Friday Thoughts

My thoughts are pretty scattered today and there's no real point to this post. Enjoy!

-I signed up for bootcamp! My job is offering a 6 week bootcamp for only $30! It will be Monday's & Wednesday's from 5:30pm - 6:30pm and if you go to 11 out of the 12 sessions, you get your $30 back! Unfortunately, I already know I'll be missing atleast 2 sessions due to work events. Oh well, it's time to get back in shape!

-The fridge was delivered this morning bright & early! I'm talking like 7:30am. We preferred to have them come between 7-9am so we'd be sure someone was home to let them in. I was already at work when they arrived so Cameron texted me this pic of the new and improved fridge!

Somethings you will notice in this picture:

-The Bud Light box. How embarrassing.

-No, the fridge does not stick out that far. 

-Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies - yum!

-Our 2011 fridge next to our original double ovens probably from the 60's. Still work great!

-The ugly green laminate counter tops..which leads me to my next thought..

-In other kitchen news, we ordered Giani granite counter top paint yesterday! Have you heard of this? It's basically a quick and inexpensive fix for when you can't splurge on granite counter tops. Click the website to learn more!

Counter tops now..and replace the black dishwasher with a pretty new stainless steel one!

-I'm 3 followers away from 200! I'm thinking it will be giveaway time once I hit 200 so all you stalkers out there, just go ahead and follow!

Have a great weekend!

San Fran!

Ashley's post brought back memories of my first trip to the West Coast, which was in December of 2007, so I thought I'd take a short stroll down memory lane..

I had (have? I haven't spoken to him in a really long time) a friend, no seriously, just a friend, named Justin who works for a geology firm. Although Justin worked in Augusta, GA, his company's main office was in California. Every year they have a huge Christmas party and in 2007, Justin decided to bring me along as his date. Free airfare and hotel room? Sign me up immediately! 

We flew in to San Fransisco on a Thursday and decided to do the whole tourist thing of Fisherman's Wharf / Pier 39 before we checked into our hotel room. That is why I look so disgusting in these pics, FYI. :)

No idea what church this is, but I thought it was pretty.

Alcatraz

Of course we had to see the sea lions!

Group shot

This crazy guy in the dog costume (bottom left) charged us $5 to take pictures with his dogs..with our camera! Poor dogs.

Later that evening we checked into the Bodega Bay Lodge. From what I can remember, the room was amazing. Fireplace, big flat screen tv, plush king size bed, etc. I didn't realize how beautiful the view was until the next morning.

View from our room!

On Friday, we did a little more sightseeing and this time it was to see the Pacific Ocean and the Point Reyes Lighthouse! A little history for ya: "The Point Reyes Lighthouse is the windiest place on the Pacific coast and the second foggiest place on the North American continent. Weeks of fog, especially during the summer months, frequently reduce visibility to hundreds of feet. The Point Reyes Headlands, which jut 10 miles out to sea, pose a threat to each ship entering or leaving San Francisco Bay. The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse warned mariners of danger for more than a hundred years." source See, ya learn something new everyday!

308 stairs to get to the lighthouse, which is the equivalent of a 30 story building. They did have resting spots for you on the way down / up though!

Saw these little fella's (girlies?) on my way down.

Pacific Ocean - so pretty!

It was very windy & cold. Not ideal for a beach, but hey, it was December.

Sunset from our room! Would have been so romantic...if I was attracted to my date. I'm sorry, that was mean. He's a SUPER nice & fun guy!

I can't really remember what we did on Saturday during the day, but the big Christmas party & dinner was later that night. Justin and his co-worker, Greg, were appointed the oh-so-important role as the "Shot Cowboys." They would go around to every table during dinner and force hand out shots to people. I was so proud to be his date.....not.

Shot Cowboys (pretty sure the President of the company is at that table.)

Myself & Natalie. Natalie and I actually played soccer together in high school! It was so nice to know someone else that weekend!

This is Frank the Tank. He loved him some Megan.

Sunday was departure day. On our way back to the airport we checked out the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Natalie's date & I grew up in the same neighborhood.

 I had such a fun time, but I was ready to head back to the East Coast!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving our new appliances! Picked up our new dishwasher on Sunday (the one that the previous owners left never worked) and our new fridge will be delivered on Friday! 

I'm loving that my first wedding for work is this Saturday and it ends at 5pm! Yay for no late night!

I'm loving the dress I scored from Ann Taylor Loft for under $40! Perfect for work...and church if I could get my lazy butt out of bed on Sunday mornings. 

I'm loving that I'm back to blonde as of yesterday and I no longer have split ends! Thanks Kady! :)


I'm loving how Brady rides in the car! He always wants to be up front and watch where we're going.

I'm loving gchat! Especially when I see my bloggy friends pop up online! My days go by so much faster when I have someone to talk to! I persuade Jana to move to Charleston, confess to Beth, talk to Ashley about everything under the sun and let her know I'm hooking her up with a groomsman from the wedding we're both attending in May, gossip about high school peeps with Christina, and ask Linley craft advice, where she got her boots, and I get a little too excited that we share a name (Lindley is my middle name).

Tasty Tuesday - Shrimp & Artichoke Casserole

Serves 6

Ingredients:

6 1/2 tablespoons butter, divided use

4 1/2 tablespoons flour

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup half and half

salt and pepper to taste

1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts

1 1/2 to 2 pounds shrimp, cooked and deveined

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms

1/4 teaspoon flour

1/4 cup dry sherry

1 tablespoon Worcestershire

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

paprika

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Melt 4 1/2 tablespoons butter. Stir in 4 1/2 tablespoons flour. Add creams, stirring constantly. When thick, add salt and pepper to taste.

Drain artichokes and cut in half. Place on bottom of casserole. Place shrimp over artichokes. 

Saute mushrooms in remaining butter. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon flour over mushrooms. Stir. Scatter mushrooms over shrimp. 

Add sherry and Worcestershire to cream sauce. Pour over casserole.

Top with cheese and paprika. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. 

Note: I'm not sure if the shrimp actually have to be cooked before hand if you're going to stick them in the oven for 20 minutes.

I found this recipe in Sunday, March 6, 2011's Post & Courier. 

You Know What Really Grinds My Gears?

When people (a bride in this case) schedule a meeting with you and then fail to show up, without even calling or emailing to let you know!

On the upside, this particular bride is looking to book July 23rd, which happens to be this super fun couple's wedding date. 

So it is really a blessing in disguise. But she still could have given me a heads up..

Other than that it's been a great Monday! I didn't oversleep like I did most of last week and it's beautiful outside!

For Japan With Love.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

We don't have anything planned this year for St. Pats. :( We were going to go to Savannah to visit Cameron's friend, James, but then my car decided to start acting funny and our refrigerator decided to stop working so we decided that maybe we should spend our money to fix those two pretty important items, rather than spending it on green beer. Maybe next year, James!

IF we were going to Savannah and I had $286 to shell out on a new top, I'd totally buy this one:

Tibi

And since I'm not / don't , let's look at some pics from previous St. Pat's celebrations...

2009 (Day of) at O'Malley's Downtown Charleston. Yes, that is "Jeremy" from Army Wives. They film the show in Charleston and Jenna was pretty obsessed at the time.

2009 (Weekend of) at Poe's on Sullivan's Island

2008 (Day of St. Pat's) in Summerville

2008 (Weekend of) in Columbia

What are your plans??