Favorite Vacation

For our honeymoon, DH and I went to St. Lucia.  We stayed at Jade Mountain and it was pure perfection!  The rooms only have three walls...the fourth one is open so your room has an amazing view

The resort was built into the side of a mountain.  The very top level is The Celestial Terrace.  Below is a picture of DH and I on the Celestial Terrace with a view of the Pitons in the background.

 

Below is a picture of the resort.  I took this picture during our half-day sail.  DH wasn't such a fan of the sailing but if you like to sail and snorkel, then the half-day sail is wonderful!

Sunset one night

DH has informed me that we will be going back to Jade Mountain for my 30th birthday in March 2012...motivation for me to finally lose all of this baby weight!! 

Catch up!

Day 20: Nicknames

The most common nickname I've gotten over the year is "Elmo"...so much so that my parents bought me an Original Elmo doll.

Day 21: Picture of Yourself

Day 22: Favorite City

I've got a couple, in no particular order:

1. Alexandria, VA
2. Nashville, TN
3. Venice, Italy


In other news, we are still looking for a house to move into by January 6!!! Please keep your fingers crossed and say some prayers for us!!

Something I miss...

I'm suppose to write about something I miss, but I'd rather write about someone.  I miss my mom and I wish she lived closer to us.  She's coming next week for Christmas and I am so excited.  She is one of my dearest friends.  She is a constant sounding board for me, someone I can rely on to always have my best interest at heart.  I'm so blessed that she is my mom!  I can't wait to see her on Wed. and get a big hug...I need one right now!!

I love you, Mama!!

Regrets

Today's 30 in 30 is suppose to be about regrets, but I don't believe in regrets.  Every decision I've made, every road I've taken has molded me into the person I am today so why would I want to do over anything?  I think my life's pretty good...I've got to amazing kids that light up my life and a wonderful husband who is my best friend, my soul mate. 

Some readers may wonder why I don't say I regret going to law school...but I DON'T.  If I hadn't gone to law school, I would have always wondered if I gave up on my dream job and I would not have been in a position to meet DH.  I believe it was in our destiny to meet each other...we both got accepted to Furman University and considered going there...we both considered going to law school at Wake Forest University, but ultimately, we ended up in the middle of Georgia sitting across from one another at a local Mexican restaurant playing trivia.  So, no, I don't regret going to law school.

I think it's a waste of time to have regrets...if there is something you wish you had done, try and find a way to do it.  I am passionate about cooking and I wish I had gone to culinary school.  Right now, that's not an option...two small kids and all.  And I'm not sure that I would want to be a chef or anything like that...maybe down the road I'll explore it more.  But right now, I'm turning that passion into a little adventure for my family.  I'm taking all of the recipes that I've collected over the years and I'm actually making them.  DH is having a blast testing all the different recipes and I'm exercising a passion of mine that got pushed aside while I was practicing law.

So that's it...my past lead me to my present and I wouldn't change a thing!!

Something I'm looking forward to...

This is such a simple one...

Closing on our house in GA

and

moving to SOUTH CAROLINA!!

I've been so busy doing the 30 in 30 posts that I failed to post about some recent cooking adventures.  The other week I made these meals...

Black Bean Tortilla Casserole
Source: Cooking This and That blog

This was a little spicy, but you could totally lessen the heat by using a mild sauce!  DH gave this a 5 out of 5 stars so it will be definitely be staying in my receipe index!

I also made Chicken Sweet Potato Stew.  I don't have a source for this one because I got the receipe before I starting making note of where it came from.

This was WP's dinner plate...Chicken Sweet Potato Stew, Broccoli, and Canteloupe

He loved it and so did DH

Chicken Sweet Potato Stew

Ingredients

8 chicken breasts, cubed

4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

4 yellow potatoes, cubed

4 carrots, sliced

56 ounces whole tomatoes, canned

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons celery seed

1/2 cup fresh basil

2 cups chicken broth

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover; cook on Low 6-8 hours or High 3-4 hours.

 
How easy is that!
 
 
In other news, CE turned 3 months old and WP turned 19 months old...we've decorated our tree for Christmas and we've sold our house (that's a blog post for another day).  I'll leave you with these photos...
 
 

Dream Home

My dream home...

Would have views like this one...



 A master bathroom complete with a see through fireplace and jetted tub

 An upstairs laundry room/kitchenette

Would look like this...

 Or this...

Or maybe even this...

Would have a kitchen like this...

And an outdoor area like this

And don't forget a pool like this...

But my dream home would never be complete unless I got to enjoy it with my best friend...

and the two cutest kids around!



Of course, I would love to have the picturesque home in the perfect setting.  The home with the massive bay windows that look out onto the peaceful waters.  The home with the gourmet kitchen...the double ovens, the Wolf range, the SubZero frig, the granite counters and dark wood cabinets...the room which makes all our guest feel at home and offers the setting for countless family memories.  The home with the beautiful built-ins to hold our books and family photos.  The home with a master suite that makes people green with envy.  The home with the infinity swimming pool and a bar/outdoor kitchen that rivals my indoor kitchen.  The home with the outdoor living space that makes every summer and fall night magical.  The home with the upstairs laundry and kitchenette area.  The wine cellar to hold our to die for wine collection.  Sure all of those things would be a fantasy come true.

But, in all honesty, my dream home is wherever DH, WP, CE and Rocko are.  Everything else is just icing on my already perfect home!

Day 14 & 15

A picture that I love:

A favorite Bible verse:

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
 
Isaiah 41:10 (New King James Version)

Day 12 and 13!

So I was a little busy yesterday and wasn't able to post my 30 in 30 posts.  I've decided to combine yesterday's topic - "What I believe in" and today's topic - "Goals".  In many ways, these topics go together nicely!

I believe that God has a plan for us and while we may not always agree with that plan or God's time frame, I believe that we must trust God.  This is something I am struggling with right now as DH and I have sold our house and we don't know what the next step for our family is.  Our desire is to return to SC (where DH is from) to raise our family; unfortunately, there seems to be a hiring freeze in the legal field.  Right now, DH is working for a firm that hopes to open an office in Charleston.  That would be nice, but we're ready to go now...they, on the other hand, aren't ready to move us.  So it looks like we are going to end up in a rental in Atlanta for a while until they are ready to move us.  I'm trying to trust God and his plan for my family but I want to be settled in our house in SC...not in someone else's house that we're renting for who knows how long. 

I believe that family/friends and love are two of the three most important things in life (the third being a strong faith).  Being in love and being loved in return is so important to one's happiness.  Having an emotional bond with someone is critical to human nature.  This bond doesn't have to be physical necessarily, but that part's nice too!  I believe as humans we need to have connections with other people that we trust and love....these relationships help to mold us and these people offer support when we need it.  It is not natural to be alone all of the time.  I believe it is important to surround yourself with the right people and to build healthy relationships with solid foundations of trust, honesty, strong communication, respect and kindness.  I believe that friends, family and love make the journey of life an amazing trip...through the good and the bad these things (and a strong faith) will make us better people.

I believe that one shouldn't settle for unhappiness in their career!  As I've previously mentioned, I'm a former attorney.  I thought being a lawyer was something I wanted...I thought it was my dream job.  I was certain that was my calling, but after practicing for 3 years, I can confidently say that I was miserable in my career and I'm certain that God's plan for me does not involve me being a lawyer for the next 40 years!  This is something that I struggle with on a daily basis because I didn't want to disappoint my parents who had worked so hard and been so supportive during my schooling.  But ultimately, I believe that one shouldn't stay in a job they are miserable at just to please someone else.  Continuing to work in a place that made me want to pull my hair out the moment I walked through the door was not healthy for me, DH or my children!  I wasn't able to be the wife and mother I wanted to be because I was so unhappy in my job...and it was hard to leave that unhappiness at the office.  Granted, there are moments where I still want to pull my hair out but I am such a happier person and I believe I'm a better wife and mommy because I love what I do on a daily basis (99% of the time)!!  So, find something you love and do it!

More than anything, I believe in my husband.  I believe that he is an amazing man.  My best friend, a wonderful daddy, a loving husband, a hard worker!  He is one of the smartest people I know!!  I believe in our love, I believe in our future, I believe in the family and life we are creating.  I believe in him!!

Goals for 2011 and beyond:

1. Be a better Christian

2. Be a better wife and mommy

3. Move to South Carolina

4. Be better with saving money

5. Cook healthy dinners for my family at least 5 nights a week!

6. Get back to my wedding weight (I'm giving myself until I turn 30...March 2012!!)

7. Read 20 books

8. Continue to post updates on the blog on a regular basis

What's on my DVR

Today's 30 in 30 topic is all about favorite tv shows.  Now that we have kids, our dvr is full of stuff we try to watch when we have a free moment.  So here's a glimpse into my dvr...

As you should be aware from some of my favorite movies, I am a huge fan of the teeny-bopper tv shows on the CW.  I watched every episode of the original 90210 so I was hesitant when this updated series came out, but it's not so bad!

This is a Sunday night must...although since I'm rarely awake after 9:30 these days, it's become a middle of the night feeding favorite.

One of the funniest shows on tv...DH and I watch this every Wed. night!

A favorite of mine and sometimes DH will watch it with me as long as Clemson isn't playing football.  If it gets to romantic, DH usually leaves the room.

See 90210 above...

This is a new series that started this fall...DH and I really like this one.  It has good drama and ends before bed time which means it's something we can watch together and "bond" over.

A favorite of DH's that he has gotten me hooked on.  DH loves to watch the reruns so we always have a large helping of The Office around our house.

DH isn't too much of a fan but I absolutely love this show!

Another show that DH and I enjoy watching together...absolutely one of the best comedy's on tv.  A show the whole family can bond over!!

Another favorite of mine...I think DH enjoys it too, even if he doesn't always admit it!

Something I'm Afraid Of...

Today is day 10 out of 30 and I'm suppose to talk about something I'm afraid of.  There's the standard stuff...snakes, spiders, yucky bugs, jelly fish, losing a loved one, DH or my kids getting seriously sick, being alone, etc.  All of those things are normal for one to be afraid of, right. 

Then there's my fear of fire from when I was little.  The fear that required me to have a bag of my most prized possessions packed and sitting next to my bed so I could grab it in case our house caught fire in the middle of the night.  I think that fear resulted because a house in our town burned down and some kids were hurt.  I didn't know the family, they didn't even live that close to where my parents and I lived, but you had to drive by the house to get to our church and so I was always aware of what had happened.

But I think my biggest fear has to do with being a mom.  Am I good enough, am I raising my kids properly, do they know I love them?  Lately, WP has been testing the boundaries excessively...probably doesn't help that we have a massive 7 foot tree in the middle of our bay window in the family room full of sparkly lights and ornaments.  He's also taken a liking to climbing into CE's swing WHILE she's in it...just a slight no no event.  He also figured out this week that Rocko's gate was movable if he just pushed in the right spots and if he could move it far enough, he could access the laundry room.  Needless to say, I've been saying "no, no" a lot lately and we've had to spank his bottom when he tries to climb into CE's swing.  When this happens, my heart breaks because I'm so scared that I'm scarring him or that he's going to think I'm a mean mommy.  He already sees me as the "bad guy" since I'm the one home with him all day and I'm that one that has to discipline him the most.  My head tells me that I'm just preventing him from hurting himself...like when he tries to play with the lamp cord but my heart screams stop!  

So there it is...my biggest fear.  I hope I don't screw them up too much!!

Friends Make the World Go Round!

With my bridemaids and flower girls...these are the girls that kept me sane during the pre-wedding days!

DH and me with my girlfriends...these are some of the greatest people I know!

This photo was taken after our law school graduation...an event made possible because of these amazing girls!!

DH with some of the guys that were in our wedding

This photo was taken at the 2008 Clemson/South Carolina football game...these are the folks we tailgate with (DH's fraternity brothers and their significant others)!



Traveling...

Rome, Italy at sunset

The summer after my first year of law school, I did a study abroad program in Scotland.  For a couple weeks before the program started, I traveled with some friends to Italy and London.  I absolutley love Italy and hope to be able to take DH and the kids there some day! 

Favorite Movies

In no particular order, here are my top ten movies!! Oh who am I kidding, I can't narrow it down to just ten! So I'll give you a few absolute favorites plus some genres...

Shag is one of the absolute best movies! Very few Saturdays went by where this movie was not playing at some point on one of the girl dorms during my time at EHS.  I'm pretty sure I can still quote 80-90% of this movie!

Another classic from my high school years.  This movie is what started my love for 80s movies...could DH and I be more perfect for each other?

Memories....thanks for the Memories

An All-American hero type movie...I cry every time!

A true classic...I could watch this on repeat for a whole day and not get bored.  DH on the other hand would probably be ready to jump out a window!

One of the best Christmas movies ever!  While it can be depressing at times, the overall message is one of hope.  DH and I can agree that this is an excellent movie and a must see at least once during the Christmas season.

 "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse" is one of the best lines ever!

As anyone can tell you, this would not be my favorite movies list without at least one teeny-bopper movie on it.  If there is one type of movie that I absolutely love, it's a romantic comedy, chick-flick, whatever you want to call it...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

Another award winning movie...no matter how far into the movie it is, if I catch a glimpse of Forrest Gump on, I want to watch it!!

What girl doesn't love this movie?  The Hills are Alive!!

"I'll be your Huckleberry"...another great line from this amazing movie.  Like Forrest Gump, I can watch this movie at anytime

Ok, so basically anything with Molly Ringwald in it or any 80's flick gets a check plus in our house!

Same thin for Seth Rogen...he's funny!!