Relieved

We had our termite damage inspected and quoted today. We don't have any structural damage! Woo-Hoo. Basically, we just need paint and drywall touch up. We haven't gotten the qoute back yet, but it definitely won't be as expensive as we originally thought. (We thought it would be THOUSANDS)! So, so, happy!

Family, Friends, and Foes

Family. My family is extremely important to me. I consider myself very lucky to have such a supportive and loving family. I have the best parents in the world, and I am so thankful. My inlaws are also wonderful, and I got really lucky to have them! Even my BIL and SILs are awesome. I really did luck out. And of course there's Tommy, Sophie, and the newest member coming soon in our own family. No matter what, family always come first in our lives.

Friends. Over the past few years, I've gained and lost friends along the way. I consider the friends I have now apart of my outside family. I regret losing some friends due to being overly consumed with my own life. Friendships take work, just like any relationship. But, I really do love my friends! They're caring, understanding, supportive, and they have my back.

Foes. Okay, so I don't consider myself to have any "foes." However, I will say that there are people that I make a conscience decision not to be friends with. Just because I'm not friends with someone does not mean that I cannot be cordial. And when I say cordial, I don't mean fake. I'm talking about being a mature adult. There is a difference. I don't like every person I meet, so I don't expect everyone to like me. If you like me, great. If you don't, that's fine, too.

I definitely do not tolerate lying and disrespect. Also, I've learned that if you have to give someone the benefit of the doubt, defend them, and make excuses for their behaviors over and over again...they really aren't worth my friendship. Frankly, I just don't have time for nonsense. Understandably, there will be times when you will have to give a friend the benefit of the doubt, but I'm not talking about a couple of times...I mean ALL the time. And then, there are the "friends" who are not understanding that you have a life outside of themselves. This irks me to no end. You all have probably met someone like this in your lifetime....The person who gets angry if you cannot make it to an event, because you have something else going on and they simply cannot comprehend that you have a life outside of their world. These types of people are incredibly selfish. Of course, I always want to all of our friends to be able to make it to something we're having, for instance, a party, etc., and they will be missed. However, if you can't make it, you can't make it. I don't need an explanation, justification, or excuse. And, I'm not going to be offended. They have a life, too, and it should be respected.

All in all, I am very thankful for the people that I have in my life. We might hit small bumps throughout time, however, it will never overshadow how blessed I truly am.

Birthday Weekend

Today is my birthday and this year marks the remaining 365 days until I will be in my thirties! So, I will enjoy my 20s for one more year! Getting older really doesn't phase me - maybe it will once I hit the big 4-0, but who knows.

This was a very busy weekend with friends and family! Friday night, Leia and Shelby took me to Sopapillas (my favorite Mexican restaurant). I had the Tres Enchiladas which includes a shredded beef, shredded chicken, and cheese enchilada. When I say shredded beef and chicken...it more like a pulled meat. Not at all like a typical Mexican restaurant. And, it is delicious. After dinner, Sopapillas gives you complimentary house made Sopapillas. Once again, these aren't what you'd think you'd get from a usual Mexican restaurant. I can only compare them to maybe a Beignet, but that's not exactly it, either. If you haven't been to Sopapillas yet...you must try it. Later on, Leia and Zach came over for a little while. Now that I'm pregnant, I just can't stay up and hang out until 2am anymore. On a good day, I can make it to 10-11pm, so it was an early night, but fun.

Pillowy, Soft Sopapillas. Even better when slathered in their Homemade Warm Honey

Shelby and I at Sopapillas

On Saturday, Ray and Sandra stopped by to say "Happy Birthday" and they gave me a GC for a mani/pedi which I'm excited about. I've been slacking on my nails, and I need it! So, I'll definitely be making an appointment soon. Later on, instead of going for our workout at the gym, we decided to enjoy the sunshine and take Sophie for a stroll around the neighborhood.

Saturday night, Tommy took me out to dinner for my birthday at Ruth's Chris. I was contemplating on what I was going to devour and I ended up going with the Lobster Tail and Filet combo with au gratin potatoes for my entree. I was weary about getting my steak cooked medium well, but I must say it wasn't as repulsive as I thought it would be. It was really good, actually. Of course, I also had Lobster Bisque and for dessert I tried the Banana Cream Pie. The Lobster Bisque was a little disappointing....they added too much Sherry. The Banana Cream Pie only survived halfway, and I took the rest home for leftovers. After dinner, we headed home and I think I went to bed at 9:00.

Steak and LobsterBanana Cream Pie

This morning, my parent's met us at Loveless for a birthday breakfast! Loveless is always delicious, and I went straight for the biscuits and ordered the Country Fried Steak and Hashbrown Casserole. I don't remember if I've posted about their Hashbrown Casserole, but it is the best in the entire world. And, I don't even normally like Hashbrown Casserole...it's just that good.

I'm enjoying a low key day for the remainder of my birthday. After all the eating I've done this weekend....I'm exhausted. I will say that this has been a gorgeous weekend! It's been cold, but sunny. Below is a random photo of a custom shirt I had made from customizedgirl.com. Please excuse my bloat...I took this AFTER I ate Loveless (bad idea).

10 Weeks Today!

And, now I'm off to enjoy some leftovers from the weekend, then lay on the couch.

Projects

I have a confession to make. I love doing taxes. Love it. I'm not sure exactly why, but I get excited every January with the anticipation of W2s hitting our mailbox. Maybe it's my inner dork seeping out. Tommy and I actually bickered back in forth about who got to enter what this year. What is wrong with us? Unfortunately, this year we aren't getting back as much as we were hoping, but at least we don't owe. We also have to repair termite damage from this past summer. Yes, we had termites. The damage doesn't appear to be bad, but we won't know for sure until we rip up the drywall. I'll admit that I'm a little scared to get our estimate. But, it must be repaired.


We're going to list our house on the market in March. We had it on the market awhile back, but were unable to sell. We'd like to sell before the baby arrives in August if at all possible. If not, we'll just stay here until next Spring and relist again....hoping that the market has picked back up. And, listing our house gives me a project. I love projects. While selling a house is stressful, I don't think it will be as inconvenient as it was while I was working. However, the most stressful situation would be selling in late Summer and having to find a home asap during the timing of my due date. That would be a nightmare, but I'm going to be optimistic.

Tonight I made a new marinade for pork chops that was delicious. I thought I'd share it...it's really easy. I like to look at basic recipes and then put my own spin on it. Sometimes they work out, and sometimes they don't. Luckily, tonight's was a winner.

Pork Chop Marinade: (Serving Size 2)

4 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

1.5 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce (you can also substitute with Teriyaki)

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil

Dash of Cayenne Pepper

Onion and Garlic Powder to taste

See? Really simple.

I'm excited about tomorrow! Leia and Shelby and taking me out for an early birthday dinner! And, Tommy gave me an early birthday present tonight....a gift card to Pea in a Pod (maternity store). Now, I can stock up on a few maternity items. I don't need them just yet, but I'm guessing I will once I get to 16-20 weeks. (Currently 9.5 weeks now). Right now, I just look bloated around my stomach.

On Saturday night, we're going to Ruth's Chris for dinner. Normally, I'd order the seared ahi tuna appetizer, Caesar salad, and filet medium rare, but I will not be able to this time. All are on my no-no pregnancy food list. I might try a filet medium well, but that cooking style just makes me cringe...but it's my only option if I want a steak. Or I might just try something new. At least I can still order lobster bisque :)

Now that I've rambled on about my randomness for too long, I guess I'll log off. Enjoy your evening!

Soaked

It is a nasty day today - cold and rainy. I got up this morning and immediately started my couponing. There were many great coupons in Sunday's paper this week. And, Publix's Buy 1 Get 1 promotion is right up my ally. I finished couponing, ran to Publix with my shopping list, and began my grocery trip. I checked out, and the manager commented on my couponing skills. He said he'd like to coupon, but doesn't have the extra time. I told him that I don't spend hours couponing. I just go over the grocery store's weekly circular, the Sunday paper coupons, and my stock coupons (from previous papers that I haven't used) and compare with my shopping list and the grocery store's sales for the week. And, I'll print coupons from krazycouponlady.com or coupons.com for items on my shopping list that are not on sale or were in the paper...if available. I spend between 30 minutes to 1 hour each week on coupons, depending on how large our shopping list is. I'll save anywhere from $30-$60 each week. (Basically, $1 per minute spent on couponing). Also, there's a misconception about coupons. Most people say "I don't coupon because there aren't coupons for staple items." However, this is incorrect. I always have coupons for milk, bread, cheese, cleaning products, etc. So, if you haven't tried it, I'd give it a try!

Anyway, on the way out of the grocery store, it started P-O-U-R-I-N-G. Of course, I'm soaking wet at the moment...including my hair. Good thing I went for a ponytail today.

Today is my day "off" from the gym. I get two days off per week, Wednesday and Sunday. However, with the way I've been eating, I probably should be going everyday. Since becoming pregnant, my appetite has severely increased. While I am usually a healthy eater, that has not been the case lately. From cheesecake, to Easy Cheese, to loads of bread...I'm eating everything in sight. Surprisingly enough, I've actually LOST 4 lbs. My metabolism is in high gear, and the baby is also eating some of the food, too. Contrary to popular belief, you aren't supposed to be "eating for two." During your 1st trimester, you should be only adding 200-300 calories per day. Which can easily be done by adding yogurt and toast...I'm definitely exceeding this, but I used to consume an average between 1,200-1,500 calories per day. But, I am getting lots of fruits and veggies in for the baby, so that's a plus.

I feel pretty good today. I have bad days and good days. For some reason, my morning sickness is in high gear on the weekends. I do have it daily, but as long as I'm snacking every 2-3 hours, it's tolerable. I'm just very sick of crackers at the moment. And, there's the exhaustion. I'll hit a wall around 3pm each day and have to take a nap. But, overall, I really shouldn't complain too much. I know other preggars who spend their days in agony.

Well, I better go dry myself off. Today is a perfect day for curling up on the couch and watching television. I think I'll just do that.

Case of the Mondays

Oddly enough, Monday has become one of my favorite days of the week. Of course, this was not the case while I was working for corporate America. During the weekend, I rarely get anything productive accomplished. But on Mondays, I spring back and become myself again.

This weekend flew by. On Friday, Tommy and I stayed in and I cooked Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo. Normally, I would make my own recipe for Alfredo sauce, but I discovered Mario Batali's sauce at the grocery store and thought I'd give it a try. While, I am not a fan of canned pasta sauces, this one is marvelous. Honestly, it was better than my own homemade sauce and tasted like it came from an authentic Italian restaurant. It was rich, creamy, and flavorful. I only spiced it up with a few dashes of cayenne pepper to give it a kick, and it was superb. I will definitely be buying this sauce again!

Saturday morning, we decided to hit Athens Greek Restaurant for brunch. It was yummy as always. I enjoyed toast, eggs, sausage, and fruit. Later in the evening, we headed out to visit my parents and enjoyed an early dinner at J. Alexander's. First, I would like to comment on how the prices of drastically gone up at J's. Chicken Tenders are $18, a French Dip is $20. When did they get pricey? Oh well. It was divine. I had a huge craving for chicken tenders, fries, and Gruyere mac n cheese, so that's exactly what I had. I usually would go for their filet, but the chicken tenders are amazing! I was severely disappointed that they did not have their white chocolate cheesecake, but we all split the carrot cake (which I normally am not fond of) and it was great. Needless to say, Saturday was basically spent stuffing our faces.

On Sunday, we brought our smoker over to Lance and Shellie's house and hung out with Jay, Miranda, the kids, and of course Lance and Shellie. Shellie was so sweet and gave me her home doppler to use to hear the baby's heartbeat! Unfortunately, it's still too early for me to hear it....but that will change next week. I'm so excited!!!

Today is a day of errands, gym, and cleaning our mess up from the weekend. We had tornado warnings from 12:30am-2am last night, so I didn't get much sleep, and I do foresee a nap in my future.

OH! I must tell you about one of my new favorite soups. It's Campbell's Slow Kettle Tomato Bisque and it is excellent. I'm not really a tomato soup lover, either. But this soup is awesome! It's a little pricey for a grocery store soup at $3.69, but you can often find $1 or $1.50 off coupons at coupons.com. And, Publix Supermarket routinely has a Buy 1 Get One Promotion for the soup, too. Have I mentioned that I started couponing? Since couponing, I save an average of $40 per shopping trip. I'm definitely not a "extreme couponer" by any means.

I need to get my butt off to the gym! Signing off....

The Exclusive

Warning! If you choose to read the following blog post (posted on January 18, 2012), you must agree to the following terms and conditions: You may not post, tag, comment, etc. any of this privileged information on Facebook. If you agree to the following statement, you may proceed with the following blog post.

So, did I get your attention? And I assume that you agree? If so, continue on.

I posted last month (Dec. 15th - Random Ramblings) that Tommy and I were on our journey to start a family. Well, we were successful in our attempts at becoming pregnant. That's right, I'm knocked up. I'm currently 8 weeks, 3 days pregnant and my due date is August, 26th 2012. Today, we had our first ultrasound and everything looks great! We got to see the baby and its' heartbeat. Unfortunately, it was a little too early to hear the heartbeat on the doppler, but I am going back on February 1st to hear it! (Once you see or hear the heartbeat, you chance of miscarriage drastically reduces to 3%). And yes, there is only one heartbeat. Sorry Lance and Shellie.....it's just a singleton. We are ecstatic!!!! I cannot tell you how happy I am.
(Photos are at the bottom of this blog post).

So, I guess I'll fill you in on what's been going on the last month. For starters, I'm an open book, so it's hard for me to keep anything hush hush. I'm great with other people's secrets, but for some reason, I just have a hard time holding my own. It's been really difficult not to post this on my blog. But, we are waiting until 13wks to post an official "Facebook Announcement," hence my terms and conditions.

Let me back track to my post on December 15th. Basically, (okay, some of this maybe TMI, my apologies) I started spotting and assumed my period was about to start....and I was so disappointed that my first round of Clomid 50mg days 5-9 was unsuccessful. (I was put on Clomid because I was not ovulating due to going of birth control pills). I went online, ordered more ovulation tests from Amazon (Wondfo's - $9 for 100 - such a steal) and I called Tommy crying telling him how disappointed I was. I was leaving for Texas the next day, so at least I had my trip to take my mind off it. I decided I'd bring a few pregnancy tests with me just in case. I had a great time on my trip, but on a whim (Sunday, December 18th) I decided to test, because I was going to have to start my 2nd round of Clomid on Monday...and I wanted to be 100% positive I wasn't pregnant before starting the medication.

I peed on my stick, hopped in the tub at my Nana and Papa's house, and then jumped out to see the results. Low and behold, there were 2 lines!!!! I called my mother into the bathroom to get her observation just to make sure my eyes were not playing tricks on me. And, yes, she saw the second line. I called Tommy and told him the good news. He was excited and shocked, considering that I thought my period was starting (it ended up being implantation bleeding). He was still wondering if it was actually possible. I went into the living room and announced the news to Nana and Papa, and my dad. They were elated! But like Tommy, my dad was optimistically cautious. A few hours later, I grabbed a digital pregnancy test and decided to test again. And, yep, it said PREGNANT. I sent the photos to Tommy, and he felt more confident, but still wanted it verified by blood work, as well as Dad. Typical of men, right?

Two days later, I made it into my OB/GYN's office and took the blood test. Sure enough, it was positive and all my numbers were normal. We shared the good news with our parents and a few close friends that knew we were trying to conceive. Of course, they'd notice at some point that I wasn't drinking alcohol, anyway.

So, the reason why I might have seemed a little cranky on my blog lately is because I'm dealing with exhaustion, morning sickness, mood swings, etc.! Sorry about that. And, when I've referred to a special diet, change in exercise, life changing events...it's all been due to the pregnancy. I feel good for the most part, just not my best. Yesterday, I received a care package from Bran and Michelle that included Reed's Ginger Chews (my new favorite treat), a pregnancy timeline journal, and a pregnancy instruction manual. It was so thoughtful and sweet!

And, last but not least...... here's our little peanut!!!!

Rants and Raves

I know we've all seen the Charmin commercials with "Pieces Left Behind" and their new "roll covers." They are really reaching in their marketing campaigns. First of all, I've never noticed any "pieces left behind" with any brand of toilet paper. What in the world are they talking about? And then when the dirty blonde, full figured woman says during the commercial, "Feeling clean is sooooo important." Well, that's why we use toilet paper, isn't? And then there are the roll covers. Since when does a toilet paper roll need a decorative accent piece? I mean, come on. Have you ever ventured into someone's bathroom, saw an extra toilet paper roll out, and thought.."Wow, that is totally inappropriate and needs to be covered up?" Of course not! Okay, sorry, but I had to get that out of my system. I just don't know what in the world Charmin is thinking.

This past weekend was pretty low key for Tommy and I. Saturday night, Tommy smoked ribs, wings, and sausage and it was delicious! Sunday, we just hung out at the house all day. We were in the mood to get out and do something, but there really wasn't much going on. This week is a pretty eventful week for us, but I'll post about that later on :) Below is a photo of Tommy rocking his "man apron" while preparing his smoked meats.

Nightmares

I had the most incredibly horrifying nightmares all night long last night. Literally, at one point, I woke up trembling, sweaty, and my heart was racing. I'd fall back to sleep, and just go into a completely different night terror. They were a cross between The Hills Have Eyes, The Village, and The Exorcist. One of my dreams would actually make a great novel or screenplay. I just might start writing it!

Tonight, I really hope I have peaceful sleep. I cannot experience what I went through last night. It was truly terrifying!

Patience

Typically, I am an extremely patient person, but not today. While running errands, I got stuck behind a truck going 15 MPH for 10 miles. And no, I did not have the ability to pass him. Then, I ran to the pet store to grab Sophie her food. I got into the checkout and waited behind a woman with her hairless cat who had a 10 minute conversation with the clerk about their pets. The store clerk was even whipping out her cell phone and showing photos. Of course, I might show off Sophie from time to time, but not when there are waiting customers in line! Argh. This normally wouldn't really phase me, but just not today.

Anyway, Leia, Shelby and I had dinner last night at Carrabba's. I will be the first to admit that I am somewhat of a food snob when it comes to chain restaurants. But Carrabba's I like. I do enjoy higher end chain restaurants like Ruth's Chris, Morton's, J. Alexanders, etc. But I'm not a huge fan of the typical American chains like Red Lobster, Applebee's, etc. I enjoyed the Seafood Pasta with Champagne Cream Sauce (crab, scallops, and shrimp) and a small salad. It was really good. Afterwards, I had a huge craving for a slice of cheesecake, so I headed to The Cheesecake Factory for a piece. Okay, yes, I realize Cheesecake Factory is a chain, but I will say that I love their Fried Mac N Cheese Balls and any of their Cheesecakes. I find the rest of their food to be mediocre and overpriced. They were out of the Vanilla Bean Cheesecake (my all time favorite), so I went for the Caramel Dolce, which is still an excellent choice.

Below are just a couple of photos at dinner...I had to co hearse the ladies to actually take the photo..lol. I look really weird in the photo of Leia and I....

Above: Shelby. Below: Me and Leia

We are finally getting some snow today! Well, I should say flurries. I am really hoping that we at least get one good snow this winter. Here's Sophie gearing up for her day in her "snow coat:"

Well, I'm all out of words....so that's it for me today!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I have been so bad at updating my blog this past week! I was under the weather Thursday and Friday, then finally started feeling better late Saturday afternoon. Saturday evening, we headed to Lance and Shellie's house. We played with the kids, put them to bed, and then grilled. I decided to have a pre-made kabob (uncooked) from Publix and it was Divine! I will definitely buy more of these in the future! We hung out and chatted, then headed home.

On Sunday, we prepared for Corner Pub's Annual Chili Cook Off. (Corner Pub is a local bar/restaurant that we frequent). Zachary and Leia came over around noon, and we headed to Athen's Greek Restuarant (featured in Food Network's Diner, Drive-Ins, and Dives). It was scrumptious as always, and then we headed to our house to start the chilis! Unfortunately, our pot didn't turn out as well as it usually does....a big disappointment for Tommy.

We headed to Corner Pub, entered out Chilis, and anxiously awaited the results. Tommy and I knew we weren't going to place, but we thought Zach and Leia would. They made a nontraditional chipotle chili. It was definitely a little different, but I really liked it! The results came in, and we placed in 8th. Zach and Leia unfortunately placed last.....which was a huge shocker. The chili that won seriously tasted like Ragu. It was weird, but oh well. We did get great comments on our chili and there is always next year! I just hope it comes out how it's supposed to. (This time we doubled our recipe and it just didn't come out the same - we won't do that again)!

Yesterday, I ran errands, cleaned the house, and made my famous spaghetti for dinner. Today is about the same, but I'm trying a new seared scallop recipe for dinner tonight.

Tomorrow night, Shelby, Leia, and myself are going to catch up at dinner. I'm excited to have some girl time! And, I'm going to take pictures....ugh...I meant to this weekend, but totally forgot!

I have a pretty full week this week, and I'm going to try to update as much as possible! Have a good one!

Not My Day

Today I feel like crap, look like crap, and I'm really cranky. Typically during the week, my attire is confined to my workout clothing. Today, I decided to brighten my day by doing a little shopping. I decided I'd wear actual regular clothing, put on makeup, and look decent. Well, I'm just having one of those days where I look awful no matter what I do...so I ended up throwing on my leggings and my hair in a ponytail.

I decide to go to Target first. My trip went well until I hit the checkout line. They only had two registers open and the lines were super long. I picked a line, and low and behold, a woman decides to cut right in front me! She even looked back at the line and me, then inched her way over in front of me! I'm peeved and say "Excuse me, ma'am...you just cut in front of me." She then proceeded to roll her eyes at me. I then respond with, "Seriously?" and then she went to the back of the line. People are so rude! Yes, I could have just let her get away with it, but I'm too cranky today.

Finally, I check out. After I pay, I start pushing my cart to my car. Upon arrival, I go to grab my bags...and the cart is empty. I left my bags at the checkout counter! Definitely a dumb blonde moment for me. I go back in, grab my bags, then head to Bed, Bath, and Beyond....feeling like a complete idiot.

I needed to go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to stock up on SodaStream paraphernalia. On a positive note, I LOVE my SodaStream. I finally got it yesterday. Tommy and I made "Coke" and Root Beer and both are fabulous. And, all the non diet flavors are only 35 calories per serving, and the diet are 0 calories. You can even determine the amount of carbonation you prefer. So, no more buying traditional sodas for us!

Now I'm home, debating on what I'm going to do the rest of the day. Thankfully, tonight our favorite shows are back on with new episodes, so, I'm excited about that. Hopefully, my day will get better!

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a joyful and safe New Year's Eve last night! Tommy and I had a low key night. We went to our favorite restaurant, Park Cafe. I tried to take photos last night, but I forgot my camera! Carrying on...... They had a pre-set menu, which included 4 courses. To start, we both had the Lobster Bisque, big surprise, huh? It was really good, but the mixture was a little watery for a true bisque...but the flavor was right on point. Next, I had a mixed green salad with champagne vinaigrette, and a crispy goat cheese ball. The salad was yummy, but the goat cheese ball was seriously one of the best pieces of cheese I've ever had!

Next, we move onto the entrees. Tommy ordered the Duck with lentils, and I went for the Sole with crab risotto. We also ordered Park Cafe's famous Green Chili Mac N Cheese. Let me tell you that this is my most loved mac n cheese I've ever had. If you haven't tried it, you have to have it. Pictured below.

Last, our desserts were trio dessert samplers of Park Cafe's Creme Brulee, Coconut Lime Sorbet, and a Ganache Truffle. Their Creme Brulee is also my favorite. It's not a traditional version, but a must try! The brulee is layered between phyllo dough, and topped with caramel, almonds, and raspberries.

After dinner, we made a quick stop by Ray and Sandra's house, then headed in. This is the first year we really haven't gone "out" for New Year's, but I enjoyed the change up. Plus, we're getting old, anyway! I was actually pretty lame and was in bed by 9pm. Go ahead, laugh.

However, I was abruptly awaken by the sounds of what I thought was an air attack. Turns out, it was just fireworks going off at midnight. So, I guess I was awake to ring in the New Year after all.

And you know, I lied. I do have a New Year's Resolution. My resolution is to take more photos! This is something I've always slacked in, but this year I will make a big change in regards to photos.

I hope everyone enjoys their New Years Day!