A Lovely Visit...

My parents left yesterday from there weekend visit. They arrived Thursday afternoon and left out Monday morning. We had a wonderful time. It was great seeing my parents since I haven't seen them since April...4 months, wow. Brian and I showed them the wonderful sights of Wilmington...U.S.S. NC Battleship, historic downtown, Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. This was my Dad's first time to see the Atlantic ocean. I had no clue. I have to say that it beats the Gulf. We actually had the opportunity to see dolphins swimming along the coast line...that was really neat. We also played putt-putt and Brian, yet again, won. You just can't beat that boy in anything. We ate a lot of food...I think I gained a little bit of weight. That's okay though. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. It has been too long.

Brian "Leo" and Me "Kate"

Productive Sunday

Today has been a very productive day compared to yesterday. This morning I started on some laundry that has built up all week long. I hate doing laundry...its never ending. I don't so much mind the washing and throwing the clothes into the dryer, but its the folding that I hate. I have a tendency to leaving clothes in the dryer or throw them in the laundry basket and let them sit there for a couple of days. Its just not fun to do. I did better today. As soon as the clothes were done, I folded them and put them in their appropriate place. Then I swept the kitchen and both bathroom floors. I still need to mop, but I'll get to that eventually. I did the dishes, went to the grocery store, baked some brownies and vacuumed and washed the car....woo. Exhausting, huh? Brian has been pretty productive today as well. He cut the grass, weed-eated and now he's finishing the paint job that he started a week or so on the garage. I didn't make lunch today, but went to KFC and bought a bucket of chicken with mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes and cole slaw. I haven't had KFC in so long. I remember back in the day eating KFC after church. Me, Mom and Dad would go get a bucket with all the fixings and carrying back to my grandmamas house. Daddy would fuss on how much it cost....never failed. He hates spending money on food. I still have things to do. I'm suppose to paint the door in the utility room and I definitely need to give Brody a much needed bath. He's been outside the majority of the day. He tried to catch a rat that was in the backyard, but luckily he failed in getting that thing...nasty. Well, I guess I need to see the progress that Brian has made on the garage.

Long Time No See...

My apologizes for being MIA for a while. I've been very busy lately and haven't had time to sit down and type my thoughts. Nothing much new has happened since my last visit...just working. I've been traveling to towns that have been 2 hours away and by the time I get home, I just want to relax...not think. Not that I'm thinking much while typing. Anyway, work has been going good. I actually had a job interview at a doctors office, and was offered, but decided not to take it. I would like to get a position at the UNCW. Don't get me wrong, I like my current job, but would like to find something that doesn't so much traveling. I drive 250 mile a day! Exhausting? Yes. The pro's of this job is that I'm not stuck inside all day long. I get to get out and about and meet a lot of new people. I like to talk, so this is good for me. So, enough about work.

Brian got us a new car. It hasn't come in yet because the color that Brian wanted wasn't on the lot, but we are suppose to be getting it this Friday. It's a 2007 Honda Civic in galaxy gray.

I'll be driving it for a few months until October - November. That's when I'll get to pick out my own car and Brian will drive the new civic. I'm looking at getting a 2008 Honda Accord. I will be giving my car to my parents. Keep it all in the family.

Brian and I celebrated our one year anniversary a couple of weeks ago, July 22nd. We didn't do anything special. I bought him a watch that cost $150 and he got me a table for the entry way from Bombay.

We had dinner at Bone Fish Grill and it was sooooo good. I had 2 lobster tails with vegetables and Brian had the filet and crabcake. I HIGHLY recommend that restaurant. That was the highlight of our day. I can't believe its been a year. It feels like we've been together forever. I guess that's good though.

Time Warner Cable has a channel called ion and I love watching their night time lineup. 8:00-9:00pm its Mama's Family,

9:00-10:00pm its Who's the Boss and 10:00-11:00pm its the Wonder Years. You cannot beat these programs. There's nothing on the television anyway. I'm glad they are bringing back some classics.

Well, I hope everyone will have a wonderful evening, morning or day. Hopefully I won't be away for long. I'm working in Clinton, NC which is an hour away, so maybe I won't be a stranger. Tootles.

Celebrity siting...

On an overcast Saturday afternoon, I decided I needed to get out of the house and do a little shopping. First stop, Marshalls. I browsed around and didn't see anything that jumped right out at me and say "buy me." Sigh. I got my little self into my car and drove 20 feet to Target. I LOVE Target. That store never disappoints me. I didn't see anything to buy for the house, but I did get Brody a new toy...a lobster. I also got him some canine friendly peanut butter cookies. They look so good. I'm tempted to try, but I'm not. I'm sure they don't taste as good as they look. After I checked out, I decided to go over to Lowes and look at some plants. Our house needs a little color with a few plants. While I was browsing at the flowers, I look over and there was this girl that looked really familiar. I didn't want to stare like a crazy person, but I kept glancing her way. After watching (I'm not crazy or anything, just wanted to make sure it was who I thought it was) I figured out who it was. It was Hilarie Burton from One Tree Hill that comes on the CW.

She plays Peyton Sawyer. She was looking at the elephant ear looking plants. They film One Tree Hill here in Wilmington in case you were wondering. Anyway, I wanted to share my celebrity siting, and if you were wondering, no I didn't ask for her autograph.

Something finally done right

Okay, I am so proud of myself. I finally made something that actually tastes good! Usually when I make something, it never turns out right. I can screw up the simplest thing, but not this time. I found this dessert from Southern Living and I thought I would give it a try. This wonderful, yet rich, dessert is called Chocolate Icebox Pie. Doesn't it look yummy??

Since I'm a nice person, I will give you the recipe. Give it a try...you will not be disappointed.

• 2/3 cup milk
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate morsels object
• 1/4 cup cold water object
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk object
• 3 large eggs, beaten object
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 (6-ounce) ready-made chocolate crumb piecrust
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1 (1.55-ounce) milk chocolate candy bar, chopped

Preparation
Heat milk until it just begins to bubble around the edges in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat (do not boil). Remove from heat, and whisk in chocolate morsels until melted. Cool slightly.

Stir together cold water and cornstarch until dissolved.

Whisk cornstarch mixture, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and vanilla into chocolate mixture. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Boil 1 minute or until mixture thickens and is smooth. (Do not overcook.)

Remove from heat, and whisk in butter. Spoon mixture into piecrust. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.

Beat whipping cream at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy; gradually add sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Spread whipped cream evenly over pie filling, and sprinkle with pecans and candy bar pieces.

ENJOY!!

Parents MIA

When I got home from work tonight, I got on the internet and I came across an article about an 11 year old girl that got pulled over for speeding and plus she was drunk! Where in the world are the parents?? The article said she was vacationing with her parents down in Orange Beach, AL and she was going to pick up her sister from a concert. Number 1 question, why was the eleven year old drinking in the first place? Question 2, why on earth was she driving and not her parents...she's 11!? Question 2, WHERE WERE THE PARENTS??? When I was eleven here's what I was thinking about:

1. My goal was learning how to do a back flip on the trampoline.

2. Riding my bike with Leigh at her granny's.

3. Playing with my barbie dolls with the coolest barbie doll house EVER!

4. Watching cartoons (Heathcliff and the Cadillac Cats, Doug, etc.)

5. Climbing the magnolia trees in our old yard

I couldn't imagine being a kid this day in age. Its gotten so bad...its not like it use to be. We had things so much simpler, even though we thought it wasn't. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have wanted to grow up so fast. I would have wanted time to stay still. I can honestly tell you this, I know everyone would agree, my parents would have never let me even take a sip of alcohol, nor be driving alone causing a police chase (driving over 100 mph). My extent of driving was in my daddy's lap on country roads...ah, those were the days.

In conclusion, these parents should be arrested. They shouldn't even have children if they are going to that irresponsible. Even if the child snuck out, driving a car or drinking shouldn't have crossed her mind. Parents.

Awesome 4th of July

One word...magnificent. This year, Brian and I went downtown to watch the firework show they had across the river. It's the largest choreographed firework show in North Carolina and it was all that I could imagine. I can't explain how amazing it was, so I took a ton of pictures. I can't believe they actually came out. I'm so happy we went, I kinda didn't want to go because I knew the traffic would be horrible. Well, I was right on that. It took us about an hour to get home and we only live 10 minutes from downtown. I have to say it was well worth it. Enjoy the pics!

(waiting for 9:00 pm to arrive)

(doesn't he look so sweet? looks are very deceiving)
(fireworks)
(so pretty)
(finale)