Paula Dean..I am Not

I may have that sweet charming Southern accent going for me, but when it comes to cooking that's about all Paula Dean and I have in common. I'm the first to admit, I am no cook. I can cook about 5 things really well and that's where my abilities stop.

I have been branching out a bit and trying some new things, most of which are to no avail. So when I saw this simple recipe for a beef tenderloin with only 3 ingredients (including the meat) I decided to take another lookey. The reviews on the dish were wonderful so I thought I'd give it a try.

On down to the Walmart I go with list in hand. When I couldn't find the cut of meat I should have known this was over my head and too rich for my blood. But feeling ambitious, I high-tailed it to Lowes Foods. Still feeling ambitious even when I couldn't find it amongst the other meats, I decided to go to the meat counter. In my most confident voice I asked Mr. Butcher, "Do you have a beef tenderloin roast...ummm...maybe around 3 pounds or so."

To my delight, he answered yes! SCORE! Well...I guess I was so excited I must not have heard "per pound" when he said "$13.99" As I was busy salivating over this huge chunk of meat, I didn't even notice the price.

I get to the check out and Awww Lawwd, I bout had me a heart attack right there in line:

But it is a nice looking piece of meat, if I do say so myself.
And knowing my limitations, I'm not touching it. This is now the Husband's project. No way, I'm gonna ruin a $50 piece of meat.

Key West...Take Me Away

Hi my blogger lovies. Yes, been gone for awhile. Between being a productive, working member of society and  my dedication to Pirate football, I've been a bit busy. Not to mention my husband's overwhelming demand for perfectly starched laundered shirts. Yes, I know I could just take them to the cleaners but I'm too damn cheap and I've got a vacation to plan. Which is sorta the premise of this blog today. I'm so excited I'm going to Key West in March I could just shout it from the mountain tops...but since I'm no where near a mountain top, I'm just gonna share it all over the land of blog.

And I think this is where I want to stay. Nothing special...small, quaint and they have cocktail recipes painted on the wall.

And this is what I want to do:

http://bestonkeywest.com/dolphin-shipwreck-and-snorkel.html 

Make sure you check out the video.

The rest of the time I just want to plop my ass in chair somewhere and drink myself stupid. Sounds like a perfect vacation to me.

And as an extra bonus my beautiful friend and favorite blogger Kristen of http://kristenlawlor.blogspot.com might be joining.

Throwback Friday

I miss Greenville. I miss college. Plain & simple.

Now that football season is here (Dwayne Harris kicked ass last night, btw)
it makes me think of my college days back at ECU.

This picture was taken at Eastern Street (2001) when we celebrated all of the July bdays.

This also happened to be my 21st. Doesn't seem like it was 10 years ago.

I don't remember a hell of alot of what happened. I do remember us getting a
ticket for noise, making a shit-load of PJ & jello shots. We also walked away
with a couple of extra bucks in our pocket. I still have the t-shirt that was made for me to prove it!

And last but not least, I woke up with dirt in my nose & ears. Bush diving, maybe?

Those were the days & sometimes I long for them again.

But I am proud & blessed to say that most of those peeps are still in my life. And while we are not 21 anymore, we still give it the ole' college try when we get together. Its as if our maturity regresses, along with our tolerance, & we behave as if we were back there on Eastern Street
whipping up a batch of PJ (these days its Sangria) & bonging beers and doing keg stands.

Thank God, its football season. Greenville, here we come!

31 on 31

I just woke up from an amazing nap, still tired, sore and with skinned elbows. Although this doesn't sound like someone who just probably had one of the most amazing birthdays ever, I assure you, I wouldn't want to feel any other way.Tawni, me, Lindsay & Leigh at the Murphy Center overlooking the field

In the past birthdays have never really meant that much to me however, the older I get, the more I cherish the fact that I have lived another year. And I am so fortunate that I have a wonderful husband and friends that help to make this celebration of life better and better each year.

It just so happened that this year the Ladies Pirate Football Clinic was held Saturday, the day before my birthday. So three fabulous ladies joined me in Greenville to run drills in a 110 degree stadium. We were treated to a delicious catered lunch over looking the field and a tour of the weight & training room. The eye candy in there wasn't an awful addition either!

We were able to run out onto the field, like the players, to Purple Haze. We did chants, passed and threw footballs with the QB (yep, Dominique Davis) and tackle those big bags with the Defensive Tackles. Was it hot...hell yes, more than 400 hells. But totally worth it! Just to be on that field with the coaches and players was pure heaven. Everyone was so nice. I was just amazed! I didn't think it was possible to become a bigger ECU fan but by golly, I AM!

The weight room: Click on the pic to enlarge & you can read it. LOVE IT!

With Head Coach Ruffin McNeil all sweaty from "practice."

With some of the first string players. Davis is #4 & OMG #99 is one big ass dude!

Afterwards we headed to Chico's (hands down the best mexican food ever) and had baskets & baskets of chips & salsa. Oh and a craft of sangria too! Then back to Raleigh ...

We headed out to The Big Easy restaurant and over indulged in gumbo and Hurricanes. My awesome husband surprised me with these tasty cupcakes. I usually hate being sang "Happy Birthday" to but these made up for it. I'm pretty sure I squealed and giggled like a little girl. What a way to end a perfect day.

Thank you Dustin for the awesome cupcakes and more importantly the thought and planning that went along with it. You are just too good to me! Also thanks to everyone who came out. I wouldn't want to spend my birthday with anyone else (well Coach Ruff maybe would have made it better)!

Summertime

Happy First Day of Summer. I hope this summer creates magical memories for everyone!

Throwback Friday

In honor of Fan Fest this week in Nashville (insert pouty face here for not being there), I would like to reminisce about my Sugarland weekend

in VA in Summer 2008.

Most of you probably don't know of my love for this duo. Their music speaks volumes to my heart and has got me through some really touch times. I've had the pleasure to meet them several times and Jennifer & Kristian are the nicest people ever. Jennifer even quoted meeting me, in an online interview, that I was one of her "favorite fan moments." Pretty freakin' cool, right. She even remembers my name. HOLLA!

I went up to VA Beach on Friday, laid out at the pool all day & then hit the beach so I could get as close to the stage as possible. Front row...not bad for an hour wait in line. Incredible show as usual.

The next stop was Bristow, VA on Saturday. I stopped by one of my sorority sisters, Lindsey's place, & we proceeded to the venue where we over-indulged in cold bevvies...even peed in the woods.

I met my pal, Annie, the bass player for Sugarland so we could hang out a bit. Annie, at the time, was collecting vintage grape cluster lamps. I actually had one so I boxed it up and met her at will call to give it to her. In appreciation, Annie hooked us up with All-Access passes and some amazing seats. Thanks again, Annie!!

Once again the show was amaze-balls!

Annie Clements & me backstage

Annie in action

I'm really sad I'll be missing their show next week in NC. Bummed, really.

If you haven't seen Sugarland live, its a MUST. Best show ever & you won't regret it...promise!

Throwback Friday

Throwback Friday is back!
And talk about this week's Blast from the Past!
Now that summer is pratically here, it always makes me think about the summer's of my childhood, teenage & college years.
This week's installment is dedicated to my childhood and highschool BFFs.

We were inseparable. And could cause some major trouble when we were together.

This was taken at Myrtle Beach, in 1998, before all of us went off to college.
I was the only one who went to ECU so it was so special to spend one last weekend with my "sisters." I remember this trip very fondly.
We had a great time sneaking into clubs, meeting boys, watching the sun come up over the ocean while contemplating life, and who could forget trying to find Krista who went MIA the last night we were there.

Over the years, we have drifted apart and are not as close as we once were.
However, I can say that I love these girls like I always have and I miss them.

Hopefully, we can all get back to MB and try to relive that weekend...well almost...I don't think our husbands would appreciate us meeting boys.

Love you, ladies!

Krista, Janet, myself, & Hope
Myrtle Beach, SC 1998