.Oscar Party Menu.

Since the Oscars start at 5:00pm, I figured I'd better serve my guests some food.

And isn't that party etiquette 101. Serve good food.

So here are some suggestions, and a sneak peek on what I may be serving for my Oscar Themed Appetizers

{based on Best Picture nominees}

The Black and White Cookie
{photo via}

The Artist / Black and White Cookies or Black & White Zebra Cake

The Help / Southern Fried Chicken Wings or Chocolate Pie
The Descendants / Hawaiian pizza bites or Ice Cream balls on a stick or Plain ol' Pineapple Chunks with fruit topping

Pre-Frozen Ice Cream Scoops
{photo via}

Midnight in Paris / French Fries or Mini Quiche Lorraine
Hugo / Baguette with Toppings or a Cheese Platter
Moneyball / Gourmet Hot Dog Bar with lots of toppings {see bottom of post for topping suggestions}

{Photo via Eat. Live. Shop.}

Extremely Loud & Incrediably Close / Cake Ball "Big Apples" or Candy Coated Apples

The Tree of Life / Fresh Veggies and dips or Brie cheese {The Brie of Life! ha!}
War Horse / Carrot Slices with Bean Dip or Jam on Toasts

Cake Ball "Big Apples". I'm going to decorate Tim Horton's Tim Bites in red icing like the picture above! Perfect and Easy!
{Photo via}

Some other Suggestions:

*Oscar Statue cookies

*Hot Dog Bar: Ketchup, Mustard, Dijon, Sauerkraut, Relish, Jalepenos, Pickles, Banana Peppers, Grated Cheese, Mayo, Buns, Sauteed Onions, Beans, Tomatoes.

*Popcorn Bar with different fixings: Parmesan, Rosemary, Cheddar, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, White Cheddar.
Any other suggestions for some creative appetizers?? 

.Reading: The Night's Circus.

Egad.

It's already Feb. 19th and I haven't read a single book in 2012. So much for my 1-2 books per month!
Another failed new years resolution.......which I am about to change!
So to hand out a little Blog Love, I want it noted that my fav book gal, Christine {remember that witty lady over at Bookishly Boisterous} has inspired me to get my ass in gear and pick up a damn novel.  So, I grabbed 'The Night's Circus' by Erin Morgenstern as my first for 2012.

Now, I must mention that I don't believe my gal has read this one {or at least it wasn't on her 2011/2012 Books read column}, but it's been getting rave reviews for being entertaining, easy, and just all around enjoyable. Just what I'm looking for to get back into the swing of things.
So thanks Christine for reminding me about a great way to spend my day, and I hope I can encourage one of you readers to grab a good old fashioned book and read. It's the best way to stimulate the mind. Well, that and calculus....but who actually enjoys calculus?

.New Year, New List. The Bucket.

Remember when I posted this Bucket List in 2011? 

Yeah, I went back and had a little laugh over all the things that I didn't actually accomplish on it.

Sad, I know.

I had grande plans on printing it out and putting my "2011 To-Do's" in a pretty frame, placing it on my desk and watching the inspiration just flow out of me. 

It didn't happen.

I was convinced that I would check everything off the list, and then some.

It didn't happen.

So I'm going to try this again.

And this time, I am putting this little baby out in the open hopefully making myself accountable for 2012. 

Because I expect big things for 2012. BIG. THINGS.

Bucket List of Awesome Things That I'll Actually Accomplish in 2012
*Take a vacation to another country [yes, this will happen....Euro 2012 is booked!]
*Keep practicing that thing called photography. Take some family photos for a few practice rounds.
*Finish a book a month.
*Finish the backyard. Pour the concrete. Finish the gate. 
*Get some Lawn furniture for the backyard.
*Make our bed daily [still struggling with this one]
*Cook 6 meals a week at home. SIX!
*Grow gorgeous herbs that last longer than a month.
*Book a monthly date night with the hubby.
*Keep plugging away at this blog of mine
*Sew something this year.
*Clean out our basement and make it liveable.
*Go to the gym 5 days a week [even if it is just for a walk]
*Make my quota target at work. Knock their socks off!
*Spend more quality time with those that matter.
*Don't sweat the small stuff. Planning ahead will help.
*Finish the new spare room.
*Finish our bedroom.
*Appreciate all the wonderful things, however small, that come to me this year.

How is your Bucket Lists looking this year?

.My Gym God.

happy valentine's day, pistol pete.
Your pipes look real nice. I'd stare at them in the mirror too ;)

i love you.

{image via paperless post}

.Valentine's 2012 Edition.

{image via Andrea, pinksugar}

Like I mentioned yesterday, I CANNOT believe that Valentine's Day is today! 

This year, I had big plans {HUGE} on getting all crafty and trying out my first ever Valentine's decor. I really wanted to decorate my mantel similar to this or this, and simply lost track of time. {I simply don't know how they do it. And they both have newborns!! Maybe next year.......}.
 Things have just been crazy busy around these parts. But that being said, I still find it important to shower my handsome man with a little attention. Sans the Valentine's Day decor.

Now, I must mention that we're pretty low key when it comes to the valentine's department. We try to show each other love every day {gag. mushy. I know} so it sometimes makes me question the whole v-day extrazaganza. We usually don't do anything too fancy-schmancy.....usually just a really nice home cooked meal, share a bath, give some massages, maybe partake in a movie, and a little mmmmm.........

And it makes for a pretty nice night.

And this year is no different. We are having some massive lobsters and giant shrimps I scored awhile back. Husband will cook our meal, as he's kinda amazing in the kitchen. Then we'll pop in a movie, snuggle, laugh, talk about our future, and be reminded that it's the simple things that make us so happy together. That make us tick. 

Talking. Loving. Sharing. Laughing.
Just being together.

And maybe that's what this V-day business is all about. A simple reminder that you shouldn't just assume that you know you love each other, but make an effort to work on showing each other love every single day. Even if it takes one day a year to remind you that.

{photo by Andrea, pinksugar}

happy valentine's day, pistol p.
i love you.