I'm Dreaming of Spring

So this winter has been cold. We didn't get a white Christmas, but we have gotten plenty of white precipitation since then. We've had two "significant" snows each bringing in at least 2 inches, the latest of which brought 4. For those further north in and around DC that may not be much, but for us southerners it's too much. I always thought I'd love a winter with several snows, but I'm over it. After a teaser of a warm weekend I'm ready for it to stay. But, go figure that they're calling for snow in the morning, whether it'll stick or not who knows.

Here's a few pictures from the last snow storm we had come through.

What's on the Menu

Last week's Chicken Pot 'Square' was a success without having a pie dish.

Now, thanks to Mom we have a pie dish that we can use to make Chicken Pot Pie a more regular dish.

This week's menu is a little less involved:

Sunday - Roast and homemade Macaroni & Cheese

Monday - Creamed Eggs on Toast

Tuesday - Fend for yourself :)

Wednesday - Potato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Thursday - Burgers and Tater Tots

Friday - Homemade Pizza

Saturday - TBD

No new recipes being tried out this week. I'm trying to empty out the pantry before heading to the store.

Wedding Design Fever

Ok I swear this is the last board I'm doing today! I just can't pull myself away :)

Timelessly Classic

Spring Fresh

I created another wedding inspiration board. I just can't help being drawn to everything wedding!

Vote!

I am entering a contest with the Perfect Pallete blog. Please vote here: http://www.dessy.com/pantone/gallery/ for my Fall Southern Inspired Wedding board! (seen below)

What's on the Menu?

Last Sunday I sat down and began creating a weekly menu. What inspired me I'll never know. But, I was getting tired of the nightly chore to figure out what's on the menu. I don't mind cooking, but I do mind trying to figure out what to make at the last minute. It's either: there's nothing in the fridge or pantry, it's not "hitting the spot," the meat we need isn't thawed out...you get the picture. So, in order to bypass argument and the dread of dinner time, I made a menu.

Last Week's Menu:

Superbowl Sunday - Pizza

Monday - Wine Butter Chicken (despite many substitutions from the original Marsala Butter Chicken, it turned out quite delicious)

Fend for yourself Tuesday (due to late night class)

Wednesday - Spaghetti

Thursday - Breakfast for Dinner, Eggs & Toast

Friday - Tacos & Black Beans

Saturday - Parmesan Garlic Chicken

This Week's Menu:

Valentine's Sunday - Coconut Shrimp & Baked Potatoes

Monday - Shepherd's Pie

Fend for yourself Tuesday

Wednesday - Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Thursday - Salmon Patties & Parmesan Risotto

Friday - TBD

Saturday - Taco Soup

Hopefully, this will eliminate last minute decisions, eating out AND make our dinners a little bit healthier. But, the last bit is hard being a GRITS (Girl Raised in The South, for those of you who don't recognize the acronym) because most recipes call for butter, salt, and/or bacon grease!

We'll see if tonight's Shepherd's Pie recipe turns out as tasty as this one looks:

Stay tuned next week for the menu...

YaYa Sisterhood

Ever wonder who your true ya-ya sisters are? Like the movie- those girls who are your friends through thick and thin, those girls who act the same toward you whether you see them every day or every 5 years, those girls who don't care if you call or not.

It seems like since I've graduate college those answers are becoming clearer. It's hard entering the real world and finding the time or energy to pick up the phone to gossip and catch up with old, or new, friends. When my feet hit the floor at home after a long day at work I just want to relax and would prefer to not be on the phone at night after being on it all day at work. But, that doesn't mean I don't think of calling or wonder how my friends are.

Not only do I have the non-energy to call, but I don't have the physical capabilities of visiting or attending every get together due to distance or transportation. These barriers don't diminish my interest or bond I have with certain friends. However, the barriers seem to affect the others within the scenario and push them away. It seems as if my assumed ya-ya's aren't who I thought.

I'm realizing more and more who I can count on and who I relate to more. But, those girls aren't within a close proximity to call up and see about grabbing coffee. Living away from my hometown doesn't make it easy. But, those I would call aren't necessarily living back at my hometown, or are from my hometown for that matter. Thank goodness I have my best friend & husband under the same roof, but sometimes a girl just needs some girl time!

Hopefully this upcoming move and transition will open some doors to girlfriends I can call up to grab that cup of joe with. Then, I hope too that I'm able to plan a couple of girly beach getaway weekends for some out-of-Savannah ya-ya's since I will be conveniently located near the beach!