Sunday, March 28, 2010

Tezza's Love Tags

Please visit my Etsy shop. I will be adding more pieces so check back often.
I love creating these necklaces.I have made many for friends and family as gifts and have been asked several times if I have a website so I thought I would open a little Etsy shop. Please feel free to pass it on to friends and family. I am hoping to get some orders for Mother's Day. You can visit my shop here. Thanks!!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Macaroni Cheese

Both of my girls had MAJOR orthodontia work done today and their poor little mouths are so sore so it's homemade Macaroni Cheese to the rescue!!!! Wasn't I just talking about getting into my bikini??? oh well...... This recipe comes from my sister-in-law Esther. I believe it is her mother's recipe and oh, is it yummy!!! My kids love it. I also made it on Christmas Eve and it is a real crowd pleaser and a good alternative for those vegetarian guests. (I also served homemade lasagna with meat sauce).


My sister-in-law is British....this recipe calls for single cream but I can't find it. Of course, I have only looked at Kroger and Wal-Mart. Who has time to hit several stores? Anyway, I just use whipping cream and it is delicious and simple.....
Here it is....
Macaroni Cheese
2 TBL butter
2 TBL plain flour
2/3 C. milk
2 cartons single cream (237 ml each)
250 g extra tasty mature cheddar cheese (grated)
pasta (5 small hand fulls)
1 tomato (optional)
  1. Cook pasta in boiling water.
  2. In a sauce pan, melt butter and add the flour slowly
  3. Add the milk and single cream slowly, stirring all the time. Then add the cheddar cheese, but keep some for sprinkle.
  4. Mix the cook pasta and put in baking dish.
  5. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on to together with slice tomato.
  6. Cook in oven for about 25 minutes at 180 degrees celcius. (370 F.)

Thank you, Esther for serving us this while we were visiting in Singapore!! It is a new family favorite!



Friday, March 19, 2010

"Hotel" Birthday Party



My daughter had a fabulous idea for her birthday party this year. She wanted a hotel theme party at our house. We hit Hobby Lobby and created this cute invite by scanning a piece of scrapbook paper into Paint and then uploading it into Picnik to add the text and stickers. Picnik is a GREAT site. If you haven't used it, you should try it. My daughter begged for a membership....$24.95/year so we got her one. I started playing with it when I was creating my etsy banner. Oh my gosh....so much fun!!! Patrick and I got hotel keys from our various travels and we covered the keys in bright stickers and put them in little envelopes stamped with Plaza Penny Resort.......SO cute!! I will leave chocolates on their pillows and of course, I will play maid, cook and waitress. She wants her sister to be the bell hop....don't know how that will play out. Hopefully all the girls will have fun.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

15 years.....



15 years ago today, I married my husband Patrick. We didn't know what we were doing. Neither of us are very good planners. We just knew we wanted to be together. Now, 15 years later, looking back and reflecting at all the highs and lows, celebrations and tragedies, sleepless nights, vacations, money saved, money spent, kids, dog, fights, reconciliations, and everything in between.......I have to say that we have been mostly lucky, mostly happy and greatly blessed! Happy Anniversary to my love, my life, my biggest fan and the father of the three most wonderful girls in the world !!!

















Wednesday, March 17, 2010

When Guiness is on tap, my Irish eyes are smiling!

Dublin ranks at the top of my favorite layover spots. The people are friendly, the weather is mild, and there is Guiness on tap. Nothing is better while you are in Ireland and it just tastes different there~better, oh, so much better!!! Of course, that won't stop me from having one here today in the States. Last St. Patty's Day, I suffered......I gave up beer for Lent. Wow!! That was hard. Statue in St. Stephen's Green




















Ahhhhh......I love the creamy foam on top!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!






Monday, March 15, 2010

Dad

Have you seen the movie Everybody's Fine? I just did on Sunday afternoon on my AA flight home to Dallas after my first New York trip (details on that in another entry). The Dad in that movie has SO many of the same characteristics and personality traits as my Dad......independent, hard working, tough on the outside but tender on the inside, dedicated, smart....well, you just need to see the movie. Anyway, we lost my Dad suddenly several years ago and so here I am smushed into my middle seat bawling like a baby during this incredibly good movie. Maybe it wasn't that great, maybe I just liked it so much because I related so much of it to my father.......but it really touched me. I miss him.


On the beach in Florida. One of his favorite places to be.... Christmas in Flower Mound....my mother in law was visiting us too.My Dad alway drank a lot of water so he always had a glass going but my mother in law kept picking it up and cleaning it. He started hiding it behind picture frames so she wouldn't find it...funny!
He LOVED his granddaughters!


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

(I hope) I ♥ New York.....




Tomorrow is my first trip as a NYC-based flight attendant. I am scheduled to go to Athens, Greece.....cool, huh? Well, as I write this, I am patiently waiting to see what will happen there. I have been following the news and ATC workers are scheduled to strike tonight at midnight (that's 4pm cst) SO.........I am not sure if my flight is even going to depart tomorrow.

Transferring to the New York base was a giant leap of faith on my part. I am definitely out of my comfort zone.....but that's good, right? The commute will be long and hard but the schedule pay off is amazing.
Things I plan on doing on my new, MUCH longer and challenging commute:
  • sleep
  • study Rosetta Stone
  • read all those books in the bin under my bed
  • plan healthy meals for my family
  • make meaningless lists of things for me to do when I get home
  • get stuck....in New York.....and be forced to go to a fabulous dinner & show with Lisa and Kristine
  • meet new friends who want to know what my "route" is.... (UGH!!!)

My two BFF's (who are WAY more laid back than me) will be joining me in May but tomorrow I am on my own. I don't even know where the lounge is.....YIKES!!!

So, wish me luck, say a prayer because tomorrow starts a new adventure for me !!




Tuesday, March 9, 2010

I will never be ready for that bikini!!!

Oh yeah!!! You know the ones.....the sneaky little treats that put on the pounds..... Samoas.....AHHHH!!!! LOVE these things. Did you know they are 150 calories for two??!!! That is crazy! They aren't even that big. Oh well, I would rather indulge and have a belly than deny myself treats.

Have you seen the new chocolate cherrios? They are very yummy too!

If you really want some delicious cookies to wreck your diet, visit my friend Bridget's blog and order some of her cookies. They are SO good.....and I don't even want to know how many calories are in those babies!!!
Maybe I will need a one piece this year!!!!!


Monday, March 8, 2010

Dreaming of Summer

I am so SICK and TIRED of rainy and cold......I am dreaming of summer days and the beach!!
My toes!!! Love the sand in my toes.....

Beautiful beach on Longboat Key where we go every summer to meet with my family and friends. It just can't come fast enough this year. I better start that summer diet tomorrow!!!