Glossy Box - December

GlossyBox showed up today and I have to admit I'm pretty happy with it. I'm not sure if it was nicer than usual because it was a Christmas box or if it's always this nice. I'll probably end up giving most of the products to Melia. They're nice, but better suited towards her.
~ ECRU - acacia protein oil
~ Pleats Please - perfume sample (smells nice, just not my favorite notes)
~ Bath and Shower oil - madurai jasmine and mogra scented.
~ White Tea epsom salts
~ Oscar Bland - Dry Styling Heat Protect Spray
~ Zoya - "Storm"... beautiful sparkly black
~ A jewelmint sample which was a pretty gold toned necklace with pretty jewels/pearls (fake).

Anyway, that's that!
It's the last day of Gary's Christmas vacation so we went to see The Hobbit. It was FABULOUS! Now, it's time to cook a delicious salmon dinner and I'll post the recipe if it's as good as it looks. ;)

Crockpot Mexican Soup/Stew

I know that it's been awhile since I've posted a recipe. Now that I look at it, it's been awhile since I've posted anything. Sorry! I've been busy and other than painting my nails, I haven't really been up to anything blog post worthy. I also haven't really been trying new recipes so I haven't had much to post food wise.

That being said, I have a new one to post! Gary is going TDY for 2 weeks to Florida. He's leaving on Saturday so this was our last weekend together for the month. Since today was Columbus Day he didn't have to work so we took advantage of this and went to see "Taken 2". It was fabulous. There were a few obnoxious people in the theater but I took a Klonopin before we left, so I didn't feel all stabby stabby.

I prepared this meal this morning and turned on the crockpot on our way out the door so that dinner was ready a short while after getting home from the movies.

I did take this recipe from Paleomg and her recipe also calls for cilantro lime "rice" (which is made with mashed cauliflower for those not familiar with Paleo). Gary doesn't like paleo "rice" AT ALL and I didn't feel like making it just for me. SO, if you want the ENTIRE recipe, including the "rice"... it's right here. :)

You're going to need:
1 TBS olive oil
1lb chicken breast (I actually used 1.5 because, well I just did)
1/2 of chicken broth (I used an entire cup and next time I"ll probably use 2 cups)
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes
1 yellow onion slivered
1/2 a jar of roasted red peppers (I used a 12oz jar)
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed with a knife (I used .. double. We love garlic!)
1 TBS chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano (oops, I must have forgotten this)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder (I added this on my own)
1 tsp salt
pepper, to taste (oops, forgot this too)

Take all of the above... throw it in your crockpot. BUT be warned, if you throw it and miss and make a mess, I'm not coming over to clean that crap up.
Mix it all up and cook it on high for about 4 hours.
Once it's done shred the chicken up with 2 forks or whatever and serve it.

This is deeeeliiiiiciiiooouuuuusss!

My Early Present To My Valentine.

Believe it or not I'm always struggling to find fun, unique and thoughtful presents for Gary. Sure, I can stick with the never-fail Barnes and Nobles gift cards, cash or Newegg gift certificates but sometimes I just like to be like... ya know?

This is what I came up with this year and you're more than welcome to steal it from me. I'm not very "crafty" so I'm pretty proud of my damn self!

I started with 20 to 25 Valentiney looking note cards with envelopes, a hole-puncher, a 1.5 inch metal book ring thingie (you can get them at office supply stores or at craft stores) and a crap ton of Valentine's stickers.
I sat down at my desk and started writing.
In each card I wrote something special just for him, little love notes, "pick me ups" and other random thoughts.
I sealed the envelope up. Then I punched a hole in the top left corner of each one and put them on the book ring. I decorated the front of the envelopes with stickers and rub-ons and left him directions to only open them on days he's feeling "down" because I've come to realize that my bi-polar ass isn't the only one to get down around here.

This is what the final project looked like.
NOW, keep in mind I'm NOT crafty so you'll probably make yours a lot prettier blah blah blah. I just keep telling myself it's what I wrote on the inside that matters! LOL

I'm right here!!!

I haven't updated because I have no memory of this last week. I know we did stuff I just don't remember any of it.
Wait, yes I do.
We went to the commissary on Friday. That was a disaster. Not only was it military payday (I forgot) it was also the quarterly case lot sale at the commissary so it was a FRACKING MADHOUSE!
We had to fight our way down aisles and the line to check out was wrapped around the store. Luckily it was only about 30 minutes to wait to check out. People were very crabby by the time they got there though. Two ladies decided Gary and I had cut them off in line and cried about it for 5 minutes. Honestly if they had just shut up I would have let them in front of us but since they wouldn't STOP TALKING about it we decided to ignore them and keep our place.

Also, we went to some snobby restauraunt in Tempe for lunch last week. The food was DELICIOUS. The employees were very nice but I really needed to go home and shower the snot off of me. To give you an idea of where we were. There was a Saks Fifth Avenue on one side of us and a Coach store (not outlet) on the other side. I'd go back though. It was really good food. We've been trying to go out to lunch every Wednesday since it's the only day of the week he doesn't have to be in an hour early for P.T. This week I'd like to stay on this side of the valley though. 45 minute drives are... long.

We spent the weekend vegging out. Actually, I spent the weekend vegging out. He spent it writing a research paper that he procrastinated on. His brain was melted by the time he was finished but he'll probably ace it because he's stupid smart.

Other than all that my weeks been pretty ... average.

I did get one cherry tomato off of my plant though! Hopefully the other ones turn red around the same time...

Oh and we went to see the new Robin Hood movie on Sunday night. Don't waste your money. It's too long and too slow. I wouldn't even recommend renting it unless you want a good nap.

What a weird week...

Between Gary's horrible schedule this past week and my uncle passing away it's just been a really weird week.
He did take me to lunch today. We went to one of our favorite Japanese restaurants called Ah-So.
This was our chef. (It's a horrible picture with my cell phone and their bad lighting) ... he was great though. Very entertaining and the food was delicious. He did all the typical habachi grill things like the smoking onion and throwing food at the patrons (Gary caught both broccollis in his mouth!)

Notice the people in the background? They were the only other people at our table. It appeared to be a man, his wife and one of their mothers. Let's focus on him.
He looked like a cross between George Wendt from Cheers and Peter Griffon. The holier-than-thou attitude was unbelievable though. He was one of the most neediest people I've ever had the pleasure of sitting next to in a restaurant. While shoveling food in his face he managed to call the waitress over about 15 times for water, wine, appetizers, more appetizers, butter for his lobster. He spoke to her as if she didn't understand a lick of English. He had the personality of a pet rock. Even our lovely chef said that he was just going to entertain US because THEY weren't even acknowledging his presence. Just a real piece of work. I did manage however to put all this aside and just enjoy a nice lunch/dinner with my husband. We really did have a good time just joking around and relaxing. And the people at Ah-Sos? They gave me a pretty red rose on the way out the door. How sweet is that??

Then we went to Barnes and Nobles so I could find some things for my nieces' birthday in July (yeah I wanted a headstart) and hit the jackpot. I love that place.

Now, to talk my husband into finding me a hugemongous pile of chocolate from somewhere because I NEED IT NAO!!!

On a side note: My sister (and husband and one of her babies) and my mom and dad are all driving to KY for my uncle's funeral. There is still a lot of flooding and road damage in KY so if you could just keep them in your thoughts and prayers that would be really nice.

Day 3, 4 and 5

We've spent the last 3 days chilling out at home with the occasional errand and dog walk. Lots of WoW and raiding and just hanging out.
Friday we went to Jamba Juice and watched a movie that night (The Fourth Kind - it was "ok".. weird but not bad).
Saturday we spent playing WoW all day and I tried to read more of "The Lovely Bones". I'm TRYING to get into this book. It's halfway done but it's just weird. I guess I'm just a Sheldon/Coben girl at heart.
Today we woke up early to raid with some friends... we're 10/12 now for ICC .. not bad for a non-raiding guild. Hung out some more, cooked dinner (which I hated so I wont be posting that recipe) and tonight I'm getting dressed up and he's taking me to see "Date Night" at our favorite theater. I really love date nights with Gary. :)

Tomorrow life goes back to normal.

jammie days are fun days

Today was a good "first day of the weekend".
Typical Saturday. We got up early to play some WoW with friends. I hung out (in game) with one of my bestest friends who I've called "sister" for about 11 years now.. holy crap it's been 11 years. I did my trip to World Market which is always a good time to me and spent the rest of the day in jammies hanging out with Gary.
Tomorrow is fun day. Have a few things to do in the morning then we're off to get some Blu Sushi for lunch. I can hopefully talk him into a short grocery store trip and then we're going to a movie. The plan is to see "Death at a Funeral" but I'm also interested in "Clash of the Titans" or "Date Night" because Steve Carell is freaking HILARIOUS.

Great... now all I can think about is Sushi.

p.s. Thanks for that pasta site recommendation OCB. I'm going to give this greek salad a whirl next weekend.. minus the mushrooms .. gag.