HAPPIES AND CRAPPIES

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HAPPIES

We have now less than a month till we get married! Speaking with other newlyweds and engaged couples,
I have learned that just about a month out from getting married ( most couples and families) are ready for it to be here, enjoyed and past ! We are there ! Let’s do this !!!!

Last week were able to round a majority is the RSVPs in ! We are at 185ish guest … I feel loved !!!!

I took today off so we could be in Tallahasee to FINALIZE all the details for our wedding. From my dress to the music , it’s getting done TODAY !

CRAPPIES

I saw a squirrel get ran over ! I KNOW they get ran over ALL. THE. TIME. but I saw it from beginning to end ! I was sad ;(

I have had a sore throat and haven’t been feeling all that well ! Better now than in a few weeks !!!

Here in Florida it’s usually already warm, it’s been freezing here this week!

With a little less than a month away,
You think I would be at the gym daily and eating rabbit food… Since I have been under the weather , a good diet has been out the window and I haven’t seen the gym in a few days ! Aye ya ya – good thing I am going to a dress fitting !

Happy Friday

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HAPPIES and CRAPPIES

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Crappies

Starting with the weekend…. I lost one of my most important / sentinmental things , you would never imagine loosing …while I won’t say what it was, my heart aches and I’m sad ;0(

I am disappointed with how rude some people can be … The RSVP ‘deadline’ for our wedding was this week and it amazes me how people can put it aside and not care what effort you have put into making this day so important !

I ate some fried food this week and it took a toll on my stomach . .

HAPPIES

‘Like a good neighbor, STATE FARM is there’ … Thank goodness for insurance !!! My sentimental/very important item is being replaced … {yes it is remaining names less , at least for awhile} My heart will soon be whole again !

Last Saturday, I had an amazing bridal shower ! It is so great to know how many friends and family are around to support me and my journey to get married! <3

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We have almost ONE month until we get married ! Too exciting … I am getting a little ancy though !

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Last but not least , Don and I received some very exciting news yesterday and I. Can’t. Wait. To. Announce. It. Yippeeeee

Enjoy the weekend !!

Latley

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I can assure you I have not crawled into a black hole and died ! I have not been chased away by the stress of the wedding…I am still here !

Latley – I have just. been. busy. Sometimes growing up being an adult stinks … The 7am to 6pm work day stinks. Working out nightly stinks. It just all stinks ! Leaving me NO time to cook anything new and entertain my blog readers ! The few hours I have left at the end of the day l save spending time with don and the pups ;) I can’t let life get in the way of my household … Except for the laundry, the dishes , the dusting … Let me stop before I have a panic attack – aye ya ya !

Last weekend , I had an amazing group of friends and family give me a bridal shower ! I had a wonderful time. There was tons of food I tell you ;) and it was all very delicious . Specifically my mommas southern grits y’all ;0) Everyone kept asking me about them…so I figured I would provide the recipe right here on my blog !

Southern Creamy Grits

INGREDIENTS
1 cup heavy cream
1 can (1 2/3 cups) chicken broth
1 cup water
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup quick grits

PREPERATION
Bring heavy cream, chicken broth, and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add butter, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in grits and reduce heat. Cook 15 to 20 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently. Serve in place of rice with shrimp, pork tenderloin medallions, lamb chops, or other meat or poultry.

Serves 4-6 , recipe can be doubled.

Mom served the grits in a crock pot to keep warm at the shower , providing martini cups for grits to be eaten in! As add-ins, she had sides of bacon, scallions, chopped ham and cheddar cheese ! My mouth is watering …

If you using a crock pot to keep warm after cooking in a pot, add a little chicken broth to grits to keep from drying out as needed!

Enjoy ;)

Friday Letters

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Dear Weather – Thank you for the cold spirts! We have put our fire place to great use this week.  I would like to lay in the sun this weekend! High 70s with no wind and lots of sun sounds GREAT!
Dear Nails – you will be painted for the next few months ! I have to STOP biting you ! I refuse to have fake nails on !
Dear pups – I don’t know what’s wrong but you guys have to stop throwing up ! Especially  in the middle of the night … You have me a little concerned !
Dear Wedding – As of today we have 49 days to go ! I have been working on the seating arrangements and they can be a pain in the neck ! Aye yay yiii !
Dear seminole county Clerk of court – many thanks to you not being busy when we came to get our marriage license! You may want to add a policy for your employees to smile more often! Getting you marriage license is supposed to be fun and exciting ( at least to me ) , not dull, boring and annoyed like your employees act !
Dear Friday – Your here ! It was a fast week, no complaints … Just stay awhile!
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Overnight Oats

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There is a lot of talk going on about overnight oats , so I had to see what it was all about ! I have been making oatmeal in the mornings but I figured these over night oats would be perfect to take out of the fridge on a Monday morning – that way I could get a few extra minutes of shut eye! So that’s what I did …

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup of your choice of milk ( almond, soy, skim, etc.)

1/2 cup of rolled oats

1/2 cup of yogurt ( Greek or regular, flavored or plain )

Pinch of cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

At night , mix all the above ingredients together and store in an airtight container

Wake up, get dressed, grab your oats and ENJOY !

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My Thoughts

I used skim milk and peach yogurt ! It is what I had in the fridge !

The flavor was good!

It seemed like there was too much liquid but I am assuming that’s how it was supposed to be ! I probably will make it with less milk next time !

YES, there will be a next time !

This morning it was freeeee–ee-zing , so I warmed them up just a tad!

Hope everyone’s Monday was great !

Recipe adapted from Lauren Conrad

Spicing things up a bit

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I don’t know about you but I love mac n cheese. Who doesn’t? My grandmother once made don and I homemade mac n cheese and we could never go back to the box stuff. Seriously ! I make it homemade every time. !!!!

As usual, I was watching the food network and sunny anderson was making mac n cheese but spicey mac n cheese. We were both drooling and I could already feel the kick on my tongue it looked and sounded so good. The very next day I was in the kitchen making this very same dish.

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Spicy Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

2 Cups elbow pasta – Cooked untl ALMOST al dente ( about 6-7 minutes)

8 ounces of Cheddar cheese – ½ Cubed, ½ Shredded

8 ounces of Colby Jack Cheese – Cubed  (I doubled up on cheddar and skipped the jack)

8 ounces of Monterey Pepper Jack Cheese – Cubed

2 tsp flour

½ tsp pepper

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cayenne

½ teaspoon dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg

4 Tbsp of sour cream

1 large egg, beaten

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup half n half ( I doubled up on the heavy cream, using regular milk will suffice also)

1/4 cup grated onions

4 slices of bread

1 tbsp butter

Directions:

As always, begin by preheating oven 350 degrees!

In large bowl, mix cooked pasta with cheese cubes and pour into baking dish.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, pepper, cayenne, mustard, and nutmeg. Add in sour cream, egg, heavy cream, half n half, and onions mixing well. Pour mixture over pasta and cover with shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes or until top begins to brown.

While the pasta is baking, cube bread slices. In a small pan, melt butter on medium heat. Add in the bread cubes and toast until golden brown. Sprinkle croutons on top of the pasta and bake for an additional 10 minutes .

My thoughts…

It was good, however there are a few things I would change in the prepping process! I would heat the milk on stove adding in the dry ingredients until it comes to a boil. Then mixing in the different cheese until melted. Once the cheese is fully melted I would mix in the pasta , pour into a baking dish then bake it for 30-35 min. Why? I felt like there was alot of bites with no cheese! I did use an entire box of elbows instead of 2 cups so I am sure that is why , but I find doing it this method with normal mac n cheese get everything nice and coated!

I was proud of my homemade croutons. They were delicious :) I forsure thought they would be soak up all the butter and become soggy but with patience they turned out great !

ENJOY !

Photo Credit : Life’s Ambrosia