Happy Birthday Mom

Today is Mom's birthday!!!  The picture above is one of her senior pictures!  Isn't she pretty! 

Have a wonderful day Mom.  Sorry I am not there to share it with you.  LOVE YOU!

Yummy Pizza

A friend of mine was talking about home made pizzas about 4 months ago (yes, I know, I've been meaning to write this for awhile now and even had to check the archives to see if I had posted this before.  I couldn't find it, but that doesn't mean its not there...so if this is a repeat...sorry).  Anyway, she told me she bought fresh dough at Publix and then created their own toppings.  So, being the pizza lover I am, I decided to try it.  And I was pleasantly surprised!!  YUM!  We've done it several times since  then, including during my parents visit (what I didn't tell you about that???).  It depends on our mood, but it usually includes mushrooms, onions and some other protein.  Now, I read PW and I know she makes her own crust and I hear (read) that it is easy to do....but this crust is really good.  And to justify, I do make homemade sauce....so that helps, right!  Just another yummy easy dinner to make!  So if you have a Publix nearby, look in the bakery section, and grab a ball of dough....I'm sure you'll make a yummy pizza, too!

(we made this for dinner last night - which is what triggered me remembering to post this.  Toppings were spicy chicken sausage, sauteed onions and mushrooms...very tasty.  Just had a slice for lunch!)

Chapped Lips

www.drugstore.com

My lips have been VERY chapped lately and my usual Aveda chapstick hasn't been cutting it....So I picked this up at the store on Monday.  By Tuesday afternoon, my lips were feeling normal again!  Love it!!!  (And it has SPF20, so I can wear it outside!)
I will have to try to overnight therapy as well.

Anyone else tried this???

Americ*n Id*l

Logo from www.americanidol.com

So AI was the only Finale that I watched last night and I have a couple comments...

First, did anyone else see the teleprompters in the audience???  You could really see it during Crystal's Black Velvet performance.....I thought memorizing the songs was part of the performance?!?!  Though James did mention it would look bad for ALL of AI if they messed up the words on the finale....

Second, while I really like Lee, I do not think he performed well last night.  I think maybe he was nervous?  Still think he probably has enough followers to win, but Crystal knocked it out of the park last night!

Predictions??

Joys of Working from Home

I won't go into details, because I don't think discussing details of work is appropriate on here...

While there are many perks to working from home, there are some downsides.  Today (and for the last couple weeks) I have been experiencing some of the downsides.  I am frustrated and annoyed, but also grateful that I get the opportunity to work from home.

Such a tightrope to walk.....

Busy Weekend

It was a busy weekend at the Halfway House and unfortunately I have no pictures to show for it.  We celebrated a friend's birthday on Friday, another little friend's birthday on Saturday and attended a campaign fundraiser for a friend, and on Sunday I hosted a baby shower.  Needless to say it was busy and now I am tired ;) 

The shower was great!  Thanks to Costco, we had chicken salad croissants, spinach artichoke dip and a veggie tray.  The cohost brought a pasta salad and fruit salad.  We topped it off with mini cake doughnuts from Dutch Monkey Doughnuts (local doughnut shop that is wonderful). 

We are home again this week!  YEA!!  Then leaving Friday to visit my FIL and SMIL, SIL and BIL and to pick up BARLEY!!  We have missed him, he has been at camp for a month!!!  It will be nice to have him back!

HAPPY MONDAY!

Anniversary Dinner

My surprise dinner was to Bacchanalia....YUM!  So wish I had my camera.  The presentation was absolutely beautiful and the food amazing!!  Definitely worth it.  Also, Chef sends out little tastings between courses.  Puff pastry over cheese to start, then a pea soup.  Before dessert they sent out a strawberry buttermilk smoothie.  ALL were delicious, except I wasn't a huge fan of the smoothie (see dairy comment below)

Here is what I had:

Yukon Gold Potato Gnocchi
Mousseron Mushrooms, English Peas
Pickled Ramp Emulsion, Parmesan
DELICIOUS starter.  The gnocchi were perfect, not too starchy and the peas and mushrooms, YUM!

Local Berkshire Pork Loin
Crispy Belly, Anson Mills White Grits
Fresh Andouille Sausage
Summerland Farm Greens
Pot Likker Jus
One of the best pork dishes I have ever had....beats the pork I had at Jonathan's in Lexington and I'm still talking about that.

Stracchino
Summerland Farm Strawberries
Balsamic, Truffle Honey
Cheese course - Divine.  I only ate half because I had too much dairy for the day and that can cause problems for me :)

Sorbet:
Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange
Citrus Gelee, Vanilla Tuille
Light and refreshing, Lemon was the best!!

I also got a cute little Coach clutch in a great peachy color.  Awesome for summer!  (Leather is the traditional gift for 3 years).  Thanks for a wonderful night Lovey!!

Happy Anniversary

3 years ago today James and I were married.  What a whirlwind 3 years it has been.  We've lived in Europe, moved back to the US, bought a house, started a business (James) and settled into life as we know it.  Time flies when you're having fun!!  :)  Some pictures below from our wedding.  The amazing Angela Anderson did our pictures!  (I know I link to her every year, but her photos are amazing!  You should check it out)  I am not sure where we are going tonight, its a surprise...but I'll definitely let you know tomorrow!