Photo Tales....

Thursday!  LOL.  OK, It's a couple of days late, but I still made it before Friday!

This is PJ sitting on the makeshift window seat I threw together.  You see, she and her sister CC can easily access prime bird viewing position, but their brother iLean (my 3 legged buddy) can't quite make the jump.  In our spare room, still hollowed out from the great winter leak of 2011, there was a little cat bed attached to the sill and he could pull himself up using the carpeted surface.  But since we've had that room closed off for so many months, he can't sit in his usual summer spot.  I felt sad for him as he lay on the floor watching his siblings lounge so effortlessly.  So, I flipped over a laundry basket, covered with his favorite blanket and now  my little buddy has his very own window seat!  Except that every time he jumps down, PJ takes it over.  

Oops!  Forgot to add the link for you guys to go participate!  Go to Laugh Until You Cry!

I Heart Faces - May Flowers

I think this is the first time that I am participating at I heart Faces!  I have always been a little apprehensive because of all the fabulous photos I see there every week.  But I feel like this one was a great ice breaker for me!  

My husband and I took a stroll around the botanical gardens, mostly to see what was in bloom, but also to practice using my camera in the dreaded MANUAL mode!  DUN DUN DUUUUN.  I have to say, I am pretty proud of this shot!  It's of a fruit tree, and for the life of me, I can not tell you the name of it!  A cherry or a pear maybe?  I forgot to look at the tag!  Anyway, here you go:

Go over to I Heart Faces and link up your flower photo!!

Photo Tales Tuesday!

Do you see it?  The little Goldfinch tucked into the branches?!  This is one of my favorite birds of the Spring!  He also happens to be the NJ State bird.  Don't you know what your state bird is?  I can not possibly be the only nerd in the room.

Matt and I walked around the botanical gardens one sunny day last week and we spotted this guy hopping from branch to branch.  I love this time of year!!

Go link up your picture and tell us about it!  

Things I'm Looking forward to...

I'm SOOOO looking forward to these next few WARMER months!  Here are just a few things that I thought of:

Getting back into shape.  Ugh, I'm hoping this gets easier as the days go by.  Matt and I can not wait to dust the bikes off and hit the trails.  I have such a hard time motivating myself to get on the elliptical or pop in a DVD, but the warmer weather is exactly what I need to get going!  10 pounds...you're going DOWN.

Working on some sewing projects.  I just started a new blanket project using old jeans.  I really hope it turns out the way it's looking in my head!  I also got some beautiful new fabric from Tina (bday gift) to make a pattern by Moda.

I will also try to make my very first dress from a pattern I bought....wish me luck!

Sangria.  Does this need an explanation?  I bought this Beverage Dispenser from Target months ago and I need to break it in :o)

And the thing I'm REALLY excited for is this June I am going to my first concert ever!  Matt and I are going to see Miranda Lambert at The Borgata in Atlantic City!!  I can not wait!!  I walked down the isle to "Makin Plans" and it's going to be an awesome anniversary gift from my hubbs!

Is there anything you're looking forward to in the coming months?

Photo Tales Tuesday!

Come play along!

The thing I like about Photo Tales Tuesday is that Beth allows you to use ANY picture you want!  It doesn't have to be something that was taken recently.  Which is why I chose this as my first picture to post:

This is the very FIRST photo I ever took of my future husband!  I LOVE this one of him, it's PRE-facial hair (2005)!  Not that I don't love the "goat" as we affectionately call it, but I do sometimes miss the smoothness of his bare chin, lol.  But, unlike lots of men, his facial hair happens to feel very soft and is never scratchy.  He attributes this to lathering up with Pert Plus shampoo on a daily basis. 

Anyway, I think this was taken about a month after we started dating.  That's our CC on his lap, she's so little!

Thanks for reading!  Now click the button above and link up your photo!!

My Birthday!

Wow, I'm finally getting around to telling you about my birthday weekend!  My twin sister and I turned 30 last Saturday!  We celebrated at my parent's house last Thursday so we could open gifts.  You see, I bought my sister a Coach handbag (This was a BIG birthday, after all), and all she kept talking about making her way to the Coach Factory Outlet while she was going to be away....I couldn't let that happen!  Turns out she bought me the cutest Coach wallet!  Remember, twins?

I also got a lovely fabric set to make a new quilt for myself, some of my favorite candles from Our Own Candle Co.  Do yourselves a favor, buy the Lemon Pound Cake and the Snickerdoodle, you won't be sorry!  I love me some Yankee, but these little guys smell amazing and are a fraction of the cost!

I also got a little birthday money in which I immediately used to buy MYSELF a Coach handbag to go with my new wallet!  Listen people, I don't splurge much, Target and Kohl's are about as expensive as I will go on just about anything, but I am now in love with the Coach Factory Outlet.  And who cares if they might be "so last season!"  I'm all about the bargain people.  And to all you designer snobs....you know what you can kiss.

I digress.  My fabulous husband!  He put together an amazing night for me!  We went to Atlantic City, NJ.  I've lived in this state my entire life and I've never been!!  We stayed at The Borgata in a beautiful suite.  The room was so perfect!  He made reservations at the Old Homestead Steakhouse and we ate the best steak and burger of our lives.  Of course we also had yummy appetizers and chocolate cake for dessert.  I lost a little money at the casino.  We didn't go crazy.  The next morning we went down to the buffet for breakfast and the couple in front of us randomly paid for our meal!  How sweet was that?!  Then we went back into the casino and I made 1/2 of my money back!  It was going to be an AWESOME 30th!!

We drove home that day and later that night we went to the local pub and had a dinner and drinks with my brother and some great friends.  It was the PERFECT birthday weekend!!

Us before dinner:

Shutter Love Tuesday - Cookies!

My absolute favorite subject!  I bake a TON, so I have lots of recent cookie pictures!  Here is my most recent of my favorite Peanut Butter cookie on steroids :o)  Recipe to follow:

1 3/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c peanut butter
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Chips
About 1/2 bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Minis
AND if you're feeling frisky, throw in some Reese's Pieces too :o)

Preheat oven to 375
Cream shortening, peanut butter, sugars, egg, milk & vanilla.  Mix in the rest of the dry ingredients, chips and pieces.  Roll dough into 1" balls and place on un-greased cookie sheets 2" apart.  Bake for 10 minutes or until the tops start to crack slightly and turn golden.  Immediately press 1 mini cup into center of each cookie.

I make this cookie a million ways...on may occasions, instead of using a cookie sheet, I use a mini muffin pan.  Bake for 8 minutes exactly...you won't think they are done, but they are, press in peanut butter cup the same way, but let cool a bit before you try to remove them from the pan.  I also love m&m's in the center too! 

Enjoy!