If you need me, I'll be outside.

So I think we can officially say that the warm weather has arrived. As my friend Joanna put it - "getting a bunch of Mason jars in order to can this weather and be able to open it in the middle of July." I absolutely love this time of year, patio weather baby!
We've done our best at taking advantage - last Friday night we met my brother, Rob, at the Oasis and sat outside for about 3 hours (mostly due to wait time, but cold margaritas were available, so whatever.) Every time we drive up to the Oasis it doesn't matter how many cars are in the parking lot Dom always says the following "This place is a gold mine, look at all the cars...printing f***ing money in there, ridiculous." I'm not kidding you - no matter when we have ever gone, he says that at least 10 times. It was gorgeous and the view is stunning even though we are looking at a small pond rather than lake at this point.

Saturday we hit up Stillwood for their 4th annual crawfish boil. On the way there Dom and I were talking about how we would like to throw something 'annual' - like a fish fry, or even crawfish boil. Then we arrived at the party and laughed out loud at ourselves. These folks are for real with their get together. 300 lbs of crawfish, t-shirts for all that donated, 5 kegs, food for kiddos, a jumpy thing in the backyard for the kiddos or possibly drunk adults, and 3 live bands! We had an awesome time and hope to make the sponsor list on the t-shirt in 2010. So yeah, maybe we'll just throw a small xmas party and stay out of their way.

Sunday we worked in the yard all day trimming, planting, and fertilizing. It was a great day to be outside but man yard work is tiring. At least you can see our house now. So, sticking with our theme of annoying little things happening to us (as mentioned in our previous post) - we fertilized and went to turn on the sprinklers when we were done, and ... nothing. It didn't even pretend to try and turn on. Greeeat. If you don't water heavily it kills your yard once you put fertilizer down. So Dom was on the phone with the sprinkler guru's for two days before someone finally came out and fixed it. $700 later they are working. Apparently lightening struck the ground when we were in Mexico and fried everything. Ahhh...life. Our yard better look damn good this spring!

Time to close this one out and go sit on the porch. You all know we've got about 2 more weeks before the heat lamps turn on.

I may go run in the sprinklers too, just cause I can now.

Blockhead

So I've already identified an area that could pose some serious conflict into my relationship, and that is the level at which we purchase things for our daughter. I'm guilty, yes, of wanting her to have lots of fun toys but Dom feels like with each toy we turn down we have taken something from her, denied her. Puh-lease. She's fine, "she has toys" I say. Now clothes and/or shoes....different story.

If I let him out on his own he will most definitely come home with something for her, the latest are a set of blocks from the Learning Express. I'm like "blocks? really?". Now I know every kid plays with a set of blocks at some point in their lives but at 6 months - what the hell is she going to do with these?

Let's see - she chews them, throws them, knocks them down, stares at them, LOVES them. These blocks even traveled via Continental airlines to Mexico and provided high valued entertainment most days. They have now landed in the bathtub. Something else that's amazing - we still have all six. So because I'm feeling very relaxed today I am going to go on record and admit defeat.

One day she'll appreciate her cute shoes...

Paradise is BUENO.

This is my last post as I'm currently packing my bags and plan to head back to Mexico to live on the beach. No internet, no cable, no phones....the simple life.

Okay so maybe not but damn does it sound good. We had a blast on our trip, Brooklyn did great traveling - just one incident on the way home where I had that 'screaming baby' on the plane everyone cusses. Once we took off she was fine, all you people can blame Continental for making us sit on the runway for 45 extra minutes. The beach was beautiful, BLUE water - who knew? Those of us that are used to the gulf consider the ocean to be a nice brown color most of the time. The resort we stayed at was gorgeous, although the service sucked. Poor Dom spent literally about 7 hours with them arguing about our reservation that Travelocity screwed up.

NEVER USE TRAVELOCITY AND NEVER STAY AT A RIU RESORT. Please spread the word.

We had lots to drink, enjoyed the sun, sand and company, and all had an awesome time. I can't wait to go back and do it all over again.

Vacation!!!

It starts tomorrow and OMG am I ready. Why is it that right before you are scheduled to take off for your much needed downtime shit hits the fan? I think it's so you really appreciate the beach, sun, and mexican waiter that is constantly asking if you want another drink. "Yes please, keep them coming."

So starting last week Dom and I have just had the strangest things happening. Nothing that serious, more like a 'yapping dog biting at your ankles' annoying type of stuff. Let's see, the disposal clogged up and broke, a cabinet door broke off in the kitchen, Dom went to wash his face at his sink and a handle broke off. My brother, who we are taking to Playa with us, had to have surgery on his shoulder last Friday. Brooklyn's sitter called on Wednesday of last week and said two of the kids she watches came down with hand, foot, mouth disease. We fired said sitter yesterday morning for other reasons, requiring us to find a new daycare before we leave for vacation. Also requiring that I work from home the two days before vacation which is just crazy with the amount of shit I have to do. I have two fever blisters - gross. We had this crazy influx of bees attack our house over the weekend. There was a clump of them in the corner of our 2nd story by the window and I swear it was the size of a beach ball. F***ing bees everywhere. It's just never ending! Just kick me in the face and get it over with.

Okay so nothing that bad right? Just annoying little shit that gets in the way when I want to be sitting and relaxing, dreaming about paradise right around the corner. This vacation can't come quick enough - I hope to God we all make it on the plane.

I'm going to make sure I have two umbrella's in my pina colada.

Spinach

Evening routines usually go something like this - get home from work, say hi to Brooklyn and Dom, change clothes, feed B, workout (an attempt, at least), start dinner, Dom bathes B, eat, feed B again, start watching our shows, pause around 8:15 to read B a book and put her to bed, back downstairs to sit on couch, back upstairs cause she dropped her pacifier, back downstairs, fully relaxed by about 9:00. Squeeze in a few phone conversations here and there, possibly a few pages of a book, or a glass of wine with Dom and that's usually how most of our weeknights go.
Brooklyn tends to join me now when I start cooking dinner, before her bath. Last night I had her on the counter, turned my head for a few seconds and:

Note to self: Place bag of spinach away from bumbo chair. ;)

Bon Appetite!

So it's been a goal of mine in 2009 to cook more for my family, and to eat healthy. Occasionally there is a bowl, or three, of queso to be had but for the most part I'm doing pretty good. The trick for me has been to go grocery shopping on the weekends and plan the menu for the entire week. I thought I'd share what I'm making tonight with everyone in case they want to give it a try as well. Bon Appetite!

Thai Pesto Shrimp:
1 1/2 lb. unpeeled, large raw shrimp
1 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp unsalted dry-roasted peanuts (I'm using pine nuts)
2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp kosher or 3/4 tsp regular salt
2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp. dried crushed red pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
Coconut Lime rice (recipe below)

1. Peel shrimp. Prepare coconut lime rice.
2. Proceses cilantro, next 7 ingredients, and 3 tbsp olive oil in a food processor 15 to 20 seconds or until smooth, stop to scrape sides.
3. Saute shrimp in remaining 1 tbsp hot oil in a large skillet over medium high heat 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro mix and server over rice.

Coconut Lime Rice:
1 cup light coconut milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine rice
1 tsp lime zest 1 1/12 tbsp fresh lime juice

1. Bring coconut milk, salt, and 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in rice, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Stir in lime zest and juice.

Per serving (including rice): 300 calories, 13.3g fat