Till Then Smile Often

Rest and Relax

I am going to try and keep this short because while I got a lot done I didn’t take a ton of pictures because I really did get a lot of relaxing done, along with a lot of other chores done too. I also started to feel really bad on Sunday so more than likely I am at the Doctor’s trying to figure out while my virus from last month won’t go away and got worse.

Friday: After work I came home and took Seamus for a walk, after he spilled all his food on the floor. Think he was excited. I noticed this bird has built it’s nest in one of the trees right by the door. It turns it eye to me whenever I come home and the nest is just big enough for it to sit, so precious. I also picked up some Raz-Ber-ritas.

Friday
 

Saturday: I spent the morning reading, cleaning my spare bedroom, snuggling with Seamus and doing chores. This counts as my Picture Practice Close-up prompt since he was all up in my face! 😉

I had put a bucket in the spare room with some odds and ends when I re-decorated my office and I had yet to go through it. Most of it was photos, old cards and letters from friends, and computer equipment. Then I found this gem of an old Christmas list. I believe it was a year or two out of college and I obnoxiously was into a lot of philosophy books. Clearly I was a little obsessed, I don’t know what I was thinking because my Dad would never buy me books. I think he got me a gift card to Barnes and Noble so I got a lot of them. I have read all of those on the list and still have a few of them too. I think i was trying to “find myself”. If only I could slap my younger self. Haha!

 

Saturday
 

See that face? How can I ever say no to that face? I can’t. I took him on a 3.7 mile walk so he was a tired little bugger after, success.

 

Sunday: I was reading my book and Seamus wanted to snuggle instead. I finished the book and then did some more cleaning. I had a lot of yard work to do so I raked, put down some soil and grass seed. I still have a lot more work to do but it was a good start. After a trip to the grocery store I worked on the Spanakopita recipe and it came out perfectly. I figured out why it wasn’t working, it need more cheese. Duh?! The ratio of spinach to feta was making it dry and let flavorful. I’ll be sharing the recipe tomorrow.

 

Sunday
I started to feel really sick with a fever, muscle aches and the cough was getting very bad. I ended up passing out for an hour and a half. I didn’t really feel like doing anything so I watched some Hallmark movies in between naps.

How was your weekend?

 

 
Linking up with Leeann from Join the Gossip and with Kelli from She Crab Soup


 

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Aussie Flair

Happy Friday! I am excited for this weekend since I have no plans. I am hoping to get some spring cleaning done and some yard work but I also want to get caught up on some reading too. You know the usual.

I am hoping I can get a post up today. My internet was down for most of the night. I had to skip a few things due to time so don’t mind if it is a little sparse today.

 

 Favorite Movie: I am not sure why I remember this movie especially since I was so young when it came out but I watched it while typing up this post. Holy crazy bad acting, weird sound effects and BMX has come a long way since then but I think this is what really made me love accents as a kid. The Aussie accent especially. Besides this was Kidman’s first movie, anyone else remember her with the crazy curls?


From iMDB: Two BMX expert bikers and a friend of theirs (Kidman) become entangled with a group of bank robbers after discovering a carton of walkie-talkies.

Favorite Song: I thought this went perfectly with yesterday’s post and showing some soldier love. Soldier’s of America by Madison Rising.

 

Favorite Book: I read 2 books and this one was slightly better then the other since the ending on the other one was cute but I dislike when the timetable for romances are off. So this one edged it out for the favorite this week. It was light and fun, a quick read and as a bonus their is a recipe for the Bing Cherry Pie mentioned in the book that of course I will have to try out!

 

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From Goodreads: Montana real estate agent Quint McCoy will tell you that the most important thing is location, location, location. It’s a lesson he learns all too well when he goes incommunicado for a four-week fishing trip to Alaska. While he’s away, his mother Molly turns his office into the pie shop she has always dreamed of, Big Sky Pie. But that’s not the only surprise in store for him.

On her way out of town, Callee McCoy only wants to say a fond farewell to her beloved mother-in-law. But Molly soon persuades Callee to stay and lend a hand at the new shop, even if it means heating up the kitchen with her soon-to-be ex. As Callee and Quint rediscover their recipe for love, they realize that some couples are so sinfully good together that one delectable taste is never enough . . .

 

Favorite Funnies:

Why is it when I finish getting ready I feel like this:

Then midway through the day I look like this:

JOKER
 

 So I have been waxing my own eyebrows since I was 12 years old. First with the microwavable wax and not with the salon version home kit. So I did mine the other day and I was looking in the mirror and I legit had this voice in my head. I know sometimes I crack myself up.

do i make u horny baby? do i?
 This week I have been getting to bed late (possibly reading) and getting up early (most definitely Seamus) which has made me extremely tired the last few days so this is how I feel.

 

Now excuse me while I get in touch with tech support to fix my internet.

 

Hope you have a great weekend!

 

 

Meet At The Barre
 
 
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Another Year Older {Giveaway}

Celebrate Shane’s Birthday with one big giveaway! Seven winners so enter away! Good luck!

 

Go to college they said, it’ll be fun they said! This is what a girl who’s not ready to turn 22 looks like. I am so not ready to graduate! To lessen the blow a bit, 28 of my favorite bloggers have generously teamed up to celebrate with over $700 in prizes! My birthday isn’t until May 6, but I got so excited putting this together (10 hours later) that it just had to go live today! Plus I’ll be busy preparing for Cinco de Drinko all weekend. Let’s see if we can top last years’ Cheers to 21 Years!

 

 

 


Beanie c/o Yellow Spot Designs. Go check her out and use code: Sweetnothings for 15% off!


Alisha / Chantilly / Whitney / Megan / Emma / Amy / Allison / Gentri / Emily 
 


Amy / Sydney / Cayli / Kelly / Jenn / Alex / Marquis / Kathryn / Nay
 


Brooke / Kerry / Emily / Linda / Rachael / Chelsea / Ashley / Brianna / Noor / Kate
 

 


Here’s the deal: Not one, but SEVEN lucky ladies will win a prize package. Take a look below, there is something everyone is bound to love!
 


Basic Biotch
 

 

 

$60 Target + $30 Starbucks


Fierce Fashionista
Jewelry + handbag
 
Bookworm
Eleanor and Park, The fault in our stars, The language of flowers, Right before your eyes + Custom hoop design
Music
Online music lesson + $15 iTunes + $10 TCBY
Beauty Maven

 


$25 Ulta + 3 months Birchbox + Keratin Treatment
 

 


Blogger Shot  Caller
 


 Custom bloger premim design + $35 Paypal Cash
 



 


Blog so hard
 


3 months large ad Gentri Lee + $30 Olive & Ivy Designs + $15 Clarke Creative 
 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For Those You’ve Loved and Lost – Uncovering a Hero

What do you know it rained again all week (well just about), so this week I had to improvise again at the last minute for this weeks Be The Change Act. I can’t tell you how happy that made me, because this one really touched my heart.

With all the rain, came the wind and it apparently blew a good amount of trash over into the cemetery a few blocks from my house. It made me sad because I can only imagine a loved one coming by to pay their respects and seeing the trash around them. So after taking Seamus for a walk I grabbed a trash bag and a pair of heavy duty construction gloves I use for yard work, I walked back over to the cemetery to clean it up. I tried to be very respectful (catholic guilt) when walking around.

Picking Up Trash - Random Acts Of Kindness
As I was picking up the trash I noticed a plaque that was a little covered up, almost completely but then I caught World War in the center. I started peeling away the thick layer of grass and wiping away the mud thanks to the rain pouring down and uncovered a WWII vet’s plaque.

Picking Up Trash - Random Acts Of Kindness
At first it angered me, and then it brought me to tears. I have a very soft spot in my heart for veterans. After all my father is a Vietnam Veteran. He even made us stand with our hand over our heart whenever the national anthem was on the T.V., to this day it still makes me cry listening to the anthem knowing all that it stands for, all those who fought, and the wounds (seen and unseen) that they come home with when its over.

 

I began to pull harder and even used my bare hands to remove all the grass and dirt I could to reveal his plaque and I though to myself, this is why I am here. This is why it rained again, so I had to do this act. Yes, it may just be picking up trash but I also got to uncover an almost completely covered plaque for a hero. I said a prayer to him and thanked him for his service. Regardless of what you believe, today I felt grateful for at least in this moment he was not forgotten, he was honored even if just by me, and hopefully now by all of you who are reading.

 

  I am so grateful to have picked up almost a full bag of trash but don’t be discouraged if you don’t happen to have a cemetery with trash covering it, because that just doesn’t happen everyday. There are a lot of local charities that go around to help clean up a local park, school, roadways, and trails though. Making your neighborhood clean from trash is just as important, and a Random Act worth doing.

Picking Up Trash - Random Acts Of Kindness
 

Picking Up Trash - Random Acts Of Kindness
 

Are you considering doing your own Act of Kindness? If not, what is stopping you? Grab a button if you would like to spread the word. The change that we seek in others has to first come from within. This year I hope you decide to Be the Change You Seek.

Till Then Smile Often

 


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One Pan Veggie “Lasagna”

I know I was going to share my Spanakopita recipe but it needs some more testing. Although it was good I think the filling is missing something and need to test it some more. Since this weekend was a little busy I didn’t get to work on it. I did however made this recipe that I pulled from a Kraft Foods magazine when I was looking for recipes to try that were vegetarian. I do think when I make this again I will be adding Broccoli and possible shredded carrots just to jazz it up a bit and make it a little more colorful. This is pretty versatile, and you could really add in any veggies that you prefer.

 

One Pan Veggie "Lasagna"
Ingredients: 3 TBSP oil ~ 1 eggplant, peeled and cubed ~ 1 zucchini – sliced ~ 1 yellow squash – sliced ~ 1 TSP minced garlic ~ 1 cup Ricotta Cheese ~ 3 TBSP Grated Parmesan Cheese ~ 1-1/2 cups  spaghetti sauce – divided ~ 1-1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Adapted from this recipe.

 

Directions: In a 10 inch skillet heat oil on medium high heat. Cook eggplant, zucchini and squash for approximately 10 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent scorching the veggies.

One Pan Veggie Lasagna
Stir in the garlic and reduce heat to medium, cooking until veggies are tender, approximately 4-6 minutes. In a small dish mix the Ricotta and the Parmesan cheese and set aside. Once veggies are tender transfer to a plate.

Spread 1 cup of spaghetti sauce covering the bottom of the skillet, drop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture over the sauce.

One Pan Veggie Lasagna
Layer with the cooked veggies, remaining 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce and sprinkle the mozzarella over the top.

One Pan Veggie Lasagna
One Pan Veggie Lasagna
 

Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pan and heat for 20 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

 

What veggies would you add?

 

Martinis & Bikinis

 

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Print
One Pan Veggie "Lasagna"
 
Ingredients
  • 3 TBSP
  • oil ~
  • 1 eggplant, peeled and cubed ~ 1
  • zucchini - sliced ~
  • 1 yellow squash - sliced ~ 1 TSP minced garlic ~ 1 cup Ricotta Cheese ~ 3 TBSP
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese ~
  • 1-1/2 cups  spaghetti sauce - divided ~ 1-1/2 cups s
  • hredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • Adapted from this
  • recipe
  • .
Instructions
  1. In a 10 inch skillet heat oil on medium high heat. Cook eggplant, zucchini and squash for approximately 10 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent scorching the veggies.
  2. Stir in the garlic and reduce heat to medium, cooking until veggies are tender, approximately 4-6 minutes. In a small dish mix the Ricotta and the Parmesan cheese and set aside. Once veggies are tender transfer to a plate.
  3. Spread 1 cup of spaghetti sauce covering the bottom of the skillet, drop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture over the sauce. Layer with the cooked veggies, remaining ½ cup of spaghetti sauce and sprinkle the mozzarella over the top. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pan and heat for 20 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.