Crazy Random Happenstances

10 Things Before the Weekend.

2012-02-10T08:05:00.001-06:00

1. New Followers. Hello!! You made my week.

2. Organization. Loving it recently. Hoping this streak will continue & I'll get a jump start on spring cleaning. (Saturday plans, perhaps?)

3. Baby showers. I get to throw one in a month & I'm really excited! We're putting together the baby room & I'm looking for inspiration!

4. Weight loss. It's hard. I'm no good at it. But I'm trying. (Though, just weighed myself this morning and I'm down 2 pounds this week... finally!)

5. Friday. Can we just all agree it's the best day ever? (Plus it's the start of New York Fashion Week!)

6. February Photo a Day. 10 days in, & I'm loving it

7. Grammy Awards. My guy's working, so I get to watch them alone. I'm stoked. Looking for recipes to make for myself as we speak.

8.My favorite post of the week. Thank you Sydney.

9. Photoshop. I will learn you.

10. Weekend. Woo hoo! It's here! Now time to get some rest and I get to meet up with Leslie & her guy. I'm excited :)

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thank you so much for reading. ♥

Growing Pains...

2012-02-09T07:24:00.000-06:00

I wanted to continue with last week's love story, but life is funny & always throws little curve balls our way. And something much more important than my engagement story (3 years ago yesterday, btw!!) came up.

Over the past month or so, Christian & I just haven't been clicking. It's not like we were fighting or mad at each other... it was just that something was off. And finally, finally we were able to put a name to it.

Growing pains.

We've both been growing & learning & developing - for the first time in a long time separately from the other in areas in our own life - and it's like the world just got a little out of focus. But, once I muttered those words, growing pains, the focus was adjusted and we both instantly saw eye to eye on everything once again. The heaviness in the air was lifted, and we had true, legitimate fun. (Bonus: we've slept better since too!)

I marvel at how everything can be fine, and yet still not. It's just a reminder that we all really are just people... flawed, imperfect. And also it's a good reminder that "not clicking" doesn't have to be anybody's fault. Sometimes it just is.

And that's it. Short & simple.

What have you learned in your relationship recently?

Weekly Loving...

2012-02-08T08:04:00.000-06:00

Jumping right in to this week link-ups!

Here's what I've been loving this week...

This amazing, beautiful, creative, intriguing cake!!

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via Amy on Pinterest

And while my mind's on food.... the chicks over at Spoon Fork Bacon did it again. I wish I had gone to a Super Bowl party, because I'm dying to try this recipe out...

Source: spoonforkbacon.com via Amy on Pinterest

This outfit of Elsie's just made me smile ♥

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Amy on Pinterest

I want to make a headboard so bad!!! Here's one of my favorites:

Source: diyideas.com via Amy on Pinterest

And this surprise wedding totally made my week!!

Source: greenweddingshoes.com via Amy on Pinterest

--I've also been taking part in the February Photo a Day Challenge
& created its own Pinterest Board!!--

To see what others are loving today, visit

This Kind of Love & The Vintage Apple

{Have a wonderful Wednesday!}

Fashion for a Tuesday: My Designer Crush

2012-02-07T07:25:00.000-06:00

So I've been a fan of Kate Spade since high school. I spent all of my high school graduation money on a Kate Spade bag for my laptop to use in college (and I still have it -- and I still love it!) Of course, you probably already know about my obsession with this necklace.

Source: katespade.com via Amy on Pinterest

So the point?

I. Love. Kate. Spade.

And last week I ran into this video & just totally fell even more in love. (This year's Spring Collection is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!)

Can you blame me? It's totally the cutest thing ever!

Do you have a designer crush?? I love learning about everyone's "choice" designer. I feel like everyone has at least one.

ps-- BONUS! 75% surprise sale at Kate Spade through 11:59 pm on 2/7 ♥
(that was not planned... but definitely was awesome)

Interviews For Life

2012-02-06T08:06:00.000-06:00

I have a secret I've been keeping...

Over the past 2 months, I received not 1 or 2 or 3, but 9 job interview offers. That late night of wine drinking and application submitting paid off, I guess. And the ego boost that came with that many people telling me they were interested in me was definitely worth it.

So why have I kept it a secret? I don't know. Maybe because I accepted Job #3, and then heard from 4 through 9 over the following two weeks. It was a weird experience to say the least. I had to learn how to handle awkward situations professionally very quickly.

Instead of instinctively telling my life-story response to interview offers, I resorted to the neutral, "I'm no longer looking for employment. Good luck in your search," response. And it felt good to have that little bit of power, even if I'm really being honest with myself that a job interview isn't the same an a job offer.

I did interview for 4 jobs, though, when all was said & done. And the interview process really taught me a lot about myself.

*I learned that I have something to offer.
*I learned that I am a well poised individual.
*I learned that I still have a lot to learn in the world.
*I learned that your hair being perfect doesn't matter as much as your resume.
*I learned how to put together a portfolio.
*I learned the more passionate about the job tasks, the better I interview.
*I learned being nervous isn't helpful.
*I learned to be confident in myself.

It's so nice when things click like that. I love learning a little more about myself. And I love the little bit of life experience that I gained. Of course, when it comes time to move onto the next phase of my life, I know the butterflies & jitters will take over again, but I think next time around I'll be just a little more grown up & a little more prepared.

I hope you had a great weekend! I'm so looking forward to this week. I think it has great promise.

{Happy Monday!}

Friday Fooday: Gyro Meatloaf

2012-02-03T08:13:00.000-06:00

It's recipe time!!!

I was looking at my recipe page the other day & realized I hadn't updated it in forever... and then I realized I hadn't posted a recipe in forever. (Minus the pretzel bites... which went sort of viral thanks to you amazing people who put Pinterest to work in my favor).

But I figured I had to change that. After all, I cook dinner at least twice if not more a week. Why not share my great adventures? Plus, I just received my first copy of Taste of Home magazine and I had to put it good use.

So as I sat down to make my weekly meal plan, I started flipping through the recipes in the magazine. And they were all terrible (as in super unhealthy). Super Bowl and Valentine's Day are all coming up. But I didn't want something unhealthy. And then I spotted it. The perfect dish.

Gyro Meatloaf! Lamb, spinach, and you top with Tzatziki Sauce. It's pretty perfect. And really, super easy. I served mine with a little pita bread and it was good to go. Plus, I like adding a little lamb to my regular life. (And PS - I used fresh spinach instead of frozen. Makes a ton of difference in my opinion).

Gyro Meatloaf with Tzatziki Sauce

adapted from Taste of Home magazine - Feb/March 2012

Ingredients:
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed & squeezed dry
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 eggs, lightly beaten
¼ cup grated Romano cheese
2 tsp. dried Oregano
1 ½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. salt
2 lbs. ground lamb
1 cup Tzatziki sauce

Directions:
1) Mix first eight ingredients in bowl. Crumble lamb over the mixture & stir well. Shape into greased 11x7-in meatloaf pan.
2) Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes, or until no longer pink. Let stand 15 minutes. Serve with Tzatziki sauce

Print Recipe

***

I also wanted to thank these 2 lovely ladies for tagging me last week with the Versatile Award and tagging me in the "11" game! Be sure to stop by these lovely ladies' blogs and say hello to them... they're pretty cool!

Love. Bliss. Life.

Tea With Mrs. Kee

I hope you have a very awesome - and tasty - weekend!

We're seeing Demetri Martin and I am super excited!

{Have a Wonderful Weekend}

How It All Began...

2012-02-02T07:24:00.000-06:00

Ok, so the past two weeks - fighting & fun - have been a little heavy on Thursday. So I wanted to lighten the marriage series mood and talk about how Christian and I began dating:

Once Upon a Time... Christian and I met when we were 15, our sophomore year of high school. I transferred back into a school I had been at only two year previously (my family had moved away for my dad to pursue a job venture), and was really excited to reconnect with my old friends.

So on the first day of Sophomore year, I was running around with all my girlfriends, reconnecting and catching up, when I saw a group of guys standing together. Some had Converse on, others had band sweatshirts, and I knew they were the "cool" group. In particular, there was this tall, pale, dark headed kid making all the others laugh (I'd learn later, he was kind of their jester), I instantly formed a crush on him. (And in case you haven't figured it out yet... that guy was Christian)

But it was only day 1, and at 15 I knew I wasn't ready to date. So I just went on with the year. Apparently, at some point during the semester, I butted into a conversation he was having in the lunch line, which made him dislike me. But other than that, we never really interacted... at a high school with 100 kids.

We ended up going to the same youth group, and toward the end of that year, we'd finally shared a few words and I actually became friends with his current girlfriend, and actually ended up being a third wheel on a few of their dates!

When Junior year came around, he decided to start hanging out with me more. So we slowly became friends. Until a fateful Taking Back Sunday/Fall Out Boy concert, which is where I fell in love ♥ There's nothing sexier than a ~~man~~ boy trying to protect me from crowd surfers at the edge of a mosh pit. And one glance at his sweaty face, pressed up like sardines to everyone around us, made me realize that if I had a boyfriend, that's who I'd want it to be.

It wasn't until Christmas our Junior year that I honestly began evaluating that feeling I'd felt at the concert in October. I was 16, in love, and being taken out to dinner by the guy who gave me butterflies. Christian told me he loved me during a dreadful skiing trip that we thankfully survived and after that, things just flew by. Junior Prom was probably one of the best nights of my life.

one of my favorite shots from 2005 summer...
about a month before officially becoming bf/gf ♥

The summer between our Junior and Senior year was one of the most fun times I've ever had. Every day we'd work our butts off at our respected jobs, talk on the phone or over coffee or pizza for hours, and spend every waking moment together during the weekends. All of that peaked the day before we started Senior year.

I've already written about that day. But just to recap - that was the day I received my first kiss.

We had decided to wait to kiss (since it'd be my first one) until we knew that we were jumping in and actually going to try to have a real relationship. So on that day, he asked me to be his girlfriend, I said yes, we kissed. And the rest is history...

Ok, not really. Stay tuned next week for the continuation of our story ♥

Weekly Loving...

2012-02-01T07:04:00.000-06:00

After a rough start to the week, I've managed to get my feet under me & enjoy myself. Thanks to a perfect combination of alcohol and exercise. Anyway, here's a few things I'm loving this week...

David Beckham is going to be in this Super Bowl commercial for H&M. But how about a little teaser to get us through the week?

Source: twitter.com via Amy on Pinterest

This outfit just had me smile a HUGE smile the second I saw it. She kinda has a little Selma Hayek flirty-ness to her pose. Is that just me?

Source: thedaybookblog.com via Amy on Pinterest

This doesn't even need an explanation.

Source: irocksowhat.com via Amy on Pinterest

And this dress just took my breath away. Oscar de la Renta. I could stare at it all day...

Source: aspotofwhimsy.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

And that's about all I got going for me this week. Oh... and I'm going to Austin tonight to see a concert (and asked for a little fashion advice yesterday)! I'm really excited about that. I'm seeing the "Where's the Band" Tour, which has artists from The Get Up Kids, The Early November and Saves the Day. It's like high school re-visited. We couldn't pass it up!!

{Have a wonderful Wednesday!}

Check out This Kind of Love and The Vintage Apple to see what others are loving ♥

Fashion for a Tuesday: Rocking Out (Or Not)

2012-01-31T07:32:00.000-06:00

In our early college days, it wasn't uncommon for us to be making the 1 1/2 hour trek to Austin or Houston at least once a month to go see a show. We just love live music. It's always been a huge part of our relationship & our lives.

The first big show C took me to was the Austin City Limits Music Festival, back in 2005. (Fall of our Senior year of HS) At the time, he had 3 rules for what I was allowed to wear:

1) Nothing white
2) No skirts
3) Nothing with a band's name on it

What I Wore to Shows in HS/College
Basic Concert Wear by amyrenepowell featuring linen tops

Simple & easy. I followed the rules and ended up with a pretty laid-back concert "uniform" (as you can see above). This simple black T-shirt, jeans & Converse combo was my best friend, and I probably stuck to it in some form or fashion through most of college.

Of course, over the years the rules changed a little bit. As we grew up, we began to stand farther away from the mosh pit & closer to the edge (also conveniently closer to the bar). And my wardrobe began to change a bit. I added a bit more color and definitely put the studded belt to rest. (Though I admit to missing it occasionally)

What I'd Wear Today

Concert Outfit by amyrenepowell featuring denim skinny jeans

And now we're going to our first show in ages tomorrow night and I'm starting to plan the outfit: Comfy, functional, but also cute. So I'll probably wear something like the above outfit. I really love flannel with a big belt ♥

What do you think... simple yet cute? Or should I try something else? What do you wear to shows/concerts?

Staring Ahead... Into Nothing

2012-01-30T08:12:00.001-06:00

{Texas Roads... a great place to think}

So... welcome back to the week ♥

I set goals last week that I didn't keep. And I'm not going to lie to you - I had a tough week. Tornado warnings were going on as I drove to work Wednesday morning, C and I had a hard time seeing eye-to-eye on a bunch of different things (had to put this into practice), and an opportunity that I really want may not work out.

But I'm trying to remind myself that sometimes, that's just life, and you have take the bad with the good.

I read this wonderful article by my friend Leslie this week, which really spoke to me. She spoke of being in that "in between" stage and dealing with being content without all the answers...

Thankfully, finally, by God’s grace I’ve learned to make nice with In-between. And it’s a good thing too, because life is a long series of in-betweens. Life doesn’t always fall into our pre-scheduled blocks. Expectations fail and we find ourselves floundering in the In-between.

‘Arriving’ and finally getting to where you want to be in life is contrived. I think that as a culture, we usually get to one milestone and sit and enjoy it for about a second, only to quickly move on and set our eyes on the next milestone – because that next step will surely, surely make all of life better.

What we sometimes forget is how much shaping and learning goes on during these in-between times. The habits you make in the in-betweens will not magically evaporate when you get where you want to be.

Emotions: On Female Bread-Winners and Hard-Fought Contentment by @LeslieLaughs

Currently, C and I are in the "in between" stage and are trying to figure out what to do next - and as we get closer to the inevitable decision-making-time, I'm getting more nervous, more tense, and am starting to let my anxiety take over. It's causing strain on my relationship with my husband, and my personal happiness. And thanks to Leslie's post, I'm able to finally see that strain clearly.

I'm one who easily scares. It's hard for me to not be nervous when staring ahead into nothing. I like seeing the next step and not being able to see that is really starting to stress me out. So instead of fitness-related goals this week, I decided to try and apply Leslie's advice to my life. My goal this week is to simply:

focus on being happy where I am

A little vague, but I think it'll do me well. I need to focus on what I already have, be satisfied and content with that, and not worry so much about tomorrow. It'll come when it gets here.

What are some goals you've set for yourself this week? I'd love to know!

{Happy Monday!}

I hope we all have a great week ♥

Friday Fooday: My New Snack Obsession

2012-01-27T07:21:00.001-06:00

I have a confession to make: amidst dieting, working out, and trying to cut back on carbohydrates as much as possible, I found the perfect recipe for... pretzels

(!!!)

I originally made them stuffed with cheese & pepperoni, but then had a little extra dough so I just made little bites. Then last weekend, when my mom was in town, I decided to make the recipe again. And the next day, I decided to make pretzel sticks out of the left over dough. And that's when I decided, this must be blogged.

Because who doesn't love soft pretzels?

And better yet, who doesn't love soft pretzels that they can make in less than 30 minutes, stuffed or seasoned with anything they like? (Because if you're thinking "not me" you're not in the right spot!)

So here's the super-duper-amazing-have-to-try-it-now recipe that I think you all should print off and go home and make it. Or at least give the recipe a try during your Super Bowl party. Please?

Pizza Pretzel Bites

(modified from Sweet Pea's Kitchen)

Source: sweetpeaskitchen.com via Amy on Pinterest

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
5 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse sea salt

Directions:

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, mix together the water, sugar, yeast, and butter. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Add the salt and flour to the yeast mixture. Knead dough at medium speed until a smooth and elastic ball forms, 3 to 4 minutes. If dough is sticky, add 1 tablespoons of flour at a time until dough comes together.
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled large bowl and turn the dough to coat with the oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into any form you'd like.*
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add the baking soda and lower heat to a simmer. Carefully boil pretzels in batches. Boil for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Brush the tops with the egg wash and season liberally with the salt. Place into the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown.

*If you'd like to make stuffed Pizza Bites, add ingredients at Step #4

So I've definitely made this two weekends in a row, and I may even try it again this weekend. It depends on if my guy gets me out of the house or not.

{Have a great weekend!}

Ps... If you didn't read it yesterday, I continued my marriage series & would love for you to chime in!

Fighting Makes You Stronger (Or So I Tell Myself)

2012-01-26T08:03:00.000-06:00

Last week I talked about having fun in marriage. But if we're being realistic, we all know it's not all fun & games. Marriage is work. It's a never-ending commitment to a never-perfect person. And if you're in a relationship like mine - with two strong-minded, high-maintenance individuals who would never be matched up on any online dating site - it's easy to fall out of the fun and into the fights.

So this week I wanted to talk a little about the fights that keep a marriage together.

Maybe that sounds weird. Even as I wrote it I thought, "But yeah, isn't it fights that ruin a relationship?" And then I thought about it, and with very few exceptions I have to say: every fight I've ever had with my guy has made our relationship better, not worse.

The exception to that are fights in which constructive communication was no longer in play. And I believe that is key. Fights - or if you care to call them "disagreements" or "discussions" or whatever - can be productive, if respect and open communication are used.

Our marriage counselor told us over and over again "You are not each other's enemy." I remember thinking that that statement didn't make any sense. Why would Christian become my enemy? And then he left the toilet seat up one time, and I took it as a personal vendetta against me.

So lately, whenever an issue comes up, I try really hard to focus on the fact that Christian and I are on the same team. And miraculously it works! Since I know we're fighting for the same thing, it's easier to compromise or to see his side of things. Of course, I'm not perfect, and very easily fall into the "it's all about me" trap. But I'm trying to move in the right direction.

There are a few topics that we've yet to reach a compromise on - like the toilet seat thing, or when to have kids - so they are ongoing issues that get brought up from time to time. And I honestly don't see an agreement being made anytime soon about them. So we're trying to learn how to live with disagreements. Because, realistically, we're never going to see everything 100% eye-to-eye. And I'd much rather live in a marriage with open disagreement than secretive musings or passive aggressive acts of frustration.

I thought about it, and here's a few strategies I {try to} follow to make sure that a fight ends up making us stronger:

Approach every subject open-minded and willing to change
Remember that your significant other is not your enemy
Remember the reason why you're fighting (and that's not "to be right"!)
Don't make it your goal to win, even if you know you're right
Think both long- and short-term, both are important

What are some strategies you use during an argument?

Weekly Loving..

2012-01-25T06:20:00.000-06:00

Man the week flies by! Where does the time go?? Anyway... no sense fretting. How about we just jump right in to my Wednesday tradition?

Here's what I've been loving this week...

Coffee art! I really want to print this out & frame it in my kitchen...

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

When Joanna featured this recipe for the Best Chocolate Mousse, I almost died!

Source: cafefernando.com via Amy on Pinterest

How beautiful is this balloon wall? My sister's about to have a baby girl, I think I know how I want to decorate her baby shower!

Source: bustleevents.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

And here's a beautiful, yet simple, wrapping tip from A Subtle Revelry (and if you're not following that blog yet... you should be)

Source: asubtlerevelry.com via Amy on Pinterest

And, finally... how perfect is this blouse?!? It was so perfect, that Anthropologie even responded to my tweet about it! (And I'm a dork & had to share that with you!)

Source: anthropologie.com via Amy on Pinterest

So that's all the fun for today... over here at least.

To see what others are loving, go check out:

This Kind of Love and The Vintage Apple

♥ Happy Wednesday! ♥

Oh... I updated my professional website this week.
Check it out! (If you want)

Fashion for a Tuesday: Warm days, Winter months

2012-01-24T07:22:00.000-06:00

Guy... guys... I wore shorts this weekend. In January.

It was fun to get a little sun on my legs, but even that's really not enough to really make up for the fact that I was actually excited about winter wear this year. But this weekend, I found myself walking around wishing I'd painted my toe nails so that flip flops were maybe an option.

How this Texas girl did Warm Winter...

Warm Winter Simple Wear by amyrenepowell featuring a gray shawl

Sure, that particular day was kind of a fluke. The day before & after were back in the mid-50s & it's going to get colder this weekend. But an 80 degree day in January was enough of a shocker to write about.

How one Texas girl does "Warm Winter"...

Source: kendieveryday.com via Amy on Pinterest

But I'm wondering... if the heat wave comes back, how do I keep it winter-y without bundling up? As you can see above... I wore a scarf with my T-shirt & shorts. Any other ideas? This Texas girl needs a little inspiration for the next warm winter day!

Motivation, Determination, Edamame + Giveaway Winner

2012-01-23T07:22:00.000-06:00

Source: losinggweight.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

So, I've been actively working out for two week now & can't really see many physical changes. What changes I have seen are mostly mental ones.

I can tell that when I'm actively working out, my mind is more at ease. I'm more confident & more willing to try things out. I'm still (and maybe even more so) tired a lot, but I'm hoping that with more conditioning and regulation my exhaustion will go away. But it's the confidence increase that I really need & really enjoy when it comes along.

I'm most concerned with my weekly meals. Any good trainer will tell you that 70% of weight loss and physical fitness comes from nutrition. So I've been cutting back on carbs, mostly. And increasing those leafy greens. Having Edamame as a snack instead of chips & salsa. Especially during the week. It's much harder that it seems it should be. But, then again, there's a reason why I'm overweight. And there's a reason why I hired a personal trainer to set me in the right direction.

And on the personal trainer note... unfortunately, I could not afford a ton of sessions with him, and unfortunately it's getting close to the end! I'm a little nervous to go off on my own... especially since I respond so much better to external motivation than internal (I do what I'm told).

So consider this my little shout out to myself to stay encouraged and to let myself know that I am capable of staying on track - both with working out & feeding myself well. I know I have a great, encouraging husband by my side & luckily a place (here) to air my grievances. All of that helps to keep me focused and on track.

My goals this week are:

Document my food daily & analyze it completely at the end of the week
Drink at least 6 glasses of water a day - and document it
Work out 4 times - twice with my PT & twice by myself
Avoid weighing myself until the end of the week
Have 1 serving of veggie/fruit and 1 serving of protein at each meal
Create an inspiration board to hang in my closet ♥

What are some goals you're currently working on?

How do you make sure you stay on track?

***

We also have a giveaway winner! Forgive me for not announcing it this weekend. But my mom was in town & I unplugged... which is something I've come to completely depend on. It's so rejuvinating taking a step back from the internet & just living life.

But enough about that... the winner (using random.org) of the magazine giveaway is: Amanda from Simple Girl, Simple Pleasures. She wanted "Marie Claire" and that's what she'll get ♥ Congrats girl!

{Have a Happy Monday!}

Friday Fooday: Putting Plans into Action (and making yummy goodness in the process)

2012-01-20T07:04:00.000-06:00

Last week I pulled out a bunch of different recipe ideas to make during the Golden Globes. I listened to all of your feedback - and then let my husband decide (since he was, after all going to be the one eating the food!).

So I made him sit down and read my post - and he picked out 3 recipes that turned out amazing when all was said and done. We served them tapas style throughout the whole night, and ended up with 3 courses which we served about an hour apart. It was the perfect way to spend the evening!

Here's what I ended up making...

Dish #1: Caprese Kabobs

By far the easiest of the three recipes, we deiced to start with it. So it was our Red Carpet treat. You can't really go wrong with fresh mozzarella cheese, basil and tomatoes! We did decide to spruce it up just a tad bit and get the seasoned mozzarella cheese ("cherry" size!), and I think it added the right kick of flavor. Once the kabobs were assembled, I drizzled a little balsamic vinegar and salt on the top, which proved to be a nice touch.

These would be perfect for your next party!

Dish #2: Ancho Chili Rub Tenderloin Sliders

The phrase "Ancho Chili" doesn't mean much to me... but the taste and tenderness of these sliders definitely made an impact! Whenever I'm putting sliders or mini-sandwiches together, I always opt to use sweet Hawaiian Rolls, which I did again for this recipe. The sweet contrasted with the spicy chili rub and with the tangy Chimichurri sauce to make one of the most delictable flavor combinations I've ever made in my kitchen (and pretty close to anything I've ever ordered at a restaurant).

One note: the meat will be expensive. We bought 1 lb. at $8.00, and it made six perfect little sandwiches. But if you want to make any more, be sure to budget for it! You can't skimp on the meat quality, since it's the focus of the dish.

Dish #3: Caramelized Onion, Bacon & Goat Cheese Pizza

This won our Favorite Dish Award of the night. This "pizza" actually doesn't use tomato sauce. Instead the Caramelized Onions are so perfectly gooey and tender that they are the sauce. (Oh, and did I mention you actually cook the onions in bacon grease? Because that's the best part!)

Which type of pizza crust you use is up to you. I made a wheat pizza dough, which is my favorite (find the recipe here, where I used it making Calzones), but you can cheat and just buy the pre-packaged stuff. Totally up to you!

{For full recipes, click on the hyperlinks. I didn't want to overload you with text ♥}

***

Tomorrow, I'll pick a winner for the Magazine Subscription giveaway.

So if you haven't entered yet... be sure to do so!!

{Have a Great Weekend}

Focusing on Fun... For Starters

2012-01-19T07:08:00.001-06:00

The day Christian asked me to marry him wasn't the happiest day of my life. The day I wore a white wedding dress wasn't either. Nor the day after. My first wedding anniversary was. That is, until I reached my second anniversary. And I'm sure that when number three comes around that will take over.

Because marriage isn't about a day. Or the result of "the big question". It's a process. And each year when I can check off a successful continuation of this process, I deem it a victory.

I feel we're from a generation plagued with separated parents. And while I'm not part of that statistic, Christian is. And so many of our friends are. And it's honestly heartbreaking. But as I talk to my peers, I realize that those statistics have made us different from the generation before us. And it's really refreshing and promising.

While one of the results of our parent's divorces is that less of us are getting married - or waiting longer to get married - the other result is that those of us who have decided to get married are determined to not only not allow the relationship to fail, but also to have fun while in it.

When we first started dating, Christian and I would jump in the car and drive to Austin to see countless amounts of concerts. We bonded over music, and then over movies. And I remember after about a month or so of dating, my dad told me that the "fluff" our relationship was based on - the movies & music that basically made up our relationship - was eventually going to wear out, and then we'd break up. {Of course I disagreed with him then 100%.}

I know he was trying to talk his hopelessly-in-love 17-year-old daughter down from the clouds, and that he had experience to speak from. But as I've continued on in my relationship - which lasted much longer than anyone expected it to - I actually still disagree with my dad {albeit not 100%!}. Of course a solid relationship isn't just about music and movies (or whatever your hobbies are)... but I truly believe that it's the fun stuff that makes working through the hard stuff possible.

I fight for my relationship because I know it'll be rewarding (and boy do we fight... more on that later I'm sure!!). Part of that reward is having someone to watch a good movie with on a Saturday night. Christian and I don't miss a single episode of Saturday Night Live, because it gives us inside jokes for the rest of the week that continue to bond us together into something stronger. And if, eventually, the rewarding part of our relationship does diminish, I pray that the bond that has been created over the years will be too strong to break.

So for now, we focus of having fun (in addition to working out those pesky real-life problems, of course). We play board games, watch awards shows and cook ridiculously intricate dinners for each other... and not surprisingly, the more fun we have, the easier it is when we hit a wall.

So... Here's to a fun life...
and a fun marriage ♥

What do you do to keep it fun?

What I'm Loving This Week...

2012-01-18T07:06:00.000-06:00

Ah, Wednesday. My favorite day. Half way through the week and my 2 favorite link ups. I figured today, I'd pull a few pins out of my non-food/non-fashion boards. I blog too much about that stuff anyway (ha! as if that's even possible!).

I like to dream about places I'd love to visit, like the Balloon Festival in New Mexico...

Source: liberte.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

... or this amazing Cafe in Poland!

Source: dezeen.com via Amy on Pinterest

I really want to try these DIY business cards. Seriously how creative and awesome are they?!?

Source: colormekatie.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

I've been trying to come up with my next Tattoo idea, and I really love this one:

Source: rodeo.net via Amy on Pinterest

And finally, I would really love this Mason Jar Pendant Light in my kitchen! It'd make it so cute :)

Source: poppytalk.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Be sure to check out

This Kind of Love & The Vintage Apple

to see what others are loving ♥

And if you haven't already, don't forget to enter the giveaway.

Going on until Saturday!

Starting Something New

2012-01-17T07:14:00.001-06:00

(where my name used to be)

Today I start a new job!!

I think I forgot to mention that before. I've been tweeting about it, but the time just flew by so quickly, that I never got a chance to say "Hey blogging friends, guess what?!?" So... skipping that step I guess.

I'm so excited to start! I'd been at my old office for over four years. I started as a student worker, and got hired full-time right before I graduated college. It was a wonderful place to start my professional career, and it had the added bonus of being so laid-back that my wardrobe choices were easy. I basically wore whatever I woke up in the mood for!

But it was time to move on. I am still working within Texas A&M University. Mostly because I love my alma mater and I also love ~~my benefits~~ the people who work for the University♥

What I'm most excited about is that with a new job comes a new wardrobe. Right? At least that's what I've been telling myself.

My new office is in charge of all the technology for all the classrooms in two buildings on campus - and part of my job will be to tend to any issues in the classroom if there's no one else around. Which means crawling on the floor in front of 100 college kids, or climbing up on a table in front of 30. I've thought about these - and a few other described scenarios - in addition to the fact that I now have to walk 5 minutes across campus to get to my new building from my new parking spot - and realized that my usual wardrobe of heeled sandals and a dress, or flip flops and a skirt, may not be the best options.

Here's an outfit I've been putting together in my head for day #1 on the job....

Casual Office Wear - Burgandy by amyrenepowell featuring ruffle tops

Luckily, I just bought a few Blowfish flats that'll be perfect for the duration of the winter, and I have tights to keep my legs properly covered, if I opt for the skirt/dress route. But once it starts getting hot again, I'm not sure how I'm going to cope.

So here's where you come in... I'd love your input!! How do you figure out how to balance "work appropriate"-ness and cuteness?

It's never been an issue for me before. And while I'm excited about the challenge, I'm also nervous!

Can't wait for some tips!

Getting Motiviation from the Red Carpet + an Accessory Swap

2012-01-16T08:54:00.001-06:00

As I sat watching the Golden Globes Red Carpet show, I couldn't help but get a little jealous of all the beautifully clad women. And then I hear Sofia Vergara admit she's been doing two-a-day workouts to get ready for the event. And then there's of course Melissa McCarthy whose over-the-average Hollywood weight never seems to phase her. She was gorgeous, confident, and highly praised.

My 3 favorites - if you exclude Claire Dane's front of the dress

One of the positive things about the ridiculous amount of cameras, behind the scenes interviews, and over-analyzing of every fashion choice at these Awards shows, is that the Hollywood veil is broken down a bit. And it's a refreshing reminder that these women and men are really humans. They have teams and teams of people behind them to make them look that way.

SNL women, represent! (did you catch this meme?)

So, instead of beating myself up, I'm taking last night's Golden Globe's beauty and channeling it into motivation.The women on that carpet are so confident in themselves - or at least they come off as confident. I love seeing these beautiful glammed up girls still having fun and joking through the whole ordeal.

Three dresses that I think I liked...but I'm not 100% sure. They're thinking pieces...

And that's what my goal this week is going to be: finding the inner confidence to hold myself high and give myself what I deserve. Gym trips, better meals, water breaks, and even mental-health breaks. I'm prioritizing that this week. I hope to come out of this week with even more confidence and drive to keep up my fitness goals ♥

All red carpet photos from The Hollywood Reporter

***

And speaking of getting a little glammed up, I joined up with Jess from Stilettos and a Fishing Pole in her Accessory Swap! I was paired up with Stephanie from Living the Young Life - a mid-twenties girl from Tennessee who has big style & bold tastes. It was so much fun shopping for her, because I could get a little out of my comfort zone & buy a few pieces that I'd probably never wear. (Hope she liked it ♥ )

But even more exciting was receiving my gifts! I opened up my giant box with great anticipation and found an array of goodies - a teasing brush (something I don't own but have wanted top pick up for forever), a manicure set & face mask, an awesome set of OPI nail polish, new nail stick-ons in my favorite color, and an adorable Love necklace & matching earrings!

It was really fun getting a little present in the mail! I can't wait to see what all the other girls received ♥

***

If you missed it over the weekend...
I'm hosting a giveaway!

Get any year-long magazine subscription - your choice!
Don't miss it ♥

Who Wouldn't Want a Late Present? {Giveaway}

2012-01-14T10:51:00.001-06:00

Source: Uploaded by user via K on Pinterest

One of my goals in 2012 is to give back to you guys more. I love every comment & Twitter reply sent my way. I know it takes commitment to follow someone's blog & to invest time reading it. It's something I struggle with and am trying to get better at!

So to thank you for your time... how about a giveaway?

The very first giveaway I hosted a year ago was probably one of my favorites. And I wanted to do it again this year, by giving away something that is not just a one-time gift, but a year-long one....

a Year-long Magazine Subscription...

any of your choice*

So... do you like Real Simple? How about Cosmo or Southern Living? Cooking Light? I've always been a fan of Elle Decor and InStyle myself. It could even be a subscription to an online magazine, if you'd like! (for all you Kindle/iPad-using people out there!)

So here's the fun part - TO ENTER: Be a follower of CRH via Google Connect & Leave a comment below with which magazine you'd love to receive each month in your mailbox (or inbox!).

For additional entries... (leave a comment for each one)

Follow me on Twitter
Like CRH on Facebook
Follow me on Pinterest
Tweet about the giveaway
Follow CRH on Blog Lovin'

Good luck!!! Winner will be picked & announced next Saturday, January 21 ♥

*with my approval - try to keep $30 or less :)

Friday Fooday: Awards Show Cuisine

2012-01-13T06:30:00.000-06:00

My favorite time of year is upon us... awards season.

My guy & I are total dorks when it comes to the big two awards shows (Golden Globes & Academy Awards). We make sure to watch every Best Picture nomination, print off ballots and vote for who we think is going to win... but best of all, I always try to create the perfect menu for such an occasion.

In college, my menu consisted of mini chocolate chip cookies served on a platter with toothpicks in them. Gradually my menu got a little more in depth. And then last year our plans changed the day of the Academy Awards and I actually had the opportunity to watch it at my parent's house - and we even got my mom in on the fun!

This year, I've decided to go a little more in-depth, and actually plan out and execute a high-end h'ordeuvres tray that would impress any Awards Show addict.

Here's a few things on my list right now.

Pear and Rosemary Crostini With Goat Cheese | Baked Zucchini Sticks | Figs and cheese | Caprese Kabobs

Caramelized Onion, Bacon and Goat Cheese Pizza | Guacamole Bruschetta | Ancho Chile-Rubbed Tenderloin Sliders

Red Pepper Scallops | Fig Tart with Caramelized Red Onion

And of course, we won't forget the bubbly ♥

If you were making the menu, what would you want most?

Have a great weekend!

And have a great time watching the Golden Globes ♥

On Being Married and Blogging About It

2012-01-12T07:41:00.000-06:00

Something I really want to focus on over the next year is one of the biggest areas of my everyday life.

My marriage.

While last year I wrote here and there about some ins and out of being married, I never really breached the surface. And I want to change that. Since my marriage - and family - are such a pertinent aspect of my personal life, it's only fitting I make it a bigger part of my blog. And even though I'm still trying to figure what I'm going to write about, be ready to see my take (and hopefully other blogger's takes) on being married.

My first leap into this realm is talking about how my relationship began. I'm going to get more in depth in the future, but here's a few things about my marriage that you may not know:

I met my guy standing in the lunch line in high school. His version of the story is that I butted into a conversation he was having, and he apparently decided he didn't like me.
I had my first kiss when I was 17 the day before my Senior year of high school began. And you can read that story here ♥
I asked my guy to marry me the night of our high school graduation - Boy Meets World style. He said no.
We ended up going to the same town for college, but we both made our decisions separately. Fate's a funny thing.
After our first year of college, my guy dumped me & I finally learned what all those break up songs meant.
After 9 months of being broken up, I won my guy's heart back by dressing up as Pam from The Office for Halloween.
My marriage proposal was a complete surprise and came a year before I was expecting.
A bottle of wine, my father's insistence, and an offer we couldn't refuse resulted in me getting married before I graduated college- something I swore I'd never do.
I quickly learned how much more work marriage is than dating while I tried to juggle it with my Senior year of college.
I finally was able to accept, acknowledge and take responsibility for the fact that I am a complete & utter slob, thanks to my guy's ~~gentle~~ pestering.

I want to cover most of those topics in greater detail. My experiences are many, and I want to share them - for better or worse - with you.

Get ready! ♥

What I'm Loving This Week...

2012-01-11T08:02:00.000-06:00

Although it's a new year, some things are staying the same. And that includes my weekly link-ups with This Kind of Love and The Vintage Apple. I've met some great girls through these two link-ups and definitely do not plan to stop participating anytime soon!

Going through my weekly Pinterest finds is always such a treat. Especially because I always seem to pin things & then forget about them!! (Please tell me I'm not the only one to do that!) So here's what I've been loving this week:

Watching "Gossip Girl". I just started during Christmas break & am loving the series!

Source: ggwriters.tumblr.com via Penny on Pinterest

These fig & cheese appetizers. I'm thinking I'm going to have to try them during my Golden Globes party ♥

Source: lisaedoff.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Getting back into working out! I've even hired a personal trainer to help me get started!

Source: nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com via Amy on Pinterest

This amazing room. I want a chalkboard wall like that!

Source: thirtysixthavenue.com via Amy on Pinterest

These words of inspiration for the start of the new year! I've got my goals set & I'm ready to get them done!

Source: w0lvess.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Be sure to check out

What I'm Loving & Oh! How Pinteresting

to see what others are loving this week ♥

Fashion in 2012

2012-01-10T07:33:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of last summer I discovered a new love of fashion blogs. Quickly, I began pouring over blogs like Keiko Lynn, Late Afternoon, The Daybook, Kendi Everyday and Tick Tock Vintage. The more I learned from these women, the more inspired I became to pursue fashion actively, instead of just sitting back and saying "I love that outfit!"

So I began using Pinterest to document my style. Clothes I wanted to buy, and outfits I wanted to put together, just flew in. And I even did a few fashion posts last year, just to give it a go.

I know I'll never be a "fashion blogger" - it's not really even a goal of mine - but I want to be a fashion-oriented individual. So I set up a few fashion-focused goals to help corral my interests into something productive.

Here they are:

Photograph and share 1 outfit a month
Create 1 new outfit a week out of my own closet
Continue to Pin outfits and clothing I'm interested in to Pinterest to document my findings
Learn to appreciate and dress my body type
Allow myself 1 shopping trip - be it thrift store trip or mall trip - a month to discover new fashions and put my skills to the test

There you have it!

So I'd love to know...

What's your go-to fashion blog?

I'm always looking for recommendations!!