Fallen Souffle

So I have been debating whether or not to even write this post but feel like I might as well put it out there as this is the real me and I am no longer ashamed. So much has been going on the last 7 months or so and it’s time to come clean with it. I am currently separated from my husband. I am about 5 months away from being divorced. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be someone to get a divorce. I come from a long line of happily married family members including my parents who are about to celebrate 30 years! However, sometimes life throws you a curveball and forces you to deal with it. So at the end of October I bought my townhouse-which I love- and moved to Raleigh with a room mate. The room mate has thrown me another curveball and is unexpectedly moving out this month. So now I feel like I am starting over again as I have to buy new furniture and deal with my finances in a totally different way. In the meantime, I put on some weight, nothing major but enough to not feel like “myself” hence the reason for the Abs Diet. While that was a great starting point, I have concentrated alot on “cleaning up” my diet, lifting weights, running more, and mountain biking. I just did a 5k this weekend and have decided to run a 10k in two weeks. Maybe I will get the guts to run a marathon by the end of the year. I’m pretty excited to be getting my life back on track, in more ways that one. I have started to see someone, which is always scary when coming off a break up, especially a marriage, but I have trust and faith in myself and am tired of having my life on hold for other people. I have the awesome support of my family and friends which have helped me tremendously through the past 7-8 months.

So that’s why there was a 2 month hiatus, that’s why I am cooking different foods, working out more, and chopping off 8 inches of hair :). I am concentrating on myself and it’s sad that it took an event like this to really focus on my well being. I am doing things now that I love to do; trying new restaurants, going to art galleries, taking long walks with Bella, and planning some really fun trips (Alaska in 3 months!) so life is definitely not boring!

Whew- feels good to get that off my chest…now back to our regularly schedules recipes…..

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I am taking on the challenge. After an expensive Christmas, an unexpected vet bill, new ski boots and a sofa bed…it’s time to stop spending money. I have a freezer and pantry stuffed with food, my closets are in disarray and I still have a box of paperwork that need to be sorted through. It’s time to get my butt into gear! So after I pick up a prescription at lunch, it’s no more spending until Tuesday! Yes Tuesday because I have Monday off and I figured why not go that extra day. I am secretly excited about this challenge because I plan to do things I haven’t had time to do because I was too busy shopping!

On the list include:
-Make Bella new dog beds
-Bake bread
-Make cinnamon rolls
-Organize outside utility closet
-Get clothes ready to donate/consign
-Steam clean carpets

There will also be some working out, dog walking, house cleaning and movie/DVR watching.

So there will be lots of cooking and lots of new recipes coming your way!

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How lucky was I to receive a wonderful package form Lydia over at The Perfect Pantry! I was having a glum sort of day, but nothing perks me up like a big package waiting for me in the kitchen- maybe that’s why I sign up for so many samples

I saw it was sent from Rhode Island and got even more excited because I have become absolutely obsessed with New England. I opened the box first read her letter in which she details the items and why she loves them. She included in the package an apple spice cake which is perfectly spiced and moist and fluffy, also a can of Autocrat coffee, a container of Del’s Lemonade which I was told is a summer staple, and coffee syrup! I was so stoked about this because I have seen this on Food Network and have been intrigued by it…well now I get to try it for myself!

She also included a package of note cards which she worked on with a local artist which benefit the project Will Paint for Food. I love that these cards are beautiful and are for a good cause! Best of luck to Lydia and Shawn Kenney on this project!

Thanks again to our wonderful hostess for doing a wonderful job once again and thanks so much to Lydia for the lovely package!

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I have been nominated for a Blogger’s Choice Award in the category Best Food Blog! Wow, crazy that someone noticed my lil site

There are a ton of other blogs nominated and it’s awesome to be recognized but vote for me if you have a chance! You do have to register but it is quick and painless I promise. Click here to vote!

And I promise I will update this weekend, I have quite a few new recipes to post, it has just been a crazy week and it took me all week to recover from a weekend trip to Seattle! Oh and it is triple coupon weekend at Harris Teeter so I have been busy getting all of my deals lined up!

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I saw a piece on the Today Show this morning that really got my attention. It was about reducing the amount of junk mail you get. Evan and I get a tremendous amount of credit card offers and other annoying things that just end up in the trash. The whole story is here, but the most useful site was this one which will end the majority of our junk which are those pesky pre-approved credit card offers, which can also be very dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. So do yourself a favor and fill out the opt-out form which will keep you from getting these offers for 5 years. You will need to do this for each person in your household and if you are recently married I would fill one out for your maiden name as well.

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Yesterday I lost something that has been near and dear to me since my first semester in college…my Faithful Honda.  Bought in December of 1999 we have had many adventures together; a trip to Jacksonville FL with 4 guys, a whirlwind college football weekend to Clemson and Tennessee, visits to the best friend in DC and ofcourse countless trips to Va Beach.  She was a good car, if not a little finicky in the end.  However she now belongs to a wonderful lady who is a foster Mom…I just hope she does well for her as she did for me.

On a side note, the lady that bought the car was just as sweet as could be.  In driving over to get the title notarized, she was talking with  and asked if we had kids.  He replied we didn’t, just our dogs for now.  The lady responded saying she used to think that people that didn’t have kids were selfish, but she didn’t believe that now.  She urged him to enjoy our time together and not rush things.  I just wanted to hug her after he told me that.  So many people ask us when we are having kids, I have never felt so pressured to do something!  Luckily, and actually ironically, we feel no pressure from either set of our parents, they also urge us to enjoy each other now and do it when we are ready. Spoken by truly wise people

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I borrowed this from Shannon and since I haven’t posted anything like this before on here…thought I would give it a whirl.

Are you…
1. a cuddler? yes, for a short period of time only, then I get hot
2. a morning person? only after I have coffee
3. are you a perfectionist? YES, it’s detrimental
4. talented? in more ways than you know
5. religious? I call myself spiritual
6. in your pajamas? not yet
7. left handed? no

Last:
1. friend you saw: Katie, Anne, Sarah and Danielle from the bakery
2. phoned: a client
3. sent text: Evan
4. received text: Scottie
5. message over myspace: Vivek I think
6. instant message: Evan or Steph

LAST NIGHT:
1. wore: to bed? PJ’s
2. last night was: awesome…girl’s night
3. got any plans: plans?

Favorite:
1. number: 2 i guess, what is really the point of a favorite number?
2. color: right now? pink and black
3. season: spring

Currently:
1. missing: the fam
2. needing: thicker socks…why are my toes always cold?
3. wanting: a chocolate chip cookie

q’s and a’s
q: first thing you did this morning: made coffee
q: Last thing you ate: a slice of lemon yogurt poundcake
q: Do you have anything bothering you? work stress…but it’s a good kind of stress
q: What’s the last movie you saw?: DVD: The Break Up (terrible), Theater: The Departed (awesome)
q: Where is the last place you went? work and the thrift store at lunch
q: Do you wish upon stars? shooting stars, yes
q: Are you a friendly person?: ofcourse
q: Where did you sleep last night?: my bed
q: What color shirt are you wearing? rose
q: When was the last time you really cried? I had a little cry yesterday about work, an ugly cry at last week’s Grey’s Anatomy
q: What was your last thought before you went to sleep last night? some affiliates really suck
q: What are you about to do? get ready for bed
q: If you could drink anything right this second, what would it be? red wine
q: What’s your job position called? Merchant Account Representative and Kick Ass Wife
q: What’s your favorite month(s)? December because of Christmas!
q: What was your elementary schools mascot? I’m a College Park Cougar!
q: what’s your favorite bottled water? whatever…I’m not picky
q: What were you doing at 9pm last night? having another martini
q: Did you attend your high school prom? yes
q: Did you go to someone else’s prom? yeah, a did a favor for a friend and went with one of her friends…it was interesting to say the least
q: Do you prefer coffee or tea? coffee in the morning, tea the rest of the day
q: Something red within 5 feet? NC State blanket on me
q: How much french do you know? Je parle le puits français.
q: Ever crash a car, been in an accident? I was crashed into once
q: Do you look good in yellow? in the summer when I have a bit of color
q: Do you sing? my Sister and I sing together all the time, especially in the car to rap songs
q: Ever sing in public? uh no…that would be bad
q: Least favorite color? hunter green
q: Ever had dippin dots? I have had a sample when they used to give them out at the mall
q: How many driving tickets have you had? 2 speeding tickets withing 4 months when I was a freshman in college
q: Do you own your own house? yes
q: At what age do you want to get married? I was 23
q: Have you ever been married? well I am still married to Evan…that’s pretty good
q: How many kids do you have/want? none yet, maybe 2 or 3
q: Do you like anyone right now? I like Evan

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Look at all the goodies! Totally worth the wait!

I have had an extended Blogging by Mail experience with my package coming from Singapore! How cool! Nani was such a sweetie and first contacted me back in September I want to say, asking if I wanted anything in particular. I told her I was open to anything but I especially loved baking. She kept me up to date on the package’s whereabouts; as I would not be receiving it within the normal time constraints due to our distance, but lo and behold the first package was lost! Though she quickly let me know and sent out ANOTHER package for me, this time by air. Wow, was I excited when Evan told me Friday that a package from Singapore has arrived! It was all he could do to wait until I got home!

Evan grabbed this instantly out of the box…they won’t last the weekend!

Nani was so gracious to include quite an assortment of goodies including tea, chocolates, flavored gelatin (with molds!, flavorings for rice and noodles, even mackeral steaks! I really can’t wait to try everything and I am so thankful to Nani for sharing her cuisine with Evan and I!

Thanks also to Stephanie for hosting another great Blogging by Mail!

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I was so thrilled to come home and find that a package had arrived. No it wasn’t another Amazon order, it was my Blogging by Mail package from Heather in Kansas! I was excited to find out that she sent me a couple of the goodies that she will be making for family and friends this year including Guinness brownies, browned butter cookies, and Toffee…yum! I also received a package of pancake/waffle mix, some candy coated sunflower seeds, and ornament and the recipes!

Thanks so much to Heather over at Eating4One.blogpost.com for a lovely package!

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Evan entered one of his photos into a Shutterfly photo contest, it’s from our honeymoon when we stopped in Grenada and I absolutely love it…so vote for us here!

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