Midsummer Eve

Alright, I must start this by saying their happen to be a set of lights from Ikea that my husband has been lusting after every time we go there (which is maybe once a month. Again, it is one of those things that is strangely fun as an adult). I didn't understand at all why we needed these lights so bad. Now I do and I want them too! You will see why in a minute. 

My husband looking at those lights in Ikea. 

Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes

I don't know exactly why, but I have liked this picture for years and years. I first saw it on a card in a stationary store. My father bought me the card simply because I liked the picture. A few months ago AllPosters.com was having a sale, as they frequently do, and I got a 16x20 print of this painting for $5. 

I finally got a frame for it and Dan hung it up above the kitchen sink for me. 

A close-up of the frame because it is pretty. It really matches the print beautifully. It is a bit decorative and regal, yet rustic at the same time. The slightly metallic finish enhances the painting's own luminescence. 

There it is in my kitchen! Now! See the shadow from the cabinets? It is shading the upper third of my beloved picture! I never noticed this shadow before we hung the picture! Those lights my husband wants? They would go under the cabinets and eliminate that shadow. My husband is brilliant. 

Strawberries and Sugar

A bowl of fresh cut strawberries with some sugar. 

Brings back memories of being a little girl and eating this in my Mimi's kitchen. 

Simpler times. Carefree times. 

Valentine's Day 2012

I don't know all the history of Valentine's Day. I just think of the holiday as generally American and it has never been a big deal to me. The first year Dan and I were together he was all excited about Valentine's Day and I truly didn't understand why. As it turned out that first Valentine's Day was our one month anniversary. I didn't remember, but he did and when it came around he gave me a bar of chocolate, a handmade card and a heart pendant that he had made himself and inscribed with our initials. Wow! 

So, Dan and I celebrate Valentine's Day. That first year was amazing, the two years after were a bit awkward, but this year was really great. I think the more we use the time as an excuse to celebrate our love rather than an obligation the more comfortable it is. And this goes for anniversaries too. 

A little more than a week ago Dan and I were talking about romance and he said something to the effect of me trying it myself. So, instead of hinting to Dan what I wanted to do for Valentine's Day I decided to just do it. At first I really didn't want to because I was afraid of messing up somehow and making things unromantic. Oh. I started to understand how Dan must feel when he makes the plans! I shared my concerns with Dan and was re-encouraged to plan our date. 

I got myself some flowers. Dan bought me a plant once. I don't think he has ever bought me flowers. Dan is amazing at taking care of me and showing me love in so many other ways that I finally realized that if I want flowers in my life I can't wait any longer, I have got to get them! Saturday night we were at Sam's Club (which is oddly fun when you are an adult...) and I picked up a bouquet, admired the beauty... and set them back down. Then Dan said, "Those are beautiful." I picked them back up and smiled all the way home. 

Sunday I made us dinner to eat at home. I thought it would be fun to make dinner together and I started getting internally upset when Dan wasn't helping me (we women are too good at not expressing our desires and then getting upset when they aren't met!). Then all of sudden he comes in the kitchen and starts washing dishes. Wow! This was actually so much better! By the time we sat down to eat the kitchen was clean. This enabled me to really relax and enjoy dinner so much more!

My husband washing dishes!

Our dinner. Delicious Quinoa burgers. 

Not the most "romantic" food, but we heartily enjoyed it all. Any anyway... I had plans for later.

After dinner I took Dan out to see The Vow. I was a bit anxious about him possibly not liking the movie. Walking in to the theater I am telling him for maybe the third time, "Now I am not expecting this movie to be great. I just thought it would be a fun movie for Valentine's day..." Well, I didn't need to worry! He ended up liking the movie. And *ahem* he has no problem making it clear to me that he does not like The Notebook. So, yes, he actually liked the movie, he wasn't just saying he did because he was with me. He even told me he was able to relate to the main male character. This is a man that loves me and would without a doubt keep his vow to me if anything tragic were to happen. 

Moving on... after the movie I took Dan to The Cheesecake factory for dessert. Neither of us had ever been there before. The atmosphere and decor was quite classy and the food was excellent.  The intention was to just have cheesecake, but were a little hungrier than we anticipated so first we ordered Margherita bread. Yum! (I really need to learn how to make that at home. It can't be too difficult at all.) Then we were still hungry so we ordered some delectable shrimp. And finally we ordered cheesecake. Dan got chocolate with strawberries on top and I had banana cream. We would recommend The Cheesecake Factory!

At The Cheesecake Factory. 

I forgot to bring my card! And Dan had his, but hadn't signed it, so we agreed to exchange cards two days later actually on February 14th. When we did exchange cards it was quite a sweet moment. 

And I was far more excited than I initially realized to receive a WIFE card!

As I read it it just kept getting better and better. And then I had to read it a second time. Whoever wrote this card knows how to get to a wife's heart and my husband made it even better (a million times better) by adding his own words as well. I will be keeping this card for a very long time... probably forever. 

Book Recommendation: The Sexually Confidant Wife

As an engaged and newly married woman you might pick up or be gifted several books on sex. I happened upon this book at my local library a few months ago and it my favorite married life sex book I have read so far. 

Shannon shares her own struggles and breakthroughs in a soft encouraging voice. You feel as if she is a friend you can look up to, not some self righteous Christian telling you how you failed and need to do better. In fact, even though Shannon herself is Christian, she believes that no matter what your religion (or lack thereof) you deserve to be a sexually confidant wife. 

This isn't the be all and end all of sex books, but it is certainly worth a read! You could check it out at your local library, but you might find this book so helpful that you'll want to own it. 

Also check out the up-to-date website for the book.

http://www.sexuallyconfidentwife.com/

Broccoli Casserole

Way better than it sounds! I was a little afraid to make this because I though ManDan might not like it (because duh, it is a CASSEROLE named after a VEGETABLE) but turns out he loves it. And I love it! And it was easy.

I found a recipe pretty close to what I wanted and tweaked it a bit. We are fans of real cheese... not that processed stuff.

I split it between two dishes, cooked one for dinner that night and put the other in the freezer. Having a casserole in the freezer makes me feel so homeschooled! I told that to ManDan and he was all, "Homeschoolers are smart, Babe. You are just being smart." Ok, that made me feel a little better.

Here is what you need:
2 cups rice, uncooked
2 cups chicken, cubed and cooked (optional, but we really like it with the chicken!)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup milk
1 small white onion
2 cups (or a little more) of cheddar cheese, shredded
16-20oz frozen broccoli

And here is what you do:
Cook rice in 4 cups of water.
Mix everything together in a large bowl.
Spread in to a 13x9 dish or separate between two dishes, cook one now. Freeze one for later.
Bake at 350 30-35min.

Done! I love easy recipes. Especially ones that I can cook once and have multiple meals from.

oh! The first time I made it I used a store brand soup and we actually liked that better than the Campbells soup. Also, don't add too much onion or it will just overwhelm all the other flavors.

Mrs. Mugs

I love being a wife! Also, drinking tea on cold rainy days. 

I got this mug (and a matching Mr. mug) as a wedding gift. I like this one in particular because it is quite large, 16oz! on the back it reads:

A marriage that follows God's plan
Takes more than a woman and a man.
It needs a oneness that can be
Only from Christ-
Marriage takes three.

If you are married or if you have any weddings to attend this upcoming spring you might appreciate these other Mrs. mugs as well. 

Go check this one out here. It has a heart inside! How adorable!

Classic elegance. You can even get these mugs personalized with a wedding date for free!

I am loving the font on these mugs! Don't they look like antiques? 

Now to go make another cup of tea!

Oven Fried Chicken

I originally bought these drumsticks because I wanted BBQ chicken... but we don't own a proper grill for that. So I did some reading (reading cookbooks always makes me feel so wifely!) and learned that I could make oven fried chicken. I read several recipes and then made up my own to work with what I had on hand.

This is what I did:
Skinned drumsticks. Eww.
Smeared drumsticks with a healthy dose of mayonnaise.
Rolled in a mixture of about half italian breadcrumbs and half grated parmesan cheese.
Baked at... I think 375... maybe up to 425 for 35min. I can't remember! Every recipe was a bit different and I think I skewed it towards to the higher temps to get crisper finish. They browned alright! I ended up covering them with tin foil about halfway through.

That's it! It was so simple and delicious! I will do this again.

New Things

 We have a few new things around the house that I am really excited about. So, you get to see them!

A rug for the bathroom. Adding a rug to a bare floor makes any room so much cozier! 

So plush! And soft!

Ankle boots! I got these for only $15!!! Marked down from $119.

I love that they are slim enough around my ankle that I can actually wear these with dresses and skirts.

 I have been wearing dresses and skirts as much as possible since the new year. 

They are just more comfortable than jeans!

Husband likes these boots too. 

Which is saying a lot because you usually doesn't like me in any sort of heel! 

SoHo hair clips. I have actually had these clips for years, but they were missing a few crystals so I took them to the kiosk where they told me they would replace the crystals for me. Well, somehow they lost my clips and gave me brand new ones! So very nice! 

Husband's first lego purchase since being married. He saw these on clearance a month ago and has been talking about them ever since. I am actually surprised he held off so long! 

He is a big lego fan and deserves these for sure! 

One of my Christmas gifts from Husband. 1000 pieces! I have never done a puzzle so big. Thankfully I had help from my husband and my sisters Samantha and Elizabeth who visited last week. I have a matching Aurora puzzle(I actually only asked for the Aurora one, but Husband couldn't remember so he got me both!). I think I'd like to preserve and frame these. They are too pretty to put back in the box!