Its all about L-O-V-E.. love

So every year I plan and plan and plan my anniversary. I really enjoy putting together wonder nights to celebrate the day I got married. This year (as you can see from other post) I had it all planned. Couples massage, dinner at a very nice restaurant, and a carriage ride. Well I cut what I would usually spend greatly in half, but the reason I did is because I am very luck to be able to go see my brothers little girl and it happens to fall on the same month as my anniversary. I would rather spend more on my vaca with my wonderful family. That being said I still have every intention of doing something nice just for less money.

I am thinking about decking out the house again. I really enjoyed doing that one our 5th wedding anniversary when we were tight saving to get our house. So I love this idea from OTH (one tree hill)

I have the dress and am still working on fitting into it. I can zip it and can still mainly breathe but I would like to be able to move freely without fear.

I made a request to a YouTube channel I LOVE to do a how to on a hair do and she did because she is awesome!

I also love this video for a make up look..

The new X-Men movie comes out that weekend of our anniversary and I was thinking of going to the Cinebistro to go see it and see if they can write happy anniversary on the dessert plate or something. Figure we can just take our time the next day do as we please maybe go do something fun just kinda wing it.

I am hoping in a few months when things cool down to do as I had planned and take him to do the things I wanted. I will take him to the Marchands Bar and Grill and then after dinner have the carriage ride take use to the ship for the sunset sail. It will just be later on in the year... Maybe I will plan it for the day we met or the day we started dating or just because. Maybe it will be my treat to myself and to him when i reach my goal weight even.

So that's my plan so far! 

Paula’s Cake Balls

Paula’s Cake Balls


Paula’s own version of this trendy sweet!

Serves: 36

Cook Time: 20 Minutes



Smithfield Product: None



Ingredients



◦1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix

◦1 (16 ounce) container prepared cake frosting

◦6 ounces of chocolate flavored confectioners coating disks or bar (available in white chocolate, dark or milk)

◦Food Coloring (optional)

Paula's Favorite Combinations:

◦*Red Velvet Cake/Cream Cheese Frosting and dipped in white chocolate coating

◦*Strawberry Supreme Cake/Strawberries and Cream Frosting - Dipped in Chocolate Coating

◦*White Cake/Mint Chocolate Chip Frosting - Dipped in Chocolate Coating

◦*Caramel Cake/Chocolate Mocha Frosting - Dipped in Chocolate Coating

◦*White Cake/Wild Cherry Vanilla Frosting - Dipped in Dark Chocolate Coating

◦*French Vanilla Cake/White Chocolate Almond Frosting - Dipped in Chocolate Coating

◦*Dark Chocolate Cake/Cream Cheese Frosting - Dipped in White Chocolate Coating

◦*Spice Cake/Cream Cheese Frosting - Dipped in White Chocolate Coating

◦*Lemon Cake/Lemon Frosting - Dipped in White Chocolate Coating

◦*Confetti Cake/Vanilla Frosting - Dipped in White Chocolate Coating



Steps

Prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the box. When cake is finished baking allow to cool for 30 minutes. Crumble the cake into a large bowl using a stand mixer or a hand mixer. Add the frosting and mix until well combined. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight.



Line a baking tray with wax paper. Use a melon baller as a scooper to form balls with the cake mixture. Place on wax paper. Once you have used all of the cake mixture, place the baking tray in the freezer for 1 hour. Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl of the microwave, stirring every 5-10 seconds until smooth. At this point you can add a bit of food coloring if you are using white chocolate.



Remove the balls from the freezer. Using one toothpick, pick up the balls one at a time and dip in the chocolate. Use a second toothpick to slide the ball off the first toothpick onto the wax paper lined baking tray.



NOTE: We found that an old Easter egg dipper works as well. If the balls fall off the toothpick into the chocolate, they are not firm enough to work with and you'll need to place them back in the freezer for additional time



Once you have covered all the balls in chocolate coating place the tray in the refrigerator until the chocolate coating is set. At this point you can drizzle other chocolate on the balls for decoration.

One Tree Hill..

5 Years I tried to recreate:

What I came up with:

For this year what I like from OTH this year:



Dresses..

Silver Dress

Green Dress

Red Dress

A few dresses I am interested in :)

Not Really Sure if There is Even a Point to This Post...

So here I sit watching OTH... I am in love with shoes more so then usual... Here are the one I have my eyes on:

JCP Shoes
Target Glitter Pumps

Forever 21



Hoooray for shoes!

I have nice goal figure:

Kim decided to drop the weight after a pre-retouched photo of her was leaked on the internet. At the time she said she was proud of her curves but the incident did inspire her to get in shape. So, she cut back on sugar and carbs, started taking QuickTrim to give her metabolism a boost and went to the gym for an hour a day. Even during the holidays she was working out. She declared,

“No excuse for getting lazy during the holidays.”

Here’s a look at her plan:
Pre-workout: Take two QuickTrim Extreme Burn pills.
Breakfast: Scrambled egg whites with low fat cheese, veggies, and half a grapefruit. Protein shake.
Lunch: Salad with plenty of veggies and grilled chicken.
Snack: Vegetable hummus with crudites or nuts with yogurt.
Dinner: Grilled salmon, brown rice and a side of broccoli.





There is a good chance it will be awhile before I am even close to that and I will curse and cry a good amount before getting there but its my plan.. I am hoping to stick to it..

I watched Paul Wesley on The Lopez show it was rather cute:





So my 5th year wedding anniversary we couldn't spend a lot so we did a quick dinner at chilis and movies at the cineobistro and since thats all we could do I decked the house out from an idea from one tree hill..

I got some good ideas from this week on OTH... Once I can get pictures I will share! This was cute too.

I like her hair in:





I guess for now that is all..

Search Over LOAD

I am giving up on finding a hotel... it is STESSING me out... All the nice ones within what I would like to spend are in Clearwater but everything I want to do is in St Pete. So this is how we will fix this... Friday I took off... I will deck the house out.. I found a site I can either get 72 Roses or 200 Carnations and I will just make the house look amazing. We will enjoy the nice decked out house and do dinner and a movie. The new X-Men comes out.

Saturday we take our time with the day eating breakfast going as we please. I want to do a couples massage near St Pete. We can change into our nice cloths..I haven't picked a resturants.. I wish I could swing getting a room at the Vinoy but the base room is close to $200. I guess I will leave that up to Rich if he wants to stay the night we can pick a hotel then... Thats what I have so far :)

Budget Love

Ok so what I had planned was very $$$ and I could see rich's face when he looks at the bank and sees a good $500 missing before we even leave for our anniversary.. I may still try and save but I am going to plan the same thing but different places so I can control the money spent better.


I am looking at different hotel in St. Pete Beach and then there is clearwater.

St Pete Beach:

Ponce De Leon Boutique Hotel - $89

Crystal Palms Beach Resort - $127

The Resort & Club at Little Harbor - $93
 
Clearwater:
 

Safety Harbor Resort And Spa - $103

Best Western Bay Harbor Hotel - $88

Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay - $88

Westin Tampa Bay - $119

Spas:

St Pete Beach:

Paradise Massage

Lemon Tree Spa

Massage

Clearwater:

Heavenly Touch

I could do my own chocolate covered strawberries! And get flowers!!

7 Year Itch

I think I have it planned (dont laugh at me) I sadly have the weekend of my anniversary fully planned. I just have to save now. Its the only thing my husband and I celebrate so I go ALL OUT... Like really all the way out and it involves planning and saving (lots of saving lol). It is our 7 year itch wedding anniversary on June 5, 2011. Here is what I have so far:

I have the 3rd off (yes this requires a whole freaking day off with how I plan!). I am going to go have my hair done early in the AM after dropping Andrew off at school. Then after having my hair done I am going to go clean and decorate the house. Here are some ideas:

I was thinking I would be all cool and have follow the cards like in that movie Down To You with Freddie Prince Jr, but with my luck Rich wouldnt see them lol... So that would be the 3rd..

When we wake up on the 4th we would take our time and then head to the hotel.

We will stay at the Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club. Only one night because I am going with a special deal they have which is:

Ultimate Romantic Rendezvous at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort


This couple's escape boasts champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, choice of four exclusive love-inspiring St. Petersburg experiences and more!



PROMOTIONAL CODE: ES6


 The Ultimate Romantic Rendezvous features:

• Upgraded luxury bay view guest room

• Complimentary valet parking

• Champagne and strawberries upon arrival

• Breakfast for two in the resort's Marchand's

Bar & Grill (in-room dining also available)

• Choice of one of the following:

– One-hour candlelit couples massage at the

Vinoy Salon & Day Spa

– One-hour horse-drawn carriage ride with

wine and fruit and cheese platter

– 2.5-hour private sunset sail along the

coastline

– $200 gift certificate to Ami Jewelers

located on the Vinoy’s lobby level

I am picking the One-hour candlelit couples massage at the Vinoy Salon & Day Spa which I would want to do once we check in early afternoon so we are all relaxed before our night out. I love the idea of a carriage ride but a whole hour I would be so BORED. The sun set curise is great too, that is why I found a carriage ride for 15 mins and the sunset cruise.

I figure after the carriage ride we could then head up to the room and get ready for dinner there is a nice place called the Marchands Bar and Grill. After dinner there would be the carriage ride and that would only be like 15 -20 mins because it would be cool but 15 - 20 mins is long enough. It would be cool if I could have the carriage take us to the sunset sail at the Dolphin Landings. It may all be too much but I will see how my planning works out!

Maybe we could do breakfast and a carriage ride to something near by maybe go see a movie... I want the carriage ride dangit! The sunset sounds really cool but I guess I could plan that for another time too... We shall see!



“Before I met you, I thought I had everything in my world to make me happy. I had nothing else to compare it to. Then you walked into my life and everything changed. I realised how empty my world was without you in it. And my whole life was no longer capable of making me happy. Not without you. I love everything about you. I love the way you challenge me like no one ever has. I love the way you look at me like no one ever has. And I love the way you love me like no one ever has.”

Love

Really Pretty Stuff!


I want to set up the house and here are the ideas above... Whatcha think?

Gotta do better...

So I haven't even tried to lose weight I am not doing so great and I need to get cracking.. If I am going to buy the dress I want and actually fit into it, then working out and eating better needs to to start. My parents are kicking my butt!







Random Google...

So the other day while driving home my husband was playing with my hair and stated how much he missed my long hair.. I am the type of persons that you may never relize that I am doing it but I am logging what you say and will use it in up coming events. My boss stated she watched the notebook on TV and loved it I went out not too long after and bought her the movie, it's just how I am. So now that we took that side trip back to the hair thing... I want to buy clip in hair extentions!

I also want to try Crest 3D Whitestrips 2-Hour Express. I hate how when you use these types of things they always make your teeth hurt though. I want my teeth white so I guess I will have to endure.

Starting Monday I need to get back on course. My parents are doing so good! I want to win the $100!!



Romance is my Middle Name

So its that time of year where I start playing with ideas for my anniversary.. its the only thing we celebrate so it means a great deal to me. It will be 7 years this year.. And the 7 year itch deserves something special!


IDEA 1:
Disney - Disney Saratoga Springs, Disney Caribbean Beach (stayed there for our honeymoon), Disney Port Orleans Resort are where we could stay. Then do dinner and they have carriage rides!


IDEA 2:



Escape! Romance Package at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort

Enjoy chilled champagne upon arrival, upgraded bay view resort accommodations, romantic breakfast for two and more with this romantic Tampa Bay vacation getaway!
Rates from: $219 - $379

Valid Through: March 27, 2011  (I can call and see if they will do it in June)

Reservations - Be sure that promotional code LVU appears in the Corporate/Promotional code box when making your online reservation, or call 1-888-303-4430 in the US and ask for promotional code LVU.



AND this is near the Vinoy


Dinner at the Columbi Restaurant and then we could do the following:


CARRIAGE RIDE FOR 2

"Henry" and "Duke", the stars, are here at The Pier and downtown St. Petersburg to take you on a beautiful waterfront ride and throughout the downtown area. Surreys at The Pier is available during the winter hours from 4:00 P.M. till as late as 12:00 A.M. on most Friday & Saturday nights. Weeknights (Monday through Thursday) are from 4:00 P.M. till 10:00 P.M, and on Sundays from 2:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. Weather can change our schedule but we are usually here everyday. We have two carriages a Cinderella (which lights up after dark) and a traditional carriage, shown here. Both carriages can accommodate six adults comfortably. Prices are variable depending upon the ride or special event. Reservations can be made along with pricing by calling our cell phone at (816) 215-8613. Come enjoy a relaxing ride that everyone enjoys including Duke and Henry. It will take you back to time and pace of yesteryear that's fun. Bring along your favorite beverage and book us for an hour with some friends or your sweetheart. Make sure you meet Duke and Henry. They really enjoy what they do and getting to meet everyone."

15-20 minuets $40

30-35 minuets $60


OR


SAILING AT SUNSET

Ready for an unforgettable romantic memory? Or maybe you're just in need of a “mental massage”. Western Florida sunsets are world famous and there’s no better way to see this breathtaking cosmic display than from one of our luxury sailing yachts. These trips evolved from our love of the ocean, the sky and the marine life we share this world with.

Dolphin Landings is the only charter boat center in the Tampa Bay area offering sunset cruises aboard large ocean ketch sailing vessels. You’ll set sail about an hour before sunset to give you plenty of time to catch the full range of hues painted on Mother Nature’s canvas. We provide plenty of cozy warm blankets... in case you want to cuddle on deck. If you love clean air, smooth sailing, postcard beautiful sunsets, and starry night skies… this romantic sailing trip is for you!

Sunset sailing is available from Dolphin Landings & The Pier

Reservations are recommended for all trips. Please Call 727-367-4488 and info@dolphinlandings.com.

Departure times vary - approximately 1 hr before sunset - please call for times all tickets $35 per person


That's all I have so far... Which sounds best?

Kettlebell!

So I think I am going to try and do this whole kettlbell thing! Here is a great blog that helps you see how much you can burn! And here is what I have read:

How Many Calories You Can Burn In A Minute Using Kettlebells.


Although many claims have been made about the effectiveness of kettlebell workouts, researchers say this is the first modern study to examine the fitness benefits of kettlebells.



Kettlebell enthusiasts “make these all-encompassing claims about increasing your muscular strength, endurance and aerobic capacity with kettlebells, like if you do this that’s all you need to do,” says researcher John Porcari, PhD of the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, in the report, published in ACE FitnessMatters. “So we wanted to look and see how much of an aerobic workout you really do get and how many calories you burn.”



The study involved 10 men and women between the ages of 29-46 who performed a typical kettlebell workout by doing kettlebell swings and lift exercises to a certain rhythm during a 20-minute period. All were experienced with the use of kettlebells.



The participants’ fitness levels were measured before and during the workout by measuring heart rate, oxygen consumption, and blood lactate.



The results showed that the average participant burned about 20 calories per minute during the kettlebell workout, which equates to 400 calories during a typical 20-minute kettlebell workout.



Researchers say that’s equivalent to running a six-minute mile or cross-country skiing uphill at a fast pace. They credit the rapid calorie burn to the interval training format of kettlebell workouts.



In addition, the researchers write that the participants achieved exercise heart rate and maximum oxygen uptake, suggesting that kettlebells provide a more intense workout than standard weight training.



“This is good news for people who are looking for a very good resistance-training workout that will also help them lose weight,” says researcher Chad Schnettler, MS, also of the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, in the report. “For people who may not have a lot of time, and need to get in a workout as quickly as possible, kettlebells definitely provide that.”

I will be checking out walmart soon :)

Try Harder

So I really need to try harder on this whole losing weight thing. I found the dress I want on eBay and the bidding just started and if it stays low I may buy it and it's a size 10 so that is two sizes smaller then I had first planned which is scary.

I have been trying hard to find hair styles I'd like to try that will look good with the dress here is what I picked so far:


























So you'll have to tell me what you all think. I have a killer headache time to relax!

Which Dress:

Dress One:

Dress Two:

Dress Three:

Dress Four:

Dress Five:

Dress Six:

Dress Seven:

Dress Eight:

I hurt...

I hurt... I had a long night with a very sick little boy and a pretty sick bigger boy. I got no sleep and with a crazy little man in my bed needless to say I didnt sleep in a traditional comforitable postion and my arm is on FIRE!!

So now I am just sitting here finally taking a breather and looking at stuff like this...

Sexy look: