Good Stuff

1. Ah, ya'll are AWESOME! Your comments were SO helpful and made it so much easier for me to make a decision on the Pottery Barn rug. As of now, I'm keeping it. My mom is coming up on Friday so she and I will go out shopping and play around with the room a bit more. I will take a picture after we accessorize. Unless she convinces me other wise (I take to heart what my mama says), then I'm keeping it! My husband is also thankful for your helpful comments; I think he is a bit tired of hearing me stress about it. But it's a big decision! Haha, men just don't understand. Every time I walk in the door and see those big yellow dots staring at me, I just have to smile. And I think I will eventually put it in a kitchen or playroom or home office. THANK YOU times a billion for taking the time and telling me what you think! I'm going to have to ask for your advice more often!

2. Thank you SO much for stopping by my sister's blog. I know how encouraged she felt from your sweet comments and I am so thankful for you taking the time to say hello. It's so fun having a sibling in the blogging world! Today she wrote about her trusty cooler. She cracks me up! Ahhh, love her...sigh.

3. GUESS WHAT. Do you remember this post when I mentioned that I wanted to take up running again? I have successfully gone running EVERY SINGLE DAY since then! Well, at first it was a lot of walking mixed with jogging, BUT, I am so excited to report that today before work I ran 3 miles, nonstop. I am so excited! It just proves that if we set our minds and hearts to something, we can do it. Trust me ladies, I am by no means an exercise guru. This is BIG STUFF happening here. I think I may put up a running tracker on my sidebar to keep track of how much I am running, solely to keep me in check. If I feel like I have to record it, it will motivate me. But I am warning you, it will probably stay around the 1-3 mile mark for now, haha.

4. Dinner last night was yum-o! I have to share. OH, and check out this little menu planner I downloaded and have started using from Project Girl. I think I am going to come up with my own menu planner (at some point...down the line...when I have time...no idea when this will be) and will definitely share it with everyone. I love tools of organization that are done creatively and with a touch of style. So, on the menu for last night was: Honey/Lime Shrimp over Rice and a Tomato and Avocado Salad with a homemade dressing. Pics below were taken quickly after preparation, I didn't take the time to make it extremely presentable. If you wanted to serve it for company I think you could really make it look nice. Add some parsley or lemon wedges in the middle of the salad, etc. Here are the recipes! Enjoy!

Tomato and Avocado Salad

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1 pinch ground pepper

1 avocado - peeled, pitted and sliced into wedges

2 small tomatoes, each cut into about 8 wedges

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pepper. Arrange the slices of avocado and tomato alternately like the spokes of a wheel on one big serving plate, or individual plates. Drizzle lightly with the dressing, and serve immediately.

Honey & Lime Shrimp

(taken from this recipe, altered)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 tablespoon ground black pepper

1/3 cup worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons dry white wine

2 tablespoons italian-style salad dressing

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and devained

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

cooked rice

1 lime

1. In a large bowl, mix together garlic powder, black pepper, 1/3 cup worcestershire sauce, wine, and salad dressing; add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover, marinate in the refrigerator for an hour.

2. Throw shrimp and marinade in a pan over the stove and cook until slightly pink. Add the honey, melted butter and remaining worcestershire sauce, cook shrimp until done.

3. Place rice in serving bowl, squeeze fresh lime juice on top. Place shrimp and sauce over the rice and squeeze the remainder of the lime juice. Voila! Enjoy!

Happy Tuesday!

XOXO,

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