martha would be proud. (part 2 of 2)

My final new thing, and my most favorite is my herb garden! Browsing through Target a couple of months ago, my thumb was feeling very green. I passed through the $1 Spot, where they had everything I needed to plant my very own herb garden (something I've been wanting to do for a very very long time) all for only $4! I can't wait until my herbs are mature enough to start using in my cooking, but with this lack of sunshine and way-over-rainyness, they are now struggling to survive and not drown--although I think they will pull through.

Oregano

Chives

Basil

My lone Parsley...

it's just taking a little longer than the others.

I realize my herb garden is tiny, and really isn't much to brag about...but it's definitely huge for me! It will be time to transplant them into bigger pots soon...I'm hoping to go to Lowe's today, if Paul will let me.

While I was photographing my herbs, I discovered that my tiny little garden is very pathetic compared to the little old lady downstairs' garden:

martha would be proud. (part 1 of 2)

Two posts in one week? Oh my!

This post is all about newness...and since it's about newness, I have loads of new pictures of new things.

Gracie has always loved looking out the window. In Florida it was easy for her--she would sit for hours just looking out the slider door window. Unfortunately, in our Kentucky apartment when you look out the slider window, all you see is a blocked in porch. Then, she started standing on her hind feet with her little front paws on the windowsill looking out the window. She has now started this:

Thing two. My kitchen has been a mess since we moved in. It is a really awkward space. Not much counter space with a very empty corner for a breakfast nook. Now let me just say that we have a dining room that doesn't even have a dining table in it, so there is no way we would have (or have a need for) a breakfast nook table. So here I am, with this too small kitchen with no storage, and a HUGE empty dead space. Then comes newness number 2:

A lovely shelf system.

I have one more new thing, which also happens to be my FAVORITE new thing..but that will have to wait until a later date--I have to check on my roast. Yes. A roast. Martha would be so proud.

Stay tuned for Part 2.

celebrities and hot dip.

I am a horrible blogger, this I know.

After a long long lonely day (Paul took an impromptu trip to Nashville for work today) of cleaning, laundry, and many episodes of Gilmore Girls (I've decided to watch all the seasons from the very beginning, a co-worker is letting me borrow them :]), I decided it was time to post something on here.

(This is the long version of the story. If you want the short version, scroll down and read the part in bold.)

This past weekend I had my very first Kentucky Derby experience. The last time we lived in Louisville, we arrived a month after the Derby had passed and left a month before the Derby began again. Bummer. This time we were here for the entire Derby experience. Although we didn't go to Thunder over Louisville (the BIGGEST fireworks show in the country), we watched it on TV and it was pretty amazing...we'll definitely be going next year. The day before the Derby there was a big festival on the waterfront, where Gavin DeGraw was playing...and it was FREE! We decided to go to that, to get into the Derby spirit, of course, and because it's GAVIN DEGRAW! Hellooo. Anyways...after arriving downtown it started POURING and pouring, and freezing, and winding, and pouring. Needless to say, as much as we loveee Gavin, we decided he wasn't quite worth hypothermia and pneumonia (sorry, Gavin)...and he's gonna be here again in June for free. After leaving the freezingness we decided to go down to 4th Street Live and do some bowling. Upon arriving at 4th Street, a member of our party had to go to the bathroom, and since Subway wouldn't let non-customers use their bathroom, we decided to go in the Hyatt. After using the bathrooms, we met back up in the Lobby where we spotted a nicely dressed guy and wife with security guard. We then came to the conclusion that it MUST be a celebrity in town, of course, because of Derby Weekend. A friend, Leslie, was SURE he was a member of the very very famous country band Rascal Flatts, but she couldn't be positive and definitely didn't know his name. After many minutes of trying to secretly stalk said guy and wife around the lobby while Google-ing Rascal Flatts band members on our phones...Paul just decided to go up to him and ask if he was in the band. Low and behold, HE WAS! He introduced himself as Jay DeMarcus from Rascal Flatts as he shook all of our hands. His lovely wife Allison introduced herself and offered to take our picture on my phone! Ahh! It was exciting (although I'm not a country fan, it was my first random celebrity encounter.)

This is the short version of the story for all those who didn't want to read the long version:

We ran into Jay DeMarcus from Rascal Flatts at the Hyatt downtown Louisville!

Paul, Me, Jay, Leslie & Phil.

I've been taking lots of pictures of new meals I've been cooking lately. I have many meal pictures stored on my camera and I've just been waiting for the perfect time to post them. Since it's spring and the weather has been so lovely as of late, I d

ecided to make a summery, refreshing chilled avocado and crab soup that I found from a recipe book one slow boring day at work. Sounds delicious, huh? Not so much. Paul can vouch for that one...eek. So instead of a delicious summery, refreshing soup...I will share a delicious, summery (and wintery, falley, and springy...all seasons!) dip.

This is my mother-in-law's recipe...with a few added tweaks to make it my own. So good...it's called Buffalo Chicken Dip. Mmmm.

Ingredients:

2-3 boneless chicken breasts, boiled, shredded.

2 packages of cream cheese, softened. (You can use full fat, or less..your choice!)

3/4 cup buffalo hot sauce (although the original recipe says you must use Frank's brand..I used Kroger and it was just fine.) You can adjust the amount depending on the spice factor you enjoy.

1/2 cup ranch dressing

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar.

Mix shredded chicken with hot sauce and spread evenly on the bottom of a 9x9 baking dish.

Mix together cream cheese and ranch dressing, layer on top of chicken. (In the pictures I mixed the chicken mixture with the cream cheese, but it turns out better as the recipe directs.)

Top with even layer of cheese and bake for 20 minutes on 350. (I forgot to take a pic of the finished product...it was just SOO good!)

Serve with tortilla chips or celery sticks.