My brother's growing up...

Today is Jacob's 18th birthday. I am SO proud of the man he's become. Jacob's actually finishing up his first year in college, but he's still "technically" a senior. Last week, we did a quick senior photo session-I'll be posting more once the weather gets better and him and I can take more-we only had like 10 minutes for these! I'd love taking some by Lake Michigan.

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Sunday morning muffins

I'm starting Sunday morning with chocolate chip and blueberry (separate) muffins, green tea, and some Mindy Project :) I'm still not over whatever sickness crap I got from Boston so I've been taking it easy....and it's been awesome! By the way, in the picture on the right of Tim, he's nodding his head because these muffins are d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s. You can get the recipe HERE

This whole weekend has been relaxing. Friday started out with only working 7 hours, which always makes Fridays great :). I also started reading one of the books I got from Tim for Christmas (I'm a procrastinator) called "Happier at Home".

Awesome book. If you want to feel inspired, read it. Every time I read one of Gretchen Rubin's books, I take a few of her ideas and actually use them in my own life. They truly make a difference. 

After I got home from work, I made barbecued chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits. Delicious. And for dessert? Snickerdoodles. Mmmmmmmmmm...Tim and I then picked his dad up from the airport-he had an important interview in Pennsylvania for a job that will literally change his life. We're so excited to visit them :) He's going to hear in a couple weeks if he got the job, but the guys in the interview really want him working there, so here's hoping!

On Saturday, I did something I've been meaning to do for like 6 months...I took 5 boxes of clothes and whatnot to the Salvation Army and like 50 magazines to the library for people to take!!! It felt great to be rid of those items. Seriously. Each weekend, do ONE thing to simplify your life. Don't make a huge list-you'll most likely not accomplish everything and regret it. If you only have one important thing to tackle though, you'll do it. I felt so great getting rid of that stuff that when I got home, I went through our TWO junk drawers. Now you can open them and they're only like 1/4 full. It feels AWESOME!

Tim went to a surprise birthday party for one of his friends and didn't get home until 2am, so I had the house to myself. I made fish and carrots, broccoli, and snap peas fried in butter and olive oil for dinner (Tim HATES fish). I also watched some old episodes of Rookie Blue, one of my favorite summertime shows :) It starts back up in May!

Today includes watching Tim play Defiance (a video game) and me going on Pinterest to look for wedding ideas...enjoy your Sunday!

Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce

These are like the worst food pictures ever. But I promise, they're really good. Not like mall pretzels, but they're not bad for being homemade :) Recipe can be found HERE. I think I'm going to try a different recipe next time. But, one of my New Years Resolutions was to try new recipes, so at least I accomplished that :)

This was Tim when I asked him to smile with a thumbs up…I've gotten used to these faces...

Beautiful, right? :) Don't let this picture be the deciding factor on if you want to make these pretzels.

By the way, the cheese recipe, in my opinion, calls for twice the amount you really need. I just threw out a bowl of it…what a waste. I guess I should have eaten more cheese.

the BEST chicken alfredo sauce

This is THE BEST chicken alfredo sauce. Seriously. Why, you might ask? Um, because it has heavy whipping cream, a whole stick of butter, and cream cheese in it? Duh.

These aren't the most delightful pictures, but it's kind of difficult to make sauce look great. And of course, I didn't take an after picture with the sauce on the chicken and pasta BUT that was because I already ate it. 

It's THAT good. You can find the recipe HERE:

Yes, I felt a little disgusting making this. But once you eat it, you'll feel better. I promise.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

We just got back this past week from an AMAZING trip to Niagara Falls, Boston, Concord, and Salem. Tim, I, and a few of our friends drove (19 hours there!!! In a small, crowded car!!!) there for PAX, which I do believe is the second largest video game convention in the U.S. (first is E3). My friend Heather and I caught the nerd flu from the trip. Once I'm feeling better, I'll post more from the trip :)

This was at the beginning of the trip around 3am when we were super excited...ask us again 15 hours later into the drive and it'd probably be a different answer lol

made a pit stop at Niagara Falls

 Testing out a game at PAX

 Walking through Paul Revere's house...I got the coolest feeling walking on these stairs-SO MUCH HISTORY. Paul Revere walked on these same steps. Holy crap.

 At the Granary Burying Ground. Lots of famous people buried here. BUT....I'm apparently an IDIOT and just now found out that Benjamin Franklin is NOT buried here, it's just a memorial. Good grief. Apparently I'm not such a great history nerd.

 Quincy Market

 Me, you know, hanging out at the Boston Massacre site.

 A picture of Heather and I at an Irish pub for the two seconds we were there. We found out they didn't serve food. What???!!! 

We then proceeded to the Intermission Tavern where we had delicious crab cakes and clam chowder. Mmmmmmmmmm....

Trying scallops for the first time...slightly weird. I would have seasoned them more.

 Tim got his burger CRUNCHIFIED (potato chips on top) at Bobby's Flay's Burger Palace. I personally thought the burger looked pathetic-I mean, I expected more from Bobby Flay. But, Tim said the meat was delicious.

 My $40 worth of candy from Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie, the U.S.' oldest candy store.

 Friendship in Salem-such a cool ship.

 Wynott's Wands in Salem-store for any Harry Potter nerd!!!

Salem Witch Trials Memorial/Old Burying Point

I highly recommend going to Boston/Salem. There's history around every corner-you can feel it! 

It was SO nice getting away for a while. Our next big trip will probably be our honeymoon next fall; however, even getting away for just the weekend is SUCH a good idea. This trip we took was with friends-I'd like to plan a trip for just Tim and I. Somewhere for the weekend. Any ideas?