Parking Lot Yoga

Parking Lot Yoga

Happy Tuesday!! I decided that if I skip a Monday post altogether I wouldn't have to complain about it being Monday. Genius idea, right?

This weekend was moving weekend for my sister, her hubby and the kids. The moving party started on Friday night with the emptying of the storage unit, and commenced last night with a mad dash to beat out the torrential rains that were headed our way. Let's talk about the storage unit, shall we?

7:45 pm--we arrive at the storage unit. The gate is accessible until 9:00 pm, giving us an hour and 15 minutes to clear out the unit. Easy peasy, right? I'm sure it would have been easy peasy had someone remembered to bring the key with them. After 5 minutes of deliberating in the parking lot, my brother-in-law decided that it would be quicker and easier to drill a hole in the lock, releasing it and opening the unit. (Side Note--the storage unit is no more than 7 minutes away from my sister's purse, which contained the key--keep that in mind)...By the time the hole is drilled and we realize that it didn't work, the clock is rounding 8pm. The hubby and I head over to his parent's house for some bolt cutters. We got back to the unit around 8:10, proceeded to break the bolt cutters on this apparently indestructible lock, and decided that a saw was the only option. Luckily, the hubby's dad is a saint and said that he would be right over with a van full of tools, ready to get the job done.At this point we have been at the storage unit for 40 minutes---enough time to have run home, grabbed the key, stopped off for a drink and still been back the storage unit in plenty of time. Maybe we will remember that next time..

Let's sidestep for a second. While all of this is going on in the storage unit, I decided that I would be most helpful at keeping an eye on the kiddos. 3 young children running around a storage unit, at night, while power tools are in use, didn't seem like a great option. Enter parking lot yoga. Me and the little squirts found a big open space and I taught them a thing or two about yoga. While holding my niece, I taught the boys some stretches, the tree pose, and my nephew's favorite, the spread-your-legs-really-wide-and-bend-over pose. Gotta love kids.We went from wall push-ups to table tops, from the pigeon stretch back to the tree. The best part? The kids were completely out of the way ANDDD they weren't miserable about being stuck in a storage unit parking lot. Double score for Aunt Nanna!

My papa-in-law arrived around 8:35, leaving 25 minutes to open the unit, completely empty it and load the 4 vehicles that were waiting outside. Why couldn't we just go home and try again the next day, you ask? At this point the lock was destroyed beyond repair, and god forbid the storage unit company were to watch the videos of what we had done to make it that way. It was better all around if we get everything out and called it a night. We finally heard the wonderful *POP* of the lock being broken, and the craziness began. Carts flying in and out, full and then empty...boxes being shoved into every available crevice...couches being stacked on top of love seats and beds...it was pure mayhem. Wanna know a fun fact about moving out of a storage unit? When you have 17 minutes before the gates lock, you get shit done! While the boys rode their scooter off to the side, we passed boxes, furniture and even the baby back and forth...4 vehicles + 6 adults + 17 minutes = an empty storage unit and some sweaty asses. 

Luckily, the rest of the weekend ran smoothly, and the apartment looks fabulous!!! The kids are now addicted to some yoga--yes, even my 18 month old niece is dropping poses in the living room--and we learned a thing or two about moving. 

My nephew also turned SEVEN this weekend!!! OMG I can't believe how old he is getting!!! I took a few pics on my phone from the birthday, but it was dark and they all look terrible, so there went that. I was, however, able to capture this ADORABLE picture from the storage unit...

 

omg how cute is she!?!

Oh, and we saw THIS at WalMart---

Look, I am all about a cute dress and some heels...but 

1. you are at WalMart...

2. with your children...

3. on a VERY windy day..

It's ok to throw on some sweats every once in awhile. And since I know you were wondering, her thong was black...and we saw it twice...true story.

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!!!

Five on Friday

Five on Friday

Friday!!!! It's finally here!!!!!

This Friday I decided to participate in the "5 on Friday" series. Most weeks I feel like I literally can't come up with 5 things that I am loving...I either have too many to narrow it down, or that week sucked and I don't feel like thinking that hard! Luckily this week I was able to think of 5 things that I am LOVING right now! So here you go:

1. Favorite Song: Eric Church "Give Me Back My Hometown"
I am usually not a huge Eric Church fan, but there is something about this song that just makes me melt! The tune of the song is so mellow, and you can seriously feel it in his voice as he is singing. Thumbs up Eric Church!

2. Favorite Workout: 30 day "Plank Challenge"
Today is Day 8 of out 30 day plank challenge, and so far I am loving it. I mean, come on, who doesn't have 20 seconds to workout? Even on Day 30, it takes FIVE minutes. F-I-V-E. Here is the chart showing the workout day-by-day:

 

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3. Favorite TV Show: NBA Playoffs
Ok, so if you are watching along, you can imagine how pissed off I am right about now! OKC down 2 games to 1 against Memphis!?! Come on guys, pull yourselves together!!!!

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4. Fave new hair trick: Bantu Knot Curls
The other day I watched a video showing how to make the perfect Bantu Knot Curls. I tried them the next day and believe it or not, it worked GREAT!! Little heads up---you will not sleep AT ALL the night you try this hairstyle. You move your head like 3 inches and you are in so much pain from the knots. Totally worth it though!

5. Looking forward to trying: Jamberry Nails
A friend of mine has recently become a Jamberry Nails consultant, and I am SUPER excited to try them out!! I am going to be trying out the 7 Day Challenge this weekend, so stay tuned for product reviews next week!

 

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I hope everyone had a fabulous week!!!

 

Summer Business Attire

Summer Business Attire

As the weather slowly inches towards the 90's and our thoughts drift more and more towards the beach, sometimes it can be hard to differentiate between "professional" work attire and "OMG it is 100 degrees outside and I want to wear a bathing suit" attire. Having worked in a professional environment for the majority of my career, there are a few tips & tricks that I have found when it comes to "professionalizing" your wardrobe (I may or may not have made that word up...I'll get back to you later on it) in the summer. These may not work for everyone, but if I can save even 1 person 10 minutes in the morning then I have succeeded.

THE RAINY DAY

When most people think of Florida, they picture sunny skies, bikini-clad bodies strolling down the street and lounging in the pool day in and day out. While that may be the case in the movies, the reality is that it rains every.single.day in Florida. It may not rain all day, but at least once a day the sky will darken, the clouds will roll in, and for a few minutes you are in the middle of a monsoon. To get through those rainy days, I recommend the following:

A black and grey color scheme will match the rainy-day mood perfectly, and they are always office-appropriate colors. A pulled-back ponytail is a must, otherwise you are dealing with frizz, soaking wet strands and that wonderful wet-dog look. Boots are also necessary as it tends to flood in about 45 seconds here. Round it out with some leather leggings to add a little flair and sass, and you have a great go-to summer office staple.

THE BRIGHT MAXI

I am a HUGE fan of the maxi. In fact, I have one on as we speak. Most people would stray away from the overly bright colors and crazy pattern for the office, but I welcome it with open arms! Take this outfit for example:

Pairing a colorful maxi with a structured blazer instantly tones it down.  I also added a gold statement ring (which I picked up for A DOLLAR at a flea market...score) and a long necklace, taking the focus away from the blinding colors. Since my nails were also pretty funky, I went with a basic hairstyle and minimal makeup, and Voila! An office-friendly maxi!

THE SASSY

Who doesn't love a good animal print every now and then? I personally feel like now matter how bold the print, it can always be brought down a notch with some neutrals. For whatever reason, animal print has pretty much stayed out of the professional realm of fashion. Well I am on board to bring it right in!

 

For this outfit, I paired a bold leopard blouse with some boot cut grey slacks. I added a grey belt with some gold accents, and then threw on some gold jewelry to match. For makeup I went with more of a neutral/brown theme to match the blouse, and of course I added some sparkle with my glittery gold shoes!

So there you have it. 3 different ways to keep your office wardrobe professional without losing the fun, summer feel. I hope I was able to provide some tips and insight! And I hope everyone is having a fabulous week so far!!!!

Today is about hope

Today is About Hope

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Today is April 22nd, 2014. 

Today is day 3 of NAIW, or National Infertility Awareness Week. 

Today is day 1,109 since we decided to grow our family from 2 to 3.

Today, we are 1 in 8.

 As I read through this week's blog, I am filled with so many emotions. I feel comforted in knowing that there are so many couples out there just like us. I feel heartache for the couples who have been on this journey for twice as long as we have. I feel hopeful as I browse through IG and see the success stories scattered throughout the sea of infertiles. Today is not a day for emotions, though. Today is a day for hope. 

*Today, as we are 8 days from our 1st appointment with the RE, I am hopeful that he will be able to help. 

*Today, I am hopeful that this is our month.

*Today, as I read through countless posts about the struggles of others, I am hopeful that we will be able to spread the word.

*Today, as the months tick by, I am hopeful that 2015 will be our year.
*Today, I am hopeful that the hole in my heart will become just a little bit smaller as I connect with others who are enduring the same daily pain.

 *Today, if only for a day, I will focus on the amazing gifts in my life--My perfect, loving & supportive husband. Our wonderful family who will be by our side always. My fur baby, who, no matter what happens in life, will be there to greet me with kisses and snuggles. Today, I will not be sad. Today, I have hope.

Infertility affects more than just 1 in 8. Infertility affects our families, who have to witness every tear we cry, knowing that there is nothing that can heal the pain. Infertility affects our friends, who begin to feel guilty about getting pregnant and growing their families. Infertility affects the pregnant women who receive the envious, longing stares as we pass them in the mall. Infertility is a private disease. It is a silent disease. It is an all-encompassing disease that takes over your every thought. Today, I am hopeful  that we can change all of that. Today, I resolve to spread the word.
 

Mash-up Monday

Mash-up Monday

Can you believe it is Monday already!?!? I swear, the weekends are becoming shorter and shorter the older I get! Maybe an outfit mash-up will brighten my day...this is the closest thing I could find to what I'm wearing as we speak...And for good measure I'll include my IG mash-up picture for comparison. Side note, I'm new to this whole Polyvore site, so deal with me while I'm getting the hang of it.

What I Wore Monday by bickda featuring platform pumps

I'll post more about my weekend in a later post, including our new furniture and the debut of Romper # 2 on WIW Weekend. Until then, I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter!!!

There's always a bad apple in the bunch

There's always a bad apple in the bunch 

 

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Happy Friday!! There is a monsoon going on outside here in the "sunshine" state, and even that can't take away the fact that is is finally Friday!!

So in Monday's post I wrote about how we had the entire family over for dinner this past weekend. It was a great time--great conversation, babies everywhere, delicious food..ok, almost all of the food was delicious.

One thing that I should mention is that I eat applesauce on almost anything. I absolutely love it. I dip everything from chicken and steak to mashed potatoes and corn in my applesauce. It is rare that you will not see it on my plate at dinner. Sunday night was no exception. I loaded up my plate with a little bit of everything--chicken, steak, potatoes, corn on the cob, baked beans, biscuits--and in the teeny tiny space left of my plate I poured a mound of applesauce.  After a few dips I started to notice that every bite I took tasted weird..kind of sour and funky. I tried each bite by itself, all dipped in applesauce, and came to 1 of 2 conclusions. Either my taste buds were completely failing me (which would be a complete and utter travesty, by the way), or the applesauce was bad. I checked the jar to make sure I hadn't grabbed some kind of sugar free, low fat cinnamon nonsense, and everything looked normal. I checked the expiration date--it was still good for another 4 years (Seriously? Applesauce is good for THAT long unopened?? I feel like that's a bit extreme, but whatever). I looked around at my nieces and nephews and they didn't seem to notice anything weird, so I gave in to the fact that my taste buds were screwing with me and I would never be able to eat applesauce again.

Fast forward 4 days. Last night as we were getting ready to sit down for dinner, I decided to give the applesauce another go. I just could not accept the fact that I didn't like applesauce anymore. I pulled out the jar, checked the date again to make sure I hadn't been seeing things the other day, and everything still looked fine. I figured that I would try one more fail-safe method for testing the applesauce. Off comes the lid and I take a huge whiff of the enormous jar. I only wish that I had decided to look inside the jar before sniffing. Sitting on the top of applesauce was a layer of white mold, thick and chunky in all of its furry goodness. My first thought? OMG I ate mold. My second thought? OMG I just sniffed mold. I guess my first thought probably should have been OMG the babies ate the moldy applesauce, but for whatever reason I had a total selfish moment. I thought back to Sunday night--I know I had checked the jar after it tasted funny--and there was nothing in the jar but regular old applesauce. Not exactly the case last night. Here are some lovely pictures to get your appetite going this morning:

 

 

Luckily, no one got sick (yet) from eating the moldy applesauce. Since we shop at that particular grocery store pretty frequently, I don't want to blemish the name publicly, but I will say that I will no longer buy applesauce from there! And from now on I will scrutinize every jar before opening and before every meal. And that jar will be promptly returned to the store.

I hope our moldy adventures were a great start to your Friday morning, and I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!!
 

I never thought I...

Link up time! Today's link up was found on "The Other Juliet's" page, and it's all about the things I never thought I would do.


I never thought I...

...would move to Florida. I was born and raised a city gal!! The thought of back-roads country living was the furthest thing from my mind, imagine that! But when it's between trash covered streets or white sandy beaches, I think I made the right choice.

 

..me and the hubs soaking up some sun..

...would get married. Until I met my hubby, I had all but sworn off marriage. Luckily, he was able to swoop in and knock me off my feet!


...would be counting down the days until the NBA playoffs start (its 2, in case you were wondering). Nor did I ever think I would actually have a favorite team, and know their record, annnnd get really upset when they lose a game...what has gotten into me!?

 

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...would be ok with the idea of spending $10,000 on fertility treatments...omg that's ridiculous


...would have a dog. I have been a cat person for as long as I can remember---dogs were out of the question until our fur-baby came along


...would be a vegetarian for 7 years, then turn back into the biggest carnivore on the planet. Seriously, t-rex has some heavy competition.

 

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{{omg I could lick the computer}}

...would be getting ready for cruise # 2! As a teenager I planned countless vacations, then when I realized that you actually had to have money and a passport (wtf?) those plans quickly changed.


...would be almost 29!! Ok, so obviously this was inevitable unless some horrific tragedy prevented it, but seriously, 29!?! Ugh


...would have a brand new house built, own a new car & be married to the most perfect guy ever all before 30. OMG I'm a grown up!

 

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Your turn!!! What are some things that you NEVER thought you would do in your life?!?

I love it when we're cruisin' together

 
Guess who just booked another cruise!?!? This gal and her hubby!!!

That's right,in just a few short months we will be sailing away to exotic Belize, Mahogany Bay & Cozumel. Can I tell you how excited I am? FREAKING thrilled!!

We have been trying to decide for a few months now where we wanted to go and when we wanted to sail out, and we finally decided on a place!! And we got an AMAZING deal!!! Last year's cruise was 5 days, with only 2 destinations. This year we are going for 7 days and visiting THREE beautiful places, and it only cost us $50 more!!! Seriously, we couldn't pass it up.

Tonight I am going to give you a few tips on booking a cruise. I am by no means an expert (being that this is only my 2nd cruise), but I love sharing tips to save others money! So here goes:

1. Book a cruise. Ok I know that's not a tip, but going on a cruise is so much cheaper than airfare and a hotel in Hawaii or the Bahamas. I was looking up different rates to see which would be the better option, and we are literally paying one third of the price by cruising!

2. Be flexible! In order to find a great deal, sometimes you have to be really open with your dates. A cruise leaving in July, for example, is almost 2 times more expensive than a cruise leaving in September. The best thing about Carnival's website is that you can hold a reservation for 24 hours (for FREE) while you put in your vacation time at work!

3. Book your excursions through the cruise line! If not, you risk getting lost in a random shady town in Mexico with no money. True story, read about it here.

4. Book well in advance. Cruise lines offer early saver discounts for booking super early AND you can usually put down way less of a deposit. Also, it gives you plenty of time to hit the beach or the tanning salon :)

5. Shop around. We are personally fans of Carnival, mainly because it is the "Fun Ship." I have never personally been on any other cruise line, so I may be super biased, but we love Carnival. There are plenty of other cruise lines out there if Carnival's dates don't meet your needs, so be open to other possibilities.

I hope I was able to provide some good info about booking a cruise. Now go out there and book one!! And in the meantime, take a look at the beauty that we will be sailing away on:

 

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Monday is over!!!

Monday is over!!!

Excuse my excitement but I am thrilled that Monday is over!! I.despise.mondays. With a passion.

So, this weekend was one of those weekends that you get SO much accomplished, and then you are sore for like 5 days afterwards. Friday night we went to Lowe's to pick up some mulch for the garden. Saturday morning was Florida's annual "Flea Across Florida," a huge flea market that stretches from one end of Florida to the other, so of course we had to make an appearance! I am so glad that we decided to go because I was able to score some FABULOUS deals! I picked up a retro looking lamp with a fiberglass shade for 5 dollas! (If you know me, you know that I won't pay anything higher than $5 at a yard sale/flea market/thrift store, so you can imagine my excitement!) I also scored some antique looking sconces that hang from the ceiling with shades made from what I believe to be pig skin for $1.50 each (score!). On top of that I found a fancy-schmancy gaudy gold & pearl ring for a dollar and a rustic looking clock made out of a tree trunk. I also bought a gingerbread house tissue-box holder made out of plastic needlepoint--hear me out. There was a frail old woman with a table full of items like this--ornaments, coasters, a dominos set--it was freaking adorable. While we were talking to her she was describing her battle with disc replacement surgery and radiation, and my heart literally shattered into a million pieces. Not only am I a complete sucker (seriously, I bought a $3,000 vacuum from a door to door salesman..hello???) but I also have the biggest soft spot for senior citizens. Like, I would literally carry groceries in the pouring rain if it meant that an 80 year old woman would stay warm and dry. Long story short, we are now the proud owners of a gingerbread tissue box holder, and I will be damn proud to display it every year!!

After the flea market festivities, it was back to the house for some gardening fun. The hubby and I look forward to this every year! We bitch and complain about how terrible our garden looks in the winter and literally run to the store as soon as spring hits so we can buy new mulch. We normally fill the garden beds with mulch and leave it as is, but this year we decided that we needed some extra flair. Ok, I decided that we needed some extra flair, and my husband is a saint for putting up with me and agreeing to my crazy ideas. I saw some ideas online for individual staggered pickets going around the whole garden, but being that the pre-cut ones are ridiculously expensive, we decided to do it ourselves. Luckily, we live in a brand new subdivision where they are constantly building houses, so there is always spare wood laying around. Off we went in the truck and were able to scoop up a bundle of 1x4's (no, we didn't steal them, the builder gave them to us...scout's honor). Some cutting here and some hammering there, and 5 hours later the garden looked phenomenal! The best part? It was FREE!! Here is a little peak at our hard work:

On Sunday we had a cookout for both sides of the family. If I haven't mentioned before, we have a BIG family, and it is always so nice when we can all get together! It is so rare that we get to see all of our nieces and nephews together in one spot (aside from our little munchkin in Kentucky), so whenever we can, we take advantage of it! And who doesn’t love a ton of food?!?

Since this weekend was crazy busy, I had zero time to take an outfit picture. Ok, if I am being honest, I had zero time to even put makeup on this weekend, so the outfit post will have to wait for another day. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!!

Beauty Roundup

Beauty Roundup

Sometimes I wish that I were a guy. Ok, weird way to start a post, right? But seriously, let's compare for a moment. My hubby gets out of the shower, dries off, brushes his teeth and gets dressed. He throws on some deodorant and cologne and he can be out the door in 5 minutes. FIVE MINUTES. 5 minutes after my shower I am still dripping wet with a q-tip hanging out of my ear. While standing in my towel, I proceed to brush my teeth, apply lotion to every square inch of my body and coat my lips with Vaseline. (I am a FREAK about chapped lips!) Hair towel comes off, and I frantically shake my head back and forth shooting a spray of water from my hair onto everything in the bathroom, then brush out the soaking mess. Out comes the blow-dryer, which in and of itself takes 15 minutes. At this point my hubby usually pokes his head in to see how far along I am, and after realizing my lack of progress, heads back into the living room and settles in his chair. Next comes the straightener and makeup, which I have learned to complete simultaneously in an effort to save some time. Picking an outfit and jewelry is a whole other project, and as I emerge from the bathroom after an hour, I silently curse men for being so damn lucky.

Now that you know how my daily beauty routine goes, I figured I would share with you some of my favorite cosmetic items. Most of these items get used on a daily basis and they are wonderful! All opinions/reviews are my own and I have not been compensated. Enjoy!

 L'Oreal Advance Haircare Total Repair 5

 

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 I am loving the new line of L'Oreal ---. There are a few different types available (Volume, Strength, Moisture, etc) but I am using the Triple Repair 5. The shampoo and conditioner smell amazing and make your hair super soft. Topped off with the Damage Erasing Balm every other day and the combo is wonderful. The best part? You only need to use a teeny tiny bit of the balm, so one container will last you like 10 months--seriously. It is supposed to erase like 10 years of damage in a few uses--whether or not it does that I can't really say, but it is up there on the top of my list! 

Deep Sea Cosmetics 

 

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Last year for Christmas my hubby went out on a limb and got me a gift that I hadn't asked for. You know those pushy annoying sales people at the mall who want you to try the lotion and nail file? Well, they suckered Steven in and I am SO glad they did! The gift basket ended up being one of my favorite gifts!! First of all, the salt scrub is incredible! No exaggeration--it makes your hands smoother than a baby's ass..like 10 times smoother. The lotion smells heavenly and the body cream smells even better. The nail buffer and cuticle oil last forever, and they make so much of a difference! The whole set was a little pricey at $100+, but I have had it for 16 months and I am nowhere close to out. Next time you get chased down in the mall--STOP and use it!! 

 Chanel Skin Perfecting Makeup

 

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Ok, so I know I just posted about this last week, but I am IN LOVE with my new foundation. My skin is as smooth as butter, and that annoying red blemish on my cheek is completely covered. It stays put all day and it doesn't feel cakey like some other foundations. Like the lotion/salt scrub listed above, the price tag is a little high--$45 for a tiny bottle (1 oz maybe?), but it is worth every penny so far!! 

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain

 

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I am a huge fan of fun colors on my lips--red, pink, rose--and the brighter the better. What I am not a huge fan of is the weird lipstick ring I get after 5 or 6 hours of applying. Solution? Lip stain! It comes in a long stick that resembles a magic marker, doesn't rub off on anything, and lasts ALL DAY. On the other end of the stick there is a balm that seals in the color. I also have the Just Bitten "Kissable" line, which has much more vibrant colors but rubs off onto everything like a regular lipstick. I've purchased my share of lip stains and these are my favorite so far! 

Caress Burnt Brown Sugar & Kerite Butter Body Wash 

 

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I buy this 100% for the smell. Sure, it cleans your body and has those little gritty crystals that scrub the crap out of your skin. But this makes its way into my shower on a pretty regular basis solely for the smell. It smells like a cross between cupcakes baking in the oven and pure brown sugar. It is incredible, and to top it off, the smell lingers on your skin for quite some time after the shower. I'm not going to lie, I've actually caught myself sniffing my arm an hour after showering. It's that good. 

So now that I have shared my opinions & reviews with you, I urge everyone to jump in their car and drive to the store. Annndd if you could leave any personal reviews that I should try, that would be awesome too!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!! 

((All views and opinions are my own and I have not been compensated)) 

Scrum-diddly-umptious!!

Scrum-Diddly-Umptious!!!

The hubby and I are HUGGE fans of going out to eat. Who am I kidding, I'm a huge fan of eating in general. There are a few restaurants that we frequent pretty often, one of them being Olive Garden. I have a few signature dishes that I rotate between, (my favorite being the Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo with spinach and balsamic vinegar..yum!), but the hubby sticks with his favorite when we go--Chicken Alfredo. Over the years I have tried, unsuccessfully, to come up with an Alfredo sauce that comes even close. Every time it was either too thick, too thin or too cheesy---a few times it just plain sucked. After several attempts I finally decided to look for Olive Garden's recipe online, and luckily, I was able to find it. The first time I made it, I couldn't believe how crazy simple it was and how few ingredients were actually involved. It is quick and easy enough to make on a Tuesday night after work, yet fancy schmancy enough to serve as a Sunday dinner. So without further ado.....

Yummy Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:
1 stick of butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper

Directions:
Melt butter in large saucepan.
Add garlic and cook for 5 minutes.
Stir in heavy cream and cook for 15-20 minutes. Make sure to stir the mixture every few minutes.
Add Parmesan Cheese, salt & pepper. (I usually add about 1/2 tsp of pepper for extra flavor; salt to taste)
Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Serve over cooked fettuccine & sprinkle with parsley if desired.

FYI..If you can't tell by the ingredients, this is seriously like the most unhealthy meal you could ever prepare. Butter, cream and cheese...OMG de-lish.
 
We also like to marinate some chicken in an Italian Dressing/seasoning mixture, throw it on the grill and top off the pasta with it. Yum!

I am terrible at taking pictures while I cook (I really should get better at that!) but I have a few pictures of the finished product for you:

 

I usually serve it with some homemade garlic bread for dipping. I slice up a loaf of Italian bread, spread some butter and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Pop it in the over for 8 minutes @ 400º and Voila!

Let me know how the recipe turns out when you make it, I love hearing success stories!!! I hope everyone is having a great week so far!