6.15.2011

What I'm loving Wednesday!

I'm loving my secluded and peaceful deck in the morning!
I'm loving that a fellow teacher had "come dig FREE tomato plants" from her personal garden day. Um, yes please! I transplanted them and hope they survive!
Lastly, I'm loving hanging out with these two girls! 
What are you loving?

6.14.2011

Whatcha Think?

...about my new blog design? 
Amanda, over at Oklahoma Nest designed it for me! She has a blog business called Buttercup Blog Design and is super easy to work with! 
Fun fact: Before she moved (Nashville Nest) to Oklahoma last year I met her at Chuy's so we semi-kinda-know one another, sorta!
Thanks Amanda!!

6.13.2011

YUM, yes please!!


Kentucky Hot Brown Tart
So...I found this recipe in my May issue of Southern Living and since it looked delish in the picture--I made it!  I gave it a 10 and Steven gave it an 8 only because he wasn't home for hours and had to heat it in the microwave which made the tomatoes a tad bit soft. But, he did say if he ate it fresh out of the oven he'd give it a 10. 

1 14 oz. package of refrigerated pie crust
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked turkey
2 cups (8oz.) shredded white cheddar cheese ( I use mild cheddar)
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives
6 bacon slices ( I DID NOT USE BACON PERIOD)
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
4 large eggs
1/2 tsp. salt ( I DID NOT USE ANY SALT)
3 plum tomatoes cut into slices
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425.  unroll pie crust and fit into deep dish tart pan.  Bake 12 minutes. 
Reduce heat to 350 layer turkey and next 3 ingredients in tart shell.
whisk together half and half and next 3 ingredients, pour over turkey.
bake 350 for 30 minutes
**dry tomatoes with paper towel and then arrange on top of your pie tart...sprinkle with cheese and bake 8 minutes.
Enjoy!

6.11.2011

Been there, done that!

So excited to see my favorite TV train wrecks filming in Italy! I love the Jersey Shore crew...keep your opinions to yourself!
 We sat & posed on the exact same bridge in Florence, Italy a few years ago!

6.06.2011

Ode to Ootie!

What is an Ootie? Good ole Webster can't define it. But, it somehow came to fruition in Martin way back in 2000. Since then, calling Beth "Ootie" and vice versa has just stuck over the past 11 years.  In fact, one might have heard us  gangsta whistling calling  "Oooootie Oooooo" across campus.  Or not. 
UTM 2000

UTM 2009
Well, Ootie is expecting a baby boy, Brody, in July! 



  Here's her little frog prince shower theme.  It was SUPER cute! Her friends did a fabulous job.
These are the goodies from Monkey Bread Bakery (Memphis)
There was a huge frog balloon and goody bags filled with frog shaped cookies and little prince crowns. It was too cute!
Me & Sarah
A bunch of ZTA's came to celebrate--it was nice to catch up!
Nolan came to support Brody too!
Our traditional belly rub!
And everyone loves a baby in a giant pile of tissue paper!
Dear Beth, 
I know you'll be a great mom! I hope Brody has your sense of sarcasm, ability to work the room, and...um, vocabulary (hehe) along with Bill's head full of dark hair! I'm very excited to meet your little man.  I guess we can call you Ootie+1.

Memphis in pictures!

 Lots of driving....
 shopping...
 dinner at the Beauty Shop (a tradition of wings and watermelon)

Look, the clothes/bags I didn't lose!  (Yeah, we took time to read in a book store for an hour and relax.

and baking GALORE!
 Key lime cupcakes
 strawberry cupcakes
 chocolate raspberry tarts
 carrot cake cupcakes (yeah, I did these myself)
Fat Elvis cupcakes (delish)
All made with love for baby Brody's shower!  Shower pictures coming soon!