One Month!

I will be MARRIED in one month! Holy moly!! I kept saying that October 27 felt forever away, but I think we are about to officially enter the days of time FLYING by!  We have lots of showers, pictures, and wedding events coming up over the next few weeks. I will be flying home just 3 short weeks from Saturday- wow! I have re-checked my lists a million times, so hopefully this crazy organized girl really has thought of everything. Now I am just waiting on you last minute RSVP'ers.. btw, if that's you.. mail them back!!! :)

Our first picture together- April 2011

I feel so very blessed to be able to truly "marry my best friend" as many people say.  He really is the perfect man for me.  He is able to put up with me and all my WONDERFUL quirks and still love me no matter what.  It's such a wonderful feeling to know how much you truly love someone and when you look at them, know that they feel the exact same way.  I fully believe in this statement now - "It's true that we don't know what we've got until it's gone, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives."

I definitely don't have a "perfect" life, as I am sure that doesn't exist- but I sure do know that with Lance Rowland by my side, everything will always be OK.

“To love someone is nothing, to be loved by someone is something, but to be loved by the one you love is everything”

Oh, Monday!

Well another weekend has flown by and once again Monday has popped up.  To top it off, it has been rainy most of the day here in Charlotte, which makes me want to take a super nap! Unfortunately no nap, just another day at the office. (only 2 hours left.. woohoo!)  Well this weekend we were very busy, but had lots of fun. Friday night while Lance relaxed after a long work week, I took a little trip to the mall to do some shopping in my form of relaxing. :) I did a bit of damage in Belk and of course took a trip over to Bath & Body Works to stock up on even more candles. (yes, I have a serious addiction).  Saturday afternoon we went to the county fair. Of course we ate lots of good (bad for you) fair food,walked around, and played a few games. I did win a TINY little stuffed animal dog that ended up costing us around $20. ha. We also stopped to watch the family Circus act.. let's just say that was very interesting!  On the way out we had to stop and get the ultimate Fair food.. a funnel cake! They had all different kinds of weird flavors- Birthday Cake, Red Velvet, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter, Brown Cinnamon Sugar, and then the regular plain white powdered sugar.  I stuck to my simple white powdered sugar.. and boy was it delicious! Just don't watch them make it.. makes you feel super guilty for eating something that is bathed in a huge tub of grease!

 

Now on Sunday I went to my first NFL game, Panthers vs. Saints. My family is 100% crazy, die hard Minnesota Vikings fans, so of course they have and will always be my #1 team. But now that I live in the Carolinas, I will have to cheer on the Panthers (unless they play the Vikes!).  So I bought myself my first Panther's shirt and off to the game we went! We tailgated first, and then walked over to the SUPER crowded entrance of the stadium.. seems everyone decided to head in at the same time.  Our seats were the upper level, but the view was actually way better than I thought.  I actually enjoyed our seats (especially since Lance got them for free from work! haha) The day had been raining on and off, so it was already a bit chilly from being wet. We didn't stay the whole game for this reason, I was wet and cold! I would love to go back to a night game, or even just any game with no RAIN! I don't mind cold, as long as I come prepared.  Hopefully there will be another game in our future.  And btw, the Panthers killed the Saints.. YAY!!!

Now that is is Monday again, it's time to charge through the work week and get the ball rolling for the next weekend! :) I am especially looking forward to this weekend- Saturday will be my first bridal shower and then Saturday night me and my NC girls will head out for a night in downtown Charlotte for my Bachelorette party!! The wedding activities have officially started! I hope this week flies by for me (and everyone else!) and that everyone else has a wonderful work week!

40 days until the BIG DAY!!!!!

Delicious!

So my last post was about some recent recipes that I have begun to try and they were very good, but I definitely saved the best for last (in this go around). We went to VA for Labor Day weekend and had a nice time relaxing and hanging out with Lance's side of the family. I got to not only visit with the family I already knew, but also meet a few more cousins. (he has a LARGE family!) We came home early Monday morning and I decided to try my last recipe out that evening.  My latest adventure in the kitchen was making Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas.

Now I know from the picture it looks like a massive amount of cheese, but it really isnt.  The cheese just kind of expanded over the sauce and blended in with it.  This recipe by no means is healthy (must be why it's so yummy!) but it isn't 12lbs of cheese either! :) This one was also very simple to make.

Ingredients

• 6-8 corn tortillas (enchilada size)
• 1 pre-cooked plain rotisserie chicken, shredded
• 1 cup sweet corn
• 4 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese, divided in half
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1-1/4 cups chicken broth
• 1 – 10oz can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 – 4oz can chopped green chiles
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

1.        Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.        Fill the center of each tortilla with a handful of shredded chicken, a tablespoon or so of the corn, and a pinch of the shredded cheese.

3.        Roll and place in the bottom of a baking dish with the seam side down.

4.        In a pot over medium heat melt the better. Add flour and whisk into a thick paste.

5.        Add chicken broth, cream of chicken, sour cream, chiles, salt and pepper.

6.        Whisk gently for about 5 minutes until warm and smooth.

7.        Pour the sauce over the enchiladas and top with remaining shredded cheese.

8.        Bake for 25 to 30 minutes and serve warm.

This is definitely something I will be making again and highly recommend!

On another note, our wedding is in 52 days!!! That means just 6 short weeks from this Saturday I will be on a plane heading home to have my last week of crazy, hectic planning before the BIG day.  I don't think there is a way to express my excitement.  I am so ready to see everything all come together and marry my wonderful fiance, and go on our FABULOUS honeymoon. (Hello St. Thomas!) The next few weeks are going to fly by and be so much fun with engagement pictures, my NC showers and bachelorette party, MS shower and bachelorette party, and last minute details.  Let the festivities begin!!! :)

From my countdown app! :)