Archive for category Cooking

Friday Couldn’t Have Come Sooner

TGIF!  I am so thankful that today is Friday.  Although I am going to be a very busy girl this weekend, I’m looking forward to having Tom home, cooking together, and going over to the hunt camp to see his parents tomorrow.  Did I mention that I sold them my elliptical?  I’m glad someone will be putting it to good use.  Speaking of exercising, after I finish this post I am off to the gym.  Today is strength training + cardio day.  I kind of want to do a class sometime, but I’m a little nervous.

I did something extremely stupid last night.  I was calling my sister to wish her a happy birthday (she turned 21).  When she didn’t pick up, I left a voicemail.  Instead of hanging up, though, I just closed my phone.  As I was talking to a friend, I realized that for about 3 minutes I was still connected to my sister’s voicemail.  I was talking about something I really didn’t want my sister to hear.  Hopefully she will just ignore the voicemail (like she normally does).  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I also got a weird charge on my cell phone bill and I’m not happy about it.  I dialed a toll free number to get help with reordering my newspaper subscription but managed to get charged for the long distance somehow.  I need to figure that out today.  That’s not okay if you advertise that your phone number is toll free!

Tom and I are hoping to use the new camera at the hunt camp tomorrow.  It’ll be so nice to get some gorgeous shots while we’re there.  And, the weather is going to be amazing.  I think the high is something like 65 degrees.  How awesome is that?

I found a couple new cooking web sites yesterday that I’m going to add to my list of dailies.  A recipe that we’re trying tonight is Broccoli and Beef Stir-Fry.  Doesn’t that sound yummy?  I’ll let you know how it turns out.  This will be the first time that I’ve done an Asian dish, and the first time I’ve used fresh ginger.

Valentine’s Day Already?

This year is just flying by.  The older you get, the faster time goes by, I think.  It seems like we were just getting through the Christmas holidays and that I started my last semester of undergrad.  Now, I’ve already had two exams, multiple quizzes, and am finally locking everything in place for law school applications.

In the last week, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I’d like to do for Tom this Valentine’s Day.  It’s a very special one – our seventh Valentine’s Day together, but the first one that is significant because of our engagement.  I don’t want to spend a lot of money on material objects; I’d much rather spend money on ingredients for a really nice dinner that I can cook at home.  I think he would appreciate the time and effort put into that, too.  Plus, he knows how much I enjoy cooking for him.  Sounds like I just talked myself into cooking a meal for him, right?  Now I just need to figure out what exactly I want to make.  It’d be fun to use my new dessert cookbook and do something for him I’ve never made before.

What are your Valentine’s Day plans?  If you’re cooking, what will you be making for your significant other?

Go Gators, Proposal & Wedding Stuff

Do you know what tonight is?  Well, you should.  It’s the BCS Championship, where my Florida Gators will play the Oklahoma Sooners at 8:00pm.  I’m SO EXCITED!  We were invited to a tailgate/viewing party complete with two kegs and lots of food, but we’re going to pass because Tom has to BE at work tomorrow at 6:30am.  We’ll probably just get some beer and watch the game at our apartment.  It’s exciting to think that this is the fourth National Championship game I will be a part of since I came to University of Florida.  Hopefully we will win and I’ll be able to say that I witnessed four wins during my time as a UF student.

I managed to get everything done that I wanted except cleaning up the bathroom.  I did get the towels into the washer early this morning before I left for class, but I’ve got to scrub down the tub and walls because they’re filled with mud.  I’m telling you, the boys were DISGUSTINGLY FILTHY!

I bought more wedding magazines last night and a wedding planner.  We also got half of our guest list down on paper.  Now we’ve got to do my side of the family and my friends.  We’re thinking we’ll have 150 maximum to invite, and I know that many people won’t come down for it (which is fine for me).  I just realized, I haven’t talked much about the proposal or anything!

Tom and I just got our Nikon D60 and we absolutely love taking pictures with it.  So, on December 30th, Tom told me to make sure I looked nice for his birthday dinner (which we had already planned) and that he wanted to take pictures of a nearby lake before we went.  We walked along the edge of the lake, both of us trying out the camera.  As the sun was going down, we got to a specific spot.  Tom set up the camera so that we could get a picture of us with the sunset in the background.  He took several of me and then set the self timer.  Next thing I know, he’s unzipping his jacket and getting down on one knee!  I don’t remember specifically how he asked me, but of course I said yes.  I cried, and then he said, “My pants are so dirty now!” because he had knelt down in mud (very close to the water’s edge).  We had dinner at a local restaurant that we both LOVE – right across from campus – after calling all of our family and friends to tell them the great news.

About the ring – it is a beautiful princess cut solitaire diamond on a very thin white gold band – exactly what I wanted!  It fit perfectly too.  I wear it at all times unless I’m showering, doing dishes, or cleaning.

Engagement Ring

The next day, we came home.  Tom’s parents and sister were there to toast us and congratulate us.  We went to dinner with my parents, where we got our drinks paid for by a guy at the bar (while we were waiting for our table to open up).  We also got another toast with them.  Unfortunately, we were both so exhausted that we fell asleep at about 11:55pm, making it the first time since I can remember that I’ve missed a New Year’s!

Wedding planning is already underway.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, we are aiming for August 1, 2009.  We’re getting married in the church I grew up in and having the reception in a banquet room attached to a hotel, so the guests won’t have to travel far after the reception.  Everything is right down the street from where I grew up, which is very convenient.  So far, I am thinking about lilac and a soft shade of green as my colors.  I don’t want anything too bright, but obviously not dark colors either.  I have my bridesmaids picked out and Tom knows who he is going to ask for his groomsmen also.  His sister is helping me out so much and it’s making me feel a lot better about all the overwhelming decisions I have to make.  Thank God for her!  I think I’m most excited about picking out our wedding invitations when we finally do settle on a date.  I can’t wait!

Alright, enough babbling about wedding stuff.  I have a class in about 45 minutes and then I’m home for the afternoon (until my 5:10pm class).  Have a great day and GO GATORS!

Shrinking Jeans: Week 3

I’m choosing not to weigh in today because I started my period this morning and KNOW I’m retaining water – I feel awful!

I’ve been making much healthier choices this week, thank goodness.  And I’m going to allow myself to eat what I want as long as I eat small portions only while I’m at home.  It should be interesting!

The good thing is, I’m all cookied out.  I baked about 10 hours total in two days.  Needless to say, my feet hurt and I don’t want to SEE another cookie for awhile!

Tom should be here in about an hour, which means we’ll be leaving in about an hour and a half.  I just have to pick up the living room, shower, and pack.  I’ve already vacuumed, emptied/reloaded the dishwasher, and picked up our room.  And thrown in some laundry.  I’m awesome like that!

I should head out.  I hope you all have a really wonderful holiday!  I’ll be back after Sunday and will have lots of pictures and stories to share with you.  We’re having our joint birthday party (Tom and I) on Saturday, so that should be fun!

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