Tell Me About It Tuesday - My Spouse

In high school and in college I had a couple of serious/long-term relationships but most of them were casual and low-key. After one break up in college, I decided to take some time to be single for awhile. After about 8 months, I decided that I didn't want to be single any more but knew that I wasn't going to meet my husband at school, or at a bar, or at church or through a friend - I had gone down all of those roads and none of them swept me off my feet. Then I tried eHarmony and I met Darren in July of 2005. We were wonderful matches online, we hit if off well fairly quickly, were attracked to each other and enjoyed talking - things seemed good. So we talked and talked and talked some more. And when we got through talking, we talked some more. We wound up talking for well over two months before we ever met in person. Then we met and he was cute and he was sweet and he was quiet. VERY, Very quiet. And it totally turned me off. Like, I didn't want to see him again. Ever. So, we hugged goodbye and he told me he would call me. And he did. Because that's the kind of guy he is. And I made an excuse to get off the phone and promised that I would call him on Monday. Because that's the type of girl I USED to be. I know, I know. I called him on Monday and went into this big rehearsed speech about how it wasn't anything with him, I just didn't think that it would work out and he deserved to be with someone who wanted to be with him as much as he wanted to be with her and on and on. And all he heard was "I don't ever want to go out with you again". So naturally, that didn't go well and he cut off all contact with me. Completely. And then the guilt sank in. And when I got over the guilt, the regret came. And it never left. And then came on this longing and this need to talk to him that I had never had with anyone else. I didn't want to talk to him, I NEEDED to talked to him. I missed him terribly and didn't want to admit it. Then, everyone and I do mean everyone started giving me a hard time about it and that I shouldn't judge everything by just one date. A first date is almost always weird. It might go well but there is still that unfamiliarity that you go through that makes it a little off so they urged me to give him another shot. So I did, and I hoped that he would accept my apology and agree to go out again. And I got lucky. Because he not only answered my call, but was happy to hear from me. And without me having to go into this long, apology - he told me that he'd missed me and that he hoped I would have reconsidered. And I did and I can honestly say that it is the single best decision I have ever made. We went out on a second date and since we lived 4 hours away and he was coming all the way to me (he didn't even make me meet him half way) - he met my nearest and dearest friends, my sorority sisters and my family. On our second date! And you know what - he was wonderful. They all loved him and he loved them back. And a few days later he sent me this huge arrangement of yellow and red roses - saying that he had a wonderful time with me and couldn't wait to see me again.

Our 3rd date at the Texas Renaissance Festival And I knew. I knew that he accepted me for me. That it was okay if I made bad decisions and it was ok if I did things I regretted or was indecisive - that he knew that was me and he was okay with it. He didn't necessarily agree, but he accepted it.

It didn't take long for us to fall crazy in love. For Christmas, he gave me a promise ring and in June of 2006 he moved to Houston to be with me. He proposed on November 17, 2006 and we were married on November 17, 2007 and we've been happy and crazy about each other (almost) every day since then.

Our wedding day was the best day of my life!

He allows me to pick out his clothes when we go places so that we can "coordinate" in case there are any pictures involved. He's a good friend.

He always drives to that I can read or take a nap. He dances with me, even though he hates to dance - just because I love to.

He's a good kisser.

He loves kids.

And they love him.

He's helpful.

He's sweet and loving.

He loves animals.

He's easy going and fun to hang out with. He's a caregiver.

He's an instigator!

He makes the weirdest faces in pictures that I love and hate all at the same time.

He loves the outdoors and appreciates the beauty around him in everyday life.

He's handy.

He loves guns and any excuse to shoot one!

He loves to fish - even if the fish are too small to keep.

He loves history and "old" stuff.

He loves to take pictures, and he's good at it.

He spoils Coco!

He's a good "daddy".

He has a sense of humor.

And he's my very best friend. We will celeberate 3 years of marriage next month and I couldn't be happier. I hope that we are both around long enough to celebrate 50 or 60 years together.

Can't wait to hear about your spouses/significant others and I hope you'll join us next Tuesday and tell us all about your kids!

Pizza! Pizza!

I had planned on making homemade pizza on Friday night, but my in-laws came in and I had just gotten through "cleaning" and they suggested we go out to eat and I happily oblidged. I mean, they are guests, so I would be a bad hostess not to grant their requests. Little did I know, my husband was really wanting that homemade pizza, so I told him I would make it Saturday night. Well Saturday, we got home too late and we caved in and went and ate Mexican food. Since we were eating a big lunch for my sister's birthday on Sunday, I had already told the hubby that I would not be cooking on Sunday night. Yesterday, I told him that I didn't really feel like cooking since we had so many leftovers from the weekend. He should probably eat them and I would make the pizza tomorrow (which is actually today). Anyhow, he told me that he was really wanting homemade pizza, and that he REALLY wanted it on Friday. But since things had changed, he looked forward to it on Saturday, but since that didn't work out either, he really wanted it for dinner (yesterday). I told him to deal, and that I would make it today. :) You know, because I'm a good wife and I aim to please. Well, after talking to a girlfriend of mine yesterday, we decided to do dinner tonight, and I knew that I wouldn't want to cook once I got home. Knowing that I would NEVER live down the fact that I have been promising this stupid pizza for almost a week, I threw caution to the wind, and made it last night. Now, I know that those leftovers in the fridge are going to go to waste, but I knew that I would have one happy guy at my house, so I got to work.

I gathered all of the ingredients, for the crust: flour, sugar, salt, olive oil, warm water and quick-rise yeast.

Then, I proofed the yeast, in the warm water.

I mixed all of the ingredients together, and added garlic powder and italian seasoning - just to give the crust some flavor.

I rolled it out - doesn't it look great. You can really see all the herbs.

And because I had seen the very end of a Emeril show (you know, the one with him in the grocery store teaching people to cook), where he used a cast iron skillet to make a pizza, I thought I should too.

Then, I LOADED on the toppings. I started with pizza sauce, then canadian bacon, and then grated parmesan (the kind from the little green can), and then I grated (with a zester/grater) fresh parmesan over that.

Then, I covered it with pepperoni, because what is a pizza without pepperoni, I ask you.

Then I piled on shredded mozzarella, and more pizza sauce.

And more parmesan from the can, and more of the fresh stuff.

And then more pepperoni.

And then more mozzarella.

And then it baked, and let me tell you right now - it smelled as good as it looks! And then it came out of the oven, right as Darren was walking in the door and I don't know if I have ever seen my husband smile like that. I like to think he did, on our wedding day, or at least on our wedding night, but I'm not so sure he did.

Pizza isn't even his favorite food! Look at that thick deep-dish like crust, and the loads of toppings. Damn, I'm a good wife! :) And the husband was very happy! :)

Favorite Ingredient Friday (Peanut Butter Pie)

Last weekend, I was watching Semi Homemade with Sandra Lee (who I think is fabulous for no other reason than she makes a cocktail on every episode)! She made a Peanut Butter Pie that one of her viewers sent her the recipe for. My husband drooled, so I decided to make it for him while he was at work. End result - a very easy and delicious pie and a very happy husband!

Peanut Butter Pie

• Pre-made Oreo pie shell
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• ½ cup of peanut butter
• ¼ cup of milk
• 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• (8 ounce) container of cool whip, thawed
• Magic Shell ice cream topping Directions: Mix all ingredients (except the cool whip) together in bowl until everything is well incorporated. Gradually fold in thawed cool whip. Pour into the pre-made pie shell. Freeze for about 10-15 minutes. Take out and take the Magic Shell topping and drizzle it over the top of the pie and stick it back in the fridge until time to serve.
• Ok, so the recipe actually says to initially freeze for 2 hours, but seriously - it comes out the same as if you freeze it for 15 minutes. Once its in there for awhile - you can't even cut the damn thing!

Enjoy!