Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Sunday is our grocery shopping day.  While in the produce section, I caught a glance of the strawberries.  They looked absolutely delicious, so I put a container in the shopping cart.  Then I immediately decided to high-tail it back to the baking aisle and grab a bag of chocolate chips to make Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

Here is how I made these delicious Sunday-afternoon treats:

Rinse (and dry) a container of strawberries

Pour one heaping cup of chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl.

Heat for one minute, stir, and heat for another minute.

Dip and dunk each strawberry into the melted chocolate.

Put the chocolate covered strawberries on a wax paper covered cookie sheet.

Put them in the refrigerator (or freezer) so the chocolate will get hard.

Who doesn't love strawberries?

Who doesn't love chocolate?

"They go together like lamb and tuna fish... Or maybe you prefer, spaghetti and meatball?"

Enjoy!

Take Luck,

LP

Flashback Friday - The Proposal

Ryan proposed during a family vacation to Honolulu, Hawaii on July 26, 2009.  The plan was to hike to the summit of Diamond Head on Saturday, but we got the park too late to make the hike.  The weather was a little overcast that day, so the view would not have been as spectacular.  My parents, sister and Ryan were all a little letdown that we couldn’t make the hike, and I just wasn’t following.  I kept thinking, “Guys, it’s OK!  We can come back tomorrow!!”  Little did I know just what this adventure hike up to the summit would hold.  

With the help of my little sister, Rachel, Ryan had picked out a ring and planned the proposal a week before the trip.  On the car ride to Diamond Head on Sunday, Ryan told me (and very seriously I might add...) that there was something he wanted to discuss and change about our relationship, but didn't want to talk about it until after we had reached the summit and could trail behind the rest of the family.  Of course, I got nervous and racked my brain to try and figure out what he would want to change.  Were we moving too fast?  Was he unhappy or having second thoughts?  WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE, BUDDY?!  So, we headed up the crater… And I was leading the pack.  Everyone else says that I was mad and that I stormed up the mountain.  That’s not entirely true.  My main concern was getting up, and heading back down as soon as possible so Ryan and I could have this discussion.

I was so worried about what he might have to say that I wasn’t truly appreciating what we had just done and what we were looking out at.  But once we got to the top and were looking over the amazingly beautiful Waikiki Beach, Ryan got my attention and said, "I know what it is that I want to change about our relationship."  

He told me to close my eyes, and he got down on one knee to propose.  

My parents and little sister were able to witness it, as well as several other Hawaii tourists (including a humongous Samoan man who was giving Ryan two thumbs up in the background).  Of course (and obviously), I said YES!  I was so caught off guard that I thought I was going to fall over the railing.  Luckily, I didn’t.  Rachel helped Ryan pull it all off by carrying the ring and a bottle of champagne in a backpack that she carried up the crater.

It's safe to say it was a much more pleasant walk back down Diamond Head...

We were married just over a year later, on August 1, 2010.

It was an amazing day that I will never forget.  I am one lucky lady.

Take Luck,

LP

Presidents and Aqua Verde

To celebrate President's Day (and, ahem... not having to be at work...), Ryan and I went across the bay to Seattle with my parents to meet up with my sister, Rachel and her beau, Spencer.  We had lunch at Aqua Verde, an authentic Mexican restaurant right on the campus of UW (the University of Washington) and along side Union Bay.

When we first got there, several patrons were ordering food to-go, and I thought to myself, "This place is kind of dead..."  It sure didn't take long for the small(ish) room to fill up.  We ate our meal and went on our way.  While Mom, Ryan and I tried to squeeze through the throng of people coming in the front door (like idiots)... Dad, Rachel and Spencer noticed that thing called an exit door that lead to the outside and avoided the mosh pit.  All in all, it was great to see Rach  (and Spencer, too) for a little bit.

The gang after lunch

       Does this look like an ad for North Face, or what? :)

Some other pictures from the ferry ride over.

Can you tell someone (surely, not me) got a fancy new camera for Christmas and wants to take pictures of everything???... Is it that obvious? 

Leaving Bremerton

View of Manette from the ferry

Lazy sea lions and birds on a log...

Another ferry headed toward Bainbridge Island

Good view of Seattle

I liked the way the sun was peeking through the clouds

Almost there...!

And here we are, the lovebirds :)

Hoping you enjoyed your weekend.  I'm already looking forward to the next :)  Weatherman is forecasting some nasty winter weather for us the next few days... No complaints here!!!

Take Luck,

LP

Grateful

A shot of one of the many reasons I am grateful to live in the Pacific Northwest.  The pictures do not do it justice... At all.

View from the Warren Avenue Bridge of the Olympic Mountains (no zoom)

On the right is Lion's Field, where I spent many, many (practically uncountable) Sunday's and hours playing softball.

It's pretty breathtaking.  I am looking forward to sharing many more of my favorite parts of the PNW.

Take Luck,

LP

Lunch Time Microwaving



I work on the top floor of my building, smack dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle.  Our cubicle (a four person square) is right beside a busy hallway, one that leads to a communal lunch/break room.  In this break room, you will find two refrigerators, a coffee mess area, a soda machine, and three (yes, three) microwaves.

You would think that one microwave would be enough when you consider the smells that just the one microwave emits after Joe heats up his leftover chicken teriyaki.  No, no, no.  It's not enough.  In order to keep the waiting lines down and allow for efficiency in the lunch/break room... Now Lucy can heat up her Jimmy Dean bacon too, while Claire heats up her leftover salmon!  Gosh, who doesn't love the smell of salmon flavored chicken bacon teriyaki?  I know I sure do.

Is there some sort of microwave etiquette that our building is missing?  Something that says:

1. Meat products shall not be reheated within 20 minutes of another meat product of any kind.

2.  Seafood?  Really?

3. Bacon should never be reheated.  Repeat, bacon should never be reheated.

4. Forget #1, #2 and #3... Meat and seafood products are not allowed to be reheated in this vicinity... Ever.

Is it just me that feels that I have to speed walk past the lunch/break room to get to my desk without inhaling these toxic fumes?  I highly doubt it.  What's worse is that I can smell these "aromas" from the other end of the building.  And it doesn't stop there.  I also love the smell of burnt popcorn in the afternoon.  The way it wafts through the air is just magical.  Seriously people, get a clue.

I'll save my thoughts on bathroom etiquette for another time :)

Take Luck,

LP      

Who Knew?

Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented… It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only… Ladies Forbidden'... and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.

.
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
.
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.
.
Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
.
Coca-Cola was originally green.
.
It is impossible to lick your elbow.
.
The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:
Alaska
.
The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)
.
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
.
The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven:
$ 16,400
.
The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour:
61,000
.
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
.
The first novel ever written on a typewriter was Tom Sawyer.
.
In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have 'the rule of thumb’
.
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
.
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
.
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
.
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air,
the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle... If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
.
Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
.
Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace
.
Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?
A. Obsession
.
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter 'A'?
A. One thousand
.
Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?
A. All were invented by women (holler!)
.
Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
.
Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father's Day
.
In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase....'Good night, sleep tight'
.
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey wine and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
.
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.' It's where we get
the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'
.
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle'
is the phrase inspired by this practice.
.
At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!
.
Don't delete this just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it
I cdnuolt blveiee
taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the
ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the
first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae.. The rset can be a
taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This
is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by
istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2010 when...
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
 

AND FINALLY…
Now you are laughing at yourself.
Now you're going to try again to lick your elbow..

 

Who Knew?

Take Luck,

LP

Funny Commercial

I love this State Farm commercial:

Every time it comes on I say, "Oh, I love this commercial," and laugh and laugh.  Ryan says I like it so much because they show a guy with his shirt off.  Au contraire, my dear.  I love it because of the woman/girlfriend in the commercial.  It's the way she claps, stomps her foot and says "Hot diggity..."  And then when the super smokin' hot "new" girlfriend appears and says, "OH, so this is what you like?" :)  Classic.

I love it.

Take Luck,

LP 

Nook

Guess what my lovely Hubby presented me with this Valentine's Day??...

 ...A Nook from Barnes & Noble!!

So in light of this literary gift, here is a list of my favorite books - in no particular order:

Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)

World Without End (Ken Follett)

Angels & Demons (Dan Brown)

The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)

The Lost Symbol (Dan Brown)

Deception Point (Dan Brown)

Digital Fortress (Dan Brown)

A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini)

The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)

Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen) 

Into Thin Air (Jon Krakauer)

Into the Wild (Jon Krakauer)

Tuesday's With Morrie (Mitch Albom)

Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom)

For One More Day (Mitch Albom)

I am also a fan of Sandra Brown, John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks :)  I love to read, and I love getting lost in a book, not wanting it to end.  I know there have been a few instances upon finishing one book, where I haven't wanted to start another because I feel like I'm "cheating" on the one I just finished!!  I know, I know.  That's a little weird, but I can't help it!!  I can't wait to be done with my graduate studies so I can finally read for leisure/pleasure again, and NOT textbooks!  Ho hum, someday...

Take Luck,
LP 

Valentine's Love

Seeing as it is Valentine’s Day (or soon to be...), I thought it appropriate to share one of my favorite lovey-dovey poems...

 

i carry your heart

-e.e. cummings 

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

My feelings on Valentine’s Day are a tad mixed.  I think it is sort of stupid that as a society, we need a “holiday” designated to shower the one you love with gifts and flowers, and to have your undying affection written for you in a Hallmark card.  Is it just me, or does the whole “I got you this/these for Valentine’s Day” sort of takes away from it all??   I think it’s most special when (on occasion) Ryan comes home from work and thought to stop off to grab a bouquet, just to say “I love you,” or “Thanks for all you do for me,” or both :) I like to do the same thing for him, but not with flowers.  If I’m out grocery shopping or out running errands in general, sometimes I’ll pick him up something small just so he knew I was thinking of him while I was out.  I say all this - blah, blah, blah... But if Ryan did not get me something for Valentine's Day, I would probably be a little crushed.  Haha, is that wrong??  Maybe it is, I don't know.

I have to add that while at Safeway today, Ryan and I saw a balloon in the floral department that read (and I am not kidding)... "OMG I Heart You!"

So, squeeze and hug the one (or ones) you love today - and everyday!!  It is a special day (even though cliche) to let them know how special they are to you, and why you are so lucky to have in them your life.  It also seems appropriate to share this link.  The actions and song just give me the shivers.  It's amazing what a hug can do for someone:

 

Take Luck,

LP   

Demarle Rendez-Vous

Last night, I hosted a Demarle at Home "Rendez-Vous" party.  I got roped into hosting, was filled with regret and dread, and then figured I better buck-up and act like I want to be here if all these lovely ladies were coming over :)  It turned out to be a fantastic night, with lots of amazing food and a great demonstration of the products by the sales representative, Helen.  We made spinach artichoke tartlets, jalapeno cheddar tartlets, veggie pizza, peperoni pizza, nachos, bunt cake, brownies, and a lemon tartlet.  She also brought these fantastic wine sorbet treats that were basically little star/flower shaped wine popsicles :)  YUM!

Here is the group of gals (minus two that snuck away :)

How cute is Baby Eliyahu?!

Even Ryan and his buddy joined in for leftovers and dessert... And Bud Light :)

Me and my Mama

Check out Demarle at Home products!

http://www.demarleathome.com/

Take Luck,

LP

Take Luck

When I wrote my first blog post, I knew I wanted to have a "signature" salutation to end each post.  It didn't take long for me to choose:

Take Luck,

LP

I was introduced to the comedian Brian Regan by a summer-ball teammate of mine, Alli.  I don't know that I have ever laughed so hard, and for a prolonged period of time.  I have since introduced Brian Regan to a lot of people over the years, so I would like to share his "gifts" with you.  Here is a link to his bit called "You Too & Stuff."  It's all about those awkward moments (that we can all relate to) that make you feel like a complete moron - saying "you too" when it doesn't apply, or forgetting someone's name:

 

My other favorite bit of Brian Regan's is called "Lousy in Little League."  Check it out here:

Watch these sound bits and try not to laugh... I dare you :)

"Take... luck! Take luck and care. Take...care of the luck! Good luck, take care of the luck you might have, if you have luck, take it, care for it...",

LP

Crap...

Well, it's official - I totally dropped the ball.  My previously mentioned cute-Mom blogs that I follow do this fun thing every month called "10 on 10."  "10 on 10" is where you take 10 pictures on the 10th day of every month to "document a snapshot of your life and find beauty in the ordinary things in your day!"

I guess since I can't take a camera (or pictures for that matter) to work, this might be a little difficult for me to accomplish.  Plus, I only have 1,000 thoughts of my Hubby, work, school, our pups, cleaning the house, making dinner, and yadadaddaaaada shooting through my brain at once... I'm not at all surprised I let this slip.  Maybe next month I will remember to give it a shot.  If I up my game and get some pictures taken in the morning before work, and take some after work - I could easily take 10!!... Right?  Hmmm...


On a side (and not good) note... This evening while trying to watch class, do some laundry and make dinner, I ran into the computer room/makeshift mancave to talk to Ryan.  As I scurried out of the room and back to my laptop I put my hand on the door frame to turn my body into the hallway.  This was a bad, bad idea.  Somehow, I perfectly placed my right hand on the thing that keeps the door closed/latched. 

Or what I now know to be the: strike plate; the protective metal plate installed in the door jamb that receives the latch or lock "tongue" when door is closed

And since I'm so speedy, I kept my momentum going forward while my ring got caught on said strike plate.  I immediately felt a tug, pop and pain, and then realized that my right arm had not followed me into the hallway.  If I was a swearing woman...... Oh wait, I AM!!  A few choice words were strewn about, I reclaimed my finger and ring from the strike plate, made sure everything was still intact, pushed the strike plate back into the door frame (yep, I about ripped it off)... And then cried.  My finger and knuckle swelled up enough that the ring isn't going anywhere soon.  Awesome.

And in case you were wondering... Yes, Ryan did comfort me during my discomfort and pain.  He said, "Hey babe, the door shuts pretty good now!"

Take luck,
LP

Antique Shop Shopping

Since we bought our house last December I am always trying to think of ideas on how to decorate the interior.  One of my projects on the "To Do" list is to get the interior walls painted.  They are all currently white; which is nice, but a little "blah."  Our house is a one-story rambler, and much to Ryan's dismay he does not have a (dun! dun! dun!) MAN CAVE.  The closest thing he has to a man cave now is our computer room.

Anyway, when picking my Hubby up from work the other day, I noticed an antique shop on the corner.  Today, I had a few extra minutes before he got off so I decided to take a look inside.  After wandering this treasure trove of an antique store for a few minutes I spotted a collection of vintage metal posters.  After cruising through the selection, I found a few that I knew (well, hoped) that Ryan would love and could be put up in the computer room to help make it feel more man caveish. 

And as luck would have it... I found one for me too :)  I'm hoping it will go in the kitchen somewhere?? Maybe??

Take Luck,

LP

   

Mama's Beef Stroganoff

Tonight I made my most favorite meal, beef stroganoff, or more affectionately called - Stroggy.  Not just any beef stroganoff, but my Mama's beef stroganoff.  I thought it was only fair that I share this amazing recipe with you.

Ingredients:

1 lb. stew meat

1 tbsp. flour

1 can Cream of Celery soup

1 tbsp. Worcestershiresauce

1 cup white rice

Sour cream

Directions:

Brown stew meat in saucepan

  Once meat has started to brown, start boiling water for rice

Stir in flour to browned meat, then add Worcestershire sauce and Cream of Celery soup (you will notice in the picture that I went a tad out of sequence...)

Stir meat and sauce mixture, let simmer

Add sour cream to meat and sauce mixture.  The amount you put is really your preference.  I usually toss two big spoon-fulls in.

 I normally let this simmer until the rice is done cooking

And, voila!

Lay the rice down, and put the meat and sauce mixture on top.

Veggies and artisan bread are my favorite sides to this dish.

I hope you enjoy Mama's Beef Stroggy as much as we do.

Take Luck,

LP

You Give Me Fever

"Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bare

You give me fever
When you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever
In the mornin'
Fever all through the night..."

My poor Hubby has a been fighting the flu bug the last few days.  What started as feeling funky has progressed into body aches, a fever which has gotten as high as 102+, lots of sweating, and a cough.  There hasn't been a whole lot I can do for him, but try to make him comfortable, force him to take medicine and watch movies in bed (not complaining about that one, ha!) :)  I haven't been the only one trying to nurse him back to health though.  I must admit I've had some help... 

For now I'll just keep hoping that he starts feeling better and that I can fend off the sickness... So if I do get sick, he can return the favor and nurse me back to health :)

Take luck,

LP