First BBQ of the year!!

Once again the weather was so nice out today we finally had our first BBQ. Last week we went to the Brazilian market and bought some things for today.

Thiago cooked linguica and steak on the grill. We also had rice & beans and chips. I made watermelon  margarita's which I only enjoyed. The food was great and it was nice just the 2 of us to sit in the sun and relax and enjoy each others company.

One happy BBQ-ing man.

Looks SO yummy

Let the eatting begin.

exploring Concord...

The weather today was so gorgeous we didn't want to spend it inside. So after Thiago made breakfast and we discovered our fridge was on the fritz. The breakfast was yummy, minus when I tried to pour milk into my tea and it doesn't come out..Ick, talk about chucky milk...

I called the office, expecting to leave a message but Sarah picked up and she was able to contact the maintance supervisor. I gave them permission to enter if we were not home.

Thiago and I loaded up the car with water bottles and of course the camera to search for parks to walk around at. The first park we went to was called North Cabarrus park. The park was kind of small, with in 45 minutes we were able to walk around and even find dirt walking paths. They had a pretty big pond that had fish and turtles. That was pretty cool, it reminded us of Stanley Park in Westfield. A lot of people where they and kids. People were having cook outs, playing basketball and of course walking their dogs.

Then it was time to check out what the GPS had to offer for parks. The next park we went to was near the YMCA in Kannapolis. This park was a bigger and we were able to walk and explore more. They had a much of walking paths through the woods as well as on sidewalks. We found a couple baseball fields and even a mini golf place. Also there was a spray park, a training that you going be a passanger on.  This park reminded me of Look Park which is in Northampton.

We walked for maybe 2 hours and of course I got come color which was nice. Thiago only got color on his neck.



Us with the waterfountain :)




Here... turtle turtle





Me and the "wild life"



We found the Shrine Club close to our house

There it is, it's not like Melha but still will do :)



Taco Wednesday

Instead of Taco Tuesday I decided to switch it up a little. So Taco Wednesday it is!!

It was so yummy! Hamburger, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and re fried beans.

homemade salsa

Do you love chips and salsa? Do you find that buying a can of salsa sometimes just seems expensive? Since I hosted a Tupperware paper last year I have not bought a can of salsa since.

Through Tupperware I bought the Quick Chef Chopper & food processor. It's a great and simple recipe (for mild salsa).

2 cans of diced tomatoes (or 3 medium size ripe tomatoes - peeled, cored, seeded and chopped)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced

a sprinkle of oregano

 

Cooks.com has suggest some other items to add... next time I will have to experiment a little.

 

1/2 fresh or canned jalapeno pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped fine
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tsp. lime juice
2 tsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. hot red pepper sauce

 

Serve with your favorite chips, add to taco's or anything else your tummy desires. Enjoy!

Family Time - a long day a head of us

Today is Milton High School's Baccalaureate. This is the first once I have ever attended so I had no idea what to expect.

It was pretty cool. It was in a church that was close to the high school and they had a band and everything. Milton high had a huge class, of course not everyone in the class as there but I overheard the class of 2011 has in the high 600's.

After saying good bye to everyone, Mom, Dad & I hit the road to start our journey to Concord, NC. We left Milton, GA at 6:45 with traffic and dinner we arrived home around 12:30am.

It was not a drive I would want to make very often. I-85 is a 2 lane highway and at night it's full of construction.

I was glad to be home for was to be my first week home on NC since we moved. So exciting.

Milton High School Baccalurate 2011

Music provided by the High School

Can you point out Ron?

Pround Mother & Son

Family Time part 2 - a day on the boat

Saturday morning we were able to sleep in a bit, which was nice. Sarah and I walked Molly before it was time to get on the boat.

The 7 of us (Uncle Eric, Ron, Kristen, Janette, Keith, Sarah and I). Took a trip to Lake Lanier, where the Ringwalls keep their boat. It was a gourgious day out and I was ready to soak up some rays. After a very bumpy and fast boad ride we made it to Lanier World. As soon as we docked seeing all the boats docked, it reminded me of the song "Redneck Yacht Club." Mom, Dad and Aunt Cindy met us there for an late lunch.
 Then we went back to the boat to and relaxed, some people ran off the dock and into the water while for me it was too cold so I watched and read and sunbathed.

Ron had his graduation celebration dinner tonight. We went to a very nice restaurant' Milton's cuisine & cocktails. I had very yummy salmon and a yummy glass of white wine. After many laughs and stories told we headed back to the Ringwalls so Ron could open our graduation gifts.

Sarah and I had another sleep over in the basement on our lovely airmattress beds :)

Sarah and I enjoying the boat ride :)

Creative name for the boat

Music during our late lunch. Pretty sweet.

Dad enjoying the sun & boat

Aunt Cindy & Dad

Thumbs up Uncle Eric

Janette, Keith & Sarah chatting it up  

Yummy food.

Uncle Eric telling stories about Ron

The Gates' :)
I look so pale..

Family Time in GA

After a long week of working at West Georgia, mini phone deployment and end user training it was time for a weekend of celebration :)


My cousin Ron was graduating from High School. Technically not yet because graduation was set for May 27th but we were there for the family celebration. Friday the guys from work dropped me off at the airport and I hoped on the the MARTA to meet up with my parents.


After my parents picked me up we went out to lunch and check out some of the shops. When we got back to my aunt and uncle's house, Cindy (my aunt) had some work for me to do, which was fine because I was able to make up some hours since we didn't even work at the hospital on Friday.


Once 5pm came around it was time to crack open a nice cold beer and socialize with family (Cindy, Eric, Ron. Kristen, Keith & Janette). Kristen wanted to take her horse Diego for a ride so a couple of us went to watch her. Kristen is out growing Diego so they are also in the process of getting her another horse and try to sell Diego.


After arriving back to the Ringwalls, it was time to head to the airport to pick up Sarah. Since it was later at night the traffic was not as bad so we picked Sarah up at the airport. I was nice to see Sarah, the last time I was her was at Thanksgiving.


Dad has his eye this place called The Tilted Kilt. The Tilted Kilt is a Scottish Hooters. Just like at Hooters not all the girls should be working there wearing their x-small shirt and kilts. http://www.tiltedkilt.com/

cute sign

Deigo getting all cleaned up by Kristen

Little did she know, this was one of the last rides

So pretty

Need I say more?

Heartburn

For over a year I have experienced heartburn. At first I had no clue what the burning was in my esophagus. After doing some research I found out it was heartburn. I have tried every OTC I can find. A couple months ago I went to the doctor finally after being in so much pain I basically stopped eating for a couple days as well as I found myself in tears because it was so painful.

I was so nervous to go to the doctor, I had no clue what the problem was. Well after a very simple check up she proscribed me: Omeprazole  20 MG 2 times a day. Basically it is a extra strength of Prilosec. I was suppose to have a follow up apointment but with traveling for work and then moving that never happened.
So now I need to find a new doctor.

Anyways, I need to track the food that causes my heartburn and this is the best way I can think right now.

 I also notice I get heartburn when I am hungry...

-sausage
-bacon
-coffee
-orange juice
-chocolate
-greasy food

The apartment

It is about time to reveal where we have moved to :) Our place is finally picture worthy.

After almost 3 weeks of unpacking and only being home on the weekends a lot has gotten accomplished. Thiago and Cleber did a lot of work the first week and while I was home on the weekends Thiago and I tackled some more of it. I am sure Thiago is happy things are just about where I want them to be.

Saturday was "I want to get the house 90% done" Day. We did take a few breaks for breakfast and shopping. Also at the mall (Concord Mills) there was Journey's Backyard BBQ so we stopped there to walk around and watch the skateboarders.

Sunday was "Finish the house and relax before heading to GA" Day.

The place still isn't 100% to my liking but it's getting there. 

Drum roll please.....

Photo's from Journey's Backyard BBQ

Photo's from Journey's Backyard BBQ

Photo's from Journey's Backyard BBQ

The left door is us. The door we like to call Cornflower (our wedding color)

Entry Before

Entry After

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Half Bath



Kitchen Before





Kitchen After

Back Yard Before




 

Back Yard After

Top of the Stairs Before





Top of the Stairs After

Office/Guest Room Before





Office/Guest Room After

Full Bathroom

Bedroom Before



 

Bedroom After

Scenery around the complex

Good thing we saw these as we were walking. There were about 5 eggs. I was afraid to pick them up and put the nest back in the tree. Didn't know if Momma bird would be mad and smell a human scent



Updates some entries

I have added some new photo's. Entry: It's Show Time (April 28).

style?!?

We are slowly getting settled into our new place. Of course as things are getting un-boxed and put away and am thinking of new things to buy. Well the first step is to know what type of style you like, I had no flipping idea what the style I like was called.

My dear friend Kash pointed me to this style quiz.  Apparently I my style is: Classic Casual
AKA Transitional. A mix of contemporary and traditional. Usually updated, graceful, enduring.

Its just SO hard to figure out things know this is not our forever place we want to be in. I guess the first step is to be totally unpacked and go from there.. so when I am home let the unpacking/organizing continue.

first weekend at home..

It is still strange to call Concord, NC home. Yes, it's where we live right now but West Springfield MA will always be "home" to me, i spent 25 years there.

Friday evening I landed at CLT and Thiago picked me up from the airport. I was so excited to go back to the apartment. I couldn't wait to see it for longer than 5 minutes, see all of our stuff, Jane and Cleber. Also I was excited because we were going to have Chicken & Cream Cheese pizza. Homemade :) Thanks guys!

Walking into the apartment was a little over whelming. The guys did a lot, I mean just unloading the truck was a project. They put the boxes there they should go (downstairs and upstairs). After a Yummy dinner and a nice relaxing beer it was off to bed.

One thing about being on the road I kind of hate. I wake up so early (6:30/7) and am ready to go. Well Saturday I was finally ready to get up at 8am and me getting up caused a domino effect. I think by like 10:30 the living room was the way I liked it and I was already opening the kitchen boxes.I didn't realize we had so much stuff. Before we had items in Chicopee and all of our wedding items and other things at my parents house. We will make everything fit, it's just a challenge now but luckily we have some storage in the attic :)

Next thing I know it was time to head to the airport to bring Cleber. We got there and made sure he got through security with no problems. Then it was time to let our adventures begin. We had a list of things we HAD to get and a list of things we WANTED to get. After stopping at Jox In The Box for lunch (totally not on my list of places to eat now) we found the mall. Concord Mills has every store you can thing of and is HUGE. We bought a vacuum at Bed Bath and Beyond: the Shark Navigator Lift-Away. We lucked out... between gift cards and a 20% off coupon we saved $100. We have always looked at the Dyson Ball but we just couldn't afford that right now.

Along exploring the mall we bought other items we needed. We went into HomeGoods which I have never been in and I found something I really liked. I envisioned it as a storage for our towels (we have a work around currently but with this piece they will be totally hidden). It was on sale and a good buy but I didn't purchase it (I don't think Thiago loved it).

The photo below isn't the print (I should of taken a photo of it). The one at the store was more of a travel theme. Maybe in the near future I will see if it is there again.

Lets just say we dropped some money this weekend between things for the house and food, but everything we got is stuff we HAD to get so I am happy :) 

Thiago is already talking about getting a little patio set for outside. We bought 1 hanging plant and a friend sent us a hummingbird feeder which I can't wait to use :)

I promise photo's will come soon. Next weekend I'll take some photos but they will still be a work in progress I am sure.