September = Celebrating

After Alex and I returned from our East Coast trip and Columbus we were ready to be home for a little bit. Unfortunately our schedule said otherwise. After having a low key birthday celebration at home it was time for something bigger! I headed to Cincinnati and had a relaxing dinner with two of my friends from college. Alex met up with me later that evening and we had cake and gifts with my parents. I also gave my Dad his birthday gift since it was coming up soon after.

The next morning Alex and I got up early to take part in an Alzheimer's {Association} Walk. It was a great excuse to get up early and get a three mile walk in, as well as a way to support my friend Amy who helps plan the association's walks. So far in our lives our families have been blessed as far as this disease goes, but other families have not been as fortunate. The money raised from events like this help fund research and programs that can help.

Alex's company CE Power Solutions was one of the event sponsors

After our invigorating walk we headed  back to my parents' house for the afternoon. We met our friend's Rob and Tricia in Mt. Lookout Square at The Wurst Bar for dinner. It was their first evening away from their new baby and they did amazing, I was impressed {even if you guys don't feel like it is, you do a great job at making it look easy!}. Everything on the menu features sausage of some kind. Yumm.

As always, our dinner went too fast and then it was time for the next thing on our agenda, the Darius Rucker Concert. We drove the rest of the way downtown to the Horseshoe Casino. It was packed and there were so many flashing lights my brain almost overloaded. We had bought our concert tickets three or four months in advance so we had been looking forward to it for a while. It was a good concert, although a little bit short! We were standing outside the entire time so I didn't mind the length too much.

The next day we went to church with my parents and had a little lunch before heading back home. We had a busy week and then it was time to travel again, this time to Cleveland. We were able to get there a little bit early and considering we had driven quite a bit over the last few weeks the trip went pretty fast. As soon as we arrived we enjoyed a "Friday Night Round Table" as has become the tradition in the Janesz household. Usually when Alex and I, or one of the siblings, is coming in for the weekend everyone gathers around the dining room table on Friday night with a beer and we just talk and reminisce for hours. I love that spending time together is a priority for them. It's so special and I am honored to be part of it.

The next morning Pat took us to his new house to show us around and tell us about his plans for renovating. The place has great potential and I am very much looking forward to seeing what he does with the place. Later that afternoon we got ourselves all prettied up and drove to the Elyria Country Club to see Alex's friend Billy get married. There were a lot of people he knew from his high school years there and it was fun to meet them. It was an amazing wedding ceremony with lots of love and laughter and an entertaining reception as well. As beautiful as it was, and they have all been this year, I was a little glad that it was our last! All that dancing and traveling will wear on anyone after a while {the tally was up to eight}.

After our typical Sunday of mass, brunch and football it was time to head home again. The next weekend we had "off" and we were able to relax and just spend some time together. Alex has been traveling quite a bit for work and is busy during the week with school so it was nice to have some quality time together. We went apple picking and bought some fresh apple cider, pumpkins and pumpkin nut fudge. It was the perfect weather for it and the apples we brought home were gigantic!

The next week brought more traveling for Alex, which unfortunately fell on our three year anniversary. We celebrated the night before with a cookie cake and the same wine we had on our honeymoon in Costa Rica {part of Alex's birthday gift to me}. It's fun to celebrate big sometimes, but I love the low key celebrations and instead having impromptu moments amidst our everyday routine. A little spontaneity makes life feel special. While I feel really proud of our three year anniversary both of our parents have numbers that follow a three. At the beginning of September my parents celebrated 35 years and at the end of the month Alex's parents celebrated 31 years. Something to aim for, wow!

This past weekend we hosted Alex's parents and his brother Pat at our house. I loved planning the menu and coming up with ideas for their visit. If you've read our blog before you know these are some of my favorite things to do! While most of your guests are just happy to see you, I also like to try to make them feel as comfortable as possible while they're away from home. This is the tactic I use to ensure that they come back again and again ; )

Friday night when they arrived we had our "round table" around the kitchen island. After a good night's sleep we all convened for breakfast and then Alex, Ed and Pat went out to golf. Linda and I did a little pilates and then went to a tea shop I've been wanting to check out. We might have also had a little fun shopping for accessories too!

After we all had lunch back at the house we sat out on the patio and relaxed for the afternoon. We had a celebratory dinner out at The Village Idiot {one of our favorite places for beer and food} and then we watched the Ohio State game with a little homemade apple pie and homemade Jeni's ice cream. This morning we went to church and had a delicious brunch before they had to hit the road. It's been raining most of the day since then and it's quite fitting because now the house is so quiet and it's a little depressing. Well, maybe some more pie and ice cream will cheer me up!

At The Village Idiot

Here 10 Tips for Making Your Guests Feel Comfortable:

1. Think about your weekend menu. Make sure you have everything you need and prep anything that you can in advance so you can spend more time with your guests. {Check out this weekend's menu in the next posting}. I also like to take into consideration what we will be doing. For example, I knew we were going out to dinner on Saturday evening so I planned a light lunch.

2. If you're planning on cooking make sure each meal is made up of a few different items so people have something to eat even if they dislike your main entree or have a food restriction you were unaware of. Buffets are a great option because it allows people the opportunity to pick and choose without feeling rude turning you down on certain items.

3. If you're planning on going out to eat make reservations if you can. Be conscious of picking somewhere that fits the entire group, instead of just picking a place you've been dying to check out that only caters to a very specific clientele.

4. Make sure water and drinks are always easily accessible and that you have snacks out {I like apples and bananas}. Your guests don't want to go through your cabinets and may feel uncomfortable asking. I always like to make sure coffee and tea are ready to go first thing in the morning so everyone can help themselves whenever they get up.

5. Provide fresh towels and extra blankets in visible spaces in each room. If you have to set someone up on an air mattress make sure to layer a couple blankets under the sheets to make it a little more comfortable. I also like to provide extra pillows and leave the air pump accessible for them as well.

6. It's always smart to have extras in the bathrooms as well. Extra toilet paper and maybe a few items in the drawers in case somebody forgets something vital. We have a couple soaps and shampoos in the shower and a whole jar in the guest room as well. In the bathroom drawer we have extra toothpaste, a toothbrush, bobby pins, feminine products, a hair dryer etc.

7. If somebody asks you if they can help, let them! Your guests don't want to feel useless or guilty that you're doing all the work. Keep it simple, like asking them to open the wine, or cut up veggies for a salad etc.

8.  You don't have to go crazy planning everything, but it's nice to have a few activity options already thought out so you can all enjoy the weekend without messy logistics. I like to have a variety of activities written down so we can pick in the moment, but still avoid those awkward moments of sitting around saying, "what should we do?", "well what are the options?"

9. Even if you don't have time to do a thorough cleaning of the house, at least make sure it's tidy and smells decent! No one is going to notice if your floor isn't spotless {only you will}. I love to spread out candles and flowers to make the house feel cozy. I also like to turn on the lamps in each room instead of using the overhead lights.

10. Don't get so caught up in the details that you don't enjoy your guests! Make sure they know you appreciate them making the trip!

Girls' Weekend in LEX

As I have mentioned a few times at least, I love having people come to visit! Planning a weekend for our friends is pretty easy because they typically love to do all of the same things that I do. However, I love a good challenge. My visitors last weekend gave me the perfect opportunity to flex my planning muscle and think outside the box a little bit.

My mom and her friend Denise, friends since 5th grade, drove down on Friday night after work. Here's a couple things I prepared prior to their arrival:

1. Planned the itinerary and let them know in advance some of the things we would be doing so they could add their input and have an idea of what to pack (you have to keep a few surprises!)
2. Based on the itinerary I planned a menu and went grocery shopping. I like to have a couple meals outside the house and a couple in the house. Variety is the best way to make sure everyone is happy! I had fresh fruit and homemade chocolate chip zucchini muffins (recipe at the bottom) out on the counter in case somebody got hungry at a non-meal time, or maybe even the middle of the night. The notes were just for me, but in the past I have also printed menus for my guests!
3. Cleaned the house and made sure their beds were all set along with some towels. 
4. Added a few welcome touches! I always have flowers out and yummy smelling candles lit. I'll typically leave out a fun surprise too. In this case I decorated water bottles and also left my mom a picture of her dog curled up, he normally sleeps next to her bed so I didn't want her to miss him!

Denise currently lives in Genoa, OH, near Toledo, so she had a little bit of a drive before arriving at my parent's house in Cincinnati. I knew they would be arriving a little bit too late for dinner so I decided to plan a little dessert outing. When I was younger and used to visit my grandparents' house in Toledo, there was always pie. So instead of a typical summer ice cream outing I decided to go the pie route!

I took them to Ramsey's down the street, which is a local diner. I always try to stick to unique local joints whenever possible. Alex and I shared a black bottom banana pie, my mom had a raspberry bliss pie and Denise had key lime. They were all delicious and we were able to sit outside so it was a relaxing way to kick off the weekend. We went to bed at a reasonable hour to rest up for our big Saturday. In the morning I got up and popped my strata (egg casserole basically) into the oven. It's perfect for weekend guests because you can prep it in advance and save yourself time and clean up in the morning! (recipe at the bottom)

After breakfast on our patio we headed downtown to check out Thoroughbred Park. I had driven past it many times, but had never taken the time to stop! I figured since we didn't have any other horse activities planned it would be a great way to get a little bit of that history in too.

After exploring the park and watching a dog frolic in the fountain we walked over to the Weekly Juicery to get a refreshing and healthy drink. My mom and I had recently been talking about smoothies and juicing so I thought it would be a fun place to try out with her! It was a super cute space and they had some great options, but I'm not sure that I'm on the juicing train. I found most of the drinks to be quite tart and a little expensive, but it was fun to try once! I think I'll stick to my homemade smoothies. 

Afterwards we drove down to the Lexington Farmer's Market and walked around for a while. I bought peaches, pretzel bread and beer cheese, while my mom bought some handmade jewelry and Denise bought a few loaves of bread. After that we were ready for lunch, so we walked down Main St, through Triangle Park to Stella's Kentucky Diner. It's a diner in a old house and the food and homemade sodas were perfect for a hot day. I had ginger mint and my mom had blackberry! 

Then we explored UK's campus and took a guided tour of Mary Todd Lincoln's childhood home. I recently saw the Lincoln movie so I really enjoyed learning more about her life and her family's connection to Lexington. Although it was raining by that time we also stopped by the Henry Clay Estate, Ashland, to check out the beautiful grounds. 

After our long day out and about we drove back to the house to relax a little bit and make dinner. After dinner we loaded up the car with a few chairs and a cooler to head out to the UK Arboretum for a production of Peter Pan. I think outdoor theatre is so neat, especially when you can bring your own wine and snacks! The rain earlier in the day had cooled down the weather and it was perfect for sitting outside. 

By the time we got home that evening I was exhausted to say the least. In the morning we sat outside and enjoyed our backyard along with some conversation before they had to head back home. We had so many fun activities that it made the weekend just fly by! Now I just have to print the picture of Denise and my mom at Thoroughbred Park for my guest book wall, and somehow condense this post into one little paragraph for the back... Another day...

RECIPES

Farmer's Market Strata

12 Servings, Prep Time: 25 Minutes, Cook Time: 1 Hour 5 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground sausage

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1 green pepper, diced

• 1 yellow pepper, diced

• 1 small zucchini, shredded

• 6 slices white bread, cubed

• 1 cup cubed cooked potatoes

• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

• 8 eggs

• 3 cups milk

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon ground mustard

• 1 dash salt and pepper

Directions:

1. I mixed the cooked homemade sausage with all of the diced vegetables, except for the potato. In. a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish, layer half the bread cubes, potatoes and cheese. Top with all of the sausage mixture. Add a little bit of goat cheese for a different flavor. Repeat layers of bread, potatoes and cheese. 
2. In a bowl, beat the eggs; add milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over all. Cover and chill overnight.
3. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees F for 65-70 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

This originally came from a recipe called "Farmer's Strata" from allrecipes.com. I adapted it with my own ingredients and dubbed it "Farmer's Market Strata" because you can use whatever meat, vegetables, and cheese you may have picked up from the farmer's market or the grocery store that week. As long as you stick to the recommended amounts for each category you cannot go wrong in my opinion!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

from allrecipes.com 

12 Servings, Prep Time: 15 Minutes, Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Mix egg, oil, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in another bowl; stir into dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips, and walnuts. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full.
3. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

Themes for a A&L-Style Summer

Recently our lives have revolved around a couple themes: beer, family and friends, road trips and food. {You've probably noticed from my recent posts and the pictures I post to my facebook, you can also check out my recent pictures on Flickr using the link to the right}.

Here's what's been going on over the past few weeks {be warned, it's a long one}: 

{Memorial Day Weekend}: 

We drove up to Cincinnati on the Friday evening before Memorial Day to stay with my parents. Early Saturday Alex met up with his family for a little golf game, while I went for a walk with Zeus and my dad, practiced Pilates with my mom and whipped up some deviled eggs and a fresh watermelon "cake" for the day's festivities {it's not really a recipe, but you can find instructions here} . 

{I have always loved picnic food, but deviled eggs are one of my absolute favorites. I have always loved them and will eat at least 3-4 every time. Sometimes more.}

Then my parents and I drove up to Alex's grandpa's house in Forest Park for the annual Memorial Day picnic! We were able to enjoy some delicious food, catch up with family from out of town, including Alex's cousin Summer all the way from Colorado, and enjoy the beautiful weather. We also had the chance to meet his cousin Christie's baby girl Zoey. Such a doll face! 

A little bit later in the evening we drove over to the Cock and Bull in Glendale with my parents, Alex's immediate family and his cousin Summer. Our really good friends Rob and Tricia also met up with us there. The pub always has a lot of different beer offerings and we usually order enough appetizers to constitute a meal. We always have a little too much fun there. I just love seeing our families come together, it's so truly special.

Tricia & I

All the 'rents - Barb, Linda, Ed & Garth

The next day we went to church with my parents and then headed out for Alex's cousin Nicole's high school graduation. After the ceremony we went to their house to celebrate her big moment. Next year she'll be heading to OSU! Good choice! 

The next day we went to the Taste of Cincinnati with Rob, Tricia and Summer. Food festivals are heaven for me. There are so many options, everything's quick, the weather is usually beautiful and sunny, and you can walk around with beer! Last year I tried Peanut Butter beer. This year there wasn't anything too unusual, but still some new beers to try from Christian Moerlin Lager House. Gotta love the local beers!

My favorite food was a wood-fired fig pizza with bacon, arugula, and a balsamic glaze {my mouth waters just thinking about it}. After we filled up on beer and food we filled up a little more on sunshine by taking a walk down by the river and showing Summer a little taste of the riverfront and all of the new public spaces they've been working on. It's quite impressive and so amazing to see so many people hanging out there!

Summer and I

After we had enough sun we said our goodbyes to the family that was still in town and made our merry way home. Now we just have to plan some trips out East and to Colorado so we can visit Alex's relatives in their own towns so they can show us around for a change!

{First Weekend in June}:

A few days later we packed up the car for another road trip, a longer one this time to Pittsburgh! We made our way through Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. It was a beautiful scenic route and we even enjoyed some flavored custard on our way too {you don't feel guilty about that when you eat PB&J in the car with almonds and fruit}. Although a little late, we finally made it to Brandon & Ashley's house in Cranberry Twp after six hours in the car {thank goodness for satellite radio and air conditioning}. Brandon is one of Alex's college roommates from OSU. We haven't had the chance to see them much since they've moved to Pittsburgh so it was great to catch up. 

The next day they showed us around town before their couple's wedding shower in the afternoon {they are getting married over Labor Day weekend in Maine!}. They had an amazing turn out for the shower and we were able to meet a lot of their new friends who will also be at the wedding. I couldn't wait to try a cupcake... it didn't disappoint either. I also got try Rascal's Wild Red Raspberry Ale. They only sell the blueberry version in KY, it was super sweet, but had a nice zing that balanced it out a little bit.

After meeting everyone and hearing so much about Maine I am beyond excited for their wedding weekend and our mini east coast road trip! 

After leaving the shower we headed south towards downtown to check into our hotel which was close to the river and the actual Point Park. Then we met up with the rest of Alex's family that had just driven in from Cleveland. We drove by Point Park University where Eileen goes to school and finally ended up at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. 

We were all able to come together and support her in her performance in "Afternoon of Elves." It was a smaller venue so we took up a whole row! Eileen is going to be a senior this year so I was so happy that we had the opportunity to visit her at school and see at least one show! Hopefully we can make it back during the school year too!

Our entire row

Following the show we all went to dinner at the Rock Bottom Brewery. Once again, plenty of beer and food! I tried a zesty lime beer and a strawberry wheat beer. Neither were my favorite, but I always love to try the seasonal beers {I did however love my mini carnitas street tacos. I love watching Alex as he tries new beers and discusses them, especially when it's with his Dad or somebody that knows a lot about beer. It's almost like another language. After dinner Alex and his parents dropped the rest of us off at Eileen's house where they were hosting a keg party! 

I've loosened up a lot and have learned to have a little more fun since I was in college so I love any opportunity to party, especially when it's with people I love! We had a blast meeting Eileen's friends and getting a glimpse into her college life. I thought we were going to stay for a couple drinks... then Alex and I's friend Bri {who just moved from Seattle to Pittsburgh} met up with us and next thing I know it was hours and hours later; not her fault, she just happened to be there with us!

When you lose track of time, you know you're having a good night. You only live once. All of these little moments in life are the ones that bond me to my new family and they'll be memories we have together forever. It took a little bit of time, but I am so thankful that I can be so close with my in-laws and Alex's siblings. That's not an opportunity that everyone is given. 

The next morning {or maybe a few short hours later...} we got ourselves together for church at the Cathedral. It was a gorgeous day and an even more gorgeous church. Alex's entire family always goes to church together when we are all in town, whether it's Cleveland, Pittsburgh or somewhere else, and I love that tradition. Not only does it bring you closer to God, but I truly believe it also brings you closer to one another.  

After church we went to IHOP for brunch {they were out of waffles?!} before hitting the road for home. A whirlwind trip, but it was amazing. All of the traveling can be tough at times, but I know that I'll never look back and regret taking all of these road trips in the early years of our marriage. After a rough day in the car and quite a few stops we finally made it home. I whipped together this pasta using some things around the house. The ingredients aren't so important, but the guidelines I use when I make something that's not on the menu plan are the trick {by the way, making something amazing when others might think there is nothing to eat is one of my favorite things to do, and I am pretty darn good at it too}.

QUICK & EASY GOURMET PASTA

Makes 4 servings

Base: Pasta of your choice

Protein: 2 chicken breasts

Veggie you can find in the fridge: Frozen spinach

Fresh Produce: 1 fresh tomato

Sauce: Leftover Vodka Cream Sauce

Seasoning: Salt & Pepper, Garlic, Basil

I knew I wanted to make pasta because it's easy and there are so many different ingredients you can throw into it; it's very versatile.

I usually boil about a half box of penne or bowtie pasta because I like to have leftovers. While the pasta was cooking and the chicken breasts were thawing in the microwave I went on the hunt to see what we had. I found frozen spinach so I decide to use that and I had a fresh tomato {sometimes I might use frozen broccoli, and fresh onions or eggplant, I just like to mix it up with one of each to make it more cost effective}. I also had half a jar of leftover vodka cream sauce in the fridge so I pulled that out. I also got out my minced garlic because that's a necessary addition in my opinion.

I sliced the chicken into small pieces so it would cook quickly in the pan. Once the chicken was cooked I added the leftover vodka cream sauce, my cooked frozen spinach, my diced tomato and my seasoning. If you don't have sauce open, you can open a new one or just use some olive oil and salt and pepper.

I like to reserve 1/4 cup of the water from the pasta, it adds flavor and helps the sauce coat all of the pasta without everything sticking together. I threw the pasta and the reserved water into the skillet and let all of the flavors meld while I pulled out the plates and the parmesan cheese. If I had fresh basil I would've add that on top, but I had to make due with my dried spices. Easy and delicious dinner that tasted insanely good. I would've easily paid at least $15 for the same entree at a restaurant. 

{Last Weekend}:

This past weekend we headed back up to Cincinnati. Friday night we enjoyed an evening outside on my parent's patio just catching up. Growing up my parents and I ate dinner {or any meal} outside on the patio whenever we had the opportunity. When I was younger we would have picnics and pool parties and I would swim as often as I could. I have very fond memories in that backyard.

Our pool was actually the reason for Alex's trip to Cincinnati. He offered to help my dad open the pool for the summer and of course my Dad held him to his word! After a quick walk with Zeus, Alex and my Dad on Saturday morning I headed over to my friend Amy's new house in Columbia Tusculum for a girl's weekend! I brought a mint plant as a little thank you along with a sangria recipe. We were apparently on the same wavelength because she had a sangria recipe that she was about make, so we got creative and combined the two!

STRAWBERRY MINT SANGRIA

{from The Ultimate Bar Book}

Makes about 6 5 oz.servings 

2 cups sliced strawberries

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (approx 20)

2 oz brandy {or I say whatever you have on hand}

One 750 ml bottle chilled dry white wine

One 12 oz. bottle chilled club soda {or champagne for added fun & flavor}

Mix and chill everything at least 2 hours or overnight {except for the club soda}. Add your fizz of choice when you're ready to serve!

Once we were all accounted for and settled we packed up a gourmet picnic, thanks to Amy, and drove over to Eden Park. We spread out our picnic where we could find the best view and enjoyed the weather and each others' company. Amy made the most amazing version of a chicken salad that is healthier for you and a great option for those that just don't like mayo - can't wait to make the recipe!

Me, Maria, Amy & Erin

We stopped by Krohn and then strolled around Mt. Adams for a little while. Then we headed back to the house for a little breather before dinner. We checked out a couple neat spots downtown, had a beer cocktail, and then went to Anchor in OTR for dinner.

I ordered a Fair Harbor cocktail with ginger beer, rum, lime and pomegrante juice. It reminded me of a moscow mule which I've been obsessed with lately. All of the girls had Trout BLTs and I had tuna sliders. Everything was delicious, and of course we sat outside on their patio with a view of the newly renovated Washington Park. I am so happy I have friends that encourage me to explore my hometown! It gives me a lot of pride in my city.

The rest of the weekend we talked and talked until we ran out of things to say... Actually, we can never run out of things to say when we are together! As always, our time together went too fast.

I drove back over to my parent's house and had lunch with Alex and my mom at 50 W Brewing Company. It's a new brewery and restaurant that we hadn't gotten to check out yet. We sat on the patio {this is a must for me when the weather is nice} and had some more beer cocktails. My mom had a beermosa and I had a radler with grapefruit soda and a light ale. For brunch I had C.A.B. sliders {cheddar, apple slaw, bacon}. I am a big fan of mini food and interesting combinations. Alex had the opportunity to chat a little bit with the owner and get pumped up for beer school!

Alex & I at 50 W Brewing Co.

Then it was time for Alex to get on his way to Chicago for his 3-day course, "Starting a Brewery", through the Siebel Institute, America's oldest brewing school {my dreamer is also a doer; so proud!}. I ran a couple errands with my mom and then made dinner for my parents before I left. It was a great weekend because we were able to spend time with my parents together, Alex was able to spend time with just my dad on Saturday working on the pool pump, and then just him and my mom went to church on Sunday together before the three of us all had lunch together. Then to cap off the trip we had dinner just the three of us, on the patio of course.

Today is Alex's last day of courses before he heads home. Of course he's tried lots of different beers over the past three days, but the one that really intrigued me was a seasonal beer brewed with honeydew melon and cantaloupe. Too bad they don't sell it in bottles; It sounds right up my alley. I'm sure I can find something else ; ) I am looking forward to him coming home, because I miss him, but also because my eating habits are much better when he is around! I've been pretty lazy this week with cooking, but last week I made this when he was in Cincinnati for the day:

SESAME GINGER LETTUCE WRAPS

One pound ground turkey
1/4 cup or more - Sesame Ginger sauce
1/8 cup toasted coconut
1/8 cup shredded carrots
2 tbps sesame seeds

Cook your ground turkey {or beef if you prefer} according to the package. I used an entire pound so I would have leftovers for lunch the next day. I topped it with about a 1/4 cup Sesame Ginger Marinade I had in the fridge {I used it more as a sauce once the meat was cooked, rather than a marinade}. If you don't have a similar Asian sauce, just try regular teriyaki sauce, but add a little bit of sauce at a time so you don't over do it. I toasted about 1/8 cup of coconut while the flavors were simmering and grated a half of a large carrot. I threw everything together and topped it with sesame seeds, probably a couple tbsps worth {or you can use peanuts}. Then I doled it out on my {pathetic} leaves of romaine lettuce. If you don't have lettuce large enough to hold everything together, mix it and eat it like a salad! It's probably less mess anyways!

---

I think I'll probably be lazy again tonight and go out to dinner with a friend. Usually I am really good, but I'm learning to just go with the flow sometimes and not beat myself up for "not following the rules" all the time!

This upcoming weekend brings some down time at home; I'm envisioning the drive-in movie theater, the farmer's market, home improvement projects, and a cookout with friends. Next weekend I am back in Cincinnati and Alex will be heading up to Cleveland! Oh, summer days!

It's Really Really Official..

We closed yesterday afternoon (almost a week early!). We now have the keys in hand and have already started moving in! I'll try to upload more pictures of the house as we progress through the moving stages and the painting, decorating and landscaping stages. It's always fun to have those pictures to look back on.

There are quite a few things that we would like to do to the house already. Although we weren't planning on getting a house quite so soon it corresponds to the weather beautifully! And wow is the weather beautiful in Lexington. We can't wait to get some of the hard work out of the way so we can sit in our backyard and enjoy it.