kelly, Screech, Jessie, Slater and Lisa. It's pretty much what I live for before 9 a.m.
When Troy worked at a golf course for the first two years of our cohabitation, he was up and out of the apartment well before 7 a.m., leaving me to enjoy SBTB in peace and on every TV, in every room if I so desired. But then, he got a 9-5 job, and we were on the same schedule, and bye bye to Bayside and Mr. Belding. Instead I was stuck watching Sportscenter, top plays and learning enough sports knowledge to last a lifetime.
Now that I'm back to a solo schedule in the morning, I've been able to get my fill of all Zack Morris' antics. Don't misunderstand -- Troy being home easily trumps Saved by the Bell. I'm just finding the silver lining :)
If you are a child of the 80s or 90s and don't take pleasure in a good episode of Saved by the Bell, shame on you. How can you not enjoy such quality programming as a dance off at the Max featuring the one and only Casey Kasem?
Or the ever popular Miss Bayside beauty competition where Slater and Screech decide to break down stereotypical gender roles?
Or my absolute favorite of all time (and I'm sure it's yours, too). The one where Jessie gets addicted to caffeine pills? She's so excited, she's so excited. She's so, so SCARED!
Should I be watching the news in morning before work? Probably. But will I? No. Not unless we're in that horrible phase of the junior high episodes that even the very lovely Haley Mills can't save. Plus, my work BFF Jamie and I share this obsession with the Bayside gang. If we didn't watch SBTB before we got to the office, what would we talk about? Work? Nah...
When Troy worked at a golf course for the first two years of our cohabitation, he was up and out of the apartment well before 7 a.m., leaving me to enjoy SBTB in peace and on every TV, in every room if I so desired. But then, he got a 9-5 job, and we were on the same schedule, and bye bye to Bayside and Mr. Belding. Instead I was stuck watching Sportscenter, top plays and learning enough sports knowledge to last a lifetime.
Now that I'm back to a solo schedule in the morning, I've been able to get my fill of all Zack Morris' antics. Don't misunderstand -- Troy being home easily trumps Saved by the Bell. I'm just finding the silver lining :)
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| Lisa and Screech doing "The Sprain" |
Or the ever popular Miss Bayside beauty competition where Slater and Screech decide to break down stereotypical gender roles?
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| That's one heck of a Miss Bayside candidate, mullet be damned |
Or my absolute favorite of all time (and I'm sure it's yours, too). The one where Jessie gets addicted to caffeine pills? She's so excited, she's so excited. She's so, so SCARED!
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| No time! There's never any time! |
1.30.2011
Dress Dilemma - Flower Girl Edition
Troy and I were shopping with my mom yesterday when we found not one, but two, incredibly cute options for Miss Katelyn. One is a very traditional look for a flower girl. The other is different and fun. As someone who's fairly traditional, I'm torn between which dress Katie should wear. So I bought them both.
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| Ivory flower girl dress with pearl accents |
This is the other one.
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| Silver sparkle flower girl dress |
What are your thoughts -- silver sparkle or ivory pearl? I'm sure Katie will love them both -- and since the silver one was only $18 (gotta love an extra 30% off at Dillards!) she can always wear it for the rehearsal or even to play dress up. Good thing I have 118 days to think it over!
1.27.2011
Cooking for One
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| Mmmm Stir Fry (not mine though) |
Out of the seven nights that I've been on my own, I think I've only made dinner for myself two times. To say I've been slacking is an understatement, and tonight, I decided it was time to get my groove back.
As part of my pre-wedding slim down, I've given up eating most starches and carbs. I know, a terrible decision, and one that has kept me away from one of my favorite types of food: Asian. How can you possibly enjoy it sans rice and those amazing deep-fried egg rolls? I decided that I couldn't let this diet get the best of me, so I decided to try a stir fry that was good and good for you. Below is my quick and easy carb-free chicken stir fry, which was so delish, I promise, you won't even miss the rice.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbs. olive oil
- 1 boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup zucchini
- 1 1/2 cups frozen stir fry vegetables
- 1/4 cup frozen, shelled edamame
- 1/4 cup store-bought peanut sauce
Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Mince the garlic and add. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add, cooking each side for 3-4 minutes. Remove from pan and add zucchini (also seasoned with salt and pepper). After 2 minutes, add the frozen veggies and edamame. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook for 4-6 mins.
This next step is important: be sure to drain the excess liquid from the pan. If you don't, your stir fry will get soggy and your peanut sauce will be runny. Once the veggies are drained, add the chicken back in and the peanut sauce. Mix well (I find tongs work best) and cook uncovered for another 3 minutes as you allow the flavors to combine.
And then, TA-DA! A yummy stir fry dinner (without the carbs) for one! I'm sorry there's no picture of my delicious meal -- I thought about taking one after I was finished devouring my dish. And even though it may look like a lot of food for one person at first, the veggies cook down and it's all healthy stuff; so there's no need to feel guilty!
1.25.2011
Weekend Wedding Wrap Up
What better way to spend a weekend then to do a bunch of wedding planning!
I'm sure that's exactly what Troy thought, too...
In my defense we had all of our appointments scheduled before we knew he'd only be home on the weekends. So we spent the majority of Troy's first weekend back at my parents' house, doing a number of wedding things, like meeting with the florist, viewing the linens for the reception and meeting with the priest to continue our pre-marriage counseling.
As with most grooms, flowers are not high on Troy's priority list, especially at 9 a.m. on a Saturday. My mom and I went to see the florist and talk through all the blooms for the big day. To provide a little background, my mom is always looking for something unique and classy when it comes to the wedding, so finding the right centerpiece has been a challenge. Mostly because there are so many ideas out there. But I'm happy with our decisions. To give you a sneak peak, one of the arrangements will look something like this (finger's crossed):
After hashing out all the details -- peonies or garden roses, branches or baby's breath -- and two hours, we were done. Time to head to the next appointment.
Linens tend to not be as difficult as flowers, thank goodness. We went with the white tablecloths and chair covers instead of the ivory (they just looked like dirty white ones) and a dark gray sash on the chairs. Glad to be checking things off my list! We headed back home after our counseling session and snuggled in for a night of laundry and TV. Sometimes all it takes is doing the simple things with the one you love to have the prefect Saturday night.
I'm sure that's exactly what Troy thought, too...
In my defense we had all of our appointments scheduled before we knew he'd only be home on the weekends. So we spent the majority of Troy's first weekend back at my parents' house, doing a number of wedding things, like meeting with the florist, viewing the linens for the reception and meeting with the priest to continue our pre-marriage counseling.
As with most grooms, flowers are not high on Troy's priority list, especially at 9 a.m. on a Saturday. My mom and I went to see the florist and talk through all the blooms for the big day. To provide a little background, my mom is always looking for something unique and classy when it comes to the wedding, so finding the right centerpiece has been a challenge. Mostly because there are so many ideas out there. But I'm happy with our decisions. To give you a sneak peak, one of the arrangements will look something like this (finger's crossed):
After hashing out all the details -- peonies or garden roses, branches or baby's breath -- and two hours, we were done. Time to head to the next appointment.
Linens tend to not be as difficult as flowers, thank goodness. We went with the white tablecloths and chair covers instead of the ivory (they just looked like dirty white ones) and a dark gray sash on the chairs. Glad to be checking things off my list! We headed back home after our counseling session and snuggled in for a night of laundry and TV. Sometimes all it takes is doing the simple things with the one you love to have the prefect Saturday night.
1.22.2011
Snow Blows
I know, I know. I should not be surprised by any amount of snow we receive in Northeast Ohio. Especially since I've lived here all my life. But last night, the snow got the best of me. I checked the weather before leaving the office because I was trekking to the far eastside for a hair appointment. The forecast said a "dusting to three inches." WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP.
The roads were atrocious, as was visibility. By the time I made it to my appointment, I was 30 minutes late. Thankfully, the lovely Nicole at Angel Hair didn't mind. During the time in the salon, it continued to snow and snow and snow, totally ravaging the roads and making my drive home miserable.
After a cumulative three hours and 45 minutes of drive time, I finally made it home and our driveway is a mess. Ladies, this is where having a man in the house is a huge bonus. But since it was just me, I said a little prayer, and gunned it down the driveway, hoping my little wind-up car could make it without getting stuck. I didn't bother shoveling, cause I figured it would stop soon and it was 10:15 and I was spent. WRONG.
The driveway had another three inches on it when I walked outside. Usually, on mornings like this, Troy would shovel the driveway and drive me to work so I didn't have to deal with slick roads and idiot drivers. But, being on my own, I was left to my own devices. I made it down the driveway and to work (only 30 minutes late -- are you seeing a pattern?) and it's now sunny and blue skies. Of course. Looks like I'll be hiring a plow service for the rest of the winter!
The roads were atrocious, as was visibility. By the time I made it to my appointment, I was 30 minutes late. Thankfully, the lovely Nicole at Angel Hair didn't mind. During the time in the salon, it continued to snow and snow and snow, totally ravaging the roads and making my drive home miserable.
After a cumulative three hours and 45 minutes of drive time, I finally made it home and our driveway is a mess. Ladies, this is where having a man in the house is a huge bonus. But since it was just me, I said a little prayer, and gunned it down the driveway, hoping my little wind-up car could make it without getting stuck. I didn't bother shoveling, cause I figured it would stop soon and it was 10:15 and I was spent. WRONG.
The driveway had another three inches on it when I walked outside. Usually, on mornings like this, Troy would shovel the driveway and drive me to work so I didn't have to deal with slick roads and idiot drivers. But, being on my own, I was left to my own devices. I made it down the driveway and to work (only 30 minutes late -- are you seeing a pattern?) and it's now sunny and blue skies. Of course. Looks like I'll be hiring a plow service for the rest of the winter!
1.19.2011
On my own...
129 Days to go...
Our wedding is in 129 days. And Troy, my fiancé, left earlier this week to live in a different city -- to be precise, a different state -- for a work assignment for the next three to six months. And where does that leave me? In the house by myself with Coco, my fearless kitty and sidekick, and the only living creature to hear my ramblings on a daily basis. This is the first time I've ever lived alone, and after three years of living with Troy, to say this is an adjustment is an understatement. So how have I chosen to deal with my new found loneliness/independence? By finalizing our wedding plans and blogging about it, of course.
Let me start by saying that I have a paralyzing fear of robbers. I know I sound like a child, but ever since I was young, I have been scared that a strange man will come into the house in the middle of the night and begin rummaging through my belongings. I never babysat in high school; I never stayed at my parents house alone overnight; I even used to make a fake "body" out of stuffed animals in the bed next to me just in case an intruder did come into my room.
So... you can see my dilemma and how staying alone in our small rental house on a dark street five nights a week can cause some anxiety.
I'd say these first three nights I've done pretty well. Of course I've been waking up at 2:30, then 4 and finally 5 a.m. because I've heard noises (I keep telling myself it's just Coco). I'm sure our electric bill will skyrocket from keeping a few lights -- and the TV -- on all night. But hey, it's all in the name of adjustment.
Only two more nights until Troy comes home for his first weekend. Needless to say I can't wait. Not just because I miss him, but I'm in need of a good night's sleep, too.
Our wedding is in 129 days. And Troy, my fiancé, left earlier this week to live in a different city -- to be precise, a different state -- for a work assignment for the next three to six months. And where does that leave me? In the house by myself with Coco, my fearless kitty and sidekick, and the only living creature to hear my ramblings on a daily basis. This is the first time I've ever lived alone, and after three years of living with Troy, to say this is an adjustment is an understatement. So how have I chosen to deal with my new found loneliness/independence? By finalizing our wedding plans and blogging about it, of course.
Let me start by saying that I have a paralyzing fear of robbers. I know I sound like a child, but ever since I was young, I have been scared that a strange man will come into the house in the middle of the night and begin rummaging through my belongings. I never babysat in high school; I never stayed at my parents house alone overnight; I even used to make a fake "body" out of stuffed animals in the bed next to me just in case an intruder did come into my room.
So... you can see my dilemma and how staying alone in our small rental house on a dark street five nights a week can cause some anxiety.
I'd say these first three nights I've done pretty well. Of course I've been waking up at 2:30, then 4 and finally 5 a.m. because I've heard noises (I keep telling myself it's just Coco). I'm sure our electric bill will skyrocket from keeping a few lights -- and the TV -- on all night. But hey, it's all in the name of adjustment.
Only two more nights until Troy comes home for his first weekend. Needless to say I can't wait. Not just because I miss him, but I'm in need of a good night's sleep, too.
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