2 things I Love

Ziggy Black and White Pillow from Crate and Barrel.

Fish tank end table.... love it. Available at Costco.com

Fun things

I am starting my Thanksgiving Dinner planning earlier this year so I can make everything perfect. I went to Hobby Lobby (it is 1 mile away from work) and got place cards and decorations to customize them. I have very cute place card holders I bought myself for Christmas last year. I would put up a picture but they don't sell them anymore at Crate and Barrel. I got plain white cards that I will write names on with silver/gold metallic markers and little fall colored leaves to customize. I am going to do this at least a month in advance. Last year I create a tablescape so i will be using that again this year. I might consider making my own placemats and table runner if I get in the mood. I am thinking about buying a used sewing machine. I am sure I could find one on Craigslist or something. I used to sew when I was a kid so I am sure I could pick it right up again.

I have several projects I would like to do: Placemats, runner, Tablecloth, napkins

Sunday Dinner

Honey Baked Ham
Recipe Courtesy of The Neelys on FoodNetwork.com

We are also having baked potatoes and a veggie. Mr. Foodie has been begging for baked potatoes for a long time. We have leftover buttery apple torte I made for a dinner party Saturday night so we are ready to go! Buenos Noches.

Sunday Funday

I went shopping with my Mom yesterday and successfully purchased a new suit for my interview this week. I just need to get it dry cleaned before then, and possibly purchase some new shoes. We always need new shoes... I also got a new pair of jeans which I wore last night. We had a great time shopping and chatting. We hadn't spent any quality time together in a while because things have been so hectic.

Mr. Foodie didn't have to work today which was a nice surprise. We stayed in bed until 10:30 AM with the cats. We are having a lazy day so far. We watched Project Runway from this week on the DVR. I am annoyed that they kicked off Malvin instead of Mitchell. We also watched the latest Top Chef and another show about animals who are living in the Chernobyl zone who are thriving, despite the radiation. Mr. Foodie recorded the show because it focused on a Momma Cat and her Kittens. They were so cute! I tried to talk him into getting another cat, but he says 2 is the max.

we are trying to find a recipe to make for dinner tonight, I will let you know what we decide on.

Jobs

I currently have a job that is making me miserable because of the in-fighting and corporate politics. I decided I was not going to be a victim and have actively been searching for a new job for a couple of months. This week I have several good leads, with 3 phone interviews.

I basically have three options:
1. Safe corporate job with benefits, and limited financial potential
2. Middle of the road, small company, more risk than job #1 and good financial potential
3. Independent Contractor affiliated with an agency, high risk, high reward.

At this point in my life I am leaning between 2 and 3. I have done the corporate thing for 3 years and I am over it. I need a challenge. I want to work in an environment that lets me reach my full potential. I am going to call back job #2 today to set up an in-person interview.

This also means I need to buy a new suit this weekend, so hopefully I can get my Mom to go shopping with me. My Mom is what I refer to as a Power Shopper. Give her a mission, and she will find what you are looking for. All at a great price! I love my Mom, she is such an inspiration when it comes to accomplishing things.

I will keep you updated. I like these two suit jackets...

Photos from medieval times weekend...

If you would like to see the entire photo album I put it on Facebook: Album

This is my favorite picture of the weekend: Mr. Foodie in a cutout cardboard face.

Bridesmaid Dresses

I love this color scheme and wish my Sister liked this color green....

Early morning posting

The weather outside is gray and dingy. It's going to rain off and on all day. At least it won't be 100 degrees constantly. It's Thursday, almost Friday, and I can barely control my enthusiasm. This hasn't been the best week, several things have gone wrong that I don't really have control over. I am determined to make things better by Friday night. We may be having dinner with friends Friday which will definitely make things better. In order to cheer myself up, I am going to make a list of 10 things I have to look forward to.

1. Football Season: Jaguars, College Football, and Fantasy.
2. Our trip to Chicago at the end of September.
3. Mr. Foodie's surprise birthday trip at the end of October.
4. Achieving my goal of losing 10 pounds by the end of September. I am giving myself a month to make up for mistakes.
5. Thanksgiving - I love to have an excuse to cook a huge meal. I also love turkey and dressing like a mad woman. Typing this reminds me that I need to try out a couple new dressing and gravy recipes before Thanksgiving. We have our turkey cooking method perfected, but other areas could use improvement.
6. My Sister possibly getting engaged
7. Having children..... eventually +/- 5 years
8. Finishing the cross stitch I have been working on for a year. I will be able to finish it in about 3 additional working hours.
9. Finishing/ordering my wedding album AND creating an album to present to the parents/grandparents.
10. Blogging on in to the fall.

Men

"It doesn't suck being a man" from Nealz Nuze.

Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park
Car mechanics tell you the truth
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks..
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars..
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

Random Thoughts

Hello everyone out there - Hello to anyone who is reading...

Today's post is going to be about random things. First, my husband has never read my blog and this bothers me. Every time I ask him about it he says "I live the blog, why should I have to read it." Second, I am trying to get my sister to start a blog. She keeps talking about it but hasn't taken the plunge.

The chicken I made last night turned out pretty bad. Mr. Foodie refused to eat it. It really disappoints me when a recipe doesn't turn out well. Thanks alot Giada! Luckily we had leftovers from Monday evening... When a recipe doesn't turn out I take it as a personal offense to my cooking skills and it really bothers me. I need to get over it.

I am seriously thinking about getting a personal trainer. There is a new gym right next to my house that I drive by every day on my way home from work. I just need to take the plunge and get in shape. Relying on my husband for any help is just not working. I need to take matters into my own hands.

Also - I can't stand my job any more. I am so tired of doing the same stupid stuff over and over again. I need a challenge and I am not getting that. Plus I am underpaid and disrespected by my boss constantly. I applied for two jobs today so hopefully someone will call me back. I am so tired of working here I can hardly stand it.

Budget Report

Good news - I went to the grocery store yesterday and spent $80 bucks on food to last us for at least a week. I saved $50 by using my own coupons, and taking advantage of store BOGO offers. I am very excited about the outcome.

Last night for dinner I created a recipe using ingredients on hand. It was a pasta with ground turkey, onions, and peppers with a little chili powder, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and siracha for flair. I also poured a dash of rose' wine in at the end with a little lemon zest and juice to finish. I wasn't very confident with the dish, I am always weary when not using a recipe, but Mr. Foodie loved it.

I also made a desert - a Buttery Apple Tort. I used thinly sliced golden delicious apples and it turned out great. It had a custard feel to it which Mr. Foodie loves. I had a small little slice in an effort to keep the calories down. I will be making this simple and easy desert again.

*Recipe and Photo Courtesy of Simple Recipes

Foodie on a budget

Lately I have been trying to spend less money. One of the biggest parts of our budget is the food, drink, and "going out" category. I am attempting to retain my flair for great food while managing our money better. I have decided to deploy several strategies:

Strategy 1: Use what I already have in my refrigerator and pantry.

I currently have a few frozen meat items in my freezer: Italian Pork Sausage, Flank Steak, and Chicken thighs. I am pledging to use these items before buying any other meat items, except for a special occasion (party). I also have a pantry full of sauces, vegetables, rice, pastas, etc. I definitely need to use these items before buying others (except for BOGOs and other great coupons).

What to do with the Italian Pork Sausage? Simply grilled

What to do with the Flank Steak? I am going to marinate the flank steak using multiple pantry ingredients and broil or grill. I will likely serve with rice and a veggie.

What to do with the Chicken thighs? Giada's Balsamic Roasted Chicken

All three of these dinners require me to purchase approximately 3-5 items. I will report back on my progress.

Project Runway Allstars and Season 6

Project Runway All-Stars


Nothing on TV besides sports can get me shouting at the screen except Project Runway. Throw in a 2 hour All-Star designer challenge and a glass of champagne and somebody is violating the noise ordinance. First of all, I want to point out that Santino is a twisted weirdo with serious mental issues. I never want to see him again. Secondly, Sweetp's clothes are hideous and I can't believe they even allowed her on a show called "All-Stars."

I am so unbelievably pissed off that Daniel V won the 100K. The Red Carpet Dress was made out of tarp material. Yes, you read that correctly, TARP. Tarp, as in a plastic woven covering my Dad uses to keep his firewood out of the elements. Tarp, as in a makeshift homeless person's abode. Tarp, as in the Federal Bailout Plan, okay not going there with politics on the blog.

Back on topic, I loved both Korto and Uli's designs. Why do they hate on the women of Project Runway? It seemed pretty clear that Daniel and the rest of the crew: Heidi, Michael, and Nina all have some type of secret love affair with Daniel V. I have perused several Project Runway blogs out there and everyone is clamoring for Korto's vengeance. That sounds like a dreaded disease or a book written by Joseph Conrad.

Project Runway Season 6: Episode 1
I was so worked up from watching All-Stars that I eagerly dove into Season 6 while Mr. Foodie hung our most recent home decor purchase on the wall (more on that later). This season contains the craziest people yet. My favorite quote of the show from Malvin "I don't differentiate between different colored carpets." I loved it so much I had to put it on Facebook... with reactions from long lost friends. While I disliked the crazy Ari, it was unacceptable that they let Mitchell stay on the show with that disgusting sheer fabric mess. That was a "Hot Mess" is you ask me.

As far as the winner, I can see why Christopher won the challange, but I LOVED the navy blue gown from Ra'Mon. It is difficult for my to type "Ra'Mon" with a straight face...

My last thought on the subject... STOP THE CRYING! I am so tired of all of the crying, happy crying, sad crying, crystal meth addiction crying, whambulance crying, drama crying etc. Get over it!

One more thing -> Why have Lindsey Lohan on the show? She is such a loser and didn't belong there with her trashy looking self.

Pickled Cucumer Soup: Food Stories

This morning I discovered a new Foodie blog out there from a UK writer, Food Stories.

I found the blog by searching for a soup my Boss just tried in New York yesterday at a Polish Restaurant. The mysterious dish is known as Pickled Cucumber Soup. I know it sounds quite disgusting at first glance, but he assures me that it is good. The Food Stories post provides historical and anecdotal information about the soup, as well as a recipe with variations. I am not sure if I will be trying this one any time soon but I thought it would be interesting.

On another note, while perusing the blog I found that the author and I share an obsession with anchovies. If you also love the salty creatures then head over to Food Stories for recipes that celebrate their goodness.

Bon Appetit

In the spirit of Julia & Julia, and great friends... I hosted a dinner last Saturday night. Here are a few photos to cheer you up!

What I am listening to...

BBC Radio 1 - Chart Singles
My Faves:
Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend
Cascada - Evacuate the Dance Floor
Lady Gage - ANYTHING!
My guilty pleasure - Remixes of Beyonce's Halo

My Can't Stand hearing it:
Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - This may be the most ridiculous song ever written and released to the public. I am unable to verbally express my dislike for this song on my blog. It requires hand motions and facial expressions that words can't describe.

One King's Lane

I joined a new site recently called One King's Lane. They have different sales every day from home designers. Products range from candles to pillows, and even wine glasses! At first I was highly skeptical, but today I made my first purchase. I bought 12 Barbara Barry Wedgewood Crystal wine glasses for $132.95 including shipping (no sales tax)! If I purchases them from Macy's or Bed, Bath, and Beyond I would have spent $39 plus tax, for a minimum total of $468.00. I am super excited about my new glasses which should arrive in about 2 weeks. I was very tempted to purchase a few pillows, but I had to hold myself back.

Back from the Dead

I have officially re-entered the human race again. I have been sick for over 5 days with various ailments:
1. Severe and sudden back ache that occurred with no warning on Saturday
2. Sore Throat and Couch
3. Root Canal that took 4 hours to complete because my tooth had 4 roots instead of the normal 2 roots.
4. TMJ Inflammation and Headache associated with the dental work.

I have been sleeping and in pain for days now, but I am finally feeling better. Tonight I was able to do some housework and even cooked dinner. I made one of my favorite comfort dishes: Split Pea Soup. This soup is very good, actually I am eating some right now. The best thing is that there is little fat, and it is high in protein and vegetables. If anyone would like the recipe just let me know.

Julia & Julia

I saw Julia & Julia last night with my friend "J." Our husbands were supposed to join us, but at the last minute they decided to see G.I. Joe instead. Us girls really enjoyed the film. We laughed the ENTIRE time! J and her husband love Paris more than any other city in the world. The movie is a blast to watch.

I have designed a menu for tomorrow night inspired by the movie.
Specialty Drink: Loire Lemonade
First Course: Escargot with garlic butter and a splash of cognac
Main: Coq au Vin
Dessert: Apple Torte

I might toss in a simple salad and make a caramel sauce for the apple torte depending on how ambitious I feel tomorrow.

First the bad news...

I went to the dentist this morning to find out I have to get a root canal. I am absolutely terrified. I have to take anti-biotics until then which always make me feel weird. I am trying to push this out of my head completely.

On a positive note...

I am making dinner for friends tomorrow night. I just have to decide on recipes, etc. I know we will be serving our new favorite Loire Lemonade. I have narrowed it down to three selections:

1. Indian Menu: Samosas (if I have time), Chicken Tikka Masala (I made this once before and it was INCREDIBLE), and Indian Spice Rice Pilaf with dates and parsley.

2. Hungarian Beef Stew Dinner with Egg Noodles & Sautéed Spinach with Leeks and Hazelnuts.

3. Coq Au Vin with french accompaniments.

I will update you later with my decision. I am trying to get input from Mr. Foodie but he is watching TV and won't respond to questions right now. :)

Fundamental Questions about life

If you could live the rest of your life as a movie, which movie would you choose?

I heard this on BBC Radio One on my drive to work today. I posed this question on Facebook this morning with the following responses thus far:

• Labyrinth or Fifth Element


• Love, Actually


• White Chicks (this is from my brother in law)

I have been thinking long and hard about this and it is too difficult to make a decision... Here are my top 3 choices:

1. The Secret Garden (the old version) - I read this book over 12 times as a kid. Yes, I had OCD from a very young age.

2. Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst - I know she dies, but I love the clothes and glamour.

3. Star Wars - I spent much of my childhood fantasizing about being a Star Wars character. To this day I am still enthralled by space exploration and the sci-fi genre.

About Me

I love puns and stupid jokes. It drives my husband crazy. I love my two cats more than anything. I want to name my 2 future children after British Monarchs. I like to cook and bake. I love using my camera to take photos. I like to decorate cakes. I am addicted to the Young and the Restless. I like martinis and champagne. I love cheese. I love driving my car. I would agree to give up 2 years of my life for a year of non-stop traveling with my husband. I like purses and shoes. I hate body hair. I don't understand the movie Tron from the 80's and my husband doesn't understand why. I was recently converted to Star Trek obsession status in the past few years. I love my parents and my in-laws. I can't stand people who do things slowly, especially those who talk slowly and don't understand things quickly. Especially at work. I hate Bill O'Reilly because he yells all the time. I REALLY dislike hearing other people chew while they are eating. I have to turn the music/TV up loud to overcome the chewing noises.

Wednesday Night

Good evening my friends. I made the stuffed zucchini recipe I mentioned a few days ago. I was lucky because zucchini was on sale at my local grocery store. The recipe is great, very easy, and has little to no fat. Mr. Foodie really enjoyed it.

We took an evening bike ride tonight. We are lucky because Mr. Foodie's grandparents live very close so we rode over to their house and made a surprise visit. His grandparents are 86 and 85 years old! I hope we both live that long.

My Sister is thinking about starting a blog after reading mine. I offered to let her be a guest blogger to give it a spin before taking the plunge. I really hope she takes me up on my offer. I am also working on Mr. Foodie to be a guest blogger. After all, the title of the blog is Mr. and Mrs. Foodie. He assures me he is going to work on something to post on the blog. He is watching Star Trek Deep Space Nine right now and eating 2 slaw dogs. I am not kidding....

Only 2 days left until the weekend. We are going to see Julia & Julia tomorrow evening with friends. I will post a review of the movie here for all to read.

Inspirational Quote:
"People create their own questions because they are afraid to look straight. All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it - walk." - Ayn Rand

2 Pictures Game

2 Pictures Game - Inspired by Oh, Mishka

My boy kitty Southpaw always sits on the back of the computer chair cleaning himself, and licking my hair while I use the computer.

Mr. Foodie's 1st Solo Flight frame. I haven't mentioned this before, but Mr. Foodie is taking private pilot lessons and I am super proud of him.

Fish Stew Tuesday

My Ingredients are ready to go in the pot. Yes.... I do have a hot pink cutting board.

Another view

The finished product is ready to be served. Mr. Foodie insisted on serving it over rice, so he whipped up a batch of Basmati to serve the fish stew over. I love the way Basmati smells while you cook it.

Tuesday

Our latest purchase arrived in the mail yesterday from West Elm. Mr. Foodie hung it on the wall before I got home from work in the bedroom. It looks great. The frame is much larger in person. We are now picking out a new color to paint our bedroom. Mr. Foodie wants a darker blue color, so I am probably going to give in on this one considering her let me paint my kitchen purple... We are slowly making the house look a little better. I am also on the hunt for rugs. Rugs are expensive and I can never find what I like. I find this very frustrating.

Going to see Julia & Julia some time this week which is exciting. I'll review the movie here once I see it. Also be on the lookout for a review of the Fish Stew I posted about a few days ago.

Whisk Necklace

I purchased this necklace from ExoDesign on Etsy.com. I absolutely love this necklace. It is exquisitely crafted and everyone loves it. I highly encourage everyone to check out her shop for beautiful handmade jewelry with a modern twist.

Cupcakes to die for...

I made the cupcake recipe below on Saturday for a dinner party hosted by our lovely friends. They were spectacular and I will definitely be making them again. What a hit!

Chocolate Cupcakes: Recipe courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

I topped the cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Icing, also courtesy of Williams-Sonoma.

*The above photograph is from the Williams-Sonoma Website, and is not my own.

Saturday Morning

Good morning everyone! My Saturday mornings are usually filled with household tasks like laundry and cleaning, and grocery shopping. Mr. Foodie works almost every weekend so I am always here at home missing him desperately. Tonight we are having a dinner party with our friends, the hostess is making roast beef for the first time. I applaud her efforts, and can't wait to try it out. I volunteered to bring dessert. I am going to make chocolate cupcakes using a Williams-Sonoma recipe, with Chocolate Buttercream frosting. This is the best of both worlds: Cupcakes are compact and easy, and I get to practice my decorating skills with the frosting. I haven't mentioned this before, but I have taken cake decorating classes and I love to use them whenever I can.

I am also doing my meal planning for the rest of the week. I have been browsing my new favorite recipe blog, Simply Recipes. This is such as great site. The photographs are beautiful and the recipes are easy to understand. In addition, the blog author provides little anecdotes about her family and history. I have decided to make these two recipes:

Dad's Fish Stew
&
Stuffed Zucchini with Turkey Sausage

These are both easy weeknight dishes that are health any taste great. I will review them this week once I make them, and may even remember to take photographs.

Just for fun.... below is a picture of us on our Honeymoon in the British Virgin Islands

Guilty Pleasures

Today I am going to shake things up a little bit and share guilty pleasure tidbits about myself.



Soap Opera


I watch The Young & The Restless every single day. I have been watching this show since I was born, literally. My Mom's side of the family all watch Y&R, even my Uncles and Grandpa! In our family we call it "the show." I was home-schooled during elementary school so I watched it with my Mom and Grandma during the day, usually while we were in the swimming pool. My Grandma has a small black and white TV that she would bring out to the pool and we would lounge on rafts and watch "the show." FAST FORWARD. I still watch "the show" today, with my DVR of course so I can ignore the commercials. Mr. Foodie even watches it with me most of the time.

More Guilty Pleasures.....


Pickle Juice

I don't think this needs much explaining, but I really love pickle juice from the jar.


Extra Anchovies on a Caesar Salad


Project Runway and The Next Food Network Star I tell myself that because these shows include a "real" competitive element that they aren't "Reality TV." Delusional.

Parking my car and seeing my cats in the window sill ready for me to walk in the door and give them some love.


Freshly Laundered Sheets are my Fave


Back Scratches from Mr. Foodie. I'll take one any time any where.


Facebook Stalking my friends and people from high school and college I don't talk to anymore.

Tomato Soup

Last night I made one of my favorite easy/go-to recipes: Tomato Soup. The recipe is from a recent issue of Cook's Illustrated. This soup is super easy and is basically made of pantry staples. The recipe makes enough soup for 2 dinners, especially if you pair it with a nice green salad. This soup is a unique recipe because it uses bread to thicken it instead of cream which adds fat and calories.

Mrs. Foodie's Variations: I definitely used the red pepper flakes and brandy in this recipe. I did not add additional olive oil in step 2. I added a pinch of Hickory Smoked Sea Salt I recently purchased in Charleston, SC from The Spice and Tea Exchange.

Ingredients
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil , plus more for drizzling
1 medium onion , chopped medium (about 1 cup)
3 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
Pinch hot red pepper flakes (optional)
1 bay leaf
2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes packed in juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 large slices good-quality sandwich bread , crusts removed, torn into 1-inch pieces
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons brandy (optional)
Table salt and ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Instructions
1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), and bay leaf. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and their juice. Using potato masher, mash until no pieces bigger than 2 inches remain. Stir in sugar and bread; bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until bread is completely saturated and starts to break down, about 5 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf.

2. Transfer half of soup to blender. Add 1 tablespoon oil and process until soup is smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl and repeat with remaining soup and oil. Rinse out Dutch oven and return soup to pot. Stir in chicken broth and brandy (if using). Return soup to boil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve soup in individual bowls. Sprinkle each portion with pepper and chives and drizzle with olive oil.

Oysters

Oysters are my favorite culinary adventure. I have been eating oysters raw and steamed for a long time. Until a couple of years ago I had only enjoyed Apalachicola (Gulf Oysters). My love of food has opened the door to many new and interesting treats.

As usual, I always get super interested in a topic and then I proceed to read books about the subject. I have since enjoyed two great oyster titles. Books on oysters may seem dull to you, but those I have had the pleasure of reading combine history with science and a dash of personality. Food is something we all have in common. Reading about families who have been in the oyster for centuries entertains me. I wouldn't consider myself an oyster expert, but I have a good knowledge of the different types, growing regions, and the politics involved. Oyster politics? Yes..... I am serious.

Reading List:
A Geography of Oysters by Rowan Jacobsen
Check out his Notebook for interesting Oyster happenings across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Newlyweds

Newlyweds: Thoughts on the subject....

1. Things do change once you get married. My husband and I have been in each other's lives for 10 years. We even lived together for several years before we got married. I thought I knew exactly what to expect after the "I Do." Fortunately or unfortunately, however you want to look at it, marriage brings a whole new set of goals, issues, demands, etc. I think change is a good thing, especially in a marriage. As individuals we are constantly growing up (or down, or sideways). At the same time we are growing as a couple. The key to success is to keep growing toward each other.

2. I swear my husband got dirtier once we got married. He has always been a messy person. I thought I had accepted this. Unfortunately he has regressed once he started wearing the wedding band. All those habits you thought you had accepted seem to surface again.

3. There are many times when I think I couldn't possibly love him any more than I do. It seems that I love him more and more every day. I know it sounds cheesy but I can't help it.

4. Compromise, known as the "C Word" in our house is critical to a good marriage. How do you think I end up watching Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from start to finish?

5. When does one stop being a newlywed? After 1 year, 2, or 5? I think a couple should always stay newlyweds. Mr. Foodie and I regularly look at our wedding photos and gush about how perfect our wedding day really was. We can both say that it was the best day of our lives and we wouldn't change a thing (except maybe the weather). Talking about you wedding day and looking at photos helps to keep the spark alive.

6. Food nourishes the soul. Make time to eat dinner together. Turn the dang TV off and actually have dinner together at the dining room table. It sounds so simple, but can be a powerful thing. On days I feel stressed and overwhelmed I make a nice dinner and invite Mr. Foodie to sit at the table with me and enjoy our food together.

7. Speaking of TV. I think that television is the downfall of family and marriage in the United States. Mr. Foodie spends way too much time in front of the TV. It hinders him from doing all of the things he is supposed to do (i.e. housework, paying bills) and from achieving his personal goals (i.e. working out, obtaining his private pilots license). I have to admit that I have considered breaking our TV, disconnecting the cable, etc. on several occasions. My personal fantasy is a home without a television in it. Any good ideas for limiting TV intake?

8. I am obsessed with everything wedding. I would love to be a wedding planner. I am seriously considering a wedding planning side business. Mr. Foodie's cousin is getting married next spring. I want to ask her if I could assist with the planning (especially the day of) to get some experience under my belt. I just might do it, and see where this goes.

Weekend

The photo above was taken in Big Sur, California during my recent trip. I love the texture of this photo. I took about 800 images while we were there and 15 videos. The highlight of the trip was enjoying the beautiful landscape.

This weekend ranks pretty low on the totem pole. Mr. Foodie worked all weekend (he is still working at 1:00 PM on Sunday). I had to go to a birthday party alone yesterday which was sad... We couldn't go out last night because he had to be at work at 7:00 AM this morning.

I will overcome!

I spent the weekend cleaning and relaxing. I am trying to spruce up the house with new design ideas so I have been brain storming. One of my main problems is that I have too much stuff in my kitchen. My cupboards are over flowing with essential kitchen items. I must find another solution for the madness! I am thinking about moving some least often used items into the cabinets in the laundry room. I am going to be purchasing two wall decor items mentioned in a previous post for the house, as I have gotten approval from Mr. Foodie.