Tiffstar

Summer 2011

2011-08-03T07:59:00.002-04:00

I just finished 3 wonderful weeks in the USA. I spent time with family and my boyfriend, cooked, traveled and relaxed. I'll return again in November for my second break. April 2012 is getting closer and closer each day!

What I've Been Up To

2011-03-27T18:16:00.004-04:00

Hello Blog World! I leave to head overseas in a little over two weeks and I thought I'd post one last blog entry before I leave. I just got back from a trip to Orlando and had a great time.

Here I am at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter located at Universal Studios. I just had to try a butter beer for myself. It was wonderful, so much more than I expected!

I hope everyone has a good three months, I'll post again in July when I return to the states!

What I've Been Up To

2011-01-18T22:35:00.000-05:00

Listening

Watching

Eating

January is almost over.....time is flying by and I'm trying my best to keep up!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T18:29:00.000-05:00


Well, 2010 has come to a close. It was one difficult year, but I got through it. I'm no longer newly single, and I have even stepped back into the dating world. 2011 will be an adventure. I have accepted a one year tour overseas that begins in April and I had to give Mr. Brownie to my parents to care for while I'm away. I'll still blog during my trips back home.

I'll miss Mr. Brownie, but I know that once I finish my year, I'll be ready to set up a nice home in the Washinton D.C. area and start making roots. Happy New Year!!!

Life is Good

2010-11-17T21:57:00.000-05:00

I know i haven't posted in a while. Life is busy, but good. I'm still cooking, crafting, and getting to happy!

Have a great week!

Good Movie

2010-08-31T21:51:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching this. I loved it!! It was the perfect romantic comedy.

What's Cookin?

2010-08-30T17:31:00.000-04:00

Since seeing Eat Pray Love in the theaters I've been trying my hand at Italian food at home. For this simple dish I bought the freshest tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese I could find. I also splurged on a really good quality olive oil.

Yummy!

This was my ode to Elizabeth Gilbert's asparagus meal. If you've read the book she buys fresh asparagus from a vegetable stand in Rome. She asks the seller to split the bunch of asparagus because its only for her. Then she goes home and creates a beautiful meal by adding two slices of salmon and boiled eggs to her asparagus. I decided to bake my salmon on a bed of sauteed onions and leeks. (Leeks are SO my new favorite vegetable now!) I also roasted my asparagus in olive oil, salt, and pepper. This meal was delish!


Okay, so I didn't cook this meal. It was just really awesome barbecue!

Have a great week everyone! Labor day weekend is coming up!!

Curious Food

2010-08-30T16:54:00.000-04:00


So, I'm at the gourmet grocery store the other day and I come across these guys in the berry section. Sweet Longans. I had never heard of them before so I bought a package.


This is what they look like. They are firm and with the texture of cardboard. I made the mistake of trying to bite straight into one. Yuck!

I quickly discovered that you have to peel them open. Inside it's like a skinless grape! They taste rather like grapes, just a bit more floral. Longans aren't my favorite fruit, but i love trying something new!

Theme Song

2010-08-26T00:23:00.001-04:00

I never appreciated this song so much...! It has become my theme song. I find myself singing it all the time!

Good Movie

2010-08-23T19:56:00.001-04:00

It's an oldie but a goodie!

The Home Cook

2010-08-21T19:41:00.004-04:00

Here are the last few meals I've made for myself lately. I'm proud to say I cooked scallops for the first time. I order them quite often at restaurants, but they've always seemed too complicated to make at home. Thanks to Ina Garten, I successfully made Scallops Provencal. Delish!

Quick and easy chicken salad w/fresh summer berries.

Greek Tilapia with homemade tabbouleh.

Roasted lamb with fresh corn and avocado. I must say right after i took this picture I piled on more corn and lamb! I can't wait to get home and start cookin' again!

Home Sweet Home

2010-08-21T19:28:00.004-04:00

I'm away for work and I just thought I'd post some pictures of home. I took these pictures one lazy Saturday last month. Yes, that is Mr. Bobo in the picture!! Mr. Bobo's my cat, but he has some litter box issues so he usually resides with my parents. I brought him down to the hill country to stay with Mr. MacBrown and me for a while.

Awww....

Mr. Bobo's back with my folks now, but I loved spending time with him. (Well, aside from dealing with his litter box discrepancies)

Furry Cat Feet! That's all from me for right now!

Moving Forward

2010-08-21T19:13:00.003-04:00

My divorce was final in June. It was a relief more than anything.

It's now August, 8 months since December and I'm feeling strong. I'll just keep moving forward.

Eat, Pray, Love

2010-08-15T11:43:00.002-04:00

I just saw this movie yesterday and I loved every second of it. 4 stars! It made me want to go on a trek around the world myself!

Summer Vacation Part 3

2010-08-08T03:13:00.000-04:00

These are just some of the beautiful flowers Gutten and I came across on the resort. The staff must water them several times a day to keep them looking so gorgeous!

The main building at the resort had very glamorous decor.

I loved all of the silver accents everywhere. I think i'm going to try to incorporate more silver into my own home.

On our last day we went to a Cuban restaurant for lunch. I'd never had the opportunity to try Cuban cuisine, so I was super excited!

Gutten ordered the classic Cuban sandwich.

I ordered churrasco with plantains and rice. It was super yummy. We didn't know what churrasco meant at the time, but assumed it was beef. Later, i found out cuban churraso is just bar-b-qued skirt steak! Well that's all for my vacation pictures. I had a wonderful time with my family. Now its time to get back to work!

Summer Vacation Part 2

2010-08-08T01:51:00.000-04:00

Gutten and I spent most of our vacation lounging by the pool. Here I am at the resort's lazy river. Can you tell I'm happy?

Gutten lounging by the pool.


The lazy river only went up to 5 feet deep. It was the perfect depth for a basics-only swimmer like me.

We also spent time at the resort's smancy rooftop pool. It was very glamorous.

The awesome view from the rooftop pool.

And last but not least, here was our own pool. It was just lovely!

Summer Vacation Part 1

2010-08-07T23:05:00.003-04:00


Well it's summer vacation time!! My family and I visited Orlando, Florida for a few days this past week. On our first day, after meeting up at the airport we had lunch at BJ's restaurant. Yum Yum!


After lunch we headed to Downtown Disney for some shopping. Gutten and I stopped for some margaritas!


Here's my strawberry margarita. It was really strong!


We then checked into Reunion Resort. It was super fancy!


Smancy Lobby!!

And here is our vacation home! It was a beautiful 4 bedroom home with a private pool. I'll post more pictures later!

23

2010-06-22T21:03:00.000-04:00

I had a lovely visit with my family two weeks ago. It was really nice to escape from the stress of everyday life and live for a bit in your childhood. Back when Mom and Dad had it all covered and you could merely enjoy yourself. (I know i'm purposely leaving out homework, chores, ect) Here's a picture of my Mom's homeade pizza. Isn't it just lovely? Yeah this was definitely a time to use the bonus WW points we're given every week!

Oh yeah, i turned the big 23 while visiting my family. Take a look at my double chocolate cake! Served with Bluebell chocolate ice cream of course!!! I'm hoping that 23 will be a good year for me. I hope to keep discovering more about myself, exploring my relationship with the Lord, and bringing happiness to others.

Have a great day everyone!

What's Going On

2010-06-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

Not much has been going on lately. You may be able to tell by my huge lack of posts, but i did join Weight Watchers! I'm down five pounds and feeling better already!

I'm so happy that Weight Watchers allows you to cook at home, there's none of that mailed in food here. I tried this new recipe out, it was so good. Shrimp w/Black Bean and Corn Salsa is my total fav right now.

Yummy Chicken w/mushrooms and cilantro was also a hit.

Portion control is a huge part of Weight Watchers, so many meals that i would have eaten entirely by myself are now being tupperwared and saved for lunch the next day!

I'm learning to measure my fruit which is super new for me. Fruit used to be something i could eat whatever I wanted of, but i'm learning that everything has calories! Check out these amazing golden watermelons...i think they're just freaky, but so tasty to eat!!

Goodbye for Now!

What's Cookin?

2010-05-30T16:29:00.000-04:00

Here are a few of my homemade meals i've cooked over the past few weeks. Above you can see my panseared tilapia w/roasted italian veggies.

I really love lamb. It can be pricey, but its so full of flavor. Here I made some simple lamb chops w/parmesan risotto and beets. Gotta love beets!

Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry w/ veggies and rice noodles. Super Quick and Yummy!

One of my favorite breakfasts: whole wheat waffles covered in berries and maple syrup

This is the best Sunday morning breakfast. Tropical pancakes covered in home-aid coconut yogurt and mango. Delish!!!

New Pots!

2010-05-30T16:17:00.000-04:00

Yes I finally invested in new cookware! The stuff i was using was the cheap Target brand cerca 2006. It was time to reinvest in a new set. This time I chose Paula Dean's red set.

Are they not gorgeous?? I can't wait to get cooking!

Costal Scents

2010-05-30T16:10:00.000-04:00

I discovered Coastal Scents makeup. It is awesome! I purchased their shimmer pallet.

I received the pallet quickly via the mail and in perfect condition. I'd recommend Coastal Scents to any woman who loves makeup! Plus its really affordable, this pallet only cost me $19 bucks!

Floral Monday

2010-04-19T21:47:00.000-04:00

There is nothing I love more than fresh flowers in the house. Aren't these great?

I hope everyone has an awesome work week!!

Single Girl Therapy

2010-04-19T21:38:00.000-04:00

I loved Sex and the City when i was married. I love it even more now that I'm single. I own every episode, every companion book, and of course the movie. Being able to laugh at these crazy women going through the ups and downs of life help me put mine into perspective.

And of course I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT MOVIE!!!

Spring Is Here!

2010-04-19T21:31:00.000-04:00

Spring is here and I have been trying to spruce up my front and back patios. Check out this gorgeous purple plant!

I bought the cutest patio furniture for out back. The blue is bright and cheery. I didn't want to spend a fortune on a wicker set, so I don't mind my stuff being plastic. They still look cute!!

Here is my Texas Hill Country view taken right off the back porch. Have a great day everyone!

What's Cooking?

2010-04-19T21:21:00.001-04:00

This past week I've tried to cook up some healthier Indian fare. Here is my Aloo Ghobi recipe taken from Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. It is tasty, but it's 100% better if eaten the next day. I guess it's just one of those foods that taste better the next day.

Here is dinner from last night. It was so yummy. Baked Tilapia w/ cous cous and quinoa. I also had a nice spinach salad to complement it. Yum Yum!

I love my kitchen. It may not be the biggest or the fanciest, but its mine. Warm, comforting, and peaceful. It's all about the little things now and cooking keeps me happy! (Though I have to try to keep it healthy!)

Bittersweet

2010-04-19T21:11:00.000-04:00

I approved the Divorce Decree today.

It was Bittersweet. I didn't want this to happen. But it did. So now this is what i want, this Decree. Once signed and submitted to a judge...divorce will be granted.

I love myself. If it takes being single to give myself the life I deserve, then that's what i'll be. Better to be happy alone than not at all....

Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T20:58:00.000-04:00

All is well over here. I just received this very "grown up" Easter basket from my Mom. She's awesome. I'm so lucky to have her in my life. Now.....back to my sugar high. Happy Easter everyone!

Cooking Up A Storm

2010-03-28T17:47:00.000-04:00

I've been motivated to cook more wholesome food this past week by Jaime Oliver and his new book Food Revolution. The recipes in here are amazing. I realized i can make really yummy dishes in no time at all.

I made Chicken Tikka Masala and it was wonderful. With the help of these quick curry pastes from Pataks, Indian food can be cooked up really quickly.

Yummy enchiladas made in under an hour. Yum!

Healthy spinach pasta.

And don't forget dessert!

Have a great week everyone!

Welcome Spring!

2010-03-20T23:45:00.000-04:00

Well it was time to go shopping for a new Spring wardrobe. I tried my hardest to pick nice season appropriate colors. Here are a few of my finds.

Everyone needs a nice sweater set. I got this in a beautiful purple color.

Haha let's see how long i can go without staining this beautiful white shirt.

Perfect picnic wear. And there will be insufferable work picnics in which i will have to endure...at least i'll look cute!

I must say i enjoy shopping for capris versus jeans. Since i'm only 5'4 i'm stuck in between petite jeans and average ones. But with capris, they all fit well!

I don't think MacBrown is very interested in Spring Fashion! I'll check in later. Have a good weekend!

Salmon, Flowers, And MacBrown

2010-03-20T23:01:00.001-04:00

I must say it's easier to eat healthy when you live alone. I find myself doing grocery shopping in short bursts. Tonight I'm having salmon rolled around spinach and feta cheese. So yummy!

My daisies now have company! After 6 days, my lilies finally bloomed! Lilies may not have the most beautiful floral scent, but they sure are gorgeous!

Have a good night!

Content

2010-03-16T22:42:00.001-04:00

Ahhh.. Home Sweet Home.

I missed Mr. MacBrown so much!

Since becoming single, i've been working on redesigning my home. I added this silver mirror to my bedroom wall and i think it gives it some glamour.

I redid my master bath in this really pretty pale green. Now i wouldn't usually ever choose green for anything, but i'm trying to change things up. This color actually looks beautiful with both the early morning and evening light.

Oooh i happened to also learn the beauty of 500 thread count sheets and down comforters. Priceless! (I actually got a great deal on them too!)

I'm getting used to the idea of my home being all about me. Its strange, but i think i'm starting to enjoy it. MacBrown and I will be just fine. We're holding out for a brighter future. Peace and Love. Bye for now!

The Last Days Of Room Service!!

2010-03-16T21:23:00.000-04:00

So in my final hotel days, i ordered this yummy tropical steak served over rice. Yum!!

My final room service meal...delicious shrimp pasta! So good!! I must give credit to the Hilton Garden Inn, thanks for the yummy grub!

Whoo hoo! Now its time to go home! Finally!

Travel Pit Stop At Home

2010-03-06T00:49:00.000-05:00

Well tomorrow i go home for one evening then I'm off traveling again for one more week. I won't be able to blog while away this time which is a bummer. But, i'll be back soon. I must say i'm looking forward to seeing this guy, even if its only for one evening before heading out again! See you all in a week!

What I'm Reading

2010-03-05T12:54:00.000-05:00

This book is amazing. It only takes a few hours to read because it's separated into short stories. It's very, very inspirational!

You Know You Are In The Country When....

2010-03-03T19:25:00.002-05:00

You find yourself driving over a cattle gate!

It's a cattle gate because cattle won't walk over these grates. So it lets people pass, but no cows allowed! I thought it was so funny!

Today was a good productive day! I'll post later! Have a great day!

Very Proud

2010-03-03T19:17:00.000-05:00

I did good last night!! Though i think i could have used some protein in there. Next time i'll add shrimp or chicken!

Hello!

2010-03-01T19:59:00.000-05:00

Greeting from the middle of nowhere Texas!!

Despite having a cold, I'm feeling very hopeful about life today. I guess that's what sunshine and nature will do for you! I'll post later!

Dreams

2010-03-01T01:37:00.000-05:00

#1 Visit Ireland's Beautiful Drop Coasts

#2 Own My Own Cute Cottage

#3 Find My Very Own Puppy

#4 Take A Cruise With My Family

That's All For Now!

My Soundtrack of Now

2010-03-01T00:47:00.000-05:00

The best CD out right now. (Except for Angel Taylor of course!)

You Are What You Eat

2010-02-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

One of the hardest things for me to do when traveling for work is eating right. Let's evaluate if I've made the right room service decisions over the past few days.....

#1 Cobb Salad

Cobb Salad. Must be healthy right? Ummm...Yeah, maybe not with all that bacon and cheese!! I guess I could have taken them off the salad before smothering the salad in Ranch dressing.... NAH! It was good though!!

#2 Blackened Tilapia

You can't go wrong with fish right? Well, you can when its topped with a delicious buttery rice and sat on top of a huge portion of white rice!! Haha..oh well. It was super yummy!

#3 Chicken Parmesan

The room service menu said "lightly breaded chicken served with lightly tossed pasta". Umm...how about smothered in cheese and served with a huge bowl of spaghetti? Oh well! Once again it was super good!

#4 Vegetarian's Delight

I guess I finally found a truly healthy dinner!! This veggie sandwich boasted alfalfa sprouts, avocado, tomato, lettuce, Havarti cheese and some olives. Yummy and delicious!

I just started reading this book by Jillian McKeith. Maybe you've seen her on BBC America's "You Are What You Eat" TV show. She's bat crazy....BUT she does have some really fun tips on what to eat. I wonder what she'd think of my room service orders? I'll post later!

Excited!

2010-02-27T19:03:00.000-05:00

I can't wait for the next Sex and The City movie to come out!!! I was so happy when i heard they were doing a sequel. Whoohoo!! Is it May yet?

A Traveling Woman's Essentials

2010-02-26T20:01:00.002-05:00

I thought i would blog about what items make frequent traveling more comfortable.

#1 The Large Purse

For me, moving through the airport quickly and efficiently is essential. A large purse that can hold my laptop saves me from tugging around my laptop bag. I especially like my new purse with its hot pink lining!

#2 All in One Makeup Kit

I got this awesome makeup kit at Sephora during the after Christmas Sale. It includes eyeshadow, highlighter, blush, bronzer, lipgloss, and lipstick! (Not that I wear it all at once!!) Anytime i can consolidate items while traveling, i do and this is the perfect example.

#2 Mini Jewelry Box

My Mom gave me this perfect little Jewelry box. She got it as a free gift with some Redken stuff she bought. It is perfect for taking some jewelry with my when i travel. Of course i only bring the cheap stuff!!

#4 Perfume

One of the first things i did after separating from my ex, was go out and find a new perfume. I wanted to make visible changes everywhere in my life. I wanted to leave the house each day with a new scent, signifying my new path in life. I decided on Burberry Brit Sheer. It is sweet, light, and crisp. I love it. Though i must say i really need to buy a travel sized bottle!! So perfume while traveling...yes...large breakable bottle in your suitcase....um no! I'll work on that.

#5 Good Reading Materiel

This is an obvious one, but i just wanted to plug the Bridget Jone's Diary books I'm reading. They are SO FUNNY! If you loved the movies, you'll totally enjoy the two books written by Helen Fielding.

#5 A Lovely Place to Come Home To

As exciting as traveling is to me, I still look forward to coming home! Here's a picture of a few of my Valentine's Day presents from my parents. A cute bear and a rose. I learned a few weeks ago that you can still have a lovely Valentine's Day when your single, you just surround yourself with people you love!! That's all for now!!

What Inspires Me...Today!

2010-02-17T21:11:00.000-05:00

Here is what's inspiring me today in the world of entertainment!

I just bought seasons one and two of Alias. I keep hearing from different people telling me how good the show was, so i gave it a shot. Let me just say...awesome!

Over the past month I have been working my way through Terry McMillan's repertoire of literature. I love her total honesty regarding what her characters are feeling. No one can capture heartache like Terry. But the main reason why I love her writing is because every character finds her way and discovers that she was much stronger than she realized! These books are just good for the soul!

My newest find is Love Travels by Angel Taylor. I just happened to come across her music in Itunes the other day, and boy was I surprised. Her quirky, smooth, eclectic mix of songs will please any ear. She's totally a star waiting to be born!!!

And finally, my inspiring movie....Valentine's Day. Yes, you heard this heart broken blogger correctly. Valentine's Day is a wonderfully wholesome, sweet, and totally funny movie. If you haven't seen it, go out! Its worth the money to see all of these awesome stars in very honest and relateable roles. Oh and Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner? The funniest folks of the bunch!

Hello 2010

2010-02-17T18:32:00.001-05:00

Okay. So it is February 17th and I am finally able to blog again. There's something about a personal crisis that just keeps one away from the computer..... I guess I should just say it. I'm getting a divorce. The drama came quickly and painfully; like a band-aide being ripped off. Before I knew it he was gone and I was left with my job, my house, and my cat. Oh and my pain. But I'll leave it at that for know. I'm going to continue blogging because it helps me find the beauty in daily life. I'm not sure how different this blog will be now, but I'll just put my spirit into it and see what comes out of it.

So Life Goes On.....

Christmas is Coming!

2009-11-30T21:19:00.003-05:00

Well its Thanksgiving weekend and that means getting out the old Christmas decorations. Poor Mr. McBrownie was subjected to trying on all the cat Christmas gear! hehe!

He much prefered the jingle bell collar to the reindeer ears!!

Can you believe I really knit this bear's sweater?? I figured if i could successfully knit a bear a sweater, shouldn't i be able to knit a full sized one? Let's hope.

Well that's all for now. Happy Holidays! I'll be sure to post the big Christmas tree reveal.

Food!

2009-11-30T20:48:00.002-05:00

I noticed that I haven't posted any of our meals lately. So, here ya go!

Yummy Salmon dinner w/ broccoli and rice casserole.

Lamb chops w/ seasonal rice pilaf and a fresh spinach salad.

Fisher and Weiser's Pineapple Bourbon sauce makes ANY kind of meat taste amazing!

Oh, we've been doing breakfast for dinner quite often. Yummy!!

Oh and here is our Thanksgiving meal, well part of it. We cooked a duck! It was delish! Oh you can see the container macaroni and cheese in the background? Well at least the bird was homemade!

Wish Me Luck!

2009-11-11T18:00:00.002-05:00

Wish me luck! I'm starting my very first knitted sweater! Boy is it sllllooooowwww going! Whew.. it's going to take a long time!

Here's a close up of the stitches. I'll write again soon! (i hope!)

Yarn Time

2009-11-11T17:32:00.003-05:00

Check out my new yarn. I bought the most gorgeous hank of Heather Blue 100% Peruvian Highland Wool from my local Yarn Shop, Rosewood Yarns. They kindly spun it into a ball for me and I ended up with this HUGE ball. It's quite funny. Oh, i also picked up some organic cotton.

The bad thing about buying 100% wool? Mr. MacBrownie can't keep his nosy self away from it!

Here is my last crochet project. A simple striped scarf.

This is a knitted scarf I am working on now. You can see the difference between the garter stitch on the bottom and the stockinette stitch on top. I'm really enjoying the art of knitting!

And here is my homemade sewing case I made in crochet. Now back to work!

What I've Been Up To

2009-11-11T17:12:00.003-05:00

I'm learning to knit! It is really hard, but i think knowing how to crochet is helping. Check out the awesome books i found at the WONDERFUL Half Price Books. Who doesn't love getting a 30 dollar book for 6.95?

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-11T16:11:00.007-05:00

So this was our first Halloween in the Texas Hill Country. Perhaps this Halloween would be different and we would get a few tricker treaters? Yeah.....no.... not one kid rang our door bell. So, Husband got to pig out on all the candy again. Oh well! Maybe next year!

We still had a fun Halloween making candy apples and pumpkin pie.

The finished project! The apples came out perfect. (Well... they were way too hard to bite into, but who's telling??) :)

Post For My Mother

2009-11-11T15:25:00.004-05:00

So, I'm scanning some old pictures onto the computer over the weekend and I figured my Mom would like to see my old baby pictures digitalized forever. I love you Mom!

What I've Been Up To

2009-10-05T18:49:00.002-04:00

Spending time with Gutten.

Fighting regular blackouts!

Attempting to create the perfect pizza.

And snuggling with the Snuggie!

Wedding Weekend

2009-08-23T00:27:00.003-04:00

Well, Husband and I are on another road trip. This time we're off to a wedding. Check out this amazing Texas rest stop! Yes, I embarrassed Husband by taking pictures, but I thought it was worth it.

It was a perfectly clear day as we traveled to Galveston, Texas for a cruise ship wedding.

Here is Husband waiting to to go in for the rehearsal dinner.

And here we are at the wedding reception. I didn't get permission to post pictures of the actual ceremony, so we'll have to make do with this one of us.

That's all folks. Here we are getting ready to go home. Tip for anyone going to a cruise ship wedding: wear flip flops onto the ship for all the initial processing, then change into heels just before the ceremony. As you can see I was VERY happy to get to the car after over 5 hours in heels!

After Work

2009-08-11T21:48:00.002-04:00

I just got off work and I am: Admiring Gutten's flowers...

Making Chai tea with honey....

Grabbing a quick snack...

Smiling at Mr. McBrownie....

And heading out to a family gathering! I'll post later! Have a good week.

Gutten's Here!

2009-08-11T21:33:00.002-04:00

I am so happy Gutten is in town for 2 whole months! She stayed in our home last weekend and we were so happy to have her. This is a major sign that Gutten is in town... fresh flowers. I would never have picked these dyed ones, but they actually look great.

Another sign Gutten is in town: Fresh lemons and salt. I don't understand it, but Gutten loves the combination. She made sure to grab some lemons during our lunch at Sea Island.

And here she is! It's so hard to get a good pic of her. She hates having her picture taken.

Gutten had her favorite fried fish plate.

Here's what I had. It's so easy to eat healthy at Sea Island. Yum!

Vacation Part Four

2009-08-02T19:52:00.003-04:00

Husband and I ate at a really cute place called Blackbeard's for dinner one night. It's a family friendly place that happens to sell really good food.

I know, i know.... i should have taken advantage of the seafood... but I really wanted a yummy sandwich.

Husband wanted a sandwich too.

The next day we ate here. At a place called Amberjack's. Great view.... great food... perfect restaurant.

Husband and I both had the shrimp and crab enchiladas. It was SO good. I can't wait to go back.

Aww... time to go home. Bye beautiful South Padre Island! I took this picture as we were checking out in the hotel lobby. Isn't this brid cute?

The drive home wasn't so bad. South Texas is beautiful.

We did pass by several roadside fires on the way home. With the grass so dry, people need to be careful when they throw their cigarette buds out. Good thing we don't smoke. Okay... will post later!

Vacation Part Three

2009-08-02T19:26:00.005-04:00

Here is the outside of our room. You could see the beach from the little porch.

It was just a short walk to......

the Beach!! Not a smidge of seaweed visible!

After a quick walk on the beach, Husband and I decided to hit the pool. But first...

We nabbed some yummy beverages! This was my pina colada... yummy.

Then it was hanging by the pool for the rest of the day. I wish I could get Husband into flip flops.. he'd be much more beach worthy and comfortable.

Relaxing..... and mostly empty. That was a plus!

I wish I was still there!

Vacation Part Two

2009-08-02T19:07:00.003-04:00

After what seemed like forever, we finally made it to our hotel. Isn't it tropical looking?

Our room was pretty nice (though a little outdated) but the best part was a beach view.

Cheesy bathroom!

So after a long drive, Husband and I only wanted to order room service and settle in. What did we decide to order? A nice salad.... Hmmm.. what we got was a cheesy covered extravaganza and a free desert thrown in. Oh well.. we were on vacation!

Though we went for the fruit plate for breakfast the next day!

Vacation Part One

2009-08-02T18:48:00.004-04:00

Husband and I took off for South Padre Island last Friday. We stopped at Snoopy's Pier for lunch. My family has eaten at Snoopy's for years. I have very fond memories and I wanted to bring Husband to continue the tradition.

What is it about sweet tea that tastes so good on a hot summer day?

Husband getting into vacation mode.

We had fun looking at the birds and fish while we waited for our order to be called.

Lunch was so good!!

Journal

2009-07-28T19:46:00.002-04:00

Isn't my new journal pretty? I can't wait to start writing! Have a good week! Husband and I go on vacation in 2 days and I can't wait!! I'll post upon our return.

Happy Birthday Mr. McBrownie!!

2009-07-28T19:23:00.003-04:00

I took this picture one year ago. It was the first day I met Mr. Benjamin Brownie... also known as McBrownie. He was only 5 weeks old. It was love at first sight.

As he grew up I learned that he is mischievous and loving all at the same time.

Now, one year later Mr. McBrownie is my best buddy. He watches all the cheesy romance movies with me that Husband can't bear to watch!!

He's Just Not that into you, Bridget Jones Diary, Pretty Woman, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Sleepless in Seattle..... Not a problem for Mr. McBrown!! He'll curl right up and be my movie buddy.

I look forward to many more years with him!

Diet Progress

2009-07-28T18:54:00.002-04:00

With four pounds lost, Husband and I are keeping up with our diet and exercise plan. One thing that has made eating right more fun... our new sandwich press. For some reason low fat cheese and booring low fat meats taste SO much better when melted and surrounded by toasty bread!

Of course i'm incorporating my current obsession with guacamole into our diet. I made chicken tacos last night. Yummy!

I also sauteed mushrooms with fresh herbs for a side dish.

Hahha... Nope we didn't eat these! But we did bring them to a neighborhood BBQ. Ahh temptation!

My Itty Bitty Ipod

2009-07-23T17:49:00.002-04:00

Since Husband and I are visiting the gym 5 days a week, I ditched my CD player and joined the 21st century. Isn't my new tiny IPOD cute?

At Home

2009-07-18T19:08:00.005-04:00

Not much has been going on at home lately. Husband and I have been exercising and eating a healthier diet. We swapped chips and cookies for this delicious fruit. I love fruit so that's easy to do.

I made the best shrimp the other day. I marinated it in Riesling, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, and cilantro. 10 minutes in the oven and walah! A yummy appetizer.

We bought Mr. McBrownie a new water bowl. It comes with it's own resevoir. He looks so sheek drinking out of it!! Plus the less I have to fill it up the better.

I bought this wonderful tool at Williams Sonoma the other day. It scoops out fruit and veggies quick and easy. It is perfect for watermelon, kiwis', and avacados.

Speaking of Avacado's, we have been making guacamole like crazy here. Shouldn't I be getting sick of it soon?

Of course we are still frequent visitors of Blockbuster. See Inkheart and Madea goes to jail. Skip Confessions of a Shopaholic.... its just bad. Well i'll post again soon!

Out and About

2009-07-18T18:33:00.003-04:00

Well it has been hot, hot, and hotter down here in the hill country. Husband and I spend as little time out during the heat of the day, but last weekend we ventured out...

Don't let this pretty scenic picture fool you... it was 104 degrees and rising. Yucky!

We grabbed lunch at one of my favorite dives, Cosi. I ordered the chicken bombay salad, and a cucumber salmon sandwich. Yumm......

Next stop, the apple store to get Husband's IPOD fixed. Too bad the only close apple store was in an outdoor mall! Yikes!

We finished off the day by heading to the Palladium for a movie. We saw Bruno. That was quite an interesting movie to say the least.... I got through it with an apple carmel martini.. .it helped!

22

2009-07-18T18:18:00.005-04:00

I turned the big 22 a few weeks ago. No the sombrero was NOT my idea! I was ambushed and serenaded at Papasitos!

I must say that since Husband and I have moved away from Virginia and the safe nest of Gutten, I do feel much more grown up. I wonder what 22 has in store for me?

Jealous

2009-07-18T18:02:00.002-04:00

I just received this picture in my email...... My little sis is in Philly eating a wonderfully delicious Philly cheesesteak. She is also with Gutten. I am so Jealous!! Did I mention Husband and I are now on a major diet and exercise plan? BUT I am so happy for little sis. She deserves a good time before college begins. And who better to have a good time with other than our very own Gutten?

Blue and Brown

2009-06-11T22:47:00.007-04:00

Husband and I wanted to add some color to our home, so we sprang for this new linen set. I ordered this online from Kohl's, and I was worried that it would look tacky. You never know if it's going to look the same in person, you know?

But it came out looking perfect! There's a great combination of silky blue with a deep chocolate brown. We love it!!

Weekend with the Fam Part 2

2009-06-11T22:24:00.005-04:00

Well i was back in North Texas this past weekend. My little sister graduated from High School! I still can't believe it... isn't she still in middle school? I guess not.... The best thing about this past weekend above all.... Gutten came down!! It was so good to see her. I really miss spending time with her. This is a pic of Gutten teaching Mom how to clean cow intestines....icky!!

This was the best BBQ meal ever.... sorry Rudy's, you can't beat some homemade BBQ.

My birthday was coming up, so Mom made me a special cake. Isn't it too cute?? Chocolate.... yummy!!

And finally after a wonderful weekend, my little sister walked the stage. I am so proud of her!!

Texas Sky + BBQ

2009-06-11T21:33:00.005-04:00

Husband and I have been working really long hours lately... so we are off to pick up some BBQ! We don't have too much time for home cooked meals during the week.

Yummy!!!

I love the brisket from Rudy's. It is to die for!

I Can't Wait!

2009-06-01T21:17:00.002-04:00

I just saw the trailer... This movie is going to be amazing!!

Weekend with the Fam

2009-05-30T22:49:00.008-04:00

Another bonus to moving to Texas: we are only 5 hours away from our parents! We recently spent a very relaxing weekend with them.

It's always nice to visit home. I find it funny how much you appreciate your old home once you move away!

My parents put on a wonderful BBQ. YUM!

I really wish I could cook rice like my Mom!

Why does ice tea taste better when your Mom makes it? We had a wonderful time and can't wait to visit the folks again!

Shoe Shopping

2009-05-30T21:05:00.007-04:00

It is again a beautiful day in Texas. Husband got a new job in construction, so we are off to find some steal toed boots!

No luck at Target......

We found the perfect pair of boots at JC Penny's! Mission Accomplished.

Scenes from the Hill Country

2009-05-30T19:08:00.011-04:00

As Husband and I were heading off to brunch last weekend, I decided to snap a few pictures of the beautiful Texas Hill Country.

How could you not fall in love with this land?

I had to add this pic of my beautiful purse.. it's my Aunt's from a long time ago, but good leather lasts forever.

Destination reached. Mimi's, the perfect brunch location!

Driving home from brunch. Happy, full, and content.

Happy Birthday Husband!

2009-05-30T18:37:00.006-04:00

Hubby turned 23 this month. He's such an old man already! Not sure what I was thinking when I made this crazy cake... Husband wanted carrot cake... not my favorite. Guess I was uninspired.

We spent Husband's big day shopping and going to the movies. We saw the Wolverine movie. I must say it was quite exciting!

We finished off the day at Maggiano's. Yummy!!

I'm Still Here...

2009-05-30T18:06:00.008-04:00

Things have been really slow around Tiffstar lately. But I do have a bit to share.... new posts coming up.

Evening Song-Wishing I was in a Brittish Pub....

2009-05-03T00:09:00.001-04:00

The Box - Johnny Flynn

2 Great Movies

2009-05-02T23:07:00.004-04:00

I saw this movie yesterday. One word....Powerful. What is with all the great movies coming out to rent right now?? Well Kate Winslet definitely deserved her Oscar. Just like Doubt, The Reader blurs the lines between villain and hero. This was a beautifully filmed movie. A must see.

I saw this movie today. It delivered exactly what it advertises. Total chick flick. Nothing wrong with that!!!! I loved it. Kate Hudson and Anne had a good chemistry... I really believed their friendship.

Flashback...New York 2008

2009-05-02T21:55:00.005-04:00

I'm feeling sentimental today, so I thought I would post some pictures from my visit to New York City last year. It was a family trip and we took a site seeing bus.

We saw so many amazing places during our trip. Many places that I had only seen on TV.

I think it would be really cool to live in New York. I mean look at these cool apartments..... Too bad they are really expensive!!

Gutten posed with the Rock...hehehhee!! I should of had a picture taken with myself and the Rock too! What do you mean he's wax??

We had such a good time in New York. I can't wait to go back!!

Very Good Movie

2009-04-28T23:28:00.003-04:00

I know, I know..... It's been REALLY quiet here lately. I'm in my last month of school (for this semester) and my new job is taking a lot out of me. But all is well. I am posting this evening about a wonderful movie I just saw. Doubt. It is wonderful, and despite the dark subject matter, quiet humorous. It will cause you to think. See it!

Beautiful Evening Song

2009-04-15T23:32:00.001-04:00

Yellow - Jem

Fun at the Game

2009-04-15T23:18:00.002-04:00

Husband and I went to a Spurs game tonight. The AT&T Center is really big!! But we had really good parking, so we didn't have to walk far.

We got there early, so the line wasn't long at all.

Of course we had to get all the goodies!! Nachos came first. We also had cotton candy and hot dogs!! Tums anyone??!

We had great seats! The Spurs played great. We can't wait to go back again.

This Past Weekend

2009-04-15T22:49:00.007-04:00

Husband and I had a lot of fun last weekend. We spent early Saturday afternoon in Half Priced Books. I love this place. I found this vintage P.C. cast novel. I love it! (Even though Husband made fun of me for reading a book with a Centaur on it.) Hey, don't knock it till you've read it!!

We also went to the movies. Check out our AMAZING movie theater!

They have a balcony bar upstairs. Husband and I had drinks while we waited for our movie to start.

Check out the view from the bar! It was a super fancy smancy theater.

We saw this movie. Let me tell you, this was SUPER funny. I'm not exaggerating. Go see this movie!! Husband and I laughed our butts off!!

Easter

2009-04-15T22:43:00.004-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!! Praise the Lord! Gotta love beautiful colored eggs!

Banana Evening

2009-04-14T21:03:00.006-04:00

What to do with these over ripe bananas? Hmm....

Time to find a good recipe!

The final result! Yummy banana bread fresh out of the oven!

Mr. Bobo

2009-04-14T20:27:00.003-04:00

Remember Mr. Bobo? Husband and I had to send Mr. Bobo to live with my parents last year. I didn't post about it because it made me sad. BUT it was for the best. Mr. Bobo is happy with Mom and Dad and I can't wait to visit him again. I just wanted to post a picture of my first cat baby. I love you Bobo!!!

Evening Song

2009-04-04T00:43:00.002-04:00

Latikas Theme - A.R. Rahman

3 Years

2009-04-03T00:06:00.007-04:00

Husband and i have been married for 3 years! To celebrate we went to dinner at Maggianos. The pictures all came out bad. The light was really dim and I promised to not embarrass Husband with the flash!

This is above all my favorite appetizer. Tomato Caprese..... so good!

Husband and I both had the Lobster Fettucine. This picture just does not do the dish justice. Mmm!

For desert we had the carmel apple crostada. Too good!

Of course we got some great movies to watch from Blockbuster. It was a perfect anniversary for us, good movies and good food!

Wonderful Spring

2009-04-02T21:07:00.008-04:00

I love this time of year, more and more fresh fruit and veggies are becoming available. These were on sale for only 1.19 each!

Yummy Philadelphia rolls! H-E-B seems to always carry fresh sushi and spring rolls.

Husband and I have been opting for healthier foods lately. We opted for fruit over our usual popcorn.

I noticed a ton of asparagus down here. So i decided to make asparagus with hollandaise sauce with a recipe out of my favorite cookbook. (Barefoot in Paris) Did you know how much butter is in hollandaise?? Wooo...

Home

2009-03-27T22:51:00.008-04:00

And we finally made it home. I didn't take any pictures during the move in, we were too busy. Here is our new and very beautiful kitchen. Ahh.....

Our first meal in the new house. Yummy sandwiches on multi grain bread with potato salad. Simple and good.

And look who suprised us with a visit! Gutten came down to spend the weekend. We all went to our favorite BBQ place, Bill Millers!

Husband really loved his food!

As for me... heaven. A new place, beautiful country, a weekend with the people I love the most. Oh and this delicious food. I think we'll like Texas.

Texas Style

2009-03-25T23:31:00.003-04:00

Check out the amazing rest stop that Husband and I went to on the final leg of our trip. Isn't is cute? (Never thought I would say that about a rest stop.....)

It was really big!

We took our time taking pictures and reading all of the cool information posted.

Almost there!!

Pics from the Road

2009-03-25T22:15:00.005-04:00

Husband and I grabbed some KFC on the way down to Texas. Yummy!

We also bought fresh strawberries from a farmers market in Arkansas.

Here is the pyramid in Arkansas. Husband was lucky to get the shot, we were driving really fast! I've been to Egypt and this pyramid looks so modern in comparison!

We got a chance to visit Mom and Dad. We hung out and had a wonderful meal!

These flowers were for Mom. It was her birthday weekend. They were really pretty! I wish we could have spent more time with her, but we were on to the Hill Country!

Evening Song

2009-03-22T03:50:00.000-04:00

Rain - Priscilla Ahn

Brand New Demi - Evening Song

2009-03-17T19:22:00.001-04:00

Dont Forget - Demi Lovato

Scenes from the Road

2009-03-17T18:52:00.005-04:00

I'm just posting some pictures from our road trip. Mr. Mcbrown behaved wonderfully on the trip down here. He just slept and lounged around.

He basked in the sunlight.

Guess we wasted 20 bucks on those cat sedatives........

Husband and I were very excited to see Dairy Queen!!!

Yummy!! Chocolate dipped cones...

Here's Husband dumping out the cooler at about the halfway point. We were already tired! More pics later!!

Moving Day

2009-03-16T18:59:00.002-04:00

So today I'm posting pictures of our moving day last month. Mr. Mcbrown hid in the bathroom sink while the movers cleared out the house.

All empty!

I already miss our loft. It was so sunny.

Luckily we didn't owe the apartment anything on move out day!! We took pretty good care of the place.

Of course i saved our wedding cake! Three years past and I still couldn't let go. I don't think we'll be eating it though.....!! More pics tomorrow!

Evening Song

2009-03-15T22:29:00.001-04:00

Reasons To Love You - Meiko

I'm Back!!

2009-03-15T21:33:00.003-04:00

Yup, Tiffstar moved to Texas!! The hill country to be exact. It being Sunday night, I'm exhausted, but its good to be back, and I'll be sure to post more pics later this week!

Moving Time!!

2009-02-19T02:09:00.001-05:00

Well the move is upon us. Husband and I are gearing up to drive to our new home across the country. So, I won't post for a little while, sigh. But I'll be back with the big announcement!!! Where's Tiffstar's new home??