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Monday, February 25, 2013

Menu Monday

Linking up with Rachel today for Menu Monday! Here's some yummy goodness we've been whipping up over at the Brooks casa.

-Turkey Reubens: We used thick sliced sourdough for these paninis and topped it with turkey, Swiss, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, and a little mustard for dipping. It's the perfect tangy combo.


-Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Dipping Sauce: These were super tasty. The dipping sauce was simple and was the perfect compliment to the shrimp. We served them with brown rice that we jazzed up with some sautéed onions, mushrooms, and soy sauce. Next time, I'll spray the shrimp with an olive oil spritz or drizzle with a little butter just to help the shrimp brown up a little more.



-Southwest BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad: This is probably my favorite salad combo. Chopped iceberg, red pepper, cucumber, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and grilled chicken tossed with a little sweet and spicy barbecue sauce and ranch dressing. Sprinkle some tortilla crumbles in top, and you've got yourself a dinner worthy salad.



-Low Country Boil: Shrimp, potatoes, and corn on the cob boiled in some Zatarains boil mix. Yum.


-Shake N Bake Chicken Parm: I've had a box of Parmesan Shake N Bake in the pantry for a while, so it was time to use it up. I was planning to just bake it and serve with roasted potatoes and green beans, but there was a recipe suggestion on the box for chicken parm and we had all the ingredients, so we went with it. It was really yummy and much lighter than your typical fried chicken parm.


We've got another yummy week planned! What's cookin' at your house?

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Mommy Guilt

It comes in all forms. We feel it for many things:

Breast feeding didn't work for us.

I work full time and my baby's in daycare.

Sometimes I turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to get a few minutes to myself.

All things we feel guilty about, but definitely shouldn't.

My newest mommy guilt obsession
- the gym.

I need to work out. NEED to. And, for maybe the first time in my life, I actually want to. Here's the problem...I feel bad about going to the gym after work. I feel bad that E has been in school all day and then I leave her right after we get home.

She's fine. Daddy takes super good care of her and she thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. Buddy keeps her pretty entertained too. They're all fine. It's me. I'm the one with the issues.

So, I'm just going to do it. I'm going to go work out and I'm going to feel really terrible about it for a week or so. Then I'll get over it just like I've gotten over all my other mommy guilt issues.

Anybody else in the same boat?

Friday, February 22, 2013

SUYL - My Favorite Photos

I'm linking up today with Kelly's Korner and her Show Us Your Life series to share some of my favorite pictures. I am a serious picture taker. Serious. We're talking 400-500 photos a month that I'm uploading to Shutterfly. I obviously take lots of pics with my phone because it's handy, but I've also been taking a fair share of pics with the DSLR I got right before Ellison was born. I'm still learning things about my big Canon, but it takes really great shots even with an amateur like me behind the lens. My subject of choice, for the last 6 months at least, has been my Ellie Belle.

While I love taking photos of my family, I still definitely call on a real photographer for life's big events! Here are a few of my favorite poses and shots taken by professionals from the last few years...

**Warning: This is a big time photo heavy post.  If you have no interest, you have my permission to move along now.** :-)

Our Engagement Photos - Freedom Park, Charlotte - Photos by Tim Dennis Photography:






 
Bridal Portraits - The Duke Mansion, Charlotte - Photos by Tim Dennis Photography:
 






 

Wedding Day - Our House, Residence Inn Uptown, The Belk Chapel at Queens University, Roof With A View, Charlotte - Photos by Tim Dennis Photography:
 











 












 





 






 



















 

 
 
Soon after our wedding, our photographer started focusing on landscape photography.  Good for him...sad for us!  So, we found someone new to capture our moments...

Baby Makes Three - Freedom Park, Our House, Charlotte - Photos by JP Soto: