J. Krabbits INC.

{365 project: 1.8.13-1.26.13}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:15:00 +0000

1.8.13: Just goofin’: To break up the mundane in each day on occasion I’ll text funny messages back and forth with friends. Just another way to make it to 5:30 pm.

1.9.13: Nighttime commute: I feel like everyday it’s a race against the clock to make it home before the last shred of sunlight disappears. While I don’t look forward to the lost hour, I’ll compromise for more daylight. C’mon spring ahead!!

1.10.13: Chef Hubs: I always love when the hubs makes dinner. Makes me feel special. His secret ingredient **shhh Emeril’s Bayou Blast (don’t tell him I told you).

1.11.13: Foxes in the city: It was such a lovely day that I decided to take a nice lunchtime stroll through Buckhead. It felt so refreshing to be outside. I even happened upon this neat little installation. It’s the small surprises that make living in an eclectic city so fun!

1.12.13: Trampoline joy: The beautiful weather did not stop at Friday. Saturday surprised us with the warmest weather we’ve had in awhile. Shorts and flip flops were perfectly acceptable. Our little neighbor persuaded us to jump on her trampoline and we had a blast! It’s been awhile since either of us has been on one of those. I almost forgot that feeling of elation you get when you’re bouncing sky high.

1.13.13: Honey does: The hubs has many talents that come in handy. Car repair is a big one. Instead of emptying my wallet at Mechanics-R-Us I can find more creative ways to pay back my handsome fella.

1.14.13: Urban hiking: To stick with my resolutions for this New Year I’ve been using my lunchtime hour to get out of the office and exercise a little. It was ugly out this day so I decided to walk up and down the parking deck. What a workout! I’ll have to remember to bring my sneakers though…heels are not exactly ideal walking shoes.

1.15.13: Rain, rain, go away: What is with the weather lately?! We were teased with beautiful sunshine and warmth then siiike—it’s still January. Boo! I want to curl up under a blanket next to a fire. These kinds of days just seem to drag on and on. Oh well, at least I have a three day weekend to look forward to!

1.16.13: Pride & Joy: These pups are everything to me. I can’t imagine life without them...despite how crazy they make me feel sometimes. Isn’t little Oliver so sweet looking over his sister...they are bonkers for one another as the hubs and I are for them :)

1.17.13: The Escape Artist: Our little man Oliver has decided this year that he has “outgrown” his crate. Thus he has become quite the little escapee. Despite our attempts to secure his crate, we continue to come home to this. Any suggestions? At least Sasha fierce behaves while we are away.

1.18.13: Incognito: While I was separating my laundry, Oliver decided to sneak into one of my piles and hide. I guess he didn’t realize that the lights pile wouldn’t be the best camo.

1.19.13: Like father like pup?: It was such a nice Saturday so I decided to do a little early morning photo shoot with the hubs and the pups. They were good models and quite cute. Don’t ya think?

1.20.13: The Brunch Bunch: We had such a lovely holiday weekend. My cousin came to town with her hubs and their daughter, we played Whirlyball for the first time ever with friends, and to top it all off we treated everyone who stayed the night to a delicious Sunday brunch (my favorite meal). I even tried my new gouda eggs recipe which was a S-U-C-C-E-S-S! It’s so nice to wake up at home surrounded by all your favorite people.

1.21.13: Chores: Today was a holiday (MLK DAY). Our family left, and the while I wanted to bum around and recover from the rollercoaster weekend, I really needed to put our house back together. My day consisted of mostly laundry...til 1 AM...crazy? I think so. And the cable was out so I couldn’t even keep myself company with Downtown Abbey...boo.

1.22.13: Stuffed Animals Beware: This is what happens to stuffed animals left at the fluff hungry paws of my pups. I don’t know what it is about fluff but my dogs love ripping it out of any and all stuffed animals...hey at least they’re not tearing into any real animals.

1.23.13: Ladies Night: The hubs was away on business so I seized the opportunity to chill out with a couple of my favorite ladies. We sipped tasty $6 wine (big ballers..haha) and feasted on a variety of my favorite TJoes apps. The laughs we shared were definitely the perfect relief from a crazy workday.

1.24.13: Hello sunshine: I got to work so early today. I think I even beat the morning sun. Not a bad sight.

1.25.13: Honey pleeease: This is what happens when you spoil your hubby, he “can’t” reach the remote. Look at that face though...

1.26.13: No Mas Breakfast: The hubs and I purchased a Livingsocial deal back in the Fall for two mimosas and two breakfast entrees at No Mas Cantina’s Adios Café. It was about to expire so we decided to take advantage of it this weekend. Two of our favorite friends joined us and it made our little Saturday morning trek down to Castleberry Hill that much more fun. We enjoyed some laughs (a few extra thanks to the bubbly) and started planning our next few adventures for 2013.

Pheww! What a crazy few weeks!

{27 before 27: new list}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:30:00 +0000

New year, new list! Here’s hoping I have better luck with this one : ) I will try my best anyway!

{26 before 26: how’d i do?}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:22:00 +0000

Soo...I didn’t quite finish my list. Boo.

This was a big year for me. For the first time since college I actually had time to kick back and “take in the view”—of my life that is. I have grown so much in the last 5 years and I have come to realize that a few of my total life goals have changed. My Plan A Dreams that I put on the back burner found their way back into the limelight and my Plan B Dreams took a step back. This list played a huge part in that realization process as a few of the goals--specifically #’s 17 & 18--I set for myself revolved around what I thought I really wanted for my life. As I looked over my list, I constantly skipped over those goals and I just had to admit to myself that I wasn’t that passionate about accomplishing them as I once was. Who knows, maybe one day those Plan B dreams will resurface, but for now, I’m on a different path and I’m happier than ever. I know this sounds really abstract. I plan to divulge more as the year progresses, but a little mystery is good for now.

So how’d I do? Well I did manage to accomplish 12 out of 26 goals. Not too bad. I’m not giving up though and I’ve started a new list! I hope that this year, I will attack my list more vigorously and at this same time next year I will hopefully say that all 27 before 27 are checked off.

Here’s a quick recap of my 26 before 26 accomplishments:

#1: Run a 5k

Remember how we tackled the Warrior Dash?

#2: Create 5 new recipes

What about these delicious dishes?

hello breakfast sandwich

sweet and salty appletizers

herb roasted baby potatoes

spicy herb mac n’ cheese

sauteed mushrooms

#11: Complete guestbook project

In case you forgot, here’s how you put together this handsome bird?

#12: Organize a plan a camping trip

Our Easter camping trip at Lake Hartwell was so much fun! I hope we camp more this year!

#14: Start an herb garden

Remember the gorgeous herb box stand the hubs made me? Those tasty green enhanced so many dishes and treats (my fav being the mojitos)!

#15: Keep plants alive until @ least 26

While I don’t have the greenest thumb on the block, my plants did make it to my birthday! Some just barely...haha!

#16: Make someone’s day

My mom is always complaining that I don’t spend enough time with her so I made sure to make her visit to Atlanta extra special including an awesome day at one of her favorite places; remember her visit?

#18: Pursue Plan A

Although scary and quite an unfamiliar adventure, I’m doing it and hopefully this year I will realize it!

#20: Pick-up a new active hobby

Remember my adventures in nexercising? I’ve have slacked a bit on it, but it’s a new year so no more slacking!

#22 Create a lovely outdoor space

Don’t get mad, but scout’s honor I did do this! Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures...what?!!! I would take one now, but the cold weather has killed a few of my summer plants and has made everything look a little drab. Let me see if I can create a mental picture for you. I added the herb garden, a hanging plant and some other potted plants, solar lanterns (Goodwill steal!), Jesse built some lovely benches and a planter for our Clementine tree, I revamped our fire pit with some lovely tiles, and Jesse refurbished an old dirty grill and made it look brand new (a side of the road find). I’m kicking myself over the fact I never took a picture...ah! I’ll take one this spring and make sure to update you all.

#24: Avoid fast food for at least one whole month

Although hard with all the temptations in our area, I successfully accomplished this and it felt awesome!

#26: Go to a baseball game

Remember the Braves game we went to with our good friends The Wrights?

That’s all! I had fun with every one of these! I can’t wait for the experiences my next list will lead me to!

{365 project: 1.4.13 - 1.7.13}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 01:11:00 +0000

1.4.13: Cheers to another birthday!: Since Jesse was down and out with the flu, some wonderful friends of ours took me out to Delfrisco’s for drinks and delicious appetizers after work! Our server even treated me to birthday lava cake and Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots!

1.5.13: The winning shot: I celebrated my birthday weekend at a few fun venues with friends. One of our stops was to Ormsby’s. We were able to snatch a spot at the dart board and played 2 vs. 2. It was a fun casual game that got really intense towards the end. Let me set it up for you. My friend and I were down by one bull’s-eye, the other team was down by one shot at the 16 after nailing the bull’s-eye. My friend turned to me and said, “It’s all up to you Katie, the pressure is on, you have to get the bull’s-eye this round!” (mind you, I had not once hit it the entire game despite numerous frivolous attempts). My first shot—miss, second shot—so close but no cigar, third shot—smack bull’s-eye! We won!! Oh what a fun night!

1.6.13: Farewell Christmas season *bittersweet tear*: I finally started packing up the Christmas stuff on Sunday. Our tree looks so sad—no ornaments and dry pine needles scattered all around (I must try to do better with watering it next year). It was especially bittersweet to pack up this little guy. Until next year my sweet green hooting friend. While it is somber that the holiday season is over, I’m a little relieved that all the hustle and bustle will now be settling down and I can give my wallet a rest. We can focus on our home life and have some “us” time.

1.7.13: *Almost* blank canvas: Well the Christmas décor is down and the house is looking a little bare. I’ve decided it’s the perfect opportunity to revamp our living room design and I think I’ll be starting with the mantle. Any ideas?

That’s all for now! How are your projects coming along?

{happy birthday to me}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:51:00 +0000

Oh what a lovely day for a birthday! The sun is shining and the weather…well it’s cold…but it doesn’t matter because it’s my birthday!

Is that a birthday girl or are you just happy to see me?

What a year! What-A-YEAR!

I am truly blessed and have more love in my life than I know what to do with. I’ve learned a great deal this year and I’m still learning so much more. This whole year has been one incredible roller coaster with many more highs than lows.

Some of my favorites from the year:

Exploring a new city with my hubs and developing this chapter in our lives

Speaking of the hubs--celebrating 8 years of dating and 1 year of marriage with my dearest

Starting a new job at a brand that I grew up with and is a huge part of who I am

Trying challenging recipes and techniques in the kitchen

Successfully poaching an egg on my first try

Meeting awesome new friends in this great big ole city

Vacationing with friends and family at some pretty fantastic places

Reconnecting with a dear friend from college who has quickly become one of my best friends

Sharing yet another birthday with my dad

Getting the opportunity to realize my Plan A ; )

So many wonderful experiences and opportunities…and I have a feeling the best is yet to come! In fact, I know it is!

What more could a girl ask for?

{365 project}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:04:00 +0000

Hello Again! (See I’m being good on my word!)

Today I’d like to share a fun new challenge (aha!—resolution!) I’m going to try to tackle this New Year. I got the idea from “A Beautiful Mess” and figured “hey why not?”

A 365 project can simply be anything you’d like to try to do every day for a whole year. For my first 365 project, I’ve decided to do…drum roll please…….”A-Photo-A-Day.” Easy enough; especially for my first project. I personally love photography and would like to take this hobby of mine a little more seriously. Santa even brought me a snazzy new DSLR for Christmas. I figure that not only will I be documenting more memories throughout the year, but I may even learn some new tricks and skills along the way. At the end of the year I hope to gather all my pictures and make my very own coffee table book. I’m actually very excited about this little challenge!

And now for my first photos of 2013…

1.1.13: Light up the new year: Jesse and I did this little tradition last year so we decided to share it with some of our new friends this year! We set off four lanterns successfully into the night sky along with hopeful wishes for 2013(a few...or 6 caught fire before launch). It is such a sweet tradition; I hope we do it again next year.

1.2.13: Oh, flu bug: The hubs has spent the first few days of the new year in bed with an awful sickness. We thought it was a sinus infection, but it is actually the flu! Lucky for him he has a pretty awesome wife to take his temp and make him chicken soup :)

1.3.13: Soakin’ in the view: I feel so lucky that this is the view I get to see every (work) day. It makes being in an office 8 hours a day, much more manageable. The city looks so pretty at dusk. However...I really can’t wait until the daylight lingers again.

That’s what I have so far! It’s only the third day of the year after all!

Why not try your own 365 project? If you’re looking for some ideas, I think I can help:

A Memory A Day

A Video Clip A Day

A New Recipe A Day

A Sketch A Day

A 10-Minute Conversation A Day (not about work or drama, just shoot the breeze)

A New Food A Day

A Fruit/Veggie A Day (for those of you looking to eat healthier?)

A Laugh A Day (it’s good for the soul after all)

A New Song A Day

A Craft A Day

A Walk A Day (very good for those trapped in an office)

A Random Act of Kindness A Day

A Random Thought A Day (this could be scary for some)

(I may have to refer to this list next year…haha)

Or maybe you could try to not do something everyday…

365 No Social Media (haha…now that’s a hard one!)

365 No TV (all the good shows get cancelled anyway)

365 No Fast/Junk Food

365 No Procrastinating (just think of all the things you’re avoiding and do them already! It’ll feel good to cross them off that dreadful “To Do Later” list)

365 No (insert bad habit here)

C’mon and challenge yourself! I mean we did survive the End of the World after all. There’s no better time than the present to try something new (I think someone important said something like that at some point in history…haha).

{well hello 2013}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:14:00 +0000

Well Hello 2013!

Hey there little blog…miss me? Bad Katie…**slap on the wrist**.

I know it has been ages since I’ve updated this sweet little blog of mine. My only excuse is that I’ve been busier these past few months than I was at the same time last year (minus the wedding and moving). Going back to work will do that to you ; )

One of my resolutions for this year is to keep up with this blog and not let everyday distractions keep me away.

Speaking of resolutions…I do have a few….

This year I hope to:

Eat healthier—that means more veggies!

Exercise my whole being more—isn’t that on everyone’s list?

Spend more time outdoors—and become one with nature…or something like that.

Blog, blog, blog away—at least once a week.

Take more pictures—especially now that I have a fancy new camera.

Craft more—and hopefully learn to sew.

Read more—I watch too much TV as it is.

Cook a whole lot more—goodbye GoWaiter!

Pursue Plan A!!

Volunteer my time at least once a month.

Find new ways to feed my organizing addiction.

Take more opportunities to show the ones I love that I appreciate them.

Tackle new challenges and discover new experiences to enrich my life.

Let go.

That about sums it up. For now.

What’s on your resolution list? Or are you forgoing this tradition this year? Either way…as long as you’re happy : )

Until…soon I hope!

(like the new signature?)

{the funnies & my weekend soundtrack}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 03:03:00 +0000

{image source}

TGIF!

Brrr! Today’s funny sure does give me a little chill. I figure if I think cooler weather I’ll get cooler weather. That’s my theory at least; I’m still waiting for it to work. We have another great weekend planned here in the Ellis household. We have some surprise visitors (for the hubs’ birthday) and lots of fun activities in store. I hope your weekend is just as grand.

Here’s another weekend soundtrack to get you in the mood:

Brokenhearted........Karmin

Whatever You Like (Raw Session)........Rome

Too Close........Alex Clare

Sail........AWOLNATION

Shake That Ass........The Lovemakers

Making Me Nervous........Brad Sucks

Drink to Moving On........Grand National

Wanted the World........Kennedy

I Don’t Want to Care Right Now........Lupe Fiasco

Gangsta........Bushwalla

Cheers to the weekend!

Love,

The Mrs.

{happy fourth!}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:00:00 +0000

{image source}

I just wanted to take a little moment to say thank you to those who have fought and continue to fight for our freedoms.

Cheers to America!

Love,

Mrs. E

{diy: guestroom collage & revolving guest frame}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:06:00 +0000

happy monday!

The weekend is over and now it’s back to the grind. This weekend was a fun one! Our wonderful friend Giselle was in town for her first visit to Atlanta and of course we showed her a grand time. This was also an especially hot weekend! It was really sad at night when we were out dancing and would go from the sweaty dance floor to the outdoor deck---and there was no change in temperature! Ack! I hope these super hot summer nights are few and far between.

Today’s post is about two diy projects I worked on last week and finished last night (at 4AM!---I’m kind of a night owl). I’m so happy with the end results; they’re beautiful additions to our home.

First I’ll share the guestroom collage. In our guestroom there is a wall next to the bed that was bare for months. I would always stare at it and think of several different ideas for it. I had tons of frames and paintings I could put up but nothing really seemed to inspire me. Last week I decided it was time to make a decision already and just play around with what I had. I also searched around the net for some inspirations which helped quite a bit.

I decided to create a collage with matching color frames and a mix of diy prints and photos. I also came up with a cool idea for the collage to personalize the room for our guests---more on that later.

First, I laid out all my frames on the floor and moved them around until I found a set-up I really liked. I also had to spray paint two of the frames to match all of the other black frames.

Next, I laid out my prints and photos on top of the frames to get an idea of what the collage would look like. I wanted a good mix to make it more interesting.

This included:

instagram headshots of the hubs and I

a wooden “E” for Ellis with painted chevron

subway art of some important places & dates

our wedding invite and rsvp card

a piece of fabric with a little 3D detail

interesting printed stock paper

photos of some special people

My collage had a blend of matted and non-matted photos. I also wanted to include snippets of our guestroom colors: green, blue, grey, and white. I can never pick just one or two colors...haha.

After I was done moving prints and photos around I was ready to hang my collage up. Now, I hang frames by eyeballing where I want everything to be. It usually works out and I make very few errors. However, I found a great tutorial over at Young House Love for those of you who want to make extra sure that your collage comes out perfect.

It came out pretty nicely, don’t you think? I’m super happy with it. Of course some things will be rotated out overtime.

And now for the coolest part of the whole collage; the revolving guest frame.

I’m all about making memorable experiences, especially for any visitors we get our way. One idea I thought of was to display photos of our guests in the guestroom so they can feel special when they come over. However, we have tons of friends and family, but not enough frames. At first I thought of rotating out photos of our guests in the frames, however, that would have been time consuming and I don’t think our IKEA frames could’ve handled it (the tabs closing in the photos are kind of weak). But then I remembered the idea we used for displaying childhood photos at our wedding---clipping photos to string in an empty frame. It was perfect and fit in very nicely in the collage. Basically, I took a large empty frame, added eye screws to the sides, and strung twine from one side to the other. I used teeny clothesline clips to attach the photos to the twine.

Whenever guests come over, we’ll clip in photos of them and print out duplicates as a little souvenir. It’s just a small detail to make our guests feel extra special when they stay with us. If you look closely you can get a sneak peek of who’s coming to visit nextJ

And that’s all. What do you do to make your guests feel welcome? I always love hearing new ideas.

So long for now,

The Mrs.

{the funnies & my weekend soundtrack}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:33:00 +0000

{image source}

It’s Friday! Whaaatt?

This meme is so true, but you’d never thought of it as a kid. Maybe it was the whole “wanting something more because you can’t have it” paradox. I always felt bad for the silly rabbit. Why couldn’t he just have some Trix? Of course he could’ve probably bought himself a box (if he didn’t freak out the cashier with his talking rabbit routine).

I’m so excited for this weekend! Not only are we celebrating my hubs’ birthday in style, but one of my favorite friends is in town for the weekend! I’m so stoked. This has really been such a fantastic week. I got some incredible news on Tuesday, which I still can’t believe (I might need a few pinches). It’s going to be a secret for awhile though...sorry...hehe. Oh my! What fun!

What are your plans for this weekend? Anything fun? If you’re anywhere near here, it’s going to be a hot one!

Here’s my weekend soundtrack to get you in the mood:

We Will Rock You........Queen

Bohemian Like You........The Dandy Warhols

The Basement........Eric Hutchinson

Geek In The Pink........Jason Mraz

Moves Like Jagger........Maroon 5

Yo........Bassnectar

Back In Time (From Men In Black III)........Pitbull

Lights........Ellie Goulding

The Way You Move........Big Boi (feat. Sleepy Brown)

Young, Wild, & Free (feat. Bruno Mars)........Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa

Cheers to the weekend!

Love,

The Mrs.

{happy birthday to my dearest hubster}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:30:00 +0000

{he's just too cute}

I just want to take a moment to wish my honey a very happy birthday. While not always perfect, he tries his best every day. His smile still melts me to this day. I am such a lucky girl. Cheers to my dear; my best friend.

Love,

The Mrs.

{collages and chevron on my mind}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Hello! Hello!

It’s the beginning of a new week. Stay positive, the weekend is right around the corner, and if you can’t wait, there is always happy hour! This week is sure to be a busy one. I have a few crazy projects in store and we’re preparing for a special house guest this weekend. The hub’s birthday is also this week which is super exciting. We’re actually celebrating two weekends in a row---he’s sure to feel special.

There are two projects that have been sitting on the back burner for months and months. They’re not terribly difficult; I just haven’t had the time to tackle them. I want to put up a picture/frame collage in our guest room and finish a chevron canvas painting for the kitchen. I’ve been looking all over for inspiration.

Here are a few that stood out to me:

{same colored frames & diy prints}

{various frame shapes & fun layers}

{pops of color & a letter detail}

{empty frames of varying shapes & sizes}

{same color frames with b&w photos}

{a mix of photos, prints, & sentimental details}

{various canvas & different colored chevron}

{a bird silhouette on top}

{glitter chevron}

{odd colored stripes}

{a 3D detail}

{or get crazy with mis-matched chevron}

I do love projects. I’ll be sure to post updates as soon as they’re complete!

So long for now,

The Mrs.

{the funnies & my weekend soundtrack}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 21:41:00 +0000

{image source}

It’s Friday & I’m Stayin’ Alive!

It’s the end of the week...whaatt??? I’m excited! Can’t you tell? I took a drive today with all the windows down and the Bee Gees blasting through my speakers. It’s the freest I’ve felt in awhile. My hair was blowing around my face, the sun was shining bright...strangers were giving me imaginary high fives---time went by a little slower.

I love music and am always creating a new soundtrack for a little movie I call “My Life.” It’s a little weird for bystanders but so much fun for me. Lately my soundtrack has included a lot of disco (which I can thank my pops for).

This weekend’s soundtrack goes a little like this:

September........Earth, Wind, & Fire

Let It Whip........Dazz Band

Stayin’ Alive........Bee Gees

Got to Give It Up (Part 1)........Marvin Gaye

I’m Not Cool........Eric Hutchinson

Somebody I Used to Know........Goyte (DJ Mike Mix)

I Feel So Close........Calvin Harris (DJ Hot Stuff Mix)

Tonight Is The Night........Outasight

Calabria 2007 (Club Mix-Feat. Natasja)........Enur

Bon Bon (We No Speak Americano-Club Mix)........Limoncello

Cheers to the weekend!

Love,

The Mrs.

{memorial day weekend funsies}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:39:00 +0000

I know Memorial Day was sooo two weeks ago, but I never got to share all of the fun adventures we had that weekend. Some dear friends and family came into town to celebrate the holiday. It was so much fun to have them here---we hardly slept!

We started the weekend with a trip to Turner Field for Jesse’s and my first Braves game. We had a blast! Our friends are true Braves fans so it was no wonder that they were able to find some awesome ticket deals. We purchased the family ticket plan which came out to $82 a couple and included parking, a $10 gas card, a souvenir brochure book, hotdog, large drink, and excellent seats in the most shaded part of the park. What a steal! It was a particularly hot day so it was nice to be out of the sun.

During the game the section next to us initiated the wave and after a few trial and errors, they got the entire stadium involved. It must’ve created some magic because one of the Braves hit a home run and everyone in the stadium won a free Moe’s burrito! So fun!

At some point Home Depot sponsored a tool run which was tons of fun to watch (probably not as fun for the guys in costume). Baseball games are always fun to watch but my favorite moments are the mini games, kiss cams, and trivia spots.

What a great game! We are happy that we got to share that first with our friends.

After the game we went home, changed, then headed back out for a yummy dinner at Yardhouse. The weather was so nice that we sat out on the patio. Yardhouse is very cool; I’ve been there a few times and have always had a great experience. My first visit to Yardhouse was in LA---they had the best happy hours. The one in Atlanta is fairly new and located over in Atlantic Station. They are a taphouse so you can expect a wide beer selection. They also have some specialty cocktails which are delish---my favorite is the Pineapple Express. The boys each decided to go for the yard glass which is awkward to drink out of. Let’s play a game shall we?

Haha. That was fun.

On Sunday another one of our friends joined us and we spent the day out in the yard playing cornhole and enjoying a few cool drinks. It made for such a relaxing afternoon.

That evening, Jesse’s sister and her husband arrived and our group was complete! We went out to find some food---which was incredibly difficult to locate. We learned that despite the fact it was a holiday weekend, things still close early on Sundays in A-town. Boo! It kind of foiled our plan for a fun food crawl. It was okay in the end as we ended up at Felinis Pizza. We couldn’t complain, the pizza was great and the beer even better! It was a very chill evening and the perfect opportunity for everyone to chat and get to know each other.

Remember how I said that I love to make brunch for our overnight guests? Monday I woke up early and went all out on brunch. I was hoping that everyone would stay asleep a little longer so I could surprise them, but they decided to be early birds and come down to watch the magic happen. I felt like I was taunting them as I put stuff out on the table. The good smells wafting out of the kitchen didn’t help either. Everyone seemed to dig in happily when it was all finished and returned for seconds of their favorites. I was so distracted by the goodness going into my belly that I forgot to take pictures of everyone eating. I’m sure they didn’t mind.

Oh what a fun weekend! Nothing is better than spending time with the people nearest and dearest to you.

{drink and be merry: lime spritzer}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:29:00 +0000

Hello Wednesday!

It’s the middle of the week which means that the weekend is just around the corner! Woo! This weekend is going to be crazy! I’m doing something big---shh it’s a secret though. Here’s a hint---it has to do with my list J Last weekend we played in a cornhole tourney and lost...BLL. Oh well, we had a blast anyway. We made new friends, ate lots of yummy food, and Jesse and I took our first trip on the MARTA! Look out for a future post on all the funsies we had last weekend.

Today starts a new feature, {drink and be merry}, where occassionally I’ll be posting some of my favorite beverage recipes. It’s summer which means you must stay hydrated especially if you spend a ton of time under the sun. Today’s beverage---the lime sprizter, is a perfect way to do just that. It’s non-alcoholic, but can easily turn alcoholic with a shot of your preference. We’ll save that for the weekend---or at least 5:00 (hehe). I love this drink because it is low cal and incredibly refreshing. It also fits in perfectly with my healthy eating plan. Since cutting out soda, I find myself craving some fizz to go with my meals every now and then. Sometimes I cheat and steal some sips of Jesse’s soda when he’s not looking. I remembered awhile ago that my dad never drank soda when we went out to eat but would instead order a club soda with a twist of lime. It seemed to satisfy that fizz craving for him, so I gave it a try and really liked it. I’ve never liked flavored waters because they always add sugar (and I hate sweet water---not the beer..ha). I don’t even add anything to my green tea. This lime sprizter was just what the doctor ordered. Plus, I can have several without worrying about the effects on my waistline.

lime spritzer:

Ingredients:

club soda

1 lime

How To:

Step 1: Fill a glass with club soda.

Step 2: Slice the lime in half.

Step 3: Squeeze both halves of lime into the club soda.

Step 4: Stir, add a few ice cubes, and enjoy!

Whatttt? That’s all? No more steps? Yep. It is just that easy. So kick back, pour yourself a spritzer this evening, and watch the sun go down. It’s gorgeous outside!

{fancy appetizers: strawberry pancake delights}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:56:00 +0000

As I mentioned in my hello breakfast sandwich post, breakfast and brunch are my favorite meals to put together. I guess it’s the challenge of making traditionally simple meals fun and creative. This brings me to today’s appetizer; strawberry pancake delights.

I enjoy pancakes but can usually only eat one and a half as they fill me up very quickly. I love to top them with some yummy maple syrup, fruits (usually strawberries), and finish them off with a squirt (a really long squirt) of whipped cream. Yea...I guess you can see why I can only eat so much. I ran across these on Pinterest a little while back and decided to make them for my Memorial Day brunch guests---(along with some other decadent foods and of course mimosas!). They were incredibly easy to put together and the perfect bite to satisfy that pancake craving. Plus, you still have enough room for other breakfast goodies.

To make them all you need to do is:

1)Cut strawberries into thin slices.

2)Mix up some pancake batter.

3)Make your pancakes using about a tablespoon of batter for each pancake. I also find that a griddle makes this process super easy.

4)Take a toothpick and skewer your pancakes and strawberries (strawberry slice, pancake, strawberry slice, pancake).

5)Arrange nicely on your plate. Although next time I’m going to stick them in little martini glasses with maple syrup in the bottom and a dollop of whipped cream on top (I’ll make sure to post an update).

Easy peasy and super delish!

{the funnies}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:37:00 +0000

{image source}

Happy Friday Friends!

Just a little funny to help you start the weekend off right. What are your plans for the weekend? We will be competing in an exciting cornhole tournament with a few friends of ours--wish us luck! Our team name, ready for this?...MAIZE IN YO FACE! Good huh?

Father’s Day is Sunday so I’m sure many of you will be dedicating some time to the special man (or men) in your life. I know I will J

Cheers to the weekend!

Love,

The Mrs.

{recipe: hello breakfast sandwich}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:12:00 +0000

Ehllo Friends!

{british for hello riiight?}

Growing up I always missed breakfast because I could never get up early enough to enjoy it (plus I’ve never really been a morning person). I also felt like breakfast had no variety and was limited to cereal and toast. Boy was I missing out. Once I started expanding my horizons (and actually catching a glimpse of the morning sun) I learned that there is so much more to this most important meal. In fact, my favorite thing to do now, is wake up super early and make a fancy breakfast/brunch (depending on the night we had...haha) whenever we have overnight guests. I feel it’s a nice way of saying, “we like you so much we want your belly to feel it.” So---if you don’t get breakfast at the Ellis house---well errr, this is awkward.........

I’ve been experimenting with breakfast sandwiches (my fav!) and recently came up with the one I’m sharing today. It includes my favorite cheese of all time and is pretty healthy all around. Who said healthy was limited to green monster smoothies? I love the concept of a breakfast sandwich because it fills you up and is a great meal option for those on the run (especially if you can do some fancy napkin origami to keep the fillings in).

hello breakfast sandwich:

Servings: 1

Source: Jkrabbits INC Kitchen

Ingredients:

2 slices of delicious wheat bread

2 eggs (1 whole egg, 1 egg white)

1 strip of bacon cut into small pieces

1 slice of smoked gouda cheese

fresh baby spinach leaves

salt and pepper to taste

a little butter (for spreading)

How To:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Step 2: Whisk the eggs together and add a little salt and pepper.

Step 3: Place the bread slices on a baking sheet with one slice of smoked gouda on top and toast in the oven for about 7-10 minutes.

Step 4: Cook the bacon pieces in a small pan to your desired crispiness, and then drain out the grease. Add the eggs.

Step 5: Allow the eggs to cook with the bacon in an even layer in your pan and flip when it starts to bubble a bit and the layer stays intact when shifted around.

Step 6: Remove bread from oven and butter the slice without cheese.

Step 7: Slowly remove your bacon scrambled eggs from the pan and fold on top of the bread slice with the gouda cheese. Add a little salt and pepper to taste.

Step 8: Add fresh spinach leaves then cover with the buttered bread slice.

Step 9: Pour some OJ on the side or hot tea and devour!

I hope you all enjoy this sandwich just as much as I have. I’ll have to post up some other sandwich creations soon.

What does your favorite breakfast sandwich include?

The Mrs.

{26 before 26: #1, #20, & #26 check!}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:58:00 +0000

{yay! progress!}

Whaattt? Did I just cross off three more goals from my list? Yes. Yes I think I just did. Woo!

#1: Run a 5k.

I (with the awesome support of my hubs) completed my first 5k, The 2012 Warrior Dash in Huntersville, NC. It was a tough and dirty race, but I had fun the whole way through. Read more about our experience here.

{before}

{after}

#20: Pick-up a new active hobby.

This has been a tough one to tackle as I wanted a unique hobby that is fun to maintain. After my hubs laughed at my ideas for Speed Cupcake Baking & Drunk Running---long story---and told me that they are not really hobbies (or ones that I should consider healthy), I had to look at other options. I then realized that over the past couple of months I have actually picked up a healthy active hobby and didn’t even know it. It all started when my friend Isaiah asked me if I wanted to join him in some friendly exercise competition. Enter Nexercise. It’s an iPhone App in which you compete with friends for exercise points. They have an array of activities you can do for points and tons of ways to earn medals and bonus points. This app truly speaks to the competitor inside of me and since starting it has been hard to stop. I love earning new medals and bonuses for different activities, but mostly beating Isaiah. It fits right along with my healthy living plan and encourages me to stay active and look for new ways to get in my exercise points. Woo Nexercise! I’ll have to dedicate a future post just for this app.

#26: Go to a baseball game.

For Memorial Day some friends and family came down for a weekend full of fun adventures. One of those adventures included a trip to Turner Field for Jesse’s and my first Braves game. It was so much fun (even though the Braves lost); we even won a free homerun burrito! Keep your eyes peeled for a future Memorial Day weekend recap post.

Well that’s all folks! How’s your list coming along??

{we are warriors}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:40:00 +0000

Oh yea baby! We are warriors!

A few weekends ago Jesse and I headed to Huntersville, NC for the 2012 Warrior Dash (my first 5k-—check!). We wanted to compete last year but couldn’t because a)we were out of shape and b)it fell on the day of my bridal shower, which I couldn’t miss as I was kind of the guest of honor...haha. This year we were very prepared and rocked it out! I was a bit nervous before but psyched myself into thinking it would be a breeze. I definitely think that mindset greatly helped because I made it through every obstacle without any help! Jesse of course whizzed right through it (darn army training) and was an awesome coach all throughout. My friend Giselle and her co-worker competed as well and we stuck together through the whole course. We were an awesome team, pushing and encouraging each other every step of the way. We were not without a cheering section either. Our parents came out for support along with my friend Isaiah (whom I had to bribe with turkey legs...haha) and his lovely wife Katie and their friend. It was so awesome to have everyone’s support; it really helped us make it through!

We are so proud to check The Warrior Dash off our list and can’t wait to do it again next year!

Before the race we were clean, pumped, and had our most extreme warrior faces on. We were going to demolish this race!

While we were out getting drenched in the mud, Isaiah was doing his best to support us by enjoying a delicious turkey leg and an ice cold beer. Too bad he won’t have the same luxury next year when he will be competing...haha.

To finish the race we had to crawl over this horizontal rope ladder, jump over fire, and crawl under barbed wire through wet red clay mud (which was not as fun as it sounds, just ask my knees). I was watching Jesse and saw him crawl on his belly military style and thought, “oh yea, that’s how you’re supposed to do it,” so I plopped down on my stomach only to get stuck (even though I could move my arms and legs---it was as funny as it sounds). In the process I also managed to get red clay mud right in my eye (yowwwwza) so all I could see was orange. I managed to pull myself up again and stumble as fast as I could to the finish line and water table to have Jesse flush out my eyeball. Not quite the “warrior” finish I was hoping for, but it’ll do. Next year, I will wear goggles.

Jesse and I attacking my mother with a muddy hug.

Woo! We did it!

Now to prepare for the next race.

So long for now!

{Images courtesy of Katie Ellis, Carlos Henry, & Isaiah Wright}

{date nights with the hubs}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:25:00 +0000

The Ellis house has been a little hectic these last few months and the days just flit away. With so many projects on our plates it’s easy to forget to take a little time out for one another. We both decided that we needed serious face-time and set aside time for a few simple dates.

We had an Avengers movie (best movie I’ve seen in awhile) and Yoforia night. Have you ever been to a Yoforia? It’s a self-serve wonderland. I recommend you check it out, but be careful on the self-serve---it’s .49 cents an ounce and there are too many flavors and toppings to choose from!

After a really crazy day we headed over to happy hour at Flemings to take advantage of their 5 for $6 by 7. We ordered the baked brie (a personal fav.) and beef carpaccio which was surprisingly very filling. It was the perfect conclusion to a hectic day.

What do you to keep up the magic with your dearest?

{recipe: spicy herb mac n’cheese}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:26:00 +0000

Heyy June!

It’s summertime which means days out on the water, fresh cocktails, fancy sunglasses, and of course tons of cookouts! For me summer also means lots and lots of mac n’ cheese. I don’t know why, it just seems like a cookout staple. Just ask my hubs---if it’s on the menu, I’ll most likely want to try it. I especially love when the traditional mac n’ cheese is recreated. Some have been absolute fails, but others have taken my taste buds straight to the moon. I just love it! Can’t you tell? Recently, I had a craving for cheesy noodles and decided to experiment with a few random ingredients I had on hand. It all amounted to this delicious recipe. The hubs gave it two thumbs up! Try it out and let me know what you think. Seriously, I’m always open to suggestions!

spicy herb mac n’ cheese:

Servings: 4

Source: Jkrabbits INC Kitchen

Ingredients:

2 cups of cavatappi pasta

1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream

3 oz of velveeta (cubed)

1/4 cup of shredded smoked gouda

1 tablespoons of unsalted butter

1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of chipotle powder

1 teaspoon of garlic salt

1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon of chopped fresh basil

1/2 cup of fresh baby spinach leaves

1/4 cup of bacon pieces (optional)

How To:

Step 1: Bring slightly salted water to a boil in a medium pot. Add pasta and cook until al dente.

Step 2: In the meantime, add whipping cream, velveeta, gouda, and butter to a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir until melted.

Step 3: Once cheeses have melted, add minced garlic, pepper, chipotle powder, garlic salt, parsley, and basil.

Step 4: Incorporate baby spinach leaves and bacon pieces. Turn heat to low and cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Once pasta is cooked to al dente, remove from heat, strain, and rinse with cool water. Shake out any excess water.

Step 6: Add pasta to your serving dish and pour cheese sauce over top.

Step 7: Slowly combine the sauce and pasta until all the noodles are covered.

Step 8: Serve warm and enjoy!

Super easy and incredibly good! If you want to tone down the spice, take out the chipotle powder. I personally enjoy it as it adds a bit of a smoky flavor. I may experiment with it some more in the future and come up with a baked version.

So long for now!

The Mrs.

{recipe: crockpot chicken cordon bleu}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:12:00 +0000

Happy weekend everyone!

Today I have a super delicious recipe for you guys to try out; Crockpot Chicken Cordon Bleu! I’m sure many of you may have tried one version or another of this delightful dish. It’s one of my favorites---cheese, ham, & chicken---yum! Such a great combo of flavors. I decided to put my own spin on this traditional dish and came up with a recipe I think you might enjoy. I switched out the swiss for some smoked gouda and added a special sauce that is unbelieveable delicious (seriously---I had to stop myself from licking the crockpot). Give it a go and see if your tastebuds are as impressed as mine were.

crockpot chicken cordon bleu:

Servings: 4 – 5

Source: Jkrabbits INC Kitchen

Chicken Ingredients:

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

4-6 slices of smoked gouda

4-6 pieces of thinly sliced honey ham

1/4 to 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour to dredge the chicken in

garlic salt & pepper to taste

italian herbs

Sauce Ingredients:

1 cup milk

1 cup whipping cream

1 cup chicken broth

1 & 1/2 cups of grated colby cheese

1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons of butter

2 teaspoons white granulated sugar

2 large tablespoons of flour

3 tablespoons of dry white wine

2 tablespoons of minced onions

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of garlic salt

1/2 tablespoon of dried italian herbs

1/4 cup of sliced button mushrooms (optional)

How To:

Step 1: Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and using a mallet (or whatever your have around---for me it was a wine bottle...haha), pound each chicken breast to 1/4″ thickness.

Step 2: Season each piece of chicken with garlic salt, pepper, and italian herbs.

Step 3: Place 1 gouda slice and 1 ham slice on each breast, then roll up (tucking loose ends in) and use a toothpick to secure.

Step 4: Dredge each chicken roll in flour & shake off any excess.

Step 5: In a skillet, add a few tablespoons of olive oil and turn your heat to med/high. When the oil is hot, carefully place your chicken rolls in the skillet and brown both sides until golden brown.

Step 6: Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat melt the butter, then add the garlic salt, pepper, italian herbs, onions, garlic, and sugar.

Step 7: Add the flour and whisk in quickly until the roux is bubbly and smooth.

Step 8: Add the chicken broth, cream, milk, & white wine.

Step 9: Continue whisking over med. heat until it has thickened – about 10 minutes.

Step 10: Turn heat to low and then add the grated cheeses.

Step 11: Stir well until smooth and creamy.

Step 12: Add the mushrooms now and anything else you’d like to include.

Step 13: Place the chicken rolls into the slow cooker and pour the sauce over top until covered.

Step 14: Cover with lid then allow to cook on low for 5-6 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. The chicken is done when it falls apart easily when forked.

Step 15: Remove from crockpot and place on a nice plate. I put mine over spinach so my guests could enjoy some greens with their meal.

I was surprised at how tender the chicken was after cooking. And the flavors were beyond amazing! This definitely makes my list of favorite recipes. Hopefully it will make yours too J

Good day friends!

Mrs. E

{mom visits a-town}

noreply@blogger.com (j.krabbits) — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:41:00 +0000

I stole my mom away for a week and introduced her to our new home. All week we were busy little bees, sightseeing a bit, and just enjoying each other’s company. It was so great to have her here; I can’t wait until her next visit!

I took her to BAJA Fresh one day for some yummy tacos. Neither she nor I had ever been to one so it was a nice first. The tacos were pretty good---they even had free chips for our table and a wide variety of salsas.

After a delicious lunch, we headed over to the aquarium to say hello to the fishes. It was my second time there and it was much less crowded than my first visit, which made it easier to enjoy all the exhibits. We even caught a cute little 3D show full of splash and motion effects. My mom could not stop talking about how much she loved the aquarium. Our favorite room was the giant ocean view room. We just sat there and watched the whale sharks and fish schools for close to an hour. We even stayed long enough to watch the whale shark feeding. It was kind of cool; in a frenzied mess all the fishes swarmed over to try and steal a bite of krill. The aquarium presenter explained that sometimes the other fish get sucked into the whale sharks’ mouths along with the krill, but the whale sharks throats are too small to swallow them, so they end up being thrown out their gills. I imagine that might be a bit of a wild ride.

One of the weirdest sights at the aquarium was the tank above that had these little sea worms going in and out of the ground. They were really funky and made me think of the sandworms in beetljuice...haha.

Of course we had to say hello to nemo!

We couldn’t leave without seeing the penguins!

My mom treated us to a fantastic dinner one night and shared a few cooking tricks she tried to teach me when I was younger but was too distracted (with teenage woes) to comprehend. It was very special for me and reaffirmed where my love for cooking came from. I can’t believe I had forgotten how good my mom is in the kitchen. She made three different dishes at the same time, used all of her ingredients (and parts you wouldn’t think to use, i.e. bean juice), and timed everything perfectly, to be finished and still warm by dinnertime. She even had enough time to take a shower, get dressed, and doll herself up. Impressive!

One of the dishes my mom made was her famous “albondigas” or dominican meatballs. To form the meatball my mom puts a scoop of her prepared ground beef into a coffee mug and swirls it around (while dancing to some good merengue) until a perfect little ball forms. I had lots of flashbacks of my youth when she would give my brother and I our own coffee mug and encouraged us to join in this meatball forming dance. It is such a nifty little trick and works everytime!

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful mother. She may not always be perfect (or quiet), but she goes above and beyond in everything she does. She has more energy than anyone I know (except when her novelas are on...hehe...don’t mess with those), and has an extremely big heart. I miss her already.

Bye for now!

The Mrs.