Three Wonderful Years...........

Today is our 3 year anniversary -(dating of course!)When I reminded Jon that it was this week he said "Are you sure it's not 4?" Which honestly it does feel longer than 3 in many ways. (HE thought 4 b/c literally we've had 4 summers together).
I had known Jon & His room mate Wes for quite a few years---(ha! That's a great story in it's self--but we don't have time for that).... But, it never was like "that". LONG story short- 3 years ago today Jon & I went to eat .... I didn't consider it a date....really didn't even want to go-but did. I chose Mexican b/c it's quick! LOL However, ended up having a wonderful time... Still didn't expect anything to come of it (AT ALL) until a day later when he asked me to do something again......... & Again we had a blast :) Seeing e/o everyday that week & honestly-probably everyday from then on out. It only took me about a month or 2 to know he was the one!! Pretty crazy! :)
A year ago today- we celebrated our 2nd year anniversary together and Jon told me that I needed to start picking out or just getting an idea about a ring!! I was super excited and decided to make a joke later on when he asked me what I thought was a good price range!
I was 100% kidding & said something extremely high! I told him I was kidding but he took me seriously! & for a few months, I really think he thought I was serious!!
However, in December Jon suprised me w/ the most perfect ring ever! =) I couldn't have asked for MORE! :) Even though I really thought i had scared him off :) ha!!!
Now, on our 3 year Anniversary we have been married for 3 months!! :)

Jon suprised me at the beginning of this week and told me we were going to go downtown last night for dinner. We went to a place we hadn't ever been before, Nantucket! (Jon's idea! b/c he knows I LOVE fish!) It was great :) We had a blast & even got valet parking--aren't we fancy=) Ha!!! Then we walked down to Larkins on the River thing where they had a live band & it was awesome!! (I really wish I would have taken pictures-meant too but-)

Three years later, I couldn't ask for anything more!!! Except more wonderful years  :)

Little bit of Life & a recipe :)

Quick Run Down of the past week with the Houston's....

1- After a LONG weekend last weekend and decisions to make, I must say I am SO thankful for my baby brother, who stayed up late on the phone walking me through the options and helping me sort through everything=) I love you Andrew!!!

2- Monday night Jon brought home a baby kitten he had somehow dug up w/ his excavator at work! We spent the night bottle feeding and catering to it. It was precious! It thought Bailey was it's mom. If you know anyone who wants a teeny tiny kitten-please let us know! We are looking for a good home for it :) Tuesday he found a turtle-luckily he didn't bring that one home! :)

3- Okay, Im sort of back tracking BUT, I ended up dropping my MAC off my bed & now it will not cut on :( THis makes for a VERY sad little me!! So, Now I'm on JOn's (not as fast) PC. Hopefully I will find sometime to take it to apple, since that didn't seem to happen this past week!!

4- Tuesday Jon started going to the gym! Which is a BIG Deal :) GO JON! =) It was nice having him to go w/, however it was week 1 so he didn't stay long ;) Ha! Hoping week 2 calls for a little more endurance :) ha!

5- We had a pretty good weekend-enjoyed dinner w/ friends last night! 

6- Earlier, I took Bailey out in the back yard and realized the grass is SO high you can barely see the little guy - (it's not as tall in the front, trust me!) Since Jon isn't home I decided to crank up the ole push mower and give it a whirl. First off it took me forever to get it on & secondly once I got to the backyard it kept cutting off b/c the grass is so high...after about twenty starts&stops and 10 designs in the back yard and sweat pouring from my eye lids (didnt know they could sweat) I decided to save that for Jon!!! Boooo!

7-I started reading Eat for your blood type!!! Pretty interesting ;)

On another note, I thought of another MUST HAVE in your kitchen- The Buttery Homestyle Idaho Mashed Potatos! They come in a little bag & all you do is mix them w/ water & heat. Jon Loves Mashed pot's so I am constantly whipping these up for him! (I shared this b/c I was real suprised to find out some people still slave over mashed potatos!!!)

& Lastly.........a recipe my little friend, Mrs. Ayers has been waiting on... (Well actually this isn't my original one, but I tried it last week and it was GREAT-or so Jon said!) Let's be honest --it has to be! When I couldn't find my recipe I decided to go to WHO other than.....Paula Deen! SO this is her grandmothers recipe--Enjoy ;) 

Ingredients:

peanut oil for frying
1   2 1/2 pound chicken cut into pieces
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 cup self-rising flour
salt and pepper for seasoning chicken
1/3 cup water
3   eggs

Directions

Tip from Paula: My Grandmother Paul always said to season chicken and return it to the refrigerator and let it sit as long as time permits, at least 2 to 3 hours.  And always use small chickens.
Beat eggs with water.  Add black pepper to self-rising flour. Dip seasoned chicken in egg; coat well in flour mixture.  Fry in moderately hot shortening, 350 degrees, in a cast iron skillet.  Place lid on top of skillet and fry until brown and crisp.  Remember that dark meat requires longer cooking time (about 13 to 14 minutes, compared to 8 to 10 minutes for white meat.)
Recipe courtesy Grandmother Paula
Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 3 hours 10 min
Cook Time: 8-14 minutes, depending on white or dark meat
Difficulty: Moderate

Fried Chicken!

Health is Wealth -- Random Facts :)

I love to know facts like this, so as Im sitting here reading a Prevention magazine that I found on my desk, I decided to share =)


Reduce Stress 200% ---- Hold Hands

Lower Risk of Dementia 19% --- Eat more Fish

Live 5 Years Longer ---  Sip Some Merlot 

Ease Back Pain by 56% ---- DO Yoga

Cut Stroke Risk 21% --- Brew a Pot of Tea

Cut Risk of Head and Neck Cancer by 400% ---- Brush & Floss

Feel 20% Happier -- Write a thank you note!

Improve blood flow by 21% -- LAUGH :)

Good to know : Condiment Cures =)

Ketchup - lowers risk of CV Disease - LYCOPENE!

Buckwheat Honey - Fights Aging

Hot Sauce/Chile Peppers - Curbs Appetite

Olive Oil - Boost Long Term Memory

Cinnamon - Stablizes Blood Sugar Levels

Horseradish - Detoxes your body

Sauerkraut - Eases Digestion

LAUGH a lot! A good sense of humor cures almost all of life's ills.

Life's Little Instruction Book # 273

"Remember Overnight Success Usually takes about 15 yrs"

Cooking, Recipes & Kitchen Musts!!

Well, Just so you know the beer can chicken wasn't a HUGE hit! It turned out good, but for all the time/work put in it I'd almost just rather run up to Publix & get one of there rotisserie chickens! (That are oh so good) However, I think we may have cooked ours a little long....

On another note, I thought i'd share some of my favorite things in the kitchen & some recipes :) 

ONE thing I am REALLY loving these days is my Williams Sonoma Olive Oil Mister.

Another great purchase is  Annies Raspberry Vinagrette Dressing  - light :) 
So yummy on a spinach and strawberry salad w/ salmon :) Delicious!


Another thing I absolutely LOVE is my electric frying pan which I use for frying chicken (FOR THE HUBS) OR cooking a stir fry type thing w/ chicken, beef, eggplant, bokchoy, squash, zuchinni, broccoli & anything else :) 

& Obviously life with out Pyrex dishes would just be plain ridiculous :) 

...More to come (When I think of it!)

As far as recipes goes, I had promised my friend Megan a few weeks ago that I would send her a country fried steak recipe & fried chicken! :) SO....I don't have the the fried chicken around me right now, but I thought i'd go ahead and type out the country fried steak --- one of my unhealthy southern husbands favorites ;) 

Country Fried Steak w/ White Gravy

1. Salt, Pepper & Flour Cube Steak

2. Cover the bottom of the frying pan with oil & let it heat up.

3. Fry until done. Turning several times.

(You can also make chicken fried chicken w/ this recipe too; using boneless chicken breast)

4. Lay cooked steak on paper towels -to kind of get the grease off.

OK----here comes the TRICKY part ;) This might take a little practice.

THE GRAVY:

1. In the pan you were just previously using, mix in 3 tblspns of flour (With the hot oil that should be left over in the pan)

2. Add Salt and pepper

3. Stir until slightly brown.

4. SLOWLY add in milk! You can always add more but it's better to start with less ;)

& Stir 

Add milk until you get the right consistency.

-Any questions just ask! :)

Thought I'd throw a few more in here :) 

This is a SUPER Easy dip recipe that ALL the guys seem to LOVE :)

Pizza DIP:

 You will need : 

• 8 oz of Cream Cheese
• Pizza Sauce
• Pepperonnis
• Mexican Mix Shredded Cheese

Okay, 

1. Spread 8oz of Cream Cheese in a shallow pan/pie plate

2. Spread 1/2 jar of pizza sauce over it

3. Chop up pepperoni's (maybe in 1/2 or 1/4's) & Cover

4. Cover w/ Cheese

5. Microwave 4 minutes.

SUPER EASY :) 

AWESOME CHEESE DIP:

You will need:

• 1 lb of ground sausage or beef (I think sausage taste better in this)
• 1 lb of Velveeta Cheese
• 1 can of rotel tomatoes

1. Brown Sausage

2.Place Cheese in Crock pot & let it melt

3. Add Sausage & Rotel when it's started to melt some .. can't really mess it up :) 

OKAY & for those of you who like HEALTHY : 

Roasted Green BEans:

1. Get Fresh Green beans and place them in a bowl. (Wash 1st)

2. Sprinkle 1 tblspoon of olive oil & 1 teaspoon of salt, stir around so it's evenly coated

3. Place on a baking sheet covered in tin foil

4. Bake 450 15 min...I sometimes do it longer b/c I like them with a few brown spots.

YOU can also do the same w/ sweet potatos if you cut them up - making sweet potato fries -yummy and healthy :) 

Just thought I'd share some...More to come later :) 

Im about to go enjoy my dinner publix gave me for free today :) Sockeye Salmon!! Thank you for good customer service Publix....

& lastly, my sweet little lemon tree must be enjoying outside b/c it's finally keeping her blooms on!!

Ha :) At the Houston house we get excited about the little things :) 

Recipe : Veracruz

For all you fish lovers --- a girl at the gym gave this to me, its super simple - obviously anyone could have thought of it, but it is very yummy :) 


Cut up tomato & Onion - I am lazy so I bought the already chopped ones that also had green peppers
Cover tilapia lightly in olive oil 
Place tom, onion on top 
& if you want add a few jalapeno peppers 
& Bake :) & squirt a lil lemon juice after wards if you like ;) 


SUPER easy! Healthy & yummy :) 


Tom night were trying Dean Cox' Beer Can Chicken recipe :) I'll let ya know how it goes :) 

My Random Thoughts...

There isn't a whole lot going on our way so I just thought i'd blog my "random thoughts". 

Well 1- When I got home today & checked the mail I realized we had 3 pieces of "junk" mail. For some reason I thought WHEW! Just junk mail! :) I remember that used to irritate me to get junk, but today I thought well Im just glad that wasn't a bill :) ha ha!!! 

...This past weekend we went to a cookout at Wes' house! (Jons old roommate & at one point the neighbor!) I decided to take a friend on mines "Puppy Chow" Recipe..... I had never tried it & I wanted to see what it was all about...Delicious! You gain about 5 lbs just in the "whipping it up" process. You know you have to lick your fingers and sample every single step of the way :) However it was a big  hit :) 

...Another random thought, I try to eat healthy most of the time...I try to give my body things it needs - lean meats (plenty of fish), healthy fats, fruits & veggies etc. At the end of the day you would think my body would say "Thanks for giving me all of those nutrients" BUT, oh no! It doesn't!!!  Instead, it sends me to bed for a few hours & then I find my 1/2 asleep self in the kitchen eating cookies! or just plain junk!!!

Huge disappointment when you go to sleep having a good "eating" day & wake up to realize you ate 500 extra calories in the middle of the night!? what in the world!?!  I told you this was random...

Please no one write me and inform me that Im not getting enough calories in the day - trust me I am!! Obviously my body doesn't want me to lose the 8 or so lbs I gained pre-wedding/honeymoon! 

ahhh...

On another note, this weekend we are having a baby shower for Jon's cousins wife! They are having a little boy in September. After that we are all meeting at Jon's grandmothers house for  a family dinner. 

Jon's cousins are coming from NC & his sister from ATL...So it should be a good time...

(No, unfortunately they gipped us & didn't make FAMILY REUNION T-Shirts this yr :(-- Bahahaha!)

Well, that's enough random nonsense for one day :)  Everyone watch Loosing it w/ Jillian tonight :) :) 

Catch up....

Well, we had an overall pretty good 4th weekend!! We ended up making our rounds- Hartwell (to see the Panagakos'), Keowee (visit the Houstons) & Jocassee on Monday to just enjoy e/o! Jocassee is amazing, if you have NOT been you must-- it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I love it ;)

Yes, it's just awesome!!! We always have the best time there! (I would LOVE go camping or motor home-ing there -ha!)
Anyways- I forgot to take pictures, so I have nothing really to show! BUT, have no DOUBT-- I was rockin' my AMERICAN FLAG bathing suit!!! No worries there! I am all about tradition!
We also listened to Lee Greenwood on the way to the fireworks show!!!
& Yes, lastly- I had my red toes! (However, in past times - they were red w/ a flag---but what can I say - times are tough lol - they were just red!)

OH yeah! My newest excitement! Which if your friends w/ me on facebook, you probably already know -- BUT - i got a pair of the VIBRAM 5 fingers!!!

I am SO thrilled about these! & SO far (One day in) I LOVE them!! 

If you don't know what they are- they are basically a multisport shoe-good for running, hiking, climbing, yoga, cross training, watersports etc. & Depending on WHY you want them can kind of depend on which type you by! they are the closest thing to barefoot baseically :) 

I've heard a lot of positive feedback about them....however one guy wrote on my fb saying that they make your feet sweat and then they begin to stink and there a waste!!

However, I think there great :) I'll let you know if I change my mind!!! 

thats about all going on in my world :) 

We may or may not go to charleston this weekend...we are in the deciding process still... hm.

hope everyone has a great rest of the short week! (Why can't all weeks be this great/short??) & Weekend!

Love ya!