Fab Friday Faves 11.30.18

Hello everyone, happy Friday!  Today is one of my favorite days of the year, the last day of hurricane season!  Yay!  My anxiety level is lowered a degree for the next five months.  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend here in the US.  Josh and I spent Friday and Saturday in St. Augustine, FL and then spent the day doing work around the house and yard on Sunday.  This week I have had a couple appointments, but most of the week has been getting this damn big house decorated for Christmas.  I'm still not finished, but I'm getting there and it looks lovely.  There are so many events going on around this area this weekend that I have no idea what we are going to do but it will be something fun and Christmasy.  The temps are finally back to normal today after being so cold (Florida cold)  it was 58F in the house yesterday morning, but I refused to put the heat on until finally my ears and throat were so so sore, I had to.  I start my progesterone as well tomorrow, yay! (not really yay, but it is exciting).  I head to DC on Wednesday for my transfer!  Prayers are greatly appreciated! Everyone have an awesome weekend and get all that Christmas shopping done!

These are some of my Christmas decorations that I was talking about.  I love our fireplace are and our projectors outside.  And this little snowman was my project yesterday, he turned out so cute.  More decorations to come!

here are a few pictures from our trip to St. Augustine.  We had a great couple days in America's oldest city.  It was absolutely beautiful with all the Christmas lights and old buildings.  We drank from Ponce De Leon's Fountain of Youth and we went out shelling and for a beach walk on Saturday morning too.

This months nails turned out so cute.  I didn't quite want Christmas, but something wintery.  Christmas will be next time.

I am so in love with the UV shirt I got while in St. Augustine.  We stayed at the Guy Harvey Resort and this is one of the shirts he designed with some of my favorite things on it.  Also some of the proceeds go to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. These shirts are great for people spending a lot of time in the sun and outdoors, especially somewhere like Florida.

Has anyone ever had one of these?  OMG it's like heaven.  We got it at one of the Citrus Centers on our drive back from the East Coast.  It is a creamy nougat rolled in pecans.  Yum!  We also got a bunch of grapefruit and oranges, so it evens out right?

Today I'm linking up with:

/ Style Elixir / Simply Sweet Home / Bright On A Budget / A Little Bit of Everything /

Fab Friday Faves 11.23.18

Happy Friday All!  And a very happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers here in the US.  I for one am still stuffed after a big turkey dinner yesterday afternoon.  We had a quiet, low-key day, just the two of us with some Christmas decorating and some football watching by the pool.  We are up early to get to a couple Black Friday sales and then we are driving to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the US that also happens to have some of the most amazing Christmas lights in the country.  Alright, I have to get moving, so everyone have a great weekend and don't get too crazy at those Doorbuster sales!

Since I took them all down yesterday to start Christmas, here are some of my Fall/Thanksgiving decorations in the house.  This is my first year really decorating the house since we were primarily in the apartment in Maryland, and I am having so much fun!

For the third year I adopted a turkey from Farm Sancuary's ww.adoptaturkey.org program.  This year it was Ruthie.   It's a great way to give back and help out some rescued animals of all sorts and makes me feel less guilty about eating turkey. 

Since we moved to Florida and I started going to craft markets, I have had my eye on these cat prints my Michelle Mardis.  I FINALLY bought them last weekend and I love them because they look exactly like Jinx and Smudge.  

I started getting acupuncture again a couple weeks ago in preparation for my current IVF cycle and transfer and I forgot how much I love it.  The practitioner I am going to, Dr. Heinz is definitely one of the best I have been to and has a great energy.  I went in with a five day migraine and when I left it was gone.  Not to mention, she is one of only two Acupuncturists covered completely by our insurance in all of the Tampa area.  

On Saturday, Josh had to work so I went on a little adventure into St. Pete for their Shopapalooza market, and then back to Dunedin.  In Dunedin I went to their craft market and then stopped in at Cueni Brewing for their two year anniversary and two hour limited release of their Cinderella's Pumpkin beer.  Pumpkin beer with food grade glitter in it, so pretty!  Then I went to a new little coffee shop, called Dipped and Sprinkled, where I got this delicious dipped and sprinkled cupcake iced latte.  So good!

Today I'm linking up with:

/ A Little Bit of Everything / Simply Sweet Home / Style Elixir / Bright On A Budget / 

Fab Friday Faves 11.16.18

Hello everyone!  It's Friday again already... I really don't know how the weeks just keep flying by and we are only 39 days until Christmas!  It is "cold" today in Florida, actually feels like a fall day here for the first time since, maybe, March?  It got down to about 46 last night and was a high of 61 today. I did a ton of yard work and for the first time, I didn't sweat and I was even wearing a long sleeved shirt.  Not going to lie, that part of it was lovely.  It's warming up again tomorrow I think, back into the 70s for the foreseeable future, its rough ;)  To everyone that is reading from where they're getting horrible weather, or those horrific fires, please stay safe.  Your lives are the most important thing.  Everyone have a good weekend, and we will see you next week.  Maybe not on Friday, but I'll make sure that I stop in with some pictures or a recipe.

So, last night, Josh and I went to "A Legendary Christmas", John Legend's Christmas show. It was truly so amazing.  He is even better live than on his albums and he has such charisma.  The show also featured his band and Doo-wop girls that were also extremely talented.  He played his entire Christmas album as well as his biggest hits.  I have included a few videos I took last night, as well as the screen shot of the fact that John (his verified account) like my Instagram post from last night <3

On Saturday, we went into downtown Tampa to explore Hyde Park Village and for lunch at Datz, one of our favorite places.  I finally decided to go for it and get the DD Burger.  Two burger patties between two fresh, house baked glazed donuts.It has been on a few different Food Network shows, and while it is completely unnecessary, it is delicious!  I also got a drink called the Cinny Bunny. Its just coffee and almond milk but it has a mini cinnamon bun on top and the whole drink is delish!

I feel like I may have talked about these on a blog last summer when Canada released Maple Cheerios for Canada 150.  Well, apparently they were a hit, because now the US has released them, hopefully as a permanent flavor.  They are sooooo good, I don't even east cereal but I have been frequently noshing on these.  Try them!

I planted a couple of Poinsettias in the yard.  This is obviously the first time I've been able to plant anything outside in November ever and these look so pretty!  The really add a nice Christmasy touch.

On Thursday, I went and had my Ultrasound and blood work to start my 2nd round of IVF. Everything was good, and later in the day I was able to start the first of my medications.

Today I'm Linking Up with:

/ A Little Bit of Everything / Style Elixir / Simply Sweet Home / Bright On A Budget / 

Fab Friday Faves 11.9.18

Hello everyone, and yes, it's another late Friday.  This week I got my house back to normal and watched some TV and actually had a hard time adapting to my empty house and I really miss my mommy! Josh and I will have our first weekend alone together in like, 7 weeks though.  I ended up at the emergency vet last weekend with Miss Smudge.  I was concerned because she had been throwing up and having some other tummy issues on Saturday morning and I did not want to end up having to take her in, in the middle of the night or something.  I was worried it was a blockage but turns out it was some sort of gastrointestinal infection.  She got a anti-nauseant shot and an antibiotic shot and she seems to be doing quite well now.  This coming week I am getting started on my second round of IVF, so that is exciting, and scary!

Alright, everyone enjoy your weekend, and please don't forget to that Sunday is a very important day.  Our veterans deserve so much admiration and respect, and if you can take a couple hours out of one day a year, please do.

When mom and I went to the Tampa Vintage Market, I bought some Chalk Couture, chalk paint and silk screen stencils.  I finally got around to trying them out on the front door and I love them!  They can be used on almost any surface and are easily wiped off when you are sick of them.   I think I'm hooked!

On Sunday, Josh, Stephanie, Steve and I went on a half day deep sea fishing charter.  I was hesitant, because I am the most seasick person ever, but I loaded up on the Bonine and I actually did great, besides from being the most tired I have ever been! I actually was the only person in our group that caught anything big enough to keep, a Grey Snapper.  I actually took him to a restaurant on the docks when we got back and had him cooked up.  Now I have the fishing bug and can't wait to go again! 

I went down to the Dunedin Farmer's Market this morning, and on my way home I stopped at Flying Cloud Tea on Main Street.  What a cute place and the owner was so sweet.  they have an insane amount of tea, as well as the cutest mugs and teapots and other tea related items.  I got an iced key lime tea and brought home a few sample packs of other tea.  I think I might have a new favorite hangout! 

I decided to try a new nail place this week (the one that I went to in Clearwater last time, closed two weeks ago), Happy Nail, which is actually where I get my pedicures.  Kimberly there did such a fantastic job and was a doll.  

While mom was here, we did three pretty difficult puzzles.  This was the hardest one and took a lot of work, but it was so much fun and I am apparently now also hooked on puzzles.


Today I'm linking up with:

/ Simply Sweet Home / Style Elixir / Bright On A Budget / 

A Little Bit of Everything /

*Recipe* InstaPot Deconstructed Eggrolls + Wonton Chips

I know I said that I would be back this week with some Fall recipes, but honestly I have only had 3 days to get my house and life back to normal after over a month of company, soooo that hasn't happened yet.  Maybe before the weekend?  This recipe though, is one that is deserving of a blog, no matter what time of year it is.  I made it just after Mom and I got back to Florida as a quick meal, and I paired it with some Trader Joe's Orange Chicken and homemade fried rice.  It was seriously the easiest recipe ever, and would be great at a Potluck or holiday party. I made mine in my InstaPot, but it could easily be made in a pot on the stove.  The crispy, light Wonton chips give the dish just the right amount of crunch and just take a couple minutes to whip up too.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground pork or any other ground meat
•  bag coleslaw mix
• 1/2 cup bone broth (I used chicken)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or to taste
• 1 tbsp garlic powder  or to taste
• 1 tbsp ground ginger or to taste
• 1/2 tsp pepper or to taste

Wonton Chips

• 1 pkg egg roll wrappers cut into strips
• olive oil

Directions

• Place InstaPot on saute.
• Wait until it's hot and then add pork, seasonings and soy sauce and brown meat.  it you are using a meat that in't lean, drain out the fat.  
• When meat is browned, turn InstaPot off and add broth and Coleslaw and DO NOT stir. 
• Put the lid on and turn the knob to sealing position. 
• Set InstaPot on manual high pressure for 0 minutes.  (Just keep hitting the - button until the timer reaches 0)
• When timer is up, do a quick release.  After pressure is released, open the lid and stir.

Wonton Chips

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees while InstaPot is preheating on sauté. 
• Cut egg roll wrappers into strips and brush with olive oil. I used Eggroll wrappers instead of wontons because they are a bit sturdier, but you can use whatever. 

• Bake for 4-5 minutes until bubbly and brown.  Watch carefully because they go from brown to burned in a split second. 

• Let chips cool and enjoy with the deconstructed egg roll. 

Thank you to "I don't Have Time For That" for the recipe.

Fab Friday Faves 11.2.18

Happy Friday everyone!  Seeing as it is currently 9PM, this is going to be a short Friday Faves, I just really felt that I needed to do one blog at least!  As some of you know I spent two weeks in Saskatchewan, and then brought my mom back here with me for a month.  During that time I also had Josh's dad and stepmom and his Mom and stepdad each for 10 days separately.  Jim also came down for about 10 days and he and mom left today.  Its been a very busy couple months and I'm not sure what I will do with an empty house come Monday!  We had quite a storm today just as I got home from taking my parents to the airport.  It was crazy windy and rainy and there were a couple tornadoes just a few miles away.  No damage here thank goodness.

Everyone enjoy your weekend, and I'll be back soon with some fun fall recipes!

The other day, us girls went to a lovely DIY studio in Safety Harbor, called Aerie Lane.  We made some beautiful signs (I think we were all surprised how amazing they all turned out).  We had such a great afternoon, I highly recommend this place and there are a few locations throughout Florida and a few other states. 

Last Saturday was Jimmy's birthday.  Friday night we went down to the Fenway Hotel, for their soft opening and had some drinks on the rooftop bar and a delicious steak dinner in HEW, their chophouse.  The hotel is redone to look how it did in the 40s during the jazz era and is so beautiful! On Saturday we had cake (s) and had a nice relaxing day.  

I have to show off Smudge's adorable Mickey Mouse Halloween costume.  How cute was she?  Also we had 75 kids this year for Halloween,  so much fun!

The las couple weeks have been negative tide here where we are, and the shelling has been phenomenal.  We all have found so many cool shells and creatures that we have never seen before.  I also found my biggest shell ever, the Lightning Whelk pictured.

Last Friday, Josh went to a charity Skeet shoot with his work and came home with this Kayak.  We have been talking about getting kayaks for ages so this was a great start!  He also won a couple Yeti cups and a football Sunday party kit.

Today I'm only linking up with a couple people since I want to go to bed:

/ Bright On A Budget / Simply Sweet Home / Style Elixir /