Chicago, here we come!!!

Day off -- check
Suitcases packed -- check
Bus tickets -- check
Hotel reservations -- check
Concert tickets -- check

I think we're ready to go!!

In a few short minutes, the girls are heading out for our MUCH anticipated trip to Chicago to see these boys...

I'm definitely looking forward to this trip with some of my favorite girlfriends and getting away from the 'Lou for the weekend.

I trained my boss to handle my cash receipts and month-end duties yesterday.  It's the first time in 5 years I won't be there to close the books.  Hopefully I succeeded at training him on one tiny aspect of my job so that I don't walk into any craziness on Monday.  Wouldn't be so bad, but my backup (Coco) is going on the trip with me, so she won't even be there to lend a hand should he have questions.  Sure, I'm available by phone too, but month-end will probably be the last thing I'm thinking about today.  :)

Hope you have a great weekend too!!

Kissing bricks

From Nascar.com --
Thanks to a genius pit call from Kevin Manion, Jamie McMurray became the third driver to win Daytona and Indy in the same year, putting his owner in the record books.

Congrats Jamie on another spectacular race at the Brickyard!!  

I was sitting on my couch sweating bullets the last 10 laps of the race, but I had my faith in you pulling off the win.  Even Broccoli, who could care less about Nascar racing got into it and was intently watching the finish.  He wasn't nearly as excited as I was by the win, but he'll come around soon enough.  :)  

And as for you Mr. Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, who said that Jamie McNobody was a fluke in the world of Nascar and should have let Earnhardt Jr. win the Daytona 500, you might just wanna eat your words now.

Finally, congrats to Chip Ganassi Racing winning the 3 biggest races of the year.  That's definitely one for the record books!

Flashback

I was at the gym this morning doing my hour of cardio and watching the Top 20 Countdown on VH1.  I felt like I was back in my teenage years with the music artists that they were showing -- Hanson, Eminem, Christina Aguilera all had songs in the Top 20 this week.  They have all change dramatically from their debuts, but its nice to see them making a comeback.  Plus, it kept me entertained.

I am a bit disappointed though...in 8th grade I told everyone that I was going to marry Taylor Hanson when I was old enough.  Guess I should forget about that dream.

5 years and counting

 
Today is my 5 year anniversary with my employer.  For most people, this day would come and go and they wouldn't care less about it, especially since it's work.  For me, this day is extremely special.
For one, I have met amazing friends and some of the greatest people in my life while working for this company.  We have had some terrific memories over the years, we've faced hardships together and we've maintained our "family" through all of our experiences.

This anniversary also signifies a milestone for me personally.  My position here began my career as an Accountant.  Sure, I had been an Accounting clerk while in college, but this was my leap into the real world.  I had never made a commitment to an employer like I did when I started.  I was an unknown to the President and all of the Directors at our company, a small detail that made them somewhat hesitant to bring me aboard, but I made a promise to them that if they hired me, they would not regret it.  Two and a half years into my position, I was promoted and received more responsibility in the form of Administrative payroll, 401k and HR guru.  You know that you've made a name for yourself and the job you do when your given the task of processing the President's bi-monthly paycheck.

I go into work grateful for the opportunities and learning experiences the company has provided and even through the stressful times, I know there is no other place I want to be at this point in my life.
Most of all, the past 5 years have taught me to be confident in my abilities and work hard to achieve success.
July 18, 2005 was more than just my first day at a new job, it was the start of a great journey and another day of that journey starts tomorrow morning at 7:15.

Feeling spoiled

Finally decided to pamper myself after working my tail off for the past few months. 

Thursday night Coco and I went and got manicures and pedicures.  Usually this is something I do as soon as the open-toed shoes are pulled out for the spring and summer but time just got away from me this year so when Coco mentioned it while we were at work on Thursday, I decided to tag along.  We had so much fun!  And I still giggle every time I think about the color I chose -- Burnt Buns.  Not sure why it's named that considering it's a cross between coral and hot pink, but it still is funny to me.
Next week I have an appointment for a much needed hair cut and highlights and then finally on the 30th we leave for our Girls Trip to Chicago filled with shopping, sunbathing, the Bon Jovi concert and a night out on the town.

By the time August rolls around, I might be so spoiled, I'll have a hard time dealing with my normal self.  I guess I should start warning everyone else to slap me back to reality if my head ends up too far into the clouds.

Reminiscing and Cooking

Last night Broccoli and I were talking about our upbringing and our grandmothers and how they spoiled us with such amazing home-cooked meals throughout the years.
He told me about the homemade pizzas, breaded pork chops, fried chicken and warm lunches his grandma made for him while growing up and I told him about my Grandma R, who I lost in 2007, and how she continues to inspire me to cook, create recipes and recreate her signature dishes that she just seemingly threw together.  I truly believe my Grandma is the reason why I love cooking and baking so much now.  I can remember as a kid we'd watch PBS together on Saturday afternoons catching Julia Child, Jacques Pepin and Yan Can Cook, among others, hard at work.  I am still inspired by my Grandma's self-taught cooking abilities and wish that I would have had a little bit more time to learn from her.

A friend of mine sent me this cooking meme and thought there was no better time than the present for me and others to learn more about my cooking style.
What is your go-to ingredient?
Chicken, I can turn it into just about anything.

What nationality of food do you like the best?
Mexican, I love testing new taco, burrito, enchilada and quesadilla recipes.

What’s your favorite meal of the day to prepare?
Lunch or dinner, I feel like I can be more creative with those meals.

What is/are your signature dish? (What dish are you ‘known’ for?)
Chicken quesadillas with black bean and corn salsa.

What is your favorite comfort food?
A hearty bowl of chili

What cooking shows do you watch?
Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen and just about everything on Food Network

Your top three favorite cookbooks are:

Fast & Fit
Rachel Ray's - 2, 4, 6, 8 Great Meals for Couples and Crowds
The Complete Cookie Jar

Your must-have kitchen accessory is:
George Foreman Grill

Do you ever eat fast food? If so, what?
I really do not eat many meals out.  I have found that I can cook healthier and cheaper than most restaurants.  However, about once a month I will splurge for a Lion's Choice Roast Beef Sandwich or 6 inch Whole Wheat Roasted Chicken sub from Subway.

Most memorable meal you’ve had while on vacation:
There were two dinners in Puerto Vallarta that stick out in my mind - Pipi's Puerto Vallarta was an experience because it was the first time I'd ever had authentic Mexican and then Garibaldi's where we had the best red snapper appetizer I have ever tasted.
I also enjoyed Memphis tremendously.  Dinner at Neely's was one of the best BBQ meals I've ever tasted and Rendezvous was also everything I expected and then some.

What restaurant do you want to eat at that you haven’t yet?
Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill or Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons

What’s your favorite dessert?
Toll House Pie from Miss Aimee B's.

What scent in the kitchen do you love?
Sweet - vanilla
Savory - sauteed garlic and onions

What ingredient(s) do you avoid/dislike?
Even though I love to cook Mexican dishes, I'm not a fan of cilantro.  I just don't like the flavor.  I stick with flat leaf parsley if a recipe calls for cilantro.

What’s your secret splurge at the grocery store?
I don't splurge on much at the grocery store, I plan menus around items I can find on sale and in season and stock up on staples for everyday meals.  If anything, it's probably herbs and spices.

What’s the most decadent dish you’ve ever had?
The BBQ sampler from Neely's.  Not only were all of the meats smoked and cooked exactly the way I like it, all of the side dishes and their sweet tea made it an incredible meal.  I'd make the drive again just for more BBQ.

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Marshmallows, they satisfy my sweet tooth and are not loaded with too many calories.

Summer fun

Went a little crazy at the grocery store last night.  There were so many different fruits on sale with the 4th of July holiday and for the simple fact that just about everything is in season.  I figured since I've been on a major healthy, unprocessed foods (minus my marshmallow obsession) kick for the last couple of months, it wouldn't hurt to pick up some variety either.

The last few weeks have flown by at warp speed.
Work is unbelievably busy to start with and then we've had vacations to cover on top of it.  I have the pleasure of working the 4th to try to get caught up on billing.  Not that I want to spend my 4th working but at least there will be peace and quiet in the office so I can get a good chunk of it caught up -- plus it doesn't hurt that I'm picking up some comp time to use when I decide to take off for our girls trip to Chicago later in the month.  It's funny that for nearly a year and a half the transportation business was declining due to the economy and all of a sudden every company needs trucking services ASAP.  It's definitely nice to see pick up, but geez, I can't work much more or harder than I am without losing some serious brain cells.

Last weekend my dear friend Sherri's daughter A got married.  It was such an honor to be invited to the wedding and to celebrate A's big day.  A was a beautiful bride and Sherri would have enjoyed the day immensely while being extremely proud of her daughter.  However, it was bittersweet for all of the Lake girls knowing Sherri wasn't there to party with us at the reception.  The Lake girls spent the night exactly where Sherri would have wanted us, out on the dance floor, laughing and giggling and having a blast together.
I did feel somewhat old though because I met A when she was just finishing up high school and heading off to college, now some 4+ years later, she's married and starting a new journey.

That's about all from here right now.  Hope you have an enjoyable 4th of July weekend!!

How is it possible that I have been invited to or have been given tickets to 4 Cardinals games this season and I haven't made it to a game yet?  My timing stinks!

This week alone, I won tickets to Monday nights game, which I gave to Coco and then she and I were given tickets for tonight's game and she went home sick.
The one good thing is that every time I go and see a game in person, the Cardinals lose, so maybe I should stay away from Busch Stadium.  We could be headed for the World Series if I don't catch a game all season.

Go Cards!!