Add Another "C" City to the List

{And the themes from my last post continue here...}

Alex and I are constantly traveling between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland. The second to last weekend in June I spent in Cincinnati while Alex drove up to Cleveland. I had a baby shower and he had a bachelor party. It feels like our schedule just works out most of the time which is a miracle considering how much we have going on! I had the opportunity to have brunch with two of my friends to celebrate an engagement too. That was an added bonus. I love all of the random events and meals with my friends. Of course I always love to spend more time with them, but when we just do lunch it almost makes me feel like I live in the same city as them.

That Saturday night my mom and I grabbed a fig and bacon pizza at M Woodfired Oven. I tried it at the Taste of Cincinnati with my friend Tricia and Alex's cousin Summer... Mouthwatering. It actually has fig, bacon, garlic confit, balsamic reduction, rosemary, and arugula on it. I also had a Cucumber cocktail, similar to a gin and tonic. 

Then my Dad got home, so we dragged him with us to get a little ice cream at the Mt. Washington Creamy Whip {an old-fashioned ice cream parlor}. I got a swirl cone with cherry dip. Obsessed with cherry dip and cake cones. Then I drove over to my friend Amy and John's new house in Columbia Tusculum to have a nightcap with Gin and grapefruit, The NEW Old-Fashioned. Our friends Erin and Tim, the newly engaged couple, were also there. I love sitting out on the patio with some music, a cocktail and some friends. There's something so serene about sitting outside once the sun goes down. Sunday I went to church with my parents, headed to the baby shower and then had dinner at my Grandma's before heading home. I can't help but pack in as much as physically possible.

The last weekend in June Alex and I drove up to Cincinnati {yes again} and explored a new brewery called MadTree Brewing with our friend Rob. The beer was decent, although it bored me a little bit, and the space was very unassuming and almost unfinished. Although that did not deter the crowd, it was packed! The next morning Alex and Rob drove up to Columbus for a business meeting and my mom picked me up. We drove up to my Grandma's house in Lebanon to visit with my extended family from Minnesota. We had a wonderful afternoon and it was so nice to see my Grandma two weekends in a row. Alex picked me up on his way back from Columbus and we still had some of the weekend to spend at home together. 

As soon as I unpacked it was time to repack for our trip to Charleston, SC! Our friends Karleya and Bryan drove down from Columbus Tuesday before the 4th to break up their drive. We left the next morning and by dinner time we were there. I packed us a ton of snacks and even made some homemade cookies, which were huge fan favorites, Chocolate Chip Coconut Crunch Cookies {my inspiration to make cookies with coconut in them came from Alex eating coconut straight from the bag after a very late volleyball game the night before}.

On the 4th we went to Folly Beach to enjoy the sunshine. The beach was beautiful and the water was warm. I love actually being able to swim at the beach. After having a quick lunch on the main strip we went back to the beach to meet up with my cousin and his friends for a couple hours. After the beach we headed back to Karleya's parents' place near downtown. We had a low country boil for dinner, and then it was time for 4th of July fireworks. We walked a block over to the waterfront and had a great view of four or five different firework displays! After that the four of us hit the town for a little bit and explored a couple bars, including the Gin Joint. Gin and I are slowly but surely becoming fast friends. 

Friday we explored the Sommer's toy shop on King St, called Magnifilous Toy Emporium. It was fun to see everyone trying out different toys and games and losing track of time. We headed down the street for lunch at Rarebit. They are known for their Moscow Mules so of course Karleya and I had to try one {she was the one that introduced me to them not too long ago}. They were so refreshing, I could've had at least three more {maybe if it hadn't been Noon}. Then we split the most amazing patty melt I have ever had in my life. After that I was a super happy camper. Alex and I joke that I am like a baby because I am happiest when I have eaten and have been able to use the restroom {I win for smallest bladder between the two of us, which if you know anything about Alex that is saying a lot}.

We walked around and did some shopping on King St. I couldn't believe how many stores there were! We rested for a little bit and then headed out to the marina for a boating trip around the bay. We had a tray of the most delicious cheeses {and meats} ever. I love cheese and most definitely love meat too. It always reminds me of the summer Karleya and I spent in Spain {happy memories}. Afterwards we all went to Husk to see just how good the bartender was. A couple from Asheville offered us their table and he turned out to be a brewer {long conversation to ensue}. Then we stopped by a rooftop bar at the Vendue Inn which was ridiculously crowded because of the holiday. 

The next day we had donuts from a popular spot on King St, so graciously picked up by Karleya's Dad, Blane. We then walked to the farmer's market and picked out some fresh ravioli for lunch. I also had a homemade Blood Orange & Basil popsicle. This guy's flavor pairings were so interesting! All of our ravioli choices were delectable and went perfectly with our wine and salad {I definitely know I am on vacation when I have wine with lunch}. Then the four of us hit Sullivan's Island to get in a little more beach time. Despite a 10 minute rain shower, it was perfect beach-going again. 

After soaking up the sun we went home and got ready for dinner out. Following dinner we came back to the house and just talked on the patio for a couple hours. I actually tried some mussels, not too bad. The next morning we got up early to hit the road. We stopped in Asheville for lunch, at the brewery the guy had told us about, called Wicked Weed. The food and the beer were impressive and it was a great way to break up our drive, especially considering that we got stuck in some awful traffic on the rest of the drive back. 

All in all it was the perfect long weekend road trip. Thank you to Karleya and Bryan for inviting us and for Nancy and Blane for hosting us! Now, when can I go back?

Being a Homebod and a Traveler is Not Mutually Exclusive

As is evident from my posts, Alex and I travel A LOT. And we love to do it. A weekend trip is always a nice opportunity to get away from it all and spend time with people that are important to us. It really puts life into perspective. Not to mention, our trips usually involve tasty food, exploring new sights, friends and family and too much fun {You know it was a great weekend when you get home and feel the need for a full day to recuperate and catch your breath}.

As much energy as we have, it's a difficult pace to keep up, and we don't always want to. Often when we have that lone weekend sandwiched between two traveling weekends we become total homebodies and spend all of our time just the two of us. This past weekend was no exception. And I LOVED it. It's absolutely rejuvenating.

Friday I got home from work early {which is always a bonus, especially on Fridays} and I convinced Alex we should head to Whole Foods for Flights After 5. I think I've referred to this before, but basically Whole Foods features a brewery, or sometimes several, and has five different beers that you get to try with food pairings. The whole shabang is only $5; actually only $4 per person if you bring back your beer tasting glass! It's always an interesting crowd and this time it was a local brewery {for Craft Beer Week} and the owner/brewmaster was on site. I got my fill of beer and food while Alex got his fill of answers {well, let's be honest, he probably would've stayed and talked even more if I let him}.

It's such a great value and a really good time. I also love it because it's early. On Fridays I don't usually have too much energy to spend the whole night on the town, so an hour or two is perfect. They also had wood fired pizza outside, so after our tasting we picked up a little more food for a light dinner {sometimes the tastings are filling, but usually you leave even hungrier than when you came in because of all of the beer you've had!}. We had a margherita pizza and split a salad from the salad bar, a double chocolate chip cookie and a sparkling peach izze soda. It started to drizzle, but that didn't stop us from enjoying a few minutes of the live music outside as well. I cannot resist any opportunity to eat outside. All in all we had some delicious food and met some new people while only spending $20!

Then we headed home and camped out on the couch to be lazy and watch a few episodes of Sons of Anarchy on Netflix. The show was recommended to Alex by someone and somehow I got sucked into it. Sometimes it feels good to just sit and not worry about where you have to be next. It also feels strangely luxurious to be able to watch a couple episodes right in a row.

The next morning we got up pretty early to drop off my car at the dealership and to drive to Shelbyville for a 10 a.m. appointment. We finalllllly had an appointment at a lighting distributor/showroom to pick out some new ceiling fans! I had been wanting to replace our ceiling fans since the moment we moved in. Two years later... We found three ceiling fans for the bedrooms and a complimentary one for the living room. Then we ended up picking out some outdoor fixtures as well. Might as well do it all in one swoop right? Since we had driven out that way we decided to stop somewhere nearby for lunch.

One of the culprits. See what I mean?

We ended up at Wallace Station which I had been wanting to try. They were actually featured on Diners, Drive-In's and Dives, which is one of my favorite shows to watch when I have nothing on my DVR. It was a beautiful scenic drive and we both had yummy burgers. They were the type of burgers that you really don't need all of the extra stuff piled up on them because the burger itself is so juicy and melts in your mouth. I was a little upset at my pimiento cheese for trying to steal the thunder.

On the way to Shelbyville

Versailles, KY close to Wallace Station

We finally made it back to the house and started installing the outdoor lights. Everything went smoothly with the four towards the front of the house. It became a little sticky when one of the old screws broke off in the outlet box out back. My car gave us the perfect excuse to step away for a minute and brainstorm, as well as make a stop at Lowe's. We found a new outlet box and Alex had to do a little mortar chiseling to get it to fit just right, but man he did a great job problem-solving. Of course big projects like these can sometimes cause some bickering, but I am always so impressed by how well we work together and how much we can accomplish when we set our minds to it. We make a heck of a team if I do say so myself.

In the left picture the bronze light is the one we used next to the front door and side garage door. The brass one next to it is what we removed from the side garage door and also out back.

We replaced the one out back and the two next to the garage with the ones in the picture above. They are more of what you would call statement pieces. They reflect the light beautifully and as a result you get a bright light without looking at just a plain light bulb! It's difficult to tell in the pictures, but I was instantly wowed by the difference. There's also a certain satisfaction that comes to doing home improvements yourself too. Then we moved on to the inside and we decided to tackle a ceiling fan. The first one is always the most challenging because you have to figure out the instructions and where all of the pieces and parts fit! We replaced the one in the office without too much trouble and then decided to break for the night.

Alex made panko-encrusted tilapia with green beans and broccoli-cheddar flavored brown rice {made from the leftover soup from Soup's On that we attended on Thursday}. Then we went for a nice walk through our neighborhood and split an icee {Alex's idea, not mine}. After a relaxing night we got up early again and got right to it. You definitely do not want to lose your momentum because that's when a project can easily drag out for months or maybe even years! I took everything out of the boxes and dealt with the trash so it was all prepped once Alex returned from his workout. Then I played assistant while he did all of the actual installations. He's a little bit taller than me and actually knows something about electrical wiring so he was the chosen one on that. We installed the fans in the other two bedrooms which were easy because they were the same as the one we had done the day before! Although, the fans we removed were not necessarily the same.



Then it was on to the big guy, the one in the living room with the drop rod! We decided to go a little bit nicer with that fan just because that room is the focal point of the house. I was very surprised when that installation went pretty smoothly as well. I could hardly believe we were done! My next task was to get rid of the evidence. While Alex mowed the lawn and got busy outside, I cleaned up all the trash and thoroughly cleaned the house for a few hours. I love love love to clean the house. {Okay, I don't always feel that way, but usually I do}. That was my therapy alone time as well as Alex's. We like to share the chores around the house, but it's still nice when the other person likes to do something that you don't really enjoy too much.



Then it was time to get ourselves cleaned up to head over to church! Having a 5 p.m. mass is really nice just to change up our schedule a little bit, and I love that service because they have a praise band so it's a little more contemporary. After church we hit the grocery store together and split the list right down the middle {It was literally one of those weekends were we did everything together}. Then we made a Buffalo Chicken Salad for dinner using this buffalo chicken tender recipe. We cut the chicken into even smaller pieces so it would cook faster, because by that time we were STARVING. We added a little ranch dressing, some diced celery, mozzarella cheese and that was it.

After a "it hit the spot perfectly" dinner we capped off the weekend with a few more episodes of Sons of Anarchy and some cookies and cream ice cream. Then to bed early! It was a very productive and rejuvenating weekend spent together. We had some fun, got a lot done around the house, and just enjoyed each others' company.

The only thing missing was some time with friends. We made up for that last night though when I hosted book club at our house. Up next on the docket is Memorial Day Weekend in Cincinnati! It should be the perfect mixture of travel, yet being at home at my parent's house and Alex's grandpa's house. The two are definitely not mutually exclusive, and what I love most of all, is the fact that whenever I am in the mood for a weekend spent mostly at home, Alex usually is too.

Nothing Like a Road Trip to Kick Off Wedding Season

Last weekend we kicked off this year's wedding season! Last year's calendar was quite robust with weddings, and this year will prove to be the same. This wedding gave us the perfect excuse to have a little adventure and explore some new cities that we might not typically visit.

The wedding was going to take place in Kansas City, MO which is about a 9 hour drive, give-or-take an hour. Anything under 12 hours we usually try to drive. One, because it's cheaper, and two because sometimes flying,with all of the time spent at the airport, can take just as long. Plus, when we drive we can be in control of our stops and what we do along the way, which we both value highly. You have the opportunity to see more of the country which this post clearly demonstrates!

Alex and I are very car compatible. Usually we are both hungry at the same times, have to use the restroom at the same times and we can split the driving pretty evenly down the middle. It's a little bit ridiculous how easy it is to travel with him. This was our first trip with Alex's new car, a 2013 Ford Escape! A new car always makes a road trip a little more intriguing. There are so many buttons to play with. The extended sun roof is hands down our favorite feature, even when it's not open, it's refreshing to have natural light hitting you when you're in the car for a long time.

We left on a Thursday afternoon and made our way to St. Louis, MO which is directly West of Lexington. Unfortunately, it was overcast and rainy the whole way. This doesn't always make driving enjoyable, but it does make it easier to be stuck in the car because you're not missing out on beautiful weather. One of our first sights when driving through St. Louis was the Arch! Downtown and the Arch were a lot more picturesque than I had anticipated. I was pleasantly surprised. Apparently our GPS did not love St. Louis quite as much. It had trouble keeping up and kept trying to give us directions that didn't really exist. I think there had been some construction in recent years, but phew that was quite frustrating!

After a little arguing with our GPS we finally arrived at our first destination in Eureka, MO. My Human Resources Director, Kelly, {from my job in Columbus} moved to St. Louis with her husband and two girls this time last year. They were gracious enough to let us stay with them for the night and we had a wonderful visit with the Vergara Family. They also introduced us to Provel Cheese and "Toasted Ravioli", both of which are staples in St. Louis. Toasted Ravioli is basically fried ravioli and provel cheese is likened to "white velveeta." It's actually a mixture of cheddar, swiss and provolone. Apparently it has a low melting point which gives it a gooey and buttery texture at room temperature.

After a restful night and relaxing morning we hit the trail again for a few adventures in St. Louis. First stop was experiencing the Arch up close! Prior to researching things to do in the city, I had no idea that you could go up in the Arch! I thought it was more of a monument that you admired from below. Imagine my surprise even more when we went underground and were surrounded by gift shops and museums and a whole visitor's center. It was much larger than I expected. You ride up the sides in a small little cart which would not be a good idea for anyone that has claustrophobia. I, for one do not, but I almost thought I could develop it from that little ride. It was quite crowded at the top and because you're in an Arch the floor is curved which makes you feel a little off balance, but the view was beautiful.

Following our visit there we drove 10 minutes south to the Anheuser-Busch "campus." After checking in for our tour we walked across the street for a quick and delicious lunch at Sage, one of Kelly's recommendations. I find that local recommendations are always the way to go. Alex and I split a black bean burger and a meatball sandwich. I love when he agrees to share food with me because then I get to try more food without overating! We tend to order together quite often.

We signed up for the paid Beermaster tour which was perfect for us. It was a much much smaller group than the free tour and we were able to see more. Alex took about 5,000 pictures at the brewery and probably asked just as many questions. It was a little overcast and chilly, but it definitely didn't rain on our parade. We got to see the Clydesdale horses and meet one of their dalmatians! That experience, along with trying the fresh Budweiser straight from the tank, were my favorite. The whole experience made me think of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Everything was so impressive and there was history and beauty everywhere, along with a lot of high tech equipment. Finally the fun had to come to a close and it was time to hit the road again. 

We hit some awful traffic leaving St. Louis, but for the majority of the drive there was not much to see at all nor too much traffic to contend with. We arrived in Kansas City, MO around 8:30 p.m. that evening {love gaining an hour, thank you time zones}. Driving into downtown reminded Alex of Cleveland and reminded me of Cincinnati. Once again, I was very surprised at the size of the city. Both St. Louis and Kansas City were so much more than I was expecting. They both reminded me quite a lot of Cincinnati, I guess that shouldn't be too surprising. I recharged for an hour while Alex finished an online quiz for his MBA program {Don't feel too bad for him, he's got the summer off now}. 

Then we headed down to the bar to meet up with our friends who had also traveled from afar. {The entire group, including the bride, were in a Leadership Development Program with Alex for Eaton Corporation. Now they live scattered throughout the US so we see each other for weddings and last year we went on a cruise together}. 

We also had the opportunity to see a little bit of the bride and groom. They went to bed on time, as they should've, and we decided to extend the night by hitting the town. Once again, taking the advice of a local, we hit a nearby spot called John's Big Deck. It was a covered rooftop patio with live music and tables with firepits in the middle. Such a perfect atmosphere to reconnect with friends. The girls and I also took advantage of our local tour guide, the bartender from our hotel, and experienced some amazing late night burgers at Town Topic. 

The next morning we lounged around until it was time to head to the ceremony which was held at a beautiful church. I just love to watch the expressions on the bride and groom's faces throughout the ceremony. You can plainly sense their excitement, nervousness and love for one another. It's just an amazing moment in life to witness and I'm probably more sappy about it because I remember my own feelings in that moment {this is when my mom or Alex would say to me, really, you remember? I am notorious for having a bad memory when it comes to certain things}. 

 

After seeing the bride and groom off we headed to a local BBQ joint to grab lunch. The first spot we tried to go to, Oklahoma Joe's, was in a gas station and had a line out the door! Based on the slightly chilly weather we decided to forgo that spot for another. It was an interesting experience, I had no idea what many of the things on the menu meant, but the meal was satisfying. From what I understand Kansas City BBQ is more about the sauces then the actually meat itself. You could choose between beef, turkey, pork, chicken etc. I still love my Montgomery Inn sauce though!

Then we headed back to the hotel for a little nap and downtime before the reception. The reception took place at a local brewery called Boulevard Brewing Company. Apparently they do not distribute to Ohio or Kentucky, which is why I had never heard of them, despite the fact that they're the 8th largest American owned brewery. Once again, Alex took tons of pictures and tasked himself with trying all 8 of their beers on tap. He completed his task, but ultimately decided he liked Ed Janesz's homebrewed beers more! After having a little nightcap with some friends we called it a night. 

The next morning we got up bright and early to get on the road. Since St. Louis was about half way home we decided to stop there for lunch since our drive wasn't going to take as long as we original thought. We stopped at a little restaurant in The Hill called Guido's Pizza & Tapas. The Hill has a largely Italian influence and therefore boasts a multitude of Italian restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores etc. Once again we had the opportunity to experience some provel cheese and ravioli. Delicioso! Our lunch stop helped make the drive feel less monotonous and it's nice to not always have to eat fast food when on the road. Finally we made it back to Lexington around 8:30 p.m. and I immediately set to uploading my pictures from the weekend. I always try to upload my wedding pictures ASAP because I know what it feels like to have to wait for your official pictures for weeks!

Congratulations to Megan & Kevin on their wedding, and here's to kicking off the 2013 wedding season with a bang! St. Louis and KC it was nice getting to you know you. 

Why Husbands Can't Be Substituted for Time with the Girls

A couple weekends ago Alex and I made a trip to Cincinnati for my friend Amy's birthday as well as some quality time with my family. Upon arrival in Cincinnati Alex was carted off with my dad to do some male bonding while my mom and I were left to lunch on our own.

My mom and I promptly started to brainstorm places that we could go for lunch. There was quite a lot of consideration that went into it, and even some time spent asking for recommendations from friends. This is something that I don't think men understand. They're happy to just pick a place and go. I want to know where the restaurant is, if it is easy to park, if it will be busy, what kind of food they have, what's the ambiance, have I been there before, or have any of my friends, what's the dress code, cost and the list goes on and on. We finally determine a restaurant that fit the bill of what we were looking for, Terry's Turf Club.

I drove us to the restaurant in Alex's new car. Since it's a new car and I haven't completely figured out how to parallel park it I opted to go on down the road until I reached a spot that I could pull in to. (This is another thing that my mom understood, but I'm not convinced that Alex would. He probably would have teased me). We put our names in and waited outside, luckily it was an unseasonably warm January day. We passed the time by talking. Now, for anyone that knows Alex they know that talking is one of his strengths, but when women get together the conversation always steers to people and life events. They are completely different conversations when there are men around. 

Finally we were seated at the bar. Terry's Turf Club is a small hamburger joint... and for my mom and I this means milkshakes. Unfortunately for us, their neon signs were not 100% indicative of their offerings so we were out of luck. Alex is a fan of ice cream, but getting a milkshake with Alex would just not be the same as getting one with my mom. It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason for this, but I think that my mom and I have a similar appreciation for milkshakes and therefore I enjoy milkshakes more when I'm with her because I know she is enjoying hers as much as I am mine. 

Later that evening I headed over to my friend Amy's for an old fashioned sleepover. We had some wine and caught up for a while. The funny thing about girl time, especially when you're at a restaurant, is how long it takes to finally decide on what to have for dinner. Eventually someone has to take the lead, otherwise everyone will continuing talking indefinitely. I love that the conversations are always different than the ones I have with Alex. We can talk about girly things like recipes, clothes, interior design, weddings, blogging and share new stories and reminisce about old memories. (That's not to say that there aren't deep conversations as well, but those usually come later in the evening). 

Another thing I've noticed is that while girls can easily sit around and chat and do nothing for an entire evening, there are usually games involved. Girls will bring games with them to a friend's house. I doubt that thought would ever cross a guy's mind. Alex and I will sometimes play Sequence together, but it always ends up very competitive. With the girls, or even a mixed crowd, you play games to entice more laughter. We also had some birthday cake. I'm not sure if it's just my own experience or a general rule with females, but I find that birthday cakes are more important to my friends than to Alex. 

My girlfriends will always appreciate the little details of a cake, a card, a gift, or even just the effort of driving to see them. We ended the evening by changing into our pajamas and falling asleep to some episodes of Sex and the City. Even if Alex and I had a television in our bedroom, I highly doubt we would be falling asleep to SATC. It would definitely be ESPN ("I just want to see the score of the game..."). No thank you. 

The next day I met back up with my family and we spent the day with my extended family as a belated Christmas gathering. Later that afternoon Alex and I drove back to Lexington. The next weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time with Alex's family. I drove over to Louisville last Saturday morning to spend the day with his cousin Amanda and Aunt Brenda. Of course there was shopping involved. Whenever Alex and I shop together we always have a mission and Alex usually knows exactly what he's looking for before we go into the store. It's efficient, but that's not what I call shopping. 

Shopping with the ladies is more about the thrill of a find and a good deal. It's about finding something unexpected for someone else. It's about trying on clothes for the fun of it. It's also about giving your opinion and talking through potential outfits. It's about browsing through every single clothes rack and relaxing enough to just lose track of time. After spending an hour or two in the first store we were all starving. Considering we were all dressed appropriately and we were already out on the town the restaurant consideration went quite a bit faster than it had with my mom the weekend prior.

We decided on PF Chang's and each ordered something different to share. We ate our delicious food and got lost in conversation. I love when all the plates have been cleared and the bill has already come and gone and you still find yourselves talking without pause (It was already 2 p.m. by that time so we weren't in any hurry to give up our table). It's a wonderful feeling to know that I've gained more family than just Alex's parents and siblings, especially considering that Amanda and Aunt Brenda are so close by. After lunch we did a little more shopping at Von Maur which included some time spent playing dress up. You know you've found your shopping soulmates when you're all ready to head home at the same time. 

On my drive back to Lexington I called my mom to catch up. Before I knew it an hour had passed and I was already home. There's something rejuvenating about those types of phone calls. Although it was a tiring day I had enough energy to meet up with Alex and our friends for a night of bowling. Sunday Alex and I went to church and did a little book shopping. After a few hours we ended up coming home and ordering the books online. Typical. I did not feel energized after that shopping trip haha. 

Monday night I planned to have "Bachelor Viewing Party" for ABC's The Bachelor. When I had roommates, in college and after college, it was always a tradition to watch shows together. Mostly because it was entertaining and an excuse to get together that didn't include spending any money. It wasn't the best timing because a few of the girls had things come up and they weren't going to be able to make it after all. Alex said that if nobody was able to come he would watch The Bachelor with me. I appreciated the sentiment, but that wouldn't have been the same evening on any level (instead of adding to my entertainment he would've likely annoyed me with his commentary and criticism). 

Luckily, my friend Jasmine was able to make it over and we enjoyed a quiet evening of wine and The Bachelor while Alex went to work out (thanks for making yourself scarce honey). If shopping is relaxing and talking on the phone is rejuvenating than this type of evening would be considered therapeutic. By the time Jasmine headed home and Alex returned I felt perfectly content, as if I had just received a rose myself. (Although, with Ben as the bachelor I probably would've made like Brittney and left on my own accord).

Last night Alex and I joined our friends at Megan and Greg's house for dinner. The beginning of the evening we all congregated in the kitchen and chatted, later on the men ended up near the television where they could keep an eye on the games that were on while the girls ended up talking at the table. Some things never change!

The good times continue tonight with the first meeting of the New Year for the Women's Guild at my church. While I treasure all of the girlfriends I've made in Lexington thus far, it is a nice change of scenery to spend an evening with this group of ladies, the majority of whom aren't in my age bracket. You just never know what you'll learn! One thing I have learned lately (or I should say, been reminded of), is the fact that I have friends and family near and far and all I ever have to do is reach out to them for girl talk or to plan a girl's day or night out, or in. Because as much as I love Alex, he just can't be substituted for time with the girls. 

~

This week I was on a pistachio kick... Here are a couple simple recipes:

Baked Pistachio Chicken
from the AbsDiet Cookbook

• 1/2 tbsp. dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. honey
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
• 1/4 cup whole grain bread crumbs
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Mix the mustard, oil, and honey in a shallow bowl; season with salt and pepper. Mix the pistachios and bread crumbs on a plate.
3. Dip the chicken in the mustard mixture to coat and then in the crumbs. Place the chicken on the baking sheet.
4. Put the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Turn the heat down to 375. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink when tested with a knife. 

Pistachio Pudding Cake from my mom's collection of recipes (circa 1970’s)

• 1 pkg (4 serving) Pistachio Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
• 1 pkg 2 layer yellow cake mix (preferably not pudding mix)
• ½ t. almond or vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 1 ¼ cup water
• ¼  cup oil

Combine all ingredients in a large mixer bowl.  Blend; then beat at medium speed of electric mixer for 2 minutes.  Pour into greased and floured 10-in tube or Bundt pan.  Or can bake in a 13 x 9 in cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly pressed.  Cool in pan 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and finish cooling on a rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. 

Merry Christmas with Love

Christmas has been quite peaceful this year for Alex and I. Last weekend we celebrated the holiday at our next door neighbors' house. The night was full of tacky holiday garb (see pictures below), food & drinks, music & charades and also a White Elephant/Dirty Santa gift exchange. We've been truly blessed to have moved in next door to such a great couple. I always hoped that I would be good friends with my next door neighbors once I had a house. 

Earlier this week we drove up to Cincinnati to spend a couple days with the Harshman side of Alex's family. I finally made the bourbon balls and gave them to the family as a little mini gift and token of our love. We also had our third annual Christmas gathering at the Cock and Bull Restaurant & Pub with Alex's immediate family and my parents. It gives me such a warm happy feeling to see Alex's family and mine conversing and enjoying each others' company. 

Lighted Message on a Building off I-75

It was a peaceful mid-week getaway and an early Christmas celebration. While we were in Cincinnati Alex and I also picked up our Christmas present. Well, we really decided that this year we wouldn't do Christmas presents, but instead we would buy a piece of bedroom furniture. You know you're getting old when that happens... It's a nice change of pace around the holiday and I think it's taken more of our focus off of the gifts and put it into the meaning for the season and the spirit of the holiday.

Bourbon Balls

Bourbon Balls from the Flavors of Kentucky Cookbook

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• 4 tablespoons bourbon

• 1 stick butter, softened

• 1 pound powdered sugar

• 14 oz. package chocolate-flavored candy melts (or you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips & shortening)

Directions:

• Combine the pecans and bourbon in a bowl. Refrigerate, to allow the flavors to blend, for 3 hours or overnight.   

• Cream the butter and the powdered sugar using an electric mixer. Add the pecan mixture. Roll the mixture into small balls and chill.

• Melt the candy melts in the microwave according to the package directions. Dip the balls in the melted chocolate using a fork. Place the balls on waxed paper to harden. Top each candy with a pecan half while the chocolate is still wet (I skipped this step!). 

Wednesday evening we finished putting together the dresser as Karleya and Bryan arrived in town. They were on their way down to spend Christmas in Asheville with the rest of the Sommer Family. We munched on Christmas cookies that Karleya had made and also had bacon-wrapped dates. Yummmm... 

Bacon-Wrapped Dates adapted from a recipe in The Best 1001 Short, Easy Recipes Cookbook
Ingredients:

• 1 package of dates

• 1 package of bacon

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with foil. Turn up the sides of the foil to catch the grease from the bacon.

1. Cut the bacon into halves or even thirds. Wrap a piece of bacon around the date. Place it with the seam down on the foil. Continue wrapping dates until you reach the amount of appetizers you would like. (You can base this on how many dates are in a bag).

1. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip halfway through. Bake until bacon is done. Drain and serve hot. 

Thursday morning I made a pastry for breakfast and we had a lazy morning. I'm thankful to have had the chance to see Karleya and Bryan for the short visit even though I would've loved to have had more time with them. Alex worked for the rest of the day while I got in a little Christmas shopping and present wrapping. 

Yummy Breakfast Pastry from Seasoned to Taste: City of Chattanooga Official Cookbook 

Ingredients:

• 1 (12-count) can refrigerated original breadsticks

• 6 oz. cream cheese softened (I personally think you could get away with using even less)

• 1 medium egg yolk

• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

• 3/4 cup blueberries (or any other fruit)

• Egg Wash: 1 medium egg white & 2 tsp. water 

• Glaze: 1 cup confectioners' sugar & 2 tbsp orange juice

Directions:

• Unroll the breadstick dough lengthwise on a 10x15 baking pan lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Pinch the center seam of the dough to seal. Beat the cream cheese, egg yolk and confectioners' sugar in a mixing bowl until smooth. Spread down the center of the dough. Top with the blueberries.
• Starting at the top, bring each bread stick alternately towards the center in criss-cross fashion to cover the filling, braiding the dough all the way down. 
• Brush with a mixture of the egg white and water. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. 
• Beat the confectioners' sugar and orange juice in a bowl until smooth. Spread over the pastry. 

Later that evening we prepped for our Friendsmas. I baked a glazed ham, made old-fashioned sweet potatoes and steamed green beans. Alex made a cranberry apple pie based on a recipe I found. I was impressed by his handiwork. It was fun to be able to cook in the kitchen in sync with him. I suppose that made up for his lack of help with the Christmas cookies! Although, it wasn't on the same scale as our Friendsgiving in Cleveland it was still a wonderful evening with our friends Dan & Jasmine. It amazes me to think that we have already known them for a year. I can't imagine Lexington without them.
To thank all of our friendly visitors this week we sent them off with a 6-pack of homemade beer. 

"Friendsmas" Recipes:  

Brown Sugar Glaze for Baked Ham from food.com

• 1 cup finely packed brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard or 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard

• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

• 3 tablespoons vinegar

• 3 tablespoons water

Directions:

• Combine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoons dry or prepared mustard, 1/8 tsp cinnamon, 3 tablespoons vinegar and 3 tablespoons water.

• Mix well and spread on ham, before putting it into oven.

Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole from the Taste of Home Cookbook

Ingredients:

• 4 pounds sweet potatoes (about 5 large)< peeled and cubed

• 1 cup milk

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

• 6 tbsp butter, softened

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 1-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 3/4 tsp ground allspice

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

• 18 large marshmellows

Directions:

• Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain.
• In a large mixing bowl, mash the potatoes. Add the milk, brown sugar, butter, egg, cinnamon, vanilla, allspice, salt and nutmeg; beat until smooth. Transfer to a greased shallow 2-1/2 qt. baking dish. Bake uncovered, at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until heated through.
• Top with marshmellows. bake 5-10 minutes longer or just until marshmellows begin to brown.

Cranberry Apple Pie from Disney Family Fun 

Ingredients:

• 1 refrigerated pie pastry

• 2 cups apples, peeled, cored, and quartered

• 2 cups fresh cranberries (thawed if frozen)

• 2/3 cup sugar

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 1/2 tablespoons flour

• CRUMB TOPPING:

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

• 4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces

Directions: 

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9-inch standard (not deep-dish) pie pan with the pastry, fluting the edge.
• Thinly slice the apples crosswise and combine them in a large bowl with the cranberries. Add the sugar, lemon juice, and flour, mixing well. Transfer the filling to the pie shell, smoothing the top of the fruit. Bake for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and cinnamon for the topping. Add the butter, rubbing it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• After 30 minutes, remove the pie from the oven and reduce the temperature to 375 degrees. Spread the topping over the pie and bake it for another 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is golden and the fruit thickens and bubbles around the edges. Allow the pie to cool for 2 hours before serving. Serves 8.

This morning I finished my Christmas shopping, but have a few things to wrap still. I love wrapping gifts, it's somehow therapeutic for me and I always feel a large amount of satisfaction when I admire the final product.  Tomorrow my parents will come in town to spend Christmas Eve and part of Christmas day with us. I am looking forward to hosting them at our house and letting them relax for a change! Alex and I might not have a large space to entertain, but I think we've got it down at this point. 

Monday evening we will drive up to Cleveland and will stay through New Years Day. We'll have the opportunity to exchange gifts with Alex's immediate family and spend time with our friends as well. It's like a mini-vacation (minus warm weather). 

New Years Eve we'll spend the evening with 50 of our closest friends at a bar that we've rented out in Lakewood. I can't wait to see so many familiar faces in one place! We're blessed to have such an extended network of friends in Cleveland.

Family, Friends & Food; that's the remainder of 2011 in a nutshell. 

While I would have loved to be able to send a Christmas card to every single person I know (and I certainly try), it's just not feasible. Therefore, I'd like to share our Christmas card message here as well: 

December 2011

MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS

We have been incredibly blessed this year as we’ve celebrated our first anniversary of marriage and moved into our first home together. For many of the moments in-between check out our blog: www.alexandlauren.blogspot.com. (obviously you already know this, because you're reading this blog post!)

The New Year is sure to bring us just as many adventures with trips, weddings and home improvements, just to name a few! We hope you and your family have a beautiful holiday season and a new year of peace and happiness.

                         

 - with joy & love -

   Lauren & Alex

'And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not:

'Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy

which will be to all people,

Unto you is born this day

a Savior which is Christ the Lord.'

Luke 2:10-11