SPRINKLE ME PRETTY!

www.gemmasrosebows.etsy.com

SPRINKLE ME PRETTY!

So I just realized I have not made a new post since June 6! Seems like a long time considering I thought I'd be "blogging" (Im still getting used to the term..) everyday when I first created site! But now that my amazing husband is back (well currently gone for 2 weeks but no longer deployed) Ive been a little busy. Not to mention I have been setting u
p my Etsy shop! I am really excited to finally start promoting it! After 3 long weeks I successfully have 43 items for sale in my shop!! My items range from headbands and bows to tutus and bow holders. It is really fun finding out I am good at something! Woo! Not a total failure... ;) Anyway check it out at www.gemmasrosebows.etsy.com!

Working at the CAR WASH!

Had to include these ADORABLE pictures of Jayden washing his dad's jeep with him. He was so excited to be helping! It is so comforting to see him spending time with his dad again....

Chianti Braised Short Ribs

I tried this recipe a few years ago when I was putting together a traditional 5 course Italian dinner for my husband on Valentine's day. For those of you who aren't familiar with such a meal I will clue you in. An Italian dinner consists of the antipasto, primo, secondo, contorno, and dolce. The antipasto might be a salad. The primo is a soup or rice. The secondo is chicken, meat, or fish. The contorno is some sort of vegetable to accompany the secondo, and the dolce is a dessert. Anyway, This recipe is super easy and sure to impress.


Ingredients:

3-4lbs of beef short ribs

1/2 tsp of salt

1/2 tsp of pepper

2 tsp of EVOO

2 medium yellow onions, chopped

4 large garlic cloves, minced

2 cups of Chianti wine

1 32oz can of crushed tomatoes

3 cups of beef broth

2tsp fresh rosemary, chopped

(the recipe actually calls for boneless beef short ribs but the bone in gives a much better flavor and the meat will have fallen off the bone before its done anyway, YUM!)

Procedure:

Pat the short ribs dry and season with salt and pepper

Coat a large, nonstick pan with olive oil. Saute the short ribs over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes on each side or until brown. Transfer short ribs to a bowl.

Next, add the onions to pan and cook for about 3 minutes. Once the onions are translucent, add the garlic and cook for one minute.

Add the Chianti, rosemary, beef broth and tomatoes to the pan one at a time. Allowing the liquid to evaporate partially before each addition (about two minutes).

Return the short ribs to the pan along with any juices that may have accumulated in the bowl. Cover and let simmer for 3 hours over low heat to continue the braising process.

Remove the short ribs from the pan and boil to reduce the liquid by half (about 10 minutes).

Return the short ribs to the pan and heat thoroughly.

Serve with potatoes and vegetables. (I always serve it with garlic parmesan mashed potatoes and asparagus. Potatoes are super easy as well, make as you normally would with a little milk and butter but add shredded parmesan cheese to taste and a few cloves of garlic roasted in the oven!)

Daddy is Back!

After a looong 4 1/2 months, (and countless nights of patrolling the house with one of Jayden's metal golf clubs at 3 am) my husband is finally home! We picked him up Tuesday morning from the Pearl Harbor navy base. It was so exciting! Jayden was so patient while the ship pulled in and docked, I was very proud of him. There were other Navy wives that we kept in touch with throughout the deployment awaiting the arrivals of their husbands as well. It was pretty emotionally overwhelming seeing him for the first time (I'm sure the pregnancy hormones did not help). The first hug/kiss is the best! But after a few "honeymoon" days, things are feeling back to normal ;). We haven't really done too much, mostly just enjoying each others company and catching up with Jayden. I cooked his favorite meal (chianti braised short ribs, recipe will be added soon) and we have watched a few movies. We have a few weeks together before he has to leave again but he will be back shortly after that!

Definition of Summer....

Summer just isn't Summer without Sam Adams Summer ale (well according to me and my husband, anyway). Its only available from April to August and those 7-8 months in between are grueling! ;)

UNFORTUNATELY, I will not be enjoying any Sam Summer this year. fml.

For those of you who CAN partake in this refreshing past time, drink it ice cold with a slice of lemon, YUM!

Gemma (Jem-ah): of italian origin meaning "Precious Jewel"

I decided a long time ago (far before I knew I was having a girl) that I was going to name the baby Gemma. Gemma Rose, isn't it beauuuutiful? I partly got the inspiration from an Australian model named Gemma Ward. She looks like an angel.

(OBVIOUSLY my Gemma will as well ;)

Cleaning the whole house and figuring out dinner plans only to find out my husband might be coming home a day later than I originally PLANNED! Ugh how annoying.

I saw this picture, and oh my, I'm feeling the chunky sweater and it makes me want a beer! This is for you Leslie (if you ever see this!) :)

8 Things....

I found this on my friend's blog and thought it would be fun to do! Thanks Kait


8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:

1.) My husband coming home!

2.) Gemma's birth (well not exactly the birth, i guess after the birth... i just wanna see her ok!)

3.) My birthday (August 3)

4.) ECLIPSE!!! (need I say more?)

5.) My sister-in-law's wedding

6.) Vanessa coming home

7.) Seeing my mom (hopefully very soon after Gemma is born)

8.) Christmas! (I look forward to it all year and start decorating BEFORE thanksgiving, I know, psycho)

8 Things I Did This Weekend:

1.) Watched Dear John (didn't compare to the book!)

2.)Had an amazing chocolate chip cookie dough milkshake

3.) Had dinner at my friend Patricia's house

4.) Helped a friend put training wheels on her daughters bike

5.) Made dinner for my neighborhood (well, 3 other families)

6.) Took my friend to the airport (miss her already)

7.) Made a welcome home sign for my husband with Jayden

8.) Cleaned my house

8 Things I'd Like to Do:

1.) Lose all my baby weight (and then some) after Gemma is born

2.) Go to Disney world with Jay (for like the 10th time)

3.) Buy a beautiful 4-5 bedroom house

4.) See more Cirque du soleil shows

5.) Kiss my husband! (soon..)

6.) Go to a Luau

7.) Visit my family!

8.) Have a real wedding

8 Places I want to travel:

1.) Bahamas! (Come on Charlene)

2.) Vegas, I am dying to go BACK! (best trip w my husband so far!)

3.) Tahiti

4.) New York City during Christmas

5.) Cabo

6.) Italy

7.) Paris

8.) Aruba

8 Shows I Watch:

1.) Gossip Girl

2.) 90210

3.) The Hills

4.) The Bachelor/Bachelorette

5.) One Tree Hill

6.) Melrose Place

7.) Dancing with the Stars

8.) American Idol

Finally the days of waiting for my husband to come home are over! (Well, almost) It has been a long 4 1/2 months! He has been deployed with the Navy since January, leaving 3 days before I found out I was pregnant! Our life together so far has been a whirlwind of surprises and spontaneity so I would expect nothing less. This will be the first time we are physically together for a pregnancy! I'm so excited for him to feel the baby kick and all the amazing (and not so amazing) things that go along with it. I want to use this blog as a virtual scrapbook of our lives together especially through this amazing time, as well as a day to day update for our family and friends who are so far away!