Live Music is the Best Music (Recap)

I really REALLY appreciate a good live show, and I've been trying to soak up a bunch of them this summer!  From local bands, to fair week, to a music fest, and a concert on vacation...I've enjoyed every minute, though my ear drums could probably use a rest.  Here's a quick recap of my favorite shows so far this summer:

Manchester Orchestra

The Zach Harris Band

Lady Antebellum

Craig Morgan

Jerrod Niemann

Minus Six

ZZ Ward

Los Lonely Boys

I can't wait for more...nothing beats live music!  What shows have you seen recently?

North Carolina (Recap)

At the end of May, Ryan and I traveled to North Carolina via car for a fun road trip around that beautiful state!  I had never been there before, so I wanted to see everything that i could while we were there.  It was a jam-packed trip with lots of great time together and a couple visits with some college friends!  We saw some historical sights, ate some great food, drank some great beer, swam in the ocean, and heard some great music!  Here's a photo recap!

Highlights:
-100 Questions to Ask Your Spouse (which we did during the longer car rides)
-The Ocean!!
-Excellent seafood
-Seeing great friends
-Visiting more new breweries!
-The scenery...North Carolina (and the drive to and from) was just beautiful

If we go back to North Carolina, I think we'd fly, get there sooner and spend an entire week in the Outer-banks.  Renting a house across the street from the ocean was the most wonderful thing ever!  We had a fridge stocked with food and drinks and we'd just grab some items for the beach and walk over.  We could walk back to the house for the bathroom and refills and then head right back.  We only spent two nights there and I could have easily spent the whole week there.  Next time...

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! (Recap)

I have really been enjoying getting closer to my local friends.  I have some of the best friends in the world, but many of them live at least two hours away, and sometimes, that really sucks!  Luckily, Stephanie, Lindsey, and Emily (my sister) live here, but sometimes our schedules don't allow for much needed girl's nights.  I've also found great, loving, and fun friends in Jess and Ali for when a girls night out (or in) is a priority.  Between all of those ladies, and a few good friends from work, I've got the support I need locally for the time in between when I see my friends that live farther away.

This past spring/summer, we've had some great fun together; here's a few pics:

Easy Risotto with Bacon and Peas

This recipe came straight out of an advertisement from BlueCross BlueShield, and it's pretty great!  More importantly, it's pretty darn easy.  This was my first attempt at risotto and I think I'll be making it again!

East Risotto with Bacon and Peas

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup risotto (Arborio) rice
• 6 slices thichk-cut bacon, cooked and chopped
• 32 ounces (4 cups) hot vegetable stock
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup frozen peas

Heat olive oil in a pan, add the onion and fry until lightly browned (about 7 minutes).  Add the bacon and fry about 5 minutes, until it starts to crisp.  Add the rice and stock, and bring to boil.  Stir well, reduce heat and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes until the rice is almost tender.  Stir in the peas, add a little salt and pepper and cook 3 minutes, until the peas are cooked.  Serve sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper.  Serves 4.

Happy Wednesday!!

Recap Reluctance

The thought of even attempting a "summer recap" post is overwhelming!  I've been MIA since the end of March and I want to catch up on everything I missed.  But let's be real, if I am going to continue this on a semi-regular basis going forward, I can't commit to such overwhelming posts.  I need to keep it simple.  But I do feel an obligation, if only to myself, to keep this blog going.  So I'm going to do a series of quick little catch-ups of some of the highlights (and maybe some low-lights) of the past few months.

Preview of things to look forward (or really, backwards) to:

• Girls Nights
• North Carolina
• Live Music - All summer long!
• Family reunions/graduations/birthdays
• Wedding Fun
• Career Change!

Happy Tuesday ya'll!

Reading List

As I approach my days of substitute teaching, I will have more time on my hands for reading again!  Here are the books that have made it to my reading list for now:

Audio book version - to finish before Labor Day in my car rides to work.

Really looking forward to this one, for book club.

Cannot wait to read this J.K. Rowling adult mystery novel :)

Another Girl Power Book Club read for the near future!

I am a Heather Gudenkauf fan, so I'm looking forward to this book.

Any book suggestions I should add to my future list?