Our trip to Dallas

Last week was super busy for us! We both worked a lot and Mitch's grandparents and cousins we in town from Memphis! We were able to spend some time with them throughout the week, and since neither Mitch or I work on Friday's we had Emma and Lindi stay the night on Thursday! We had a lot of fun and Mitch even enjoyed a night with the girls :) 

When I got off work, they came over and we made spaghetti for dinner! They both helped me make it and it was a lot of fun! 

After dinner, we went on a walk and played frisbee. Then we came home and made chocolate chip cookies! Yum! We made a pretty big mess, but it was fun and the cookies turned out delicious!

The girls got up early on Friday and left to go home, and Mitch and I were planning on heading to Dallas that morning, but my ring was being resized and it wasn't going to be ready until noon, so since we were already up we went and played a early round of golf. There is something about being out on the golf course early in the morning... it is so peaceful. 

When we were done, we headed home to pack up, went to lunch and then headed to Dallas. 

We got to Dallas about 7 that night and just hung out at Will and Michelle's house. They cooked out burgers and we spend the evening planning out all our excursions for our cruise. We could not decide what we wanted to do where. We are going to 3 destinations and we wanted one where we could just hang out and the other two we were going to do excursions. We decided we weren't going to do anything in Mexico.. We all wanted to go horseback riding and that was only offered in Jamaica, so that made up our mind for us. We also knew we wanted to do a snorkeling excursion and if we snorkel in Grand Cayman, we get to snorkel the great barrier reef, which we couldn't do in Mexico. So thats what we decided and we are all really excited!!

Saturday, Michelle and I got up and went shopping! We found some really good deals on some stuff for our trip! Then we met up with the guys for sno cones and went to the Rangers Game!

We met up with Elizabeth and Kevin and it was so nice to get to spend some time with them. I wish we lived closer.. maybe one day :)

The game was a lot of fun and we were in the shade the whole time, so we were actually able to enjoy the game and not fry! After the game, we went to Salt Grass, a steak house and it was so good! We always love going to Dallas and spending time with Will and Michelle! 

Since it was our anniversary, they got us an awesome gift ha! 

There is this restaurant in Memphis we love to go to and they have this dessert, but it is HUGE!! And there is also a place in OKC and Dallas that has a little smaller version and Will and Michelle know we love them... so now we can make them ourselves! And it comes with a little book of recipes.. lots of desserts, but also some dinner options! We are so excited to use it. Thank you! 

Sunday, we got up and Michelle and I went out for breakfast and they guys wanted to do their own thing and meet up with us later. When we finally met up with them we figured out why... ha! 

They went to this place in downtown Dallas called the Heart Attack Grill. Weird.. I know...

This place is crazy... they pretty much applaud being overweight and all their food is soo bad for you! For example... they had a stick of butter on top of their shake.. gross! Mitch also told me that they have a big scale right when you walk in the door and if you weigh over 300lbs you eat for free. Here is a picture of the menu it is hilarious... 

Mitch and Will both had the double bypass burger if that tells you anything. 

We hardly ever make a trip to Dallas without hitting up the outlets! The boys met up with us and actually did a little shopping with us. We had a great time and the guys even bought us a gift...

Yes!! They bought us new coach purses! We were so excited!

After that, Mitch and I made the 6 hour drive back home to b'ville. We got in around 8 and were welcomed back with many anniversary cards/gifts! Thank you- we really appreciate it! 

This week has been busy- we are trying to get ready for our guests this weekend!!! I am so ready to spend the next four days relaxing with friends! I hope y'all have a wonderful and safe 4th! 

One Year Anniversary!!

Today is our one year anniversary!! It doesn't feel like a year ago when we got married! This has been the best year and it was flown by. I also can't believe I have been living in AR for a whole year now. I remember when I would come and visit Mitch, and for the first few months of living here I still felt like I was just visiting, but I can finally say it is feeling like home. I mean... I will always consider Tulsa my home, but I am really starting to settle in here.

This past week we have been super busy and the weekend we went to Dallas. I will do a post about that soon! We had a blast visiting Will and Michelle and I was also able to spend some time with my good friend Elizabeth and her boyfriend, Kevin.

We didn't do much today, but shop and then make the 6 hour drive back home to AR. But last Wednesday night we went out to celebrate! Mitch took me to a really nice restaurant in Fayetteville called Bordino's and we loved it! It was such a fun atmosphere and the food was so good. Mitch had lasagna and I had seafood pasta! They bought us an appetizer and a dessert since it was our anniversary! While we were finishing up dessert he slid a box across the table and I was so confused. I opened it up and it was the diamond band for the other side of my wedding ring!!!

I was shocked! I was not expecting that.
I had given him his gift earlier in the week so he could be using it. I got him a golf range finder. He has been wanting one for so long and he is putting it to good use!

We went golfing early Friday morning and he loved having it!

Now I will leave you with some wedding pictures... it still blows my mind this was a year ago! I am so blessed by Mitch and look forward to many more wonderful years together!!

New Recipes!

Happy Saturday! I hope y'all have had a good week! My went sent by surprisingly fast, considering it was my first week back after being got for a week on vacation. I think I was ready to get back and get things done. I have to day off today and it has been so nice. I was able to sleep in, run some errands and go for a run outside!
Yesterday was Mitch's first day back and he started ICU and he really likes it. He only has one patient compared to having 6 on his previous floor. He said it is more calm, but really sad since they are all in such bad condition...  he is liking so much better than his previous floor. I am happy he is enjoying it.

Not much has one on this week.. so I have nothing too exciting to share, but I do have some new recipes for y'all...

First, Tuesday night we cooked out steak and we wanted fresh green beans to go with them. We both would rather buy the fresh veggies from the store or farmers market than buy them in the can, but for some reason we have not had any luck cooking the green beans. We have tried multiple times and they just don't turn out good. So, I can across this recipe from another blog and thought it sounded really good... and I was right! They were delicious and I am so happy I found a way to cook fresh green beans that we both like. Here is the recipe...

HONEY BALSAMIC GREEN BEANS
16 oz green beans
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon onion powder
salt and freshly cracked pepper
*Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Add the beans and blanch them for two min. Immediately remove beans from the water and add them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Drain.
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and green beans. Cover and cook for 10 min, stirring occasionally. Uncover, then stir in the vinegar, honey, onion powder and salt and pepper to taste. Cook to desired degree of doneness, about 6 min.
Transfer beans to bowl and serve.

These are delicious, easy and I highly recommend you try them!

The next is one of my favorite things... coffee!! I am always looking for new and fun coffee ideas and a friend at work told me about this.

COLD BREW COFFEE
1 cup ground coffee
32 oz (1quart) container
strainer
large coffee filters
*Place ground coffee in container and fill with 1 quart cold water. Cover and let sit for 12-15 hours.

Place strainer over large bowl and place a coffee filer inside strainer. Slowly pour about half of the coffee and let sit until strained. Replace filter and repeat.

Now you have your coffee and you can either use it to make hot or cold.
To make hot: Place equal place of coffee concentrate and water in cup and heat.
To make cold: Place equal parts of coffee concentrate and milk in a glass. If you want iced, then add ice... but I like this because since it is already cold you don't really need ice so it doesn't end up watering it down. This makes the coffee very strong so I add a little extra milk when I make my glass.

Mitch's orange juice bottle has now become by coffee container.. ha
I always go down to Ozark Natural Foods and get their cold coffee in these glass bottles and so I am just reusing them since I can make my own now! I put a little over half milk in the jar and then the rest coffee. I also add 1 pump of Starbucks hazelnut syrup.

You can make it as strong as you want or add more creamer/half and half to weaken in. I love it because I can drink some, put back in the fridge and there is no ice that melts and waters it down!

The next thing isn't a recipe, but it is something that I have come to love and cook with. It is called Teaoli and it is just olive oil, but they have different flavors! When I went to visit Summer on Edmond and went to the tea house, one whole side of the store was these different kinds of olive oil. You could sample them all and I ended up getting the butter flavored.

It is so nice, because it is plain olive oil, but tastes like butter. I put butter on almost everything and I know it is so bad for me. I use it to cook in all the time too. So this is a good substitute! I put it on my popcorn and cook all my veggies, etc in it and it taste just like melted butter!! Yum! If you want some, you have to order it and here is the website:
www.teaoli.com



I hope y'all enjoy some of these.. we sure do!
Last night we tried a new recipe, chicken picatta and sweet potatoes. It turned out pretty good and then we went out for ice cream with Caleb.
I hope y'all enjoy the weekend and this beautiful weather!!