Food For Thought

Since this past Monday, I've been watching my carbs...and trying to do without. 

 My shorts and capris are snug.....it's okay, it's my own fault.  I think I don't have to watch what I eat or exercise regularly.  I want to be healthy and feel good in my clothes...but, when it comes down to it,

I lack the discipline to do so.   It's such a daily battle for me...and frankly I get tired of hearing myself complain about it.   Oh how I would like to lose 20 lbs once and for all and never talk

about this again.   It's a choice, and I need to start making better ones. 

I thought I would share a few easy recipes that I have tried recently.



 The recipe calls for scallions....but I didn't have any on hand.  I've had it both ways...and I would go with the scallions if you're going to try it!

These are fresh baked green beans.  I had never baked green beans before...unless you count them in a casserole!  My friend Angie's husband said this is how he likes to cook them.  I mixed them with a little olive oil and salt and put them on a cookie sheet.  I baked them at 350 for about 25 minutes.  They were delicious!  They almost didn't even taste like green beans!

This is my favorite summer salsa.  Black beans, corn (from the cob!), tomatoes, red onion, lime juice, olive oil and cilantro.  It's so fresh.  I just need to come up with something other than tortilla chips to put it on!

I got this recipe from Nicolle.  Jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and chives, wrapped in bacon and then grilled.  If you want to see a more appetizing picture...you'll have to check out Nicolle's picture!

I just tried these too...also found on Nicolle's blog.  Many of you talk about Pioneer Woman's cookbook.

Nicolle is MY pioneer woman!

Raspberries with a chocolate chip.  What a treat.  Of course, I put these together

last week...cause remember, I'm watching my carbs this week!

Can you believe it's July 1st already? 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

~Kerri

A 19 Year Reunion

This is my college roommate and I back in 1991...

Angie and I were the best of friends.  We met during our sophmore year...only I don't recall how.  I just remember that our friendship was instant.  

(Obviously, I am holding a beer for whoever is taking the picture!) :)

Angie and I wore shorts all winter long.  I worked at a tanning and toning place nearby and we would go in after hours and do "double time" on the beds.  We would tan for twenty minutes and then when the timer went off, I would get out and reset the timer for another twenty minutes.  Boy were we dumb or what? tan!

 Angie was fun, athletic (she was on the track team) and super smart.  We shared clothes, cars, and secrets.  I admired and looked up to her.  As I look back now, I realize she was so much more to me than just the coolest girl I'd ever met.  Angie was a real friend...the kind you hope to have during your most difficult times.  Only back then, I was too young to realize what kind of friend she really was to me.  My parents divorced when I was in college and we had some other family issues that I was dealing with.  Angie was there to listen and support me.  She often took me home with her on the weekends to be with her family.  Angie's mom even put a toothbrush in the bathroom for me.  I'll never forget how that made me feel.   Angie was a gift...one that I'll always be thankful for.

After college, Angie went on to her big fancy job (I'm not exactly sure what her job title is...she's behind the camera and computer making and editing commercials and films for companies...cool stuff like that.)  I moved from Ohio to Pennsylvania and eventually we lost touch.  Eric wanted to suprise me before we were married and find her...but didn't have any success in doing so.  Fast forward to a couple of years ago and I found her on Facebook!  And, last week Angie came to visit!   I was so excited and nervous and excited to see her and meet her family.  Would we be able to pick up where we left off?  Had too much time passed?  Did we have anything in common?  Would her husband like my husband?  Would the kids get along?  Would we have anything to talk about?  Would she think I turned into a fatso? 

No worries...she is still the same girl I knew in college.  Except she is a mom and a wife and we have just as much in common now as we did all those years ago.

Here's Angie and her beautiful family.

Yep, that's right...Angie has an only child too!

(Brady said, "she's single like me!")

Angie's daughter Meghan (spelled the same way as my sister!) is almost one year to the day younger than Brady.

Brady and Meghan became friends almost instantly, really.  They talked and talked and got along so well the entire time.  They even rode the super duper looper roller coaster at Hershey Park ten times in a row!

Our husband's got along well too...which made things so much easier for us.   Angie's husband Brian is a super nice guy. We just had a really good time while they were here...and I was sad to see them leave.

Angie and I kept trying to get a good picture together...and then finally told Eric to get a picture of us without our bodies.  Some things never change, I guess.  Except Angie looks amazing...she still has those great legs and has so much willpower!    On the day Angie graduated from college in 1992, she had a big mac and french fries from McDonald's and it made her feel sick.   She decided that day that she would not eat fast food ever again.  And she hasn't.  Can you believe it?! 

Here we are 20 yrs. later...

Thank you Angie for being such a good friend to me all those years ago.  You have set my standards high in the friend department.  And, because of you, I know how to be a better friend.  Thanks so much for coming all this way to visit us.  I promise I will not let time go by again without being in touch.

~Kerri

   xxoo

#1 Dad

Happy Father's Day to the BEST DAD ever!

You mean the world to us.

Thanks for all you do.

We LOVE you tons!

Kerri & Brady



My Summer Theme Song

image

I have loved the Zac Brown Band from the minute I heard them on the radio.  I imagined they looked like young surfer guys...all tan and wearing swim trunks.  Then, I saw them on an award show...and lets just say, they didn't really fit into my fantasy.   Anyway....their music reminds me of the band that played on the cruise Eric and I took on our honeymoon...laid back, island music.

About eight months ago my friend Toni gave me a copy of ZBB's new cd and right away I was hooked on "knee deep" (in the water somewhere...)  I was suprised when I heard it on the radio yesterday...I'm sure it will be #1 soon!  If you're a fan of country music, I'm sure you've already heard it.  If not, I hope you listen and enjoy!

If my blog had a summer theme song...this would be it!

Have a great weekend!

~Kerri

How Does Your Garden Grow?



One of my favorite things about summer (my list is really long) is being able to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the Amish stands we have on every corner in our town.  I would love my own garden.  No, let me rephrase that.  I would love to reap the rewards of having my own garden...but I really don't want the work.  Plus, I'm not a fan of worms and dirt.  Yuk. 

We've been going through strawberries like crazy.  An Amish girl told me yesterday that strawberries will probably only be available until the end of the week.  Brady and I planted strawberries from a kit on Mother's Day, and he checks it everyday and there's nothing.  It doesn't look like there's going to be anything either, ever.  I'm thinking tomorrow when I buy more, I will put a few in his container outside...I wonder if he would fall for that?!

I bought all of these veggies and the strawberries for $9.00....much better than what I would have paid at the grocery store.  Speaking of the grocery, I decided to take some coupons along yesterday to the store and see if I could save a few dollars.  You know I'm hooked on that coupon show...except they're crazy, and I'm not.  Anyway, my bill came to $101.00 and after my discount card and coupons my total was $66.00.  I was pretty happy with that.  Of course, I didn't get anything for free...but one of these time I will!  It's my goal to walk out with one free item!  One of these days!

One last thing and then I'm done.  I feel like I'm rambling here.

Have you tried this greek salad dressing?  It's so good.  I usually prefer the creamy dressings like ranch and blue cheese, but I'm trying to find healthier ones.  This is my new favorite!



Do you have a garden?

~Kerri

Whats All The Excitement About....

After 4 years of living in Indiana, Brady's cousins are moving back home!  They will go from them being ten hours away...to just fifteen minutes up the road.  Brady is beyond EXCITED!  He has wished and dreamed of this day from the moment they left town.  And, I'm excited for him (and us too!).  I don't think Brady even realizes how different it's going to be.  He will no longer be the only kid at Grandma & Grandpa's house, at family reunions, cookouts, etc.  Maybe Thanksgiving won't be quite so boring this year!  The cousins will be arriving on Monday (oh yea, and my brother and sister in law are coming too!)...but Brady will have to wait until Tuesday to see his cousins...because I have my own exciting plans on Monday!  I can't wait! 

~Kerri

A Common Scene On Sundays



The Amish love to play volleyball.

There were two different games going on this evening.

They're practicing for the big Amish Volleyball Tournament next weekend.  There were hundreds of Amish people in the field visiting and watching the teams play.  I was only able to grab this quick picture as we drove by.

You didn't think the Amish  worked all the time did you?!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

~Kerri

Ten on Ten: June



Ten pictures on the tenth of the month trying to capture the beauty in our ordinary moments.  You can join in the fun here.

Today was Brady's last day of school, so it was a pretty exciting day at our house. 

Teacher gifts...not what I would have chosen, but it's what Brady really wanted to give.

It was Hawaiian day for the 2nd graders!

I put my thank-you's inside the tumblers....hopefully they made it to school!

Waiting in traffic and tyring not to be late for my last lunch date of the school year.  See you in the fall, Eric!

Awesome salad at Wendy's...I could eat this everyday this summer...if only we had a money tree.

Just got off the bus and is so excited about summer and the teacher he will have next year...Mr. B!

Another fantastic grade card...so glad he takes after his father in this area!

We took Brady to his favorite restaurant for dinner.

Of course he begged us after dinner to go play tennis...and since he never gets

to play, we decided to take him. (A little sarcasm here.)

Finishing the night with a Harry Potter movie and a campout.

**********

You can check out Holly's amazing ten on ten here. 

 It's her first time participating and she's having trouble linking up.

Her pictures are the real deal!

Happy tenth everyone!

~Kerri



Reminder

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Ten on Ten.  Take one picture every hour for ten hours, trying to capture the beauty in your everyday moments.  Or, just take ten pictures throughout the day...whatever works for you.   Go HERE to participate.  Don't be intimidated by some of the amazing photos that others take...I try not to be!  It's about your day and your photos.  It's fun!  Give it a try!

~Kerri

Tennis, Tennis, Tennis

Team tennis ended this past weekend.  I love watching Brady play...but after almost two months, I'm glad to have our weekends back!  This was Brady's first time playing on a team.  The kids on his team were all 6th, 7th and 8 graders.  Thankfully Brady is tall...so he didnt look too out of place! 

Brady got to play singles, doubles and mixed singles.

He definitely prefers singles...but will play anything just to be out on that court!

There were only a couple of kids on the team who already knew each other.   It amazes me how Brady can step into this type of situation where the kids are all older and be so confident.  I actually think Brady got more out team tennis than anyone on his team.  He was encouraging and talked with everyone.  And, if anyone needed a practice partner...he was right there and ready! 

  In playing singles, Brady was able to beat everyone on his team except one of the girls.    It seems crazy when I think about it...but Brady will still be eligible to play on this middle school team 6 yrs. from now. 

 I know I've always said it doesn't matter if he wins or not...but for Brady's sake, I have to admit, that I sure get excited for him when he wins.  That boy is at the tennis court every single day for hours.  And if by some chance he can't be at the courts, he is hitting balls against the garage, playing tennis on the Wii, researching tennis videos, watching the tennis channel and he recently started writing tennis drills down that he would like to work on. 

Brady has two tennis camps that he'll be attending that start next Tuesday and last for a month.  I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I complain about tennis a great deal in our house.  I don't complain about it to Brady...but I do to my husband.  Tennis, tennis, tennis.  I am a girl that needs variety!!  I really don't mean to complain so much.  I just don't want to talk about, watch, or play tennis every single day.  I'm normal, right?

Two things I know for sure:

1.  I'm so proud of my son.  He works so hard...even when it's 100 degrees out there!

2.  I'm going to have to diligently plan things for Brady and I to do together this summer...because this girl doesn't want to
end up at the tennis courts everyday!  Brady will have to wait until the evening when his dad  gets home to take him!



~Kerri

The End Of Countdown Chains...

I'm afraid it's true.

Brady has always liked making chains to countdown the days until Christmas, the start of school, the end of summer, etc.

This chain was counting down the days until kindergarten.

Here he is last year in 1st grade counting the days until summer.

And with only 5 days of school left until summer vacation...this is all I was able to get this year.

I know paper chains are used to help kids understand time...and now that Brady knows what a week is or how many days are in a month...I guess he doesn't feel the need for a countdown chain. 

It's just another sign for this mom that time passes whether I want it to or not.

5 more days until school's out!

Have a great week!

~Kerri