Mr. Magoo

Last night we were on our way home from dinner and Jim hit some thing in the middle of the road, I swear it felt like we ran over a dinosaur.  I yelled and thought shoot Mr. Magoo (His nickname, I swear he doesn't pay any attention, he can't even find his way home from work) you have ruined my car!  He said everything was fine and we kept on driving.  

We ended up pulling over and gas was pouring out of the bottom fuel tank, not dripping!  We had to get a tow truck, and now were headed to get a rent a car.  The whole gas tank is ruined and we don't even know how long it's going to take to order a new one.

On a better note Jim leave for his tournament, I will be here at the condo relaxing.  I'm going to go buy some seafood and get to cooking.   

Beach Cottage (CONDO)

(Shrimp Cocktail Bowl)

Shrimp that when in the cute bowl

Bar

Master Bedroom

(Guest Room)

Storm

Here is the picture of the storm we went through while 170 miles out.  I have had so many pictures to post and my Internet isn't responding well to the beach.  It's driving me crazy.  Tomorrow Jim leaves for another tournament and I get to stay at the condo for the remainder of the time.  I'm really excited this time of getting some time to myself, I love this place! I will try to post pictures of it.  I cross my fingers it will work.

Sea Legs

The week changed in a blink of an eye.  The plan was to drop Jim off at the docks, and I come back to the hotel and relax by myself.  Well, I got roped into going.  So I went from being in the car for 9 hours to being on a boat for 2 1/2 days.  We caught fish, we saw one of the largest Blue Marlins of our lives, at least 1000 pounds, she played with our baits but to her they looked like little boogers.  She was huge.  

I will give you some high lights of the weekend

First we were 170 miles out in 9,000 feet of water.  The steering went out on the boat, one of the generators blew the A.C. out, storms were surrounding us the second night and a lighting bolt hit about 10 feet from us.  I kept thinking to myself, damn, I could be laying on the beach all by myself right now, instead I'm stuck on a boat 170 miles off shore.  To make the story short, I did enjoy myself...I caught aWahoo and we will eat it this week.  I also got to see tons of beautiful dolphins and sea turtles.  It's amazing to see dolphins in the wild, there was even a baby swimming with it's mother.  I took some pictures and will post later in the week.

Off to Alabama!

We leave tomorrow morning for Alabama.  I will have plenty of time to myself.  I wish I had my ladies with me this weekend, but I don't :( I will be on the beach by myself for a couple of days, reading magazines, taking pictures, and cooking up concoctions.  Now I will go sleep for my big day of traveling tomorrow.   

The Story of Pumpkin Man

Chapter 1

It was a September morning in the year 2007.  We stopped in at cracker barrel on our usual trip up to Orange Beach... and there he was...PUMPKIN MAN, he smiled at me as I stepped towards him...I fell in love with him that moment.  I saved him from the country store,  we got him in the car and there we went, Me, Pumpkin Man, and Jim up to our last tournament for the year.

Chapter 2

I arrived at Kendra's family beach house with Pumpkin Man in arms.  I walk in and set him down, I was so proud of him.  Brandi, Kendra, and Tracy  looked at him and said, Oh my God! What the hell is that!  I told them it's Pumpkin Man, they swore he was evil looking, they poked fun of him, so then I took him and put him in his little box and stuck him in the car.

Chapter 3

1 week after the Orange Beach trip I took Pumpkin Man home and decorated my house for Halloween.  I received a call and across the phone line I heard, "Ry, I found a Pumpkin Man, he is similar to yours and I love him"...I said, Brandi? I thought you hated Pumpkin Man and you said he was ugly and scary!  Brandi: "I know I said that, but I love him and I can't wait for you to see him." This was the start of Pumpkin Man.  Day's pasted and Brandi and I exchanged our own pumpkin man faces...every time we would get together we would take our own pumpkin man pictures.  We even did the Pumpkin Man expression in my wedding photos..(I will post them soon) My mom caught on to Pumpkin Man and got a couple of her own and so did many more of m friends.  At my wedding I even received two presents, Pumpkin Man had given them to us, it was 2 more pumpkin men.  So now I have become a collector.  I have a total of 5...This year I will collect more.  I'm so excited for August to come around because at the end of the month I will start decorating! I know its early but they are great to have around the house.  I know you might be thinking I'm crazy, but get one of your own! You will get the addiction to and you will know what I'm talking about!  They can be found anywhere...I got some at Cracker Barrel, T.J. Maxx, and Homegoods!  I will post pictures of all of my 5 soon.  For now here is some pictures of the 1st Pumpkin Man!

     

Waiting For The First Freeze, Oh WAIT...Florida doesn't Freeze!

Yesterday after work I was outside on the phone minding my own business, I look down and to my surprise this huge black rhino beetle was staring right at me about 3 inches away from my feet. I'm sure all the neighbors thought a women had just been murdered. I can say one thing, you won't see me outside until fall. Why haven't I ever seen one of these things? I'm in the lawn and flower bed all the time and never have ran across a rhino looking bug. Thank god I haven't because I wouldn't be doing lawn work anymore. I just hate this time of year! I have been bitching a lot about the bugs, but NOW look what's out there, something worth bitching about! I didn't kill it, I wanted to but I was barefoot and I ran inside to get something to spray on it and when I came back it was gone. So now everyday I have to worry about this thing, knowing it's watching my every move. Does anyone even know what kind of beetle this is? Scary!

P.S. There are few things that I hate in this world, one is bugs!

This post is for Allie

I haven't figured out how to reply to comments :)

Last night for the Hungarians I made a good southern meal. We had grilled pork chops, garlic mashed potatoes, and a zucchini and squash casserole. Jim eats ranch dressing on everything so I always keep it at the table with the BBQ sauce, his other favorite...they were not sure what to do with the sauces...it was funny. I told them you don't have to have the ranch with your pork, it drowns out the flavor but they watched Jim dip his entire pork and mash potatoes in it and they took it and did the same. They loved it and couldn't wait to go buy some of their own BBQ and ranch. :) Next time I have them over she is going to cook with me so I can learn some Hungarian dishes. EXCITING...I will let you know when I get a good recipe.

Also, you asked me about my Asian noodles. It's nothing fancy :) It comes in a box. You can find them in the Oriental food aisle. The brand name is called Simply Asian, and you can choose from a huge variety of noodle kits. My favorite is the garlic and chive udon, but it's hard to find. I found that the Grocery part in Target has the best selection. Also, if you get these, add some green onions, or some fresh vegi's...Jim thinks I make it homemade..he he..my little secret. :) It goes great with everything, we were getting tired of potatoes and rice.

Hungary

We had our Hungarian friends over tonight for dinner.  I really enjoyed myself and it's so interesting to hear other people's cultures.  I can't wait for them to come over again.

Our Bedroom

(My night stand)

 (Longboat Key, FL is our favorite spot)

(Collages with our families, my family is on bottom his is on top...also the two paintings in the middle are done by my grand mother)

Oh My!

I just made a fabulous dinner.  Chilean sea bass, tereakyi noodles, and asparagus.  It was so good I ate 1/2 pound of fish and now I'm regretting it.  The sea bass is so rich you probably should only eat 1/4 pound.  I have been hanging out in the bathroom on the floor.  I swear I was going to puke.  Now my taste buds are screwed up and I probably won't ever eat sea bass again.  It's like when your young and you drink hot damn (A red hot liquor) for the first time, and you drink so much you get sick off of it and you never touch it again.  That's what I have done but with only fish, not alcohol.  I know, that sounds sad doesn't it.

I also made ThePioneerWoman.com's Orange Marmalade Cake...I also tried some of this before my meal.  Probably why I'm feeling even more sick.  It's WONDERFUL!  Now I can't even think about eating it.  All the hard work for nothing.

OH and when I was buying the ingredients for my cake, I dropped a can of butter spray (HEAVY from the top shelf) on my toe, it split my toe open and I swear it's broken.  I had to use napkins from the sample ladies at the end of the food aisles.  Isn't that nice, grocery shopping and you come across this girl bleeding.  I know...GROSS!  Now my little toe is swollen and I know I can't do anything for a broken toe.  Guess I will drink some wine or a blue seven.  

Boat Ropes

Another good buy on sandals, and can't you see me wearing these on the dock?  They look like the rope ties for your boat.  

Tree

I found this brass colored tree at Target, and I have converted it into a jewelry tree.  A couple of months ago I bought my mom a real jewelry tree and payed $49.99 for it.  This one was half the price.  I love it! :) 

Craft Night

You will need:

1 Vase (I got mine at T J MAXX, it was $9.99 and it's huge)

3 strings of patio lights (I chose ice cube looking ones from target, they were on sale this week for $6.99)

1 glass of wine :) 

( My Vase)

(My ice cube lights) I almost chose the tear drop blown glass lights but they were multi-color and I wanted just one color

(String of lights)

(I really think it looks like an ice cube)

(Pulling them apart)

(Me putting it together)

(Finished product, I made 2, I'm not sure which one I like best...I can only have one since I only have 3 strings of lights...I can choose either having one in my bedroom, that can be used as a night light, or the one with wine corks for the kitchen..which one would you choose?)

Kristin's House

(Opening the Champagne to celebrate me arriving)

(Me getting ready to do my action jump)

I have never tried action shots with my camera...we have a lot to learn. :)

(My action shot)

Fun times with friends and cameras :)

My Guest Bathroom

When we first moved in I had all these painting ideas, I started with the smallest bathroom.  It took me 2 weeks and a lot of pain and frustration.  I'm not a painter.  It looked like a 3 year old had went in and slopped paint around and then I had the help of Jim's mother.  Finally after 4 coats and the mixing of white wall paint to tone the horrible grass green down, here is my

 finished product.  I haven't painted since, and I won't be painting anymore.  Instead, I will save my money and have a professional come in and do it all in one day.  So, now you know what my guest bathroom looks like.  I want to post all my rooms so you can get my decorating style.  I think it's neat to see how everyone has different ideas.  

(Here is a picture of my shower curtain, this picture really isn't that good, its stark white with sea through patterns, it really pretty in person)

( I love making seashell arrangements, most shells were found in Long Boat Key, FL where Jim and I got married)

A MEAL I wished I had Right Now!

You know when you are starving and your in the mood for a certain food, and nothing else sounds good. WELL, I have been craving 2 meals, and I don't want anything else! 1st its my Cuban cafe' down the road from where I work, I eat there once a week and if I weren't afraid to know the calories in the meal, I would probably eat there 3 times a week. It consists of yellow rice and beans, with the BEST chicken on the bone you will ever eat! It falls right off the bone, it's tender and juicy and the flavor is amazing! My second meal would be my Asian and sushi place near our little town. They have the best sushi rolls, and I crave their shrimp and chicken in garlic sauce with fresh cuts of zucchini, squash, some type of roots, etc. The shrimp are huge, they don't mess around with the tiny ones. If only I could eat here once a day!

Bon Appetit

I'm laying in bed reading my new Bon Appetit, I have been getting it for 3 months now and its my FAVORITE!  They have a monthly section called, "R.S.V.P/Readers Favorite Restaurant Recipes)  They have people write in from all over the US and if they have something their in love with at a restaurant, Bon Appetit finds the restaurant and gets the recipe.  I just got through reading about this watermelon salad, the women wrote, "When I was on vacation in Kauai, I had a lovely meal-and view of the ocean-at THE BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT.  The highlight of my dinner was the simple but delicious watermelon salad...by Caroline Jenkins-San Francisco. The recipe follows:  For the RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE 1/4 Cup seedless raspberry jam, 1/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail, 1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar, 6 tablespoons vegi oil.  SALAD: 2 1/2-3 pounds of watermelon-quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch triangles, rind trimmed, 5 oz bag of baby greens or arugula, 3/4 crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, and 1/2 small red onion.  Toss to coat. Sounds perfect for a hot summer day!

Also, I found a really neat idea, its called The Gourmet Conversation Starter, its 135 cards featuring foodie icebreakers, I have some samples below.  It's kinda fun!

1. Whats on your perfect burger?  I would have red onions, cheddar cheese, guacamole, and bacon.

2.  Which food are you embarrassed to admit you like?  Mountain Oysters!  My grand mother would fix them! AND they are VERY popular in OKLAHOMA...I know it's disgusting...AND when I was young my grand pa told me they were chicken so when I found out what they really were, I was sick but they are mighty good!

3.  What's your favorite secret ingredient? Anchovie Paste

4.  If you could eat a certain food every day what would it be?  ASIAN and SUSHI!  

5.  Your most favorite Vegi? Palm of Hearts right out of the can and asparagus

Enjoy your next meal! Bon Appetit! 

Now I will relax in bed and watch The Next Food Network Star! Who do you want to win?  I really like Aaron, he was so natural with the children last episode. OH MY, and Lesli if your reading this, There at MESA, remember, I ate there while I was in Vegas and you were upset.  AND THERE IS PAULA :) Hope your watching!

Good Buy

I have an obsession with sandals.  I bought these from Old Navy and they are very comfy and CHEAP!  

My Weekend

(Lori and I, sorry its blurry we took it in the car)

Lori is a great friend! She is a little older than me, but we always have a great time together and we both are on the same page.  

Last night I went over to Kristin's house, she has a camera like mine so we ended up playing with them all night.  It was much needed FUN and I can't wait to see the pictures she has on her camera.  The action pictures I think will turn out great. 

(Kristin)

(Me acting like I'm working on an engine) Yea, I know, You would't be using a hammer.