what to do, what to do...

Our Mexican Riviera cruise is exactly 6 months from today. I was excited before, but now I feel like I can get really excited because 6 months is going to fly by... I hope. I really can't believe July is almost over, it seems like were were just celebrating the 4th like last week, and now August is knocking down the door. When I was younger, like when I thought 30 was "soooo old!" people would always say that the older you get the faster the years go by. That is so true.

Back to the topic at hand - VACATION in 6 months people! I'm starting to really research what we can do at each of our ports. Ted & I aren't exactly lay on the beach & drink all day long people. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm guessing we will be doing plenty of laying around & drinking poolside on the ship though, so in port we're going to want to get out & do different things. We're more into doing activities that involve the local cultures or history. Museums, local cuisine, architecture, natural wonders, etc. The problem is... we're going to Mexico... on a cruise. I would feel comfortable generalizing that most people go to Mexico to (1) party their faces off, (2) lay on the beach, snorkel, whale watching, and other beach/ocean related activities, (3) buy cheap souvenirs and tequila. So there just aren't tons of excursions or tours related to local culture and history. I actually wouldn't mind going whale watching, but I did that in Alaska and didn't see shit (I know it's not a guarantee) and I don't know if I want to get on another boat. We'll see.

Here's what I'm about 80% sure we'll do:

• tour a tequila factory in either Mazatlan or Puerto Vallarta
• see the blow holes "La Bufadora" in Ensenada
• go to Cabo Wabo in Cabos San Lucas - ok, so totes falls into the "party their faces off" category, but I've been to CSL twice and never seen Cabo Wabo. I just have to this time.
• eat some super amazing Mexican seafood cuisine... yummmm :) This may be the one thing I'm generally the most excited about across the board. I love food & I love eating local fare.

Other than those things I have no idea what we'll do. We're also going to La Paz and my understanding is that La Paz is still very much a fishing village and not super touristy yet (I think this port is somewhat new for cruise ships to stop at), so I'm pretty stoked about that. I'm looking forward to mangos on sticks sold right on the beach. Mmm... Come to think of it... will mangos be in season in January? I hope so.

tasty Tuesday

Roasting cauliflower in the oven with just a little olive oil, salt & pepper... The cauliflower comes out super tender and so flavorful - a little nutty tasting if you give them enough time to caramelize, which for my oven at 450 degrees F took about 30 minutes. YUM. I've found roasting veggies really concentrates and boosts their flavors, and even picky eaters will like them.

weekend recap

This weekend was a really great weekend for us. It went like this:

Friday night - yummy dinner at our favorite bar... where I also got to show off how good I am at picking winning scratchers.

Saturday - saw The Sorcerer's Apprentice. It was good, I really liked it - way better then I was expecting. Went swimming, then had a super great dinner with our neighbors. Having great neighbors who become friends is sooo wonderful.

Sunday - a little grocery shopping to kick off the morning, then headed down to San Diego to have dinner with Ted's cousin & her family - who I love. They're just a really amazing family & great people to be around. Plus their kids are the definition of adorable.

& now it's Monday.... hopefully the good weekend kicks off a good week!

thankful thursday (this time with pictures!)

The guys at Top Gear, for making my husband laugh more & harder then I've heard him laugh in a while.

Green Iced Tea from Starbucks. Mmmm... so cool & refreshing! You've become a crucial part of my day :)

Roger Mooking & my new favorite cooking show on the Cooking Channel. I thought hearing him say "obedient ingredient" 10 times an episode would get annoying. I was wrong, I chuckle every time he says it. Plus he's charismatic & makes me think I can really make my dishes turn out as good as his look.

Amazing memories with really fantastic friends that still make me smile & laugh.

June Gloom that comes back to visit in July and make the Summer heat a little more bearable.

*most picture gathered along the road of Internet. Please let me know if any are yours so I can give credit where credit is due.*

happy birthday!

Today is my husbands birthday! Wooo! He's a whopping 32 years young. :) I kind of hate it when people say "X years young" but whatevs. I said it now.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TED! 

I love you so much, more then I could ever convey with mere words :) 

yes, please

photo courtesy of Mathieu Photography

heavy heart

While I don't know Ashley & her family personally, emotions like grief, sadness, anger, and confusion are universal. My heart goes out to Ashley and her family in this great time of need.

http://www.rubybaby09.blogspot.com/

party!

On Saturday we threw a joint birthday party for Ted and our friend Dee. Dee & her husband, Chris, live in Colorado. They were Ted's friends (for quite a while) before I came along, and now I am so tickled to be able to call them my friends also. They really are great people. The kind of people you want to know. Chris was also the best man in our wedding... the stories... some of the best memories of Cancun happened when we just hanging out, drinking, and having amazing times.

There was tons of yummy food - pulled pork & smoked jalapeno poppers (c/o of Ted), homemade bbq sauce & smoked baked beans (c/o of Ted & me), cream cheese wantons & loaded tater skins (c/o our friend Nicole), a really yummy fresh fruit salad with a strawberry-poppy seed vinaigrette (c/o my momma),  various chips & dips, the BEST coleslaw you've ever tasted (c/o my FIL), a Harry Potter themed ice cream cake for Ted, a white cake w/ strawberry filling for Dee, and an absolutely show-stopping-delicious rum cake (c/o one of the guests, Suni). It was seriously just a feast of never-ending food. 

Of course, the beer was flowing (in bottles), great friends all around, & weather good enough to enjoy the pool. What more could we ask for? Not much. :)

6 Months

Today Ted & I have been married for six months. Six whooooole months. I'm in no way some married-wife-know-it-all but I thought it would be fun to put down some things I have discovered/learned in the past six months. This should be fun to look back on at our 1 year, 5 year, etc. anniversaries.

• We will not only not always agree, but we will also not always be happy with whatever compromise is reached.
• I have to compromise (maybe my least favorite because I can be unreasonable - shocking, I know)
• Fairytale's are exactly that - tales
• It's really not all about the big things, the little things can mean so much more (big things are still nice)
• I never would have guessed that watching Ted wrestle with the dogs would bring me so much JOY
• I sincerely hate cleaning, but I hate a dirty house even more
• Nothing will make me snap into action & get this house spick & span quicker then Ted saying "Oh yeah, my mom is coming over." Good Lord please never let my mother in law come over after a couple of "lazy days". Please.
• We really are a Team

That whole thing about being a Team - it's so true. I didn't get that before we were living together & married. Financially, emotionally, literally - we are a team. We have to be, we have to work together to ensure our lives head in the right direction. There's no Magic Genie that is going to grant our wishes so we end up where we want in life - WE have to do the work. Put in the time & effort, share the laughs, the peaks & valleys (so corny - sorry), share the burdens, and dance around in the glory together.

HAPPY 6 MONTHS HUSBAND! I love you more than Mexican Brownies. :) xxx

Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard.

brain fart

Today is one of those dates where I'm wondering who's getting married today so their anniversary will be 7-7-10. You know someone is doing it, even though it is a Wednesday. I hope it's a fabulous destination wedding bride, getting married on a beautiful beach or majestic seaside cliff in Europe. Aaaah... to be a bride again! 6 months ago today I was in Cancun getting ready for the Big Day. Man, Cancun was amazing. I can't wait to go back there some day. When I take the time to pull my head out of my keister and think about things, I am so lucky. I have strong emotional ties to Paris, France and Cancun. Two places we can go and remember those extra special times in our lives & relationship. Now I will spend the rest of the day daydreaming...

edit: I have no idea where my brain was when I posted this so... apologies are in order. I'll do better next time.

this one is a keeper!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/06/summer-stir-fry/

I briefly mentioned this one in last weeks Tasty Tuesday post. Well I made it last night for dinner & it was so delicious. SO DELICIOUS. Did I mention it was delicious? No. Oh ok, it was so freaking yummy. I could eat it every. single. day.

I will definitely be making this one again. It's fresh, it's light, it's healthy (yeah there's a little butter, it won't kill you or your diet), and it's so quick to make! It's literally chop & cook. I buy my shrimp ready to go, already deveined. I do not devein shrimp... just like I don't take care of the Avenue de Poo in any other animal I eat. :)

Ted even really liked it. I did feel weird about serving a no-carb meal to my burly husband, but he didn't seem to mind. I'm sure tonight's dinner with scalloped potatoes will make up for it. One of the other things I liked about this recipe is that I don't see why you couldn't make it with scallops, mild white fish, or even chicken... if you wanted to get all fancy you could serve it with some yummy lobstah. Mmmm.... lobster. (note to self: must plan a trip to New England soon) I love recipes where once learned they are more of a method with room to play.

Enjoy!

fourth

Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone has a very fun & safe holiday today. Lets all remember & give thanks for the wonderful land we call Home, and for all of those who have & continue to sacrifice so we can keep on living this amazing life.

long weekend

What's better then a long weekend? Nothing, I tell you. Nothing.

Well, unless that long weekend is in the Bahamas or something, I guess that would be better.

Whatever.

I hope everyone has a fantastic, fun, & safe long weekend!

thankful on thursday

Today I am thankful for:

A/C. I truly feel like a brat for saying this because I know lots of people don't have a/c. I love it, and Summer would suck if we didn't have it. Thank goodness ours finally got fixed.

New friends. 'Nuff said, right?

Pomegranate White Tea from Fresh & Easy. Yummy in my tummy!

Heated pools. Our HOA got a new heater for the community pool. It's soooo nice now, and truly lovely for those hot days where even a/c won't cut it.

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen. L-O-V-E it so far!