Thirsty Thursday

This week's Thirsty Thursday is a small cocktail, and by small cocktail I mean it is a shot.  I'm not a big shot person and I've decided most shots can be turned into cocktail form by putting it in a martini glass.  However, we kept it traditional this week.

Our cocktail is the Kamikaze.
It includes 1 part vodka, 1 part triple sec, and 1 part lime juice.  Shaken over ice and poured into a shot glass.

 

Cheers!!!

 

 

Elizabeth's first snow!

Last night (in the middle of the night) we got between 1-2 inches of snow.  Because it has been in the 20s for the last four or five days the snow stuck to the road, the trees, the grass, and all over my car.  Luckily, we got a 2-hour delay for school and so we all slept in a little bit and then enjoyed a relaxing morning.  After school I picked up Elizabeth and we went home and met up with Ben and changed into our snow clothes so we could take Elizabeth out in the snow.  This was Elizabeth's first time "playing" in the snow and she really enjoyed herself.

Mom and Elizabeth playing in the snow! 

 Elizabeth is loving the snow.

Dad and Elizabeth playing in the snow.

Herb Roasted Chicken & Vegetables

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a cook.  Since getting married I have tried numerous new recipes and have even mastered a few.  This past weekend I found a new recipe in the newspaper with my coupons and tonight I tried it out.

It is called Herb Roasted Chicken & Vegetables.
It calls for:
4 to 6 bone-in chicken pieces (I used 3 bone-free chicken breasts)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1.5 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic salt
4 medium red-skin potatoes, quartered (I used 2 red-skin potatoes, and I cut them in eighths)
1 medium onion, cut in eighths
1 packages (8oz) peeled baby carrots
Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil

PREHEAT oven to 425 degrees.  Line a 13x9x2-inch pan with Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil.  Place chicken pieces in pan.  Brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil.  Combine basil, rosemary, and garlic salt in medium bowl; sprinkle 1/2 of the herb mixture on the chicken.  Add remaining olive oil, potatoes, carrots, and onion to bowl with the herb mixtures; stir to coat.  Arrange vegetables in an even layer around chicken.  Cover dish with sheet of foil; fold back one corner of cover for heat circulation.  Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until vegetables are done and meat thermometer read 170 degrees.  Carefully remove cover.

Coming out of the oven.

Dinner time!

 

 

Enjoy your dinner!

Hockey is back!

In our house, we love us some hockey.  So... since the strike has been going on for the last 3 1/2 months we have been missing out on our hockey watching (now, it really has been football season up til now, so I'm kinda okay with hockey just now starting).

However, this weekend we watched our first Pens game of the season and my two hockey lovers were outfitted perfectly for the Pens defeat of the Flyers (3-1).

Ben and our hockey loving daughter.

 

Custom Penguins jersey from Nana and Pap Pap.

 Intently watching the game.

 

 

Go Pens!!!

Favorite Things

It has been so cold outside and I have been cozying up with a few of my favorite things to keep warm and stay comfortable.

Here are some of my favorite things that I am enjoying everyday:

For breakfast every morning I eat 2 of these wonderful Special K bars.

I say wonderful because I love chocolate and now I start my day with it!

 

I got these snowflake pajamas from Victoria Secret last year.

I bought them to wear after Elizabeth was born.

However, they did not fit or come anywhere close to fitting.

But...since I've lost 22 pounds- they are now a little too big.  :)

This lotion is great on my dry skin. 

I love vanilla lotion, but the black raspberry vanilla is something special!

I've been drinking diet coke like crazy.

So... in order to drink more water at home, I've been filling this cup up twice a night.

Eleven months!

Dear Elizabeth,

You are 11 months old today!

(You did not want to take your picture at all.)

You are 11 months old today!  And this month, just like all the other before it, I will write how I can't believe how fast it's gone and how much you have changed and grown in one month.

Your personality is starting to shine through and you are so full of spirit, laughter, and love.  You are the most wonderful part of our day and we love spending every free minute we have with you. 

This month, you travelled to new, far away places such as South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and the Florida Keys.  We stayed in Marathon, Florida for your first Christmas and even made a day trip down to Key West.  You loved every minute of your Christmas vacation and spent most of your time in the pool (when you weren't napping).  You met your cousin Jayme for the first time.  You were terrified of the ocean and the beach, and we are definitely hoping you outgrow that fear.  You also celebrated your first New Years by sleeping all night.  Yay!

This month you are standing up, crawling, and cruising everywhere.  You love to stand and every time you do it, you look at us with big eyes and a huge smile.  You have started laughing at everything and love to play with all of your toys.  You love to crawl over to your box of toys and pull it on it's side and then pull every toy out one by one.

You have started eating Cheerios, cheese, avocado, bananas, and toast.  You LOVE cheese and toast for dinner, but we try to make you eat your fruit and veggie first.  On the baby food side, you still like Chicken and stars the best, but we think you are starting to outgrow the baby food.  You still love yogurt melts and puffs.  You still get four (6) ounce bottles each day. You have started to not eat a lot of lunch but I am hoping that changes this month.

I have started pulling your hair up with a pony tail on top of your head to keep your bangs out of your face.  You desperately need a hair cut but I just can't do it before your first birthday. 

You still wear size 3 diapers, 12 month clothes, and size 4 shoes.  You have started talking more and you say, "mama"and "dada"and "red".  We are trying to teach you "uh-oh" but you just say "uh-uh".

This month you got sick for the first time, you had a fever (101).  Dad took you to the doctor and then stayed home with you all day to help you feel better.  I did not like you being sick and had Dad put you in the pack n play in our room so we could watch of you while you slept.  You and your Dad slept great and I woke up every 20 minutes to make sure you were okay...

Our sweet, beautiful, smart girl- we love you more then you will ever know.  We are so proud of you and cannot wait to celebrate your first birthday with you.

We love you!

Mom & Dad

PS. Below are some pictures of your adventures of the last month:

Finally, a smile!

Her prayer bear.

 

Playing with Emmie and Ellie.

Lots of pianos!

Stacy & I trying to get a group photo.

In Marathon, Florida.

 Duck tastes good.

 Merry Christmas!

 This is what she did every day... played in the pool.

 Opening more presents!

 In Key West, at the Southern most point in the US

Back at home, opening more presents!

Let's Go Gamecocks!!

 

Pulling toys from the toy box.

 

I love this sweet girl!

 

First cell phone.

Drinking milk from a big girl cup.

Who doesn't love chocolate?