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Monday, January 31, 2011

Weekend Recap

Derek and I had a super fun weekend with some friends in town!  My best friend, Kristin, and her boyfriend came down to see Derek and I and go out in Mt. Adams.  We met up with 2 other fun couples and it was a recipe for a good time!



The Girls: Emily, Me, Mary, and Kristin

The Boys: Grant, Nick, Derek (don't you just love his cardigan!), and Nick

Our friends Kristin and Grant came down from C-Bus!  This bar is super great in the spring/summer because (you really can't see it but) you can see the Cincinnati skyline.  Ahh, love it!

Me & Kristin


Nick and Mary DEFINITELY win the award for the "serious faces" picture.  Too good

So this is what happens when Derek and I try the "serious face" pose:



Fist-Pumping....Maybe?!?!
I can't keep a straight face around my husband!


Great picture of Emily and Nick!


Not sure what we are saying or why my mouth is open so awkwardly....haha!

Me & Emily

Me & Mary!



It was so much fun to hang out with such great friends.  As I did absolutely nothing on Sunday, I reflected on how thankful I am to have friends....how was your weekend?


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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Cooking Class!

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Derek and I took our first cooking lesson tonight!  I was so SUPER excited for this.  I signed us up a while ago and knew that this class would be the absolutely perfect first class to go to because it was all about pizza!  Pizza is Derek and I's most favorite food.  We have pizza at least once a week! AND- we have tried making pizza once; however (of course) it turned in to a disaster.  We had fresh mozzarella and made our dough and sauce from scratch.  The only hang up was the dough recipe did not indicate that it made 2 very large deep dish pizzas.  SO as you can imagine, the pizza crust was at least 4 inches high.  The toppings were done and the middle of the pizza did not even BEGIN to bake....so the pizza had to be thrown away (sad face).

Well, we decided that what better way to learn than to go to a cooking class!  The instructor was the vice president / regional manager of Dewey's Pizza.  This pizza chain started in Cincinnati and has moved into other states such as Kentucky, Missouri, and soon to be Illinois.  They have a mix of traditional, gourmet, and seasonal pizzas.

Before we got there, Derek and I had a completely different view of what a cooking class would be like.  We thought it would be hands-on and we would be able to cook and imitate what the instructor was doing.  However, after getting there, it was more like a "class."  We watched the instructor cook and got to ask questions and then tried all the food once it was done.  I admit, I was a little disappointed at first, but the experience was so much fun!   I would definitely do it again!

The Menu:
  • Apple Cider Vinaigrette Salad
  • Steak and Wild Mushroom Pizza
  • Southwest BBQ Pizza
 
The Class Room




The room had mirrors situated on the ceiling so we could see everything the instructor was doing




First course, the apple cider vinaigrette.  IT.WAS.SO.YUMMY!  IT had figs, apple-wood smoked bacon, and roasted pumpkin seeds





We had the chance to go up to the front and flip pizza dough.  Derek and I were losers and did not participate.  WHAT, I know?  WE should have gone up there.  But he kept saying it was like shooting a foul shot and I SUCK at basketball!





The Steak and Wild Mushroom Pizza- I don't like mushrooms, but I liked this pizza!






The Southwest BBQ Pizza





Because not everybody participated in the throwing the pizza dough, there was extra dough left over.  So we were lucky enough to grab some dough and then we bought a pizza peel!

Now, I'm sure there will be a disaster post about us trying out the recipe and making our own pizzas!


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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Book Review

SO have you read any of Emily Giffin's books?!?!?!  Well I have...two in like the last two days....seriously!  She is such a fantastic writer and the books are so short that they are a super easy read!  I started with her first book,

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"Something Borrowed" 


And then also read,


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 "Something Blue"  


Ahh..so good!  I'm now on to her other books.  




PLUS, you must read these before the movie comes out with Katie Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin in May!

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Monday, January 24, 2011

Domestically Disasterous

SO I really have no weekend recap to give because the weekend was very low key with Derek working all weekend.  We did have a great Saturday night trying out a new restaurant close by.  Both other than that, nothing too exciting...Oh wait, except my huge fiasco in the kitchen!!!

Sundays are always "stay-in" night, especially on the weekends that Derek works.  I usually find a new recipe to try and cook for us.  Sundays are our favorite day of the week, because regardless what is planned, we always have plenty of laziness relaxation in our schedule!

Well yesterday, I was cooking Chicken Pot Pie.  For some reason, I have always had a desire to cook this and after getting all the ingredients last week, I thought the pot pie would be the perfect comfort food and complement to our Sunday.

I must add that last week, Derek and I got a couple of strip steaks and due to the 1,000 inches of snow outside, we had to broil the steak in the oven.  Another detail that you must know, is that these steaks were marinaded....so we broiled these steaks, the marinade then dripped all over the oven.  I made a mental note that this oven would have to be cleaned before the next use...oops forgot about this note to myself.

SO- back to Sunday.  I start with the recipe by preheating the oven to 375, check, everything going well so far.  But then I notice one of the burners on the stove smoking.  "Weird", I thought, none of the burners are on, why is there smoke.  Well after starting the chicken, vegetables, etc. in a boil, I open the oven to put the bottom pie crust in for a brief 2 minutes before putting the mixture in it, when all of this smoke comes pouring out.

"WOW, I forgot about the steak marinade that is probably causing all this smoke, crap!" Well I don't know if dogs have a sixth sense or whatever, but Brutus starts FAAAREAKING out.  He is literally shaking and his tail is so far down that it looks like he doesn't have a booty anymore (I am assuming this is all due to the smoke in the apartment).  ANYWAY, he rings the bell to go outside.  Assuming he has to use the bathroom, I open the door, and the little dog TAKES OFF.  I mean gone, ran away, can't find him anywhere!  So side note- I have shorts and t-shirt on and it is like -50 outside (ok- a bit of a exaggeration, but definitely needed for this drama story).  I keep calling his name but he is not coming back!

I throw on my boots start running outside to find him.  Meanwhile, I have an oven smoking and a pot boiling on the stove.  Oh and a puppy on the lose.  I am outside with my summer clothes on and yelling my puppy's name.  AHHHH, no where to be found.  I think I felt like a mom whose kid is suddenly not on the playground.  "Where did he go, is he going to come back, will he find some random food to eat that will later upset his stomach, will he have to spend the night alone out in the cold?"  FINALLY, I see him and he is just hunkered down waiting for me.  He knows he is IN.BIG.TROUBLE. but does not want to go back to our smoky house.

So now, I have the dog back inside but trying to deal with the supper.  I turn off the oven, turn off the stove, and decide is the best time to clean the oven...right?  Well I get the oven cleaner and spray it in the oven and then it all comes back in my face, down my throat, and into my lungs. "Great".  Now there are oven cleaning fumes AND smoke throughout the apartment.  I open the door, patio, and windows, grab Brutus, take us in the bedroom, close all the doors, and swallow my pride....I make a call to my husband and say "Babe, can you pick up dinner for us?"....

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Annual Shots!

Brutsie turned 1 not to long ago (yay, happy birthday Mr. Bruts!)  so it is time to go off to the vet for some more shots!  I can't believe we have had the little man for almost a year! He is the best pup in the whole wide world, at least I think so = )  Anyway, I thought I would look back over the year and see how that rotten little puppy has changed so much!

 
  He never left his training pads alone! 



And YES, from day 1, he has worn I have made him wear sweaters = )














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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Movie Review

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Ok, let me first start off with saying that I read this book last summer.  I was less than thrilled to say the very least and it was actually hard for me to finish the book.  Truely, I wanted to stop reading because it was so annoyingly slow and the main character of the book was such a narcissist in my opinion!

BUT- I had to see the movie.  Why do you ask, because!  No, but really, Julia Roberts is my fav and such a class-act!  In my opinion, she did not disappoint.  Although the movie was very slow just like the book, I thought Julia Roberts gave some like-ability to the main character.  She was relatable and adorably funny!  My only complaint was there was not enough time spent on the "love" part of the movie.  But overall this was a normal, feel-good, chick-flick, B
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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

IMO: Best and Worst of the Golden Globes!

Did you watch it?  This is the first awards show I have watched in years!  It was entertaining, but man, I loved looking at the fashion!  Here is the worst and best dressed list! All of the pictures can be found here

Ok, I am hugely OBSESSED with Giuliana Rancic!  I just love her, so of course I had to add her to the best dressed list ; ) 

Ummm, not.a.fan.  I thought this dress was bordering on trashy in my opinion.  Loved the color though...

I thought this dress was stunning!  It showed off the figure, was a great color, and had a surprise peek-a-boo back.  Loved it! 

Hmmm....how do I put this one...let me start with, I love Natalie Portman.  And I love that she is pregnant and is showing off the bump.  HOWEVER, I thought this was disgusting not the best choice.  I did not like the red-pink color combo, the rose in the middle, the tacky necklace, or the stiff hair-do.  Sorry....

So Megan Fox is a fox (sorry for being corny) but man is she a hot!  I thought her understated elegance was absolutely beautiful!

Love this pink color and the design of the dress!  It was perfectly paired with the updo!

Ok, does she always have to look so good?  I loved the flowy-structured dress.

I have to say that I am a big fan of the beautiful Anne.  This was just  a big "eh" for me

OOOOO this may be the best of the night for me!  I LOVED Eva's dress.  I loved the train, the capped sleeves, and the perfect hair do.  So elegant! 

YUCK, nothing good to say about this one.  Hated the dress with the butterfly sleeves and especially hated the Frankenstein hair.  Usually I'm a big fan of the ScarJo, but she missed the mark on this one 

Well, I'm just going to say it.  I HATED THIS LOOK!   Just because you have like a million kids does not mean you need to start dressing like an old lady.  I thought the hair made her look exhausted.  Although, I did like the color...but that's it!



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