The last few Days...

....Have been so nice out and we have taken full advantage of the Florida Sunshine! Makayla is starting to like her Quad Santa got her for Christmas so she is riding it every chance she gets.

She also loves her Dora bike she got from her Paw Paw. She can't quit reach the pedals yet but she pushes along and finds a way to move around!

Dancing on the side of the house

Look how long her hair is getting, and what I wouldn't give for that coloring.

We will be taking a girls trip to Disney this weekend, we can't wait!!!! Hope all is well with everyone and thanks for checking in. A 20 month update will be coming soon and a few other updates that have been on our minds also, stay tuned!!!!

Happy Birthday Steve

Steve turned 31 this year!!!! Though last year he got to spend his birthday turning 30 in the Bahamas this year was fun but a little different! He said turning 31 was hard and alot worse then turning 30!

I got him the cake he asked for...yellow cake with chocolate ganache frosting. Ohh it was good!

We went a Japanese steak house with a few friends and family

Makayla LOVED watching the chef cook our food

and she ate like a champ

My mom and Kevin

Our good friends Don and Robin

and our other good friends Ryan, Jen, and Hannah..

Makayla even helped Daddy blow out the candles,

and she sang Happy Birthday! (thanks to Nenny!)

Even though it was a tough day for Steve I think he had a good day!!! Happy Birthday Steve!!!

A First for us!

Steve, Makayla and I took our first family vacation just the 3 of us last week! It was wonderful! We decided to go to Disney of course. We bought the passes for Christmas and we are taking full advantage of them. We had 3 days all to ourselves. We relaxed and made this trip all about our little Miss M. We went to Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. Makayla had a great time and seemed to enjoy every minute of her time away from home.

We rode lots of rides,

got to see some cool animals

Makayla took a few naps here and there...

She got to see Pooh Bear up close..

(she is really starting to LOVE all the characters)

We grilled steaks and greens beans on the new grill!

Waited for ALOT of SLOW buses!

had a few drinks "around the world" in Epcot

I had a very nice glass of Wine in Italy...

Makayla made music....

Steve's car got stuck on test track and they had to come and fix it...

We became small on the "Honey I shrunk the kids" playground

We rode the Woody ride at Hollywood Studios...

Woody danced right in front of Makayla at the Parade...

a BoPeep blew her a kiss...

She even got called out to dance in the parade...

We ate dinner with Mickey...

and Minnie... and all of there friends....

We had to deal with a little cold but Makayla Loves her hat and

Woody blanket she got from her PawPaw!

All in all we had a wonderful trip. Makayla was really good and we got to spend some great time together as a family. The best part is we are going back this weekend for a girls trip with My sister and My mom. Makayla and I can't wait!!!!!!

how do you go from.....

This....

To this....

to this...all in one day?????

Hmmm, we might never know!!!!

The middle picture was just too fun not to share!!!

Movie Monday

I uploaded all the videos from our flip onto the computer and I have been watching them all for the last few days. There are some from her as a baby up until Christmas of the past year. I uploaded my favorite to share with all of you.

This video is from last July when Miss M was just starting to walk. I think it's so cute and you forget how fast they grow!!!! Hope you enjoy!

p.s. photos of our recent Disney vacation will be coming soon!

Simple Pleasures

I have seen this on a few blogs and thought it would be a fun idea. Feel free to do it on your blog or facebook page as well.
List 20 simple pleasures that make you smile. Little things in life that make you happy or your bad day better. Life is so short and we sometimes rush through it. What makes you stop and say " ahhh this is what makes it all worth it"?

1: Hearing the words "Mama", and "love you" from M
2: The way people smile at Makayla when she waves HI to everybody
3: Kisses from Steve
4: cuddling with Molly
5: The big hug I get every morning from M
6: Fresh Clean sheets
7: When steve unloads the dishwasher or folds a load of clothes
8: Days on the boat
9: Sleeping in
10: watching steve and makayla laugh together
11: The smell and sound of a newborn
12: talking with Friends
13: New colored pen or markers
14: Lunch with the "girls" My mom, sister,M and I.
15: watching Makayla dance!
16: crying at good book or movie
17: Making a meal that everyone LOVES
18: being with family
19: Playing at the park
20: the warmth of the sun through the car window, or sleeping in the warmth of the sun through the car window..I have taken some good naps like that!

So those are just a few of the things that make me smile! What makes you happy? I would love to know. Either leave a comment or the link to your blog of facebook here so we can all read.
Ohh and don't forget to smile at someone today, who knows you might be there Simple Pleasure for the day.

Tickle Your Taste Buds Tuesday

I cannot believe I forgot to post this yesterday...I guess with all the me being sick and my toddler being crazy, and working from home when she naps, and cleaning the house it just slipped my mind. Anyhow I have a good one for you!!!!

Baked Pork chops with Crisp Potatoes

This recipe was so easy and OH MY GOODNESS GOOD! I have to say I am not much of a pork person but these were so good I will be making them again. I got the pork chops with the bone and tenderloin attached. They were about an inch thick each.

2 Pork Chops

3lbs bag of Red New Potatoes

3 cloves of garlic finely minced

EVOO

S&P

Zest from 1 lemon

Chives

Preheat oven to 400

Rinse and pat dry the potatoes and cut in quarters or so they are all about the same size.

In the pan you are going to cook in Drizzle with EVOO and Toss with the garlic add salt and pepper to taste

Season the pork chops with S&P and I added a little garlic and onion powder.

Move the potatoes to the side but you can leave a few under the pork chop. Put the pork chops over the potatoes and bake for 30 minutes then flip the chops over and move the potatoes a little. Bake another 30-45 minutes until the chops are cook through. 165-180 Sprinkle just the chops with the lemon zest and put back in the oven for 2-3 minutes.

Take out the chops and let them rest for a few minutes turn the oven up to 500 and move the potatoes around and bake another 5-10 minutes to really crisp up while the chops rest. Take the potatoes out of the oven and sprinkle with the chives.

I also made lemon juice steamed asparagus to serve with the chops and potatoes.

Our pork chops were so big Steve and I split 1 and I sliced up the other one and he took it for lunch the next day. Plus Makayla had the tenderloin part.

This was such an easy and enexpensive recipe and a 1 pan meal so it was easy clean up also. You can't get much better then that.

You have to try this recipe I promise you will love. Do you have a recipe idea for me? Is there a recipe you want me to post? Leave a comment on this post and let me know!

Happy Cooking!!!

Menu for this week

So this week I wanted to try shopping for 2 weeks instead of just 1. With the possibility of going to the produce market early next week to get our weekly fresh fruit and veggies the rest I wanted to only shop 1 time for the next 2 weeks. I looked at the Publix flyer online and saw what was Buy 1 Get 1 free and what was on sale and I planned my menus around that and the coupons I had. I did FANTASTIC! I only spent $218.57 and I saved $42.26! How awesome is that? I say $218.57 for 2 weeks of meals, a few lunches and some other goodies is not that bad!!!

So here is my menu for this week:

Monday: Oven roasted pork chops with crisp Potatoes and steamed

asparagus (real simple cookbook (rscb)

Tuesday: Light Shrimp Newburg served on brown rice (RR Mag)

Wednesday: Prosciutto and Brie sandwiches with Cantaloupe soup(rscb)

Thursday: Brown sugar and garlic chicken with Roasted Broccoli (me!)

Friday: Linguine with artichoke hearts and leeks(rscb)

Saturday: BLT's and Tomato soup(who needs a cookbook for that?)

MMMM I also bought the stuff to make yummy lemon bars!!!

Then next week I have planned:

Chicken Devine(me) You guys are going to love this recipe it will be TTYBT but next week!!!

Soy glazed Salmon with Whole Wheat noodles and green beans(rscb)

Blacked fish Tacos(its good for you PC)

Steaks and a veggie

and what ever might carry over from the week before if we decide to eat out or 1 night might be left overs.

I am not one to buy a lot of junk, or boxed products, or things with trans fats and high fructose corn syrup BUT this week I took a recommendation from my Dad and bought Golden Oreos. I tasted one today and he was right those things are pretty darn yummy. Once in a while it doesn't hurt right?

Do you have any money saving tips this week? Are you trying to spend less and save money??? Feel free to share your ideas with us all here in the comment section on my blog its fun and easy!!!! Happy shopping and check back tomorrow for Tickle you Taste Buds Tuesday...it's a good one!