Bride to Be

It's that time of year! Wedding season! I have two engagement parties at the same time the same exact day, go figure.One of which is for one of my sweet friends from high school Madelyn. I met the bride and groom both around the same time.. We all worked at Beef- O-Brady's together.. Just a fun/miserable time of my life. I made life long friends and basically no money. But at least I got some wonderful memories out of the job! I really wasn't sure what you give as an engagement gift... as I have never really been to an engagement party before. So I brainstormed and the couple already lives together... and basically has  everything they could want... plus let's be real they are going to have a few showers in the future and they will get whatever they don't already have. So I decided to make something for the bride! I always see all these cute gift baskets so I thought it would be a good time to try my hand at one.. and I must say I was pretty happy with the way it turned out! And it wasn't too expensive either! All together I think I spent $22.98... so $23.00! Not too shabby if you ask me.

Ok, now let's get to good stuff!

Here is what I put in the basket:

The basket was from Marshalls : $9.99
Champagne glasses Dollar Store: $1.00
Ring Pops Dollar Store: $1.00
Thank you cards Dollar Store: $1.00
Mason Jar mug Marshalls: $1.99
Note book Walmart: 3.99
The Knot magazine Walmart: $4.99
Wine bottle not shown Trader Joes: $2.99

Ok so the total came out to be $26.95 not too bad! I wrapped the notebook and magazine together with some hemp string I already had. 

and I tied the ring pops together and wrote "Because he put a ring on it"

And here was the finished outcome

I was happy with the outcome of the basket! I think the bride was too! So it was a win and I will probably another basket in my near future!!

Paula Deen's Beef Stroganoff

Hello--

I feel like every time I make a post lately it's about how i'm sorry I am not a better blogging. Maybe if I knew anyone read it I would be more likely to keep up.. Anyways-- What's going on in my world is that all I do with my TV time now is watching Food Network Channel. I have been really into the Pioneer Woman... but I actually didn't really like her Beef Stroganoff recipe... So I found Paula Deens... Maybe I was over critical... or expecting something amazing.. my audience enjoyed it more than I did. I would make it again but probably try a different one before I made this one again.

Ingredients needed:

1 1/2 pounds cubed round steak,
Calls for house seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, sliced
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 (10 3/4ounce) can beef broth
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream f mushroom soup
salt and black pepper
1 cup sour cream
cooked egg noodles

I bought my beef steak strips from Publix (it's the only thing I bought from Publix) I believe I got it for under $7.00. There was a house seasoning Paula made and it consisted of (1 cup salt, 1/4 cup black pepper, & 1/4 cup garlic powder) I didn't use it. I placed the steak in a wooden bowl added salt, pepper, and minced garlic that was in a jar, about two table spoons of that and a generous portion of salt & pepper. I let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator until I was ready to cook. Before I started cooking the meat I chopped up some onions ( I got 6 for $1.50 at Aldi, along with mushrooms) I chop everything before hand and then started the skillet.

I place the meat in the skillet I put the olive oil in and the butter, throw the meat in add a few sprinkles of flour to the mix; I brown them on both sides( I think next time I will leave them more pink).

 

Once brown I take off put on a plate set aside. I put the onions and mushrooms (both chopped) back into the skillet, with the beef "fat", cook them until tender I added a few sprinkles of flour to this mix. I then added the meat back in, then added the mushroom soup and beef broth, I left on 2-3 heat for 30 minutes; added salt and pepper along the way.

This is how it looked 15 minutes into cooking to give an idea

I let simmer for 30 minutes, but I start warming the water at 10 minutes and put the noodles in at about 20 minutes; When I put the noodles in I put the sour cream in the sauce. When I first saw the sauce I thought it was too liquidey but it was perfect for the noodles. I make sure everything is mixed together perfectly. drain the noodles and everything was ready to go!

Put the noodles in a bowl and add the sauce! Of course I poured myself a glass of wine!

 

I would make it again but i'm not totally sold on the recipe!

 

Here is the actual recipe if you would like to try it!

 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/beef-stroganoff-recipe.html

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

 

 

Turning 25

As my birthday approaches it has made me think a lot more about my life. It's scary to think I am entering my mid 20's... When the heck did that happen? I feel like I have accomplished nothing... But I did look back and think 24 might have been my best year yet. I learned a lot about life, love, and things I'm looking for in life.I have always been one that has wanted to travel and see things... For the first time in my life I can actually say that I went places other then Disney. I hadn't been on an air plane since I was 9 and I flew 3 different times this year! I flew to Tampa in May to see Gio, Chicago to run a half marathon I ended up not running, and to Disney to see my mom run what's called the Dopey Challenge. It was a crazy and exciting year! I lost one of my best friends tragically, got through one my of hardest time thus far, and made new friends.

As a little girl I always thought by 25 I would have a great job, a beautiful husband, kids, and a wonderful life.

My reality::: I have a mediocre job that barely supports my bills or my lifestyle. no degree, a pretty beautiful boyfriend, I don't even want kids, and I do have a pretty wonderful life regardless of the money situation.

I just always thought when I was 25 I would have my whole life figured out and it would be great! Things are different then I ever imagined but I'm ok with that.. Not saying i'm not hitting a quarter life crisis and fully regret turning 25.. but if it is anything like year 24 I think I will be ok.

Let's recap year 24 since I was not all that great with keeping up with my blog.

I met a guy in Florida Feb 2014 that I connected with immediately.. I spent a month talking to him over the phone for hours every night. Y'all I was seriously ready to move down there for this guy, I REALLY liked him. I went down to Florida for my Birthday March 2014 to go visit him for not even 24 hours... I was still ready to move.. April 2014 I lost my license due to a DUI (that I got Nov 2013) for 3 months... 3 months of hell. I kept on with my relationship with Florida boy.. Flew to Tampa the last weekend in April realized our short awesome little relationship was over (I will go into detail at a later blog post). The next day I got back and I had red roses waiting for me from someone else (I have never been sent flowers to work before). May I very unexpectedly met a guy through a mutual friend that I very quickly fell for (I know I sound like I love every guy I come into contact with). We hung out for a few months, nothing serious and even more so it didn't go anywhere. I then met my now boyfriend in September.. Things just really took off with us and things are moving pretty serious with us I would say. Along the way I went to a few concerts over the summer, went to the beach in June with Granddaddy and Sarah, ran the Peachtree Road Race in July, September went to Chicago & Music Midtown, October went to Nashville, and the last couple of months went to Disney, and Feb completed my second half marathon, and here I am now... March 2015 going to the beach with Olivia to bring in turning 25.I'd say year 24 wasn't too bad. Stay tuned for what 25 has in store for me... if anyone is even still reading this.

XOXO-- Andie

It's been too long

Wow has it been a while... I'v been a bad blogger the last year... But here goes nothing!

It's that time again.. The time to start packing my tiara because, I'm going to Disney World for the Princess Half Marathon 2015! A lot has happened since my trip last year, in some ways I feel like a completely different person. Last year when I went I was completely trained, I went for 10 long days, went to St. Pete,Longboat Key, and Disney. I had the most amazing trip ever!! This year i'm feeling a little down. Don't get me wrong i'm still excited but there was nothing that could compare to my 2014 trip.

Like I said a lot has happened since this February and last February. My sweet friend Porter that I went to go see last year? Well he passed away. That is a different story for a different blog post. Last year when I was visiting Porter I happen to meet this incredible guy randomly. The "relationship" was sweet and short, we will just leave it at that. I cherish the memories I spent with him, the long hours on the phone, the couple times I went down to Florida to see him. I can say he opened my eyes a lot and he did teach me a lot. I really do cherish those memories. Last year I was so excited for the race I couldn't take it.. This year I'm just feeling very mehhh about it. I have not trained... pretty much at all. I ran a 15K about a month ago and I have ran on the tread mill a few times. But let's be honest here I am in no condition to run 13 miles. But ready or not it's coming! I'm going as Belle this year.. I'm hoping the costume will come out cute!

When I think about the last year and how much it has changed I don't know weather to smile or cry. Maybe in a post coming up I will talk more about all the changes that happened. but for now I'll just leave it like this. I'm still excited to get down to Disney! I will do a post when I get back letting everyone know if I finished successfully or if I was hanging with the Balloon ladies!

Princess Half Marathon--- I'm comin for ya!!   

I'm back!

Hello out there--

It's been a little while since I have written on here. I haven't done many races lately, and kind of took a break from running altogether...but guess what peeps??? I'm Backkkkkkkkk!!!!! me and my running shoes! It's July and i'm ready to get refocused! I am excited to announce that I signed up to run my second half marathon! No, it's not in Disney World... But it is in Chicago! I am so excited about this run! I have hardly even been out of the south. I went to Maine twice when I was younger, but in my adult life I haven't left the south! Actually a couple months ago I flew on an airplane for the first time since I was maybe 9?.. I flew down to Tampa. That is a different story for a different post ;). I am excited to knock a couple things off my bucket list!

I have to admit that my training this go around has not been very good... I hurt my ankle again so I am trying to take it easy... But at the same time kind of starting to panic if I will be able to finish in one piece. I will be using this as my accountability to keep training again. It seemed to work last time so I will try it again this time!

I also am a Princess in training again :).
Can't wait for February to come around again.

That's all for now. I will check back soon!

P.S. Here are some pics from the Peachtree Road Race on the fourth of July here in Atlanta.

Happy Running!

Princess Half Marathon 2014

The weekend that I had been training for since October was finally here! All my sweat, emotional struggles, and physical struggles were all going to pay off. I couldn't believe it was finally time! I remember in November thinking it felt like the race would never be here. I never thought I would be doing half marathon... and anyone that knows me before my half marathon would say the same thing.. People were shocked but I did it! And i'm here to tell about it.

I got the pleasure to go to the expo twice. The expo was held at Disney's Wide World of Sports. It was like nothing I have ever seen before! It was huge! So many vendors I didn't even know what to do with myself! The fact that I was going to be running a half marathon did not hit me until I walked in to pick up my bib. Then all these feelings started rushing to me! I got to take my picture with Minnie Mouse, Aurora, and Snow White. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Galloway, who is very inspiring! He even talked privately to me and Jessica about how to over come out mental struggle of finishing the race. It was such a sweet moment I will forever remember! I bought two bumper stickers for my car that showed I ran a half marathon. That was one of the things I was most excited about! Over all I thought the expo was great!

Onto race day! I only got a couple of hours of sleep that night... I expecterd to be so nervous that I couldn't sleep but it was pretty much the opposite.. I was too excited I couldn't sleep. Our alarm goes off around 3:20 am.. yes you read the correct! I laid out my clothes the night before so all I had to do was slip into my clothes and I am now Minnie Mouse! I went to Disney as Belle.. But then ended up matching my mom and going as Minnie Mouse! I didn't feel like my Belle costume was perfect so I am postponing it until next year's princess so it will be perfect! I grab my breakfast box my mom surprised me with and we headed down to the food court and headed to the bus! The line was SO long.. I mean SO SO long! But it went by pretty fast.. and the temp that day was just right!

We hop on the bus and my nerves really start kicking in! The longest run I have done is 10 miles and i'm about to be doing 13!! I was thinking what the heck am I doing here? I am not ready for this! Why would my mom ever sign me up for this? But... it was too late to turn back now.. I just had to put my game face on and enjoy it.. Although I was very nervous about the balloon ladies! We meet up with Jessica for a few minutes prerace, snapped a few pictures and headed to our corrals. We all had different ones.. Mom was in "J" I was in "M" and Jessica was in "P". I made a few friends in my time group since you have a while until you actually start running... The fireworks go off and we were on our way!!

I do have pictures off all the mile markers.. But I won't bore you with that! I did not stop at any of the character stops. My goal was to just finish in one piece! Plus the lines for the characters were SO long! Along with the potty lines! It was ridiculous!! I tried to stop at two different potty's but the lines were terrible! And I remembered a few blogs I read said there was a short bathroom line inside Tomorrowland.. So I booked it and went to the bathroom there.. and boy were they right! That line moves fast! And it's a real bathroom! The first few miles were good. I had my music in so I was kind of zoned out. I did make it a point to take my headphones out to take in the music in the parts of the race they played it. I wanted to take in the whole experience! Between mile 2 and 3 we go under the Magic Kingdom vehicle entrance... which was actually one of my favorite parts! We go by the ticket center down the "big hill" and back up.. I can finally see the castle!! And it was just as amazing if not more then I had imagined! We go down Main Street USA, through Tomorrowland, then around Fantasy land.. and FINALLY through the castle! It was such an amazing experience! We entered through the back of the castle and the trumpet players from Cinderlla were playing the trumpet as we ran through. like I said.. very magical! And that is the highlight of the whole race lol...everything else is a little dull until you see the big Epcot ball again!

 I'm almost at mile 6 at this point and I was feeling pretty great! During the race I ate a small bag of energy jelly beans, a small Luna protein bar, and the Cliff Bar shot they gave us on the course ( just like GU)... I didn't think I wanted to take it but i'm so glad I did! It gave me the carbs and energy I needed to finish this race! People weren't kidding when they said the bypass is boring... It seriously is so boring! I listen to Pandora and it was on Niki Minaj radio. It kept me going when the going got tough. For me Mile 11 was the most difficult mile I ran. Maybe because it was the most boring? Or maybe because it was the furthest I have ran yet.. But seriously I thought they had forgot to put the #12 mile marker...That's how long it felt! and by mile 12 I was getting pretty stinkin tired.. I can't even deny that. But When I saw that sign that said Epcot straight ahead I was pretty stoked! So just kept on chuggin along!

 And that's it folks! I made it! Once I saw that big beautiful ball I knew nothing would stop me! it was a long mile but I finished it.. and I will not sit here and lie to you... it was freakin hard! I was tired. But I got enough energy to go out strong! And Princess 2015 here I come!!