The Weekend Blend

Hiya Everyone! How was everyone's weekend? Mine went by waaaay to fast! (As does every weekend!) Christopher and I decided to try out this Chicago-styled pizza joint in town called Chi-natti's. Outcome = Two Thumbs Down. I've had Chicago-style pizza before and it was quite delicious and definitely didn't taste like what we ordered. Ohwell...we tried. Wait...uhm....what I meant to say was "Thanks for dinner, Christopher!!" Haha. ;)

I ventured downtown on Saturday night to get a few drinks with my friends Kristen, Joe and Sonny. It's never a dull moment hanging out with Joe, especially since he orders rounds of shots every 5 minutes! Sheesh, Joey...you are a machine!! :) And I loved how at one point you yelled out "Can we please go to KFC?! I'm craving the original recipe!!!" Haha.

And then there was also some lounging by the pool and ping pong games at CV's friends house on Sunday. And we ofcourse finished the Sunday off by watching Keeping up with the Kardashians! haha. How was everyone else's weekend? I hope it was fabulous.

P.S. Doesn't Paisley have the cutest little smile? I just adore her little sunshine face. :)

The Bi-Annual Bath

Despite what you might know/not know about dogs, not all dogs can be bathed on a regular basis. All my dogs growing up needed to be bathed monthly, if not more. However, my sweet, low-maintenance, Paisley Grace, has a delicate coat and can only be bathed twice a year or she will be more susceptible to skin problems. Uhm....skin problems?? No thanks!! (I've got to protect Paisley's money maker!)

So...this past weekend was finally BATH WEEKEND!! I definitely look forward to a smell-good-pup but Paisley was not too excited. Not only did she shake the entire time but she also tried to jump off the kitchen counter atleast 3 times to make a run for it.

Sorry for raining on your parade, Paisley! On a happier note, you currently smell like delicious coconuts and are bath-free until February. (Unfortunately, your weekly teeth brushing is still as scheduled!)

Top 2 Tuesday: Biggest Indulgences

It's Tuesday, again? Sheesh!
Top Two Biggest Indulgences:

1. Traveling - By far, my biggest indulgence is traveling. It's my favorite thing to do and one of the only things I think is "worth the money". I love booking my flights and planning the trips early so I have something to look forward to! It's exciting for me!  So far this year, I've been on a few roadtrips to Lousiville, Columbus, and Memphis...and have taken longer trips to Raleigh, Los Angeles, Hollywood, San Diego. I plan to go to Memphis (a few more times), Austin, TX, another trip to San Diego and Chicago before the year is over.

I'd much rather go on a few trips then have material things, anyday! I mean, how many memories can you really have with that designer handbag? ......uhm....Exactly. :)

2. Designer Handbags! (Haha...no just kidding).

2. Sushi - So lately, I have been eating sushi at least once a week, if not more. Mmmmm...I just can't get enough of it. It's sooooo satisfying! And it's definitely a benefit that the best sushi restaurant (in my opinion) in Cincinnati has half-prices sushi from Wednesday through Saturday nights. (Which is why I eat there 1+ times a week!) Uhm, hello delicious food and hello cheap bill! I like you both.

If you want to participate in Top 2 Tuesday, visit The Undomestic Momma.

The. Best. Rose. Ever.

I just wanted to share a picture of my new flower!

Geezums, that's one huuuuuuge rose! :) Thanks Christopher!

It's 4 feet tall (as you can tell from the wine bottle that is holding it up.

I tried to get Paisley to take a picture with it but I think she was scared of it. So, I improvised and held her up. Hahaha. She still looks frightened, doesn't she? :)

Oh, and last night was dinner & game night with some of our friends! Results are in: I suck at Monopoly, but it was still a fun night! Now....it's time for the weekend!! Yippee!!

Top 2 Tuesday: Movie/TV Characters

Oops, I've been slacking on my Top 2 Tuesdays, so I thought I would participate this week! This weeks subject is: Top 2 Characters You Would Want To Play on a TV Show or Movie! Hummmmmm. Let. Me. Think.

1. Nora (Jenna Dewan) in Step Up. Haha. I'm amused by my own answer to this but honestly I love dance movies/dance shows/etc. And Jenna Dewan is awesome in this movie AND it doesn't hurt that her dancing partner in the movie is Channing Tatum either. (Uhm yeah, that probably swayed my decision a little.) Oh...and she ends up marrying Channing in real life a few years after this movie too. So...yeah. That could have totally been me! :)

2. Kim Kardashian in Keeping up with the Kardashians. Okay Okay. I'm cheating a little on this one since she is not a "character" persay. But she does have an exciting life and is smoking hot!! Can someone please tell me where she gets her hair extensions and fake eyelashes??? I want some! :)

To participate in Top 2 Tuesday, visit The Undomestic Momma!

I Play Games

Since I know everyone is dying to hear about what I did this weekend...I guess I will tell you! Ha :) Well, Friday night was my departments Annual Reds Game Outing! So my boss...my other boss...and my other coworker (and all of our guests) all ventured out to the ball park to watch the Reds take on the Marlins.
Our company Reds Suite is quite nice (especially when it's all-you-can-eat-and-drink) and it is right behind home plate! (And...gotta love the ice cream cart that stops by at the 4th to make sundaes and the candy/dessert cart that stops by at the 7th for a sweet treat (or shot of chocolate liquor!) It was a fun night, followed by some amazing Reds Fireworks...and I even got a free Reds Jersey out of it! (Thanks room attendant, Jeff!)

Saturday night was sushi and game night!! (Uhm, two of my FAVORITE things!!) A few of us went to Ichiban to partake in their half-off sushi night! (Order the Volcano Roll, please!!) And then we drank wine and sake all night and played Catch Phrase (fun), Taboo (more fun) and The Game of Knowledge (yawn!) I ofcourse was the champion of the night. For those who have never played me in Taboo...be scared! I just wish Steph was there so we could show off. We. are. the. best. taboo. partners. ever. FACT.

And Sunday night my dad was in town (well, an hour away) for work, so we met up for a little dinner and conversation! I don't get to see him that much so it was a nice little ending to the weekend.  Ohyeah, and I can't forget the pretty flowers from Christopher!! Love the colors!!

Xoxo!

Mexican Fiesta Dinner Night

Last night was Mexicana Fiesta Night en mi casa! On the menu: Cheesy Beef Enchiladas, Hard Tacos, Red Peppers stuffed with Mexican Rice, chips, salsa and Rotel queso dip and ofcourse Strawberry-Lime Margaritas! Yummmm!! (I'm still stuffed!)

Beef Enchiladas & Beef Hard Tacos Ingredients:
1.5 lb. Ground beef
1 jar (16 oz.) Salsa, divided
1-1/2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1 pkg Taco Seasoning Mix
4 Flour tortillas (6 inch)
4 Hard taco shells
Lettuce

Directions Enchiladas:
Heat oven to 350°F. Brown meat in large skillet; drain. Return meat to skillet. Add 1/2 cup each salsa and cheese; mix well. Spread 1/2 cup of the remaining salsa onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish. Spoon meat mixture down centers of tortillas; roll up. Place tortillas, seam-sides down, in baking dish. Top with the remaining salsa and cheese. Bake 20 min.

Directions Hard Tacos:
Put hard taco shells in oven at 350°F for 5 minutes. Take out and spoon meat mixture into hard taco shells. Bake 350°F for 10 minutes. Top with lettuce, salsa and cheese.

Stuffed Peppers:
I just bought a box of Mexican Rice and prepared on the stovetop. After it was done, I cut a red pepper down the center, removed the seeds, and stuffed with the rice and topped with salsa. Put in a baking dish and fill with white wine or water. Bake 375°F for 20-30 minutes. (I only baked mine for 20 and the pepper probably should have gone for 30! Oops!) Ohwell, good thing peppers are still good raw and I mainly did it for presentation and not necessarily to eat the pepper! :)

Rotel:
If you don't know how to make rotel, you have problems. Buy a can. Read the back.

I've got a weeks worth of leftovers in my fridge, who's hungry??? Yes, I have plenty of margaritas too!! I know my girl Candice wishes she lived closer to me!!! :)

Year Numero Tres & a Snapshot of August

This week marks YEAR THREE that I have lived in Cincinnati. Sheesh...time has definitely flown by! Who would have thought I would have stayed in Cincinnati this long??? Not me. Not my family. Not my Memphis friends. Not even my Cincinnati friends. But...I am suprisingly still here.

It's crazy how everything changes, how you never know where you will end up, what you will be doing, the people that will come into your life, etc. I definitely didn't expect to be in Cincinnati for so long, I didn't expect to be doing what I am, and I didn't expect to meet some of the people I did. Which makes me wonder.... where will I be three years from now???
WAIT, on second thought, let's NOT think about being THIRTY! Yikes! :)

On another note, it's August!!! Hummm, I wonder what my August has in store. My sister's birthday, (Hi Elizabeth, Happy Birthday!!) Another night in the company Reds suite for a little baseball get together (Hi Free Food and Booze!!), Celebrating my friend Ashley's birthday (Hi Ash!!) And lots of other stuff that you will just have to wait, read, and see!
Happy (belated) August, all!

Miller Time

That's right, people. Miller was in town AGAIN for the third time in the past two months!!! Lucky Me!!! I'm always so pumped to see this boy's face....but I was more pumped this time because he was bringing along his lady friend, Annie, too. It was the perfect little Sunday afternoon.

I scooped the two up at their hotel and took them to Hofbrauhaus in Newport, KY. We sat outside in the sun for a while, then came inside and enjoyed the live music...and even stood on the table and did the chicken dance! Haha. So fun!

Afterwards, Christopher met up with us and we all went to dinner at The Rock Bottom Brewery downtown. Good day. Good Conversation. Good Peeps.

I miss "Millie" already! :( Come back!!!

Simply Lasagna

This weekend, I decided to prepare a nice lasagna dinner! Sometimes, I'd much rather stay in and cook rather than going to a restaurant...and Friday was one of those nights! I must say, I've always wanted to make lasagna but I honestly thought it would be too difficult. (I'm an amature cook...I. must. take. baby. steps!) BUT it was actually quite easy and turned out great!! I was kinda impressed with myself. Go Me! :) I also prepared a ceasar salad, garlic bread sticks and also had tiny bowls of marinara sauce for dipping. Oh, and ofcourse we had wine!

Ingredients:
1lb Ground beef
2-1/2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 container (15 oz.) Ricotta Cheese
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 Egg, beaten
1 jar (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
12 Lasagna noodles, uncooked

Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat. Meanwhile, mix 1-1/4 cups mozzarella, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan, parsley and egg until well blended; set aside. Drain meat; return to skillet. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Add 1 cup water to meat mixture; stir until well blended. Spread 1 cup meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with layers of 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup meat sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce and cheeses. Cover with greased foil. Bake 1 hour or until heated through, removing foil after 45 min. Let stand 15 min. before cutting to serve.

I should have taken a picture of the entire dinner, but unfortunately I only remembered to take a picture of the lasagna as I took it out of the oven. Doesn't it look tasty??? Mmmmm....melted cheeses! :)
Oh, and we dined by candlelight...#33 Cook someone special a candlelit dinner checked off my 101 list!!