Is your dog a Thunderdog?

Miss T has horrible travel anxiety, not in the airport or on the airplane, just in the car, can we say spoiled? She has flown round trip just about once a month since she was 10 weeks old and has traveled in the car to the beach, mountains, and even the long trip back home, but since she was about a year old decided she is going to shake and pant the entire car ride no matter if its 30 minutes or 8 hours. I've talked to the vet and since she is so small they are concerned about giving her a sedative, so we started with children's benadryl, that didn't do a thing. Next, we tried about a speck of a sedative pill from the vet that they crushed in to tiny pieces for me to give her about 30 minutes before we get in the car and will last 6-8 hours. The sedative does nothing more then make her eyes and head look droopy, but she still shakes and pants. Basically, we've just learned to live with her manic car behavior, yet I continuously worry that she is dehydrating herself on long car rides with all the panting, until now!

One weekend back in January, I was reading People Style Watch and came across a product called a Thundershirt; a therapeutic vest for dogs. I was immediately interested and went to the Thundershirt's website to learn more. After watching several of the videos and reading more, I knew I had to give the Thundershirt a try. Thundershirts are great for fear of thunder/fireworks, travel anxiety, crate training, problem barking, separation anxiety, hyperactivity, leash pulling, and more! It's the Thundershirt's gentle, constant pressure that has a dramatic calming effect for most dogs if they are anxious, fearful or over-excited.




The Thundershirt has without a doubt helped Miss T's travel anxiety and now we all enjoy our car rides with her a lot more!

Remember these?

How true is this? These ice pops were my favorite growing up!

I'm back...with a delicious recipe!

This weekend I was away with Thomas' Mom at a girls weekend with her sisters and nieces. We had a blast being together laying by the pool, swimming, hanging out and of course eating. One of the ladies made the recipe below as an appetizer on Saturday night and it was love at first bite! Make these for your next party and I promise they will be gone in a blink of an eye!

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

20 whole Fresh Jalapenos, 2-3 Inches In Size
2 cubes Cream Cheese, softened
2 cups, Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 pound Thin(regular) Bacon, Sliced Into Thirds

Directions

If you have them, slip on some latex gloves for the pepper prep... Cut jalapenos in half, length-wise. With a spoon, remove the seeds and white membrane (the source of the heat; leave a little if you like things HOT). Smear softened cream cheese into each jalapeno half and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Wrap jalapeno with bacon pieces (1/3 slice). Secure by sticking toothpick through the middle.

Bake on a pan with a rack in a 375-degree oven for 20-25 minutes. You don’t want the bacon to shrink so much it starts to the squeeze the jalapeno. If, after 20 minutes, the bacon doesn’t look brown enough, just turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes to finish it off. These are best when the jalapeno still has a bit of bite to it.
Serve immediately, or they’re also great at room temperature.

ENJOY!

Mustard

This mustard is delicious! I first discovered it on a turkey sandwich I ordered from the Gourmet Shoppe. I kept raving about the mustard my Mom surprised me by asking what mustard they use and bought me a jar. I don't make sandwiches at home on a regular basis, but I discovered I like dipping pretzels in the mustard for a snack!

This is a "uniquely sharp" mustard with a little bit of spice! It is absolutely delicious and has just enough zing to liven up any sandwich or make a great snack.

Happy Monday!

P.S. sorry for the terrible iPhone pictures recently, I've been all over the place I can't even remember to bring my camera!

Iced Coffee

As many of you know, I am currently reading The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--A Love Story By Ree Drummond and as I was browsing the internet just the other night I came across the picture below which just happened to be the Pioneer Woman's recipe for iced coffee. After seeing this picture, I was immediately inspired to make my own iced coffee served in a mason jar with a colorful straw. I am not a regular coffee drinker, but nothing gives you that extra pep in your step on a hot summer afternoon like an iced coffee!

Perfect Iced Coffee from The Pioneer Woman
Servings 24

Ingredients

1 pound Ground Coffee (good, Rich Roast)
8 quarts Cold Water
Half-and-half (healthy Splash Per Serving)
Sweetened Condensed Milk (2-3 Tablespoons Per Serving)
Note: Can Use Skim Milk, 2% Milk, Whole Milk, Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners, Syrups...adapt to your liking!

Directions
(Adapted from Imbibe Magazine)

In a large container, mix ground coffee with water. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature eight hours or overnight.

Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a pitcher or other container. Pour coffee/water mixture through the strainer, allowing all liquid to run through. Discard grounds.

Place coffee liquid in the fridge and allow to cool. Use as needed.

To make iced coffee, pack a glass full of ice cubes. Fill glass 2/3 full with coffee liquid. Add healthy splash of half-and-half. Add 2-3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (can use plain sugar instead) and stir to combine. Taste and adjust half-and-half and/or sweetened condensed milk as needed.

ENJOY!

Happy 4th of July!

Please remember all the men and women who fight for our freedom and keep America safe each and every day.

I hope each of you have a Happy 4th of July and are enjoying this long weekend with family and friends!

Royal Watch

I just couldn't help posting this picture. Kate is absolutely gorgeous all the time, but I especially love her hair and outfit in the picture below!

William & Kate arriving in Canada

I definitely will be Royal watching this weekend and during the rest of their tour of Canada and the US!

I hope y'all have a great weekend!

Showering Linds!

This past weekend I was home for my cousin Lindsey's Bridal Shower. The shower was hosted by all my aunts and girls cousins and took place at my parents house! It was the perfect opportunity for our family to meet Pat's family and all the special woman on his side of the family.

Dessert!

Our Bride-to-Be!


Bride-to-Be & her Sister who is also her Maid of Honor!

The pretty cake my Mom made!

Super cute cupcakes my cousin, Kel made!

Mini Wine Bottles as favors!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time, I know I sure did!

Linds, I can't wait until the big day, you are going to be a beautiful bride!

I Scream, You Scream...

We all scream for ICE CREAM!!!

One of my favorite gadgets is my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. I use it year around to make a wide variety of delicious ice cream flavors!






During the summer I tend to make more ice cream, so I always keep the freezer bowl in the freezer so I am ready to go whenever I want to make ice cream.

With your Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker comes an instruction booklet along with a booklet of recipes. Below is one of my favorite recipes!

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

Ingredients

2/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup whole milk

1 1/3 cup heavy cream

1tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 cup chopped peanut butter cups

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter and sugar with hand mixer. Add milk until smooth and sugar is dissolved. Stir in heavy cream and vanilla.

Turn machine on & add mixture to frozen bowl. Leave in mixer for 20-25 minutes. Last 5 minutes add peanut butter cups and chocolate chips. Transfer to air tight container. Let "set" in freezer for about 2 hours.

ENJOY!

What's your favorite gadget?

Thirsty Thursday: Skinnygirl Sangria

How to Make Skinnygirl Sangria
By Bethenny Frankel

Ingredients

8 peaches, pitted and sliced
4 white plums, pitted and sliced
1 pound green grapes, cut in half
3 bottles Prosecco (an Italian sparkling wine)
One 12oz. can Fresca or diet lemon/lime soda
One 12oz. can club soda

Directions

Combine all the ingredients and let chill for atleast one hour. Serve over ice.



ENJOY!

Happy 1st Day of Summer!

Happy 1st (offical) day of Summer! It has felt like Summer here for over a month now, so it's crazy to think that today is the first day.

Here's to a fabulous summer for each and everyone of you!

Confession

I'll be the first to admit, I have never had an interest in owning an iPad. It's nothing against the product, I just couldn't imagine typing e-mails, blogging, etc. on an iPad. So what else would I need it for? Surfing the internet, duh! I have an HP netbook that I purchased close to two years ago, which I have really enjoyed. I love its compact size and light weight which makes it easy to transport and travel with yet it still has all the functionality of a laptop. Well all this changed on Friday...

I won an iPad at work about a month ago and it literally has been in the box up until Friday. I even told Thomas that he could have it because I didn't want it. He should have taken it when I offered because within minutes of setting it up and surfing the web, I was in heaven and wondering what took me so long to open the box! The iPad is amazing and I can't tell you how much more enjoyable it is to surf the web on it than my netbook!

I still enjoy blogging from my netbook and if I have work to do I use my work laptop, but for typing e-mails and surfing the web I chose my iPad. Although I am new to the iPad world, I am not new to Apple. I've had my iPhone4 for almost a year now and I swore before I purchased it, I would never give up on Blackberry, boy was I wrong! I'm hooked on Apple products and I don't think that will ever change.

All this being said, I need your help! I obviously need and want to purchase a screen protector and case for my iPad. I have an the Commuter Otterbox case on my iPhone which I love and I have a super thick screen protector from AT&T that has eliminated all types of scratches. I know Otterbox makes the Commuter case for the iPad, but I nervous about the screen not having a cover to protect it other than the thin screen protector Otterbox sends you with the case.

Do you all have any recommendations? Stylish yet protective and functional is ideal, but I can do away with the stylish part for something good quality!

I appreciate all your help!

#1

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I hope you have a great day!

I can't wait to see you next weekend and celebrate! Love ya!

Warm Orzo Salad with Peas & Feta

Here's a long lost recipe that I haven't made in just as long as the Grilled Chicken with Spinach & Pine Nut Pesto recipe I shared with you last week. Anyways, that's not the point, the point is this a deliciously light salad that is perfect year around, however I am sharing the it now because I think it's the perfect recipe for the warmer months since it's very light and tangy, I hope you enjoy!

Warm Orzo Salad with Peas & Feta
Sandra Lee

Ingredients

8 ounces orzo
2 cups frozen early peas
¼ cup olive oil and vinegar dressing
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 (4 ounce) package garlic and herb crumbled feta

Directions

In large pot of boiling, salted water, cook orzo per package directions. When orzo is al dente, remove from heat and add frozen peas to cooking water. Let sit for 1 minute.

Drain and transfer to a serving bowl.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve warm.

ENJOY!

Summer Fruits

It's my favorite time of the year, especially for fruit! With the temperatures already reaching the upper 90's I spend most of my Summer months craving chilled thirst quenching fruit. My favorites include watermelon, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe & fresh cherries. I can eat a pint of blueberries in one sitting and the same goes for raspberries! I love nothing more than having a seedless watermelon cut up in a bowl in the frig to snack on whenever I want. If you couldn't already tell, Summer is by far my favorite fruit season! Time to dig in and stay hydrated.

What's your favorite Summer fruit?

Matchbook

Have y'all hear about Matchbook Magazine? I just happened to stumble upon Matchbook Mag when surfing the internet over the weekend and I absolutely love what Matchbook Mag & Matchbook Girls are all about!


For those of you who aren't familiar with Matchbook Mag, it's an online monthly lifestyle magazine that was first launched in January 2011. Matchbook Mag is described as "a field guide to a charmed life." After reading my first and their latest issue I was instantly hooked, I didn't want the end to come! The magazine does a great job of reeling you in and inspiring its reader to "design a life they adore."

Hop on over to Matchbook to read their most recent issue, I promise you will be inspired and hooked starting with page 1! You can also stay connected with the Matchbook girls through tumblr, twitter, and their blog, The Daily Spark. Enjoy!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Next Up

It's time I decided what my next read is going to be. Not knowing much about the Pioneer Woman other than a few of her delicious recipes, I was interested in learning more about what her life is like as the Pioneer Woman, so I thought this would be my chance. I've heard many good things about this book on other blogs, so I can't wait to get started!

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--A Love Story

By Ree Drummond

What's on your summer reading list?

One of Thomas' Favorites

Over the weekend I came across the "tastebook" I created when Thomas and I first started dating. I was in my last year of college and Thomas had graduated and was working full-time. Even back then we enjoyed watching food network for inspiration, finding new recipes to try, and of course making dinner together. One of Thomas' favorite recipes that he still remembers 4 years later is Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto. I haven't made it since, but I remember us both raving about how delicious it was, so I thought I would share it with y'all!

Grilled Chicken with Spinach & Pine Nut Pesto
Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

2 boneless chicken breasts
2 C lightly packed baby spinach leaves (about 2 ounces)
¼ C pine nuts, toasted
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 to 2 tsp grated lemon peel
⅓ C plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
⅓ C freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Heat a grill pan on medium high heat. Lightly oil the grill pan. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.

Combine the spinach, pine nuts, lemon juice, and lemon peel in a processor. Lightly pulse. With the machine running, gradually add ⅓ cup of the oil, blending until the mixture is creamy. Add salt and pulse. Put half of the pesto into ice cube trays and store in the freezer for future use.

Transfer the rest of the spinach mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in the Parmesan. Season the pesto with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spread the pesto over each piece of chicken and serve.

ENJOY!

Anagrams

Do you know what anagrams are? I didn't until I received an e-mail last week titled "amazing anagrams." Definition of Anagrams: words or phrases made by mixing up the letters of other words or phrases. I was amazed with these anagrams that I just had to share! On a side note, someone out there must be "deadly" at Scrabble!

Amazing Anagrams

PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
I'M A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE


AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE...


MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER


Pretty crazy, huh???

Since I've Been Gone...

I've been doing TONS of this...

by this...

but mostly this...

We've been here, Charleston & Isle of Palms, SC
and here, Savannah, GA

And here back to Savannah to celebrate the soon to be, Mrs. Stansell!

And I've been to DC!

And we've been to Asheville, NC to celebrate newly married, Mr. & Mrs. Stansell!

And I've been to Las Vegas!

Then here, Fripp Island, SC

to celebrate the future Mrs. Wiley!

And this past weekend I've been home!

But don't worry I'm not getting too comfortable because... we're leaving again real soon!

I promise starting today I am back with regular posting!

Mediterranean Turkey Meat Loaf

Call me weird, call me piggy, call me whatever you want, but I love some meatloaf! Now it can't just be meatloaf from any old place, I prefer homemade and I don't like any kind of sauce on top either. When I came across this recipe in the May issue of Self magazine and knew I had to give it a try!

Mediterranean Turkey Meat Loaf

Ingredients

1lb. ground turkey

reduced-fat feta cheese

baby spinach

chopped onion

whole-grain bread crumbs

garlic clove

ground coriander, cumin, & black pepper.

Directions:

Combine 1lb ground turkey with 2 eggs, 2oz reduced-fat feta, 3/4 cup chopped baby spinach, 1/3 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup whole-grain breadcrumbs, 1 chopped garlic clove, 1/2 tsp each ground coriander, cumin, black pepper. Form into a loaf; bake at 350 degrees until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees, about 40 minutes.

ENJOY!

Drug Store Buys

I'm interested in investing in two drug store hair products that I have never experimented with before and I was hoping y'all could help me!

1.) Dry Shampoo-I've heard amazing things about dry shampoo, that is if you use the right one. I wash my hair every day because I don't feel clean if I don't. I am interested in dry shampoo for two reasons: 1. for volume and 2. the longer my hair gets the better it looks the second day and if dry shampoo makes me feel like my hair is clean, then I will be happy to skip washing it. Any recommendations? Keep in mind I have dark hair, so I would prefer a dry shampoo that doesn't leave a white residue.



2.) Velcro Rollers-My hair is very thick and super straight and I am working on growing it out. I mentioned to my Mom that I wish my hair had volume on top. Blow drying my hair with a round brush is not an option for me. I am not that coordinated and my hair always gets tangled in the round brush. With that said, my Mom suggested velcro rollers. Apparently one of her sisters uses velcro rollers to add volume to her hair. Do any of you use velcro rollers, if so are they easy to use? Do they add volume?



Any recommendations or tips y'all may have is much appreciated!

Prep for the Big Event

I picked my latest read to help prepare me for the big event at the end of this month...The Royal Wedding. I've always been interested in the Royal Family and wanted to pick a book that would give me an in dept look in to William and Kate's relationship and the Royal Family. I came across William and Kate A Royal Love Story by Christoper Andersen one evening and couldn't pass it up.

I am just about a quarter of the way through the book, but I will have no problem finishing it in time for the big event! I highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning more about Kate and William's romance, the drama behind Charles and Dianna's marriage and understanding the dynamics of the Royal Family.

Will you be tuning in bright and early for the big event on April 29th? I certainly will be!

Cake Named After a Bird?

Its the most requested recipe in Southern Living magazine history and frequents dinners all across the South, always receiving rave reviews. What is you ask? Hummingbird Cake! I have heard numerous people talk about how delicious this cake is so I thought I would give it a try and share the recipe with you!

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 large eggs, beaten 1 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained 1 cup chopped pecans 2 cups chopped bananas Cream Cheese Frosting (see recipe below) 1/2 cup chopped pecans for decoration Directions Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not beat.) Stir in vanilla, pineapple, 1 cup pecans, and bananas. Pour batter into three greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake; sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans on top. Store in refrigerator.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.

As soon as Lent is over this is one of the first things I'll be making. However, I'm thinking I'm going to make cupcakes instead of a cake, what do you think? Doesn't this sound like the perfect cake for Easter? YUM!

ENJOY!

Life is Like...

I'm sorry for the sporadic posting recently, my life has been doing a lot of moving so I can stay balanced. I had a fun weekend in Charlotte with some of my girlfriends and dinner last night with another girlfriend who's wedding is 3 months away! Where does time go? I was taking a glance at my calendar last night and I don't have a free weekend until June and that's the only free weekend until August! Summer is always an extremely busy time of year for me, but I'm looking forward to it all!

What are you looking forward to most in the coming months?

April Flowers

Wishing each and everyone of you a bright and sunny weekend!

I'll see y'all back here on Monday!

WANT.

I'm in love with this car! Funny thing is, with a few changes my Mini could look just like this! Wouldn't this be the perfect beach cruiser? The wicker seats and fringe roof just top it off!

I hope your week is off to a great start!

Skinny Drink

Here's a different take on ice tea that combines the health benefits of green tea with the sweet tang of lemonade. Even better, it's extremely easy to make.

Green Tea Lemonade

Ingredients:

Green Tea Bags
Fresh Lemonade
Water
Ice
Mint (optional)

Directions:

Pour 1 cup brewed green tea over a glass of ice. Add a splash of fresh lemonade, and garnish with a mint sprig (optional).

Each serving only has 14 calories, plus it's loaded with antioxidants.

Drink up!

Fresh Cut Grass

It's definitely spring time here in South Carolina. The past two weeks everything has been covered in yellow. It's been terrible for all for all of us especially allergy sufferers. The pollen is so bad just walking to your car your shoes turn yellow! Every car you pass is yellow, door knobs, sidewalks, and roads are all yellow, it's crazy! Even though allergy season is in full swing, I am really enjoying the scent of this candle and there is no sneezing or watery eyes involved! Aunt Sadie's Fresh Cut Grass candle smelling so fresh and clean, just like Spring without all the allergy mess that goes along with it! In my opinion there is nothing better than a crisp fresh smelling house.

What candle are you currently burning?

What I'm Reading

I made a Target run over the weekend and picked up my latest read, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. It was a terribly cold and rainy weekend here in South Carolina which in my mind is no better time to read. I started reading Water for Elephants Saturday and have already read three quarters of it in three days. I am really enjoying the book even though I had no idea some of the scenes in the novel would be so descriptive and graphic. The novel is very well written and I was interested in reading it after so reading so many rave reviews not to mention the movie is coming out soon. Have you read Water for Elephants? If so, what did you think?

What are you currently reading? At this rate, I'll be needing a new book by the end of the week!

I'm trying to decide which of these books to read next:

1.) The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

2.) The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--A Love Story by Ree Drummond

3.) William & Kate: A Royal Love Story by Christopher Andersen

Please help me decide!

Gummies

Have you tried or heard of VitaFusion gummy vitamins? I came across these vitamins not too long ago and read several reviews, one of which was from a newly pregnant mom who just raved about how tasty vitafusion gummy prenatal vitamins are without leaving an after taste in your mouth. That being said, I just new I had to give them a try! My first thoughts were if these are tasty to a pregnant woman who tend to be sensitive to begin with, these vitamins must really be good. I purchased the VitaFusion multi-vites and have been taking them for a week now. If the Multi Vites don't give you enough of a certain vitamin that you need, VitaFusion offers several additional individual vitamin supplements. I would highly recommend trying these vitamins especially if you have trouble swallowing vitamins, the horse pill vitamins upset your stomach or stay with you all day, I promise these will solve your problems! Give them a try and let me know what you think! Happy Monday!

Addy's Hummus Dip

Addy, one of Thomas' roommates, made the most delicious hummus dip for our Superbowl party and I just knew it would become one of my favorite dips to take to parties. I am a hummus freak, I absolutely love it, so much so I think I could just eat it by the spoonful. Just call me Crazy!

Addy's Hummus Dip

Ingredients:

(1) container of Sabra Garlic Hummus

(1) seedless cucumber, cut in to quarters

(1) container grape tomatoes, cut in to quarters

(1) container feta cheese

Olive Oil

Pita Chips

Directions:

Open container of Sabra hummus and stir contents until well mixed. Cut cucumber and tomatoes in to quarters. Add container of feta cheese to the bowl of chopped cucumber and tomatoes. Drizzle olive oil over the cucumber, tomatoes, and cheese, tossing gently. Line the bottom of your serving dish with the entire container of well mixed hummus. Spread the mixture of cucumbers, tomatoes, and cheese on top of the hummus and serve with pita chips.

ENJOY!

How easy? I know it doesn't sound like anything special, but it sure is delicious and there has never been any left when I've taken it to parties!

I'm Back...

I don't know where to begin other than apologizing for my two week long absence which was completely unplanned! I will be back to regular posting starting tomorrow. Even though I have been gone, I've still been keeping up with all of your blogs and have been enjoying them tremendously!

On another note, I gave up "sweets" for Lent, which I thought was going to be a huge sacrifice for me because I have tried other years and failed miserably. In past years, I would go through such terrible withdrawals that I got the shakes and just couldn't stand it any longer.

I don't know what it making the difference this year because I am pretty sure I was more addicted to "sweets" at this point in my life than when I last made this promise and failed, but what I have found half way through Lent is I feel fantastic with out all that sugar in my diet. Don't get me wrong I'm not forgoing "sweets" forever I just plan to tone it down once Lent is over, but in the meantime that groggy feeling is gone!

I am excited to be back and on track starting tomorrow!

Gaga for Gaga

Baby I was born this way, baby I was born this way, baby I was born this wayyyy! Ask Thomas and he will tell you I've lost it! I am absolutely gaga for Lady Gaga's first single "Born this Way" off her latest album that is out May 23rd! I've always been a huge Lady Gaga fan and I am really kicking myself for not going to see her in concert this past fall when she was in Charlotte, NC, but at $110 per ticket, I talked myself out of it. Why????

My sweet girlfriends, well maybe just one girlfriend, promised that she will book a private Lady Gaga concert for me for my bachelorette party! I didn't know my friends were millionaires and holding out on me, but hey a private Lady Gaga concert with my best friends, I'll take it! Good thing I don't have a ring on my finger so they have plenty of time to save up!

Are you gaga for Gaga??? I think of her as our modern day Madonna and I lovvve old school Madonna, who doesn't?

Gasp!

Enough said, agreed?

Life.

I read this everyday and I just thought I would share it with y'all. I read it because it reminds me that this is my life and I'm the only one that can create my destiny. You only live once, so live your life with purpose and meaning doing what you love.

Happy Monday!

Heaven in a Ball

I've been dying to share this recipe with y'all this week after one of my girlfriends made this for a bridal shower we had last week. Christi I hope you don't mind I am posting this recipe, but I'm giving you all the credit! I had absolutely nothing to do with finding this recipe or making it, I simply just enjoyed the heck out of it on Saturday night. Here's my analogy to describe how delicious this recipe is: If heaven was a chocolate chip cheese ball this would be it!

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions

In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in confectioners' sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Shape chilled cream cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap with plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Roll the cheese ball in finely chopped pecans before serving.

Christi served this with Wheat Thins and it was delicious!

ENJOY!!!

Style

I'm interested in finding a style book or two that not only I will enjoy reading but is also very helpful. I briefly paged through Lauren Conrad's style book while at Target a few weeks ago, but I wasn't sure this book was what I was looking for. Any suggestions or recommendations? I don't want a elementary style book filled with basic information, I want a very detailed yet informative book.

Below are some other style books I have seen, but know nothing about.

I desperately need your help and expertise!