Wicker Patio Furniture

It’s not very often that I take the time to rave about a recent purchase, but this certainly deserves its own section. We hunted for over a year to find the perfect patio furniture for our pool house and…drumroll please… here it is!

Hampton Bay wicker patio furniture is the best. It’s a dark wicker and we chose the sandstone cushions (neutral). With the loveseat, and 4 chairs, cocktail table, and ottoman, we have a full seating area (and when the crowd is smaller, we use two of the chairs and ottomans in our 3-season room).

They were easy to assemble. (The couch arrived in a box that could have house a refrigerator – the neighborhood kids are now using the box as a fort – it’s a hoot!).

The fabric is durable and weather resistant. The accent pillows have fun flare (no need to buy anything different), and so far all the cushions have held up over many days lounging outside watching the World Cup, hosting parties, and just relaxing next to the pool.

This set was purchased online from Home Depot (free shipping). It arrived when it said it would, in good shape, and no drama (just the way I like it).

Birthday Beerfest

Several friends celebrate January (and February) birthdays, so what better way to honor them than with copious amounts of (good) beer and ah-mazing beer-related food and activities?

Fun fact: Ben never actually said this (though everyone thinks he did).
See the full urban legend here.

Food

The food station was a HUGE hit! (Hot pretzel anyone?)

This was critical to the outcome of the party. Finding the perfect snacks to a) pair nicely with beer and b) to keep guests from getting smashed was really fun.

Entertainment

1. Birthday Boy Roast - We had some friends from out of town "Roast" one of our birthday boys via Skype. It was designed as "Real Men of Genius", but modified as a roast for the birthday boy. (Remember those good old Bud Light commercials? My favorite was always "Mr. Rolling Cooler Cooler Roller!")

2. Family Feud: Beer Edition - Several months prior to the party, I set up a survey (via Survey Monkey)  and asked several of my friends to complete questions such as:

• Name something you'd be too embarrassed to tell your grandma.
• What's one reason why you would call into work "sick".
• Name something smellier than a fart.
• Name something that would give you fiery poop the next day.

Sure, those questions were gross and inappropriate, but this was a BEERFEST after all, not some tea party for pansies. We mean business.

Party-goers picked their teams and with their competitive spirit, duked it out hardcore. The winners received prizes:

DIY Mugs: Easy as 1-2-3
1) Clean glass with rubbing alcohol
2) Tape design to the inside of glass
3) Trace over design with permanent marker/paint marker*
(*permanent marker doesn't work as well / follow directions for paint marker for longer-lasting results)

3. A Legendary Birthday Cake  

Provided by The Cakery (North Aurora, IL)

4. Beer (duh!) - This was the part that was a blast! We went to Woodman's since they have an EXCELLENT selection of specialty/craft beer, and it was down the road from The Cakery (see above). We ended up with a variety of bottled beer (ales, stouts, lagers, IPAs).

The birthday boys and girl (and a half-eaten cake)

Tis the Season

Well, we're officially knee-deep into December and crafting is in full swing! There's always something magical about Christmas, even as an adult (with no children). The snow falling, Christmas songs on the radio, the scent of the Christmas tree delicately filling the house... Oh it's wonderful!

And equally wonderful are the crafts! There are SO many crafting options this time of the year, and sometimes I have to stop myself from going too far overboard (though slightly overboard is just fine!).

Since moving into our first house this Spring, I have made it a mission to create decorations for our front door for each season. (You may remember the "BOO" sign for Halloween.) There were so many posts on Pinterest for DIY Christmas Tree Ornament Wreaths, that I thought to myself, "If everyone else is doing it, why can't I?" But I didn't want to look like a copy cat, so I did my own version of the front door wreath.

Christmas Ornament Wreath
Supplies:

• Foam ring ($4.99, half off = $2.50-  at Hobby Lobby)
• 15 foot Garland (Dollar Tree) ($1)
• Bulb ornaments ($8.99 at Wal-Mart for a huge container of assorted colors)
• Long pins ($3.29, 40% off = $2 -  from Hobby Lobby)
• Premade bow from Hobby Lobby ($7.99, half off = $4)
• 12" of twine or ribbon

Instructions:
1. Wrap garland around foam ring. It helps to pin down the start of the garland. Continue until foam is covered. (It's okay if it's not 100% covered because the ornaments will cover the rest.)

2. Place pins through ornament holes and push into the foam ring. Be sure to leave yourself a few inches at the top for the bow. Get creative if you want any special pattern here. Just be sure the pins are secured into the foam. That's why the longer pins are more helpful because they are longer and can grab into the foam easier.

3. Affix the bow to the top.

4. Tie twine around top to hang from the door (I have a 3M hook that is always on the door, so that's why I use. Otherwise a wreath hook would work, too.)

Ta-Da! The whole project took a whopping total of 10 minutes (plus a little extra time to clean up the glitter...) and cost less than $20!

Friendsgiving 2013 - I am thankful

It's that time of the year when we sit back and really reflect on what we are thankful for. I'll be honest, most years I usually just rattle off some obvious things (job, family, friends, etc.) just because those are the things you are supposed to be thankful for.

This year was different. Much, much different.

I sat down and really gave that looming question some thought: what am I thankful for? A long list started forming in my head, so I started to write them all down. It looked something like this:

1. Being able to commit to my best friend and become his wife. (I have several gay friends who love their partners unconditionally, but they don't have the same opportunity to be married - let's hope that changes soon.) Therefore, I am thankful.
2. Turning a house into a home for the first time. I've always wanted some place to call my own, something more permanent than renting a "so-so" place for a couple of years then moving. We bought a house. Granted, it hasn't been easy, and we're learning all about 'home-moaner-ship' quickly, but it is ours and we are making it our home. Therefore, I am thankful.
3. The love and support from my friends. I've known some of them since 2nd grade, and others just a few months. But they are kind, and loving, and bring out different qualities in me that I might not otherwise be able to without them. Therefore, I am thankful.
4. My health. Many of my family members have received life-changing news from their doctors (prostate cancer, breast cancer, MS, skin cancer, hip replacement surgery, emergency appendectomy). My biggest concern was new skin allergies in 2013, which seems so trivial compared to the ailments of my family. Therefore, I am thankful.
5. My family. They have supported me always, and even more so this year (what I called "the year of change"). I got to welcome my sister-in-law into the family when she married my brother back in June, and she's fantastic! We welcomed our new nephew back in July and he's truly the  most laid-back, happy baby! My family has been, and continues to be, wonderful. Therefore, I am thankful.

So this year, when I was asked to host Friendsgiving 2013, I thought, "yes, this just feels right". For anyone who knows me, they know that I really don't care for the Thanksgiving "meal". Potatoes? No thank you. Stuffing? Maybe a little. Turkey? Pass! So hosting this year was not about "putting together so much food that you need sweatpants to pull it all off (although if that's what my guests fancy, I don't judge!.

This year was about friends. And laughter. Having a reason to get together, go through a bottle of wine (or nine) and just enjoy one another.

And that's exactly what we did.

I had a blast putting together some of the planning pieces of Friendsgiving 2013:


I used Sharpie markers to decorate wine glasses with everyone's name on the stem. The top says "Gobble til ya Wobble" and underneath the turkey says "Friendsgiving 2013".

We used a drill bit to fit tea lights in gourds.

 

The food was a BIG hit! So many good flavors!

I felt awfully grown up once the table was set.



 



I even had some spare time to make a door decoration (total cost was under $20 - thanks Hobby Lobby!).

 

 

Life comes at you in many different ways sometimes. And it takes these events to really  make you stop and think about what is important in life. Thankfully (that word's being thrown around quite a bit in this post), I still have plenty of more time to sit and reflect and take note of what I am truly thankful for. And it's not just in November, but this kind of reflection needs to happen more often. Stop taking things (or people) for granted. Cherish what we have. Continue random acts of kindness. And remind people of how important they are to us on a regular basis.

 

 

It's amazing to even have the opportunity to reflect on what I am thankful for this year. Therefore, I am thankful. 

My Favorite Chili Recipe - loaded with veggies!

Summer is fading into fall. With shorter days and crisp air, it means time for Crock Pot Chili! This is one of my favorite meals to throw together. It all started with a clipping from the Chicago Tribune for a "veggie chili recipe". My grandma tried it and loved it. My mom tried it and loved it. I tried it and loved it. It passed the 3-generation test!

Note: I am not one to follow a recipe exactly. So the recipe calls for 1 tsp of chili powder? I'll just eyeball it. 1 cup of corn? I'll eyeball it. My recipe may not be down to a science, but even if it turns out slightly different each time, it hasn't caused any "booing" from those eating it!

Please don't judge. I truly mean to take a picture of the ENTIRE pot of chili... then we all got hungry. So I said "Oh, I'll take it while it still looks pretty in my bowl!" Several bites later I realized I forgot. Better late than never, right?? :)

Ingredients:
2 - large green peppers, diced
2 - zucchinis, diced
1 - yellow squash, diced
1 - 15 oz can of corn (or equivalent of fresh corn, if in season)
2 - 28 oz cans of diced tomatoes (I like mine with green chilies)
1 1/2 cup shredded carrots (I buy mine pre-shredded, like shoestrings - SO much easier than making them yourself out of baby carrots!!)
1 - packet of chili seasoning (I prefer McCormick, reduced sodium)
2 tbl chili powder
2 tbl paprika
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp pepper
* Optional - 3 lbs ground turkey (I like to make meaty chili, but this recipe originally came to me as a veggie chili recipe... and I totally added ground turkey to help it 1) go farther 2) stick to your ribs 3) not cause the family to go running because I made a "veggie-only" dinner!

What? No beans?! you might be asking. Indeed, no beans. I strongly dislike the texture. But hey, if you're a fan, go ahead an add them!

Directions:
1) Brown ground turkey (if you choose to use it). Add McCormick seasoning to meat, add 1/2 water to seasoning and meat and stir. Let simmer to let the flavors blend.
2) Add ground turkey, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, carrots, chili powder, paprika, cumin, pepper and 1 cup of water to Crock Pot. Let simmer for 3-4 hours on low. *If you're in a pinch for dinner, you can do this on the stove top in a large pot, just crank the heat a little and stir occasionally. OR, I like to still use the Crock Pot so I don't need to "baby it", and put it on the high setting and check it about every hour, for 2-2.5 hours*
3) Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and oyster crackers. Corn muffins are an added bonus!

This recipe lasts the two of us for a good week (having it for dinner/lunch every other day). It's a very inexpensive meal that tastes great, fills you up, and has just enough kick to really make you feel like you ate something substantial.

The Big 28 Started Off Great

As I sit here, on my 28th birthday, I am smiling. All day there has been a smirk, a grin, an ear-to-ear smile across my face. There's this warmth that I can't quite explain, almost like a blanket of comfort. Everything just seems just right. I don't know how to describe it, except for pure comfort and happiness.

Here's how my day has gone so far, maybe that will help explain the warmth and happiness that I'm feeling right now:

6am - My husband brings me breakfast in bed (pancakes made from scratch, fresh strawberries, sausage, glass of milk)
7am - I take a shower and make myself "presentable for the day" then start scanning Pinterest for craft ideas for the day.
8am - Take the dog on a walk. The weather is absolutely perfect for late September - cool, crisp, blue skies and not a cloud in sight.
9am - Craft time! I start with making a BOO sign for the front door based on a post I saw on Pinterest.
11:45am - My dad calls and asks what I'm doing for lunch (nothing) then says he's on his way to get me. We nosh on some Mediterranean food.
1pm - Resume craft time! I work on painting some wine glasses for Halloween.
3pm - Test out walkway luminaries for the trick-or-treaters next month (mason jar filled with candy corn and tea light - great idea and looks fantastic!)

Today was THE BEST. Crafting! Totally uninterrupted! It was heaven!

Then to top it off, my husband and I stopped to get some ice cream, went on a walk, and now he's making me Chicken Cordon Bleu (from scratch) for my birthday dinner. Oh, did I mention that he made me a birthday cake from scratch for later tonight? Yes, he's that good!

So as I sit here, throwing together a (very sloppy) post about my day, I am smiling. Today I got to focus on new projects that have been on my radar for some time. The house is spotless and organized. The sun was shining bright and there was a sweet breeze all day long. My husband made me feel like a queen today and has made me feel so loved and valued.

We have had a busy year, but I wouldn't change a thing. My life is perfect right now and that's because of his love and support. With him by my side I know I can handle anything.

I can't wait to see where I am this time next year. I can only imagine...

Daily Dose of Fun

It was as easy as 1-2-3… Month #1 – readjusting after the honeymoon; Month #2 – celebrating my brother’s wedding and now, we’ve made it to Month #3 as husband and wife and it just keeps getting better and better! It’s a whole new chapter, being married, you know? What blows my mind is that after talking to other newlyweds, there seems to be a theme from them: married life isn’t that much different than pre-wedding life.

I completely disagree!

Granted, we moved into our first home 2 months before the wedding, so our living situation didn’t change much, and we still love each other uncontrollably… but there is something so different about being a married couple. It’s wonderful and terrifying. It’s wondering if you’re living up to the (sometimes imaginary) expectations that your other half had about marriage. It’s planning your next steps together, but still soaking up the here and now.

Our relationship started out a little differently than most. Well, we followed the “norm” to some degree, but with a different twist. It was normal in the sense that the first time I saw him, I turned into a babbling schoolgirl and made a fool of myself in front of him. (You know the kind of embarrassment that makes you want to just sink into the floor and pretend it never happened? Yeah, that kind of embarrassment!) But it turned out alright because while I was mentally sinking into the floor, I saw that he was smiling and showed exactly how kind and forgiving he can be. Pretty normal start to a relationship, right?

Well, here’s the twist: When I first met my husband, he was on a rotational program through work and he only had 3 months left in town when we started dating. That made for a challenge! I mean, how do you start dating someone and know that within 90 days, they would be moving 500 miles away? I’m all about risks, but this one was a doozy! The good news is that we each had a good feeling about our relationship, so we talked (and talked, and talked…) and figured out a plan that I’d like to share with you.

We call it “Daily Doses of Fun”, (or DDOF. for short).

For 90 days, we tried to do ONE Daily Dose of Fun together. Since we were still getting to know one another, this had multiple benefits: 1) We spent lots of time together to get to know each other; 2) We got to explore a new town together (we both moved to the same small town at the same time); and 3) our DDOF activities gave us the foundation for our soon-to-be long distance relationship. We had something to talk about on the phone after he moved. Things like “Remember when we went hiking to the White Rocks?” or “I saw Jimmy at the pizza shop today, he asked about you.” That really helped.

Here are some examples of our DDOF activities while dating: © cooking our first lobster © pumpkin carving contest © teaching my puppy new tricks © trying a new restaurant © bike rides © weekend getaway to Montreal © skydiving © flying a kite © trying out a new recipe © start up an aquarium © train for a marathon together © pottery class © comedy club © NYE in NYC © camping © brewery tour © swimming in the local reservoir © cliff-diving © wiffleball league © dueling pianos © trivia night © Saratoga race track © rooftop bars © kayaking© charity bike rides© etc.

Top row (left to right): Skiing, pottery class, surf and turf recipe, pumpkin carving, Steelers football game, driving range, Chicago Marathon 2009. Bottom row (left to right): Cubs baseball game, hot dog tour of Chicago, kayaking with the dog, 1/2 marathon, cooking our first lobster, skydiving.



Fast forward 5 years and here we are today: husband and wife, living happily ever after!

My theory on how to maintain the “happily ever after” is based on how our relationship started: DDOF-style! We are used to spending time together, trying new things, and exploring our surroundings. Why should that stop just because we ‘got hitched’?

So here's my plan. I want to document a list of our “married life DDOF” activities. Keep checking back for more fun ideas. Feel free to give them a try if they’ll work for you!

• Date Night Scavenger Hunt
• Business Trip Love Letters
• Competitive edge tournament