Thankful...Friday a little late

However, late is better than never, right? :)

Last week I gave it dedicated an entire post to my Harley kitty - a little crazy-cat-lady, I know. But I sure do love that little fur ball.

66. Kisses from my husband - I love those lips!

[taken last April on Alki at sunset <3]

67. My mom - I really don't say it enough. Seriously, this woman is amazing. I love her more than coke slurpees [and if you know me, you know that's a lot] She drove kinda far out of her way on Monday to bring me Gatorade, pedialyte, and kitty litter, for Harley of course but I couldn't make it to the store to get it myself. She stayed for a minute said she loved me then turned around and drove right back home. I'm seriously spoiled, however, I want to make sure I NEVER take her for granted. I love you mom!

68. The Oscars - Growing up in my house, Oscar night meant something special. It meant Dad made a fancy dinner that night, and my mom and I sat in the living room huddled on the couch ooh-ing and ahh-ing about the glamorous dresses and handsome suits. We love movies, therefore we love the actors. Hopefully this Sunday I can be sitting in my parent's living room doing that very same thing :)

69. Best friends - This past weekend I was able to spend an entire weekend with this little cutie. I'm so blessed to have such lasting and amazing friendships. We took an adventure to the other side of the lake we live on, enjoyed a bonfire, ate a TON and laughed a LOT :) Best kind of weekend with my best friend. Can't get much better.

and last but not least

70. This little stud muffin aka the next AMERICAN IDOL - CONGRATULATIONS Stefano! You are making all of us so proud! You better believe you'll have most of King County voting for you! You are living the dream and it started in our home town! Get it! :)

What are YOU thankful for this week?

What are your weekend plans? I get to spend a lot of time at Hooters... yeah, more on that on Monday. Until then, I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend! Soak up some sun [if ya got it in your neck of the woods!]

Ready for the weekend & a yummy recipe

Ohmylanta! I thought the weekend would NEVER get here!

Monday was great, Tuesday was ok, Wednesday is when it all started going down hill - I've had an emotional latter part of the week, but I am in full belief that this weekend holds much happiness! 

I'm hoping to visit this baby girl after work

You might rememer her from here - she was still in her mommy's tummy :)

Welcome to the world Iyla Vonn Sas <3

After that my best friend Kelsy - who you might remember from here and here, is coming to spend the weekend with me. I love her more that Harry loves Ginny.

AND we will be going out for some pomegranite margaritas with a few amazing co-workers who you might remember from here and here.

Ahhhh yes, just what I needed after a crazy-busy-hectic-tearful week!

But before I depart to spend a weekend relaxing and with good company, I had to share this recipe with you! I've made it before and Bryan and I absolutely love it and I hope you do too! I tweaked a little bit since it calls to grill it (which I'm sure would be delish) but it was in the 40's here last night I decided to stay inside. Serve it over rice or with some garlic toast, either way it's a crowd pleaser :)

Mock Lobster - from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 packed TBSP brown sugar

1 tsp dry powdered mustard

2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 cup pineapple juice

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I use the filets)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400degrees F

2. In a saucepan, combine the soy sauce, oil, garlic salt, pepper, brown sugar, mustard powder, ginger and pineapple juice. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Boil for about 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. When cooled, place the chicken into a large resealable bag and pour the marinade over it. Press out as much air as you can, seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to marinate.

3. Place chicken and a little bit of the marinade in a glass baking dish and bake at 400degrees F for about 30 minutes, flipping the chicken over after 15 minutes. Cut into the chicken to make sure cooked all the way through and the juices run clear.

My two cents:

-Again, I put in the oven instead of grilling it and it turned out really nice. Just keep an eye on it, since there is soy sauce in the marinade the juice tends to burn a little if you leave it too long.

-The chicken is nice and tender after sitting in the marinade, try and leave it in longer than 2 hours if possible so it soaks as long as possible. I try to use thin filets as opposed to thick breasts, I just like the taste better.

-The marinade is pretty salty so no need to add additional salt.

What are you doing on this fine weekend?

Making any yummy recipes?

Going somewhere fun?

What ever you do or make  I hope it's wonderful♥

G'day mate

This weekend I'm saying goodbye to a very good best friend of mine, Charles Augustana Gross. That's Dr. Gross, to you. I don't think I could be losing this truly inspiring man to any better cause than moving to Australia to go 
chase his dreams and travel the world.

Charlie you are one of the most intriguing, genuine, GREATEST people I know. I'm jealous of the Aussies that will meet and love you, because they're gonna! I've said it before and I'll say it again, you were never meant to stay in the USA, you've got bigger and brighter horizons than most.

We've had too many memories, death nights, and laugh-till-you-cry phone conversations than I can count, and I will treasure them deep in my heart.

You were there for us girls at Central when we needed someone to bring us ice cream in the middle of the night, needed a place to crash, or a jello-shot ;)

I honestly can't imagine my life without you, and I'm so glad that we've kept our friendship strong and alive like we have. That's it then, no ocean or continent can separate us!

But seriously, I love you best friend, brother, amazing person that you are. I know you are going to do big, HUGE things with your life.

Love you more than koalas, wallaby's and dingo's! 

G'day mate -