Plain Chicken No More!

There is only so many ways to grilling or baking chicken. After a while, you just get bored. When I found this recipe on Pinterest for Basil Pesto Chicken -- it was life changing. It is so good is a meal we keep on rotation in our house because it is so quick and easy, but tastes like you cooked it for hours. 

Find the recipe on my Pinterest Board. I apologize in advance for the title of this blog, but it is a great recipe that will be come a dinner staple in your house. Enjoy!

Livy!

Meet Livy -- the newest addition to the our family! 

We are absolutely smitten and cannot imagine our lives without this little maltipoo.

Update

Life has been non-stop these past two weeks. Last week, this sweet dog went missing when he got scared during an afternoon thunderstorm. 

After searching for four day with no sleep and crying pretty much all the time, we found him and he safe back at the farm. Thank God! 

After our dramatic search & rescue mission, I went and got my "summer" haircut. I've never had my hair this short since I was a little girl. I was recently at an event a few weeks ago and my "lion's mane" was to much to tame. I had to get a handle on it. Is this what they call a "selfie?" If so, this is my first selfie. 

I also came across the coolest iPhone accessory at TJ Maxx last weekend. This hand-held receiver that mimics the vintage phones with the circle dial (I know, I didn't grow up during that era so I have not clue what the actual name of those phones are) is my new favorite tech product. Thomas thinks it is not useful -- duh, I could have told you that. But it is so fun to use! And this is my 2nd selfie . . .

 

Last night, I snagged these fabulous lamps at TJ Maxx (can you tell I'm obsessed with a TJ Maxx or HomeGoods?). I've searched for months for lamps to go in our living room. I never buy just to buy and I definitely will not settle for something. I will search till I get exactly what I want. Every piece in my house is exactly what I envisioned. You have to love what you buy because, to be blunt, you have to look at it everyday. I'm obsessed with my two light gray lamps. 

Garden Explosion!

Our small garden has literally blown up as our small 5X5 raised bed is now to small for our plants. Thomas planted the garden several months ago with two squash plants, a tomato, watermelon, a bell pepper, and all my herbs (I love using fresh herbs when cooking!). 

When we planted the garden we thought every plant had plenty of room to grow -- umm not really.

The garden has gotten so big Thomas had to attach our sprinkler to the fence of the stall's run. Last night we picked the first round of vegetables picking four squash. Yum!

Busy Week

After the start to a busy week (what am I saying?? -- it's always a busy week at my office, but that is one of the reasons why I love my job!), it is always a site to come home to such a beautiful place.

The farm helps me transition from "working mode" to being at home quicker than living in town. After I saw two of the horses grazing, I immediately got an urge to change out of my suit and into a big t-shirt and shorts and stay outside. 

"How you doin?" Wendy Williams

I've been on Deloris & Rosie's "list" this week for not feeding them cereal like normal. There is only so much grass a sheep wants to eat until they need Golden Grahams.

We all love each other on the farm. And it goes without saying, "if the sheep get Golden Grahams so do the dogs."

Our garden is really growing -- I can honestly say Thomas is the expert for gardening in our family. This garden would be dead if it were just me tending to it. 

The wheat field across the street is absolutely beautiful especially at sunset. Didn't I tell you my mind relaxes easier because of views like this??? When I think of America this is one of the images that comes to mind -- hardworking Americans with home grown products. God Bless the USA! 

On Thursday I attended the IT-ology Connections Conference in downtown Columbia. Let's just say I went in thinking I was a "technology know-it-all" because I am a part of the Y Generation and can pick up any device and immediately use it. Well when they started using "tech terms" and using air, literally air and their hands, to control a computer and a professor from Clemson working on the CUiCar tells us in 15 to 20 years cars WILL be driven autonomously, I walked out thinking my new iPhone was old, dated, and so not cool. 

That afternoon I went to the Swearing-In Ceremony of Judge Davis -- a man that I have known since I was a baby. Very happy to see him in a judge's robe protecting and defending the citizens and laws of Kershaw County, our state, and the U.S.

We then ended the work week with the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce Gala last night. We had a fabulous time -- now I am getting ready for Thomas' birthday party Sunday afternoon at our house. That means grocery shopping and house cleaning today -- woo hoo! (insert sarcasm).

The Weekend

This weekend consisted of exactly what Thomas has been asking to do since we got engaged last March. With his work, he usually is working on Saturdays so we took this opportunity to visit the zoo -- yes, have I told you my husband has an "inner kid" personality? It's one of the many reasons why I love him -- he gets excited over the smallest things. 

We haven't been to the zoo in a few years and so much has changed.

There is now a new kangaroo and wallaby visit where you can walk through their habitat and see the animals close up. This little guy ate his breakfast literally a foot away from us.

From an animal perspective, the giraffes have the best exhibit. They get to eat all day long and have the biggest environment. 

If this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will! 

If I could put him on the farm that we live on I would be the happiest lady in the world! 

Actually, I need these guys to come with me too! Can you tell I am an animal lover??

We had a great time at the zoo. With no kids, it took us only two hours to go through the whole park. (we did lapse around some parents with little kids -- it was all day adventure for them).

After we decided to try a new restaurant we had never been to before and stumbled upon The Gourmet Shop Cafe in an area called 5 Points in Columbia. We have heard about it from others, but decided to try it for ourselves. It was absolutely adorable with a kitchen store attached to the cafe. To be quite honest, I have never stepped foot in 5 Points, but it was well worth going to enjoy a quaint lunch. 

To end our Saturday, I finally got my Trader Joe's fix. Looks like we will be trying some Trader foods this week.

The Honeymoon Part 2

Between the beach and the pool it was difficult which we liked more. I literally have never seen a pool this large. Let's just say if I ever get a wild hair one day and designed a pool it definitely will have a walk-in area.

It was so much laying out in a lounge chair while also being in the pool.

Thomas can't sit in a lounge chair for long so this "kid" was hilarious to watch.

Here are few more pictures of the honeymoon:

The Honeymoon

The only word I have to sum up our honeymoon is perfect. 

We left on the Monday following our Saturday wedding -- a calculated decision to allow Thomas and I time to "reset" and make sure we had everything we needed for our trip. Thank goodness we had a 24 hour lapse before the trip because I picked up the wrong camera charger from my parent's house and forgot sunscreen. 

After a two and a half hour flight (I love flying -- Thomas, not so much) and a ninety minute car ride we arrived at Sandals Jamaica Whitehouse that afternoon. After checking in, we immediately went to eat a very late lunch (if you know me, you know I get sassy when I'm hungry).

And walked on the beach at sunset. Because we left our house at 5:00 that morning, we literally fell asleep at 7:30 that evening. I know, that's pitiful. 

The service and food were phenomenal. With 7 restaurants we tried a new restaurant every night for dinner. The concierge service was 24 hours that we could call on for anything. I will definitely dive deeper into the honeymoon tomorrow, but I've been telling engaged couples that ask us where we went to go with Sandals Whitehouse -- I highly recommend it! 

A Wife & Newlywed!

It took over a year to plan, but we are married! I can't wait to share pictures from our wedding, reception, and honeymoon. Here is a little teaser:

I also can't wait to share with you the funny and serious moments as a newlywed including learning to cook, days on the horse farm, decorating, trying our hand at DIY projects, gardening, and much more. So follow my story as a new wife -- I hope you enjoy!