Weekend Photo Rewind

I feel like I have been going non-stop since about Wednesday evening when Dan decided that he wanted to bake a cake with our good friend Bob (surprising news to me, since he doesn't usually bake). And this was no ordinary cake.... it was a Jack-O-Latern shaped, M&M covered, pumpkin flavored cake. Facny-shmancy!

I wanted to devote a whole post just to the cake... but, Thursday, Dan and I left directly from work to go to New Jersey. We spent the night and all day Friday enjoying time with my sister, my nieces, and a large portion of the rest of my family.

We left late Friday night and I planned to write a whole post just about that day.... but, Saturday we woke up early to take Edward to the vet and after we got home, we left almost immediately with Amy and Derek to go to Lancaster for Bowlerama - the first fundraising event for You and Me on a Comeback (an amazing cancer comeback intiative founded by Jed Morris, my good friend Genevieve's main squeeze).

This was another event that I wanted a seperate post for... but, well, Sunday, aside from a few small projects around the apartment, I admittedly, was just plain lazy. Around 3:00, we left for center city Philadelphia (yes, Dan drove into the city willingly!) for our friend Rebekah's apartment warming.

Monday, I was going to do the post that you see before you now and mash all the events together. But, sadly, I was ill with stomach issues (I will spare you the gorry details) into the wee hours of Monday morning, so the rest of the day was basically a wash.

Today, no more excuses! Here is a summary of my weekend in photos:

There's my weekend (and then some!) in a nutshell.

<3 Brittany

Mwen Renmen Ayitti

My heart aches thinking of the wonderful, beautiful Haitian people and the devastation of yesterday's earthquake. They had so little to begin with, and now, so much less.

I had the opportunity to visit Haiti twice and in light of these recent events, I would like to share some of my photos of this amazing country. I cannot think of the people in these photos without wondering where they were yesterday when the earthquake first began, and where they might be today.

Tonight, remember how lucky you are to be safe.

Please pray for the people of Haiti and please give generously as you are able - even small donations make a difference.

The Way to My Husband's Heart

Tonight, at Daniel's request, I made pineapple stuffing for dinner.

This is the first time I've made it for him (actually... the first time I've made it ever, which is astonishing considering how easy and delicious it is!). I knew he would be excited because he loves pineapple stuffing and often laments the fact that he only gets to eat it on holidays (does it make me a bad wife that it took me over a year to cook one of my husband's favorite side dishes?).

But, I didn't realize just how excited he would be! Daniel was positively giddy while the stuffing was baking. I think he asked me every 10 minutes how much longer it would be until it was done. He practically squealed when he could smell the sweet, pineapple-y goodness throughout the apartment.

And how did it taste? I got an immediate, contented, and drawn out "Mmmmmmm...." of approval upon the first bite (that certainly makes a girl feel good!).

So, I do believe that their is truth to the old adage of "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach", at least in the case of my husband.

This is how much we had left when all was said and done (and I'm pretty sure he'll polish off the rest at work tomorrow...):

<3 Brittany

For the Love of Produce

It's time to admit to my love affair... with vegetables.

Recently, I have found that I have been craving vegetables the way I usually crave chocolate. Ask Daniel... I practically shed a tear on the nights when we are out of delicious greens and then force grocery shopping upon him.

I have never been so preoccupied with vegetables before. It makes me wonder if my body is trying to tell me something? Am I lacking in iron or fiber? Or maybe the craving is so strong this week because of the unhealthy (yet oh-so delicious) things I stuffed into it during the Christmas break?

Currently, I am sitting here waiting for Daniel to pick me up, and lamenting the fact that I ate my entire bag of baby carrots yesterday. I wish I had saved a few so I could snack my chipotle hummus.

If this trend keeps up my goal of eating healthy will be a cinch. Especially since I've walked past the chocolate and caramel pretzel sandwiches in the kitchen at work at least a dozen times today and didn't even bat an eye-lash at them. Instead, I have been daydreaming about vegetable stir-fry and big plates of roasted broccoli all day.

I think, at least for me, broccoli could be the new chocolate.

(I also never thought the day would come when any food could replace chocolate in my heart!)

<3 Brittany

Wordless Wednesday: Simple Mid-Week Dinner

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<3 Brittany

Valentine's Day Blog Exchange

So, you may have noticed that I have a cute little button on the right side of my blog?

Aside form the fact that I'm very proud of myself for figuring out how to add it to the layout in less than 5 minutes (what next? a snazzy banner perhaps?), I am super excited for the reason I have added the button. I learned today that the author of one my favorite blogs, Domestic Dork, is hosting a Valentine's Day Blog Exchange.

What is a Valentine's Day Blog Exchange, you ask? Think of an Christmas ornament exchange, between bloggers, except with homemade Valentines-y goodies... and there you go.

I have a few ideas kicking around in my head already. There are several projects I've been wanting to do anyway, so this is the perfect excuse to try them out! However, I won't know my partner is until the end of the week, so I'll have to hold off on making any final decisions until I know who I'll be exchanging with.

But whoever it is, I'm excited!!

If you're interested in the exchange, click the pretty pink button on the right for all the information.

<3 Brittany

And Just for Fun...

A few snapshots from a wonderful holiday season:

Christmas Eve Eve (aka the 23rd) at my sister-in-law, Leah's, house - Mimi, and my little niece Ellie playing with Uncle Dan's hat (also, I love those PJ's!)

Daniel opening his Christmas Eve present (South Park pajamas)

Wearing the trimmings from my Christmas present from Madre

My beautiful niece Ashley...

... and her sister, another one of my beautiful nieces, Jamie, with my Pops

Peppermint chocolate donuts for Christmas morning. Mmmm....

Hello there, little duckies!

Christmas morning <3

You didn't know Santa was a SCUBA enthusiast, did you?

Not sure how this related to marine life, but here is The Bumble lighting the Christmas tree at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ

Another shot of Ellie :) This was New Year's morning, shortly after the Pork Fest (i.e. our excuse to eat gratuitous amounts of bacon and scrapple... what was I saying about eating healthy?)

Celebrating my sister-in-law, Rose's, birthday on NYE

<3 Brittany