My poor husband

I love to cook.
I have a freezer full of food to use.
I'm tired after work.
I'd rather watch "SYTYCD"
I would rather live with the hungries than get off the couch.
Cooking isn't always the fastest process.
Pork tenderloin has so much potential you can't short change it.
Sometimes dinner out of a box just has to do.
Mine doesn't like dinner out of a box.

He finished the last bite he could bring himself to take and said, "It's not your cooking, it's just...I can't figure out what it is"... HAHAHAHAHA

Poor T :)

Grow Baby Grow

The long awaited, much anticipated, and really....not that exciting yet...BACKYARD!!
We've got our sod in and you can see Tyler's great irrigation work in action since I caught it with the sprinklers on. We planted those hopseed bushes (the wall bushes) along the right side and compliment it with a beautiful Shamel Ash tree on the left.




Here is the few from the back of the yard (excuse the ladder, wheelbarrow, etc.). We worked so hard getting it all in that once we finished we threw our hands up and walked away. Honestly, we haven't touched this poor yard since.




I am having some trouble with our bouganvillas....I think I'm watering them too much...didn't think that was possible here in the desert. Anyone else hear of this issue? I'll cut back the liquids and see if that gives them a face lift. :)

Like It's 1999......

The rain just makes me so happy! Even though I can't curl up in a ball and read, it makes me feel like I can which is amazing. Plus...the start of half-day summer Fridays at work are the cherry on top. It is refreshing to have time to do things around the house and trust me, "doing things" should not be exciting, but after a week at the office, it is nice to get back to my rural roots and get my hands dirty. Being home by myself also meant I could turn on some Beyonce and Janet Jackson and bust out my own version of "So You Think You Can Dance". It is a show that never gets caught in real life but boy does it feel good to grab that dust rag, throw on my jazz pants, and have a mini-flashdance moment. You should all try it...you'll love it....I promise.

Cause It's a Ladies Night

What a fun weekend! I still don't have pictures of my backyard...hehe...sorry about that. We ran down Thursday night and I got to spend the evening with the girls in my mom's family. It was so much fun and even though I have been blessed to see these girls more often lately, I never get bored with them. They are each special, loud, fun, giggly, and beautiful...I love them to pieces. I got too see my cousin's new baby girl who was absolutely precious and tiny.

Some of the Girl Cousins (we're missing like 15 more)

Mom and Grandma (obviously someone is being shy)

Friday I worked at my grandma's house all day for a little celebration we had for my mom that night. It was so hot outside! It was so fun to hang out with my brother and his fiance, it was the longest I had spent with my brother since Christmas so it was nice to be together.

Saturday was another girl's adventure with my sister and mother-in-law. We spent ALL morning at the mall...from the opening at 10:00am to about 3:00pm!!! We tried on clothes, we looked at jewelry, we pretended to buy cookies for our boys even though we all ate one, LOL! Of course, in my usual style I didn't buy anything until we got to Target to buy a present for someone else and I spyed a sweater I had my eyes on but promised myself not to get until it was on sale (it was a whopping $15...I am too cheap for my own good). Lill came away with some good stuff and Momma C restrained herself as well, but we had such a good time.

That afternoon we hit up the housewarming party for our friends who just bought this gigantic 3,000sq/ft house (so jealous!) but it was nice to visit with them. Then we jogged down the street to Christie's house for her graduation party. She is all done with college and I know she couldn't be happier.

YAY!!!! 3 DAY WEEKEND HERE I COME!!!! We've got a big fat nothing planned except maybe a little camping with an air mattress in the back of the truck at the lake...a good time had by all!

A Quickie

Really fast...we're alive!

1. Our backyard is really coming together. Thank you to everyone who helped Tyler with the prep work and installation. We have 6 bouganvillas, 6 hopseeds ('wall plants' as I like to call them because they will grow 10 ft. tall and block the 'driveway' side of our yard), 3 Mesquite trees, a new beautiful Shamel Ash tree and 800 sq. ft. of wonderful green sod! Sorry I don't have a picture yet but I will soon.

2. Countdown to a wedding and graduation and birthday and housewarming. As you can tell our weekend is JAM PACKED with events. All of these are happening within 24 hours...we will be running :)

3. Tyler is done for the semester! He got really good grades and I know he is enjoying not having to go to class on Monday nights and worry about all his online homework the rest of the week (I won't lie...I'm enjoying the break too...haha) But not for long, he starts summer school the 1st of June!

4. Tyler also started playing on the softball league at work...WHAT!!?? I know...crazy huh? I was so proud of him. The guy has seriously not touched a bat since he was in elementary school and he hit the ball all 3 times he was up for bat and I think he even got someone out while he played 1st base. I am so so so proud of him. It's fun to take the dog and share my pretzel and cheese with her while we enjoy the show.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

We ran down to Tucson and while we were there the boys wanted to go test their new dirtbikes...I don't blame them. Dan, Tyler, Scotty, Shauna, and Gary all ran the track down by the fairgrounds. So...in an effort to be more productive and have a little bit of our own fun, Christie and I decide to drive later and meet them. Boy....what an adventure! Had to turn back for food, got some crazy directions, got a little lost, did some doughnuts in the front office parking lot, ate some junk food...long story short...a dang good time! Here is us at the end of the our adventure sitting in the freezing wind watching our boys ride :)

I thought I should provide an updated picture of our yard after all the hard work last weekend! We scooped and shoveled and raked until we just couldn't take it anymore.

So, I know it's hard to tell but you can see all the pea gravel we layed in the back...12 tons...didn't even begin to put a dent in this beast. BUT...we have some rock to keep the dirt down, thank goodness! Tyler and John dug some trenches and then Tyler and I laid and glued all the pipe for the sprinklers. Yay! Sprinklers! I am so glad we are doing it the right way this time...no more half-way business.

Here is a picture of John keeping our dog busy while we were working :)

We will probably finish the drip system this week and be able to lay sod and plant some more plants this weekend. But there is still so much more to do....there will definitely be future updates including brick laying, more rocks, and a firepit!

Tearin' it up!

Just some fun and quick snapshots of our hard work this morning in our backyard. I am so grateful for my family and all of their help....seriously, I could not have survived the day without the tractor.

Let's Get This Party Started!

Riding the Smoother

He Had to Try

Cilantro loves Maria...and Maria loves it back

This is for a special someone (I told you I would do it)! This post is all about the wonderful world of cilantro. Cil-what? That's right everyone, I am dedicating a whole 10 minutes of my life to discussing a little green Mexican herb.
Today Maria and I enjoyed "Coriandrum sativum" atop our nachos. I think we are so used to tasting hints of cilantro in salsa or in Mexican food, but just plopping it right on top of a big pile of sour cream and pinto beans was perfect. It was clean and crisp and added a whole different spin to such usual and plain ingredients.
My cousin Morgan makes the best homemade salsa and unlike the usual Pace or Herdez, it has a really strong and fresh flavor...maybe that is why Morgan's salsa will forever by my favorite. Cilantro is a little spicy, a little smoky, and at the same time, cooling when it is in your mouth. Strange but oh so tasty. Though I don't use cilantro often, here are some tasty ways to easily work the little leaf into your cooking:

Cilantro Rice: Mix some garlic and cilantro leaves in a blender. Saute onions in a little bit of oil until soft, brown uncooked rice until opaque. Cook as usual but try using chicken stock instead of water

Cilantro Avacado Potato Salad: Mix softened potatoes and onions in a bowl, add some garlic, salt, and pepper. Dice avacado, a little jalepeno, and cilantro and toss in with potatoes with some lime juice

Cilantro Lime Mayo: Blend lime juice, hot sauce, garlic, dijon mustard, and cilantro. Process until leaves are finely minced. Add some mayo and mix just until blended...add to anything!

Some side notes that may be of some importance:
1. Mix cilantro with some mint juice and you can use it as a facial toner
2. Coriander is the seed of the cilantro plant
3. Some people believe it can relieve insomnia or anxiety
4. You may be allergic to it...and then don't blame me! :)

Happy Eating!

Here She Is!

What you have been waiting for! It's not the most glamorous picture in the world but you get the picture. When the brown curtain is open there is a cream colored sheer underneath and we will probably move my favorite picture in the whole wide world because it doesn't match :( But...I love the color, love my bedding, and I bought some new decorations to put up that match. What do you think?!

Chillaxin' All Cool

That title is for the Fresh Prince fans out there...I know you're out there :) This week flew by! I left for Minneapolis early on Tuesday morning for a big meeting with one of our customers. We went to some great food places, little hole in the wall places that I would have never gone to on my own. One is tucked away in an old building and is actually two stories of dining room that don't connect...you take the elevator up to sit in the upper dining room. The other is an old refurbished fire house that sources everything from right around their area and has a ton of history.

112 Eatery - I got the pork tenderloin and gnocchi mmm...so tasty
Cafe 28 - I got a locally grown, organic burger with fresh cheddar and guacamole....hit the spot

I came home from Minneaoplis on Thursday night and took the next day off just to recoup and take a little Kristina & Tyler time. We ate out all weekend which is totally against my plan for saving money...but it was nice not to care.

We put the finishing touches on our room on Friday night and I am so excited to post pictures!!! Give me about 8 hours and I will have some eye candy up here for you :) Saturday morning I dug up part of our drip system in the front yard because the dripper heads were clogged and weren't letting any water come out. Got those all cleared out so now my plants can drink up. Tyler changed the oil in our cars and then sprayed all the weeds in our backyard. This week week we are going to buy some brick to extend our patio and I'm crossing my fingers that my father-in-law will bring his tractor up here to clear this hot mess of a backyard up!