Mark and Dunja got hitched!

Mark and Dunja finally got hitched!!! I work with both of them and have had the pleasure of watching this relationship from the beginning. Dunja works in the architect department and, at the time they met, I was working in the permitting dept. They asked Mark to come into the office (he builds the homes so he works "in the field") to help me because I was super busy.  So of course I decided that Mark needed a girlfriend stat! He already had his eye on Dunja I just badgered him on a daily basis to go ask her out! Her office was literally 10 feet away from mine! So it didn't take long!! Fast forward a year and a half later and Dunja was surprised by the gift she received from "Santa" that was cleverly placed on the train that ran around their Christmas tree. What a sweet proposal! This all culminated last Saturday night! The red themed wedding was absolutely gorgeous! I had to share some pics of the cute couple and their awesome bash! Let me set you up first. They had the ceremony and reception at a beautiful place way....way....waaaaaaayyyyyy out in the country. Rolling hills and hundred year old Oak trees surrounded us and the sunset was amazingly beautiful. Mark is from Panama and Dunja is from Croatia. That made it all the more fun (along with the open bar of course!).

This is what greeted us when we walked in! Gorgeous!!

Actually.....this is what greeted us on the way in. If you are from FL you are all too familiar with Banana Spiders. If you are not from FL, or the South for that matter, you would have crapped your pants walking past this bad boy (or girl?). They are GI-normous and everywhere.

The groom waiting for the ceremony to begin. 

Dunja looked stunning. Mark didn't look so bad himself....

The first dance. Look how happy they are. :)

Dinner time! Even for the spider inside the tent. See the moth on the right? Poor thing got stuck in the web. *shutter*


I didn't get any pictures of the after dinner party!!! Dang. Other people did though and if you are friends with me on FB you've seen the evidence! Congrats Mark and Dunja!!!! You will live happily ever after and I can just picture you both old and rocking together on a front porch swing with Sam Adams in hand. :):):)

Fried Chicken Bites with White Rice and Tomato Gravy

I could eat this meal everyday! It's one of those comfort foods I grew up with. My Great-Great Aunt Bertie would make the most amazing fried chicken with homemade biscuits and honey butter to dip them in. The chicken was so crunchy and golden brown! Mmmmm....my mouth waters just thinking about it! My Nana makes delicious tomato gravy from tomatoes she cans herself. So this is my version of those two classic dishes I love, but the semi-homemade way!

Start the tomato gravy first by cutting up 8 pieces of bacon into small pieces and fry them in a pan over medium-high heat. Once they are nice and brown pour two 14.5 ounce cans of diced tomatoes into the pan and stir together with the bacon. Do NOT drain the fat off the bacon!! This is what makes it so yummy!! Let it simmer for a few minutes and then add salt and pepper to taste. Now this is very important: Add a teaspoon or two of sugar to the gravy. This will cut the acidity of the tomatoes and give it a little sweetness. Add more if you like it a little sweeter. Turn it down and let it simmer while you fry up the chicken.






Now for the chicken! Start by cutting up 3 or 4 chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Then put them in a bowl with a little bit of milk to coat them. Pour some of this chicken breading into a bowl and coat the chicken pieces.






Fry those bad boys up until they are golden brown. A couple minutes on each side.











Then enjoy this deliciousness.

Top 10 Fatty Food Faves

Somewhere far far away...in a parallel universe....I can consume as many calories as I want and not gain an ounce! I can dream can't I?? Well if this place really did exist, here are my top 10 choices of foods I could eat all day every day....

1. Gravy. I could consume gravy by the gallons if need be. Something taste a little bland? No worries...just add gravy! Spoken like a true Southerner. 

2. Speaking of gravy! Fries smothered in gravy! If this isn't a heart attack waiting to happen I don't know what is.

3. Speaking of fries. Fries smothered in chili and cheese is A-Mazing! 

4. Speaking of chili and cheese. Smothered on a hot dog??? Holy goodness! Add some onions and a little mustard and this girl is in heaven.

5. Mac-N-Cheese. I'm not talking about mac-n-cheese from the box either. I'm talking about homemade mac-n-cheese! Mmmmmm.... cheesy goodness.....

6. Mexican food. And NO not Taco Bell! That's not real Mexican food! I mean the authentic kind from the Mexicans that live in my hometown. The tamales that my step-grandmother makes (you guessed it...she's from Mexico). The REAL tortillas that my Mom made when she was alive. I could eat Mexican food every day of my life and it would never get old.

7. Hot Buffalo Wings. Mmmmm...I order mine with extra wing sauce on the side. Then you dip them into the wing sauce, then dip them into ranch dressing (NO BLUE CHEESE!!!). Then....you take the fries that come with it and do the same. Then you eat a piece of celery dipped in sauce and ranch dressing. THEN you lick your fingers clean. Oh man....mmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!

8. You can't forget about dessert! Apple Pie with Homemade vanilla ice-cream! My family makes the best homemade vanilla ice-cream!!!

9. Cheesecake brownies. Cheesecake and brownies. Enough said.

10. Last but definitely not least! Krispy Kreme Donuts! Warm....Krispy Kreme Goodness. All gooey and delicious. You know you could eat an entire box.

Thanks for listening. I'm going to go clean off my shirt now. I drooled all over it.

Who are you calling a cootie queen, you lint licker!

What in the hell is that nastiness you may be asking??? Well my friends....this is the bastard child of all my dirty laundry! It was clogging up my dryer vent on the roof. Note to self: Always clean out the lint trap or your neighbor will have to climb on the roof of your two-story home and un-clog your dryer vent because your husband is too chicken to do it.

D1 Day!!

Yesterday was D2, so today is D1 day! I had a meeting with Reese's teacher this morning! It was our first parent/teacher conference and I wanted to brag tell you how she did. Her studiousness is awesome! She is 6 "levels" ahead of where she needs to be to pass the first quarter!!  That's my girl!!! Her and I had a little Mommy/Daughter time after D2 went to bed. I took some pics and then she took some. So here you go! And no I did not have any make up on. That's how I roll.....

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!

New Mom vs Been There Done That Mom

Look at that sweet face!! 

My newest baby girl, Riley Grace, is 6 months old. She is as sweet as pie! She is the COMPLETE opposite of my biggest baby girl Reese Emaleigh (also as sweet as pie). Boy if I had known what I know now I would have been a much calmer Mommy the first time around!! I was standing in line at the grocery store today, and I noticed a Mom, with her toddler child, coming into the store. She gets out the handy dandy cart cover and places it in the front seat. But not before grabbing a sanitary wipe and thoroughly cleaning it first! I just smiled and went on my way. This made me think of all the things I do differently now with baby number 2. Is this why my first child is so cautious? Makes you wonder.....

 It started the day Reese was born. 12 hours of labor and when I was told it was time to push the room was prepped and the doctor stood ready to catch her. Our new baby came out looking like an alien after 2 hours of pushing.We spent the entire 48 hours in the hospital begging the nurse to "help us" with this new baby we knew nothing about.  Fast forward 4 1/2 years later. 5 hours of labor and out of nowhere I needed to push!!! Riley comes into the world after 3 pushes, with the nurse practically catching her, at 2:22pm and we were ready to go home by 5am the next morning! My husband asked every person that walked into our room "Can we go home now?!" Finally after the cleaning lady said "Sorry sir I'm just the janitor." he quit asking....

D1 (daughter number 1) would have a "fever" of 99.1 and we were on the phone with the doctor. D2 had a fever of 104 and Mommy instincts told me she was just teething. The next day it was gone. No phone calls to the Pediatrician at 3am.

D1 would drop her "paci" and I would pull out a bag of paci's hidden in my purse to produce a clean one. D2 drops her paci and it's licked clean by yours truly and promptly shoved back into her mouth.

D1 barfed on herself and I would change her matching outfit immediately to an equally cute and matching outfit. D2 barfs and I let the dog lick her clean.

D1 peed in her diaper? New diaper stat! D2 pees in her diaper at least 3 times before being changed. Don't judge, diapers are NOT cheap!! Speaking of diapers...Pampers for D1. Target brand for D2! 

D1 pooped? Five wipes later she is clean. D2 poops? One wipe folded 8 times plus a little poop on my finger and she is clean. Speaking of wipes....yes...Target brand!

D1 ate the best of the best baby food we could find! D2?? You guessed it!!! Target Brand!!!! 

She looks pretty happy and healthy to me!!!! Happy 1/2 way to one D2!!!

Chicken Penne With Fennel

Ingredients

• 1 cup fennel (thinly sliced - cut off leafy top and slice bulb)
• 1 oz fresh pesto basil (thinly sliced)
• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut into small pieces)
• Olive Oil three times around the pan
• 2 cups penne
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 (24 oz) jar red pasta sauce

Directions

• Preheat large saute pan on medium high heat 2-3 minutes then coat with olive oil.
• add chicken cook for 2-3 minutes
• add onions, fennel, Italian seasoning, S & P stir for 2-3 minutes until veggies soften
• In a separate pot, boil water and cook penne
• Pour pasta sauce over chicken and veggies and heat through
• toss with cooked penne, top with basil, and serve

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland by nataliebahr featuring evening dresses ball gowns

Perfect Friday Night

Perfect Friday Night by nataliebahr featuring a white short sleeve shirt

Halloween

Halloween by nataliebahr featuring orange tops