Monday, August 31, 2009

Meal Plan for the week & Mountains

This week is short because we are headed to the Mountains for the Labor Day weekend!!

Monday: Left over chili with rice

Tuesday: Spaghetti and meatballs

Wednesday: herb grilled chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli

Thursday: Concert in the Park in St Michaels (subs from zambinos)

Friday: On the road

Saturday: Helen's retaurant for a romantic dinner for two

Sunday: Phil Vassar concert at the 7 Springs Ampitheatre followed by a fireworks display

Monday: On the road home

We are packing up the dogs, and the bikes for a FUN weekend in the mountains. We love to travel to 7 Springs (http://www.7springs.com/) in the winter, but LOVE what they also offer for fun in the summer and fall. We will also head there again for Thanksgiving and with friends for the New Year celebration. We stay at the same condo each time we visit, so it always feels like home. We can't wait to enjoy some time away and some FRESH mountain air!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Waiting

Waiting has got to be one of the worst things ever! For everyone that knows me, I don't wait well....at all. My bestest friend in the whole wide world and her husband have started IVF for the first time this month. Yesterday was egg retrieval day and today we are waiting to hear if the doctors and specialists were able to successfully fertilize these eggs. I sent a text to her this morning (she lives in Florida) and there is NO news, nothing, zilch, nada....NO news!!

I can't even begin to imagine what they are going through as a couple because this is killing me!

Please everyone keep them in your thoughts and prayers and let's hope for successful news!!

**Update**

There are 4 good embryos for transfer!! No, they are not transferring all 4, but I think they are going to do 2. Let's keep happy thoughts for this special couple today as they go through the transfer...and then wait 2 LONG weeks to determine if they are pregnant!! Very exciting!!

Ready for Fall...

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year, and especially in the area of Maryland where we live!
These are just a few of my favorite things:
  • cool, crisp mornings
  • the smell of freshly baked pumpkin pie
  • decorating the house with fall colors, pumpkins and candles
  • the Fall Pottery Barn catalog
  • Waterfowl Festival in Easton
  • Fires in our backyard fire pit
  • glasses of wine by the fire
  • hot apple cider
  • Thanksgiving trip to 7 Springs (and being lucky enough to ski with SNOW!)
  • sleeping with the windows slightly open at night
  • the 'smell' of fall
  • the leaves turning colors
  • our wedding Anniversary (October 2nd)
  • My Birthday (September 20th)
  • Black Friday for SHOPPING
  • soups, stews, chili, and chowders
  • Pumpkin Patches
  • Hay rides

You name it, I LOVE it about the fall!! What's your favorite time of year??

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Menu for the week

It's raining SO hard this afternoon...there's nothing really better to do than catch up on Blogs and get ready for the week with our menu!
Monday: Tacos
Tuesday: On our own...Todd is travelling to Pittsburgh for business...I'm getting Chinese food!!
Wednesday: Chicken Club sandwiches with watermelon
Thursday: Concert in the Park...subs from Zambinos
Friday: chili with rice
Saturday: Rockfish and warm potato salad
Sunday: BLTs
What are you cooking this week??

Book Club

proscuitto wrapped asparagus, devilled eggs and (the rolls are missing)
Chicken and Rice casserole (still in the oven)...

We had 6 ladies turn up for the first Book Club. We are reading Prayers for Sale this month, and Carol is out next host while I lead the discussion. I am so excited how well this turned out. I only wish I got a shot of the group!


Friday night fun

Chloe and Maci sharing ice-cream...

We watched our friends daughters last night so they could take their oldest to a GOP Shorebirds game...it was a lot of fun. The girls are 6 and 8 and a lot of fun! They brought us a babydoll that looks like a beautiful China baby, we can't wait to share that with our daughter one day. It's our first gift for the baby, so that makes it really special.

We ate dinner at Rusticana, then headed home for some ice-cream and watched a Barbie movie. The girls were great, and up and at 'em at 7:30am!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Settlement...

The house in Preston has settled....no funds to the title co from the buyers lender....therefore no keys and NO recorded deed....ugh! Let this nightmare be over soon....
**Update....wire received, keys exchanged hands...we no longer own the house YAY YAY YAY!!! Ready to start the next flip...inspection on Monday, and settle within 10 days and should only be there 14 days. Contract to buy hopefully pending...if not, for sale by owner first, we need all the profit we can get on this one!

Book Club and Menu for the week...

Monday: chicken alfredo with broccoli
Tuesday: Book Club at my house
Paula Deen's chicken and rice casserole
devilled eggs
proscuitto wrapped asparagus
rolls
fruit salad
wine and sodas
(Hair of the Dog is featuring 3 bottles for $24.99...this could be dangerous, because they are wonderful)
Wednesday:Roasted tomato and shredded squash and zucchini pasta
recipe from Whole Foods
Thursday: Concert in the park in St Michaels
We are picking up some chicken, mac & cheese and rolls from the Amish Market
Friday: **update...we ate at Rusticana (pizza and chicken tenders and fries...we babysat our friends 6 year old and 8 year old....overnight!)
Grilled Rockfish with warm potato salad
grill the fish scales down, top with Old Bay and some pepper and small dabs of butter, medium for about 30 minutes....delicious!
Saturday:
**update...we didn't get to the beach today. There has been rain all afternoon (UGH). We had to buy a hot water heater for the house going to settlement on Friday (YAY) and check out the newest investment property we just received word our contract was accepted on! We hope to be out in 2 weeks after settlement....keep your fingers crossed y'all!
We are heading to the beach!! Nothing like fresh lemonade, boardwalk fries and Grotto's pizza to end the summer!! (Oh and I have a 20% off coupon to the Coach Factory store...)
**so tacos tonight and maybe the beach tomorrow....
Sunday: Tacos
Good news, I have been averaging $50/week at the grocery store this month!! Let's hope we can keep it up!! Next week, the only items on the list are tomatoes, potatoes, bacon and watermelon...I already have everything else!! YIPPEE : )
I will post pictures of the Book Club tomorrow! I can't wait!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Zoo, Houses, etc...

We are going to the National Zoo this weekend...and I can't wait! Panda Bears are my absolute favorite animals, and I am really looking forward to seeing them. There is even a Panda Cafe, so I know where we are eating lunch!!


We are still waiting for the house in Preston to go to settlement. The buyers are (again) asking for an extension. We have been told their loan is with USDA for approval, and that is the final stage. Once they sign off, we are running to the settlement table. We have another house in a local community that is also under contract. Unfortunately, it will be our first loss...but removing this property from our books is key right now. We have one rental already, and with the market and economy the way it is...we just want to sell and get out!


Our Compliance Manager at work is leaving...she's moving to Idaho. She only gave 2 weeks notice. There's some skuttle about whether I will take over the department....right now I am the Analytical Chemist for the QA/QC department. I wish there was some more time for training, I wish I knew more of the regulations, and I wish I was brave enough to just go for it....I'll keep you posted. I want this, but it feels really out of my reach.


Keep your fingers crossed...the boat is getting shown (again) tomorrow. It's been for sale over a year. We really don't want to get rid of it....but we want something different. A true fishing boat is a dream, that and something with a cabin and galley. Something that would be kid friendly for naps, and also something better suited for overnight trips. But, we have to sell the Shamrock first!


Oh, and my Book Club starts on Tuesday....I am so excited. I think there are about 8 ladies joining and there are a mix of ages...30s, 40s and 50s. I think it's going to be a really great group. We are going to try and order our books from a local Book Store (Harrison Street Books), and hope to host the club there one night for some publicity for the store.
The first book we are reading is Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas
Hope you are having a good week!!

Monday, August 10, 2009

menu for the week


We saw this movie on Friday and absolutely LOVED it! I thought Meryl Streep did a great job as Julia Child, and it really made me start thinking about how much I LOVE to cook. I plan our meals for the whole week, every week, so we know what's on the menu and so I can keep a better eye on how much we spend at the grocery store. For the past 2 weeks, it's been under $75 (including cleaning products, etc...) We cook at home atleast 5 nights a week and then the weekends are sort of hit and miss. We usually go out with friends or just eat a big lunch out on Sunday's and then eat a light dinner


On Saturday, Todd went fishing with some friends and they had the best luck! This is Todd with one of his Rockfish (sorry so small and poor, it's from a cell phone) We will have fish for a long time now!! They boys did great, and caught their limit by 9am, however, enjoyed the day out on the water until 2-3pm. They also caught some bluefish, and hit a turkey in the car!! Welcome to the Eastern Shore! LOL
Menu for the week
Rockfish, red potatoes, green beans
Cheeseburgers and watermelon
Chili stuffed zucchini boats
Roasted tomato and zucchini /squash pasta
Chicken Alfredo with broccoli
Then, Saturday and Sunday we are out....Saturday we are going to the National Zoo with John and Laura and on Sunday we are enjoying dinner with the Pochron's at the Dixon's house!! : )
I belong to a CSA with a local farm. I collect 1/2 a share each week for $12.50 and get a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. It's great. This week, we have a lot of zucchini to get through.
Next week starts my Book Club.....stay tuned!! I am soo excited!

Monday, August 3, 2009

menu for the week

I too can't make it through the grocery store without a detailed list consisting of a menu for the week...here's what we are having this week!

Monday-corn chowder with basil grilled shrimp
Tuesday-pork chops, mashed potatoes, beans and okra
Wednesday-Spaghetti with meat sauce
Thursday-BLTs
Friday- stuffed zucchini chili boats
Lunches are at home...or Todd and I grab a quick bite out (Today was shamefully Taco Bell....but so yummy!) If we run home, they are sandwiches or leftovers from the night before...something easy.
Have a great week! We relaxed this weekend...enjoyed seeing Funny People, dinner and ice cream with friends and a QUICK boat ride before the storm....Can't believe it's Monday, again!