mom, grab your tissues!

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone when I say I LOVE my mom.  I mean, I really, really like her.  But then again, who doesn't?  I have never met anyone that has met my mom that doesn't rave about her every time I see them.  Especially those crazy horse people!  She seems to be a bit of a God at MacNair's, probably because she's totally obsessed with all horses.  She treats each of them like they're her own (ok, so they don't all get warm mushy hay cubes with carrots mixed in twice a day like Snowy does, but they understand he's number 1).  She's the best "Grammy" Scout and Parker could ever ask for.  In fact, when Scout won't listen to me, all I have to say is "Grammy's here!" and he comes-a-runnin'.  Is that mean?  Anyways, we have always had a really great relationship because we have a huge passion in common.  I can probably count on one hand how many times I have been to the barn by myself, without her.  She was the BEST "horse show mom" I have ever known.  I'm talking professional status.  She was (and still would be if we were still showing) the best grazer, boot cleaner, sweat brusher, nose wiper, crop runner, rat catcher ironer, stall picker, trailer cleaner, and SO much more.  All I had to do was get up at 5am to bathe my poop-stained horse in the mornings and dress myself, and she pretty much did everything else if I let her.  I was one of the lucky girls who had a mom that actually had a clue about horses before going into the crazy world they call horse showing.  Ok, so she knows a hell of a lot more than I do.  Whatever.  She can't braid or pull manes like I can!  But, she can out-wrap me any day.  And she can give shots.  I can't do that.
Don't get me wrong, spending that much time with your mom between the ages of 10 and 21 doesn't come without fights.  My favorite fights were the ones that included the phrase, "You're too much like your father."  Shout out to my daddio- we got her!
It's amazing what moving out does to a mother-daughter relationship.  Sure, I only moved 10 minutes down the road, but since then we have become best friends.  In fact, she's the one I usually want to hang out with on the weekends now.  I couldn't wait for a free weekend so I could hang out with my friends when I was a teenager, now I can't wait for a free weekend so I can hang out with my mom.  I used to get embarrassed by her loud bubbliness, but now I'm exactly like her.  They say that can happen...
I could go on and on about how incredible my mom is.  She is ALWAYS positive, no matter what is going on.  She has been the most amazing partner in this wedding planning process.  She has been supportive of every single thing I have chosen and has not once pushed anything on me.  She's HELPING me plan MY wedding.  I am so beyond thankful for that.  Weddings can make moms crazy, but that is so far from the truth in our case.  We are just having so much fun!
I really just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to the woman I strive to be like every single day.  Eric and I (and now Payton) are so unbelievably lucky to have a mom as wonderful as she is.  I hope I have and will continue to make her proud and I hope she always knows how much we love her!

What are the chances that she doesn't cry after reading this? :)


On another note...
Here are a few of the recipes we've made recently.  All of them are absolute repeats!

Buffalo Chicken with Grilled Romaine Salad

http://www.food.com/recipe/buffalo-chicken-sandwich-105888

We didn't feel like having sandwiches, so I just made the chicken breasts according to the recipe and we ate it with our favorite grilled romaine salad.  I'm telling you, if you've never had grilled romaine or grilled cabbage- try it!  It's easy and so, so good.  You'll need:

1 package romaine hearts

Sesame Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 onion

Cut each romaine heart in half.

Drizzle each half with sesame oil and balsamic vinegar.

Sprinkle each half with salt and pepper.

Quarter your onion.

Throw it all on the grill until edges of romaine begin to brown and onion is soft.

Chop the romaine and the onion and toss together.

We add grape tomatoes, parmesan cheese and a little bit of salad dressing (blue cheese or balsamic vinaigrette are great on the salad - a little goes a long way).  It's also great with avocado.

I also made these yummy cinnamon rolls for Payton because anything cinnamon is his favorite.

Pasta with Pancetta and Leeks

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/07/pasta-with-pancetta-and-leeks/

Baja Pork Tacos

3lb. pork roast

4 cans chopped green chilies

1 package taco seasoning

1 Tbsp. cumin

Cut pork roast in half and place in crock pot.  

Mix chilies with taco seasoning and cumin, pour over pork.  

Cook on low in crock pot for 8-10 hours.  

Serve on corn or flour tortillas with your favorite taco toppings, and enjoy!

1 year

Everyone looks forward to the last day of classes, but they don't tell you how bittersweet your LAST last day of classes will be!  I can't believe it's already been an entire year since my last last day.  Of course I was thrilled to be closing a chapter in my life and starting a new one, but it was so surreal.  I really never have to open a text book again?  I really never have to wake up at 4am to finish a paper again?  I really never have to go back-to-school shopping again? (bummer).  It's so hard to wrap your head around this concept until August arrives and you REALLY don't go back to school.  Since I have the privilege of working at a school now, I still get to feel the energy on campus- but it is in a completely different way.  It's been a year since I graduated from the greatest place on earth (I'm talking about Meredith College, not Disney World).  That place, just like Disney, is purely magical and I can't believe I ever questioned going there.  There is no other college like it in the world and I am one of the lucky few that got to EXPERIENCE IT (See what I did there, MCGs?).  One of my biggest dreams in life is to send my very own daughter there some day.  I know, that's a stretch, but that's how much Meredith means to me.  It makes me cry just thinking about it, but then I remember that I will never really leave Meredith.  It's in me forever and that is one of my biggest blessings in life.  

PS- It's hard enough to believe it's been a whole year since college graduation... but that also means that it has been 5 YEARS since high school graduation!  I still remember that like it was yesterday.  What an amazing high school experience I had!  The class of '08 had to have been the best class ADHS has ever seen :)  So, when's our first reunion?

June 2008 - ADHS graduation

May 2012 - Meredith College graduation

Class of 2008 Student Council

My 2012 MCGs

 Moving on... Things have been pretty boring in our house this week.  Payton planted a garden last weekend (peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers), so I can't wait until we get to have fresh veggies!  I did some spring cleaning (boooo), but I still have some more areas of the house to tackle before I can say I'm done.  There is nothing worse than cleaning baseboards and windows...
I have been completely updating my work wardrobe this week.  It's expensive, but necessary.  I guess you can say it's part of my spring cleaning routine since I'm getting rid of the old stuff and get nice new things?  Yeah, that sounds good.

We finished up our menu last week with the following:
I splurged and got burgundy wine steak tips and cheddar biscuits from The Meat House on Wednesday.  I could live in The Meat House.  We had steamed broccoli with it and it was the perfect meal!

Friday we had frozen pizza because we were feeling lazy, and Saturday we made burgers at our friends house.  Payton makes the best burgers!  We put roasted pablano peppers and bacon on them.  And now my mouth is watering...

Thursday:
Crunchy Black Bean Tacos
http://www.endlesssimmer.com/2012/04/04/cornerstone-cooking-crunchy-black-bean-tacos/

This is one of our favorite go-to's.  They are quick, easy and so good.  We like to have meat-free meals at least once a week, and this is the perfect option!

Sunday:

Crockpot Cashew Chicken

http://myfridgefood.com/viewrecipe.php?recipe=20547

Ok, this is a MUST.  Payton made it while I shopped so I don't have many tips, but we did double the sauce and served it over brown rice.  It might be harder to do this one on a work day since the timing is a little weird, but it is SO good!

So far this week we have had coney hots (coneys with texas pete cili) with salad, and a couscous and shrimp dish with grilled nappa cabbage.  The couscous and shrimp with nappa cabbage takes a total of about 10 minutes to make - score!  

1 cup plain couscous

1 lb. shrimp (I thawed raw frozen shrimp)

olive oil

lemon juice

salt & pepper

parmesan cheese

Cook the couscous according to the package and set it aside.  Sautee shrimp and garlic in olive oil.  Add S&P to taste.  Add 2 tsp. lemon juice.  Add couscous to shrimp along with additional olive oil (plain couscous can be a bit dry).  Add parmesan cheese, stir, and serve!  Couldn't be easier.  For the nappa cabbage, we quarter it, drizzle it with sesame oil and balsalmic vinegar and sprinkle S&P on each piece.  Grill until slightly brown on the edges but soft in the middle, chop, and enjoy!  My dad grills cabbage or romaine all the time and it has turned out to be one of our favorite sides.

Happy May!