Happy Birthday to Me!

So today is my birthdaaaaayyyyy!!!! It most absolutely is my favorite day of the year. :)

It's been a nice celebration, too, which started on Friday with a Tuscan "date night" cooking class at Sur La Table. We made some super yummy foods that I can't wait to share with you tomorrow. I brought home the full recipes to recreate them on our own time for another date night at home soon! We picked up some great tips, too. 

Next we attended a good friend's wedding in H-Town on Saturday. She was a gorgeous bride and we are so happy for the newlyweds!

Yesterday was spent lounging around at home watching our shows (we're currently working our way through the first season of Rookie Blue - love it!). Then we took the dogs to a nearby dog park where they had a blast running around, swimming and jumping through the pet-friendly obstacle course. The dog pool had some blue dye in it though, kinda like toilet water, and Shiner was sportin' a silvery sheen when we left! But it went away after sudsing them both down when we get home, even though they kept giving me the eye like "Mooommmm, we like being dirty!"

Being in the jolly birthday spirit that I am, here's a look back at the past couple years and how they went:

 2010 was spent in Rome, most notably the Coliseum - a dream of mine!

2009 was a pool party fest with some of my closest girlfriends

2008 was spent at the Ghostbar in Dallas - it was an amazing night out!

2007 I visited a good friend in Lubbock, TX while she was working on her masters at Texas Tech - the girl loves to dance!

2006 I turned 21... on 6/6/06. Lots of people told me not to go out (due to the evil nature of that date!), but we did and all was fine. We hit as many bars as we could in College Station until I was down for the count. :)

That's enough of memory lane... it's time for me to get to the pool for a little afternoon sun. Who said working for yourself (and from home) didn't have benefits?

Daily Pics: A Summer Fling

Pool time, colorful maxi dresses and good eats - sounds like the life, huh? I assure you it is. Now if only all these photos were culminated in a single day. Alas, they are mere moments I enjoyed throughout the week and now I wish to share them with you. Don't forget to stop and smell the coconut...

From top to bottom:

1.) The maxi dress I picked up while living in Scotland. I wore it to Venice, Italy and now I throw it on while around the house...

2.) My all-time favorite breakfast: pan fried potatoes with Lawry's seasoning salt, scrambled egg whites with a pinch of cheese and a Coke. I always have to have this meal with a well-carbonated Coke. ;)

3.) Summer reads, some by local Houston authors. I just cracked open The Magnolia League, set in Georgia.

4.) The beginning of my birthday festivities - a Tuscan cooking class at Sur la Table with the husband! It was delicious. We made fresh pesto, cannellini soup, steaks with tomato sauce and profiterols. Yum! Look for more food photos and full recipes coming soon.

My birthday is on Monday and I'm enjoying a long weekend of celebrations, from tonight's cooking venture to a friend's wedding tomorrow, drinks on Sunday, a b-day lunch on Monday then lunch with a friend and a bit of shopping on Tuesday. No complaints here!

Have a wonderful weekend!

My Recipes: Chicken & asparagus with basil mac & cheese

You know those hoity toity recipes that always sound so much fancier than they really are? Well, this is one of them. Because there ain't a lot of sweating over the stove top required to achieve a wholesome meal that looks like you really put some serious thought into it.

One of my secrets is cooking in advance, especially chicken. Over the past weekend, the husband put several thick and juicy chicken breasts on the grill then we wrapped them up and stuck them in the fridge to slice up later for salads, pastas, sandwiches and other meals.

Chicken & asapargus
1 large or 2 medium chicken breasts, cooked and sliced
1 bunch of asparagus, steamed
1/2 of large white onion, sliced
1 tbsp organic coconut oil or olive oil
1 lime
Garlic powder
Fresh ground sea salt and black pepper

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large saute pan then added onions. Let them cook slowly for about 10-15 minutes, stirring often. (During this time, I washed and steamed my asparagus.)

Once onions are starting to brown a bit, add the asparagus and heat for about two minutes. Then stir in chicken, sprinkle everything with garlic powder, salt and pepper and squeeze in your lime juice. Mix thoroughly then cover with a lid until chicken is heated through.

Basil mac & cheese
1 box organic macaroni mix
(I use Annie's brand, but Kraft now also makes an organic version!)
Fresh or dried basil
Fresh ground sea salt and black pepper

Prepare macaroni according to instructions, using organic 2% milk. When the mac is complete, sprinkle in a hefty helping of basil and season with salt and pepper to taste (I like using lots of the latter, a good combo with cheese!).

That's it! A healthy, yummy meal in 30 minutes...

Summer Threads & Jewels

Yesterday, I met two friends for happy hour after stopping by a client's office so I was gunning to wear some of the new stuff I'd purchased recently. While you all know I'm not big on "outfit posts," I did think that my blog could use a little color with a bit of summer garb added to my wardrobe. I've been dying for bright colors and carefree jewelry and anything coral. So I was happy to find this tunic top at A'gaci for 40% off $18.50...

The skinny belt is one I picked up at Primark while we lived in Scotland, and the skinny jeans are Top Shop (also from across the pond). I have been living in those wedge heels from Target, love them!! The necklace and ring are from A'gaci and have inspired me to consider making some of my own.

Speaking of making my own jewelry, I have recently added quite a few new items to my Etsy shop, Texas Take, and encourage you to go look around! You might like what you see!

It's been a short week, hallelujah that tomorrow's Friday! I have a super easy recipe post planned for tomorrow and some fun Daily Pics after that, so c'mon back...

Daily Pics: Sangria & Bling

We're enjoying a lazy Memorial Day weekend with lots of movie watching, cooking and flipping through magazines while laying around on the couch. I did remember to tote my camera around with me a bit and captured a couple snapshots.

From top to bottom:

1.) A new necklace I just finished for my stop, Texas Take

2.) Pasta with ground turkey, basil and fresh Parmesan - yum!

3.) My baby dog, Jersey, keeping me company in the kitchen

4.) A summertime pedicure

5.) A fresh batch of coral bead chips for some new accessories

6.) Our "homemade" sangria, aka a big ol' glass of white zinfandel and fresh fruit like lime, orange slices and chopped apple... we love Barefoot Wine's zin, less than $6 a bottle!

Tomorrow we're off to the pool and then grilling some juicy burgers for dinner. Hope you have a wonderful holiday!