VAY CAY!

I'm taking a vacation! Well, sort of. I'm actually on furlough (ugh.) and so I've hopped a plane to the fine state of Virginia where I plan to spend my entire unpaid week off (I do get to collect unemployment, thanks Alabama!) livin' it up visiting with friends and family and stuffing about 200 wedding invitations.

In the spirit of vacation, I thought I would post some recipes that scream fun and relaxation. And what says vacation better than salsa and margaritas?! Nothing, that's what.

This salsa from Pioneer Woman and is amazing. It can easily be made in the blender or food processor. It makes a massive amount of salsa so you might want to half the recipe if you're not planning on entertaining a large crowd.

And what better to go with some spicy salsa, but a nice cold maragarita. This is my own maragrita recipe, which I have titled "the poor man's margarita."





 Follow these steps:

-- Fill a pilsner glass with ice.

-- Pour a shot of tequila into the glass.

-- Pour a half shot of triple sec into the glass.

-- Fill glass to the top with limeade (I recommend Simply Limeade).

-- Stir, garnish with lime and enjoy!

Cheers! I may have to mix one of these up while stuffing those invites!

Calling all Rams fans

Let's be real, you won't see a mention of sports on this blog most of the time, unless that is I'm complaining about Andy's work schedule or my belligerent neighbors celebrating an Auburn win. But I'm gonna break with tradition here to call your attention to something truly amazing.

The Virginia Commonwealth University (my aluma mater, what, what!) Rams are going to the NCAA tourney. And while this isn't "stop the presses" huge (hello, the Rams are no stranger to the big dance) it is the first time VCU has gotten at at-large bid.

As you might imagine I'm pretty freakin' excited plus I'll be in River City to watch my team. I might even make a few snacks for the big game, but without a Kitchen Aid (hello, mom, what are you thinking?!) my options will be somewhat limited. Stay tuned for more info on VCU and snacks.

Source

Map art

Remember many posts ago when I teased and tantalized you with map art?! Well, the explanation is here. Hold on to your hats because it's good! Sadly, I did not come up with this great idea on my own. Instead I found it here at Anything Pretty. Basically you take an old map or atlas (who needs those with GPS anyway?!) and you cut it to match a frame or mat. Easy enough, right? Right.

I had an old atlas (thanks Dad!) and thought 'what the heck am I going to do with this?!' Before pitching I looked through and decided to mat maps of Minneapolis, Minn. (where Andy's from) and Richmond, Va. (where I'm from, Richmond represent! What! What!) next to one another.

I'm pretty happy with the finished product and so is Andy. He's got a small fascination with maps. See below for a map he drew of Minnesota and Wisconsin on our first date. We keep it on a memory board above the sink with some other odds and ends (check out our old Virginia (is for lovers) licenses nestled in there).

The inaugural post

Get excited? Why? Because I'm starting a blog. Yep, that's right. I'm taking my love of baking, crafting, whining (and wine-ing, as in my made up word for drinking lots o' wine), bad TV and pretend Internet shopping (don't worry I'll explain) to the masses.

Here in this magical space I will chronicle my misadventures. It'll be fun -- no seriously, it will be. I'll cover everything from my latest kitchen triumph (this week peanut butter, white chocolate and pretzel cookies) to my latest Etsy obsession (um, awesome much?).

The happy couple.

But first let's start with a little about me. I've been living in Alabama (yes, Alabama. yes, as in Sweet Home Alabama) for a while now. I'm a Virginia native, Richmond to more specific. So what would bring me so far south you ask? To a land where football reigns supreme and the summers are consumed by 90 degree days with humidity so powerful it wreaks so much havoc on curly locks one might contemplate just going bald?! Love, my friends. Love brought me here.

Richmond, Va. -- home sweet home

Yes, in the summer of 2009 I left the fine state of Virginia to live along side my bestie a.k.a Andy Bitter (Yep, that's bitter as in bitter pill to swallow). I'm far away from my friends and family (and what sometimes feels like civilization) but I'm happy and I'm looking forward to our June wedding. Life is pretty good, even if I am somewhat bitter over the fact I live in the "Heart of Dixie." Google it, I'm serious.

That's all for now. Stay tuned. I'll have the deets on those tasty cookies and the best pizza dough recipe EVER coming up soon, plus map art. Maps are cool, trust me. The fun has only just begun!