Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

To say that I have the best dad in the world...
is an understatement.
A caring, helpful, loving, amazing advice giving dad.
If ever I'm in a predicament, I know who to call.
He always has the perfect advice.
Dad, I love you
and hope your birthday is an amazing day!

Can't wait to celebrate on Sunday! :)

Yosemite National Park {Honeymoon!}

I realize I never really posted many photos from our honeymoon to California back in August 2010.  I was going through my pictures the other day and thought it'd be fun to share some.  So here is part one of my new series: {Honeymoon!}

Taking a trip down memory lane...

The Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.  This place was amazing.  It was the first place we stopped on our way into Yosemite.  I have never seen trees so big and tall in my life.  The photos don't even do these trees justice.  It is something you just need to go see.  Oh, to be back there... wandering in awe, surrounded by nature.  What an amazing experience.

{All photos by Brett & myself on our honeymoon in August 2010}

March!

Happy March!

It's March 1st!  That means that Spring is just around the corner, right?  Yesterday, it was unusually warm for a February day in Pittsburgh.  Brett and I went outside to take in some of the warm fresh air and what did we notice?  These little flowers starting to bloom in our front yard!  Lots of pretty purples!  Nothing screams spring like the beginning blooms of flowers.  What a pleasant surprise!  I am hoping that the weather keeps getting warmer and warmer, so these little guys can keep growing.  I think March is going to be a gooood month!

Here are some things I'm looking forward to in March:

...The beginning blooms of flowers in our yard...

...Dad & Brita's birthdays...

...Daylight Savings (which means I can start running outside after work!!!)...

...My screen printing class...

...A much needed hair appointment...

...The weather starting to get warmer and warmer...

...The first official day of Spring!!...

...Hopefully finalizing some vacation plans...

...The ending of Winter...

Ahh, I just love the beginning signs that warm weather is on the way!  Happiness!

What are YOU looking forward to in March?!*

Sunrise, Sunrise...

The sunrises on my morning drive have been gorgeous lately.  It seems that the sun is starting to make more and more of an appearance these days and that is definitely fine by me!  Something about the huge sky and beautiful sunrises make me feel so alive.  Just knowing that I'm a tiny little piece of this big beautiful world, it's refreshing.  I think (I hope!) Spring is on the way...

4th Place!!

This past weekend, we headed up to Erie for Brewerie's Brewer's Cup Home Brew Festival!  This festival consisted of about 25 home brewers who brought their beers to be taste tested by anyone who came to the festival.  Of course, Brett entered 2 of his home brewed beers!  Over 500 people turned out for this event.  So that was over 500 people who got to taste test Brett's beer and tell him what they think!  There was also a contest at the end of the festival for everyone to vote on their favorite beers.  It was a packed house!       

This event was SO much fun!

And the best part of all....

Brett's beer won 4th place out of 50 beers!!!

I am SO proud of him.  He works soo hard on the beer that he home brews.  Of course, I may be biased, but I think Brett's beer is the best beer in the entire world.  But for him to get great recognition for it from strangers is completely awesome.  I think we will definitely be doing more events like this.  It was just so much fun!

Cheers!*

Let's go on an adventure...

February has been a little crazy.

I think it's about time to start planning a vacation... ;)

{photo via}

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday

to the most amazing woman I know.

I lucked out big time in the "mother" department.
Not only is she my mother, but also my very best friend.
We have had some amazing times together
and I can't wait to share more and more in the years to come.

Love you, Mom!
Can't wait to have you over to celebrate tonight!! :)


{Photo of my mom, little sister, and I front row at the Hanson concert last week}

Homemade Pasta

This past Saturday we made pasta... like homemade pasta noodles.  We were in the mood for a pasta dish but didn't want to just eat your basic boxed noodles and jarred sauce.  So homemade pasta (and sauce) it was!  Keep in mind, we don't have a pasta machine or anything.  We did everything by hand.  And it really wasn't that hard!  Though, you'll probably want to get your manly, strong husband to roll out the dough, because that clearly was not happening by me!

We used this super basic recipe for the noodles:    

1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water

In a medium sized bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the flour, add the slightly beaten egg, and mix. Mixture should form a stiff dough. If needed, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons water. 

On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 3 to 4 minutes. With a pasta machine or by hand roll dough out to desired thinness. Use machine or knife to cut into strips of desired width.  Dry for about 2 to 3 hours.

To cook the noodles, boil in water for only about 2 to 3 minutes.  Homemade noodles finish cooking a lot faster than boxed noodles. 

------------------------

We doubled the recipe (and ended up having enough leftovers for a whole second meal...).  We also did not let the noodles dry for the full 2 to 3 hours.  We are too impatient for that and we were hungry!  We let them dry for about an hour and they seemed to work out just fine.  Also, like I said before... we don't have any fancy pasta making machines, so we hand cut the strips with a pizza cutter and dried the noodles over our two kitchen chairs... yup.  Who needs fancy cooking machinery?!  Worked just fine!   

While the noodles were hanging to dry, Brett made the homemade sauce.  His homemade sauce is sooooo good.  And here is his lovely demonstration of how he makes the homemade sauce.  Please note, you must be very animated or else it won't come out well!

See how he humors me?  What a guy.  Once you make the sauce and boil up the noodles, it's time to eat!  And here is the finished product...!

Yum, it was SO good.  Definitely a weekend dinner, since it takes a lot of prep time, but seriously worth it!!  Let me know if you try it!

It's All Happening...

"They don't even know what it is to be a fan.

To truly love some silly little piece of music, or some band,

so much that it hurts."

Words cannot really describe how amazing Wednesday night was.  Being at this Hanson concert, surrounded by the whole Hanson atmosphere just brought me straight back to the days when we would follow their tour, going city to city, seeing show after show, and loving every minute of it.  Those were some of the best days of my life and memories I will hold close forever.  It's amazing that after 15 years of following this band, they still make me feel the same way as they did at the very beginning of it all.  It's a special thing that long-time Hanson fans have.  No one else really understands it.  And we can't really explain it.  But all I know is that no matter how long we go between shows, and even if we can't follow the full tours anymore, every single time we come back, we fall right back into place and... "it's all happening" ...all over again. 

Thank you Hanson for the AMAZING show on Wednesday night.  And for confirming to me all over again the reasons why you have been my favorite band for the past 15 years and will continue to stay my favorite band for many, many years to come.

"It's more than a feeling,
it's something that can't be explained."


{All photos by myself & my sister - FRONT ROW BABY!!!}