The dreaded Valentines Day

Actually didn't turn out so bad! For two people who don't like the day we sure did go all out! I don't know why he does but for me I think it was many reasons which are too long to post and not important. We both feel that one day is just not enough to express your love for another and people should celebrate v-day throughout the year. Anyway, it is still fun I have to admit, getting caught up in a day of surprises and love. This year v-day just happened to fall on Ryan's first day home from training. I wanted to do something fun and romantic since it has been a long time. My day kinda got ruined because of the cold weather but here is how the events actually went...


Thursday, February 12



24 long stemmed red roses were delivered to me









Saturday, February 14


I made a breakfast strudel. It is basically scrambled eggs with the fixings of an omelet put into a puff pastry and braided fancy then baked. I gave Ryan his gift. Get ready girls this is SOOOO romantic...a lunch box! Haha, he needed a cooler/lunch box for work since he will be working in the desert for 10-12 hours a day. A paper sack wouldn't cut it. He liked it even though it wasn't so romantic.


Lunch I served a not so fancy turkey and cheese sandwich and brownies drizzled with caramel and pecans. I had to improvise since I really didn't plan on cold weather!








Dinner was a surprise planned by Ryan. He took me to the Zoo! It was strangely odd at first because there was not a single soul there besides the people for the event. It was called, Jungle of Love! You come in and they take your picture, two to be exact. They give you a glass of champagne and you play a game. Matching pictures of animal(s) to people behaviors. Example: there was a picture of a couple necking which would be matched to the giraffe. We didn't do so well. :) They also serve h'orderves then scoot you into a huge room. They serve a salad, chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans and a desert. While you enjoy dinner they bring in a few animals and also put on a slide show of the animal world and how they mate! Haha! It was pretty funny and a really good time.











I didn't take too many pictures, I was a little embarrassed to do so.


Valentines Day Continued:


Friday, February 20:



My day got moved to the following weekend since it was much nicer weather. I spent the morning in the kitchen making our gourmet lunch. I had already decorated red plates and glasses and wrapped cans I was bringing along. I made a Orecchiette pasta salad with mixed greens, goat cheese and prosciutto. The sandwich wasn't turkey again, although that turkey sandwich was super gourmet! ;) This time I spent a little more time on it and I made a warm Caponata Sandwich with fresh mozzarella. Desert I made carrot cake cupcakes since that is Ryan's favorite. They came out really good, I was a little worried since I am no baker. We had cheese, prosciutto, olives and mixed nuts for a starter. It was a nice day.
















The lunch. Those are hearts by the way on the cupcakes. Think I should have stuck with just sprinkles on the top! Oh well. Also, notice how creative and funny I am on the cans..."Olive You" on the olive can and the "Nuts 4 You" on the nut can. Oh gosh, I crack myself up! ;) Hope you all had a romantic day as well!

Time is up!

This post is dedicated to Ryan...

I am so proud of you for all that you have accomplished in the past 5 months! I can't believe all the things you have learned and how well you have done. OK, I should rephrase that...I think it's so fun that you got to learn so much and its amazing how much in such a short time. I CAN believe you have done so well because I have always known you could do it and am just so crazy proud of you. I know you will do great in your new job and can't wait to hear all your fun stories and see you all dressed up in uniform...men in uniform, nuff said! ;)

Since you have been away I have learned I NEVER want you to go away ever again! That is me putting my foot down. :) I have learned that I was spoiled and how much I grew attached to being with you ALL the time. I learned I am not so sure I like my space all that much and would much rather you be constantly following me than not. I can see how lucky I really was to get to wake up with you in the mornings, go to work with you and come home each night with you. I learned I took that for granted. I also need to let you know that being at home again I have been lucky, if you want to call it that, to have been around house guests that let me learn it could be worse. I mean, either you aren't so messy or I trained you well and I need to cool it on the little things. Brittney, your going to love this...I miss his CRUMBS! Ry they let me know you aren't far away. Little messes and those annoying crumbs all over let me know my house is filled with someone who loves me and that they are there. A house with no crumbs, clean, yes, but means the person or people you love aren't with you and that is much worse then some little crumbs on the counter. I would much rather have them there then not and I truly do miss them and I have missed you Ryan William! Glad to have you back and can't wait for this year to be over so you can leave crumbs all over again. (Check back with me next year when I had time to deal with those crumbs, my story might change.)

It is that time of year...

BLOOD ORANGE TIME! I can't tell you how excited I am for this. You can't get good oranges in Pennsylvania and they don't even know what a blood orange is. Since moving back this is all I have wanted and have been patiently waiting till they are sold. I am finding though not many places, even the groves are not selling these oranges any longer. I am also saddened to see that many of Arizona's orchards are becoming extinct. How sad is it when we have the land that grows such amazing things and would rather see a new home on it? One day we wont even remember what an Arizona orange taste like and will be buying our fruit from another country! Anyway, I found ONE place that will be selling my favorite orange of all time. That time is upon us now and I just simply can't wait!