on these days...

sometimes all you need is a salad to brighten your day :) 

I confess that I am an absolute tv show junkie. No shame about it. I've watched the season finale of Glee a handful of times (not even exaggerating) and every time I end up in tears. It's so hard saying goodbye to all those characters that I've come to love. I was especially heartbroken about Rachel & Finn. Hot mess. Although the season came to an end it was sort of bittersweet. You know? I am looking forward to see what Glee has in store for next season.

On tv show junkie topic number two, TrueBlood is starting up again next Sunday. Drumroll! I'm ecstatic about this, so are my co-workers and to kick it off we are having ourselves a super fun season premiere taco night shindig. Tacos & vampire. What more can you ask for?! Oh and not to forget Teen Wolf. But i'll just stop there...

It's JUNE! That means my ever so sweet hubby's birthday month. But don't tell him that. Next Friday is in fact his birthday and we both took the day off to spend it together. Awe sweet. I planned a fun filled day just him and I at Dorney Park. Sebastian has preschool so I thought why the hell not take the opportunity and be big kids for the day. We plan to hit up all the crazy scary roller coasters and eat too much funnel cake. Seriously it will be a epic kind of day for the both of us. Note to self: don't eat anything next week.

I am really starting to pump myself up for New York City! It's only two months away and with how fast these months have just been floating by it's going to be here quicker than I know. Eeek! I get to attend my first ever BlogHer conference! So cool. I'm looking forward to meeting some new people, learning & connecting. Best of all it get to spend some much needed quailty time with my two favorite gals, Tanya & Julee. This I am most thankful for! If any of ya'll are attending BlogHer, I'll be the creepy chick standing awkwardly who won't stop grinning :D Okay?

Here's a nice little tidbit for you, after having my camera for almost three years and spending lots of time reading & learning I have finally started to shoot in Manual Mode! There's so much more to it than point and shoot. After learning what it means to shoot in Manual you get more of an appreciation for what this thing in your hand does! It's funny because now whenever I see someone that has a SLR camera and who is using Auto I have this sudden urge to just march up to them and tell them that they are not using it to it's fullest potential. It shames me. Oh look at me I'm like totally a professional photographer. Not. But I can pretend I am ;)

On another note, Sebastian can write is name all by is self! Well, when he wants too. Also he has said his phone number (my cell phone number since we don't have a landline) to his teacher correctly twice! Come on. If that's not impressive than I don't know what is!  I swear he surprises me everyday with something new that he is saying or doing. And to think soon I'll be the proud owner of a four year old. Said like a true parent. Aye Aye.

Well, I'm off to enjoy a quiet (yeah right) evening with my little boy. There is a storm happening soon over here and nights like these are my favorite. Reminds me of home :)

♥A.

on our weekend part one...

It's me here for a quick post of some pretty silly pool photos :) This weekend is the kick off for pool season. And Sebastian was all for it :) He is such a water bug! Him and his cousin were doing all kinds goofy jumps off of the pool side. I had fun taking these pictures. 

Bobby had work all last night and because we were having a Memorial Day Garden Party on today, Sebastian and I decided to have a sleepover at my in laws. I cooked up a light dinner of Gnocchi with Summer Vegetables and also whipped up one of my all time favorite summer desserts--Warm Berries 'n' Dumplings (yes, martha is my friend). Yummy! 

Well, can't chat for too long. I'm off to have a good 'ol time sitting poolside with a beverage in my hand. I'll be back with part two of our weekend :) Get out there and soak up the sun! And don't forget to rub on that sunscreen!! 

♥A. 

on one year...

Can't believe it's been ONE year already! We had a lovely time in Maryland this past weekend. The weather was beautiful and our stay at The Sandaway B & B was top notch. I would love to go again. 

We arrived on Friday a bit early and decided to take a trip on the ferry over to St. Michaels to have a look around plus grab a bit to eat. 

We ended up eating at a place called Big Pickle. Such a cute little restaurant which were famous for their fried pickles! I had a genuine Maryland cream of crab soup for lunch. Speaking of crab, I think Bobby and I ate crab in most every meal we had in Maryland. Crab dip. Crab cakes. Cake soup. Crab pasta!! You can call me "crabby anny". Just kidding. Don't. 

The B & B was much more than I had expect. My in laws were the ones who recommended Sandaway after staying there last year and for some reason the vision in my mind did not do justice! 

We ended up getting one of the bigger rooms and so it wasn't right in the main house. Even though we chose to have that sort of experience it was still nice to sort of be spread out and not all be the same house. If you get what I'm hinting at ;) 

 The second photo up was the main house. The photo above is where we stayed which was just right next to the main house. We were on the lower level with a screened in porch. It was so lovely to sit out there in the evening and watching the sun go down. You could even see the bay just by laying in bed! To. Die. For.

 My favorite part of our stay was the sailboats. There were so many on the water that weekend and it was so beautiful watching them glide on the sparkly water.

Saturday we splurged on a kayak rental for 24 hours. We packed a picnic and heading out on the bay in the afternoon. We spent a good four hours out exploring the water. Have you ever been kayaking?? Not as easy as it may look! It was a work out man! Oh and let's not forget about the sun burn...ouch!

I was even able to wake Bobby up early on Sunday (our last day) to take one last kayak ride on the bay. It was hard but I did it! Sipping on some coffee on a kayak in the bay...not something you do everyday :D 

All in all, the weekend away with my husband of one year was nothing short of amazing! It was peaceful and relaxing and fun! We did miss our little boy but it help knowing he was in good hand. Thanks to my wonderful in laws :)

ps: fun fact-- our room had it's own guess book and after going through it one night guess who I found? Mother-in-law and father-in-law. Yep we stayed in the same room. How funny is that. haha.

♥A. 

on coconut crusted chicken...

Today we took a little family trip to Maple Grove to see some drag races. With Sebastian being sick the past week, and currently still is, we needed to get out somewhere and since Bobby came across some free tickets it seemed like the perfect thing. Have you been to a drag race? Super loud man! Although we didn't stay too long it was still nice. We got ourselves from fresh air and in my eyes the drive is a beautiful one. I have a special place in my heart for farm land and driving by a few cow farms today made me smile. You see, I grew up around cows and they always bring back familiar images in my memory. 
Gee, that being said we got home in time for me to whip up something for dinner and considering that today is Cinco de Mayo, I couldn't help feeling like Coconut Crusted Chicken with some Sweet Chili Sauce would be perfect on this happy fifth of May! 

Ingredients:
2 lbs chicken breast
1 cup flour
1 cup coconut flakes
2 eggs 
salt & pepper 
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup coconut milk (optional)

You'll want to start out cutting up the chicken breast into little chicken tender pieces. Salt & pepper the tenders. Beat coconut milk into the eggs. Coconut milk isn't a key ingredient so if you don't have any on hand don't panic. 

Set up your breading station. It used a handy tray for all of this. Less clean up is fundamental! Flour, egg and then mix 1 cup of panko with 1 cup of coconut flakes and mix together. 

Flour. Egg. Panko. Repeat. 

Once you are are done it's time to heat 1/3 cup of vegetable oil in a skillet. 

Fry one side and flip!

There you have it! Serve these crispy goodies with some Sweet Chili Sauce and you are set for a festive dinner or appetizer or snack or dessert or what ever your heart desires. You can find this Sweet Chili sauce at Wegmans, Trader Joe's or using this recipe. Not going to lie, the hubby pretty much cleaned the plate of these little guys :D That good people!

 ♥A. 

on who I am...

I am\\

//happy to be back! April was a rough one. For starters I was working, what felt like, all the dang time. Doing doubles and extra hours. Working on your feet for 15 hours in one day can surely put a damper on things. At least for me. 

Other than work, I had a few shortcomings happen my way. First, I dropped my poor Macbook and crack the case plus messed up the screen to the point of having to get it fixed. No worries since I do have accidental protection. It was fixed and is good as new. I can say that I've learned my lesson in trying to carry a million things all at once since of course my most prized possession will decide to fall from my grasp. 

Secondly, I lost my phone. It disappear in the the unknown abyss. No joke friends. I had it one minute in the car and then after running into our apartment in the pouring rain it vanished. Without. A. Trace. Although I didn't have the greatest phone known to mankind, it was still some sort of Android and it's gone forever. Or until it comes out of hiding. In any case, I had to spend money on a crappy cheap Nokia phone to hold me over until my contract is up and I can finally get my beloved Iphone. Le sigh.  

Last but not least and for the one that tops all this, Sebastian caught Hand, Foot & Mouth out of nowhere. It's been going around daycares and schools around my area. However his preschool says no one else has come down with it before or after him so really I have absolutely no idea where this thing came from. So, you see why this month has been just so much fun for me :) Now you see why I've been away for so long?! 

// excited that it's May! My little sister will be turning nineteen. Which seriously, what happened to the little brat that told on me nonstop about ridiculous things. Gone! Now I have a pretty crazy hairstylist of a sister! And then the fella and I are going enjoy a nice loooong weekend in a sweet B&B in Maryland. Thank you dear May for being here. I need you so. 

// not even going to shy away from the fact that I read The Fifty Shade of Grey series within two days! When they do make the movie for it (lord help us all) I know with every fiber of my being that Ian Somerhalder has to be Grey. It's a must. And I'm not just saying that because he is insanely mouthwatering. 

// currently on the final season of Lost. What the what! I totally missed out on this goldmine when it was on TV. I am sort of happy I did miss out since now I can just watch episode after episode on Netflix without any wait at all! No matter how it ends there will without a doubt be a hole in my heart. 

// obsessing over the color coral and wanting these maxi skirts in every color to wear this summer. 

// thanking the heavens that our neighbors below us (the one that we are on not so great terms) has gotten kicked out because obviously we are not the only ones that think the lady is a complete nut case but as does our landlord. I guess I should be ashamed that I am thrilled a single mother to one five or so year old boy is getting the boot but no joke when I say...she is psychotic. Not normal at all. I totally do not agree with her life style and she does some very strange things. And yes, I'm judging but you would too. Trust me. Anyways she should be out soon and so will be the negativity floating around. Having to avoid someone in your own home is sort of annoying. 

// feeling a wee bit nostalgic lately. Looking through photos of when I was pregnant and huge as a house with Sebastian in my belly has me on high baby fever alert. Yikes!

//glad to be back. Life keeps on truckin'! 

♥A. 

on a slice of life...

Ah life. It seems like it goes by in a blur. I seriously can not fathom that it's already Easter! Unreal. And yet so refreshing. I love holidays. Nothing tops my list when it's a day to spend with family and eat good food. The traditions and happy faces. Yes, I think refreshing  is quite the word. 


Lately, I've looked around the blogoshere and seen lots of fun & exciting posts along with thoughtful and encouraging ones and then there's the crafty & howdoyouhavethatmuchtime posts. And I've got nada! It's just isn't happening lately. Days just keep coming and going and here I am doing my normal thing. The days are getting brighter and sunnier and warmer so in effect my evenings are spent outside with Sebastian and away from my computer. It's a weird thing. I never have a feeling that I have to live up to some sort of standard in any other aspect in my life other than blogging. Unsure why. I guess I get a little envious of some of these women who have these crazy amazing blogs and are like I wear beautiful outfits and can blog about everything! EVERYTHING.  Woe is me. 


Reading up a storm. I've finished about three books in like two weeks! High five to that friends. I heart my Kindle Fire. Or I love it until it dies on me at work at the slowest time of day. Sigh. Now that wouldn't happen with a hard back. Next I'll be on to Fifty Shades of Grey, which I swear has been the most spoken about book the last couple of weeks. I heard things about it in the news and all my lady friends are talking about it. Of course I have to hop on the bandwagon and see what the hubbub is about. Have you heard of it? Or read it? What do you think? I would love to hear feedback. Most of my friends have just given me "the eye" and say have fun with a giggle. 


Anyone else out there as thrilled as me that Glee is finally coming back next week? You are?! Bless you! I swear sometimes I feel like I'm the only one over the age 14 that watch some of these shows. I stick my chin up high. Really high. 


In other news, Sebastian is growing fast before my eyes (but what's new), Bobby and I booked our drawn out weekend in Maryland (hello, king size bed with view), looking forward to pool season & putting use to our season passes to Dorney Park, and I've met a lovely little Asian lady at the nail salon down the street who waxed my eyebrows to perfection and in turn changed my life! The end. 

♥A.

on recent thoughts...

(a result of taking self portraits while practicing manual mode on my camera)

Loving\\ How beautifully Sebastian is flouring in his speech! It gets me all excited. He has been working hard at it for a good two years now. As a parent it is such a great feeling knowing that after all the help we are getting for him and all the learning on our part that it's truly doing wonders. It's so funny that in our lives everything is revolved around speech.  If you lived with us you would most likely think we have some screws loose! We emphasize on language in every aspect of our lives. For Sebastian it's the matter of slowing words down. Once the word is slowed down he has no problem saying it back. We are trying to build on that knowledge and do all that we possibly can in order for him to be right on track for the start of school. Kindergarten. I'm shaking in my boots just saying that, since Kindergarten is only a couple years away. Holy shish kabob. 

Anticipating\\ Me and my fella's one year anniversary! I cannot believe it. Not to mention this year is going by crazy fast. I mean April is already basically here and May shortly behind it. We are planning on going on a elongated weekend of R&R. We chose this lovely bed & breakfast on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. We found out about this b&b from my parent-in-laws that introduced it to us last year and of course I was instantly swooning over it. Alas, us deciding on celebrating our first year of marriage there. It will be located on the other side of St. Michael's and so we will be having ourselves many ferry rides across the water along with: bike rentals, a sail boat ride, a photo shoot and food devouring! 

Listening to\\ Anyone obsessing over I Heart Radio as much as I am? Particularly the Snow Patrol station. Oh you are? Good I thought I was the only one. Not sure what it is but I have my stations under my thumb, man. I tell it what to play and that's what it plays. No if, ands or buts. I'm boss. No really, I heart, I Heart Radio. 

Eating\\ A PB&J sandwich. Don't judge. With a tummy ache that is all that I ever want. Although a girl can dream and desire some of these great looking foods 1\2\3. 

Wishing\\ I could transport myself back to the Northwest.