Closer to 30...then 20....

So, today is my 27th Birthday.  Due to chaos this week, I really wanted to celebrate it this weekend.  It's too stressful...as you can see by me writing this post!  haha.  I got a lot more done today than I thought I would have.  Anyways, back to my birthday.  I really like this theory.  They say that "the best is yet to come."  And I honestly believe that.  I am really excited for this year and what it has in store for me.  On Saturday, my sister went with me to get a pedicure...it was heaven!  That is my favorite thing in the world.  Thank goodness for the girls at Nail Envy.  I love them.  Without them, my toes wouldn't be pretty and me so relaxed!  After that, we went shopping at Old Navy and I bought the cutest dress for summer.  Then, she dropped me off at the movie theater, where Joel surprised me with tickets to see The Hunger Games.  It was awesome.  Truly awesome.  I have been blessed with an awesome neighbor and friend.  We loved it.  Then, we headed home and headed for dinner at Rivera's.  Which just so happens to be my favorite restaurant!  I had the Veal Milanese.  AMAZING....Literally....I am not a slow eater and I literally eat slow so I can just savor every bite!  haha.  It was a wonderful day and I am blessed to have so many people in my life who love me for me!  lol.  Thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate turning 27!  I love you all!!  

Wacky Wednesday

Well, I decided to try my hand at cooking again...I will get it right one day!  I had posted on Facebook about cooking tonight...My friend Anne remembered I had asparagus left...So, she suggested I saute the asparagus and chicken and mix with noodles in a bowl.  Sounded delicious.  However, I am really trying to eat healthier to try and lose weight.  So, I made brown rice, steamed the asparagus, and sauteed the chicken with italian seasoning and garlic.  You can see my brown garlic in the pain...yup, that's me making pretty colors!  lol.  In the end, I mixed it all in a bowl and added Parmesan Cheese.  I do have to say, it was pretty tasty.  Next time I try this, I will add onions to give it some more flavor.  Who doesn't love sauteed onions?! Maybe practice does make perfect.  :-)

Tastefully Tuesday

Hahahaha...I tried cooking again today!  I am bound and determined to get good at it!  I actually really do enjoy it!  Tonight, I had planned to have grilled chicken and steamed asparagus.  However, I didn't feel like taking the grill cover off, so I went and used the stove...BAD IDEA...haha..The asparagus came out really really good!!  Can't go wrong with plain old steamed asparagus.  However, my chicken, came out decent.  I mean it sat on the stove for 40 minutes to make sure it was really truly dead.  lol.  Every time I cut into it, it was pink!  So, my Italian breadcrumbs fell off, and I made some pretty colors in the pan again as Brandon likes to say.  However, I did manage to eat my chicken..and it wasn't terrible.  Not enjoyable as much, but edible at least.  :-)  I shall follow a recipe the next time I attempt to cook.  I am sooooooooo much better at cooking FATTENING foods like breads and desserts!  Till next time....

Bubbly Enchiladas

So, I decided to start cooking again!! I really do enjoy it, I just completely suck at it!  So, I found a Weight Watchers recipe on Pinterest for enchiladas.  It had 5 ingredients.  Ground Turkey, Enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, Pillsbury Reduced Fat Multi-grain Biscuits, and Mozzarella Cheese.  It was soo easy!  It tasted so good.  To my surprise, Brandon ACTUALLY ate it!  He wasn't a fan (I think because he ate it reheated and the biscuits soaked up much of the sauce).  However, it was still awesome.  I would trade out the Multi-grain biscuits for Flaky Layers though!  Then it would AMAZING!  

Salvation Army

So, my picture kinda stinks (due to them walking around out front and me not wanting to look weird taking a picture of the Salvation Army).  But, on Friday, Jill and I decided to go serve lunch at the Salvation Army....We had a blast and it was only an hour.  We met some really cool people and everyone there was so generous and grateful.  We liked it so much that we decided to go back today!  Again, we found the same people who were living at the shelters and they remembered us!  Today we served Tuna Fish, Potato Salad, Bread, and Chips.  I'm glad we had a lot of fun doing it.  I will totally do it again!  

Madisson's GOTCHA Celebration

Tonight, we were fortunate to celebrate Madisson's anniversary of her adoption to Joy.  It was such a good night!  It's called GOTCHA Day!  I remember that day like it was yesterday...Even more, I remember the day Joy got the phone call about her.  It was like God knew that this needed to happen and it was meant to be.  It's amazing how much of a miracle she is.  I truly believe God has put people in our lives for a reason.  Madisson lights up our eyes.  She makes us smile and laugh when we are down.  She has a presence about her that is unbelievable.  Joy read a book tonight called, "We Belong Together" by Todd Parr.  It's the cutest kid book about adoption.  We are so lucky to have Joy and Madisson in our lives and are truly blessed to have walked this journey next to them.  

Baby Madelyn

This week was so busy and yet so amazing.  But it was such a refreshing week.  One of my best friends had her first baby.  Baby Madelyn Kate.  I have seen friends have babies before and none have ever touched me as much as much as Madelyn did.  My heart literally melted.  She is so precious, so beautiful, and so innocent.  Congratulations to Matt and Monica :-)  I can't wait to hold her again!  As I was explaining to her someone this week, this is the first time that I have been to the hospital to see someone's baby where it was actually "acceptable" and not the fact that they were young and got pregnant or someone 10 years older than me.  It's actually the time in my life where babies are okay!  We are married...have careers....just living life in the order I was always raised to do.  It was a real eye opener.  I always feel so young sometimes, and I finally feel older.  haha.  Here are a few pictures of Miss Madelyn....Maybe one day she will have a little friend :-)