All About "E"

{Bountiful} Baskets

2013-11-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

I talked on Monday a little about Bountiful Baskets, and I have had

a lot of you ask for more details

Bountiful Baskets is like a food co-op except you do not have to buy every single time.

They treat it as if you are donating money to get all of these wonderful fruits and vegetables.

You also have the option to participate every week or every other week.

I have only participated in Bountiful Baskets for a month now and it has been completely worth the 730am Saturday morning pick ups and what it has done to my cooking!

Here is a picture of my last pick up

I got all of that for $15.....

Bountiful Baskets is literally every where. You can check their website to see if they have a pick up spot close to you!

Signing up is very easy!

All you do is create an account, at noon Monday of your pick up week you will sign in and purchase your basket. At that time you can do any additional add-ons (Bread, Tortillas, 20 pounds of honey crisp apples or what have you).

Then you just check out like you were doing any other normal online shopping and then you will receive your confirmation of where and when to pick up your baskets!

The biggest thing to know when going to pick up your baskets is that the actual baskets stay at the sight. So you will need to bring reusable grocery bags.

And you just need to remember your confirmation!

Everyone that I have met in line and our sight volunteer have been so nice and helpful!

The main volunteer even called me after my first day to tell me how to keep all of the veggies fresh longer and to answer any questions I had!

Are any of you currently participating in Bountiful Baskets or any other food co-op?

If you are not, I would really think about it! Its too cheap not to pass up and I ALWAYS love a good deal!

Xoxo,

"E"

***I was not compensated or asked by Bountiful Baskets to do this review! I just love it too much not to share!***

My {New} Love

2013-11-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

You may think I am talking about a new purse, shoes, etc....

nope! I am talking about my new favorite fruit

Persimmons!!

(I thought these were some weird type of tomato at first...)

I recently joined Bountiful Baskets in my area.

We have been introduced to a lot of fruits and veggies I would not ever buy.

And surprisingly both of us have enjoyed all of it!

After many searches on Google and Pinterest, I finally found

THE recipe I was going to make with the persimmons I got in my last Bountiful Baskets pick up.

Persimmon Muffins

3 very ripe persimmons

1 1/2 Cups of all-purpose Flour

2/3 cup whole-wheat Flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon each of baking soda, salt, ground ginger and ground cinnamon

zest from 1 lemon

2 eggs plus 1 egg white

10 tablespoons of vegetable oil or butter

2/3 cup plain yogurt or sour cream

turbinado sugar for topping (I used Stevia)

Preheat oven to 350, line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners, cut persimmons taking the stem off and pulse in the food processor until smooth.

Combine ingredients from all-purpose flour to the lemon zest in a large bowl.

Combine eggs, vegetable oil, yogurt and blended persimmons.

Pour all of the wet ingredients into the dry and stir.

Evenly distribute batter into paper liners and cook for 22 minutes!

These are so good and even Z liked them!

The ultimate test is if he likes them!

This is the perfect sweet fall recipe that I needed this Sunday after being down all day Friday with a sinus attack and running around all day on Saturday!

How was your weekend?

Am I the only one who had no idea what a persimmon was or what to do with it?

Xoxo,

"E"

What We Have Been Up To {Wednesday}

2013-10-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

aka the longest blog post line in the world!!

First off thank you everyone for welcoming me back!

It definitely feels good to be blogging again!

Since I decided to take an extended leave from this place, we have been up to A LOT!

If you follow me on instagram (@allaboute) you have seen a little bit of it!

First off after NYC we closed on our house on 6/15!

It literally was one of our happiest days!

We went to Orange Beach!

We celebrated my sweet friend Hiedi get married!

And we celebrated my childhood bff Chelle get engaged!

We had our two house warming parties and were so excited to have everyone over!

(this is my step-dad, our favorite BBQ chef)

And now we are counting down the days until we leave for Chicago and celebrate 2 years of marriage! (9 to be exact!)

Anyone been to Chicago or live in Chicago?? What is your must do's??

Who is excited about handing out candy for the first time tomorrow??? This girl is!

I really want our house to be super scary where kids cry when their parents make them come knock on our door but I ended up liking/buying all of the cutesy Halloween decor instead of the scary!

Looks like I will have to save all the scary stuff to use on our own kids one day!

Xoxo,

"E"

{Hello} Again

2013-10-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Since I have not made a visit to this place in a good 5 months, I decided it would be best

to re-introduce myself to the blogging society...

That's me. In the black. With the bottle straight up.

Not to be confused with the lady in the back with her hand up looking like she is getting after it.

But for a better picture that will make my momma proud....

(not sure if the lady is looking at my shoes or booty)

That's more like it!

I am a lover of all things, all while having champagne taste on a Natty Light budget....

I am a small town Texas born girl who is lucky enough to call this my husband

Z is my sexy dime piece and a saint for putting up with me on a daily basis. We have almost been married for 2 years and together for 5 years. We absolutely love being married, however we have our daily struggles of me being ridiculous and him having to put me in my place and me not liking it.

I am a mother of two fur babies, the cutest you ever met in your life.

One minute we love each other the next we don't. Ace is my bulldog that I got my Junior year in college. I am honestly surprised him and I both made it out alive our first two years together. He was super wild and uncontrollable. Louie is Z's dog. (insert laughs here, we get it all the time) He bites me constantly and only wants to have something to do with me when Ace wont play with him. However, he LOOOVES Z and I let Z know on a daily basis that if he thinks no one else in the house loves him, remember Louie does.

I am a lover of family, friends and food (seriously, I gained 20+ pounds my freshman year in college off of double bacon cheese burgers from Jack in the Box). I am beyond amazed daily on how much Z and I our blessed, but I recently learned to be VERRRY specific what you pray for. I now know not to ask to not be materialistic or worried about future plans.

We recently just moved into our first house and I am loving every bit of decorating and entertaining!

I hope you will all stay around a little longer to read more about our day-to-day lives, as we try to figure out this whole marriage thing, get ready for the possible parent thing (not in the near future), travel, cook and just enjoy this time of our lives!

Xoxo,

"E"

P.S. I am sooo horrible at this whole "about me" "introduction" thing...the whole time I was writing this I kept hearing Meredith Brook singing "I'm a bitch, I'm lover, I'm a child....". That's probably not a good sign.

New York {Day} 1

2013-05-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Remember that time I didn't blog for a month and went to New York during that time and didn't tell ya??????

Yeah this post is about that!

Warning the next couple of days will be lots of pictures, so if you are like me and like picture books more than books with lots of words (aka novels) then you are in the right place!

This New York trip was to celebrate my sister Hannah's 21st birthday!

My mom (Lori Mayo), Hannah, my bff Alyssa and I took off early May 15th and headed to the BIG APPLE!!

Our limo ride from the airport to our hotel

This was lunch at the most amazing Italian food restaurant ever!

Carmines!

This delicious lunch was Parmesan shrimp and the special - mussels, clams, shrimps, and scallops!

This is little Hannie posing like Beyonce!

Times Square!

St. Patricks Cathedral

Grand Central Station

I kept waiting for my flash mob to break out with Justin Timberlake as the ring leader!

Our first subway ride!

Brooklyn Bridge

A girls favorite store.....

Allegedly...if you rub this bull's balls then you have like really good luck for the rest of your life...we may have gotten a little out of hand......no pun intended.

We had to take a picture of the Killarney Rose Bar since its the rose of Delta Zeta!

The first night in NYC we took a boat tour of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty

View of the Freedom Tower from the Hudson River - All 1776 Feet!

This was our awesome tour guide, Danny!

He sang happy birthday to Hannah and the New Yorker's loved them some Texas girls!

This was our first night out, outfits....we tried finding karaoke bars in "k-town" also known as Korean Town but had no luck!

Also, "k-town" and Koren town are not my words, there Danny's.

After looking back at our pictures now, I can't believe all that we did in ONE day!

I am starting to see why my feet are still hurting....

Xoxo,

"E"

Recipe of the {Week}

2013-05-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

So I don't know about everyone else, but breakfast and lunch are my two toughest meals.

I can plan a week of dinners, but when it comes to breakfast/lunch I get stumped.

Normally in the mornings I am screeching out of the house on one foot and hauling bootay to work because late is my middle name.

So, for me to be able to eat anything in the morning it has to be quick and fast.

(that's what she said)

Well insert a very yummy VERY healthy egg casserole and your problem is fixed!

Egg Casserole

1/2 pound light turkey sausage

1 cup chopped spinach

12 eggs

Crack all 12 eggs in a 9 X 13 pan

Sprinkle in your chopped spinach and half pound of uncooked turkey sausage.

Add seasonings - I did salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Cook for 25 minutes at 375 and enjoy!

I cooked the casserole on Saturday night and then cut it into 12 servings on Sunday morning.

This casserole is very good, but its even better with chopped avocado and salsa on top!

Its even better if you sprinkle some Cajun seasoning on it!

I stumbled upon this recipe when I stumbled upon A Beautiful Mess blog!

Stephanie's blog is so good AND she has great recipes!

Definitely go check her out if you have not already!

Xoxo,

"E"

Becoming a {Home}

2013-04-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

I seriously wish I could insert a loud

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

here.

Our house is starting to look like a home!

We were so excited to go by on Friday and see brick!

We went by again on Sunday and the whole left side of our house is bricked!

We definitely have weeks to go before it is ready, but our builder told us this past week that in the next two weeks we should have flooring (except hardwood), paint, cabinets and trim!

We spent a good hour or so out at our house on Sunday and it is just such an amazing experience to walk into this house and think its going to be ours!

I am so proud of Z and I for working hard to get to do this!

My party planning mode is already kicking in!!!

Xoxo,

"E"

Our {Weekend}

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Friday was a very blah normal day, other than getting a ticket, yes a ticket Friday night our night was very uneventful. (I would like to say that "allegedly" I was going 48 in a 30....I have not had a ticket in almost 9 years!)

Saturday we were up early to drive an hour to get a table I found for a hellova good deal on Craigslist.

The pictures do not do it justice - but I got this little gem for $175 and the similar table I wanted from World Market was $700 - that is success to me!

Craigslist is my new serious addiction - we are currently out of room to store anything else or I probably would be going crazy!

Saturday night we went to see Pain & Gain

Seriously save your $50 it will cost for you and your man to go to the movie and just rent it from redbox for $1. All of the funny parts are in the previews and the movie is not a comedy....

Sunday after church we got to go to a Play Day at Texas Rangers Stadium!

View from the press box

The opposing teams media coverage

More press box

Rangers locker room that we definitely did not get to go in! Outside pictures only!

Tunnel where the Rangers go to the field

Good luck charm!

And another!

We took this same picture during our engagement pictures!

Rangers dugout!

Outside of the Rangers interview room!

Batting Cages!

This may surprise you (since I look like a professional) but I have never played baseball or softball.

Doesn't he look sexy!!?!?!?!

We had such a fun day and it was all for a good cause!

This was the kickoff for Reagan's Wish Foundation!

Sundays around our house are becoming a very busy day!

How was your weekend?

If anyone wants to say they got a speeding ticket as well this weekend, it would make me feel a little better!

Xoxo,

"E"

{Our} Weekend

2013-04-23T07:55:00.001-05:00

Happy Happy Tuesday!!!

I am a day behind posting about our weekend, but in my defense I got soooooo

wrapped up on Sunday looking at furniture online.

I am officially a Craigslist junkie....

Our weekend was very fun and very relaxed, a nice change from how crazy our lives have been the past couple of weeks!

Friday we got to enjoy a night with friends we had not seen in a while!

It was so great to catch up with them!

This was the patio we enjoyed on Friday night!

The band was SO good!

Saturday we were up at 630am!

Z had a golf tournament and if he is up early that means I am too!

Can anyone else not sleep when your spouse is gone?!?!

I got to spend the day with my friend Whitney, who I had not seen or hung out with in forever! We had so much fun chatting, shopping, eating and then me realizing I had spent too much money!

After shopping I spent the day outside with my puppies enjoying the sun!

(Ace's 2nd favorite thing to do besides eat...lay out)

(My new Texas necklace!! I was so excited to find this!)

Sunday after church Z and I had a very busy Sunday Funday!

After more shopping, more eating and dragging Z to a ton of furniture stores,

we went to the Main Street Arts Festival in Fort Worth.

The festival always brings very good people watching!

(This was my favorite piece of art!)

And like I said I spent the rest of my Sunday glued to Craigslist!

How was your weekend?

Did anyone else get to enjoy the beautiful weather on Saturday?

Xoxo,

"E"

3 {Years} Ago....

2013-04-19T07:57:00.000-05:00

Three years ago I purchased my first home...

In those three years I got a roommate (My husband of course!), got engaged, married, we got our 2nd puppy, hosted parties, holidays, 2 Christmas's and celebrated our 1 year anniversary.

It was definitely a little bitter sweet on Wednesday moving out the very last of our things. However, I know that in our next home we will make even more memories to make it ours!

We are so excited about the next "chapter" in our lives....

(This is Z signing our closing papers, he was doing the "Erin" smile)

Currently this chapter begins in a rent home that looks like a tornado came through, also known as 2 dogs (Ace and Louie) and all of our "crap".

We received some AMAZING news this week that we are officially 60 days away from our home being completed!!!!

So fingers crossed we are moving in mid June!

Xoxo,

"E"

{Celebrations}

2013-04-15T07:47:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was my little sisters 21 first birthday AND her ring dunk at A&M!!!!

(We finally get to start planning our NYC trip that is less than a month away!!)

For those who do not know the Aggie traditions (which is easy because they have a TON) when a student becomes a senior they get their class ring!

Once you have your class ring you "dunk" it in a pitcher of beer and then chug!

Hannah ready to dunk her ring!

The Stage where they dunked!

Dropping her ring in!!

And she finished!!!

My Parents and sister!

Z, Hannah and me!

Our Cousins, Bret and Katie and Hannah!

We had so much fun seeing all of the girls dunk their rings!

Only one more year and we get to see Hannah graduate!!

Xoxo,

"E"

I {Need} Big Things....

2013-04-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Z is fully convinced that I need big events or something to look forward/work towards to keep me occupied. Now, that may be right, but who am I to let my husband think he is right ALL the time!

Since college I have had BIG events to look forward too....

May 2009 - Graduated College

July 2009 - Got my first big kid job

January 2010 - Bought my first home

November 2010 - Got engaged to the most amazing man...have you heard of him?

November 2011 - Got Married!!!!

2012 was a horrible year and everything was an event!

2013 - Z and I both got new jobs!

February 2013 - Listed our house

February 2013 - Sold our house

April - July 2013 - Anxiously waiting for OUR FIRST HOME TO BE COMPLETED!!!

We are so excited and Z even agreed to some pictures!

This is looking at our future fireplace!

My future kitchen...and I say MINE because its my favorite place in the house!

We have had so much fun picking out paint colors and looking at the furniture we will be purchasing for our new home!!

Now if my nerves can last until July....

Xoxo,

"E"

PS. Welcome new readers and thank you current readers for hanging out during my hiatus! I promise this will never happen again! Like I said nerves and stress are the craziest thing and I working on not letting it make me crazier than I already am!

{Thankful}

2013-03-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

(unknown)

One thing about having a weekend and week ruined because of someones stupid decision, is looking for the positive.

Z and I are very blessed and thankful for everything that God does for us.

We both know how undeserving we are.

I am thankful.....

For having a husband that loves me unconditionally

For the amazing family we have, Z's and mine, that supports us with each decision

For having a roof over our head

For selling our home and having a friend rent us her home.

For having jobs that we get to go to everyday

For having friends who we couldn't live without

I am thankful for another day that was not promised.

(unknown)

Xoxo,

"E"

Shopping {Spree}

2013-03-11T07:56:00.000-05:00

I wish that the shopping spree my blog title is referring too had to do with me winning this AMAZING prize and getting to go shopping on my birthday weekend.

However, it was not me that got to go on a shopping spree, it was the scumbags who stole my identity my birthday weekend and opened 6 credit cards, that I know of currently.

I came home Saturday to check our mail and was very surprised to have 3 brand new credit cards in my name that I did not sign up for!

As of right now the only card they actually used was the Target credit card.

They bought $450 in thong panties....

I am not sure I have purchases $450 worth of panties in the 26 years I have been alive....

Saturday I had to call all of the credit card companies and report fraud, call the 3 credit bureaus and file a police report.

The only good thing that I see coming out of this, is that they may actually get caught. These people are actually shopping in the town I live in!

Thankfully Target has security cameras that they are going to release to the police so that they can get pictures of what the people look like.

I am so disgusted that people actually take someones personal information and use it to steal not only from the person whose information they are using illegally but from the stores that they are getting these credit cards from.

I honestly hope these people get hit by the city bus that they use as transportation or that I get to punch them in the throat......

Has this ever happened to any of you?

Here is to a better week - or at least trying to make it a better week.

Xoxo,

"E"

A {Little} Extravaganza

2013-03-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

***warning - picture overload***

This past weekend was my big ~~18th~~ 26th birthday!

I didn't even cry, not once about turning 26!

BIG HUGE accomplishment for me and my sweet husband definitely made it such a wonderful weekend full of surprises that I couldn't do

anything but enjoy turning 26!

Friday we left our fur babies with their grandparents for the entire weekend, we definitely felt like we were those parents who have no idea what to do with out their children around...(or at least I think that's what it felt like)

So we did what every crazy parent does on a Friday night without their kids...drink 2 beers out of a 12 pack and call it a night.

#winning

Saturday we were up early and headed to the BIG D and I don't mean divorce...

(like how I changed up that one country song???)

Our first stop was the new Perot Museum

Z checking out what it looks like to hunt at night like a bird

Of course there had to be a tornado...

and there had to a whole floor about drilling for oil....

This guy was scary to take a picture of and he is dead!

Our favorite part of the museum was experiencing an earthquake...not a real one of course, we got to stand on a platform that shakes the same way a very extreme earthquake does. I have never experience a real earthquake but I would for sure die from a heart attack if the ground was moving like that!

Then we made a pit stop at Sfuzzi's

I ordered a mimosa and we shared a pizza with a fried egg on it!

The pizza was SOOOO GOOD and that carafe in the background, was the carafe of champagne they brought me....let's just say I am not one to day drink and be able to function.

I had to fight through it....

Next stop the Dallas Aquarium

This is a shark in a tunnel you walk through...he kept laying on the glass showing everyone his belly

Our favorite part of the aquarium was seeing all of the different fish, sharks, and the flamingos!!

Also, we thoroughly enjoyed watching a mother yell and shove her children so that she could get a self picture against a brick wall....

After the aquarium we headed to the mall, because you can't go to Dallas and not go to North Park!

I got so lucky at their 2 story Forever21!

2 shirts, pants, dress, 2 bracelets and necklace for $100 score!

And of course I needed my cake and to eat it too...except this cake is so good we stood in line and comes in the form of Sprinkles Cupcakes!

My favorite is the Banana Cupcake with chocolate frosting!

Our last stop of the night was to dinner at a super trendy restaurant called Saint Ann's (Dallas filmed a scene there!)

When we walk in I see my bff Alyssa and her man Chase!

And I cried....so I may have lied before.

But it's my party and I will cry if I want to, damn it!

Z did such a good job of keeping the whole day a secret and even not letting it out that Alyssa and Chase were meeting us for dinner....

I am a pretty lucky girl!

Xoxo,

"E"

I {Need} Some Salt on Rim, Rim

2013-02-25T08:08:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday Er'Body!!!

I am very much in a hood mood this morning, I even got my

post title from a Nikki Minage rap rant!

And by hood mood I mean I just want to listen to Rianna's new song, the only part I know is "I still got my money..."

moving on....

We had a super busy weekend

I do like having a bunch to do, but I do love my weekends of laying around watching SOA all day long with my man and puppies!

Friday after getting spray tanned (finally) we celebrated the greatest day in the whole wide world...

NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY!!

I don't really need an excuse to drink a marg....

Saturday I ran errands with Alyssa to get ready for her engagement party!

Here are some of the highlights from the night....

(Little too much fun with the brides grandma!)

Sunday we wanted a relaxing day, but our house showed 4 times yesterday!!!

We had a lot of fun driving around with the puppies!

Hoping we will be receiving some good news from one of those buyers!!!

How was your weekend??

Xoxo,

"E"

My {Birthday} Wish list

2013-02-19T07:43:00.001-06:00

So....I know that I said I was not looking forward to turning 26 HOWEVER

I NEVER said I didn't want the presents!

Here are some of the current items I am lusting over and that I wouldn't mind receiving on my birthday..March 3rd (just for you who couldn't remember)

I am currently drooling over two purses...one a little bit more expensive than the other.

Michael Kors studded bag

Ily Couture Nude Tote

Ily Couture Basilissa - Pave Bracelet

3 monogrammed necklace - EGM

Kendra Scott Earrings

Steve Madden Nude Bow Heels

And last but not least - Celine Sunglasses

See so my birthday wish list is not that crazy!

I mean its called a wish list for a reason!

Do you have anything on your fashion radar you are lusting over?

Xoxo,

"E"

{Our} Weekend

2013-02-18T07:54:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday!!!!

I know that normally Mondays are not a happy day, however this week is a big week in the Gillean household - any prayers are very much welcomed!

Friday night Z and I had Valentine's Date part 2, thanks to my grandparents for the Salt Grass gift card for Christmas we enjoyed a nice dinner on them!

Perfect date is a free one!!

Saturday we were up at 630am, again...I am starting to see that we will probably not ever get to sleep in EVER again!

BUT I did get to snuggle with my fur baby for a little bit!

(only a face a mother could love!)

I also got to start a new book!

I only got through chapter one....I am trying to prep myself for the flood gates that will open from reading this book. I mean I cried like a baby when I read Marley and Me.

Saturday was also Shayna's first wedding shower!

She looks absolutely beautiful in her white dress and cowboy boots!!

And she didn't even mind that the gift I got her was in a horrible beat up box!

Definitely check out her blog this week because I know she is going to have pictures of how AMAZING the hostesses did with decorating!

Saturday night I went out with my bff Alyssa (who is also getting married this year!) and her other 2 bridesmaids to kick off the wedding festivities!!

It was so nice to meet the other two girls and we had such a blast! If my camera had not crapped out on me during Shayna's wedding shower I would have documentation of how much fun we had!

Sunday Z and I just spent the day with each other and running errands!

How was your weekend?

Hope you all have an AMAZING week and welcome to all of my new followers!

Xoxo,

"E"

Wednesday {Confessional}

2013-02-13T07:57:00.005-06:00

I confess....

~That having our house listed is exciting and stressful all at the same time and its only been a week.

~That cleaning house every morning is for the birds, so if someone could buy our home real quick that would be GREAT!

~That my 25th birthday was horrible in more ways than one, I cried like a 2 year old. But hey, its my party and I can cry if I want too, right?

~26 is looking like it will be better than 25, even though I have already had a breakdown about turning 26.

~That I am soooooo ANGRY with myself for cutting my hair! I about have a breakdown every morning because I feel like my hair and makeup are a hot mess....

~That the ombre may have been soooooooo last season, but this girl is getting it again and very soon!

~That my Sundays have been consumed with Son's of Anarchy and this man...

~That having a no buy January was not such a great idea after all...I just want to go crazy in the mall and buy lots of clothes!

~That in January I already told my mom, my husband and my in-laws what I would like for my birthday....old habits die hard.

~That booking our vacation to Orange Beach, AL for the second week in July has really helped me put my workouts in high gear.

~That by putting my workouts in high gear I mean putting my speed on the treadmill from 5.0 to 5.3 while running.

~That a horrible trait I have is noticing married people not wearing their wedding rings and then in my mind trying to figure out what is wrong with their marriage.

~That not having my wedding ring for a week has made me super nervous that people think I am headed for divorce...Sam Moon fake wedding rings here I come!

~That after 14 months of being married I am FINALLY getting started this weekend on what pictures I want our photographer to put in our wedding album....FINALLY.

Xoxo,

"E"

Our {Weekend}

2013-02-12T07:56:00.001-06:00

Happy ~~Monday~~ Tuesday!

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Ours was jam pack full!

Friday, Z and Alyssa planned a date night for all of us and we went to the ghetto movie tavern for dinner and a movie!

Now I am not saying ghetto like its a bad thing...the movie tickets were only $6 and they had $9 pitchers..that is a winner in our book!

We saw Identity Theft

This movie was so funny, we all enjoyed all of the one liners (that I can't remember at this moment however my husband remembers them 1 hour after seeing the movie)

Saturday we were up at 630am...yes you read that right 630 AM

We had a very busy day of oil changes, golf lessons, cleaning house, OUR HOUSE SHOWING 2 TIMES!!! and a little date day with our fur babies in Dallas!

I had this grand idea that we would take our fur babies walking on the Katy Trail (a really cool running trail in Dallas were you could possibly see a shirtless Troy Aikman...he may be old enough to be my dad but I still think that silver fox is sexy!) however the Texas weather had other plans for us!

Since it was so chilly we just decided to skip the walking and go straight for the adult beverages and loaded queso at the Katy Trail Ice House..I mean who wouldn't??

(This Summer Beer - Blue Moon, Vodka and Lemonade - I have to learn to make this!)

(The very cool scenery - and the group of cool kids who were talking very loudly about the multiply units of X they had taken...is that normal?)

(Our yummy loaded queso!)

Surprisingly our fur babies did so good and just sat underneath our table like good children should!

Sunday consisted of this ALL.DAY.LONG.

They slept as close as possible to me and I watched 50 episodes of Son's of Anarchy!

How was your weekend?

Did anyone go see Identity Theft?

Xoxo,

"E"

And So {It} Happened

2013-02-05T07:58:00.000-06:00

I quit my job to move to New York to ice cupcakes every morning and walk dogs every night.

The.End.

Well, only the first part of that sentence is right...I quit my job.

I stayed in the same industry, title, but I have moved companies and towns!

I am now working for a title company in Weatherford, which if you are not from this area means nothing to you.

This was definitely a move that took a lot of praying, talking to Z and my mom and lots of interviewing.

In one week I interviewed 6 times with 3 different companies. Obviously I have not been in the work field that long, however that is the most I have ever been interviewed IN MY LIFE!

I did a post here, in December how I had gotten a promotion and I was so excited, etc.

However, that was all good in theory but just the logistics of everything was not worked out and/or thought of when I was made the offer.

I fully believe that if you are going to be successful in any business, you need to plan on being successful because you worked for it and not because you depended on everyone else to do it for you.

I am very excited about the new company and the ladies I will be working with. They have an amazing team and are truly a team.

So only one change in 2013 of many more to come and it looks like it is going to be a lot better than 2012 was to us!

Xoxo,

"E"

Our {Weekend}

2013-02-04T07:51:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday!!!

I am so happy that January is OVER! That had to be the LONGEST

month of my life!

No go out/no shopping is still in affect for February, however we have a lot of events

going on each weekend.

Which if we are busy then I can't even THINK about shopping!

Friday was a VERY BIG day...

let's see, I had a pedi scheduled with some friends (which I almost passed out/threw up becaues my skinny jeans were cutting the circulation off at my knees. I have to remember either shorts or easy to pull up pants for pedis!)

And then Friday I also quit my job...

wait, what???

yes you read that right!

(more to come tomorrow)

Saturday I woke up bright and early, and went shopping with a friend to help her pick out outfits and staple pieces.

We started at Clothes Mentor

This is a new resale shop in Fort Worth, not sure where they are all located. But I was very impressed with their selection and how organized they were.

I used to be a Plato's Closet junkie, but in the last couple of years they have not had anything good.

Z and I also go our taxes done on Saturday!

We were so happy and excited about our return we are getting, Z treated me to 2 for $20 at Chili's....we even had a $10 gift card!

Best.Date.Night.Ever.

Sunday included Church, working out and cooking for the Super Bowl!

We spent the Super Bowl aka the Beyonce watching party with some of Z's friends. It was such a good time AND all of the wives are just as big of Beyonce fans as I am.

We even convinced the guys to watch Beyonce rock it for a second time during the power outage!

I think I burned 500 calories just watching her dance as awesome as she did!

If the Destiny's Child onstage reunion is a hint that there may be a concert in the near future,

COUNT ME IN!

My bff, Alyssa, and I may already have our Destiny's Child outfits planned.....

How was your weekend?

What did you think about Beyonce's performance?

And by asking what you thought of her performance, I mean if you didn't think it was the greatest thing on earth.....then don't leave a comment.

(joking...sort of)

{Recipe} Of The Week

2013-01-30T07:23:00.000-06:00

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey meat

3/4 Cup equal parts diced onion, celery and green bell pepper

2 cloves of garlic minced

2 (10.75 oz) cans tomato puree

1 (15 oz) can kidney beans with liquid

1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans with liquid

1/2 tablespoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon equal parts dried basil and dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon chili sauce

evenly brown the ground turkey - drain grease from skillet

add onion, celery and bell pepper to the slow cooker and then top with ground turkey

add tomato puree, beans and garlic to slow cooker

Then season with oregano, parsley, basil, chili powder and chili sauce

mix all ingredients together

cook on low for 8 hours

and ENJOY!

I also cooked the box corn bread to add with our chili - that was Z's highlight of the evening!

This recipe was adapted from here - I made the changes of only using 2 cans of beans, ground turkey meat and more chili sauce.

This chili is really good and definitely hit the spot this past weekend!

I also, love any excuse to cook using my crock pot!

Xoxo,

"E"

PS. If you are not using crock pot bags you are missing out! easiest clean up in the world!

Friday {Favs}

2013-01-25T07:06:00.001-06:00

My run outside was awesome, even if it made my allergies kick into high gear

Fresh flowers around our house

The best smelling bath soap and lotion from my BFF for Christmas

The BEST CUTEST way to get asked to be my BFF's Matron of Honor

Seeing this number finally on the scale after really trying with my eating and working out this month

4 pounds down 5.5 to go

And lastly being so excited about my purchases at Lowe's because.........

We are listing our house next week!!!!!

What were your favorite things this week?

Xoxo,

"E"

{Oh} You Shouldn't Have....

2013-01-23T07:58:00.000-06:00

...but I am glad you did!

Thanks to Jessica from Dream Mo(o)re, I've received:

Thank you so much Jessica for the award! I am so excited!

You can read about her award here. And check out her blog here!

7 things about me:

I just celebrated my 1 year wedding anniversary in November to this handsome guy....

We have two fur babies that run our home and lives named Ace and Louie

Wine is my drink of choice....red, white, cold or room temperature it doesn't matter
I have the appetite of a man - meat lovers pizza, steak and potatoes, and deep fried chili cheese dogs are my favorite.
I am currently obsessed with Son's of Anarchy and Jax Teller. Even my husband notices.
Warm chocolate chip cookies with mint chocolate chip ice cream on top is my favorite dessert!
I am about to start my 2nd month of no buying aka no impulse buys.....Lord be with me....

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award (of course).

2. Include a link to their blog.

3. Select 15 blogs/bloggers that you've discovered recently or follow regularly.

4. Nominate those 15 bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award (include a link back to your post!)

5. Finally tell the people you nominated (& other blog readers) 7 things about yourself.

Since I sometimes don't like to follow the rules, I nominate everyone!

I had such a good time with this and it was something different!

So what are 7 things about you I don't know?

Xoxo,

"E"