Double Date Night

Tonight Blaine and I had dinner with my adopted niece, Kelly, and her feller Eric.

I had a great time. I also drank a margarita. I don't normally drink. I'm usually the designated driver! Tonight Blaine was driving, so I felt comfortable having ONE!

While we were out, we saw some of my other friends. I always love seeing people I know!

I'm also posting this from the blogger app on my phone. I wanted to see how it would do.

"There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it." — Chinese Proverbs

 Some of my favorite pictures, in no particular order, from 2012....

Last year I made two resolutions:
Drink more water, I did it, gonna try to drink even more!
Exercise more, I started water aerobics, gonna try and stick with it!

Once again I remember my momma.
It feels like it's been forever since I spoke with her.
Eleven years feels like more.
I find myself thinking about her more as I get older.

She enters my thoughts often while I'm cooking. Maybe that's why I cook more? I feel closer to her in my kitchen.
I still miss her. It doesn't hurt as much, but the hole is still there.

To be an ideal guest, stay at home. E. W. Howe

 I see a change. More changes than can be seen in a picture.

How much will life have changed this time next year?

Good or bad. We know it will change.

Some changes we have some control, most changes we have none.

Most changes come with no warning or directions.

Happy New Year!

p.s. I don't know why the text is above the pictures.

Picture #620

 

Picture #62

I'm still here.

 I know y'all think I've quit.

I haven't.

I swear it's the iPads fault.

So much has happened.

I've been to Nashville, Mexico, Greers Ferry.

I've been (and still am) sick.

I started smoking again.

I've quit smoking again.

I had about six inches cut off my hair.

I've been going to water aerobics.

I finally saw a number in the 240's when weighing. Although I'm consistently weighing in the 250's.

Steroids make me channel the devil and try to eat the house.

I'll try to do bettter. Maybe someday I'll post all the pictures I've taken.

How's your life?

Flying by the seat of my pants!

My hat from In-N-Out!

This has been a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda week! Monday our Assistant Principal came in and asked if I thought Blaine would be willing to go to Dallas for a math conference on Wednesday. I asked "next Wednesday?" Nope, she meant in two days Wednesday!

Wow! I booked flights, got the hotel reservations switched, and started freaking out. But it all worked out fine.

Our hotel had a slide on every floor! It was awesome. We were near main street and some really cool restaurants. I know the waiters thought we were weird, we had to ask for separate checks every time!

Blaine took a walk and visited Dealy Plaza where the JFK assassination took place. The rest of the time he was in meetings.

I posted on facebook that we were in Dallas and a college classmate messaged me about dinner! How exciting and we had a blast. After dinner we stopped by Wal-Mart! We don't go out of town that we don't go there HA!

Dinner at Razoo's!

Suzette and her hubby Brian

I loved visiting with Suzette and her husband!

One of my all-time favorite pics of Blaine and me!

And I begged to go to an In-and Out Burger! I got a cheeseburger "Animal Style" and some fries. Perfect late night snack, if you're in college.

We left on Friday morning. I was sitting on the floor in the Dallas Love airport and saw a guy with dreads walk by. I immediately starting posting on facebook "I think I just saw a guy from American Idol!" Figured out his name was Jason Castro and told Blaine who I'd seen.

Blaine went and found him and asked if he'd be willing to have his picture made with me! I have an AWESOME husband! Jason was super nice!

Jason Castro was such a good sport. I immediately downloaded a song of his on iTunes!

Once we landed in Little Rock, we stopped at a place called Cotham's Merchantile. It was featured on "Man vs. Food" and we wanted to try it. The hamburger was HUGE and the fried green tomatoes yummy!

On the way home, we came to a DEAD STOP on I40 East. I noticed a persimmon tree loaded with fruit. Blaine couldn't believe I actually hopped out of the car and picked some!

NO, I did NOT eat any of them!

We finally made it back home and I immediately started getting ready for a mini-reunion my high school class was having. We went to a football game and then had a bonfire. I had a great time just hanging out.

While at the game, I got to visit with a classmate from college. I hate that I didn't get a picture with her! Love ya Deborah!

I'll leave you with a few extra pictures that got uploaded today:

feeding Kenya the giraffe at the Memphis Zoo

a lovely lioness

my beautiful friend Kissy

and Sweetie Pie Eli, he sure did love the blue icing!

Have a great week!

~Robin

"Time and Tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of thirty..." - Robert Frost

 It's been a wonderful day! From the very beginning, to right this very minute!

Blaine brought my fancy wrapped presents to school!

Inside was a beautiful Vera Bradley bag (or as Blaine calls it a Vera Wang!) and some Calvin Klein Euphoria perfume, lotion, body wash, and cute little bag!

My work Bestie, Tona, brought me this bag. Took me a few minutes to even look inside the bag!

She brought me this cute bag! I love it!

Some of the students came and sang Happy Birthday and brought me birthday cards they had colored. It really made my day! They were more excited it was my birthday than I was and I was pretty excited!

I love that one of them says "Happy 22nd Birthday!"

My friend Pam sent me these beautiful flowers (which I've already planted, before the rains came!) and a loaf of fresh baked bread!

I also received some great cards and other gifts. But, it isn't all about the presents. Just reading all the birthday wishes on facebook and having everybody tell me happy birthday was a blessing. It's a wonderful thing to feel so loved!

We were going to go to a fancy EYE-talian restaurant for dinner. I got all gussied up, put on make-up and fixed my hair. On the way to the restaurant I called to see if we needed reservations and they told me they were closed for a party. I was seriously bummed for about five minutes. Then we decided to head to Paulette's down by the river and ate some fru-fru fancy food. It was good, but spending time with Blaine was the best thing.

After dinner we went down and just watched the river and a storm front moving in. We decided to head home and now we're going to go spend some more time together and listen to the rain.

I love my husband. I love my job. I love my life. And I love all of you!

Thanks for one of my best birthdays EVER! I look forward to as many more as I'm blessed to have!

~Robin

It’s so beautifully arranged on the plate – you know someone’s fingers have been all over it. -Julia Child

I don't know what it is, but since I've gotten my band, I really enjoy cooking. Don't misunderstand, I'm still feeding Blaine stuff out of bags and boxes, because sometimes that's just the easiest and quickest thing to do.

But, I like finding a recipe we both like and making it. Maybe it's because I want better food, instead of larger quantities. Maybe it's because he so appreciative of me taking the time to make him some love-filled food.

I'm a much pickier eater now. Maybe it's because I am doing better at keeping the dishes washed and the kitchen clean. Not good, just better. I still don't like doing it. But to cook, you go through ALL the pots, pans, and bowls!

Today we went to Sam's and bought some crab cakes. I'm not ready to make those yet! I decided I wanted some remoulade sauce to go with them. I found this recipe online at Easy Remoulade Sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions, white and green parts
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped sweet pickles
• dash garlic powder
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon or Creole mustard
• few drops Worcestershire sauce
• pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to blend flavors and chill.
Makes about 1 cup sauce. Good with crab cakes, fish, fried seafood, etc..

I used parsley and green onions out of the pots on the front porch. I don't think I actually "measured" anything. I did add some horseradish for a little 'kick.'

I put it all in my tiny food processor and blended the crap out of it! I actually forgot to put any pepper in. I liked the sauce better than the crab cakes. I won't be buying them again. I will continue to be on the lookout for a good frozen crab cake. Someday, I'll bite the bullet and make my own.

 The picture is a little blurry and I'm not a big fan of the iPhone 3GS when it comes to photos. I still miss my Blackberry Torch. It took the best pictures! I'll get a new phone someday soon (when they cost $1!)

Blaine was still hungry about two hours later. We went to Sonic and ordered him a Jr. Deluxe Cheeseburger. Tell me why the menu board said the burger was $1.49 and they charged us $1.19 for a burger plus $.50 for cheese?

I believe I will find the email to Sonic and ask them the same question. I will include this picture and one of our receipt. I know it's only $.20 (why don't I have a cent sign on my keyboard?) But they need to get it right!

What would you do?

~Robin