A day off!

Many thanks go out to our Nations' First President for having a birthday - and for letting us celebrate it! It was so nice to sleep in, check email in my pj's and then head to the beauty salon for a new do! (or just a half-inch trim, same difference) Isn't is the best to have someone else wash, cut, dry and style your hair? I could really get used to this.

While at the salon I also picked up my favorite hairspray - Aveda Air Control.

This is the only hairspray I use... straight hair, curly hair, up, down, curls... it works on every do. It tames fly aways but doesn't make your hair feel sticky. The scent is the best part - it smells refreshing and just like you left the salon!

What else to do on a day off than to cook & craft! First up this morning was french toast with strawberries & bananas for breakfast....


Chicken salad for lunch (shout out to the Kroger bakery - best rotisserie chicken salad I've ever had!)

...and I'm trying to decide what Pinterest recipe to choose for dinner. As or crafting, the day included a few headdress sales from A Mango Tree Shop and filling an Etsy order for a burlap table runner. I'll have to wait and share those pictures - don't want to spoil any surprises for anyone!

Now it's time for Ellen - such great afternoon entertainment.

Hello Snow!

Well Hello Snow! Thank you for joining us this winter. Seriously? It's almost March and you finally made your way into the Vally. I'm happy you're here... but your timing could have been a little better. What a day it's been. The hubs has been gone for the weekend and took an early flight to get home so we could have a fun day in the "big city" a.k.a. - Roanoke. But, Mr. Winter spoiled those plans by joining us at approximately noon - the same time he was supposed to land. Instead his plane was diverted to Richmond and all the passengers were left to fend for themselves. So, after a quick shout out to our good friends in Richmond, the hubs was rescued by a cadet heading back to school here in town. So, I headed home - and to Pinterest, were I kept my afternoon busy!

First, I threw together some ingredients I had in the pantry to make these yummy bites for the cadet that came to our rescue. Glazed Doughnut Muffins = delightful!


We even have a few left for ourselves.

Next, I tried out this yummy recipe from skinnytaste.com. The hubs loves mozzarella sticks - but he's trying to stick to our healthy eating this year, so this was a perfect welcome home treat substitute. All fresh healthy ingredients and pretty easy to make. He approved, as did I - I mean, who doesn't love anything with cheese??

For dinner we're having steaks (the hubs is braving the 4 inches of snow to get us a sweet treat from the grill), fresh roasted green beans... and these tasty tators! I've just pulled them out of the oven and they are fantastic - a keeper!

So, here we are ... the hubs is home(yay!) and grilling steaks and I'm updating my blog, because I promised I would start blogging every day. I'm just happy to be home in our warm little house about to dig in to some yummy din din! Shout out to Pinterst today for making a busy snow day into an afternoon of baking and lots of evening treats!

So, until tomorrow.

xo,

Pete

I'm back!!

I was inspired today. Yes, to get back to blogging. I guess I just got busy and decided that spending more time in front of the computer wasn't exactly what I wanted to do with my free time, but this afternoon I was convinced (or inspired) by and few sweet ladies to get back to my blog. So I thought, why not? It is fun to share with everyone a lil' glimpse inside the Lyons' den from time to time... so here we go...

We just celebrated our 5th Valentine's Day together, 1st as a married couple!! ...and the sweet hubs got be beautiful flowers and a green amethyst necklace that was just beautiful! [and a really sweet card - that was the best part, but shh... don't tell - sparkly things are nice as well!]

I made some adorbale heart cinnimon rolls for breakfast (thanks pinterest) and we stayed in for the evening a made coconut shrimpers for dinner. It was a fun low-key night in our cozy lil house.

As for Jesse's Valentine - he got new running socks, yes socks & a cute bow tie. But, not just any socks.... Balega runing socks are simply the best around. Once you put them on your feet - you'll be hooked! Go ahead, give in... your feet with say thank you later!
Many thanks to St. Valentine for a nice relaxing day with my husband. It's really nice to just put away the work, put down the blackberry and just enjoy each others' company. So, while many may think it's just a "Hallmark Holiday," I may agree - but I'm happy to celebrate! :)

Fun-Fetti!!

When it came down to the most important "tasty detail" of our wedding planning, I only had one request... Fun-fetti! Yes, the local baker at a cute little cake shop in Mobile gave me the once over when I, very nicely, asked her to put sprinkles in our cake batter, but she obliged and that's what we got. For anyone that knows me personally, it was icing on the cake! Or the actual cake I guess... but it made the wedding cake uniquely ours, which is exactly what we wanted. So, we have started a new tradition (we'll see how long it lasts), we have fun-fetti for our monthly anniversary! The first two months were cupcakes, but this month in particular I sprang for a cake with our new Kitchen Aid Mixer!

Our new addition to the kitchen! Thanks to all our friends and family who bought us Macy's gift cards. They were put to great use.

My husband of 3 months enjoying his fun-fetti!

The Arizona Biltmore

Sorry I'm a little behind on my blogging... what a busy summer it has been! I wanted to date back a few weeks and share some pictures from our amazing trip to The Arizona Biltmore for the Kappa Alpha Order National Convention. I got to tag along with the hubby's work trip. I learned one major detail.... it's way more fun to go to a convention as a guest! I spent the 5 days exploring on hikes, swimming, sunning, eating, drinking, doing yoga and shopping! It was a fun trip indeed, and very hot- 115 degrees at the hottest!! Below is just a glimpse of my adventures!

My first morning in Arizona I was told that getting up early was the only way to be in the heat, so at 7am we took a trip to hike this mountain. Yep- all the way to the top of that little peak. It was incredable!

Views from our hike.

My morning hiking path down the mountain.

Friday night we went to the Arizona Diamondbacks game.... indoors in the only way to go in Arizona!

The Loyal Order reception Friday night at the baseball game- delicious cake too!

Knight Commander's Installation Banquet and Reception on Saturday night. It's so great to see the boys all dressed up! :)

Staff dinner on Sunday to celebrate a great week of work at a local find.... The Hideaway, that was also a little hard to find. ha

Staff day at the pool! A mango marg for my MANGO's!!

Small Town to the Nation's Capital

This past weekend I made the short drive up to D.C. for work. It was a busy and productive weekend on the job, but I still had time to get out for a couple of jogs in the city and even a quick trip to the shopping mall in Arlington. I was amazed by the constant hustle and bustle of the people all around me. It was almost like everyone was running to the kitchen to get the first hot chocolate chip cookie from the oven- except, there were kitchens on every corner and it seemed that they didn't care whether they got the first cookie or the last... they just kept coming. I sat one evening on the rooftop of one of the taller buildings near Union Station, as the sun set over a beautiful sky glistening behind the National Cathedral, I somehow longed to be in the city. The rush of people, the constant calendar of things to do, places to go, people to meet- it was exhilarating. I was struck by the moment and had to really ask myself- is this what you want everyday or does it just seem exciting?

As I made my way back to the tiny town of Lexington, to which I call home, I was overwhlemed with the scenery. We took an afternoon drive up into the mountains and spent the afternoon on the river, jumping from rock to rock to find a flat rock to bathe in the sun. It was quiet and refreshing. We found an old swing bridge- one out of a storybook that you don't think really exisits....

We stopped to take the fun walk across, with the old boards creaking under our feet, it was scary and exciting all at the same time.... but it made me appreciate where we live. Where in the city would a bridge like this one last as long as it has?? It wouldn't.

Life is about compromises... you learn that while you can't have it all, you can have some pretty great stuff and that's just want small town living is. Quiet drives in the country, beautiful rivers and streams and some quality time with the one you love.

A weekend in the Windy City

This weekend was a fun get-away to the windy city! The hubs had meetings and work events most of the weekend, which meant fun time for me! There is nothing better than a couple days with no meetings, appointments, or phone calls. Best of all I was in a big city with mucho time to explore... which I did.

Just a glimpse of my day in Chicago...

Started the day off with a nice run through grant park and along the riverfront. 80 degrees and sunny is rare in Chicago- but so nice!! Next, a delicious salad at a small cafe on the Miracle Mile... apples, pears, craisons, feta and grilled chicken-Yum!

I discovered many fun new things on this trip... Raspberry Diet Coke is amazing; Forever 21 has an entire section dedicated to JUST floral prints- heaven!; Garrett's popcorn is one of the most amazing things I've ever tasted; and deep dish Chicago- style pizza should be it's own food group.

Shopping....

...and Garrett's popcorn to boot! Yummm!