14 Days of Love

Yesterday was February 1... I remember when I was younger and time would seem to fly by, unless, of course, you were at school. All the adults, who seemed SO old, would tell me to wait till I was older, it just gets worse. Boy does it ever. Last month, I was so excited for Jose's birthday. I wanted to make it super special for him. Success :). [Happy dance] I wanted to make February even better.

A few years ago, when we were still dating and long distance, I decided to go all out for Valentine's Day. Beginning in mid-January, I started looking at cards. I bought a few. I made (quite) a few. All together, I had 14 Valentine's Day cards. In each, I wrote something I loved about him. I numbered the envelopes and I sent them on their merry little way all the way to Oregon. He loved them. I was happy. I got super gorgeous flowers that year.

All that mattered to me were the memories we made.

I wanted to do it again!

So, I decided on 14 Days of Love. I realized, when my hunny and I started dating, that love is not expensive, it's not jewelry or flowers. It is the memories and jokes and laughter. Hugs and kisses just because. Cuddling on the couch and watching a movie. All the other things are nice, I am a total girl, but those things don't make love. We make the feelings.

For Day 1, I just did a little card that kind of detailed my plan with a few lottery tickets. Jose likes lottery tickets. (Neither of us expect to get rich but it fun to scratch them.) This morning, I did hand and feet massages. He also looooves to have his hands and feet rubbed. He is a mechanic an automotive technician (he has a degree) so they are always tired.

I have a few more ideas... I might make these Pioneer Woman's Knock You Naked Brownies. I am considering using crushed cashews instead though... I am not a big pecan fan.

My main goal with all of this is to remind my husband how much I love him and appreciate him.

<3 Mailyn

Think about the BIG picture!

Seriously- do it!

As I mentioned before, I have a bit of a crazy temper. I also have a zero tolerance level for stress... ok, maybe like a 50% tolerance level (on a REALLY good day).  I just don't handle it well. I was having a mini-meltdown at work today. Nothing serious. Just me, freaking out, as usual. As a side note, I am really good at those, at work, I surround myself with things that make me happy. For example, pictures of Jose and I, family, friends and quotes that make me smile or might fit what I am going through at that moment. Today, I made myself a little sign that said "Find your happy place" and I made the pretty picture of the Amish Country sunset my desktop background because it reminded me of a beautiful and happy day.

After that, a friend told me to think about the BIG picture.

That really hit me. It made me feel 100 times better. Everything that bothers me is so insignificant. It might seem HUGE at the time but it really isn't. It was nice to take a step back and just think about the BIG picture.

All day today, I have had these profound, beautiful reminders that GOD watches out for me. On my way to work this morning, I started sliding towards a fire hydrant and I started to freak out (yep, this is a theme in my life). I was on the phone (hands-free) with Jose and I just asked him to pray with me. As we prayed, I felt this overwhelming calm. It carried me safely to work and back home at the end of the day.

So, in parting, hug someone you love, take a step back, find your happy place and think about your big picture. It is worth every second.

-Mailyn

Hello Winter Weather!

I love hearing people complain about how much they wish it would actually look and feel like winter outside. I get it. I love winter and we live in Northeast Ohio... you just learn to accept the horrible weather.

Then we get slammed with the snow and EVERYONE is complaining about it! Myself included. I should probably clarify my earlier statement. I love winter when I can watch it from the comfort of my home with hot tea and a really good book. I hate winter when I almost get run over by a semi-truck because they forgot to snowplow half the highway. I hate driving anyway but jeez! My heart was in my throat after that.

On the plus side, the hubby and I had the most fantastic weekend. We took a mini adventure to Amish Country on Saturday! We were so lucky. It was 50 degrees and sunny; a beautiful day.

We started at Smucker's. I always have the best time in there. It just might be my love of Mixed Fruit Jelly.

After that, we stopped at a "Latin store" and stocked up on all the yummy things we can only find in stores that import from Mexico... hello yummy-ness. 

Our next stop was Lehman's. Most people wouldn't be impressed with a store that sells non-electric goods. I am and, lucky for me, my husband is too! 

Jose's caption for this one- "This is what my wife 

does in a non-electric store... reads her Kindle."

I very nearly spent a LOT of money in there... I reined myself in. My birthday is only a few months away.

The next stop was just to satisfy my snack attack. Shislers Cheese House has samples of their most popular snacks right inside the shop. Hello snacks! Some of them are even healthy. Yumm! 

Our last stop was Das Dutch Kitchen. Go there! Go there very, very hungry. Get bread for the table and cover it in a LOT of apple butter. Then eat the Broasted Chicken. Save room for the Bumbleberry Pie. Or get the pie to go and buy a container of the apple butter.  Wow, that was seriously delicious food.

And the perfect ending to a beautiful, happy day.

These wonderful memories, with the person I love, get me through the dark, bleak, snowy days. The next time the sun shines, go make some memories with the one you love.

How fast a week goes by!

Hello!

It is such a beautiful day! I got to wake up and make my husband breakfast! Mr. I-don't-like-oatmeal has changed his tune. This makes me very happy. He got a bowl of oatmeal (just like my mom used to make) and toast with cinnamon & sugar. Yum!

Tonight, I am having dinner with one of my favorite girls from The Nest! We met in person a few months ago. We had a double date with our (wonderful) husbands at Stir Crazy. We had a great time!

I also might stop at (the highly addictive) Bed, Bath & Beyond. Jose's birthday is this upcoming Saturday. I can't wait to go all out for him this year. He was very, VERY particular about the cake he wanted. Unfortunately, I cannot make him the seven layer cake he so desires. I am settling for making him a German Chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse filling. I considered making him this cake from The Pioneer Woman. She is fantastic and I love her. She is pretty much my idol right now :) I got one of her cookbooks (here) for Christmas and she has great recipes with awesome step by step pictures and lots of humor.  She makes me laugh. Anyway, I guess I am going to stick with a fairly basic German Chocolate cake (from a box). I think I am going to stop to get a display plate and one of those cake saw things so  can make the cake pieces flat. I actually considered getting a cupcake plunger and randomly plunging the cake to get pockets of mousse. We'll see. I just want it to be super special for my hubby. He deserves it.

Have the very best Saturday night :)

Happy New Year!

2012 has been such an amazing year. It has been a year full of ups and downs, new and old friends, and wonderful memories. A year full of blessings. I am a lucky, lucky girl. I married my best friend and we have the most beautiful kitties to show for it. I can only imagine what 2013 has in store for us. I can't wait to find out. Looking forward to a fun night with friends and my hubby :)

Numero Uno!

Happy Saturday!

My first ever blog post! I have been wanting to do this for what feels like forever but I didn't know where to start. A new year is the perfect time for something new! Why start tomorrow what you can start today! :) Sounds great to me! 

Hi!!! I'm Mailyn (like MAY-lynn)! I am a 25 year old newlywed. Jose and I were married May 4, 2012 and it was the most incredible day of my life. I don't think I had ever been happier than I was on that day and it just keeps getting better! 

We live in Northeast Ohio. I have lived in Ohio my whole life and I really do love it. It's home. 

I am addicted to The Nest and Pinterest! On the May 2012 Anniversary Board, I have met the most amazing and awesome group of girls. They are so supportive and great for a laugh. As for Pinterest, how does ANYONE get by without it. How did I ever get along before?! Recipes, crafts, oh my! I am also addicted to my Kindle Touch, Harry Potter, blogs, cooking, baking and, of course,  my husband :). We have two furbabies, Willow and Primrose. I am fairly easy going, friendly and caring but with a crazy temper. My mom says that is the Aries in me... I just use it as my excuse :). I can be scatterbrained, totally focused and unintentionally funny. 

I just want to have fun and share my recipes and experiences and my life. My year. I hoping for a wonderful end to what has been the perfect year and a promising beginning to what I know will be an incredible year. I hope you like it.

This morning, I woke up bright and early today to find... more snow. So much for no accumulation! 

My amazing and fantastical husband is at work today and I decided to make him a very tasty dinner! He deserves it because we have been eating out or eating very, VERY easy for a few weeks now. This new cooking spree was started because Jose got me a  Ninja Slow Cooker for Christmas! This thing is great! I love it. On Thursday, I kind of used their inspiration guide. It was a recipe for Spaghetti & Meatballs. When I saw it, I couldn't believe my eyes. The recipe calls for you to put all the ingredients, frozen meatballs included, directly into the slow cooker. I am not really a spaghetti & meatballs kind of girl so I decided to tweak it. I tossed 2 dozen frozen shrimp into the slow cooker on medium on the stove-top setting. When they were no longer pink, I added a few cloves of chopped garlic and seasoning. I then added just over two cups or water, 16oz pasta sauce and half package of spaghetti noodles. Stirring occasionally  30 minutes later, I had a complete, delicious meal. Jose LOVED it.

Yesterday, I added marinated chicken breasts to the crock put (medium on the stove-top setting). When the chicken was cooked, I added sliced onions and whole garlic cloves. When both were softened, I added 2 cups of uncooked rice, water, seasoned salt and 2 tbsps of butter directly to my slow cooker. 30 minutes later, I had what SHOULD HAVE been a wonderful meal. The chicken marinade wasn't so good. I won't be using it again. I think I will go with a teriyaki or soy marinade next time. The rice, however, was awesome. Soooo, pizza it was!

Back to today (I am easily distracted), when I saw all of the snow, I decided it was a soup kind of day! OK, so I decided on the soup yesterday but the snow today made me really want soup! I first tried Stuffed Pepper Soup at Zoup! I loved it and would get it any time they had it on the menu. I decided I could do it... or try to do it at least. I Googled for a recipe and found two that looked really promising! They can be found here and here. From my dad, I have learned the art of combining several promising recipes and making an awesome recipe. Here's what I came up with!

Ingredients:

·         1 lb. ground beef

·         1 small-medium onion, diced

·         1 ½ cups diced bell pepper

·         1 can (16 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

·         1 (16 oz) can tomato sauce or soup

·         4 cups beef or chicken broth (or combination)

·         1 ½ cups cooked rice (cooked with seasoned salt & 1 tbsp. butter)

·         t tsp. garlic powder

·         salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large pot, add ground beef; season with salt & pepper. Cook and crumble beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add onion & bell peppers, cook for a few minutes to soften. Do not soften completely. Stir in the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until peppers are tender.

As of right now, it smells great! I will have to follow up to let you know my hubby's verdict!

Have the best day!

-Mailyn