Kitchen...almost done

Yay, for KitchenAid counter depth frigs...our kitchen is still in the works but is looking exceptionally cute I must say!  Our floor is done and we got some tile work done.  It is getting there.  Here are a few updated pictures of our almost finished kitchen.  My farmhouse sink is the best purchase yet!

Beautiful

This is our first Spring in our home and I love seeing all the things I missed out on last year!  Who knew that apple trees grew flowers before producing apples...okay a lot of you probably knew...we didn't.  They are gorgeous!  Just sitting pretty all day long.  There is a nook back where we live where the dogs roam free.  Today was a day!  After work we rode bikes and then walked the doggies...O'Malley and Zara were in heaven back there...running wild.  Do not live life on a leash...run free like a wild animal!

Grillin' season

It is finally getting warm enough to grill out!  I know I should be posting updated pictures of our home but I am waiting on our Kitchenaid counter depth frig...should be here any day!  My good friend Courtney Crozier got to be a contestant on the Biggest Loser.  She has lost over 235 lbs!  We actually met in line for an audition a few years back and basically fell in love with each other!  We have been great friends ever since.  I have been watching her change week by week and have not been doing a thing about my weight.  A few weeks ago I decided it was time to make a change and start working out and not constantly be eating my yummy homemade goods!  Here are a few pics of some of my delicious creations!  All under 320 calories.

Grilled chicken with grilled zucchini, squash, half of a earthgrain bread with grilled tomatoes, garlic, a dash of salt + pepper

Grilled tilapia, organic spring mix salad topped with NY cheddar cheese, flat bread for a crunch and a cup of watermelon

Grilled chicken with NY cheddar, organic spring mix, onions, fresh mushrooms, flat bread, avocado, carrots and half boiled egg with pepper

Same salad as above with avocado, and grilled halibut 

Courtney, U rock!

Who does not LOVE a good meal...

One of my passions is cooking and I have gotten out of it since we have been moving and remodeling our kitchen.  When we got hit with the storm I kind of went on a cooking rampage...then I thought to myself why not take your time and cooking the things we love.  Got to love Todd's effort :)  He is always willing to help me in the kitchen and the best part, he does the dishes!  Sometimes I do have to remember he is trying to help...like when I was making braised ribs for Vday.  Todd..."Can you get the strainer...oh and the bay leaves..."  A few minutes goes by and I was thinking damn boy get your head out of the frig and give me those bay leaves, they are in the bottom drawer!  He said, "I cannot find Baileys anywhere!"  HA HA!  Oh boy...like I said focus on the effort!

We haven't taken updated pictures of the house but I did want to share a few pics of my cooking.  I bought super cute dishes from Crate and Barrel and I just love making the plate look beautiful.  For Vday we started out with a ceasar salad with parmesan, dried cherries, garlic croutons, roasted pecans and more.  For the main course braised ribs with a wine reduction sauce, homemade creamy mashed potatoes and brown sugar sauteed carrots.  Dessert = a stomach ache...we should of split one brownie...opps!  Bottom layer was peanut butter cookie, then brownie, then peanut butter cups.  Okay I will stop teasing you...

Pork loin with yukon gold mashed and a rosemary sea salt roll

Stuff crust bloody amazing homemade pizza

Let it snow...

48 mph winds, inches and inches of snow and eating junk food for three days...what could be better.  Our first big snow storm in well...I cannot really remember the last time we got this much snow/drifts.  Kind of cool.  After all the snow had fallen we watched out our windows while all the neighbors got their shovels and snow blowers out.  Some of them were out at 8 a.m. or earlier...just sleep in!  Little did they know Todd brought home the sexy snow plow truck and backed it in the garage.  So I put on my Uggs, got the doggies ready and out we went!  O'Malley, Zara and I played in the snow while Todd plowed for about 20 minutes :)  Then I thought it would be cute to put the dogs in the plow truck and take some pics...little did I know they were flying all over the place while Todd was plowing!  So out they went.  I think our neighbors got a good laugh seeing Todd and two Dalmatians plowing snow :)  Now Spring please come...oh please come.

Odds and Ends...

I keep thinking when is WINTER going to be over.  Sick again...cough, sneeze, tissue...  Lets just agree everyone is sick of this cold weather and praying for spring.  This week was supposed to be some great before and after pictures of the house but we are both under the weather and moving slowly.  Here are some pictures of some progress, not quite before and after but getting there!  Here are some pictures of the living room.  We are getting close to being done.  We ripped up the shag carpet, painted all the wood white on both big windows and put new trim and new baseboard up.  Underneath the shag carpet = hardwood floors! Todd is starting to put up our hardware and curtains!  Our neighbors will be sad, now when they drive by they cannot see what we are working on or if we are playing wii :)

Remember the cute little cut out square on the wall in the kitchen/dining room.  We thought it would be a good home for our birds, so we trimmed it up with some chair rail that I painted for another project that we changed our minds on.

BOX BUDDIES

  

Wii wii wii all the way home...

So it was Todd's birthday!!!  YAY!!!  I hooked him up with a sweet pair of Nike and a Wii.  Little did wii know this might be interfering with our projects!!!  So this week has been 100 pin bowling non stop, sword fighting, tennis, basketball...well you get the idea.  One thing you need to know about me is when I am winning I must do something to let you know...like every time I get a strike it seemed like a good idea to kick my leg up in the air.  Todd said you are going to pull something...WHATEVER.  Well what do you know...something was straining by the end of the night...my kicks simmered down to some claps.  Oh well it was fun while it lasted.  So yes we love you Wii but we also want a beautiful home...so you might get put on the back burner...or we just might give in to your delightful entertainment!

Check out my hooter I found at Hobby Lobby...we got a cute house plant from Owen Nursery today for it.