Weekend Update

Friday night I invited some ladies over for dinner and girls night!

For dinner I made brown sugar crusted filet, baked chicken rolled in bread crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese, shrimp cocktail, green beans, salad, and french bread! It was all so yummy! I haven't cooked for company in so long, it was such a treat! (I completely forgot to take a picture.)

Georgina brought blueberry cobbler. Let me tell you first off, I NEVER eat cooked fruit, I have been this way since I was a kid, (stubborn) but I've just never liked eating pastries, cobblers, pies with fruit, etc. I think the texture of the fruit is what gets me, plus I'd just rather eat fresh fruit. Anyway..... I actually tried this cobbler and enjoyed it! When Jon heard I ate cooked fruit he said (in a high pitched voice) "You ate cooked fruit?!?" He was as surprised as I was!

And of course it wouldn't be a girls night without lots of wine and lots to talk about! It was good getting to know these ladies a little better. We had a great evening!

Steph, Georgina, Tara and Yve


Georgina and silly Shannon!


Everyone with their wine eyes! Except Georgina of course! She was drinking sparkling apple cider. This little lady is 5 months preggers! She is having a baby girl ;) Congratulations Georgina!



Saturday and Sunday were extremely laid back for me. With Jon being gone, there's not much excitement happening on my end. ;) I read, watched movies, read some more, watched more movies, and read again. What is it about Sleepless in Seattle that just pulls on your heart strings?

I have this weird fear, that when my Twilight books end, I won't have anything else exciting to read. So I am trying to put off finishing these books, but finding it extremely hard to put them down!
I have to say I am looking forward to reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. True Blood the HBO series is based off of these books and I absolutely loved the first season of True Blood, so I think I will completely enjoy her books. I just need to order them soon!

I did another haircut this weekend, slowly picking up the business again, I know it will take some time. At least I have some regulars and more and more new clients are making appointments! Yippie! I guess at the end of the day, it is a blessing that I am not as ridiculously busy as I was back in the states! It was hard on Jon and I, me working 60 hours a week and not getting home until 9 most nights! Part of me is glad I am not working that hard, but part of me misses staying busy and seeing all of my wonderful Okie clients everyday!
At least I am meeting new clients and friends!

I am getting back into scrapbooking! A couple of years ago, I went scrapbook crazy and made everyone in my family scrapbooks. From my mother, to my dad (a manly scrapbook), my grandmother, my step sister and Jon's mother, I definitely went to town on some scrapbookin'. But I remembered how much fun it was and how I could let my creative juices flow, so I rummaged through some boxes in our basement until I found some of my old stuff. I am extremely low on paper and embellishments, etc. etc. etc. But I did manage to pull this page together this weekend. I thought it would be a great idea to start one for our adventure in Europe. I love my blog, but I wanted something else that I could keep forever! I know, it's soooooo sentimental, but ya know, when you get older you realize the important things. Now I've got to find a scrapbook store here, I MISS YOU HOBBY LOBBY!



I'm just getting back into the swing of things and with more practice this book will turn out great!

I also threw this vase together before girls night on Friday!
I am really liking it now! Kinda rustic lookin.'


Today, I'm starting on the 4th book of the Twilight Series, Breaking Dawn! So looking forward to it! I cannot......... let me stress again, CANNOT wait until Twilight comes to our tiny theater at the PX! I believe the first showing is Monday, Jan. 26th. I'm dyin here! I've been dying to see it since before it showed in the states! Hurry up already Germany and get with the times ;)

Because it is SO STINKIN COLD in Germany right now, I thought I'd make stew for dinner tonight! Nothing's better than comfort food on a cold day! I walked to the grocery store this afternoon, and I'm not kidding when I say, it hurt to breathe! That's how cold it is, that my lungs were cussing me all the way to Rewe!

I made Minestrone, my mom's recipe and it's been stewing for a while.
You guys definitely have to try this, this recipe is so easy! and ridiculously amazing, especially heated up the next day.

Minestrone

2 pounds ground beef (I use ground turkey)
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic finely shopped
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans
1 can (12 ounces) whole kernel corn
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 small zucchini, sliced
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni (I use whatever noodle sounds good on that day) 3 cups water
2 teaspoons instant beef bouillon
1-1/2 teaspoons salt (I just add a dash it's gets really salty, I'd taste test at the end before adding salt)
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasonings

Cook and stir ground beef, onion and garlic in a large stew pot until beef is light brown. Stir in tomatoes (with liquid), kidney beans (with liquid) and remaining ingredients; break up tomatoes with fork. (I use stewed tomatoes sometimes too, that way their not so chunky)

Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until macaroni and vegetables are tender.

And voila! Easy as pie!



Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!