The Perfect Kitchen

Realtors like to say there are two things that sell a home: the kitchen and bathrooms. I think this is true, because every time Ben and I are scoping out a new nest, those are the first rooms we look at.  If the kitchen is ugly, you can usually bet I won't be sold on the place. So! I thought today we could talk about what I think makes a great kitchen. 

First and foremost, and I cannot emphasize this enough: I. Need. Counter space! We live in a small apartment at the moment, and while it is a nice place, I can't wait to be in a house so I have some breathing room in the kitchen again. It's not just for work space, I also have canisters, cookbooks, and some small appliances that need room too. I think this kitchen has the right amount. 

  

This kitchen also leads me to my next point: openness. I love a kitchen that is open to the living and dining areas! This makes the space feel larger than it is, and I don't feel like I'm separated from the rest of the family while I'm cooking.  

I also love the island in this kitchen! I've always wanted one of those. I really like the antique white cabinetry as well. It fits my style perfectly. And who doesn't love granite countertops?!

  

I believe that every beautiful kitchen needs a window. Natural sunlight has a way of cheering me up, and it makes me want to be in the room. My grandmother has a window in her kitchen, just like the one above. I've always loved it and I think it would be great for a kitchen herb garden. I also love the wood trim above this window as a replacement for a traditional valance. 

Now, let's talk flooring. I'm not a huge fan of tiled kitchen floors. I'm not sure why, since I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with a tile floor for the kitchen, it just doesn't appeal to me. I am, however, a huge fan of hardwood floors! 

  

I think this hardwood is the perfect shade! Not too dark, not too light, and it's a nice warm color. This is the look I want in my dream kitchen. 

And last but not least, I like quirky decorations. Not something too weird, just what you don't see every day. So when I came across this on Pinterest today, I fell in love. 

  

Muffin tins, pie plates, and bundt pans hanging on the wall! So clever and cute! I will definitely be using this idea in my next kitchen. I would love to do this with some antique cookware! 

Thanks for stopping by today! This is my last post for July, and thank goodness for that. I will not miss summer when it's gone this year! See y'all next time. 

A Fruitful Shopping Trip

Today has been great. Sadie (and mommy!) slept in, Ben got a little playing time on his Xbox, and I cooked a good weekend breakfast. Then we had showers and headed out to run our errands.

When we got to the furniture store (Darby's Big Furniture, for you folks in Lawton), I had a  mini panic attack.  The store had been rearranged since our last visit, and I couldn't find the bed I fell in love with! Luckily I spotted it at the back of the store and breathed a sigh of relief.

Mary, the lady who helped us, was so sweet. She gave us a price on the bed that was actually lower than I was quoted previously, and since Ben is in the Army she knocked a hundred dollars off the price of the chest of drawers we liked! As an added bonus, when she checked the store's stock, they actually had a full size bed there. We don't have to wait for it to be ordered, so both pieces will be delivered on Monday. I'm so excited! Seriously. This is like Christmas morning for me!

Here is a picture I snapped of the chest. Pardon the poor quality, it was taken with my phone.

  

For a picture of the bed, please see last night's post. I promised an update, and there you have it! This really takes a burden off my shoulders. I'm so glad we've got the necessities for Sadie's room now. Now I can focus on the fun projects! Like that mirror I mentioned last night....ha! Until next time, thanks for reading, y'all! 

Biting the Bullet

Tonight has been one of those lazy nights. You know the kind. You've done the laundry, the dishes are washed and so is the kid, and the child is tucked in bed. You settle down to enjoy the night, and there is nothing on tv! Nothing going on online either. So...you start window shopping.

Tonight's window shopping was for Sadie's furniture. In a few short months, her dresser will be the baby's, and she is growing up so I want her to have something with more storage, therefore I want her to have a new dresser and a chest of drawers. Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, she still needs a bed.

We decided to go with the wrought iron bed from our local furniture store. We've been putting it off forever, and we just have to bite the bullet and go pay for it.  The price is the best we have found, and they offer free delivery. Always a nice touch! To refresh your memory, here is the bed.

  

See that dresser in the picture? I LOVE it. That fits perfectly with the shabby chic/ antique little girl vibe Sadie's room has. Unfortunately, the thing costs a thousand bucks! No can do. Unless we want ramen noodles for dinner every night.  So, I'm on the hunt for an alternative. Like I told one of my friends earlier, sometimes I wish I knew nothing about decorating or what makes a good piece of furniture! (Not that I'm an expert, mind you, I just have expensive taste!) 

I also want a mirror. One I can hang from a ribbon, and suspend (well...give the impression that it's suspended) from a crystal knob or maybe even an old door knob. I've also thought of finding a pretty "shabby" frame and using it to frame a mirror.  I think I need the basics first before I tackle these projects, though. 

We are headed to the furniture store tomorrow afternoon, so I will update y'all and let you know what we come away with. I think I'll feel better once my little girl has her own furniture. 

Mommy's Salary

Today, as the dishwasher was humming along and the washer and dryer were occupied, I was playing around on the computer and came across a really fun site:

http://swz.salary.com/momsalarywizard/htmls/mswl_momcenter.html

I did the personalizing thing, and found out if I was actually paid for what I do around here, my salary would be $98,590.00! Say what?! That is more money than I've ever made in my life!

This got me thinking, and it made me more appreciative of what my own mom did for my sister and I while we were growing up. She had to work, but she spent the rest of her time taking care of us and our home.  She was (and still is!) a pro at all things domestic. She deserved a higher salary too!

Maybe being a barefoot in the kitchen stereotype from the 1950s isn't so bad after all! If only we could find a way to turn that imaginary salary into reality....

Another post for today, because I'm crabby

I've noticed something lately, and it's really starting to bug me. I think it was triggered today when I saw a Halloween ad on Pottery Barn's facebook page today. People got upset and angry at PB for daring to put up a fall advertisement at the end of July. Really???

Is it that serious people? With school starting next month for some kids, is it really that unreasonable to start seeing fall/Halloween stuff cropping up? Some people even went so far as calling the ad "disgusting." Please. They acted as if PB was forcing them to buy these things, just by making the ad. Have people lost all sense of personal responsibility?

It truly blows my mind that people could get so up in arms over something as simple as a fall ad. It's called self control people...if you don't want to buy something, don't! One of the comments said something to the effect of "this is like someone putting a gun to your head, because things go quickly and if you don't buy now you won't get it. So if I want to throw a Halloween party and want to order something October 1st I'm out of luck." Who waits that long??

Maybe it's because I'm pregnant and easily irritated, I just found all that ridiculous. It's probably ridiculous that it bothers me too though, haha. Anyway, thanks for reading my little rant.  I feel better now!

A Little Perspective

Last night, our internet was down for a while so I decided to turn in early, and read a little in bed. The book I picked up was Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo.

Normally, like most people, I'm skeptical of these "I went to Heaven" stories, but this one seems genuine. I think I find it more believable because it's being told by a child. Jesus said we are to have child-like faith, right? I won't go into details and spoil it for those who are planning to read this book, but I will say that it was a very moving book. If you have recently lost a loved one, this book will be a great comfort to you. I know it was for me.

I finished the book last night as well. It's a quick read. So I said my prayers and fell asleep. When I woke up this morning, I decided it was high time for me to start talking to Sadie about Jesus. I do not want her growing up without knowing who He is.

So, I sat down with her and asked, "Do you know who Jesus is, baby?" And wouldn't you know, my normally stir crazy 2 year old sat perfectly still and looked up at me as if to say..."Well? Are you going to tell me?" So I continued, trying to explain it in a way she could understand. I said " Jesus loves you very much! He is God's son. God sent him to us, so that we could all go to Heaven and see Him, Jesus' daddy." She just smiled and said "Daddy." Not knowing what else to tell a two year old, I just continued to tell her how much Jesus loves her. Now I know it's time for us to find a church out here, so we can get her in Sunday school.

All this reading and telling my daughter about the Lord made me think of one of my favorite praise songs. It's called "I Am" by Mark Schultz. The chorus goes " I am, the fount of living water, the risen Son of Man, the healer of the broken, and when you cry I am, your Savior and Redeemer, who bore the sin of man, the author and perfector, beginning and the end....I am."

Those lines sure put things in perspective, don't they? I'm reminded that He is! He is my savior, and He'll never leave me, no matter how often I fall. When I'm in my darkest moments, He still hears me. And He'll always take me back.

I'm obviously not a pastor, and I know I'm not the best at getting this kind of thing "on paper" so to speak. I just felt so moved last night that I wanted to get this out.  I'm off to crank up some Third Day and get started on my chores for the week. Thanks for stopping by!

Where Will Our Next Home Be?

Since Ben and I were married three years ago, we have moved three times. That's about typical for his rank, since they are constantly in training for the first few years of their career. I've been told Ben's next duty station will probably be our home for the next three years. That will be nice change, to feel settled for a while instead of going to a new place knowing we will be gone within the year.

Ben has been given a list of the available slots for his class. This list of openings is based solely on the needs of the Army and where personnel is needed. So what that means for us is we get to make a "top 5" list of places we'd like to go, out of the available slots. Our list is as follows:

1. Fort Stewart, Georgia

Fort Stewart is our top choice because it's so close to home for us. We would be able to make frequent trips home, and be available for family gatherings and holidays. Fort Stewart is also close to Savannah, which is a city we love and could have a lot of fun in. At Stewart you are within driving distance of the beach as well, which would be nice for the girls. 

2. Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Fort Campbell is our second choice. We have friends that just moved there, so it would be nice to see them again. Also, I've done my research and I really think I would love to live up there. Fort Campbell sits right on the border of  Kentucky and Tennessee. It would be about an 8 hour drive home, so that's manageable.  It's also not far from the mountains and one of my favorite vacation areas, Gatlinburg, TN. Unfortunately, Campbell seems to be the place everyone wants to go in Ben's class! 

3. Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Our third choice is Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC. There are two reasons we didn't put this one higher on our list. One, at Fort Bragg, there is always one brigade on "alert status" at all times. What this means is, if Ben is assigned to the brigade on alert status, he cannot leave the immediate area of post and could be called up to deploy at any time. Two, I have heard some not so good things about Fayetteville. It is affectionately called Fayette-nam, to give you an idea. However, all that being said, Bragg is still super close to home and Ben may not be assigned to the brigade on alert status.

4. Fort Hood, Texas

Even as I'm typing this section, I'm breathing a heavy sigh. I just do not want to end up in Texas. Nothing against Texas, it's just I'm so tired of being in this part of the country.  I honestly don't know too much about this post, other than I don't want to go. By the way, I realize this makes me sound whiny and spoiled! 

5. Fort Lewis, Washington

This is another post I don't know much about.  We put this one on the list because we would rather end up there than at Fort Drum, in New York.  We've heard Lewis is a nice post. 

So those are our choices. Ben is being interviewed by his branch managers this week, and we should know something by mid- August. We've both been nervous since the list came out. We just want to know where we're going. Rest assured, once we have an answer I will be making a post about it so ya'll will be updated. Have a great Sunday! 

Brittany's Book Review

It has come to my attention, or rather....I have decided that this blog needs something. I've noticed my "random, I don't have too much to say" posts are piling up and I don't like that. So, I thought to myself, what can I do to make this blog a little more interesting? And then the clouds opened up and I realized "Duh, Britt...you read!" So today, my dear readers, I would like to introduce a new feature here at the Nest. Brittany's Book Review! (Don't you like the title? Took me all day to come up with that.)

Now folks, I realize I'm no highly acclaimed author, or highly paid editorial correspondent, so please keep that in mind as you read these reviews. These are simply MY opinion on the books, and nothing more. Having said that, let's begin!

My first review is for the best-selling debut novel by Kathryn Stockett, The Help. Normally, I don't read what's on the current bestsellers list. However, after being told about it by several people, I decided to give it a try. I am SO glad I did.

The Help is told from the point of view of several women: Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, Aibileen Clark, and Minny Jackson. Skeeter is a recent graduate of Ole Miss, with a degree in journalism. She is a member of the Junior League and friends with Hilly Holbrook, the League's president and resident bigot, and Elizabeth Leefolt, another league member and employer of Aibileen. Aibileen Clark is Elizabeth's maid. She looks after Elizabeth's children and is a very nurturing character. Minny Jackson is a smart-mouthed and outspoken character. She starts out as a maid to Hilly's mother, but is fired and rehired by Celia Foote, a woman Hilly despises.

Skeeter begins to notice the unequal treatment these maids receive at the hands of their white employers, and while she is afraid of the wrath of everyone around her, she decides to compile a collection of stories told by the maids in Jackson.

This book is wonderful, with a capital W. Everything from the dialect to the character's motivations seemed so genuine that I felt I was actually in the 1960s.  It was as funny as it was infuriating at times...and I couldn't believe some of the beliefs these people held. By the time I reached the end of the book, I felt as if I knew each and every one of the men and women, and I truly felt for them. (The ones that deserved sympathy, anyway.)  This probably sounds a little cryptic, but I'm afraid to give too much away!

With such great character development and a story line that I didn't want to look away from, I easily finished this book in three days. I was actually sad to see it end! I hear that the author is working on another novel, so I will be looking forward to reading it. I'm also looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation of this. I just hope it comes close to being as moving as the book was.

So, a big thank you and muchas gracias to those who told me about this book! I truly enjoyed reading it. I'm not sure how often I will do these reviews. I guess it will depend on me finding the time to finish books! Easier said than done when sharing a house with a feisty two year old.  At any rate, thanks for reading my first one! See y'all next time.

Making New Friends

Happy Friday y'all! Welcome to the weekend. Only one more left for the month of July! Is it just me, or did this month really fly by?

Last night, I went to see the movie Horrible Bosses with some ladies from a meetup group I just joined. The movie was absolutely hilarious! I'm really glad I went, because these ladies were so much fun to be around.

As a stay at home mom, sometimes it's hard to have adult interaction. And as an Army wife, it can be even harder, since we move so often. We don't live on post, so I haven't met many people out here and since I have Sadie I can't always go to the unit functions. That's why I was so happy to find this meetup group!

The ladies were all super friendly and welcoming. I really didn't feel too much like the new girl. I even found out one of them is from SC! It's always nice to meet fellow Carolina girls.

I'm taking Sadie to a tumbling class tomorrow. This is another event organized by the group. I'm excited to let Sadie make some friends too. I feel like she really needs to play with other kids at this age, to develop those all important social skills. I think I'll take her to the spray park next week, and maybe story time at the library too. It's time we got out of this house more often!

I guess that's all I've got for today!  It's another slow news day. Hope everyone has a great weekend, and stay safe in this heat. It doesn't look like it will be letting up any time soon!

Savannah Crab Cakes with Fresh Corn Salad

Good afternoon readers! This week's recipes are, in my humble opinion, what makes a perfect summer meal. They are simple and fresh, and don't take long to make. Meaning, you don't have to stand over that hot stove for too long!

I first made these  crab cakes during a snowstorm in Kansas, believe it or not! I was feeling homesick and had the ingredients, so I thought why not? This recipe is courtesy of Paula Deen.

1 lb crab meat, picked free of shell (you can also used canned lump crab)
1/2 cup crushed ritz crackers
3 green onions, finely chopped, with tops
1/2 cup finely chopped bell pepper (I use red bell pepper)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 egg
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dry mustard
Juice of  1/2 lemon
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
Dash of cayenne pepper
Flour for dusting
1/2 cup peanut oil (I used vegetable and it worked fine)

Mix all ingredients together, except flour and peanut oil. Shape into patties and dust with flour. Pan fry in hot oil over medium heat until browned, for 4-5 minutes. Flip and fry other side until golden brown. Serves 4 to 6.

Now for the corn salad. This is a recipe that my mom has made for years. I always request it for family get togethers! It's delicious immediately, but tastes even better after marinating in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.  The recipe comes to us from Ina Garten.

• 5 ears of corn, shucked
• 1/2 cup small-diced red onion (1 small onion)
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup julienned fresh basil leaves

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the corn for 3 minutes until the starchiness is just gone. Drain and immerse it in ice water to stop the cooking and to set the color. When the corn is cool, cut the kernels off the cob, cutting close to the cob.

Toss the kernels in a large bowl with the red onions, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Just before serving, toss in the fresh basil. Taste for seasonings and serve cold or at room temperature. 

Super easy, right?! Hope y'all enjoy. Stay cool out there! This summer has been a doozy. 

Super Mom

She can leap piles of laundry in a single bound! She can pick up toys and straighten a living room faster than a speeding bullet! She can persuade even the most rebellious toddler to take a nap,she can make beds, she can vacuum the house, and still have dinner on before her husband comes home! She is...super mom!

Ok...maybe that was a bit dramatic. But some days, like today, I really love being a stay at home mom. Today has been very productive at our house. I have managed to get every scrap of dirty laundry washed, folded, ironed, and put away. I've done dishes. I've vacuumed. I got my little monster to take a nap without a fuss. I was able to treat myself to a long shower. I'm even finding time to make a homemade chicken casserole for dinner.

This may not seem like anything out of the ordinary for other women, but for a a woman who is 7 months pregnant and running low on energy most of the time, this is a lot of work! Maybe I'm still nesting.

I think the drive to do all this stems from the fact that I don't want to have a bunch of little things waiting to be done around the house when the baby gets here. I know I'll still have everyday things to do, but if my house is basically clean, I can handle it. (Or Ben can handle it...ha!) Besides, who wants a dirty house when company is over?

I need to thank my mom, once again, for passing that cleaning bug on to me. Anyone who has ever visited my mother's house knows what I mean! Spotless. It took a while, but maybe those OCD habits are kicking in for me too.

Speaking of kicking in, I just heard the dishwasher stop. Time to finish that chore. Thanks for reading today! Be sure to tune in tomorrow, for our recipe of the week! Y'all are gonna love it!

Have We Discussed our Bedroom?

Hi readers! It's a slow Sunday out here in Oklahoma, and as usual for a slow day, I don't have much to talk about. So I thought we could discuss another room in our humble abode.

Our room is still something of a work in progress, but I really love the way it's coming together. I think the direction is sort of coastal meets plantation. We have a sea grass bed (my absolute favorite thing in the room), and a cherry dresser and chest of drawers.

This is a stock photo of our bed. (I'm in the process of washing sheets today, so please forgive me for not taking a picture of ours!) I love that this is coastal without being too "beachy." Also, it suits my style without being too feminine for Ben.

  

For bedding, we have a blue and white palette. This combo looks really pretty against the natural color of the bed. In the summer, we use the painterly paisley duvet and euro shams from Pottery Barn. (Stock photo, again.) This set instantly brightens the room and it just screams "summer" to me. 

  

For the winter months, it's nice to have something a little darker and heavier on the bed. So once it starts to get cold, we switch to Thomas O'brien's pale sky paisley. I got this set for a great price at Target last winter. Unfortunately, the reason the price was so good is because the set has been discontinued. I love the navy and cream tones! (It's a little hard to see them in this photo.) 

  

Now. For this fall, I'm itching to switch things up a bit. I want to add some yellow! I have "fallen", haha- pardon the pun- in love with another set from Pottery Barn. Sunflowers! I saw this in person at the store and liked it even more. 

  

And, of course, I have to change the bedding for Christmas. This is another trait borrowed from my mother. It's such a fun tradition, and I want to continue it. Unfortunately, the set I had picked out for us is already completely sold out! I may or may not have almost cried over this.  Hopefully I will find something else soon. 

If you're still reading this, thank you!! I realize today's post probably isn't nearly as interesting to everyone else as it is to me. I find it helpful to get these things down on paper, so to speak, so I can keep my decorating schemes in order. I get so many new ideas from so many places that it's easy to lose track of them. 

Hope you all have had a nice relaxing Sunday! (Did I really just type 'you all?!' I've been away from home too long, y'all...)  

The Pregnant Lady and the Glass of Water

Today was an adventurous day. Ben, Sadie, and I took a little road trip to Oklahoma City for some baby shopping. The heat was predictably abominable, but we had a great time. The girls got some clothes and we finally managed to settle on a double stroller.  After months of research, this is the one we chose.

  

Not exactly pink and girly but we like the features.  I snagged an outfit for Sadie and some booties for the baby girl, then it was off to the mall. We did some shopping there, and decided we were hungry. So we went to the Cheese Cake Factory. 

...And this is where our story becomes interesting. Sadie was behaving beautifully, and we had just finished eating. While waiting for our check, Sadie decided she wanted to sit with me. We managed to get her to my side of the table just as one of her spider monkey extremities connected with my glass of water. My ice cold glass of water. 

(I should pause here to mention that today I was wearing my favorite pair of linen pants. They are white. I think you need this small detail to truly understand how humiliated I was.)

So there I was, with a lap full of ice water and wearing transparent pants. I said to Ben "How do I walk out of here in see-through pants?!" He and the poor waiter hurriedly mopped the flooded table while I attempted to dry myself. Sadie, of course, found this whole situation hysterical. I think I need to sit down with her and explain the definition of "funny." 

Of course, then we actually had to get up and exit the restaurant. I have never been so embarrassed in my life! People were openly staring at me, although thankfully my maternity shirt was long enough to pull down and keep everything covered. That's when it dawned on me. I was an obviously pregnant woman, with a soaked lap. They thought my water broke! Ben holding Sadie and my arm probably reinforced this notion. I half walked, half waddled my way out to the car and we headed home. 

I guess I'm glad I can find a little humor in this! I would still be dying of shame if I couldn't. I think I'll file this one away in the story vault and save it for retelling when the girls are old enough. It will probably still be hilarious then! 

A Tribute to Lavender

Lavender (n.): 1. a : a Mediterranean mint (Lavandula angustifolia syn. L. officinalis) widely cultivated for its narrow aromatic leaves and spikes of lilac-purple flowers which are dried and used in sachets and from which is extracted an aromatic oil used chiefly in perfumery

b : any of several plants congeneric with true lavender and used similarly but often considered inferior

  2

: a pale purple

(Definition taken from Miriam-Webster.com) 

I think I'm in love with this little plant! I love the way it looks when bundled and dried. In fact, I want some of this for my home. How pretty would this be sitting on a kitchen window sill? 

 

Lavender not only looks pretty, it smells pretty too! It has a very relaxing aroma. Thus, it's used in calming bath soaks and bedtime baby washes. As a mom, I cannot praise this attribute enough! It really helped Sadie sleep when she was tiny. 

  

  

I can't talk about lavender without mentioning how pretty the color is! To me, even this component is soothing. This was the inspiration for our second daughter's bedroom. I wanted something other than pink, so we decided on lavender and green. 

  

I guess you could say I'm obsessed with this little purple flower. I just think it's lovely and underused when it comes to decor.  What is your personal color obsession? 

Mama Needs a Haircut!

Happy Wednesday! We're midweek again, but the fact that I actually see rain clouds outside makes me feel a little more cheerful. We haven't had a good soaking rain since around Easter. Can you believe that?

Anyway, on to the reason for today's post. I need a haircut. I haven't even had a trim since March, for my friends' wedding. My poor locks are in dire straits! Since I'm pregnant, I don't really want to do color, although it's probably ok at this point. I would just prefer to keep my natural color for a while. (Read: easier to maintain with a newborn!)  I've always had shortish hair so styling time doesn't really factor in here, since I'm used to doing it. Here are my picks, in no particular order.

I love how "edgy" this one looks. I feel like this one is really fun, and I love the choppy ends.

  

I like this one, but I'm afraid it will scream "mom hair!" Also not sure about the bangs, since I usually have them swept to the side. 

 

This one is pretty similar to the first one, only with longer bangs and it's asymmetrical. I like the asymmetrical look, just worried about those bangs being too heavy. 

  

Are you sensing a pattern yet? I love the angled look of this one. My only concern is how high it's stacked. Not sure if that's too "bouffant." 

Which one is your favorite? Help me decide! 

New Recipe of the Week: Bad Day Pick-me-Up

Today Ben texted me from work, saying he was having a bad day. So, I decided to make some good down home comfort food for him. Seeing as it's Summer, only one thing came to mind: shrimp and grits.

Being from the south, I was raised on this stuff. However, this was my first attempt at making it myself. I think I did a pretty good job! (Just don't compare mine to my mama's...)

The recipe is courtesy of Martha Nesbit, and was taken from foodnetwork.com. It's really easy to make.  Yields 4 servings.

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 1 large clove garlic, minced

Directions

Bring water to a boil. Add salt and pepper. Add grits and cook until water is absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter and cheese.

Rinse shrimp and pat dry. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until browned; drain well. In grease, add shrimp. Cook until shrimp turn pink. Add lemon juice, chopped bacon, parsley, scallions and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes.

Spoon grits into a serving bowl. Add shrimp mixture and mix well. Serve immediately.

Unbelievably good! I served this with a salad and a nice summery strawberry shortcake for dessert. All told, I spent about an hour making this, so it's great for weeknights. Hope y'all give it a try! 

Captain's Log: Week 23

Today marks the beginning of my 23rd week of pregnancy. This is crazy to me! Time is flying by this time around, thanks in no small part to the the toddler person we share our home with.

This pregnancy has been much easier on me than my first. I've only had one kidney stone episode so far, and my blood pressure seems to be under control this time. I'm also on track to only gaining 35 pounds! (That is, if I can keep this appetite under control!)

The doctors tell me that I have an anterior placenta, which means it is attached in the front, instead of the back. It's no big deal, it just means I only feel baby girl's kicks when they are low. They can be very uncomfortable already, especially since her favorite time to play is when mommy wants to sleep.  She is just like her big sister in that respect!

Sadie has taken to carrying her baby doll around the house and calling her "sister." Melts my heart every time! I can't wait to see her reaction to the new baby. I'm so excited that I get to call them "my girls." I told Ben once that I felt we were destined to have girls, and I guess I was right!

I find it funny that when I was pregnant with Sadie, I told Ben that next time around I wanted to be pregnant in the summer because the clothes are cuter. That may be true, but boy am I getting what I asked for! I've discovered that being pregnant this time of year feels like I have a portable furnace attached to me. Y'all..I sweat in my house! Not the most pleasant feeling in the world. Thank goodness for cold showers, because our a/c can't keep up with the heat outside.

I apologize if today's post seems a little random and scatterbrained. Since I'm running out of pet projects, and the summer is still dragging on, I guess my creative juices are a little sluggish. Maybe I can wake them up with a little road trip to Oklahoma City this weekend. (Ben! hint hint)

Ultimate Vacation Destinations

Summer is the traditional time for family vacations, so that got me thinking today. Where would I go if money, time, and everything else were no object? I'm thinking my list may be quite different than most people's choices.  Here are my top 5, in no particular order.

1. Philadelphia's Mutter Museum of Medical Oddities

http://www.collphyphil.org/Site/mutter_museum.html

I first heard of this place during a special on the travel channel. My interest was instantly piqued. Medical oddities and history in one place? I'm sold! This one might frighten my kids, though. 

2. Gettysburg, PA

Maybe it's because I love anything and everything to do with the Civil War, or because I have an ancestor that lost his life during this battle, but I would love to make a trip to this battlefield. I think Ben would enjoy this one as well. 

3. Salem, MA

I love the history surrounding this place as well. I find it fascinating, despite the tragedy that occurred here. 

4. The Myrtles Plantation, LA 

http://www.myrtlesplantation.com/

There are some very interesting stories about this antebellum plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. It is said to be one of the most haunted places in America. This only strengthens my desire to visit the plantation. 

5.  The Smithsonian 

http://www.si.edu/

I would love, love, love to visit this collection of museums in Washington, DC. It seems there is something for everyone here, including the little ones. It would be an excellent learning opportunity for our kids and Ben and I could feed our hungry minds. 

So, there you have it. My top 5 vacation wishlist. Perhaps one day we can visit these places and I can blog about them. Thanks for reading today, and Happy Saturday! 

Is it really only July??

Yesterday Ben, Sadie, and I ventured out into the heat. And let me tell you folks...this is not your garden variety heat. This is open oven door, satan's back porch, I'm surprised my feet aren't sticking to the pavement heat. The thermostat read 116...yeah. Ben said he felt like he was back in Kuwait!

So anyway, we ventured out. Our first stop was Hobby Lobby. I was in a crafty mood and wanted to do something for the baby. We made our way back to the barrettes and baby items aisle, and unfortunately I was disappointed. I was hoping to find some cute iron-on appliques for bibs or onesies, but everything just looked kind of dull. Dull or cheap. So I gave up and decided to shop for other things.

On our way out of the store, I spied autumn orange from the corner of my eye. I could hear my subconscious saying "Squee! Fall stuff!" So of course I turned the cart and made a bee line for that section.

I could actually feel myself relaxing as my gaze wandered over ceramic pumpkins, scarecrow porch decor, and little "Welcome Fall" door signs. A black and white filigree pumpkin? Yes please! There were vase fillers, leaf garlands, and candles that made me want to go home and bake a pumpkin pie.

Alas, I felt silly buying any of those things in the heat of July, so I left empty handed. It was nice to experience that little mental vacation though. Autumn can't get here fast enough!!

New Recipe of the Week

Hello dear readers, and welcome to another exciting episode of New Recipe of the Week! This week's recipe is citrus chicken with mango pico de gallo. It's great for summer, and can be tweaked to suit many palettes. This one is something I pretty much made up as I went along, so the measurements aren't all exact. Feel free to use more or less of each ingredient to fit your personal taste.

First, we need a marinade. Chicken is so dull without a good soak in the flavor pool. For this recipe, I used a simple citrus mixture.

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tsp lemon zest
juice of one lemon
l tsp minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Whisk all ingredients in a medium sized bowl.  Once your marinade is blended, pour it over your chicken. I used boneless skinless breasts. Any cut will do, however.  Then place your chicken in the fridge for a few hours.

When it's time to cook, heat some olive oil in a saucepan over medium high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook until done and browned on each side. (About 8-10 minutes per side.)

I have to confess that the real star of this dish is not something I made. It's pre-made mango pico de gallo from the produce section at Walmart! It is surprisingly fresh- tasting and really delicious. It's great on this chicken and good with chips too.

When the chicken is finished cooking, simply top it with the pico and serve. So easy right?! I think this recipe would be just as good with a nice chutney instead of the mango pico, or even traditional tomato pico de gallo. Even Ben, who doesn't have the most varied palette in the world, thought this was good! Here is my completely non professional picture of the end result.

  

I served this with some oven roasted potatoes and a fresh salad. The potatoes are super simple too! Again, this isn't an exact recipe, so feel free to adjust it. 

3-4 small to medium potatoes ( I like red skinned or yukon gold best)

approx. 2 tblsp olive oil

salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste. 

 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Chop the potatoes and toss them in a bowl. (I slice them pretty thin so they cook faster and get crisper in the oven.) Add the olive oil and seasonings, and toss to coat. Spread the potatoes in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and bake them in the oven for about 30 minutes. That's it! 

Thanks for tuning in everyone! Happy cooking! 

For My Bathing Beauties

Today is Wednesday, and we are in what I like to call "the doldrums" of the week. It's not Monday, so we can't complain about that, and it's not Friday so we can't celebrate the arrival of the weekend. This gives me a bad case of the midweek blues. So, to pick myself up, I decided to do another decorating post! (I can hear you cheering...haha.)

Today I want to talk about the girls' bathroom.  I have gone ultra feminine in this room, with frills and more frills, and pink. It started with the purchase of a shower curtain.  This shower curtain, to be exact.

The curtain is (of course) from the Simply Shabby Chic collection at Target.  It is very similar to organza fabric, so I had to hang a solid white liner behind it to make it less sheer. I love the frills!

For hooks, I went with another Simply Shabby Chic item. I found these lovely crystal shower hooks that remind me of antique drawer pulls.  Aren't they pretty?! I like how old fashioned they look.

  

After the shower curtain, I knew I needed some coordinating towels. So, once again, I turned to Target and more Simply Shabby Chic. I promise they are not paying me to write this blog....

  

These are the hand towels. I also have the matching bath towels, but apparently I forgot to take a picture of those. I love these because they are so feminine, and they match the shower curtain perfectly.  And have I mentioned the frills?! Having little girls has really affected me! 

Now, on to lighting. Of course the room has the standard vanity lighting and overhead light. But where is the fun in that? Enter the nightlight. 

  

Yes, I shut the door and turned out the lights just for this shot! It's hard to see the details on her, but she's a kneeling fairy, with a serene expression on her face. I picked up this little beauty at Hobby Lobby. I love that she reminds me of Victorian lighting, and since the light comes from inside her pink dress, it gives the room a warm pink glow. 

The only thing missing now is pink bath towels. I'm one of those weirdos that likes decorative towels...and then towels you actually use for drying off. The pink ones will be used while the white frilly ones just sit pretty.  

Thanks for reading today! Tune in tomorrow for our New Recipe of the Week! (I know I just did one Sunday, but hey! It's my blog!) 

Captain Daddy

Today was a very proud day for our family! Ben was officially promoted to Captain. Sadie and I went to the ceremony, and she removed his Lieutenant rank. I'm glad that she was able to participate.

Last night dinner, I told Sadie that Daddy was going to be a captain today. So I said, "Can you say Captain?" She said in her adorable way "cat tan!" We all got a good laugh at that. Then I had an idea. I turned to her and asked "Can you say Captain Daddy?" She excitedly said "Cat tan Dah-ee!" That resulted in more peals of laughter from all of us.

The title has stuck too! She said it all the way to the ceremony, when I told her we were going to see daddy. "Yay! Cat tan dah-ee!" was what she shouted over and over. She is such a daddy's girl, and it warms my heart when she gets so excited to see him.

I am truly thankful that God saw fit to bless me with such a wonderful family. Ben is a wonderful father and a great husband. With our second little one on the way, I think our little family feels complete. So, (since I know you are reading this!)  thank you Ben for all you do for us, and we are so proud of you! We love you!

Let Freedom Ring

Happy Fourth of July to my readers! I hope you all stay safe and have a great time, whatever your plans may be.

I think it's important to remember why we celebrate this day. It's not just about parties, fireworks, and hotdogs. It's about America, the land of the free. And we are free because of the brave! We owe a debt of gratitude to our men and women in uniform, who line up willingly to defend our nation.

So pack up that cooler and head to the water, or fire up that grill and light some fireworks! Just don't forget why we have this holiday. After all, it's America's birthday! And she deserves a celebration!

New Recipe of the Week: BBQ Edition!

Today, I'd like to start a weekly feature for this blog. I think I'll call it "Recipe of the Week" and each week I will find and try out a new recipe, and let my readers know how it goes! I thought today would be the perfect place to start, since I'm cooking for the Fourth of July.

This week's recipe is slow cooker ribs with homemade bbq sauce. As I work on this entry, the sauce is simmering on the stove and it smells delicious! It is so simple to make. You just need to allow yourself a couple of hours for the sauce to cook, as well as about 5-6 hours to cook the ribs.

First, I seasoned the ribs. I personally believe it's a waste of time to cook meat if you aren't going to take the time to add some flavor first. You can probably use any combination of spices you'd like, since this part isn't actually included in the recipe. I used salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

 

After seasoning the ribs on all sides, I put them in the fridge to sit while I worked on the bbq sauce. I mixed the ingredients according to the recipe, and left it to simmer for two hours. (The recipe calls for 1 hour of cooking time, but I found the sauce wasn't thick enough at that point.) After simmering, this is what the sauce looks like. 

  

I then took the ribs out of the fridge and seared them in a pan with olive oil over medium high heat, until they were browned on all sides. (This is something I do to all meat cooked in a crockpot...I think it makes it taste better.)  I tossed the ribs into my slow cooker, along with some sliced vidalia onions and about half of the bbq sauce. I added about 1/3 cup of water also, to make sure there would be enough liquid in the pot for cooking. If I had beef stock on hand, I probably would have used that instead of water.  I poured the remaining sauce into a bowl and placed it in the fridge. I will use this half for saucing the ribs once they are done.

Once you have everything is in the pot, just close the lid and set the heat setting to high.  Allow the ribs to cook for 5 hours, and you've got yourself some ribs...no grill necessary! I'm serving these with some fresh corn on the cob and a salad. 

Here is the recipe! 

For the ribs:

2 lbs of pork ribs

Medium vidalia or white onion

Seasoning to taste

BBQ Sauce 

For the Sauce (Recipe courtesy of Claire Robinson of The Food Network) 

• 1 (7-ounce) jar or can organic tomato paste
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons spicy dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons BBQ seasoning mix
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 4 cups water

Whisk all the ingredients together in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by about half or to desired thickness, about 1 hour.

Cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the refrigerator.

This sauce is good for a week in the fridge, or you can freeze it for up to 6 months. 

Happy cooking y'all, and happy Fourth of July!!