Tales of the Worst First Date

With Valentines Day being tomorrow, I figured I would do something a little different from the typical we were meant to be and it was love at first sight post.

Andrew and I had our first date when I was a Junior in high school. Yes I was 17 and Andrew was 20 and no at that point in my life I didn't realize this was the person I was going to marry.

And if our first date was any sign of what was to be in our relationship, it wasn't a good sign. Yes my worst date ever was with Andrew.

No it wasn't his fault, it wasn't my fault, it was an unfortunate series of events.

So lets start here. I was so excited this college boy is taking me out. Yes that was the high school girl in me. Andrew picked me up and we went to a very nice dinner at Firebirds. 

*Disclaimer, we had hung out before at the gym and cookout but this was our first official date**

We got to dinner and it was going great until we got the waitress from hell. Her name was Cassandra ( yes I still remember because we still joke about this date) and she talked our ears off. Constantly tell us her life story and interrupting every time we got into a conversation.

After dinner we didn't have plans but Andrew randomly asks if we could continue our date and go to the movies. I was ecstatic so we walked to the movie theatre and bought two tickets to the next movie.

Here is where the epic fail came from the person at the ticket counter. She failed to mention that this movie was for the hearing impaired. In case you don't know that means there is no sound. So yes we sat in a movie that was completely silent with just subtitles. 

Luckily there was no one else in the theatre so Andrew acted out all the words and eased the tension.

After that we ended with Coldstone and then he took me home. I have to say it was one of the worst dates but fortunately we went on a second and a third and now well spend the rest of our lives dating!

How about you? What was your worst date ever?

Tasty Tuesday Link Up

I am so excited that our first link up is finally here. Remember to follow Tamara and I and spread the word about the link up. I hope you will join us and share some of your favorite dishes!! On Sunday was Chinese New Year and since Andrew and I are huge Asian foodies I always try my hand at some dishes!! So on our menu was Dragon Noodles, Pork and Ginger wontons and edamame!!

Pork and Ginger Wontons:

1/2 lb pork

1 small head of cabbage ( finely chopped)

2 Tbsp EVOO

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 tsp sesame oil

1tsp soy sauce

handful green onions

1/2 cup shredded carrots

wonton wrappers ( about 50)

3 tsp bouillon granuels or 3 cubes

Directions:

Sautee your cabbage and EVOO for about 15 minutes until soft.

Combine cabbage, pork, carrots, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, and green onions in a bowl and refridgerate for 1 hour. ( This marinates the flavor)

Then put about 1tsp of the mixture into your wonton wrappers and close diagonally with water and fold over the edges

Next boil the wontons for about 7 minutes or until they float. Then set on a cookie sheet so the excess water drains out

** At this point I froze any that we were going to eat, then you can just defrost and pan fry them when you are ready for more**

Next place the wontons in a frying pan and pan fry until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside and enjoy with soy sauce!

Remember to enter my giveaway for a free bottle of Sin<less Cocktails!

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A Giveaway!

I was so excited when Zach contacted me to try out their new product. Sin<less Cocktails are mixers that are all natural, sugar free and only have 5 calories per serving. The difference here from other low calorie mixers is sin<less has much less sugar and calories. Other brands have around 24 grams of sugar so that doesn't seem like a better alternative.

Zach and his wife sent me a bottle of Margarita and Mojito mixes.

They also have sour mix and strawberry margarita.

I searched and found I could purchase sin<less at whole foods.

Andrew and I decided to try the cocktails out with our Mexican feast we had for dinner one night.

I promise they aren't neon looking in real life.

I drank the margarita since I am not a mojito fan and it was amazing. I am not a fan of the skinny girl brand cocktails as I think they are too bitter but this one was great. It tasted just like my pre-made golden margs I buy at the ABC store during pool season :)

So here is where you can enter to win your own bottles.

Good Luck :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tales of a Wanna be fashion blogger

So If you have been following me for anytime now you know I am not a fashion blogger.

Do I love clothes and shopping. Yes

Am I a risk taker to trying the new trends. Nope. 

I stare from the sidelines at how others make them cute and I stick to the classics. I can do classics.

So lately I have been trying to jazz up my outfits a little so here we go.

I apologize for my picture taking skills in advance.

Dress:  Nordstrom Rack- Max Studio 

Jacket: Gap

Scarf: Aunt made it 

Boots: Similar

Jacket: Nordstrom Rack

Pants: JCrew Chino Pants

Shoes: Adrienne Vittadini

Necklace: Francescas

** Also in this picture you can't see but I made an attempt at the sock bun!**

So no worries. My daily fashion posts aren't going to take over the blog. But it was fun to try and put something a little different together. 

Tasty Tuesday.. Link up:)

So being the foodie that I am, Tamara and I decided to start a link up for all the other foodies or want to be foodies out there to get some new recipe ideas!!!

Helping us spread the word are a few of our favorite bloggers!

Check out their blog for some new recipes and next week you can participate in the first link up!

Tamara- Everything Happens for a reason

Pamela- Pamela's Place

Lauren- The Merry Mrs. Mobley

Marianna- Delightfully Dunn

One of my personal favorites is Shrimp and Grits. If you've never had it before its a Southerner's dreams.

Ingredients

(serves 2)

8ounces shrimp

6 pieces of bacon

1 small tomato

4 green onions

grits

1/4 cup chicken stock

1/2 teaspoon thyme

 Cheddar cheese

Directions:

Cook your Grits.

 I didn't use instant grits so they take about 20 minutes which allows you to prepare the rest of the meal. Generally for two people you would use 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of grits but follow whatever your package says.

Cook your bacon and then dice it along with your tomato and green onion.

Drain any bacon fat and in the same pan cook the shrimp with a little salt and pepper.

When the shrimp are about 3/4 of the way done add the chicken stock, tomato, green onion, bacon and thyme.

Cook until Shrimp is done.

In a bowl place half your grits a handful of cheese and half of your shrimp mixtures and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy it. 

The best shrimp and grits I have ever had was at Poogan's Porch in Charleston,SC.

 I can't say these are as good but they are a wonderful substitution for when I can't go there.

It's My Birthday Month

Yes I believe in Birthday Months.

(The only thing better is your actual birthday and birthday week to party harder)

Yes I believe in Half Birthdays.

Hey if it was allowed by my husband I would celebrate another month of my life every month:)

So as my Birthday is approaching I have made a list to help the people in my life.

Tory Burch Flats

New Throw Pillows From Etsy

Pottery Barn Table Runner

Pandora Beads

So my Birthday is the 23rd if any of you bloggers want to help out with my list :)

Finding Blessings in Mourning

Last week my grandfather passed away.

Here is some context.

My grandparents split when my dad was young. 

They both got remarried and my whole life I have seen my Grandpa Hart( My dad's dad) and Grandma Donna( his wife) 2 times. Once I was 5 and I briefly remember and the second time I was in high school and they took a road trip across the country and visited. He didn't watch me graduate high school, college or get married.

My Grandma and her husband Louie however were a different story. At one point we lived with them. My parents were teenage parents so we didn't start with much. I remember Louie in almost every significant memory I have. Birthdays, holidays baptisms, confirmations, graduations and my wedding. 

( Grandma and Louie at my wedding)

Louie passed away on Thursday. He was driving a car full of my family ( him, grandma, my aunt, her two kids and boyfriend) in his van when he had a heart attack driving 60+ mph.

My aunt some how jumped into the front seat and slowed the car down.

During this time of mourning I am finding loads of blessings. While Louie is gone no one else was hurt, it could have been so bad. Louie was such a blessing to my life. He loved me more than I could describe and treated me just as he did his biological grandchildren. He always told us to call him Louie since we still had our grandfather and didn't want to take his place but reflecting back he was such a wonderful grandfather and I wish I would have let him know it everyday. He loved my grandmother with every part of his body and he loved my family even more. 

So I am blessed. Louie was a blessing to my life and while I am sad and mourning I will treasure every memory.