Down With The Sickness

My poor girl's got the sickness. Strep throat. Ugh. Her little throat is so raw and covered with blisters. Sunday night she came down with a major fever... 103.6. That's a lot for that little body. We gave her some meds, she slept all night and the next morning she still had a 103 fever. I stayed home with her and she mostly just relaxed on the couch watching whatever her little heart desired.

I was her slave for the day... Well, I guess that's not a change from any other day though. Whatever she needed or wanted, she got. Lots of popsicles. Her fever jumped all over the place, but never below 101. Tuesday morning it was time to take her in to the Doctor. They tested her for strep and it came back positive. Tuesday was a better day though, she seemed more like her silly self. Trying to make me laugh (and succeeding), she wanted me to do her hair and nails, we baked cupcakes, she was just so much better.

She's still home today because she can't go back to school until she's fever-free for 24 hours. Now let's just hope the little man doesn't get sick...

- Jessica

Our Wedding

**Warning: Long post... but so worth it!**

I haven't done a post about my wedding yet! We got married on January 18th, 2010... It was a Monday. My husband picked that date because that was the date he first came to Naples and decided he had to move down here. So, January 18th was a special date to him. We decided to get married at the Courthouse... nothing fancy. And in all honesty... This was my 2nd wedding (don't judge), I KNEW with all my heart this was the man I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, and I didn't care how or where I was going to marry him. My first wedding, I knew walking down the aisle that it wasn't right. I know, that's horrible... but that's what happened. I got married for all the wrong reasons - I was pregnant and thought it was the right thing to do. This time was completely different. Although I was pregnant for this wedding too (man, I have a bad history with that, huh?!) I was head over heels in love with this man and we had discussed marriage prior to me getting knocked up (ha!). Anyway... So our plan was to get married on Monday, January 18th at the Courthouse... only problem was... that was MLK Day and the courthouse was closed. My husband told me he called over there and someone was going to come in just to marry us... Awesome! We were going to 5th Avenue beach to take pictures, then go to the courthouse, and then out to dinner. It was just going to be the two of us, Morgan, his parents and my parents. Very intimate. I was completely stress free... I didn't have to plan anything. My mom went with my to pick out a dress, just something very pretty, but very simple. The morning of the 18th, I went to my parents' house and he stayed home. We went about our day, not seeing each other all day. Time comes to get myself and Morgan ready (she had a gorgeous dress that "matched" mine). Then we loaded up in my parents' car to head to the beach for pictures. It was right at sunset, perfect picture opportunity! We get out of the car, and all start to walk towards the boardwalk to get to the beach. Right before we get to the boardwalk, my dad grabs my arm and says... "Are you ready?"... We walk over the boardwalk and there stood about 50 people all lined up in a U shape around my husband and our friend (the officiant). I held onto my dad's arm SO tight and just broke down in tears... HAPPY HAPPY, oh so HAPPY tears. I was in complete shock...  I walked to meet my husband, he was crying because I was crying and it was just so beautiful. Most of the pictures of me walking towards him are so ugly because I have this horrible crying face.. Embarassing...

We had an amazingly beautiful ceremony. Morgan stood right up there with us, and the 3 of us got married...

See my bump?

During the ceremony, my husband knelt down and gave Morgan a bracelet as a symbol that he will always love her. After the ceremony we just mingled around the beach for a while, taking pictures, talking with my surprise guests. My sister-in-law flew in from Texas just for this surprise. Once everything was said and done at the beach, we headed to a little hidden GORGEOUS restaurant called Dish - this little place has amazing greenery, a serene pool, beautiful lighting. We had the whole place to ourselves. This part was also a major surprise!

We had a whole reception... a live band, delicious food, a gorgeous cake... It was a heavenly night.

Seriously, who has a surprise wedding?! MEEE!!!   I think a lot of women might be upset by a surprise wedding because they didn't get to plan it or be involved in the decision making. I can say my wedding was perfect... stress-free, on the beach during sunset. I couldn't have planned it better myself... and my husband did EVERYTHING and kept it all a secret from me. How amazing is that man of mine?! He made a little speech at our reception and said he couldn't let me get married in a courthouse and he knew when I agreed to get marred in the courthouse that he had to do something extra special for me. That man just melts my heart. That was the most amazing night I have ever had, thanks to my husband.

- Jessica

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Linking up to Jamie!

I'm loving... that I have 3 beach loving college girls staying with us this week.

I'm loving... that I got out of work yesterday at 1:00 to go to the beach!

I'm loving... that we're going out for sushi this Friday night.

I'm loving... the smell of my new coconut lotion.

I'm loving... that my order from Victoria's Secret should be here today!

I'm loving... that it's getting closer to Easter, which means the Florida snowbirds will go home!

I'm loving... my breakfast of Florida strawberries... Yummmm

I'm loving... MY LIFE!

- Jessica

Recipe - Pork, Black Beans, and Rice

I haven't posted a recipe in a while. Before my husband and I were together, he hated black beans. Then I cooked for him... and this is one of his favorite dinners. I use Montreal steak seasoning to season the pork chops... I use this seasoning on everything... veggies, steak, chicken, salmon, pork, ice cream...

Just kidding on that last one.

Ingredients

1 package of boneless pork chops (about 5 chops)
1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice (I use Texmati Brown Rice cooked in a rice cooker)
1 can of reduced sodium black beans
1/2 green pepper
1/2 onion
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp sugar
salt
pepper
Montreal steak seasoning

Cook rice. Preheat oven to 350. Dice green pepper and onion and saute in a pot (not a pan) with a little extra virgin olive oil.

Once cooked, add can of black beans and let the beans get hot. Then add red wine vinegar, oregano, garlic powder, sugar. Add more of any of those ingredients if needed. I almost always adjust it by adding more of something. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and let simmer on low heat, stirring every 5 minutes. The beans will become a thick almost soup-like consistency.

While the beans are simmering, season pork chops with Montreal steak seasoning and cook in oven for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until cooked.

Serve black beans over the rice.

On a side note, the other day in the car, MonkeyGirl wanted to write her "lellers" (letters). So, I handed her a piece of paper and a pen in the backseat. She said tell me something to write... I said write M-O-M... This is what I got...

She's brilliant!!

This post is linked up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

- Jessica

Miscellany Monday

Linking up with Carissa for Miscellany Monday! I really have nothing to say today except randomness.

1. I went to Ulta this weekend to get the Naked eye palette from Urban Decay and of course they were out. It's an extremely popular palette and I was bummed.

Instead, I left with this Too Faced Natural eye palette, which I have read great reviews on. I'm extremely happy with this one!

I had to have Katy Perry's OPI Shatter nailpolish. Have you all seen this stuff?! Yeah, it's pretty amazing.

I also got this, Essie Turquoise and Caicos... which I am currently wearing. It's a perfect Tiffany box blue. Very Springy!!

2. My husband's 2 college-aged cousins (sisters) and their friend are coming down today from New Jersey for their Spring Break! They're going to stay with us for 6 days. I haven't met them yet, but I'm pretty damn excited about this.

3. I went to the pool for the first time in... 9 months (OMG!) and it was gaawwgeous! Little Man splashed himself silly in the pool and loved every minute of it. He looked so cute in his little skull and crossbones bathing suit.

4. I've never ordered anything from Victoria's Secret online. I'm always weary about ordering clothes online just because of sizing. But, I ordered 3 summer tops and a dress from VS and can NOT wait to get them!

5. Borders is going out of business so everything is on sale... Woohoo! I got 4 books that I've been wanting to read for $40. Verrrry exciting! Now, if I only had all the time in the world to read them...

6. We are planning a trip to Busch Gardens in April with my in-laws, sister-in-law, both kids and the hubs. I'm ecstatic about this!! I can't wait to see my little girls face when she sees their new Sesame Street section. Also, their new Cheetah Hunt (or is it Cheetah Chase?) rollercoaster should be open by then!

7. After taking 2 semesters off, I'm registering for a class today... that's right ONE class. At this point, I don't want to get in too over my head, so I'm starting back slowly. Business Law it is.

Have a wonderful week, bloggy friends!

- Jessica

I Feel Old

Yesterday I felt old... for real. As I was sitting in the parents section at gymnastics, watching my silly girl do back bends and flips on the bars, there were 2 teenage girls sitting next to me. I couldn't help but overhear bits and pieces of their conversation... It went a little something like this...

"OMG, did you see what Sara put on her Facebook?! Ugh, that so wasn't cool. Oh, and OMG let me tell you, Kayla and I were like trying to keep that a secret, but now like everyone knows. OMG did you see Hunter today?! Ahhh, he's like so cute! His sister is such a bitch. I can't stand her. She's so ugly. She pisses me off. I have to update my Facebook status now."

All while they were putting on makeup. My first thought was to turn to them and say, "Listen here, I'm trying to watch my little girl do her thing, now shut it!" Then I thought... Wow, I'm old. I'm now a mommy, a parent... I'm "old" to them. I usually talk to some of the regular gymnastics mommies while we're watching our girls, and our conversation is always about our kids. I'm sure those cool teenage girls were thinking "OMG, how boring and lame are these moms?!" It seems like it was forever ago that my girlfriends and I were talking about boys and gossiping. Just gabbing away not having a care in the world about ANYTHING. I'm only 25, but hearing those girls and seeing how they talk to each other annoyed me, which made me feel ancient.

Have a weekend full of fabulous-ness! I know I will!

- Jessica

This and That... And Then Some

This post is going to be short but sweet... Sweet because, well... There's pictures of my babies!

I've been pretty busy with the kids all week, also with work, getting prepared to go back to school after taking two semesters off, trying to keep the house clean, cooking dinner... You know, the normal everyday stuff.

So, this is what we've been up to...

Monkey and I planted some sunflowers... we watch them everyday to see how much they've grown! She's SOOOO excited!

This silly little man had his first taste of watermelon. This boy hasn't met a food he dislikes yet, so of course he gobbled this down. These little mesh bag teether things are SO awesome! The other day I put a piece of banana in there... Yummmm!

The weather here has been absolutely beaaauuttiful... So, after work the kids and I go for a walk around our neighborhood

Miss Thing leads the way... as usual...

We go on treasure hunts on our walks... She found a "boat".

This little boy could be in the worst mood, but take him outside and he cheers right up!

She's coming to yell at the Mommy Paparazzi "Stop taking my picture!!"

- Jessica