Celebrating Saint Patrick

Last weekend not only did we celebrate St. Patty's Day but also one of my besties birthdays! It was a fun filled day, starting with the Shamrock 4 Mile Run, followed by an Irish Pub, followed by a super long nap, and finally the big celebration! Coy even had a good time, which says a lot : )

The days is best summed up by pictures!

 On our way to the run

(which was miserable due to an injury I have had with my thigh!!)

Love that Jess came into town for the event!

 Celebrating the end.

 The whole gang!

Such a great time with these two!

 LOVE this birthday girl and SO blessed to have her! Hoping this

next year is her best yet!

 Love this guy!

A spring break 2012 reunion picture!

(The recent snow we are having, at the end of MARCH, is making me

even more homesick for our trip to Florida a year ago.)

 

Hopefully your Saint Patrick's Day was as fun as mine was!

My week in pictures.

 We celebrated this little lady's 2nd birthday! 

 Seriously, how adorable is she? 

And how amazing is the cake made by my sister?!

 Uncle Coy and Jackson rocked out their matching IU hoodies. 

 I love to love on and snuggle with this precious angel!

  I can't believe how big Elayne is getting!

 One of my favorite little people!

 The dogs spent an entire day basking in the sun. 

 On Monday at work we had an impromptu sushi lesson by one of my staff. It was

amazing and the first time I have made my own sushi!

 There's never a dull moment at my office!

Roasted Balsamic Sweet Potatoes & Yogurt Marinated Chicken

I have been eyeing this sweet potato recipe for weeks now and I finally got around to making them. And they were a huge HIT! Hubby is a little hard to please when it comes to any vegetables. However, he couldn't stop talking about how amazing these were and is demanding that I make them again soon!
The chicken was an excellent compliment to the potatoes and the meal as a whole was excellent!

Roasted Balsamic Sweet Potatoes

• ¼ cup decent balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp packed dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 3-4 large sweet potatoes peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch cubes

Heat oven to 400 degrees. In large skillet bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Reduce till sauce starts to thicken. Add butter and salt. Over medium heat mix till even. Place potatoes in pan and toss with sauce. Spread mixture into a baking pan and roast stirring occasionally till potatoes are slightly browned on edges, about 40-50 minutes (based on your oven). Serve immediately.

Yogurt Marinated Chicken

• 1/2  cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 4 chicken breasts (I only used two and just discarded the extra marinade)                                            

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
 
2. Heat oil (or cooking spray if you are trying to be a little healthier) in a large cast-iron or other nonstick skillet over medium heat. Wipe the excess marinade off the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side or until chicken is cooked through. 

A Night at the Oscars

While all award shows peak my interest, my favorite by far is the Academy Awards. I feel like this event is the one where celebrities go all out. At other events award goers try to up the ante with the craziest dress; however, I feel like this doesn't happy at the Oscars - instead it is just pure class! As much as I care about who wins the awards themselves I am most interested in watching people arrive on the red carpet. This year did not disappoint with an array of stunning gowns!
To start with though here is my (small) worst dressed list!

 Anne Hathaway - although she bragged about this back of this dress...I found the entire thing ugly unappealing to the eye. 

 Halle Berry - I don't want to hate anything about her, especially because her face SO beautiful. However, I just couldn't stand looking at her in this metallic getup. 

Nicole Kidman - Again, I wish I didn't have to not like something about her, but I do. 

Totally over all of the metallic dresses that made an appearance last night!

Now the good stuff...my best dressed list! (in order from my most favorite to just my favorite!)

 Jennifer Lawrence - I am obsessed with her! Love this dress. Love her hair. Love her makeup. Love her necklace going down her back. Even loved her fall up the stairs and then recovery during her speech. 

 Amy Adams - From the first glance at this dress to the last, I love it! I could tell instantly that she made an excellent choice with this dress. And of course she's gorgeous. 

 Jennifer Aniston - This picture just doesn't do this dress justice. GORGEOUS. 

 Reese Witherspoon - I'm loving the blues that have been making an appearance at the award shoes this season. 

 Sandra Bullock - Love her. Love the dress. And love the simplicity of her hair. 

 Jennifer Garner - I debated back and forth on if I loved this dress or not. There was something about it that just kept reminding me of a dinosaur. In the end I decided that the view from the front is outstanding; still not sold on the view from the back but the front makes up for it. Also love her matching shoes and love her accessories. 

Octavia Spencer - Again, this picture doesn't do her dress justice. When she came out to present I couldn't stop staring at her dress and commenting on how the great things this did for her body type. I think she chose the perfect dress, it was both flattering and beautiful. 

Already counting down to the next awards season!

A new SIL...

This weekend Coy's brother got married and I gained another sister in law! Now I have two instead of one! It was beautiful wedding and they did such a good job with the details and making it their own celebration!
Here are some pictures from this great event!

 My hottie usher. 

 Love him always, but especially love him in a suit! 

This Day of Love.

Valentine's Day has meant different things to me over the years as my life has progressed, changed, and evolved. However, it has always been a day to appreciate those around me and remember the importance of showing love to the ones that I love. Since being married, it has been a day to set aside to spend some quality time together and remember the significance of our lives together. Although this should be done each day of the year, this day just serves as a reminder to do so! 

This year Valentine's Day has helped me to take a step back and truly appreciate my husband. Lately I have been getting so caught up in all of the various things going on in our lives and in all of the emotions and feelings surrounding those things that I have forgotten to always be appreciative of Coy. Of course I love him beyond words and make sure to tell him this each day...but I don't always remember to tell him just how important he is to me, how proud of him I am, and how much I appreciate all that he does for our family. So, this year Valentine's Day is not just about the cards and the gifts and the set aside date night but it is a day to relish in how blessed I am to love and be loved by such an amazing man! 

Grateful

There are many things in life that I am grateful for. Today, however, I am especially grateful for my job. Although I am now in a supervisory position so I don't get to interact as often with the client's, I still know that I am one of many pieces that helps refugees transition into the new life in the United States.

As Americans I think we often (myself included) take for granted the country that we are blessed to live in. We complain, complain, and complain some more (again, guilty) about politics, laws, etc., etc. When instead we should thankful each day that we have a home, food, and are not running in fear for our lives. We should be grateful each day that we have not had to witness horrific acts that no one should ever witness.

I received this email recently from a refugee that I helped several years ago. She, to this day, remains so close to my heart. It was a gentle reminder that years later I am still having an impact on people, that I am making a small difference in the lives of those I serve. It was a good reminder to also remember to treasure this life that I lead and never take for granted the blessings I have received!

Here are some excepts from previous emails I received from this same sweetie shortly after she first arrived in the United States:

Michele,

 And thank you for your kindness to us.

  All of my friends , I mean , refugees who learn ESL with me said that you're so nice and we can see that you care us,  We appreciate it. I know that God will make your path smooth, and even when you face the storm, God will raise you up higher.

  May God Bless You, Michele.

   You're more beautiful than those who are at the Hollywood, I swear :)

___________________________________________________________________________________

Michele,,,

   Here's our pictures,,, you're so beautiful,,and I do like it much better than Beyonce's pictures :)

                      Wish you the best! 

___________________________________________________________________________________

Hi , Michele,,

           I've been missing you since we last met. My friend and I often talk about you :)

           And we're very glad to meet you on Chin National Day.

           You're so amazing,,

           May God Bless You Every Single Day  of Your Life!

___________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Michele,

      How you doing? Hope you doing good :)

      Me too, Im good and my job goes well so far ..

      I miss you so much, are you busy these days?

      I know that God count your sweat and your restless days :)

     

      Michele, God is so good for me, 

           Thanks again for finding me good job,, i have new friends there

           black, white and Asian too, I'm happy there :)

___________________________________________________________________________________

Hope you enjoyed reading this sweet girl's words as much as I did!