Betty, the lobster.

So, there is a lady i work with, her husband that is a big fisher. He has his own boat and goes out every weekend to catch fish. This is his hobby. He catches and brings home whatever he gets that day, and that's what they eat for dinner. She had mentioned to me that she was so sick of seafood and he always brings home lobsters and he has to give them away to the neighbors because you need to cook them right away. So, i tell her..."ohh lobsters, i LOVE lobster! Yum!"...and she says "Next time he brings some home, I'll have him give you a few!"..."SURE!".


She comes to work yesterday and hands me a cooler...inside...was Betty.


See, here is the thing. I love lobster. I really do. But i like them DEAD...NOT ALIVE. Who knows why i said that i liked it...and that i was willing to actually KILL this poor little guy. So of course, i said "OH THANK YOU!!! Yummy!!", trying to play cool. All day i was thinking about this thing, alive in this cooler. When i got in my car last night, i buckled Betty in...and drove home. At every light I'd make sure Betty was still alive. She really did look at me...and ask me to let her go!...and i felt terrible. :( Poor Betty. So, i drove straight to my uncles house (he was a chef at a restaurant)...and handed Betty over. "Please cook this for me".
He of course was like "sure! mmm, lobster." I had to sit outside for the next 1/2 hour, because i didn't want to hear her scream as she was slowly dying.  Then, Betty came out with a sunburn. I couldn't possibly eat her. It was too sad. She was dead. And it was all my fault.
I don't know why, but i really don't like killing things. I mean, i am a meat eater, i love steak and i love ham and i love chicken...but i don't like to see it alive...let alone, KILL IT.

Does anyone ever make kill lobster (or any animal?)? Do you feel as guilty as i felt? I felt really gross after eating Betty. She was pretty tasty, but i just kept thinking of her beety eyes. :(  I don't

Rest in Peace, Betty.

My secret.

I've been a little distant for a while now (13 weeks exactly)...and maybe this will make a little more sense as to why....

Please welcome, Baby Cole. :) Hubby and I are very thrilled with this new addition...and are both a little overwhelmed with emotions. I never knew how crazy my hormones would react to this...but let me just tell you, it's been a really crazy rollercoaster of emotions (Just ask my hubs). Lots of TEARS (yes, tears of..."holy freaken cow-my life is going to change in just a few months"), lots of smiles, and definitely, LOTS OF LOVE.  Don't get me wrong, I was freaking out when i found out...i mean, freaking out as in-"OMG, NO FREAKEN WAY!"...and that followed with lots of crazy tears...but in the end, i have the best husband and we've been blessed to have such a supportive family...and everyone is very happy for us.

It really is an indescribable feeling. I haven't had any morning sickness, and i've been feeling 100%. I'm happy and content and at peace with this. Sometimes, i don't even feel like i'm pregnant...because i've had 0 symptoms.  It really hits you when you hear the heart beat and it really just makes your heart just warm when you see what is inside you on a screen.  The whole process of life and what a miracle and what an amazing, incredible thing that's going on inside, just the growing and maturing of a baby.

So that's my secret. :)

Awesome-ness.

While blog stalking Today (this), i found this an AMAZINGLY AWESOME link to FREE ART DOWNLOADS!!!!!!! This website is super cool...so if you have a chance, check them out...and print a few pieces of art to put in a few of those blank frames you've had sitting around...

:)

Just a FYI. Hope you all are having a fab Tuesday!! :)

Kitchen Crap.

I opened my kitchen junk/gadgets draw last night looking for the potato peeler.  Do you think i found it? No. My drawer looks like a bomb exploded. I started to search frantically for this...because OBVIOUSLY my life will absolutely END if i don't find it, because...who ever peels potatoes with knives anymore? I mean, seriously. I really don't know where I'm going with this...because honestly...it's a little off topic...but let's just say i found the potato peeler about a mini mental breakdown later (6 minutes)...and it was sitting at the bottom of the sink (hubby had used it that morning, for GOD knows what!!).

All I'm saying is...I've got a lot of JUNK/CRAP that needs to go! I mean, i seriously have a bunch of useless gadgets that are pretty much garbage...all because the label said that it would make my cooking/kitchen experience better. Well...i don't think that having a drawer full of junk made that experience better...

So Today, i got to my computer...and started to think. I NEED TO GET RID OF THE CRAP IN THE CRAP DRAWER, ASAP. I came across this: to the point list.

I have a few things that I'm going to be putting in my "Goodwill/Garage sale bin" this weekend....

How about you? Do you have any unnecessary kitchen gadgets that you can toss? Or how about...do you have any that are absolutely NECESSARY??

Like seriously...you can't "EYE" your pasta?!

Really.

A few updates and some GREEN cleaning!

Yea, I suck, i need to finish writing part 2 of our SF trip! Sorry :(

There is so much going on in my life right now...we just got back from our yearly camping trip (Hubby and I met on a camping trip 6 years ago...and we've been together ever since)...and I went to Buffalo to watch a really good friend of mine graduate from College (Buffalo University). Both trips were lots of fun, but at the same time, extremely exhausting.

Buffalo was my first trip without Hubby since we've been married...and i missed him terribly :'( I'm not opposed to separate trips, i believe it's healthy for every relationship...and we both trust each other so much, that it's just a nice time of "missing" each other...but...i missed him so much. Every time i do something fun...i think "If hubs were here, he'd really like this ______". I guess, he's really is my other half. :)

I've been running around, doing things around the house too...like planting and sprucing up the yard in prep for the summer...and we finally finished our Dog run...which has been such a great blessing. Bailey can stay outside for hours (NY is finally getting warmer)...and since it's a shaded area...he doesn't even bark to come in. He LOVES being outside...i just make sure to put down plenty of water...and he's content.

We went camping for Memorial Day...and we had a blast. We went with a few (7 in total) really close friends...and it reminds me how simple life can be. We had such great conversations around the campfire every night...and we stayed near New Paltz (if you don't know where New Paltz is, it's upstate NY...and it's such a cute HIPPIE town...adorable...full of antique shops/thrift shops/used book stores/record stores..etc. They even had a store full of tie dye shirts...so now you KNOW it's a hippie town. We browsed all the stores...and it was a nice day of window shopping! I got a few knick knacks...and we also stopped at some flea markets/garage sales they had near the campground. All in all it was a great trip!

On another note, I've been trying to slowly "GO GREEN" the past few months. Ever since i started blogging, I've been purchasing cleaning supplies that aren't harmful to inhale (although, i still haven't found anything as good as my Lysol toilet cleaner). I've been using lots of vinegar and baking soda around the house. This morning, I added another cool GREEN recipe for carpet fresh...since this is something I'm always purchasing because of BAILEY!...I found it on Me and My Pink Mixer. It's really simple, and i have everything on hand at home...so I'm going to give it a whirl tonight. All you need is baking soda and a few drops of essential oil.  I have a few different scents of essential oil, since I've been mixing it with my vinegar around the house...so my home doesn't smell like a tossed salad! LOL.  I like that she put it in a  glass Parmesan cheese shaker from the Dollar Store....SUPER CUTE!!!

Do any of you have any home made remedies/recipes for GREEN cleaning products?? Have any of you tried out this carpet fresh yet? Let me know what you think!! ;)

San Francisco Part 1.

I've recently had a few friends ask me to recommend/give advice on cool things to do in San Francisco, since Hubby and I spent 7 beautiful days there on our Honeymoon.  I couldn't be anymore excited to share all the details, because it was such a great vacation....especially after planning a wedding...and yet, surprisingly, budget friendly. We wanted to find a place that was romantic and beautiful, that wouldn't completely break the bank...and we did!!!

Originally, we were going to go to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic...but October is hurricane season, and i didn't want to take any risk of RAIN and HURRICANE on my HONEYMOON!!!!!!! Also, My idea of a vacation is sitting on a beach, tanning, with a nice drink in hand-while hubby is more or the history, sight seeing type.  I decided that San Francisco was a fair trade...romantic yet lots of history....so it was really a win win.

I'm really crazy when it comes to planning vacations and getaways. I seriously DO MY RESEARCH (I'm pretty much like that with lots of things). I mean, Literally. I actually google mapped San Francisco, and (digitally) walked up and down streets. Isn't google map the best invention, EVER?!!

First, I'd like to say...San Francisco is definitely for lovers. Actually, all of California is. There is something in the air, i tell ya. Being from NY...you totally see/feel/smell it. It's such a different lifestyle...definitely something I could get used to!

We booked our hotel by Fisherman's Wharf (Pier 39). The reason i choose this location was simple....EVERYTHING is within walking distance. Parking on the street is very expensive in SF, since it's mostly tourist...so i wanted something with walking distance to all the attractions. But best of all, the hotel had a rental car service, so if we wanted to go out, and needed a car...we could rent and return the same day. PERFECT! :) We booked 6 nights at the Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf on Mason street. And i made sure to google map everything within 1 mile of there.  I actually felt like i knew where i was when i got there!!! ;)

We arrived on a Tuesday (Our wedding was Sunday-Columbus Day weekend)...and didn't waste much time.  When we arrived at the hotel we were pleasantly surprised...the hotel was just newly remodeled...but let me just say this...our room wasn't a honeymoon suite, but the room was clean and tidy...and the king bed was extremely comfy...so i can't complain. Hubby and I have lived together for 5 years prior to our wedding, so we didnt' really need the rose petals and bubble bath extras.

We immediately dropped our bags off, and headed straight out...to tour.

Our first stop was Trader Joe's. Hubby works in the one on Long Island, so it was nice to go visit...and see what they had, although most of the stuff is the same, what LI doesn't have is Liquor. That was a nice surprise! They even had wine from local vineyards. And since hubby and I were going to be there a few nights...we decided to get some munchies food and drinks for our late nights/day trips.

How could you go wrong with a bottle of wine for only $1.99??!!!! I mean, seriously. (we gave this wine as favors for our wedding).

We then walked back to our room, which was only like a 3 minute walk from TJ's...to put our drinks on ice:

Hubby shown here with the ice bucket! :)

After that, we decided to walk around the pier...and see what we were working with for dinner, since we were starting to get a little hungry.  We literally sat at the pier for way longer than expected ...because we couldn't get our eyes off of these cute guys:

There was so much to do at the pier...and the weather was PERFECT. High 70's...no wind...just...the PERFECT WEATHER. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to land in SF.

Then we had dinner on the pier at a restaurant called the Fog Harbor Fish House...and it was of course, "HAPPY HOUR".

I of course had the crab cake (my fave).

After that we walked around the pier some more...until the sun set...and that was the end of day 1. I will post more tomorrow, but i hope you enjoyed Part 1 of our honeymoon so far!! ;)

Searching for some inspiration:

Still seeking some inspiration. So i thought...why not try one of these:



1. What type of diamond cut do you like?
I actually like princess cut, however, while hubby and I were engagement ring shopping...i realized, my finger does in fact look better in a round. And, i looove my ring!

2. If you are married when is your anniversary? If not what month
would you like to be married in?

Our anniversary is October 10, 2010: 10-10-10...and i bet hubby can't ever forget our day!! I've always LOVED October weddings. Our day was PERFECT! Not too cold, and not too hot, and we were married at sunset! :) PERFECTION.

3. What were or would you like your wedding colors to be?
My colors were Ivory, Black, and Gold. I looooved my colors, and if i could do it all over again, I'd still pick them!

4. How many bridesmaids did or would you have at your wedding?

I honestly originally didn't want any. I know that is really mean, but I'm not big on making a big deal, and having a bunch of women fight/argue over what they want etc etc. But, i ended up picking my best friend and my cousin. They are the closest to me...and i know that down the line, they will always be there for me. I didn't want to pick girls that in 5 years i look back on my wedding pics and have people ask "who is that?". These two are forever a part of me.

5. How long have you been married?

We've been married 7 amazing months! :)

6. Where did you go on your Honeymoon?

San Francisco! We originally were going to go to Dominican Republic, but since October is Hurricane season we decided to stay in the States. WE LOVED SAN FRAN!!! :) SOO ROMANIC!!!