Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

I can't believe there are only 3 days left, including today, in 2010.  Where did the time go?  2010 was marked with a lot of growth and fulfillment, as well as very hard times.  It was my first full year of teaching (although I started in 2009), my first full year of being married to my wonderful husband in which we also celebrated our first wedding anniversary, and my first full year in my home (which I am still trying to decorate!).  I've had wonderful relationships grow and found people who I feel will be a part of me and my husbands lives forever. Sadly, I've also had people leave my life for whatever reason.  I've had family who left, come back to stay.  I've helped family celebrate big milestones (turning 50).  My husband and I finally got to go away together (Oct. beach trip).  I found out that I am becoming a stronger person and somehow overcoming physical ailments I have suffered from.  My husband and I bought a new car (his dream car).  The biggest thing I am taking away from 2010, is to not dwell on the negative, only to think about it long enough to know how to turn it into a positive. I will try not to worry about the little things and over-stress/over-anaylize because that does more harm than good.  Everything happens for a reason in our lives!

I've been looking forward to 2011 though.  The start of a new year means the beginning of new memories and a chance to make new resolutions and goals.  My resolution is pretty much the same as it always is, to be more healthy as a whole person which includes a lot of things.  I've already been thinking about this coming summer and some things that I want to accomplish with my time off of work, even though I might work part time again.  This year I want to work out at least every other day (this includes the other months too, not just summer!), I want to volunteer somewhere, I want to take a class of some sort at least once a week or every other week, have game nights, do a few beach trips, decorate more, and a couple of other more personal things.  Those I guess are more of my goals than my resolutions.  Although, I could sum it up as "to be more accomplished" and state it as a resolution.  Either way, the start of each new year is a a chance for us to start over in a way, to grow more as a person, to take a chance and reflect on the past year, and to become more happier.  What are some of your resolutions/goals?  What in 2010 was good for you?

Holiday Decor and More

Whoa, what a busy month this has been!  Between work, snow, getting ready for Christmas, my husbands birthday, my moms birthday, and all of the other daily stuff that comes along, it has been non-stop!  Anyways, I finally have just about every done!  I have biscuits in the oven now as I type... hopefully not burning! haha

I didn't want to spend another fortune this year on decorations, so I was trying to be "creative" once again.  I was a VIP customer to Michael's, AC Moore and then received a few things from mom.  Here are the results of a lot of hard work but I really like how it all turned out!


                                                                Tree in our bedroom

Tree in our dining area thanks to my mom. "The beach tree".

                                      Presents.  I love monograms and got this idea from InStyle Magazine, the one with Carrie Underwood on the cover!  

Staircase going upstairs.. remember the Fall decor that was once there? We also painted the front wall in the picture.

                Main tree or "the big tree".  I tried to incorporate all of the colors on this level of the house...

     Wreath on front door.  I did have a before picture of this but not sure where it went. hmm. Anyways, it was a red berry wreath, now silver and gold thanks to lots of spray paint layers.

I found this idea on the internet... wish I could tell you what website but it has slipped my mind.  We finally decided to hang it at the entrance to our upstairs.

Dining table.  This picture came out dark.  I wanted it very simple so there wouldn't be a lot of clutter to remove before eating.  

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is a program through Samaritan's Purse that strives to make sure children this holiday season have a Christmas gift to open.  The church that we usually attend is involved with this and asked the members to help with the mission.  We packed a box (shoe box size) and filled it with toys and hygiene products for a boy.  The boxes that were filled will be sent to a packing location and shipped off to give to children in need.  To create your own box visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/
to get all the details.

Upcoming Projects!

I'm very excited.  There will be lots of projects going on around the house soon.  They will be mostly DIY and include refurbishing.  I have so many ideas and inspirations that I want to use and try myself.  I will be posting more about all of this soon and will let you know how it all goes... the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all!

Fall Decor

Wow what a busy past couple of weeks it's been!! I have managed some time to put some of those Fall decoration ideas into action!  More to come soon!

Below is a picture of our front door.  A friend and I made these wreaths together using supplies we got at AC Moore.  I believe my total cost was around $26.  The pine cones are scented so there is a nice smell when you come up to the door!  I was able to just stick the flowers and the berries in the weave of the wreath without glue or anything.  I wrapped the pine cones around the wreath using wire then tied it to the back to secure them in place.  The yellow flowers to the left are hot-glued in place.

These are the stairs by our kitchen that lead upstairs.  I bought these VERY real-looking leaves that came in a bundle, tied them together, then used a ribbon to tie it to the banister.  I got the corn from the local farmers market and tied it around the finial using a rubber band, then used the chocolate brown satin ribbon to cover up the rubber band and finish off the look.  This decor cost me about $7.

Autumn in the air

I love a season change.  A change of scenery, change of clothes, change of temperature... it's all fantastic.  My favorites are going from Spring to Summer and Summer to Fall.  What I love about Fall: pumpkins, apples, acorns, pies, cider, fireplaces, scarves, foliage, and blankets.  We are finally having some cooler days and nights here in NC and I am able to take advantage of a few of these.  I got a new furry blanket a couple of weeks ago, the most amazing blanket I think I've had.  I have woken up freezing and have beckoned to this blanket!  The fireplaces in our house definitely were a main attraction for us and we are lucky enough to have one in our bedroom.  I plan to be using them very soon as well.

I haven't really decorated for this season much in the past.  A pumpkin here and there, maybe an Autumn plant but that was about it.  This year though I am all about it, of course it has to be on a budget but I have found ways to make that work nicely.  I will soon be posting some pictures, recipes, and ideas that I will be using.  In the meantime, Happy October!

Wake County SPCA

If you live in or around Wake County and are considering adopting a pet, please check this out. http://www.wral.com/news/local/noteworthy/story/8234198/
I strongly believe in adopting from shelters or your local SPCA (if looking for a pet) rather than getting from a breeder.  To each their own, but I couldn't imagine getting a dog from someone knowing another innocent dog is being put down right then due to overcrowding.  A loving animal is a loving animal.  Anyhow, if interested check out the news link.

To Do Lists

To-Do-Lists... I live off of them, especially while working.  I'll make a to-do list for what I need to clean at home, what bills to pay, what appointments I need to make, what paperwork needs to be done at work, whom I need to call about whatever, etc.  I also just bought a new planner for this coming work year and have things written in it already!  Having a list definitely helps reduce some stress and it feels good to cross something off as it gets done!  I was told a story by my step-dad, that his mom loved to-do lists as well and would even put on there "brush hair and teeth"! lol.  Anyways,  here are some lovely notepads for your to-do lists... but of course a pen and scrap piece of paper works as well, these are just a little prettier.

polkadotsstationary.com

designsbythreeofakind.com

lillypulitzer.com

Another week, another goal met... so far

So last week my husband and I met our goal of eating dinner at home at least 5 nights a week.  We had homemade spaghetti, gumbo (my husband made), hot dogs with mac and cheese, enchilada casserole, then dinner at families one night so we're counting that as eating at home.  We also set a budget for ourselves (under $100) for the breakfast for 7 days, lunch for 7 days, snacks and the 5 dinners.  We were right at our budget last week, give or take a few.

We went to the grocery store last night as planned, and spent approximately $60 on the food for this week.  We took about 10 minutes and planned out what we wanted and made a list before we went.  This week for dinner we will have pork-chops with broccoli and rice, homemade pizza, italian stuffed shells, and chicken with risotto.  The 5th missing meal will come from my husband bringing home some food from work.  The trick we've found is to buy things that will will either A) give you leftovers for the lunches, B) buy foods that you can use in more than one meal, such as the rice for this week (pork chop meal and in the risotto) and the tomato sauce (made for the pizza and the stuffed shells).  Any ideas for our meals next week?

Blog Issues

There's been a lot I've wanted to add on here but Blogspot was having some issues and I couldn't post pictures and upload things.  After trying a ton of things and talking to someone with Google, I finally have it working, and figured the issue out on my own.  The Sushi post was suppose to be added two weeks ago but I'm just now getting it loaded.  Oh well.  If you come across an issue similar to that let me know and maybe what I did with mine will work for you as well!

At home meals, Sushi

To reserve money, plus have some fun, my husband and I cook at home as frequent as possible. When we both go back to work next month,we want to cook 5 dinners a week at home. We plan to go to get groceries on Sunday, getting everything we will need for breakfast and lunch all week, plus everything for the 5 dinners. By doing this, we can budget our food spending better, which had gotten a little out of control, plus we can monitor what we eat and hopefully eat healthier.

One night last week, we made sushi at home. We didn't use raw fish of course but were able to use some ingredients that made it taste pretty similar to some of the rolls we'd get at a restaurant. We used cucumber, low-fat cream cheese, crab, sushi rice, and made a spicy sauce. Here's the outcome:

Golf

For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, my husband couldn't decide what to get me. He said either golf clubs because I'm always talking about how I wanted to try golf again, or a Wii because I have a Wii fit without a Wii, go figure. He decided on the golf clubs because it's something that him and I can do together and bond over, plus it will be nice to do over the Summer and in the Fall. He said maybe we'll get the Wii for Christmas when it's freezing cold and we'll want to be inside. Although, it has been a record hot summer here, so staying inside during the heat isn't bad either. So far we've gone every Wednesday morning. There are a lot of starter sets that you can get. Most of them include a driver, a pitching wedge, a putter, irons, and maybe hybrids and a wood. Here are mine!

There are definitely times that I get frustrated, but it's good exercise and a good stress reliever (wacking the club at the ball). I think it's important for everyone to have AT LEAST one activity that is somewhat active and one that can help reduce stress and take your mind off of problems. I'm also thinking about taking up knitting. It's something I'll do mostly when I'm bored, but maybe I'll end up making some decent looking things! Another thing I'd like to take up is calligraphy. My husband surprised me with this talent of his when we were planning our wedding. He did the calligraphy for our envelopes on our save-the-dates and on our invitation envelopes. Anything you've been wanting to take up but haven't done yet?

YUMMY....

I've talked about my love for food before. My husband and I love watching The Food Network or the Cooking Channel. I could spend an afternoon watching Paula Deen, Giada de Laurentis, Bobby Flay, The Neelys, pretty much all of them. While watching these shows, we have heard about a local place here in Raleigh called The Pit. It's been featured on Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Good Morning America, on the Travel Channel as well as in Bon Apepitit magazine to name a few. We have been dying to try it and finally got the chance last weekend. You would think a place called The Pit might not sound that fabulous but it really is. The restaurant is in a 1930's meatpacking warehouse in the warehouse district downtown. Being a place that mainly serves BBQ and pork dishes, you would think it wouldn't have that much charm or ambiance but it does! Brick walls and decorative light fixtures add to it. No matter what kind of BBQ you like (Western or Eastern), they have it. Along with yummy sides like mashed potatoes and gravy, fried okra and sweet potato cornbread to name a few. For the vegetarians there are options for as well such as vegetable dishes and tofu barbecue! Check it out if you can!

Cutest thing I've seen in a long time!

I saw this on the news a couple of weeks ago and just saw it again recently. I LOVE animals and this is the cutest animal I've seen in a while. I wish I could see him in person!

This is Einstein, a miniature horse. Weighed 6lbs and stood 14 inches tall when born. SO CUTE!

Photo via www.examiner.com

My new computer has landed...

in my lap! We decided on a Macbook. I love it. I hope this one isn't a lemon as well. The old computer completely stopped working and we didn't want to put more money into fixing it. I still have to get all of my files off of my old one, well hopefully I can. I'd be upset if I lost all my documents and pictures. Anyways, so now that I have a computer that actually WORKS, I will be updating this a lot more!

Computers...sometimes I can hate technology

Yes, it's been a while again. Not really my fault though. Our pc decided it wanted to be a pain again and stopped working. My stepdad and grandfather thought they could fix it so they took it for about a week. It is temporarily fixed (to where it turns on) but is still having problems. We don't really want to put money into parts because the laptop is getting old (at least in technology years) so we're going to save up and hopefully buy a new one fairly soon. We're thinking of getting another laptop, possibly an Apple. Right now I have a Gateway and I'm pretty sure it's a lemon. We both have iphones and enjoy using those and we've heard a lot of good things about Apple. Another good use of the iphone is the internet so I have been able to check my email and keep up with Facebook at least, haha. We don't want to spend a fortune though on a new one. Any ideas? We do have a desktop that works but it is super slow because it's even older than the laptop. Anyways, as long as I can get on one, I will blogging more! I miss it.

Other things going on that have kept us busy... work of course, Josh working his 20 jobs, and doing stuff around the house. We got our tax return and decided to use some of it to do some things we've wanted to do with the house. We neglected our bedroom for the year we've been in the house. We had mis-matched furniture, bare walls, bedding that didn't match, and storing junk everywhere. BUT it is making a turn around. We got some new bedroom furniture that actually matches, we hope to have it a long time! It's dark wood and has tons of drawers for storage. Even under the bed there is built in drawers. We also got a new matress because our other one (the one my husband had before we got married) was hurting our backs. We splurged a little and got a tempurpedic. So far we love it but it felt weird the first night sleeping on it. Tonight will be night 5 I believe. It came with a 30 year warrenty so it's something we hope to keep a very long time as well. Let's see... we've also painted, what a chaotic experience. Got the wrong sample color and painted the wrong color and touched up with the wrong color. Anyways, we're still touching it all up with the RIGHT color. We did get our money reimbersed for it all though. Anyways, thats such a long story. I have some new flea market finds. I have been painting them and am hoping to put them up today and I'm still on the hunt for more inexpensive decorations as well. Oh, and I finally got bedding ordered and on the bed! I had been eyeing some for a couple of years now from Pottery Barn. I didn't get the exact one I had been eyeing because it costs almost as much as the bed but I got a cheaper version which I still love. It sure does take a lot to make a room! Once it's all finished I will post some pics.

If you're reading this, I hope all is well! :) Tata for now!

Here comes Peter cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail!

Wow, it's been a little while since I've posted. Things have been very busy! Spring break is this week for my husband and I, yay! We've been furniture shopping (decorating the bedroom finally!), cleaning cars, and general errands we don't have time to do! Tomorrow we're going to the beach for the day, then Sunday we are celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been a year already. It feels like I was just planning and packing for it! We actually left a year ago today to head down to the beach (where we got married).

Sunday is also Easter, as I'm sure you know. I love Easter. Of course for the religious meaning of it since I am a Christian, but I also like the American celebrations and traditions that go with it. The chocolate, chicks, bunnies ( I don't like white bunnies), easter eggs (the painted and the plastic), and of course the Sunday dresses. Here's some cute ideas!

winkiesworld.wordpress.com

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Pretty painted eggs! These look about 100 times better than what I use to do! You could color coordinate the eggs with your table setting and use them as a centerpiece to proudly display them! If you're not into painting, you can get one of the dye kits in the color of your choice.

DIY baskets made out of flower pots! These can have multiple uses!

www.potterybarn.com

Monogram Easter Baskets with polka dots! Fill them with goodies!

My Favorite Oscar Dresses

The one thing I love about the awards shows are seeing the different attires on the red carpet and how they change each year. For most of these the only place they could be pulled off is there. Here are a few of my favorites from the red carpet. There were quite a few that were questionable...

Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta.

This dress reminds me of the one Reese Witherspoon wore the year she won for Best Actress.

Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab.

Love the pleated fitted bodice and the flowy skirt.

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa.

I love the asymmetrical lace detail and her hair looked nice with this.

Elizabeth Banks in Versace.

I love the color and the fit.

All photos via www.people.com

Great night in TV

So last night was an exciting, turned interesting night on TV. I am an avid "Bachelor/Bachelorette" watcher, go ahead and laugh if you want but my obsession is shared by millions! Anyways, last night was the finale and he chose Vienna over Tenley and I was sad. Tenley is so down to earth and genuinely nice, not that Vienna isn't but Tenley just won me over. At the After the Final Rose Ceremony they announced that Ali, the girl who was in the top 4 but left early to keep her job, would be the new Bachelorette! I'm very excited for May 24th to come! Also announced, was the new cast of Dancing with the Stars, another reality show I'm not ashamed to say I like. Below are the new cast members. Quite an ensemble don't you think? I will keep my opinions to myself on this one for now but you are free to share!

Famous for “Baywatch”- Pamela Anderson
From "Jon and Kate Plus 8"- Kate Gosselin
Famous for "Beverly Hills, 90210"- Shannen Doherty
Pussycat Doll lead singer- Nicole Scherzinger
ESPN sports anchor- Erin Andrews
Actress and comedian- Niecy Nash, best known for “Reno 911!”
Olympic figure skater- Evan Lysacek
British actor Aiden Turner from “All My Children"
“Bachelor” Jake Pavelka
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver- Chad Ochocinco
Astronaut- Buzz Aldrin

Flea Market Finds

I love going to the flea market here in Raleigh and searching through all of the old and new stuff. Some of it's crap but you can also find some cheap treasures. Along with all of the junk and treasures they have vendors selling spices, sweets and local produce. At one time, they had animals for sell but they no longer have that :( Here are a few of the things that I have found that I love!

Great things I found back when I went in the Fall.

Hanging rack ($5) and beautiful wood sconce ($8).

Great wall hangings! They are made of iron and will last forever! For 5 hooks and 2 crosses it was only $22!

Candle holder and candleabra. ($12 total)

Tory Burch things

Tory Burch is one of my new favorite designers. She's been around for a few years so she isn't completely new but she is taking off even more. She's a classy lady with classy designs. Her label includes shoes, apparel, and accessories such as sunglasses and purses. Here are a few of my favorites.

"Glam-caravan" sunglasses. I just replaced a pair I lost with these!

The "Thora" sandal. Comes in metallic and flat finish. I particulary like the green and yellow!

Flat shoes are really popular, especially in bight colors. These are just a few of the colors her flats come in. This style is "Reva". She also has flats in other fabrics.

Random Thought

This has been a very busy week, hence the delay in posting since last time! Meetings left and right at work, doctor's appt, and spending time with the hubby. I had bad day #1 yesterday... it was very bad. I guess my husband felt bad for me so he was going to surprise me and take me to dinner. We ended up going to see a guy he use to work with that makes really good sushi. Well, when we got there the guy was no longer there and was replaced with a new guy who wasn't very good and acted like a butt. There went the nice dinner to make me feel better. The thought of my husband doing that did help though! Anyways, I was trying to be positive and hoping today would go better but it didn't. My husband had a bad day as well so we were both cranky.

Here's where my random thought comes in... so if you're late for an appointment or cancel, you get charged a fine, usually $25 I've found. BUT if the doctor is running late for the appointment they don't have to pay a fine. I left work earlier than I wanted to today (have lots to do there) to go see this doctor, whom I really do like but I sat in the examining room for 1 hour before he saw me!! 1 HOUR in a room by myself with nothing to do other than think about the other things I could be doing. Then he wanted to do new lab work and because he was running so far behind, the lab had already closed. So now I have to take more time out of my life to drive back up there for that. Not happy. I think if the doctor is running more than 15 minutes late, the doctor should pay a fine to you! People have to take time off work, possibly unpaid time, pay for gas to drive to the doctor, and then use their time to wait. Not fair. Agree?

Anyhow, have a wonderful day tomorrow and I will try to! Gotta stay positive!

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Here are those Valentine's Day gift ideas! I hope everyone has a very special day, whether you have a significant other or if you're going out with some friends or family.

Jewelry: Women love jewelry. If you're the woman giving the gift, a watch would be nice for the man in your life.

Stationary: This is a great gift for any woman in your life. Your wife, girlfriend, mother or grandmother. Personalize it with their name or monogram. You can now get stamps that have their initial on it and they could stamp it on a card if the card cannot be personalized.

Flowers: Most women love flowers. Roses are a classic for Valentine's Day but you could always change it up with some orchids or tulips.

Dinner: If you don't have dinner reservations yet, make dinner at home! My husband and I are opting for this option. If you're on a budget, dinner at home will be less expensive as well. You can spend some quality time in the kitchen together! If you're hanging out with friends or having a singles party, you could make a fun taco bar or potato bar with some drinks.

Couples Massage: You could make a reservation for a massage or get a gift certificate for one at a future date. If you're not into that, you could get it for your significant other and you could get a mani and pedi while they're getting the massage.




Sweets!! My favorite thing. You could opt for the classic box of chocolates or try something like cupcakes or cookies.  You could always bake something of your own and put it in a fun box. Last year I made my husband and I some chocolate covered strawberries and I may again this year. They're easy to make and I'm sure a lot less expensive than buying 2 dozen of them!

Be my Valentine!

Some consider Valentine's Day a "Hallmark" holiday, I did at one point. Yes, you should show the ones you love how much you love and appreciate them all year long but having a day filled with sweets, hearts, and pink isn't bad!


If you are stuck trying to find the perfect valentine idea for your special someone, here are some tips. From cheap to expensive and from ordinary to awesome these ideas are sure to spark some sort of plan to treat your valentine sweetie. (info via www.Gather.com)

Gift Ideas:
Flowers: Flowers range in price, but are a Valentine’s Day staple. Most girls, and even some guys, will love getting flowers. Get sentimental by selecting a bouquet of that person’s favorite flower. A single rose goes a long way $10+

Chocolates: Chocolates are another staple of Valentine’s Day, but Edible Arrangements has brought it to a whole new level with chocolate covered strawberries and other dipped fruits. Also, M&M’s allows you to customize their mini candies with your own message on their website. $25+

Fortune Cookies: There are websites that allow you to customize fortune cookies. Write a personalized message and have it wrapped in a decadent fortune cookie. This is a different and fun idea for about $30+.

Pajamas: You could go sexy or comfy based on what you know your partner would like. $20+

Books: Don’t deny the power of a classic love story. If your love interest has a passion for books or writing pick up a love story, a book of love letters, or a book of famous love quotes. $10+

Name a Star: You can have a star named after someone for only $20. That star may come in handy if you want to promise to give her the world – you can start with the universe.


Do-it-Yourself: There are a lot of great do-it-yourself gift ideas for Valentine’s Day if you want to get creative. Here are some ideas to get you started: write a poem, decorate a box to store love mementos, create a scrapbook or photo album, or make dinner or dessert.

Outings & Entertainment:
Museums: With a library pass you can usually get discounted passes to museums. $10+

Theatre: You may not love plays or musicals but if you’re nearby a playhouse that has Blue Man Group it’s a great date you won’t regret spending money on. $60+

Movies: If you love a movie fanatic a movie night could be a nice way to spend the evening, and for a special twist find a movie theatre that serves dinner and drinks while you watch the show.

Dinner: The location of your first date or a favorite restaurant can make someone feel special. Spice it up by having flowers at the table when you arrive. $50+

Ice Skating: Ice skating is a fun way to get out of your comfort zone and do something different together. It’s also usually inexpensive. Finish it off with some hot chocolate and whipped cream $10+

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a crazy expensive day. It’s just a nice day to say or do something special, so even something as simple as a card can go a long way. If you take some time and think about what your match loves in life it may be easy to come up with some great ideas!

Do you have any gift ideas from previous years that went over well?

Article info via: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978041013&grpId=3659174697243100&nav=Groupspace

More Valentine's gift ideas to come!

Superbowl Sunday Dips

Happy Superbowl Sunday! One of my favorite things about football games is the food, well to be honest it's really the only the I like, other than the company, haha. A few of my favorite dips my husband and I like to make that are good for games and other occasions are crap dip and guacamole. Here are the recipes if you would like to try them! Enjoy!


Crab Dip
1-1/2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese softened
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 can (6 oz.) crabmeat, drained
Crackers for dipping!


PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Remove 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese; cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Mix all remaining ingredients except crackers until well blended.
SPREAD into 9-inch pie plate.
BAKE 20 min. or until crab mixture is heated through and top is lightly browned. Sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired. Serve hot with the crackers.

Guacamole
1 jalapeno finely chopped
1 red onion finely chopped
1 handful of cilantro VERY finely chopped
1 lime
4-6 avocados

SCOOP avocado's out of shells and slice them longways or chop them into squares.
Place avocados into large bowl. Use potato masher to smash the avocado's until mostly smooth consistency.
MIX all the other chopped ingredients into bowl of avocados.
CUT lime into half, squeeze over top, mix.
SERVE with corn tortilla chips

Things I'm looking forward to with Spring

So during my last blog I wrote about how I was looking forward to Spring and how I'm not a Winter person. Here are some reasons why I'm looking forward to it!

Fresh fruits and vegetables start to grow, check out your local farmer's market or private farms. A lot of times the prices are better than supermarkets and the quality of produce is better. My grandma always gives me fresh fruit and veggies from local suppliers.

Spring ahead! Longer days. I love it when it stays light out longer. When it gets dark at 5pm the day seems so short!

Being able to eat outside if it's sunny. On a warm weekend day try brunch or lunch outside at a local eatery.

Sandals, especially my Jack Rogers

Beautiful flowers in bloom. Whether it's flowers being sold or flowers growing in a flower bed or by the road, take a minute to appreciate them!

More Winter or early Spring?

So, today was Groundhog's Day and that darn Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means 6 more weeks of Winter (if you believe in this). I was sad at just the thought of an additional 6 more weeks of Winter weather. BUT Sir Walter Wally (NC's version of Punxsutawney Phil) didn't see his shadow! I think since I live in NC I should go by what he says. The weather here has been up and down though. At the beginning of last week, I was wearing short sleeves, then by the weekend it was snowing and I was wearing boots and a coat. (Welcome to NC, home of unpredictable weather). It's in the 50's today so a lot of that snow is melting but there's a chance for more snow this coming weekend. Being a teacher, when it snows that means no work. When it snows here, schools are closed.. sometimes for a long time. The transplanted Northerner's make fun of this but the fact is that there isn't enough equipment/manpower to clear the roads. It doesn't snow here often enough to have these things in great supply. It's exciting when it happens since it isn't that often but there will be days to make up!

I just don't do Winter. I can't stand being cold, I hate wearing bulky clothes, I hate having dry skin and I really hate static. I love the milder months where it's not steaming hot with 100% humidity but where it's comfortable. I like being able to sit outside and not be phased by the weather. I like being able to just slide on some sandals or flip flops and go. Luckily, even though NC's weather is unpredictable, there's not too long of a Winter and a lot of nice days when I can do this. What's your favorite season?

Welcome, open for business!

Hey everyone! Welcome to my blog site "The Duly Noted". I have really been into reading blogs lately. There are so many out there that are inspirational and motivational, whether its on cooking, fashion, family news, current events, or community organizations. So... I thought, why not make my own? Why not have a place to put my thoughts down? I don't know if it will be inspirational and motivational but maybe it will give someone an idea or two. I'll mostly write about things I like such as clothes, decor, food, random facts I learn and want to remember, and random thoughts that I feel are important. Please feel free to leave comments and some love! You can also follow the blog by clicking the "follow" button on the right column. Happy February!