Resolutions 2012

As I said in a previous post, I tried to be realistic on my resolutions this year.

1)  Keep up with my workout routine - I started back to the gym last summer and I have been pretty good about keeping to my routine.  I generally head there directly from work Monday - Thursday and I get there at least once on the weekends when we stay home.  I have not, however, been good about getting some exercise in when we are at the lake for the weekend.  I am resolving to get better at this.  And to loose it for good.  Slow and steady.

2)  De-clutter certain areas of disorganization - especially old cooking magazines.  (this DOES NOT include Everyday Food, of which I am only lacking about 5 from the beginning, or Cuisine Magazines.)  Cooking Light recipes are all being saved on Pinterest.  Possibly work through a couple of my favorite cookbooks and give a review...

3)  Get better about planning meals ahead.  This includes batch cooking for the freezer and possibly doing a big cooking day every few months.  My hubby has been great about cooking since I have been going to the gym, but he needs to get there too, so crock-pot, made ahead meals and easy things for him are on my agenda.  Also, planning meals using pantry items instead of buying all ingredients.

4)  Spend more time here.  I have been negligent and that really bothers me.  I like it here, that's why I started this blog.  I want to get on a better blogging schedule.  At least once a week to start with and increase from there.

5)  Make a dent in my reading list.

6)  Complete UFO's in my knitting and sewing que.  Including finishing another quilt and dad's vest.

7)  Make more of an effort to get things on Etsy and work on promoting my shop.

8)  Find a job that i truly enjoy and that makes me feel fulfilled.  Not sure right now what that is, I have an idea, but I'm just not sure how to get there.

Like I said, trying to be realistic.  I think most of these are do-able, but they at least give me something to think about.  I KNOW I won't make it through my reading list (more on that soon), but I've been working through it lately and will share what I've been enjoying.

Apologies....

First of all, I would like to apologize, I have been incredibly negligent when it comes to my little space here.  I have dozens of blogs written in my head right now so I will try to get them typed up and out here in the blogsphere.

I started a new job in April!  (Woooooo Hooooo!)  I also started a workout routine shortly after and have been heading directly to the gym from work every day.  The hubs and I are trying to get into a new routine and I'm trying to get dinners ready or at least prepped on the weekends so we aren't eating at 9pm.

I haven't knit, I haven't been at my sewing machine.  I've read, but that's about it.  Oh, yeah, I read all 4 Twilight books in 10 days.   I read these three books and loved them all.  I'm hoping to get to see The Help next weekend with mom.



































We have been staying home every other weekend or so, but even though we've been home, we've been busy!  We've spent several afternoons and evenings cooling down in our friends pool - thank you Ron and Sheri!  We did the original Detroit taste off between Lafayette and American Coney Island.

We are proud to say that we agree, Lafayette is the winner!  We drove around Belle Isle, because sadly, I had never been there.  It was a fun afternoon!

There was a wedding.  We spend some fun weekends with family and friends at the lake.  My niece is 12 (12!) and she is taller than me by a good inch!  Crazy!  And we celebrated our 3rd Anniversary!  Three years have flown by!  Love ya!

've cleaned out some closets and have several boxes ready to go to good will.  I made enough room in the closet in my sewing room that I was able to move some things around and make more working space.  I can get to my ironing board now!  It's great.

We spent the day at Eastern Market today with my mom and dad and had lunch at Loco, YUM!  Dessert at Cold Stone on the way home.  And I decided that it's time to not only get back here, but to start my second quilt!  I've had this magazine since last summer, I've had this fabric for almost 2 years, and KNEW I would make this quilt with this fabric as soon as I saw it.

So, why on earth has it taken me this long to start it?  I sat down with my cutting mat, circle template and fabric and got to work.  I'm altering it a little because I only had 24 squares of fabric instead of the 32 called for, BUT, my squares are bigger.  So yeah, it's altered a little.  I can't wait to get the quilt top together, because I found a long arm quilter and it's going to her to be finished!

I have some recipes to share and I did finish a few projects that just never got photographed toward the end of winter, so I will be sharing them soon.  I hope to be back on a regular blogging schedule soon!

Sunday stops...

After attending my great uncle's 80th Birthday party, B and I took the route home that we only travel a couple of times a year.  We love coming this way, especially in the fall, because even though our favorite stops aren't far from home, we are rarely up in that area. Our first stop was at the Country Smokehouse in Almont.   They have a great meat counter, jerky and snack sticks, BBQ sauces and packaged goods.  But their packaged goods are GOOD packaged goods.  On our stop there this past Sunday, I was checking out the newest selection of soups they stock.  I wish I would have bought more of this because it was fantastic, but we were a little pressed for time and I just couldn't make up my mind on another flavor.  This company is incredible.  All natural, gluten free, no preservatives and $5.99.  I don't mind spending that on something to healthy.  The company is called Frontier Soups, but don't let the name fool you.  Oh, no.  They also carry Pasta Salads, Cornbread, and Appetizers & Dips.  We brought home the Mississippi Delta Tomato Basil.  It made like 10 cups.  Lots for left over lunches.  All you add is a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes, chicken broth and 2 T. Brown sugar.  Let it simmer for 20-30 minutes and your are eating.  It was so simple.  I made garlic bread and a salad and we were in business!  What a great find.  I highly recommend it!  I also bought 2 different kinds of a crock pot soup brand, so I will be reviewing those soon too!

On the weekends (through the end of October this year!!  Yippee!!!!)  they have their smoker trailer out front with picnic tables and all.

You can order brisket or pulled pork sandwiches, smoked sausages and I can't remember what else, because I never get past the brisket and pork.  As you already know, my dad loves to smoke for a hobby, so we always stop and get some to give him ideas (we really just need him to meet us there some night)  They serve the sandwiches on these great sour dough rolls.  It's so worth it people.  If you are in the area in the summer on a weekend, stop, you will not regret it!  For more info, you can click on the link I gave you above and search the left column for Weekend BBQ!  Dad, if you are reading this, their smoke doesn't hold a candle to yours!  It's good, but yours is way better, you could give them lessons!

Our next stop was at Blake's Farm Market!  I can't believe we made it before the last week of October this year.  I had just bought apples, so sadly, we did not bring any home, but I will be sure to stop again before the season is out.  We got a caramel apple, 2 gallons of cider, and some cider donuts for a treat.  Yum!

Saying goodbye and a new beginning!

It's no secret that I have been having some computer issues lately...  So it finally happened that I had to say goodbye.  After coming home from my week at the lake, I had a few days with no hassle.  That was short lived.  I headed to Best Buy for a cheap Netbook to hold me over until I can (hopefully) afford my Mac.  It's a dream, I know, but I REALLY want one.  Not and I Pad, I already have a my beloved Kindle, but I want a MacBook.  Most of my pics and material were backed up on my external hard drive, but not everything, so I lost a few pics in the process, but nothing entirely devastating.  I am, however having a very complicated time of getting my iTunes on to the new computer.  It's quite frustrating...  quite!

Just a day after we got the computer, we had a couple of tornadoes go through and lost power for almost 24 hours!  Thank goodness the power came back on before the weekend, because our dear friends Marie and John were married that Saturday!  We are so very happy for them and had a great time!  The food at the reception was incredible.  Traditional Italian Antipasta, Soup, Salad, 2 Pastas, beef and the most amazing chicken dish with veggies and potatoes.  And not only did they have wedding cake, but a HUGE, and I truly mean HUGE dessert table with fruit, pies, cakes, candy, chocolate covered everything and an espresso bar!  Wow, the food.  Seriously!  Amazing!

Marie and her dad.  She looks like a princess!

Marie and Kelly

Brian with the newlyweds

Me with John and Marie

The Not-so-Newlyweds!

Happy Anniversary

I love this man.  I think he knows.  I tell him everyday (repeatedly)  but just in case, I'm gonna put it out there again.  Happy 2nd Annivesary Honey!  I want 50 more, OKAY?  I LOVE YOU!

Dear Jon, (Bon Jovi that is!!!)

Your concert at The Palace last night was INCREDIBLE!!!  One of the best I have EVER seen! 

And thanks honey for getting us tickets! 

Here are some pics for you, but I can't figure out how to add video...  if you know, leave me a comment please!  Click HERE to see the rest of the photos!

Oh yeah, and Kid Rock coming out at the end was great!~

Great Concert!

A 90* Turn....Overnight

Gotta love having parents in the travel industry! We were lucky enough to be able to join my parents on the Annual WTCM Cruise this year - 10 years running! We had a wonderful time too! Once we left Florida - 35* on the 9th and 10th of January - and got into the Caribbean, we had beautiful weather. We were aboard the Costa Fortuna and visited St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk.

In St. Thomas, we took a ferry ride about 45 minutes over to St. John and saw Madonna's and Michael Jordan's island homes on the way. We visited the Virgin Islands National Park and saw Cinnimon Bay (Kenny Chesney lovers should know that place well) and donkey's wondering along on the side of the road. FYI - if you ever take the ferry over to St. John's, avoid Margarita Phil's by the Visitor Center. He was less than happy to serve thirsty paying customers some cold beer. We apparently interupted his internet time on eHarmony.com/virginislands! But we got a great pic of dad with the sign. I think we need one like it on the beach!

Michael Jordan's Island Home...

              

  Madonna's Island Home - apparently she comes down to the little patio and lays on her hammock occasionally!

St. John Harbor

Cinnimon Bay - Since this is in a National Park, you can camp in a tent here for $89/day or cabin for $150/day - mom is already planning our next vacation!

Yep, he needs this sign!

It was completely pouring in San Juan, and we had signed up for a tour in El Yunque National Rainforest, so what should we have expected! We got drenched! Brian and I decided to stay wet and had lunch in town at a little place across from the cruise terminal called Kokonuts. We decided to try a traditional Puerto Rican dish called Mofungo. They take green plantains, peel and slice them and then deep fry them (just wait Jodi, it gets better) then they mash the fried plantains with fried pork rinds and mold it into a bowl. They fill this mashed plaintain bowl with any kind of meat that you can imagine... chicken, pork, shrimp, shark. This meat is marinated in garlic and herbs before cooking it with onions and peppers (or no peppers in my case). It's delicious! We then went in search of more t-shirts, hence, getting even more drenched since it started raining even harder.

One of the only good shots I got in the rain!

Grand Turk (or the island of the Turks and Caicos that we were on) was beautiful! White sand beaches, beautiful blue water and sun! You could literally see the entire island from our balcony. Brian went deep sea fishing for Baracudas and mom, dad, and I visited Conch World, where they have launced a rehabilitaion effort to return more queen conch to the waters of the Caribbean where it has been overfished and is quickly becoming extinct! They have THE BEST conch fritters there too. Did you know: Conch is the most popular source of protein in the Caribbean because it is inexpensive and you can use almost the whole thing!!! And... if the male conch gets his thingy bitten off, it regenerates, bigger than before! I learned a lot more at Conch World, but I will keep it to myself! It took about 15 minutes to get there from the cruise terminal. We zigged and zagged all over the place, through the tiny town, past the tiny airport, and down countless dirt paths in a rickety little bus, and you could see the pink and turquoise buildings from our balcony. If you were to take a more "as the crow flies" route, through the salt flats, it would only have been about 5 minutes! We learned that no fruit, not even coconuts will grow on the island because the water and air is too salty. They have lots of palm trees, but the coconuts are really small and they fall off before they are fully grown.

There is a HUGE Margaritaville in the cruise terminal area. I really do mean huge and I would have taken some pics, but Brian had the camera on his fishing trip. Literally this bar is two stories tall and has connected building after building. The gift shop is on one side and you can walk right through the gift shop and right into the pool (no charge) and up to the pool bar and order drinks. And if it's too hot in the sun, you can lay on your hammock at your cabana. No joke! It's a money pit! Crazy! And the drinks were more expensive there than on the ship, if that's possible!

Just a few more random photos for you! Check out all our photos @ www.flickr.com/brikelmilo
Cruise 2010 set on the right hand side!

Me - messy hair pin up job, Bri - sun in his eyes! I think there is a better one on mom's camera!

We had a great time! It was hard to come home to the cold, but the boys were very happy to see us. Jaguar sleeps on top of me in case I try to leave again, and Ruger won't leave my side, AT ALL!

Flavors of Fall

Dinner last night was pretty basic, burgers, but when Brian found the recipe for Nutty Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad in the October Cooking Light magazine, we had to try it, and it was delicious, with the toasty breadcrumbs, the chopped walnuts and the Brussels Sprouts that were a little browned... Yummmm! I love that color green. This recipe would be great for a fall get-together, even Thanksgiving.

So I mentioned a while ago that Jodi had some great fall cookies that needed a little healthful revamping... I have posted both the Before and After versions on Recipes From The Blueberry Boutique.  Try the re-vamped version if you are looking for some healthy alternatives for baking. I used half white flour and half wheat flour in the recipes, also Agave Nectar instead of sugar (you use a lot less sugar and it's much lower on the glycemic index too!) Thanks for the recipes Jodi, I had a lot of fun testing them!

Bri did as directed and got me a bucky this year!  It's all cleaned, vacuum sealed and waiting in my freezer for winter!

I am making a venison stew in the crockpot for dinner tonight, I will let you know how it turns out! Also, if you have any receipes that need re-vamping, send them on! Here is a little cuteness for you too, they were being nice to each other yesterday, unlike today where Ruger keeps walking on Jag and claiming the warm pillow...he's living up to his nickname today...shit head!

Have a great day!

1 Year...

Happy Anniversary Honey!  Here's to many more, I love you!

Wow, Have I Been Busy

It's been busy around here over the past week! Are you ready for some pictures?

My motto must be "Go big or go home" because I have NEVER made a quilt before. But, last week, I found myself cutting up scraps. Laying a sheet out on the floor and piecing it together. I picked up the rows and am ready to start sewing strips. Yeah, it's about 80" x 80". Tiny! :-)

This is what it looked like layed out. Kind of a summery theme. I love the bright colors.

Here it is in rows. I can't wait to start sewing it!

Mom and I went to the Farmers Market in Port Sanilac on Friday afternoon. The hours are 3-7. Isn't that the oddest timing? We got SOOO much good stuff though!

From left to right: Cinnamon Rolls, Bread from the Van Camp House (a really yummy restaurant in Sanilac) Rosemary Garlic Seasoning (we put it on steaks that night and they were incredible) Fresh Peas, Leaf Lettuce, Red Raspberry Leaf and Lemon Balm for tea, a green pepper and some cucumbers, and sausage seasoning that we haven't tried yet. And not pictured are cookies because we ate them!

We saw this really cute car at the grocery store too, it a Smart Woodie, or something like that... check out the mine surf board! Hilarious!

This freighter was cruising past when we got home and the sunlight shining on it looked so cool! I think I did a pretty good job getting this shot.

My in-laws had a chicken BBQ on saturday and it was delicious. It was such a nice, sunny day, it finally felt like summer and I even got a sunburn!  This is the chicken still on the spit. you can see the whole rig. My father in law and his friend Nikola made it a few years ago.

My father in-law and our friend Ivan take the chicken out.

Yeah, check out the reddness! Just think, one year ago we were only a couple of weeks away from our wedding!

After the chicken at the Milos, we put my parents boat in for the first time in YEARS (like 3-4!!!) We took a quick ride up the lake since my mom had never seen the house from the lake since it was built.

Sorry about the crooked picture, it was a little choppy.

Brian is happiest when he is on the water. It would have been even better if he had a fishing pole in his hand!

After checking out the house, we headed back to Port Sanilac to see the fireworks. Dad and I had seen them from the water when I was in High School, but there wasn't enough room for everyone, so most of the mom's stayed behind and all the kids went. Brian had never seen them from the water either, so we had to go! I got some great pictures!

The Grand Finale! How great is that picture with the fireworks reflecting over the water?

Hope you had a great Independence Day!