It's what's for dinner again...

So, my awesome sisters Rockle and J got us this awesome cookbook for Christmas. It is called "It's not your mother's slow cooker: Slow cooker recipes for two" and it is awesome!

It took us until yesterday to open up our cookbooks, but when we did, it was like hitting the jackpot in the casinos. Well, to me it is anyway. So, anyway since Hubby starts work on Monday and all week will be my responsibility to cook, I started today. I am making slow cooker lasagna, and I can't wait to taste it. I am sure it will not be like the Hubby's cooking, but hey, we all can't be Italian and gourmet chefs right? I will update you with how it turns out...hopefully we will both enjoy dinner!

****addendum: Well, I guess the lasagna turned out OK. I burnt it, not sure how, but hubs being the trooper he is ate it and said he enjoyed it. I have no idea how I burnt it, but next time I guess I should cook it for less time. Hopefully, this is not going to be a trend with using this cookbook.
****addendum2: Ok, so I was correct by my sister J, this cook book was from Rockle (sorry R) and J got us the Joy of Cooking, which is ANOTHER cookbook I will be busting out soon!

It's what's for dinner...

So, a friend of mine got us this awesome cook book for a wedding present,

and for some reason Penguin and I never used it. That is until today. With the forecast predicting snow, I thought it was a soup day, and Penguin went a long with it. Let me just tell you that this book did not disappoint in any way shape or form. So, what was on the menu you ask. Well of course let me tell you. "Red Lobster" Clam Chowder and "Red Lobster" Cheddar Biscuits.

I know that the biscuits do not look like the ones you will find at Red Lobster, but Penguin and I will agree that they tasted like the ones you will get there. Actually, Penguin told me he wants to make them with every meal. Maybe that can be arranged, after all I only go to Red Lobster for the biscuits! My awesome sisters got us a slow cooker cookbook which will be utilized for the first time this upcoming week. See, Penguin does all the cooking in our house, but he starts work on Monday! Finally, he is going to be going back to work. Anyway, he will be working from 8-430 for at least the next week, and it will take about 30-45 minutes to get home. So, if I want to eat before work I will have to cook. Yes you read that right, IHAVETOCOOK! So, I will load up the slow cooker with all the ingredients and hopefully wake up to a delicious meal, and who knows, maybe Cheddar Biscuits will be served. Stay tuned for more adventures in cooking, hopefully no one gets sick in the week to come.

It's Time to Start Training

Yep, that means me. As you may or may not know, I joined a gym. I came up with lots of excuses not too, but honestly, I needed to. Anyway, today in the mail I got this magazine that is from where I work. I don't usually read it, but today I did. Am I glad. See, in the Check Up Magazine they talk about a Marathon sponsored by where I work. No, I don't plan on running the marathon, but they also offer a 5K walk. That is what I want to do. Going to the gym has some added bonus. On top of that, I also received another magazine from where I work (yes, I usually throw this one out too) and in it is a class call First Strides. The purpose of this group is to get women to start fitness walking or running with the ultimate goal of participating in a women's 5K. I DO eventually want to be able to run in a 5K, but if I start my goals off with walking in one at least I know I am going in the right steps. Now, First Strides does not start until the end of March, but in the mean time, I can use my gym time to get started on training. Hopefully, this is one thing I will follow through on. Now, if only I knew someone that could help me find proper shoes?!

Giveaway

Here's your chance to win traditional General Mills cereal in retro boxes, and even a chance to win an Atari. Yep, you read that correctly and atari. Go on over to ChcknPink and enter your chance to win!

Valentine's Day Recap

So, I know I have been off of this for a little while, but I thought I would finally let you in on what we did for Valentine's Day. So, the big secret was that Penguin and I had Valentine's Dinner at Iron Pigs stadium. It was really cool, we had dinner on the box level and even got to walk around a little bit. Penguin and I sat on the first base line, we each ate our respective choice meals, and dinner was concluded with chocolate covered strawberries. It was really nice, and we are looking forward to cashing in our ticket vouchers so that we can enjoy a day in Iron Pigs stadium.

I just thought this was cool. Each star had the name of a Pig who went to the Big league.


This is JA Happ's star. I didn't realize he was in the big leagues for almost 2 years!










Finally, here is a picture of Penguin and I in our best Valentine's Day dress!

Happy Valentine's Day!

So, hubs and I are will be off to my top secret Valentine's Day surprise later this evening, but to start off my day I wanted to share with you the loot I made out with from my friend's Swap. Thanks to my awesome Swap friend Kim, you made my day!

Apparently, Kim knows me very well, even from the little information about myself that I gave her. See, look here. Here are the final pics of the wonderful gifts she gave me.

I'm Dreaming of a white Christmas...

Wait, what?!? No wait, it's February. I guess it should say, I'm Dreaming of a White Valentine's Day. Anyway, here are some pics of the snowpalooza here at the Igloo. Apparently, it will continue until 10pm with a brief stoppage. More snow on Monday to come? Where on earth are we going to put it? Did I move to Alaska and not know it?!

This is on our deck. You wouldn't know we have a roof on it? Glad Penguin only goes out here to smoke!
This a close up of the first picture. It is a tree across the courtyard. I just thought it was really cool that you can see the accumulation on the tree.

Another giveaway

Ok, so yes, I did just say that I don't usually blog about giveaways, but twice in one day. But..this one is for Fitness magazine. Go to this blog, and if you are the lucky winner you will win a subscription to this magazine!

Give away time!

I don't often blog about other giveaways, but this one I want to share. My blog "friend" Kristen is giving away an awesome cupcake book, so I thought I would share this opportunity with you. So, go over to her blog and enter for your chance to win this fab book!

First Major Snowstorm

At 0300 this morning, I took the dogs outside. After that I made this little video...ENJOY! I hope you enjoy. Sorry that it is not in this blog, I have no idea how to put the video in my blog. I have no idea how much snow accumulated, but all I have to say is that it was absolutely beautiful!

Ground Hog Day!

So, even though the Groundhog saw his shadow, I knew we were still in store for more "winterness." I am not complaining, trust me...this is one of the reasons that I moved back home, however, I am still getting ready for the spring and summer. More so summer, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. So, since the beginning of the month, (yes, I know it's only day 2, but wait hear me out) I promised myself and our four-legged babies that we would spend some more bonding time. So, I have started taking them on longer walks, and yes I braved them both at one time. More on that later. Anyway, we not only went on one walk today, but we went on 2, and it felt great! I am going to try to give them 2 walks a day and then slowly begin to increase the distance. This is how I did it before the wedding, and I will continue to do it now. Hopefully by spring one of these walks can be a run for me. That is my goal anyway. Hubs also surprised me today and asked about joining a gym. I don't know how serious he is, but I am going to shop around. I know there are 2 gyms at work that I can go to that I can get reimbursed for using, one has a pool and one does not. But I also need convenience. I need a gym close to where I am so that I don't come up with excuses not to go. Maybe I will just continue to search around for now.
Oh, and yes, it is snowing, and I have no idea how much we are supposed to get. I don't keep up with the news that way. Either way, the dogs and I did enjoy our walk and took it rather slowly. Apparently I had no idea that we really were going to get the snow. Hopefully, I can go out tomorrow with my boots on and continue our walking! Be careful out there!