Sunday, January 16, 2011
Extra, Extra!
SC residents, check your paper today - - - Our engagement announcement officially hit newsstands this morning!!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
2010 Highlights
I love blogging. It is so fun to go back and look at everything that has happened over the past year.
A tip of the hat to my favorites of 2010. . .
A tip of the hat to my favorites of 2010. . .
- I dove head first into my love for cooking
- said hello and goodbye forever to LOST (sob)
- turned 23
- went to New Orleans for Tippins' bachelorette and back again for her beautiful wedding
- continue to explore my culinary passion . . too many favorite recipes to link :)
- celebrated Dargan and Rob's wedding
- went to the Keys
- rejoiced when Lash got into medical school
- luci turned 21
- endured a kitchen remodel
- discovered couponing
- GOT ENGAGED!!!
- recapped "the" story
- picked our venues and found a dress
- celebrated five years with Lash
- honored one of my best friend's father
- continued to plan the wedding
- and enjoyed my last Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years with my maiden name
What a year it has been! Here's to another year of blogging and memories being made.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Quail in Wine
In the kitchen during the week, as much as I love to cook, I feel I sometimes get stuck in a recipe routine, keeping the same tried-and-true recipes at bay and not really branching out. This is especially more true as I've been trying to work out most days after work.
However, in 2011, I really want to branch out with try new ingredients or methodologies and take a step outside of my comfort zone. I'm fairly confident in my kitchen capabilities- my only hesitation with stepping up to the plate with this idea boils down to time and monetary constraints. Plus, I also need a built- in left-over eater- - - another perk I'm looking forward to when Lash and I get married!!
When we shot some quail on our hunt at Laurel Springs, I was really excited to experiment with some new recipes. I love quail, but gosh y'all, I never think to cook it!! The recipe below, adapted from Tea Time at the Masters, is fabulous. We cooked it Christmas day in Beaufort and served over wild rice {I just typed wice, hehehe} with a salad of craisins, toasted pine nuts, feta cheese, and a sweet vinaigrette. Enjoy!!!
Salt, pepper, and lightly dredge quail in flour. We used 4 quail, split in half.
In a skillet over medium to medium-high heat, lightly brown birds in 4 tablespoons butter and EVOO each.
Gradually add 1 cup of chicken stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Not pictured: while sauce is simmering, pour 1/2 cup dry white wine (I used chardonnay) over birds in buttered dish.
Serve over rice and go to heaven!!!
However, in 2011, I really want to branch out with try new ingredients or methodologies and take a step outside of my comfort zone. I'm fairly confident in my kitchen capabilities- my only hesitation with stepping up to the plate with this idea boils down to time and monetary constraints. Plus, I also need a built- in left-over eater- - - another perk I'm looking forward to when Lash and I get married!!
When we shot some quail on our hunt at Laurel Springs, I was really excited to experiment with some new recipes. I love quail, but gosh y'all, I never think to cook it!! The recipe below, adapted from Tea Time at the Masters, is fabulous. We cooked it Christmas day in Beaufort and served over wild rice {I just typed wice, hehehe} with a salad of craisins, toasted pine nuts, feta cheese, and a sweet vinaigrette. Enjoy!!!
Quail in Wine
Salt, pepper, and lightly dredge quail in flour. We used 4 quail, split in half.
In a skillet over medium to medium-high heat, lightly brown birds in 4 tablespoons butter and EVOO each.
Turning as needed . . . (it may help to break apart legs and breast as you are browning)
Remove quail from pan to a buttered casserole dish. In the same skillet, saute 1 diced carrot, 1 small onion, and 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms for 5 minutes.
Gradually add 1 cup of chicken stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Not pictured: while sauce is simmering, pour 1/2 cup dry white wine (I used chardonnay) over birds in buttered dish.
Pour sauce and veggies over birds, cover with foil, and bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes.
NYE at LS
We spent New Years at Laurel Spring with my family and had the best time being together. I so value the wonderful time spent there relaxing, and it truly was the best way to end 2010. I'm so thankful I had some extra PTO to burn!
I am patiently waiting on my sister and cousins to upload some pics on Facebook that I can steal (ahem), but the few I have on my own camera will have to suffice.
We went duck hunting several mornings while we were there. I used to groan at the thought of getting up at 5:30 am by choice, but considering that's only about an hour earlier than I do for work, o'dark thirty does not seem so bad these days.
Moreover, watching the sunrise of the ACE basin is one God-given blessing I will never get tired of viewing. I really wanted to take my camera, but I was terrified I'd misstep and fall in head first.
Here's a shot of some of the hunters one morning. . . This was an awesome morning.
Daddy/daughter bonding
After this pic, I'm hoping folks won't request to sign a waiver on my blog. Note: you may end up in pics with no make-up on after being in a duck pond all morning. Sorry D- at least its a small thumbnail!
Lash came and joined us Thursday to ring in the New Year and officially our wedding year! WOO HOO! We had an oyster roast Friday night, complete with quail poppers, grilled duck, and chili (yum!!). I'm embarrassed to say I was asleep by 9:30 on NYE, but when you play hard, you gotta sleep :)
Friday and Saturday, we went on long walks around the property in the morning and beautiful quail hunts in the afternoon. I was so thankful for the warmer weather over the weekend!! I loved being able to spend all day outside- so refreshing after being in an office all day everyday.
My sweet grandfather and some of the cousins Saturday afternoon.
I really wish I had some other pictures to share, but until my cousin's step up, this is it. Rest assured I did not live in camo all weekend- just a large part of it. Looking at these pictures makes me long for those days all over again. . .
Monday, January 10, 2011
Gym Woes
I joined a gym a few months ago, and it was one of the best thing I could have ever done for myself at this point in life. . . I've been feeling much more energized, sleeping better, banging out some stress, really improving my distance training, all is good.
I have had no complaints about the gym until my three last visits.
On Thursday, after circling in the parking lot for 20 minutes after work, I determined there was no spot to be found. . . which, of course, I happily blew off for one day and used it as my excuse not to exercise. However, I am really frustrated by the increased number of individuals hanging around the gym these days. Yes, I'm really excited everyone has made new years resolutions to get fit, but I am selfishly ready for February when everyone's resolutions have fallen by the wayside, and I can park my Jeep without having to feel like a vulture!
On Friday afternoon, I begrudgingly dragged myself to workout because I knew I was eating Basil (thai) for supper and I for sure had a pad thai belly coming on! Let me tell you, I firmly believe you should burn double calories just for showing up on a Friday, and triple for showing up on a Friday afternoon, but that is neither here nor there. . .
Anyways, I was on a treadmill, happily running away when all of a sudden, I got a whiff of something f.o.u.l. I was hopeful someone had just walked by that needed an extra dose of deo, but the smell permeated the air around me and would not go away. Suddenly, I felt like my throat was closing up, I was gasping for clean air, and my eyes were about to water {ok, slightly exaggerated, but not really}. When I was literally to the point of nausea, I realized it was the gentleman on the treadmill next to me who had the worse B.O. I have ever smelled in my entire life. {I have to pause for a minute to wipe the vomit off the keyboard}. It was so bad I had to move treadmills. Are you kidding me???? Grossmeout.com
Today, I was eager to bang out a long day of work on a treadmill. I was apprehensive about finding a parking spot after Thursday's no luck, but was hopeful Charleston's atrocious wintry weather would deter some gym-goers today. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, someone got into their car right where I was and I sat with my blinker on to take their spot. An Expedition pulled up on the other side as I was patiently waiting. Oh no, I thought, I was here first. I thankfully was able to get the spot, but the Expedition waited behind my car until I got out, rolled down their window in the freezing rain, and gave me their foul- language infused two cents about how rude I was, how they were there first (false), how long they had been circling, and demanded me to apologize. Y'all, this complete jackass was so rude, I started crying. Seriously. I wish I had had the nerve to snap back at this individual (I wanted to keep back in my car and ram him), but I was terrified I'd come out to slashed tires or something. He then preceded to work out a few ellipticals away from me and I was so mortified I tried to avoid making any kind of eye contact his way like the plague.
UGGGH.....
I need a clean slate with MUSC.
I have had no complaints about the gym until my three last visits.
On Thursday, after circling in the parking lot for 20 minutes after work, I determined there was no spot to be found. . . which, of course, I happily blew off for one day and used it as my excuse not to exercise. However, I am really frustrated by the increased number of individuals hanging around the gym these days. Yes, I'm really excited everyone has made new years resolutions to get fit, but I am selfishly ready for February when everyone's resolutions have fallen by the wayside, and I can park my Jeep without having to feel like a vulture!
On Friday afternoon, I begrudgingly dragged myself to workout because I knew I was eating Basil (thai) for supper and I for sure had a pad thai belly coming on! Let me tell you, I firmly believe you should burn double calories just for showing up on a Friday, and triple for showing up on a Friday afternoon, but that is neither here nor there. . .
Anyways, I was on a treadmill, happily running away when all of a sudden, I got a whiff of something f.o.u.l. I was hopeful someone had just walked by that needed an extra dose of deo, but the smell permeated the air around me and would not go away. Suddenly, I felt like my throat was closing up, I was gasping for clean air, and my eyes were about to water {ok, slightly exaggerated, but not really}. When I was literally to the point of nausea, I realized it was the gentleman on the treadmill next to me who had the worse B.O. I have ever smelled in my entire life. {I have to pause for a minute to wipe the vomit off the keyboard}. It was so bad I had to move treadmills. Are you kidding me???? Grossmeout.com
Today, I was eager to bang out a long day of work on a treadmill. I was apprehensive about finding a parking spot after Thursday's no luck, but was hopeful Charleston's atrocious wintry weather would deter some gym-goers today. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, someone got into their car right where I was and I sat with my blinker on to take their spot. An Expedition pulled up on the other side as I was patiently waiting. Oh no, I thought, I was here first. I thankfully was able to get the spot, but the Expedition waited behind my car until I got out, rolled down their window in the freezing rain, and gave me their foul- language infused two cents about how rude I was, how they were there first (false), how long they had been circling, and demanded me to apologize. Y'all, this complete jackass was so rude, I started crying. Seriously. I wish I had had the nerve to snap back at this individual (I wanted to keep back in my car and ram him), but I was terrified I'd come out to slashed tires or something. He then preceded to work out a few ellipticals away from me and I was so mortified I tried to avoid making any kind of eye contact his way like the plague.
UGGGH.....
I need a clean slate with MUSC.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
This is where my heart is
This is where we are having our wedding reception.
None of these photos have been edited. I probably could tweak the color, saturation, and lighting to really make the setting shine, but I didn't want to. I wanted you to see these photos in the original glory. . . As I saw this drop-dead gorgeous sunset through my own eyes.
This is my favorite place in the entire world.
None of these photos have been edited. I probably could tweak the color, saturation, and lighting to really make the setting shine, but I didn't want to. I wanted you to see these photos in the original glory. . . As I saw this drop-dead gorgeous sunset through my own eyes.
This is my favorite place in the entire world.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1
Monday, January 3, 2011
Back to Reality
After a lovely ten day vacation, it is finally time to jolt back to reality . . . I am so rested and motivated after the wonderful break, and yet so behind on so many different things- including my google reader which is currently at 115 unread posts!
But, in a brief glance-over this morning, I can't wait to catch up on everyone's Christmas pictures, holiday traditions, NYE plans, and 2011 resolutions. I am particularly infatuated with my favorite cooking blogs' recap of their favorite 2010 recipes. I already have 5 I can't wait to print and try!
Once I get caught up in the real world, I can't wait to post about my own lovely holidays. . . my "last" holidays per my dad.
Until then, I wish you a seamless transition back to reality and a warm welcome to 2011. . . the year I get to MARRY LASH :)
But, in a brief glance-over this morning, I can't wait to catch up on everyone's Christmas pictures, holiday traditions, NYE plans, and 2011 resolutions. I am particularly infatuated with my favorite cooking blogs' recap of their favorite 2010 recipes. I already have 5 I can't wait to print and try!
Once I get caught up in the real world, I can't wait to post about my own lovely holidays. . . my "last" holidays per my dad.
Until then, I wish you a seamless transition back to reality and a warm welcome to 2011. . . the year I get to MARRY LASH :)
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