My Reasons to Smile: April 2012

Friday, April 27, 2012

Sunshines and Creeps

Sunshine to free tickets to the Twins game tonight.

Creep to the crappy weather forecast for this weekend. Hopefully we don't get rained on tonight at the Twins game.

Creep to very little "us" time for Michael and I over the past week.

Sunshine to catching up on some TV this week.

Sunshine to finding some decorations for the wedding that I've been look for for months. Double Sunshine that they were cheaper than I thought they would be.

Creep to it almost being May (it's already May?!). It is such a busy month for me and I'm dreading it.

Sunshine to lots of workouts this week, including a butt-kicking yoga sculpt class on Wednesday.

Sunshine to figuring out some new meals for us to try.

Creep to the chef at my school changing the lunch on Tuesday. It was supposed to be my favorite lunch and instead, we had calzones. BOO!

Sunshine to finally enjoying dinner outside this week on our deck. We've been waiting to do that for weeks.

Sunshine to grass finally growing in our front yard.

Sunshine to ordering our wedding invitations. I LOVE THEM!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Point and Shoot

Salad spinner - check. Egg separator-check. Champagne flutes (even though we hate champagne) - check. Kitchen Aid Mixer - CHECK! Yes, Michael and I are working on registering, and you know what, I found it to be more fun than it sounded. Walking around with a little gun and selecting things we would probably never buy for ourselves = so much fun.

Michael and I started the registry process a few weeks ago and hit up three of our four stores in one day: Macy's, Williams-Sonoma, and Crate and Barrel. We were going to do Target last week, but life plans got in the way so we're going to try again this weekend.
Here's some of the things from our list.

Things we "need:"

• KitchenAid Stand mixer

• High-quality silverware

• Bedding for our room and guest rooms

• Serving trays and serving utensils

• Roasting pan

• Martini glasses

• Stemless wine glasses

• Luggage for Michael

• Serving bowls

• Towels

And the things we want but don't necessarily need:

• Hotel-quality towels

• Picture Frames

• Pasta-making attachments (we already have a pasta machine)

• All-Clad pans

• Camera

• China

• iPad

And of course, a bunch of other stuff :-)

Married friends - what did you register for? Or if you are not married yet, what's on your wish list for some day?

135 days!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Hard Sell = not my thing

On Sunday night, Michael and I went to an event for a local children's performance group. We assumed it was going to be a fundraiser going into it, but it was probably one of the hardest "sells" for a fundraiser I've ever experienced.

Following a four hour program with silent auction, dinner, and performances by the kids (and they were good), the emcee started his schpeel: "Who's going to stand up and support YPC? Who's going to stand up and give $1,000?" When no one stood up right away, he asked again. And again. And again and again. It was 45 seconds until someone finally stood up and committed to giving $1,000. Then the emcee moved on to $500, $250, $100, and any amount of money at all. It went on like this for 15 minutes. And the whole time, they had the performers (ages 12-18) racing around the ballroom, grabbing the pledge forms and checks and rushing them to the stage.

I've been to my fair share of fundraisers in my life - I do work in the fundraising world, after all - and that was the worst ever. To see those kids be exploited like that broke my heart. To see that emcee up there try so hard for what seemed like an eternity to get someone to give $1,000 made me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed for him. It was all just so awkward...

It helped me realize just how uncomfortable I am with the hard sell concept of fundraising (heck, there is a lot about fundraising that makes me uncomfortable). I am so glad that we do not do an event like that at my job.

Anyone else ever been to a fundraiser and felt uncomfortable about the way they do the ask? I think I'll take a break from attending fundraisers for awhile...

Friday, April 20, 2012

Sunshines and Creeps

Woohoo - it's FINALLY Friday. That means, time for Sunshines and Creeps.

Sunshine to working out every day this week. Yay me!

Creep to my crabbiness on Tues and Wed. Don't know what my problem was...

Sunshine to shopping for my wedding band tonight.

Sunshine to finishing up our registry this weekend. Last stop - Target.

Creep to Reunion planning.

Sunshine to a yummy menu last night and the next two nights: Thurs = Fried Rice and 3s Company; Tonight = Pizza; Sat = pasta with red sauce. All homemade (even the pasta) and delicious!

Sunshine to catching up with Kristen this week. Now I just need to catch up with some of my other friends.

Creep to seeing a centipede in the bathroom this week. I HATE them and now I'm paranoid all the time that they are in our house.

Sunshine to the pretty blue jays that hang out in our backyard.

Sunshine to almost being done with our wedding invitation design. I hope we can order them within the next week so we can check another thing off of our to do list.

Sunshine to planning to go home for a weekend in June to see my family.

Happy weekend everyone!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

I would make that better with meat...

A few nights ago, Michael and I were making dinner and chatting about our days. Here's how our conversation went:

Me: I found a delicious looking pasta recipe today.

Michael: Where?

Me: Pinterest.

Michael: You love that site... (eye roll)

Me: I know but there are good things on it. Anyways, it was a pasta recipe with goat cheese and pureed red peppers. If we get that immersion blender we registered for, I totally want to make it.

Michael: What kind of meat is in it?

Me: None. It's vegetarian. But I would make it better by adding meat.

(pause for 30 seconds)

Michael: You should start a blog called "I made it better with meat" and write about vegetarian recipes that you improved by adding meat. Seriously, people would follow you. You could make a living out of it. And the food would be good!

Leave it to my future hubby to come up with career path ideas :-)

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Weekend Recap - wedding prep

This past weekend, we were at the cabin with Michael's parents and grandparents starting our "wedding prep" list for the site. We got a lot done, but there's still so much more to do. This weekend, we worked on planting and putting in some steps to the backyard (there used to be a pretty steep hill). We are about 70% done with the stairs, which is great. We also set up the furniture in the new screened-in porch, which I am loving! Michael and I read in it on Saturday night after dinner and it was so peaceful to be right by the lake, but free from the bugs.

Still to come on the to-do list:

1. Painting the inside of the cabin
2. Painting the outside of the cabin
3. Put up a backsplash in the kitchen
4. Finish the steps
5. More planting
6. Re-rocking the path to the lake
7. Re-sand the beach
8. Install new edging on paths
9. Pour new gravel
10. Build retaining wall near driveway
11. Tear down trees near driveway
12. Expand driveway
13. Clean out garage
14. Build new workbench in garage

And those are just the things I can remember off the top of my head. The list is over 30 things long...

Lots to do!!! 143 days!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Recipe - Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

A few months ago, Michael and I wanted to make stuffed pork for dinner. We tried a pork chop the first time around and while good, we thought we could do better. After looking at Food and Wine, I found the recipe below for a stuffed pork tenderloin that is DELICIOUS! We have made this about 5 times and it is so good. If you are making for 3 or less people, I recommend cutting the stuffing amount in half and just doing one pork tenderloin. If there will be 4 or more people eating it, I recommend the full serving.

We've made the sauce and we've decided we like it better without it. It's good, but a little too sweet for us.

Serve with some green veggies, potatoes (we loved this recipe with it), and some bread, and you have yourself a delicious meal that isn't that hard and is sure to impress! We made this this past weekend for his parents and grandparents and everyone loved it.

Enjoy!

Stuffed Pork Tenderloins with Bacon and Apple-Riesling Sauce

PORK

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 pound pork breakfast sausage, casings removed
1 Granny Smith apple—peeled, cored and cut into 1/3-inch dice
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme
1/2 teaspoon chopped sage
1/2 cup finely chopped collard greens (2 large leaves, stemmed)
4 ounces fresh goat cheese, at room temperature
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Two 1-pound pork tenderloins
6 slices of bacon

SAUCE

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Granny Smith apple—peeled, cored and cut into 1/3-inch dice
3/4 cup apple cider
1/2 cup dry Riesling
1/4 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth
1/2 teaspoon chopped sage
1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add the apple, garlic, thyme and sage and cook until the apple just begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in the collard greens and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and let cool to room temperature. Mix in the goat cheese and season the stuffing with salt and pepper.
Light a grill. Using a long, thin knife and beginning at a thick end, cut a 1-inch-wide pocket through the center of each pork tenderloin; use the handle of a wooden spoon to widen the pocket if necessary. Fill the pork tenderloins with the stuffing, poking it in with the wooden spoon. Season the tenderloins with salt and pepper and wrap the bacon strips securely around them; try to cover any exposed stuffing with the bacon.
Grill the pork tenderloins over moderately high heat, turning four times, until browned on every side, about 25 minutes, or the internal temperature reaches 140°. Transfer the pork tenderloins to a cutting board, cover tightly with foil and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the apple, cider, Riesling, chicken stock, sage and thyme and simmer until the apple softens, about 7 minutes. Transfer the contents of the saucepan to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the sauce back into the saucepan and boil until it coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Slice the pork tenderloins crosswise about 1 inch thick and arrange on plates. Spoon the Apple-Riesling Sauce around the meat and serve.

MAKE AHEAD The bacon-wrapped, stuffed tenderloins and finished apple-Riesling sauce can be refrigerated separately overnight. Bring the tenderloins to room temperature before grilling.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Sunshines and Creeps

Sunshine to the weekend.

Creep to the yucky weather forcasted for this weekend.

Sunshine to going to the cabin this weekend. I love it there.

Sunshine to yoga sculpt this morning. Felt so good to get my workout out of the way before 7am.

Creep to my lack of motivation at work.

Sunshine to the Twins getting a win (two in fact!) this week. Since we have season tickets this year, I'd like them to do at least ok and not as dismal as we all think they will be.

Sunshine to getting a few more wedding to-dos done. Still so much to do but 148 days from now, it will all be over and I'll be a Mrs. YAY!

Sunshine to ordering our engagement photos. Cannot wait to frame and hang up around our house!

Sunshine to the best episode in years on How I Met Your Mother this week.

Sunshine to Matt Bomer. I LOVE White Collar and I loved his cover of Gotye on Glee this week.

Creep to getting the Gotye song stuck in my head all day for the past three days.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Photos

Two weekends ago, Michael and I took our engagement photos. Our AMAZING (you will hear me say this A LOT) photographer, the very talented Katie Lewis, came down to Minneapolis to shoot them. I am so glad we did these because it allowed Katie and us to get to know each other better, and gave Michael and I an opportunity to practice being in front of the camera together. In actuality, it was really easy for us to do all the things Katie asked us – kiss, look into each other’s eyes, kiss, hug, kiss…you get the point.

The day was supposed to be sunny and 70 degrees. In actuality, it was cloudy (even rained a bit) and only got to 54 degrees. But photographers love overcast days so it worked out just fine. And I was surprised I wasn’t colder, especially when we were outside.

We choose three locations to shoot at for our pictures. Michael came up with the idea of shooting at Cooks of Crocus Hill about a month ago, since they have an awesome kitchen and we love to cook. Unfortunately, the location closest to our house had a birthday party there the night of our pics. But, the St. Paul location was available so I checked it out one day on my lunch break and I liked it so we went with it. And, we ended up liking their kitchen space a lot more than the Edina location (privacy was much better) so I think this worked out for the best. We were able to shoot anywhere in the kitchen and then we shot a few pics in the store and outside of it.

Our second location was – SURPRISE – Lake Harriet. This is where we got engaged and also took our picture for our Save the Dates, but we were on the opposite side of the lake this time (and on the beach) so it didn’t look the same. We also found a cool staircase to use, which has some of my favorite photos.

Lastly, we shot at a bridge at Michael’s family’s country club. It runs over a busy street and we got so lucky when we went to take our photos there because there was NO traffic the entire time Katie was standing in the middle of the road. As we were finishing up, Katie asked if we’d be up for a few more photos in front of a willow tree. She didn’t have to twist my arm. And those photos are some of my faves too!

Anyways, without any more delay and my ranting, here are some (ok, it’s a lot – sorry!) of our favorite photos, all courtesy of Katie Lewis Photography. I’ll post on Facebook too (when I have time!).