Registry Wish!

I am starting to get all the major business of wedding plan done, so I am moving on the fun job of shopping! I just have no idea where to start with my registry, as I was so many things from so many random places. Here is one, to start!

www.westelm.com

I love how unique these are, I feel like I could leave them out on display as wall hangings in between cutting vegetables. And monogrammed? This is a wish for my guests to take note of! :)

Confession: Black Friday Edition

I have a Thanksgiving and Black Friday confession. I hate to admit it, but this time of year just makes this issue blatantly obvious. As I looked around the spread of the 2 Thanksgiving meals we attended, I could no longer, in good faith, deny this truth.

Confession #3:
I do not own a Crock Pot.

There, it's done. I've let it be known! Go on, judge me as you will. You people and your slow-cooker recipes. Your planning and preparation in the morning hours, loading up the pot with the ingredients needed for dinner in a mere 12 hours. Your superior cooking and ability to go to work while dinner is being prepared by the robotic function of the Crock Pot. I know, I am a lone holdout. I can no longer live with shame, but must face the truth.

And how might this relate to Black Friday, you ask? Well, the deals of course. Crock Pots here, there, everywhere on sale. And do I go out to purchase said Crock Pot? No, I do not. I am holding out for the time honored tradition of registering for my wedding, and on that registry will be Crock Pots of various sizes. I could not imagine missing out on the experience of getting not 2, not even 3, but potentially 4 Crock Pots on my wedding day! Of course, some of those would be the exact same Crock Pot, but due to Target's lack of efficiency in checking off the registry items, I know I will be blessed with various duplicates, which I will then get the opportunity to return in exchange for toilet paper or cleaning supplies. How could I deny myself this experience, which has been shared by brides near and far throughout all of time?

I am holding out, and by next Thanksgiving I'll have that Crock Pot, in silver, with automatic shutoff, and digital temperature control, and I will finally be able to bring that dish over to our friends' houses with pride to join in the great circle of moms and dads who have perfected their Crock Pot expertise.

www.amazon.com

Our first "anniversary"

My tenderloin

Kyle and I were fortunate enough to find time away from work (which is killing both of us lately) to go out for a romantic dinner for our "negative one year anniversary".  This allowed for us to take time to pay attention to each other as well as to escape our daily stresses. We went to Cork, a 4-diamond restaurant in Chandler. It was an amazing experience.

Kyle's Kobe beef

We had made reservations and explained what we were celebrating, so when we walked into the restaurant, printed on our menus was "Happy Anniversary Erica and Kyle". Kyle thought this was pretty awesome, and they let us keep a copy of the menu. We then proceeded to have a 4-course meal to die for. Great portions made for a relaxing night without feeling too stuffed afterwards. We shared a bruschetta appetizer, each had a salad, Kyle got Kobe beef and I had pork tenderloin, and we topped it off with creme brulee. The best part was the cantaloupe martini, bottle of Emeritus pinot noir, and comped champagne to toast our celebration! Then the night manager gave us a tour of the wine closet, (they have a $30,000 bottle of wine), and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire evening. We can't wait to go back to try their winter menu!

Dessert!

I hope that this celebration is the start of a great tradition of anniversaries focused on good food, great atmosphere, and most importantly each other.

Our "First" Anniversary was a total success!

I'll Make a Good Wifey After All!!

Although I by no means consider "The Knot" the primary authority on weddings, I am fascinated by their "to do" list and e-mailed reminders to keep their registered brides on track. It does feel a bit reassuring that I won't be forgetting something major, especially considering my previous post and how busy this next year will be.

But "The Knot" forgot a few items on their "to do" list.
1. Start getting into shape for your wedding.
2. Start practicing being a good wifey.

The first has not been mentioned anywhere in all the literature I've read containing "to do" lists. Not everyone needs to get into wedding shape, some are just naturally in shape all the time, and not everyone CARES to get into wedding shape. But what more perfect excuse or motivation could there be? Well, for me, I was frankly better at that whole getting into shape thing before I was engaged. Since then, maybe it is the sense of knowing that I am secured for life with my future husband, but I cannot get my bootie into the gym as often as I used to. The good news,  I am still going AND I am maintaining my weight so far, despite the parties and celebrations.

This brings me to point 2: being a good wifey. For me, this includes domestic activities that thus far have been much neglected in our humble home. SO, as a compensation for not getting into the gym as often, I started to make more dinners at home so we'd diminish our caloric intake due to eating out so often. This is a new realm for me, cooking. I am an expert at opening boxes or bags, using the microwave, constructing sandwiches, and pancakes. So, as cliche and old-fashioned as it all feels (hence the word "wifey"), I am really trying to set some good habits before we introduce children into the equation. I also find that baking is soothing and therapeutic, so why not switch up the ingredients and include baking meals and not just desserts? And no, not just the meals that are frozen and only require reheating.

Well, the first array into this new hobby (at least since our engagement) was a complete success! And it also gave me a boost in confidence that I will be a good wife, a good mom, and perhaps I just may fit into my dream dress!

Erica's Baked Mostacolli

Ingredients: 2 lbs ground beef (extra lean)

                  1 small onion (white) and 1 red pepper- chopped

                  Fresh Garlic- minced (to taste)

                  Ragu Original Spaghetti Sauce (I am not a miracle worker!)-4 cups

                  Bertolli Penne Plus Pasta (extra protein snuck in!)- 14.5 oz box

                  Light shredded Mozarella Cheese

                  Italian blend of cheese (Parmesan, Provolone...) shredded

                  1 cup of water

Brown hamburger in a skillet, use a little olive oil spray to prevent sticking, and add in onion and red pepper, cook about 8 minutes. Drain excess liquid.

Add 1 cup water and 4 cups spaghetti sauce into the skillet and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the past according to directions, about 11 minutes, and drain. Mix the pasta with the sauce. Then pour half of the pasta and sauce into a 13'x9'x2' glass pan, sprinkle with the desired amount of shredded cheeses (both blends), and then cover with another layer of the sauce and pasta, and sprinkle more cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until cheese on top is slightly brown and melty. Serve with favorite wine and make fiance do all dishes.

-Adopted from Cooks.com recipe

My first baking/cooking masterpiece