Wedding Fever

It's full on! I am not only planning our wedding down to every last detail; having nightly dreams or nightmares about the wedding; I am also filling every last second with wedding madness. I watch "Say Yes to The Dress" while working out, DVR every episode of "Platinum Weddings", reading any wedding blogs I can find, and buying any and all bridal magazines on the newsstands. I am not crazy, just have wedding fever and am trying to SAVOR every last second of being a Bride to Be, because crazy would be watching/reading/doing all of these things while not being engaged. Right?

Water Dogs

What a weekend! We headed east to Desert Aire this weekend to get some sun and relaxation. After cramming 6 people and enough food to feed an army into the SUV we ended up in 82 degree weather at 8pm at the cabin on Friday night. There are probably too many memories and "had to have been there moments" to blog about, but I thought that I would highlight some of the best parts:

• Sarah Palin references in CatchPhrase
• Charli informing us that WaterDog is another term for Seagul
• Lots of delicious food, including but not limited to: turkey burgers, apple french toast, wraps, jambalaya, waffles - there goes the 5 pounds lost
• Dead boat battery
• Banana Liquor
• Sunburns
• 10 pounds of cookies
• Interrogating Jarod

All in all it was a PERFECT weekend spent with family!

Cheers!

Delicious!

I'm a little late to jump on board the Greek Yogurt Train, but now I am totally addicted! I bought my first container of Fage that had a sweet little cup of honey and I can't get enough. In fact, I made a special trip to the grocery store yesterday just on search of another helping - when they didn't have any I was devastated.

I highly suggest that you try some greek yogurt, it's creamy and thick and delicious! This morning I topped a helping of the plain flavor with some honey and walnuts - a yummy and complete breakfast.

Cheers!

Summer Kickoff

Yesterday evening Shawn and I were invited on our dear friend's boat for an evening of wine, food and good company.

Sleepless In Seattle House

Deadliest Catch Boat

I don't know if there is anyplace better to be on a warm summer evening in Seattle than on a boat in Lake Union! 

Thank you Brad & Mel for a fabulous evening!

Cheers!

Summer found Me!

After my post yesterday, the sun came from behind the clouds and it actually hit 70 degrees! Today is supposed to be even nicer - I'm hoping that Shawn and I are able to enjoy some sun this afternoon, maybe Happy Hour al fresco? (I am willing to forgo the gym today in order to bask in what might be 1 of few nice days this June).

Cheers!

In Search of Summer

Summer might have officially started yesterday, but you wouldn't have known it in Seattle. Last night I wore a sweatshirt to bed. This bride-to-be needs to get her tan on, and these 58 degree gray days are not going to cut it! So this weekend, the family and I are going in search of the sun. 

Desert Aire Forecast:

Friday could not come soon enough!

Cheers!

Tis the Season

I LOVE Potatoes!

For a Father's Day dinner party that Shawn and I hosted yesterday, I made Rosanne Cash's Potato Salad, a recipe I came across on one of my new favorite food blogs, The Smitten Kitchen.

I am super picky about my potato salad, as I typically don't like mayonnaise based anything - this one uses just the right amount of mayo and has the perfect amount of crunch. I highly suggest using this for your next potluck. Beware - it makes a TON!

Rosanne Cash's Americana Potato Salad

Serves at least 8

• 3 pounds medium red-skinned potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed
• 8 dill pickle spears, coarsely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 3 celery stalks, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 small red onion (about 1 cup)
• 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled, chopped
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until fork-tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and cool, then cut potatoes into chunks and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in pickles, celery, onion, eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar and dill. Season potato salad to taste with salt and pepper.

 
Cheers!

10 TO GO

So, I stepped on the scale this morning. Mostly because I felt it was the safest day to do it, seeing as all I had for dinner was a handful of almonds and a Slim Fast Shake. Basically I felt skinny because I was STARVING (have been all week).

And.......I lost 5 pounds. So, essentially my plan of staying on my "diet" during the week and only drinking on weekends is working (somewhat). It's taken me 3 weeks to lose 5 pounds, and I have a little less than 7 weeks to go to lose the last 10. That is the math, however I still feel like I need to step it up a little. For example, last weekend I had a pastry and eggs Benedict for breakfast; Desert on Friday and Saturday; and drank excessively on Friday.

I did find an amazingly hard class at the gym called Body Pump that I tried for the first time on Tuesday that left me barely able to walk - so there is hope as long as I commit to going at least twice a week.

The pressure is on. 86 days to go.

Diet tips and workout buddies welcome. 

Cheers!

Danielle

Reality Check

Weddings are expensive. I started out with the idea that we would have a budget conscious wedding. Well, that idea pretty much hit the fan the second we toured The Edgewater. We looked at other places, but when you start with the best it's a lost cause to think that anywhere else would do. I tried to make up for the cost of the venue with other cheaper options, like invitations from Costco, flowers from a almost at-cost florist, a no-name photographer, an inexpensive DJ, trying to do all of the planning on my own, etc; but you see, that is exactly what I mean by expensive. No matter how hard you try to do things a little cheaper - there are just SO many THINGS that they all add up. 

I'll fully admit that I am a perfectionist, and also that once I get an idea in my head there is no turning back (again, The Edgewater) but in all reality I don't know how anyone could throw a wedding for less than $20,000.

Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited for our Wedding. Not only are Shawn and I counting the days until we celebrate our love for each other, but we are also SO looking forward to the party! Shawn and I love a good party. Which brings me back to the fact that weddings are expensive (especially for us); we have "quality" taste. We like good wine, good food, and especially good champagne and wouldn't think about throwing a party that didn't include all three.

This is not me venting, just simply stating the facts and trust me - this wedding will be worth every penny!

Cheers!

Stay-Cation

It's been a while since I have posted - things have been more than a little busy, which made this last weekend even sweeter. Shawn and I started the weekend off with dinner and a burlesque show (did anyone else know that this meant women with twirling tassels?) at the Pampas Room at El Gaucho - along with a relaxing night at the El Gaucho Inn. 

Saturday we started off with a delicious breakfast at Etta's - the Dungeness Crab Eggs Benedict was to die for! We followed that by enjoying the sights of Pike Place Market and the Waterfront and ended up at the Downtown Macy's to register for our wedding. We ended our day in Seattle with a cup of Gelato, as the weather finally got nice here!

Saturday night we ended up inviting ourselves to my Mom and Alan's for another amazing dinner - Sixteen-Spice-Rubbed Chicken Breast with Black Pepper Vinegar Sauce and Green Onion Slaw. 

Yesterday we did a little yard work, took a nap in the sun and started to watch the first season of True Blood.

For dinner I made the following and it was SO good and SO healthy. You have to love anything that uses In-Season veggies fresh from the Market!

Salmon with Spring Veggies and Lentils

• 2 small zucchini
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1/2 lb asparagus
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3/4 cup green onion
• 1 cup cooked lentils
• 4 salmon fillets
• olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• crushed red pepper flakes

Dice all veggies to approximately the same size. Saute garlic, zucchini, bell pepper, and asparagus in olive oil until just tender. Add lentils and green onion, turn to low. Heat 1 tsp olive oil in non-stick skillet until smoking. Season flesh side of salmon with salt and pepper and add to hot pan flesh side down. Cook 4-5 minutes and then flip and put into 400* oven for 4 minutes. Serve over veggies.

I hope that you all had a fabulous weekend in the sun!

Cheers!

Memorial Day Weekend

I LOVE Memorial Day. To me it means the kickoff of Summer, my favorite time of year. This year, like all other years that Shawn and I have been together we spent it at our Cabin in Desert Aire. This year we had the awesome company of family and friends which made it even better! I don't know if I could pick a favorite part of my weekend, as every moment was wonderful! Andreas got to fly his plane kite for the first time; spending time with my two besties, Jacque and Kayla; Shawn's barbecued food; Yatzee; Karaokeing to "Bang the Gong, Get it On"; Bum Darts (wish I had photo evidence); laying in the sun - the combination of it all made it a perfect weekend.

I wish I would have taken some pictures - maybe next year if I have Wish List Item #1.

To all the fallen soilders who fight for our freedom - Cheers!

Just Call Me Betty Crocker

Last night after I worked out, grocery shopped, made dinner, helped Andreas with Homework, did some laundry, showered and prepared lunches for the remainder of the week I decided to bake my honey some Banana Bread. Needless to say, yesterday was a "Housewive" kind of day for me, minus the fact that I worked from 7am to 5pm.

Because the bananas were not yet completely rotten, but it was going to be the only chance I had to bake all week I decided to "jueje" it up a bit by adding chocolate chips and coconut!

Sadly since I am on a diet trying to fit into my wedding dress I only am allowing myself one slice - I ate it this morning for breakfast and it was pretty tasty!

Enjoy babe!

Happy Birthday Charli!!!

My little sister turns 21 TODAY!!!! I hope you have a fabulous birthday and I can't wait to celebrate with you tomorrow night! Love you!!!!

Cheers!

I hear shoe angels......ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

In the words of Jo Lemieux, "could you just die?" My feet would outdo my dress in these shoes, but it would be worth it. Pure wedding shoe bliss.

I haven't had time to blog about Memorial Day Weekend yet, but these shoes deserved a break in my hectic work schedule.

Cheers!