Knocked Up

Well, I've gone and done it. I've gotten myself knocked up. Okay, so I guess I didn't do it all by myself. I have my husband to thank for at least half of that forbidden dance. But I am definitely knocked up. SO knocked up, in fact, that I am about to drop this oven baby in less than a month. If my calculated due date is anywhere near on track, my baby boy (the real kind, not the "I love you Jody!" kind) will be here in TWENTY-FOUR DAYS. It's just mind blowing, really. Anyway, so that pretty much sums up why I haven't blogged in what seems like a lifetime. Because it has in fact been a lifetime ... or at least the beginning of one. I'm sure you've already forgiven me for my less than prolific history, so I won't waste time by apologizing for something that I'm really not all that sorry for.

I'm not quite sure why I decided that today would be the perfect time to catch you up on all things housewife, but here I am. Here's the short version (I'd give you the long version, but it would require at least one cocktail, which I am obviously not able to enjoy currently. So if I suffer, you suffer.):  I got pregnant. I got a job working for a certain NPO that will go unnamed. I hated said job because of a certain possibly bi-polar boss, who will also go unnamed. I quit that godawful, stress inducing, soul-sucking job one Friday after about three months of my patience and sanity being tested DAILY. Side note, that was possibly the single most irresponsible thing that I have ever done in my adult life ... well, at least that I would share with you (without the above-mentioned prerequisite cocktail(s). Moving on, I have since become a reality television addict (the first step is admitting that I have a problem, right?), a professional pregnant chick who sits on the couch with her feet up, and an overall complainer. I'm multitalented.

I won't overwhelm you with the details of all of my complaints.  Just think along the lines of EVERYTHING. You'd be so amazed how many obscure symptoms and random things there are to complain about whilst being pregnant (much to the hubs' chagrin). There's an endless supply of weird things that could either be attributed to pregnancy, or some sort of life-threatening illness that could claim your life at any time. By the way, if you do happen to find yourself preggers, I don't recommend pulling up the old WebMD every time you suffer a new symptom. That website will have you self-diagnosed with ebola with a nice side of anthrax and sarcoidosis. (Did you know that House reruns are on ALL of the time on USA?? It's true. Trust me ... I know.)

Anyhoo, if I'm tired of writing, you are surely tired of reading, so I'll leave you with a picture of my burgeoning belly. It's big. Large and in charge. But that's another topic for another day!

xo

Manger Avec Moi

Hellllloooo my darlings! I know, I know. It's been waaaaay too long. But I was on vacation for a week (vacay pics to follow), and I had several bracelet orders to fulfill. And now I'm back... isn't that really all that matters? I've been trying to cook a bit more, so I thought I'd jump right in with some tips from your resident gourmet goddess... That's me, in case you missed the memo. Let's dish:

1. Love fresh garlic? I do. I put garlic in everything, and not to keep the vampires away... I just love it. I used to buy the jar of minced garlic, but then noticed that the cloves themselves are so much cheaper. But peeling and mincing every time you want to cook something is SO annoying! Well, I have the perfect solution for you. You'll need a food processor or chopper, but it's a cinch, and keeps ready-to-use fresh garlic at your fingertips. Buy several cloves of garlic, peel them all at once, throw them into the food processor, and chop to the desired consistency. When done, scoop all of the minced garlic into a freezer bag, and run your hand over it to flatten (make sure to get all of the air out). Pop into the freezer, and you're done! Now, anytime you need some fresh garlic (which is almost always for me), all you have to do is break off a chunk, and throw it in the pan! I've been cooking out of the same bag of garlic for at least a month now. Totally worth it, and still cheaper than buying the pre-minced!

2. This tip is for my readers who live in apartments or have limited yard space, but want to have a go at growing their own herbs and veggies. You know those big, multi-purpose plastic bins? They're not just for storing sweaters during the summer! You can use them as your own little garden boxes on balconies or decks, and plant all kinds of goodies to have readily available when you're having a Julia Child moment. Make sure you buy the larger ones that are at least 8-10 inches high, so your plants have room to grow. Also make sure you use a good quality potting soil, plant the seeds no more than 2 inches below the surface, and make sure they get plenty of water and sunlight. We have a patio deck that gets great sun, so I recently started my own little garden. So far, I have scallions, chives, and Italian flat leaf parsley. Basil, cilantro, dill, beefsteak tomatoes and bell peppers are next on my list. This is the perfect planting solution for people with limited space.

Scallions and chives!

3. For those of you who do not have a meat thermometer, here's an easy way to tell if your meat is fully cooked: touch it. Press down on it with your spatula, and see how soft it is. If it is firm and presses back... It's probably done. You don't want to overcook any meat, because overcooking causes meat to dry out. Also, don't forget to rest your meat for at least 5 minutes after cooking! Just remove from the pan, place on a plate, and tent it with some foil. This process allows for the meat to reabsorb all of its yummy natural juices, aka FLAVOR.

 Well, that concludes the tips for the day. Check back soon for more from the REAL Atlanta housewife! xo

...Guess Who's Back? [Again.]

I know. I'm SO fired. In my last posts (in September), I promised to update more frequently. Well . . . that obviously didn't happen. In my defense, I have been busy trying to finish up my last semester at school (for now); however, I won't make excuses, or bore you with the minute details as to why you should totally understand why I haven't been exactly prolific with my blogging. I'll just say I'm sorry, and hope that you're picturing me batting my eyelashes, giving you an apologetic, yet coy, look and sheepish grin . . . and that you find that look impossible to resist, so you forgive me and just keep reading. I'll also hope that instead of being upset that I've neglected you for so long, you'll instead rejoice at the fact that I am back, and in full effect!* So let's get to the nitty gritty, shall we?

A lot has happened since my last post. Well, let me clarify, because that implies that I have experienced major, life-changing events in the past 2-3 months, and that is not the case. I say a lot has happened, because it's been three months. Stuff happens every day; of course a lot has happened in ninety of them.

Instead of giving you the rundown on all that's happened, I'll summarize . . . In the past three months, I have: made a few new friends, reconnected with some old ones, been to a few great events, hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner with ten people, done a lot of sitting on my couch, made some bracelets, tried a few new recipes, stayed out until 4 a.m. more often than I have in a looooooong time, sipped on an eighteen year-old scotch, and discovered a few new places for good eats.** All in all, I'd say I'm adjusting to Atl quite nicely!


*S/O to my friend Christa for inspiring me to get back to the blogosphere. She's new to this blogging thing, so please make sure to check her out at Da Spicy Peach, and show her some el-oh-vee-ee.
**Reviews, updates, and more info to follow - please check back sooner than later!

...Back from Hiatus

Hi all! Remember me? I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post. When I first moved here, I was so eager to get started on this blog that I got started right away. Well, let's just say that eagerness burned brightly and fizzled out quickly. I became so consumed with the hustle and bustle of moving to a new city, that I totally neglected my blog. But don't fret, my pets. I'm back. Just think of this break as a brief hiatus between seasons of your favorite show . . . because isn't that what it really was, after all?

Let me see if I can do a little catch-up episode for you . . . here's the past month, in a nutshell:

• The house is coming together nicely! All of our furniture has finally been delivered, the downstairs is all but finished, and we are definitely lovin' our new digs. Both sets of parents visited last month, and they all love the house, too. It's always nice to get the seal of approval from your 'rents, isn't it? Even if you do pay all of your own bills.
• We made a quick jaunt to nearby Columbus to visit my aunt and uncle, who have this uh-mazing house on a mountain lake. C must have loved the place. He fished. I tell you, he continues to surprise me with all of these manly things. First, he assembled everything in our house. Now, he's doing outdoor things like fishing. And he says he's a city boy. Needless to say, I did not participate in the fishing. Do I look like the type? If there's any confusion -- I'm not. Thanks.
• My bestie and I started kicking around the idea of opening a little accessory business. Since both of us are hanging out at home, wasting our lives away by Skyping each other, the least we could do is craft. So, keep an eye out soon for our upcoming Etsy shop. Think bracelets, headbands, and other fun outfit-makers. I'll keep you posted on that!
• I got a new kitty!! Interestingly, she is the first legit pet that I've ever had. I make the legit qualification, because I did have a pet hermit crab when I was little. I kid you not. My mom was (still is, actually) allergic to animal dander, so I was never allowed to have a furry friend. (In fact, you should have heard the passive aggressive guilt trip I got for getting this cat. Hmph.) Talk about a depraved childhood, right?! Anyway, I got the cutest little kitty a couple of days ago. She's a Russian Blue/American Domestic Short Hair mix named Stella, and I'm kind of in love with her. The whole process all happened rather quickly. I saw a Russian Blue on someone else's Facebook page, and just knew that I had to have one. The hubs and I decided that if we were going to get a pet that we should adopt a rescue, so we looked around on Petfinder, and found our new baby! 

If you are thinking about getting a new pet, you should definitely consider checking your local rescue shelters . . . and please remember to get your pets spayed or neutered! There is a heart-wrenching surplus of unwanted pets that have to be euthanized because of irresponsible pet owners. Don't be a part of the problem; be a part of the solution! Pets can be adopted from PetSmart, or local shelters. Petfinder was a great resource for us; we were able to locate and adopt Stella within a day or two. For you local folks looking to make a rescue kitty part of your home, check out Cats in the Cradle in Alpharetta, GA. That's where we found our pretty kitty! Ask for Sally. She was really awesome about talking me through everything I would need to make Stella comfy in her new home. So, call Sally, and go and get your own kitten . . . right meow, please.

That about sums up my last month. Don't worry, more updates/new stuff to come soon. Promise.