Lazy and happy weekend...

After the constant holiday spending-time-with-others, Lee and I decided to spend Friday night alone and have date night. What is funny about married date nights is, you don't need all the sparkle and grandeur that you may have wanted when you were just dating.
So we cooked dinner at home. Steaks and Broccolini with pecans.
The seasoning on the pan with the steaks is Chicago Steak Seasoning from Penzey's Spices here in Houston. I LOVE that place. Everything is actually reasonably priced and sooo fresh and fragrant. You can shop from home here.
I have a new favorite thing that I keep in my freezer at all times. I find that when a shortcut introduces itself that in no way impacts the flavor or integrity of my meal, stick with it. So while at Spec's on Washington, I found these:I love that i can pull them out of the freezer, shake them into the pan, and DONE. They still taste wonderful. This and the pre-diced garlic are my favorite go-to's, especially on the weeknights when messing with garlic just isn't on your list.
After all that, we went on to Blockbuster and rented 2 movies, hit Kroger for popcorn and frozen yogurt, and then snuggled up and just enjoyed being alone.
Our dogs love bedtime. All you have to do is say it and Lola runs and jumps in the bed and Teddy goes and waits to be put into bed (he has not figured out the steps). I walked in the room after getting ready for bed and saw this....I swear she is a person.
Yesterday we bit the bullet and went to see Marley and Me at the movies. Great movie, but the ending nearly killed me. It took me a good hour to get over it. Worse is going to the grocery store afterwards and everyone looking at me because it looked like i had been socked in the eyes and my nose all red. I recommend the movie, but I say watch it at home where no one has to see you cry like a baby.
When we got home I went out back and stood at Luther's spot and thought about him. His collar is in my nightstand and his picture is on the fridge. He was a great boy and next month will be 3 years since I lost him.
And now I have 2 little furbabies that run around and keep me going. They are wonderful pups and I hope they are with me 15 years or more (can I ask for forever?).
We had dinner with my boss, Alyse, and her husband last night which was fun. Teddy was a little freaked out by Alyse because she is pregnant, but they calmed down and we had a nice time visiting. I had the worst headache because of the crying and skipping lunch (had a late breakfast). When they left I curled up on the couch and finished a book and then slept really well all night.
Now it's Sunday, "Kitchen Day." I have pesto bread going in the breadmaker and Jen and Dave are coming over for dinner tonight. I found a great recipe in Martha's Food magazine this month. Each month she does a "Cookie jar." This time it is "Chocolate Sweet Hearts" and are only 47 calories a piece! I will probably start on those soon so they are fresh for dessert with a small scoop of coffee ice cream.
This weekend was exactly what Lee and I needed!

New Years -- Bust

Most New Years, we just have people to the house and drink and be in our PJ's. I have to say, the last 2 years in a row have been pretty sorry New Years Eve's.
Last year: we went to Flying Saucer Downtown, and while I was fun being with people, it was expensive and we left before midnight.
This year: Don, Donald, Jimmy, Ben, and us hung out at our house. We started by serving dinner (steaks, orzo), and then moved on to board games. I was in a bad mood when the night started, then Lee got in a bad mood because there was a sudden influx of dogs when people came over (we had 5 dogs at once). Then Don was grumpy as we played the games. Kyla came over as we were playing Munchkin. Then ChiChi (Jimmy's dog) pooped on the house and Lee got mad b/c he stepped in it. Jimmy got mad and left.
Then Ben came over after all this and we played Scene It. Don was in a better mood and Ben tried his best to lift the mood overall. We stayed up until after 1 (Lee and Ben stayed up until after 4!).
I got up at 10 and made breakfast/brunch. Then Donald, Don, and I played another version of Munchkin for about 3 hours! They left to get cleaned up. The house was very quiet after that!
The saddest part was taking down my Christmas stuff! Then I took a shower and got ready for everyone to come back over for dinner!
Everyone was in a much better mood and got along great.
I hate that we all were so tense with eachother at the party but I guess that happens sometimes.
Tonight Lee and I are turning off our phones, locking the doors, and hiding in our house to be alone for the first real time since Wednesday!
I hope everyone else had a better NYE!

Happy 2009!

Coffee makes my world go 'round

Yesterday I got up and made coffee, just like I do every morning. I poured it into my travel mug (thermos?) and noticed that no matter how I put on the lid, it leaks. So when I take a drink, or when I am walking, it leaks everywhere. That sucks. So I stopped at Starbucks on the way in (which negated the purpose of making coffee because I had to stop...) and talked to them about my cup. They were very nice and only charged me the difference for my new cup (i got a nicer one).
I poured my coffee into it and got in the car. I open it, drink, put it back. I then start fiddling with my iPod cord and knock the dang mug over - and it spills on my pants. Because I did not shut the lid.
All this - because my cup was leaking.
And it was Monday.
Welcome back from the Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas for us this year was a few days long! We had our holiday party on Saturday, the 20th, and then the next day, Donald, Don and Jimmy came over for our presents exchange. The problem is, they brought the presents over the night before so I had to look at this all day:The anticipation was killing me! Lee and the Donald's went out shopping for me right before. So finally they came over and we all opened gifts. There were presents inside stockings and everything! I gave Lee an iPod Classic (120GB) and it was in his stocking for 2 weeks and he had no idea! He loves it and we used it all the way to Kansas. Lee got me a Cole Hahn brown leather purse and wallet! I LOVE it! I also got an iPod speaker thing from Donald so I can play the ipod at my desk. SWEET.
Christmas Eve we piled in the car and drove up to Chetopa, KS. Population: 1,200. I swear it is more like 500 people. The drive is about 9.5 hours because of the stopping for gas and food. I put all the pictures on my Picasa but here are a few:

Lola in the backseat looking precious!Teddy on the way back, looking handsome!Lee ready to shoot guns on the farm!Me ready to shoot the gun. That sweatshirt is not flattering at all! :)

All in all we had a great trip. To see more pictures go to my Picasa Albums here!
Now I am off to the grocery store and I plan on making fresh bread for dinner tonight and of course, a pie or something yummy for dessert!

Party '08

This weekend we had our first Holiday bash. It went very very well!
I woke up Saturday sick with head cold, which was HORRIBLE timing! I basically slept all day and tried to rest. I finally showered around 6 and started helping with a little of the food.
Around 7:30 people began to show up. Donald, Don, and Jimmy came first. Then Carlin and Damon, then Tony, then Jennifer and Dave, and finally Sara and Robert. Everyone had a wonderful time, I had a glass of wine or 2 (even with cold meds!) and everyone left happy, full of yummy food.
Tomorrow we leave for Kansas! I will take tons of pictures while we are away!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Stress Induced Cleaning Pays Off

I am not only planning a party for this weekend, a pretty nice one at that, but I am very very busy at work.
Today I left at 4:30 and brought work with me so I could run to Coscto for party supplies. I did really well and walked out there at $150, which is hard to do! I got some serving platters, cups for the soup, plates, flatware, baggies baggies and more baggies, tupperware, 1 bottle of wine (it was $8, i couldn't help it!) and steak for the satay. I may have bought too much but my thinking was - what we don't cut up I can freeze for later, right?
I get home at 5:45 and go out in the garage and start breaking down a million box's that have gathered. Beer, gift, water, misc box's. I got that tidy'd up for big trash day on Friday. Then i started unpacking and organizing my costco stuff. Then i tore the stickers off 15 wine glasses and put then in the dishwasher on the fast cycle. Washed a few pans that were in the sink, changed clothes, picked up the living room, started laundry. I looked - it was 6:20! I must have looked like a whirling dervish!!
Now I am eating dinner and working on my coffee table while watching tv.
I am starting to feel a little less stressed....

Happy Birthday Bean!

Today is my sweet Bean (Lola's) 3rd birthday!