July 4th-Part 1

Jonathan and I had a LOT to celebrate this July 4th — like our nation's independence, almost a year in our house and our incredible friends and family. And we celebrated in grand fashion.

After a year of hard work — more like yard work — we feel like we have a home we can be proud of. This was our first big party in our home, and so it felt a little like a belated house warming.

Even though it rained almost the whole evening, we all had a lot of fun. Jonathan and I were grateful to everyone who stopped by! Here are my first round of photos from the big event:

(The soon-to-be Nortons!)

(The Kotrlas w/ their backward drinks)

(Strike a pose — not bad for a woman who only gets 30 minutes of free time a day!)

(The Barnards, Almons & Wallers all watching the parade with their kiddos)

(Backyard fun!)

(The hosts!)

(Here's a better view of my patriotic dress! Shout out to Carolyn for loaning me the shoes!)

This blog post will be followed by a blog detailing our decorations and a blog sharing a few recipe favorites from the evening. If you couldn't make it to this party, make plans to see us soon!

Poopie Wars

So, I really wish I could have sad music playing in the background as you gaze at this little montage of photographs from our time with Miss Pixie.

Today, we gave Pixie back to her rightful family. Jonathan is really sad — he couldn't even be here for her send-off. Me, eh, I'll survive with a little love from Miss ChloeBear Butterscotch Cupcake Richardson-Melville (that's her full name).

On a funnier note, I think we've started poopie wars with the neighbors. Pixie refused to go #2 in our yard, but every time we took her even on the shortest of walks, she always found a neighbor's yard that was juuuust right.

Now, before you start hating on me, please know that I am NOT a dog person and I can use the excuse that I didn't know better on that first walk. On the subsequent trips my excuse was, "Ummm, yeah right I'm picking that up!"

Well, today when I got home from work, there was a steaming pile on our front lawn. I know for a fact our sweet, temporary dog didn't do that. Mere coincidence — or Karma Poopie Fairy???

I may not have a dog anymore, but just wait until I exact my revenge......muahahaahahahahaaaa!

Chicken Tetrazzini

I'm sharing a recipe favorite that I got from my mother. This a meal I make when taking food to someone or hosting a large gathering, because the ingredients make two full 9x13 casseroles — so you can take one to someone in need and have one for yourself (or, just freeze the second and eat it later!). Just make sure when delivering that you have a recipe card handy to share in the love...

Chicken Tetrazzini

Ingredients:

1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken (boiled & shredded)

3 cans cream of chicken soup

1 cup reserved chicken broth

1 bag (around 2 cups) finely shredded cheese (your choice, I like cheddar!)

1 bag No-Yolk noodles (pre-cooked)

Directions:

Layer noodles, chicken, and cream of chicken soup and broth. Stir it all together and then top with cheese. Bake covered at 350°F until cheese is melted (around 20 minutes). Cook an additional few minutes uncovered to brown the top.

Voilà!

Finishing Touches

Well, we're putting the finishing touches on our yard before next weekend — even though we're a long way from getting things the way we want.

Today, we got some red impatiens from Lowe's. I LOVE that the flowers are iridescent!! Plus, they're red, so it's appropriate for July Fourth. I didn't like the pot the flowers came in, so I transplanted them. Here's what they look like now:

Speaking of which, I can't wait to debut my patriotic hostess outfit next weekend...this is a dress that J bought me in Florida and I've managed not to wear it yet. You'll have to wait until next weekend to see that, though...

(J adding mulch and ivy to the flower bed on the side of the house)

And, look, it's our first pepper! Now, what to do with it???

Tomorrow will be spent menu planning for our backyard barbecue. I bought one of those awesome mason jar drink dispensers. Now I have to figure out what to serve in it — and it has to be something the children will enjoy. Any suggestions???

House Guest

Jonathan and I are enjoying our weekend house guest.

We are dog-sitting our friends' schnauzer, Pixie. She's SO PRECIOUS. Seriously, NO trouble at all — and as a cat owner, I'm frankly not used to that. This is good for us so we can try out what it's like to have a dog loooong before we ever seriously consider getting one.

(A face no one but my cat, Chloe, can resist!)

This weekend has also been filled with updates to projects already under way at our home. I'll share:

(We decided our patio needed a grill pad...)

(Oh yeah, and did I mention we bought a grill?? After MUCH research, we decided on the Master Forge. Bring on the July Fourth festivities!)

(Yup, she's a beaut! We took it for a test drive at dinner and it worked wonderfully!)

Well, I must get my beauty rest because we have several other projects to wrap up tomorrow. We're gluttons for punishment in this humidity, what can I say!?

Birthday Boy

On Tuesday, Jonathan turns the big 2-9! Happy birthday, husband! Hope you enjoy your first married birthday — I know I did mine.

I hope you have the best day because you of all people deserve it. You are so patient and loving and kind to not only me, but to everyone you encounter. You embody what it means to live out a Christian life.

I'm too poor (and cheap) to get you anything grand — although your b-day surprise is coming after work Tuesday — so this, my declaration of undying love, will hopefully be enough, for now! ;-)

I love you sweetheart, and I hope we get to celebrate many more birthdays together.

Here we are celebrating a little early (don't worry, we're celebrating alllll week!):

(Very proud of the Lowe's gift card from his rents!)

(We initially resisted dessert, but these were compliments DiMaggio! You don't say no to an Italian chef!)

(SaZa has heavenly Tiramisu!!!)

(The aftermath. Don't judge.)

From Drab to Fab!

Jonathan and I recently purchased a potting stand constructed from old shipping crates. We'd been searching for an artsy furniture piece to put in the backyard near our new patio in order to have an extra surface to set food and beverages on. The second I saw this piece, I knew that it was perfect!! It had great bones...it just needed a little TLC.

(Potting stand in all its hippy glory)

(Here it is after a good sanding & a coat of tinted primer)

I'm sharing this with you all a bit premature, as we still need to apply a layer of actual paint. The color we went with is called Nuthatch at Sherwin Williams. We wanted a more natural-looking wood tone since this will live outdoors. I bet this would look beautimous with some Tiffany blue. Now, where to incorporate it....?