Darren and Brittany came into Madison a couple of weekends ago to visit and explore Downtown Madison with us.
After lots of speculation of where we should take them and what we should do, I made reservations at the Comedy Club and we planned on having dinner at The Old Fashioned.
Being the Old Fashioned, there was an hour an a half wait and we had to be at the Comedy Club in about two, so we explored State St. and walked into Tutto Pasta. It was yummy, delicious, and there was no wait. Fine by us!
Throughout dinner, I knew of Darren's and Brittany's secret idea. They had started to plan their destination wedding and Darren wanted to specially ask Matt to be a groomsman.
We needed to get to a bar, find some Smirnoff Ice, and get out our cell phones to get it on camera.
After dinner, we walked into an Irish pub and waited for D to order the drink. Of course, just our luck, they didn't carry Smirnoff Ice and Darren had order another girly drink for Matt instead.
After we took a couple shots of Jamison, Darren handed Matt the hardcider and a special card that said....
Matt read the card, kneeled down on one knee, and chugged the cider for Darren.
A true bromance.
Yes, I'll be your groomsman!
After I asked a million questions about the wedding (you know me... I LOVE WEDDINGS!), we went to the comedy club for lots of laughs and more drinkies.
Drinking yummy frozen drinks preparing for our destination trip!
Following the comedy club, we headed to Merchant for more fun and yummy craft cocktails.
Thanks to Daylight Savings time, we stayed out until technically three, grabbed Taco Bell, and headed home.
At home, we decided that since Matt didn't have a Smirnoff Ice at the bar, he should chug another girly cider.
Okay! Why not?
Another one?!
Do it!
Do it!
This is when Matt got his genius idea.
He walked into the other room and came back into the kitchen to chug another cider on one knee.
Except this time ----
I'll leave it for your imagine.
We stayed up until 5:30 in the morning playing games and eating Taco Bell.
Who knew we could still stay up that late!?!?
It shocked the hell out of us.
Don't worry, though. We felt it the next day.
NOW THE WEDDING.....
EEEKKK!!
April 9th - 14th = Matt, all of his bestest friends, and I in Riviera Maya, Mexico for the Wilkinson/Ebany Wedding!
For those of you who don't remember or didn't know-- Our honeymoon was the first time I had ever seen the ocean.
Looking at the ocean for the first time ever
I was like a kid on Christmas morning.
Standing on the beach for the first time ever in Turks and Caicos.
It was simply amazing.
Matt and I loved the beach life. Piña Coladas with breakfast, the sounds of the waves all day long, Caribbean music in the background, no schedules, no phones...
Oh-- it was just bliss.
And Riviera Maya, Mexico is going to be absolutely amazing, too!
Ah! I can't wait.
149 Days until we're on the beach!!!!!!!
151 days until the wedding!!!!!!
Don't worry D and Brit, I'm counting down for you!
Its ridiculous to even consider that any of you would be interested in my cat's haircut, an old childhood bed, cleaning out a garage, or a celebration banner for Matt's promotion.
I mean, seriously, how crazy and narcissistic can I get?
Anyways, if you're at all interested ---- Keep reading.
Otherwise skip to the next one.
Update Number One -- Ernie gets a haircut.
Ernie has now gotten to the point of being so fat that he can't bathe himself properly.
In result (due to him being unable to lick his lower back and the horrible cat owners we've been by not giving him a weekly brush), he had huge furball clumps near his tail that were unrepairable without a trained groomer.
We took him to the vet for a little haircut.
I think he looks like a cute little confused poodle.
Matt think it looks like he has leprosy.
He doesn't seem to mind too much.
Update Number Two -- Our spare bedroom has a bed!
This has taken like seriously.... four years. Since Matt and I moved in together, our spare bedrooms were always an extra large storage closet. Well now -- that's changed! My parents have graciously given us their [my old childhood] futon bunkbed. It goes perfectly in our bedroom and the futon folds out, so our visitors have a place to sleep - other than on the pullout in the basement. Classy, huh?
No surprise here -- Ernie and Lulu have taken ownership of the bed (as all of their cat stuff and toys are in the spare bedroom as well) and they love it.
Ernie loves the futon.
Lulu loves the top bunk -- yes, she jumps up there (from her cat climb nearby)
Can you see Lulu's little ears in the top left?
Clearly, they love the bed as much as we do.
Update Number Three -- We've officially prepped for Winter
My pretty new patio furniture and decor that we bought in May has been stored in the garage/basement
Patio from this past May.
Now its packed away for the Winter...
Today was such a beautiful day that we figured we should do it before it gets too cold. Along with packing up the patio, we cleaned out the garage and threw all the junk away we accumulated over the summer. I love decluttering!
Now we're ready for WINTER!!
(Wouldn't a big pretty Christmas tree go perfect right in the middle??)
Update Number Four -- Matt's celebrated promotion.
Matt has officially started his new job.
Completed with a sweet new schedule, a fancy new laptop, an AmFam company credit card, and plans to travel for business in the near future (I don't like that part...)
On Friday, I saw this huge "Welcome banner" hanging over his new desk.
I'm so proud of him.
My next post will include a fun night out on the town with long time friends and a vacation to Riviara Maya, Mexico in April!
I need everyone to remember that only seven months ago, I was "cooking" boxed dinners, frozen pizzas, and mac and cheese....
From super amazing cookbooks, thefresh20.com, the help of my family, and the patience of my husband, I'm proud to say that I've almost mastered the art of cooking. Six months ago, it seemed like a task and now I actually enjoy it. After a long day at work, I pour myself a glass of wine, turn on the Rat Pack station on Pandora and chop/cook away. Its actually turned into the best part of my day. About one month into marriage, I made a deal with Matt that I will make fresh homemade meals every single night if he keeps the computer and TV off, his cell phone in the other room, and spends real genuine time with me while I cook in the kitchen.
This is the best deal I have ever made.
At one point, TV, cell phones, and the computer seemed to kill our close relationship. We would come home from work, turn on the electronics and barely talk. With this "deal" we made together, we are able to talk about each other's day, spend quality time together, and sometimes I even have a special assistant [Matt] to help with the cooking (I'm a lucky gal).
I seriously don't know what I'd do without my family. In the process of learning how to cook, they were the only one I could call with ridiculously embarrassing questions. Questions like: "Where do I find molasses?" "What is quinoa?" "What's the deal with stuffing?? Do you actually put it in the bird?" I know I can always rely on help in the kitchen (even if its through a phone conversation) from my parents and sister, but only after hearing laughs at my silly questions. "So, um, Jaclyn..... you're supposed to cook the chicken on its back..... not stomach." Thanks Dad. I promise I won't cook the turkey on its tummy this time.
For the past two months, Matt and I have only been eating vegetarian. I had finally convinced Matt to eat only vegetarian with me at home if we could eat whatever we wanted we went out to eat. I purchased "One Dish Vegetarian Meals" by Robin Robertson and shocked Matt (and even myself) at how tasty vegetarian meals could be. By meal planning from this cookbook, I have managed to save money and eat more healthy. It amazing how much less expensive your grocery bill is without buying chicken, ground beef, pork, and seafood.
Like promised, we have not been strictly vegetarian and my plan was never to eliminate meat completely. When we do go out to eat (which is very rare), we will order cheeseburgers, steaks, or whatever we want. Personally, I think this is the best of both worlds.
I hate handling raw food.
Hate.
Hate.
Hate.
It grosses me out and typically I pass on the task to Matt when I can't handle it anymore. By only eating meat at restaurants, this eliminates the need.
I never want Matt and I (or our future children) to eat with meat being the main dish. And these are my beliefs, so please do not get offended, but in other countries and 80 years ago, meat was never, ever, ever the main dish. If anything it was an appreciated(not necessary) side to add more flavor to the dish. I wanted to go back to this. I wanted the main dish to be vegetables, whole grains, or fruit with a little dairy and a smaller portion of meat. In fact, the entire "food pyramid" has changed recently to suggest this.
By cooking vegetarian 90% of the time and eating cheeseburgers at restaurants 10% of the time, I feel as though Matt and I are eating more healthy and still maintaining some "wiggle room" for our cravings.
Now Thanksgiving is a total and complete exception. Matt laid out the ground rules when we decided to cook only vegetarian. "I will eat turkey on Thanksgiving and ham on Easter." "I will cook out in the summer."
Deal.
Around the same time of deciding to cook only vegetarian, I also volunteered to host Thanksgiving at our house this year. Knowing fully well that I would need to learn how to cook a turkey, I welcomed the challenge with open arms. (I told my father in law that we'd make him a tofu turkey and he did not welcome the idea). I decided that I should practice cooking the bird before Thanksgiving so this didn't happen....
(at the 1:45 mark)
So I searched recipes on Allrecipes.com and picked the most famous and highest rated turkey recipe on the website. I added my own little zest to the recipe and was thrilled with the results!
We bought a little 10 pounder turkey (on Thanksgiving it will 20 lbs!) and let it thaw in the fridge for two days.
Matt had to handle the initial bloody juices, giblets, neck, and other nasty things.
After I took a look, I ran out the kitchen and up the stairs to save myself from getting sick.
I eventually built up enough courage to handle the dead turkey and its nasty rawness to practice for Thanksgiving.
Referring to the recipe on allrecipes.com
Poor little turkey.
"Take a picture of me pretending to clean the bird (even though you already did, cause I'm a baby)".
My special assistant in the kitchen
Don't worry, I used two sticks of butter on the bird. Yummmmmm.
Still buttering....
"I always give my bird a generous butter massage before I put it in the oven. Why? Because I think the chicken likes it -- and, more important, I like to give it." -Julia Child
Onion and Lemon in the cavity
Matt being a chef
Before it went in the oven
Proud cook.
Cooking time
Basting the bird
Look at that beauty.
Matt sure approved of it.
I'm so happy I have taught myself how to cook. I'm sure Matt is as well. One of my favorite movies is Julie and Julia (after all -- it involves cooking and blogging). After watching it reently, it has made me consider and question if I - as well - could cook through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Julia Childs. I'm sure Matt would welcome the idea.
Maybe I'll attempt it one day. We'll just have to see.
One things is for sure. The turkey was delicious. Very moist and absolutely fab. I had a couple bites but let Matt enjoy the rest (and he has all week). I used to be a 100% meat lover and I was surprised at how much I wasn't tempted to eat the turkey. A few bites were good enough for me. Vegetarianism has definitely changed me. And don't worry, I replaced my meal with wine.
I am now going to be focusing on practicing all my side dishes before Thanksgiving. One dish at a time. I've asked around, gotten opinions, and researched yummy sides for a Thanksgiving meal but I'm still looking for ideas. What is your favorite side dish? I'd love all of your opinions!
“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”
