things that are making me happy while I'm stuck at home.

Dear people of Lancome,

Please stop discontinuing all of the products that I love and have used for years. It's really starting to piss me off.

On an unrelated side note, does Ralph Macchio not age? He's 49 and still looks like Daniel LaRusso. It's a little creepy.

Bir-duh!

Seriously, how awesome is my back yard?

In flight!

I miss my kitchen. Blah.

Beef shanks braised in red wine, crushed tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs, along with the most amazing risotto I've ever made. Basic risotto (white wine, onion, arborio rice, chicken stock) with asparagus, peas, and truffle oil. I want to make a giant pot of this and eat it for days. OH WAIT I can't hold my arms up that long. Lame.

Chipotle rubbed pork tenderloin with yellow rice and a black bean avocado salad. Best black beans ever.

Poultry burgers (a mix of ground chicken and turkey) with mushrooms, avocados, heirloom tomatoes, and red onions on an onion bun.

Rice noodles with grated carrots and zucchini in peanut sauce.

My day home from surgery food! Ricky made green chile stew. I love this, this time he made it with pork instead of beef, and it was delicious!

My apologies

This blog was not started with the intention of being one of "those" blogs.Since my lovely older sister is only responding to me through blog comments from "anonymous" (either that or it's her husband, interchangeable really) I figured it would be appropriate to write this here.Melynda, how many people do you think actually read this? Seriously, less than 50, and I know them all, and only receive comments from a few. You're being a crazy person. This is my personal space, and I am allowed to say whatever I feel about whatever I want. If I don't want to publish your childish, desperate comments, I won't. That's my right. I have not once posted anything about you as a person, I simply wrote about how what you said made me feel. BECAUSE IT'S MY BLOG AND I CAN DO THAT. If you don't like it, go back to World of Warcraft or whatever you're busy doing instead of going to a job or being a mother to your son.For those of you reading who aren't insane anonymous internet stalkers that I call my family, here is her latest comment.[Guess I just need to stop reading your posts here. The way you keep stabbing at your sister kinda makes you the bitch. You are the only one who thought that, the others are just into the drama like you apparently are. Apparently you are one of those people who cant let go. Just want to keep digging into her publicly. Well, I guess its one-sided. Don't get to see what she has to say. Looks like you have issues]Melynda, you are 30 years old. You have a child and you should have a job and other responsibilities, why are you being such a child? If you say something negative to someone, there will most likely be a response, especially if that someone is your little sister. I want so badly to say something mean, I really really do, but that's not what this blog is for. Trust me, I could. I could call you out on lots of things here, but I'm a better person than that, and obviously you aren't.I'm not stabbing at you, grow up. You said something that hurt me in the midst of what was a very difficult decision for me, and I talked about it on my personal blog. You are my sister and I love you, no amount of bullshit on your part will change that, but please stop being an idiot. An inarticulate idiot, might I add.*exhale*End of BS everyone, honest. ♥

Day 4

So far so good I suppose. Every time I look at them I focus on one tiny imperfection (because I'm a crazy person) and it drives me nuts. Truth is, they weren't perfect before and they won't be perfect now, but if something really bothers me I can take it up with my Dr. They're still so swollen that I don't even know how they'll look in a week anyway. I do know that my shoulders feel better already, and that is a good thing.On to yucky things. I'm officially off percocet (yes, after four days. Like I said, crazy person) because apparently it makes you more constipated than a... hell I don't know, something that doesn't poo. It was making me insane! So yesterday I buckled down, bought some laxatives and some low calorie prune juice, and took my last percocet. I think I'll be okay, the pain isn't too bad, nothing a ton of Motrin won't dull. Needless to say, I already feel way better. Seriously, I told my husband that it was this or I eat nothing but Taco Bell and spicy Chinese take out for the next few days. I don't like percocet, by the way. Constipation, dry mouth, ugh... the only thing that sucks about stopping is the headaches. And my teeth feel cold, if that makes sense, but I'm sure it's unrelated to the narcotic and just my body being weird. Thank you to everyone for your nice words regarding my sister being a snarky bitch. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who thought, "What the crap?!"Ricky is back with Chinese food! Don't worry, it's just sesame chicken!;)

post-surgical feelings.

I've been home from surgery for about 27 hours now. I'm bored, so I guess it's time to blog.
The surgery went well. I don't remember much, other than getting dressed in my gown (I'm pretty sure it was a linen snuggy) and being asked to take off my mascara. I got drawn on by the surgeon, which was a strange moment. I remember being wheeled into the operating room by a very hilarious black man. I remember being shifted all around by very awkward "momma bird" type female nurses, and that's it. I remember waking up once and seeing Ricky, then doing that again and again. Then I remember vomiting several times. After being sat up in bed, they moved me in a wheelchair to a room full of big recliner-type chairs, and waited until I could go pee. Or, "go potty" as one older nurse put it. I wanted to punch her in her baby-talking mouth. I eventually did, if just by sheer will, because I hate catheters. Then I got to go home. Surgery lasted about 2.5 hours, recovery was about 5. Then I got home and went to sleep. Thanks percocet.Everyone has been pretty supportive. My family and friends, along with pretty much everyone on my Facebook and Ricky's. It's nice to hear people wishing you well. Unfortunately, the one person who said, "I think you're doing something stupid" was my older sister. My older sister who hasn't spoken to me in months chooses now to speak out, in a negative way of course. Really? I don't understand people. It was hurtful and not necessary, but consider the source, as I've been told. This was not an easy decision to come to. I've had a large bust since I was in the 6th grade, and however uncomfortable, it's been a part of my life and of my physical identity. This surgery has been on my mind for more than 10 years. I dunno, I guess it aggravated me that someone would pass judgement. Who are we to tell people what they should or should not do? If someone wants to feel better about the way they look, who are we to say that it's wrong? May I also add that if my reduction wasn't deemed medically necessary my insurance wouldn't have covered it 100%, since Tricare doesn't cover cosmetic surgery.I saw them today for the first time, it was surreal. Like looking at someone else in the mirror. I can't wait for the swelling to go down so I can go bra shopping!

So long girls

On Monday I'm having breast reduction surgery. I'm nervous.
I've had a large chest for as long as I can remember. I currently wear a 34G, when I was 10 years old I wore a 34C. 10! Middle school was stressful, to say the least. Last year I lost over 30 pounds, and they didn't change at all! I've been wanting to have this procedure done for years now, and I was shocked at how simple it was to get going. My military (Tricare) insurance is footing the whole bill, and from first appointment (for something completely unrelated) to surgery date was less than 6 weeks. Really.I'm very sure that I want this done, but now I'm getting freaked out! They've been big my whole life, I wonder how it's going to feel to have them be...I don't know... different. I only want to go down to a D or so, but still.Scary!

Spring...and February...

It's February and this is happening. Yes, they're pretty. Yes, I still hate Florida.

Remember these little guys?

Well, here is mama bird getting started on yet another nest in the same bird house. How exciting!

Yay for Spring ♥

Tasty Little Cakes

Mmmmm.....

Dark chocolate cupcakes with a vanilla and orange blossom swiss meringue buttercream and little fondant orange blossoms.

I ♥ cute little food.

Pesce!

Kingklip (nothing fancy or exciting going on with the fish) with dilled baby potatoes and green beans with almonds.

Ginger shrimp stir fry with bell peppers, carrots, sesame seeds, snow peas, and broccoli. Tasty and fast!

Swordfish on couscous with a bell peppers, tomato, and caper sauce.

We've been eating a lot of fish lately, it would seem...

Holy Weird!

I'm so buying these.

Fire

Ricky surprised me on Valentine's day with reservations at my favorite restaurant, Fire. We've only been once before, but we both loved it so much, and here's why.

(all photos courtesy of the Fire website)

Our starters

Duck nachos with orange, jalapeño, Apricot crema, Cotija guacamole in wontons with a hoisin glaze.

Mushroom Fontina beignets with truffled aioli, parmesan dust, and herbes de provence.

We both had the mixed lettuce salad with candied pecans, Laura Chenel goat cheese, and a sweet chile vinaigrette.

Ricky had the pecan crusted red snapper with Caribbean mash, apple jicama relish and brown butter vinaigrette.

I had the rock lobster carbonara made with house made fettuccine, pea puree, a crispy poached egg, and tomato oil.

For dessert Ricky ordered the citrus mascarpone cannolis served with champagne macerated berries, pistachios, and white chocolate.

I had the warm apple tart with vanilla pastry cream, vanilla ice cream, and balsamic glaze.

♥

Drunken Waxwings

So today at work we had birds flying into our front windows and dying. It was horrible. Some wouldn't die right away, some did, and another one was pretty stunned and I just held it until it closed it's mouth and flew out of my hands. That part wasn't so bad. I remembered that last year this same thing was happening, so I called the Pensacola Wildlife Rescue and asked them about it. The birds (the woman knew right away what they were from my vague description) are Cedar Waxwings, a migratory songbird that passes through this area every winter. They eat overripe berries and get a little drunk off of the alcohol in them. Weird, right?

Anyway, I think I'm going to get some special decals to put on our windows to make sure the birds see them, we have huge windows and it's no wonder the birds just think it's open space. The woman at the rescue also told me that we can bring any injured birds to them, and told me how to take care of them until we can bring them by. That made me feel better.Poor things.

Source

What an odd day.

Chili!

I've never made chili before, but I was having people over for dinner and did that thing where I make something completely new to me because it somehow...eases?... the stress of having house guests. I don't know why I do this, it's dumb and I should stop.

Homemade fried tortilla strips, thanks for the idea Grandma!

My chili was the bomb dot com. Cubed chuck, jalapeno, poblano, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and a homemade chili spice blend with chipotle, ancho, New Mexico red chile, Mexican oregano, cumin, and coriander seed. I set up a toppings bar so people could just dress their own. Mine has raw onion, green onion, jalapenos, black olives, cilantro, and queso fresco.

Dessert was simple chocolate souffles with orange blossom whipped cream.
Just cream, sugar, orange blossom water, and orange zest.
How good is orange and chocolate? I want a chocolate orange milk shake. Someone make that happen.

Dan is here!

Ricky and I were friends with Dan Heise when we lived in Germany. We left and came to Florida (hooray.) and he got stationed in Turkey. Now he's here too, and he came over for dinner last week.
Snack board!

I cook a lot. A lot. I'm afraid of very little in the kitchen, but there are still things I just haven't done. Live lobsters, to name one, but I've also never broken down a whole chicken.
I know, shameful. Lazy me would rather just buy the sucker already cut up.
Not this day! This day I was feeling squirrely.

Thank you Shun, for making knives sharp enough to hack through chicken bones. Not to self: invest in a good pair of kitchen shears. The backbone was tricky. I'm open to shear suggestions.

I felt such pride! Watch out lobsters, you're next.

I stewed my dismembered chicken with tomatoes, roasted red peppers, cippolini onions, garlic, parsely, and prosciutto, then served it over saffron rice.
So wonderfully comforting on these oddly chilly Florida days.