Romanticism and swimming deer.

Most guys are not romantic. Adam is one of those gentlemen. It’s not necessarily a bad thing—I just think the ladies often have high expectations because of the fairytales we grew up with (and still see some version of in every romantic comedy out there). But I fell in love with him because of WHO he is, and I would never want him to change. When he makes a romantic gesture, it’s special because I know he had to put some thought into it—it doesn’t come natural for most guys.

Monday marked three years since we first “officially” hung out. So that’s what we call our “anniversary.” We’re not big anniversary celebrators, but we do acknowledge the date (and I got some lovely lilies).

We had plans to go to the lake Tuesday evening because after two cherished months at home, Mr. A is back to traveling as of Wednesday. I had no idea the wonderful evening he had planned.

It looked beautiful from afar.

Up close: more like a haunted castle.

This would be the view from the living room ... if it had a real window.

We chose a spot below what we thought was a future castle on the lake. Upon further inspection (yep, we climbed up there), we realized it was an unfinished construction job. As in, someone hasn’t worked on it in at least two years.

Wouldn’t it be fun to finish it up???

After our hike to the haunted house, the coals were ready to go on Mr. A’s newly purchased portable grill. He cooked turkey burgers, asparagus and corn on the cob. There were tiki torches, a candle and pinot grigio. It was perfect.

I already miss him.

By the way, deer CAN swim.

Box dinner date night (and the giveaway starts!)

The table’s set. The candle is lit. And dinner is served. Except you're sitting at your own dining room table.



This is the first time we've eaten in here since February...

we usually eat in the breakfast area.



There’s just something nice about having an at-home date night.

Through Myblogspark (thanks www.PBfingers.com for leading me there!), I was asked if I would like to participate in an at-home themed Spark.

I received a free Wanchai Ferry and Romano’s Macaroni Grill dry dinner kit as well as a $25 gift card to purchase additional ingredients for my date night. I was so excited when I saw the little brown box on the front door step.

Hello, box!

I purchased:

• Candle (I already had a bottle of wine I wanted to drink, or I would have bought wine instead)
• 1 lb of chicken breasts

• Broccoli

• Fresh parmesan
• Salad mix

• French garlic bread

• Tomato

• Brownie ingredients (you know I made the box kind…)

For Tuesday’s date night, I chose to make the Macaroni Grill Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken and Pasta. All you really need is the chicken. I didn’t realize the kit included parmesan!
  

The chef's tip on the box was to add a fresh tomato to the pasta.
I definitely think it was a good idea.

After a slight mishap because I didn’t read the instructions completely (they’re not hard…but I didn’t realize there was a sauce packet AND a seasoning packet). I might have added the sauce WAY before I was supposed to. Oh well.


Next time: Read directions before I start cooking.

The directions said to use two tablespoons of butter to grill the chicken in, but I just used one, and it worked out perfectly.

And I’m not lying when I tell you the boy said, “This is better than you could get in the restaurant.”

I think it's a combination of the food quality and my fabulous cooking skills. ☺

Now, I was skeptical at first. I didn’t think it would be enough food. It looked small in that box. But it was enough for me to have for lunch the next day. And I couldn’t even it all of it then (it was just as delicious the second day).

Delicious date food.

I always worry about these box dinners having enough flavor, but that was not the case with this one. I agree with Mr. A. It had more flavor than you often get in restaurants, and I didn’t add a single thing. Not even salt.

I made the brownies first. Is that normal?

Dessert? Yes, please!

I can’t wait to try the Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken, and I know the boy can’t either. He loves Chinese food. I will definitely let you know what we think about that one, too. If it’s as good as the Macaroni Grill box, I can see these popping up in the pantry more often.

YOU CAN WIN! And guess what? You have a chance to have your very own date night (or dinner with friends)! It will be the same Spark gift I received: a Wanchai Ferry and Romano’s Macaroni Grill dry dinner kit as well as a $25 gift card.

To enter:

> Leave a comment about the best date you’ve had (or your favorite go-to date); or a tip for having a fun date night at home.
> I will give you an extra entry (or entries) if you blog or tweet about my contest. Just send an e-mail with the link or tweet to allisonrwalker@yahoo.com.

It doesn’t take a fancy date or expensive night out to have fun. Sometimes, it’s just nice to stay in.

I will announce the winner next Thursday!

Failing. And obsessed.

I’m failing at blogging during my normal time lately. In the world we live in, it’s hard not to feel like you’re always failing at something. It’s pretty high stress, actually.

You work all day…and then you have this whole other life. It’s family, friends, working out, Junior League, church, cleaning, reading, shopping…need I go on? (If only we could have more vacations like the one I just took at the Now Jade Riviera...)

Often times, when we don’t feel like we’re failing, we feel obsessed. I’m not talking about the crazy, I’m going to stalk you obsessed, either.

Obsessed with:


via



Food.

Money.

Exercise.

The next best thing.

Figuring it all out. Or not figuring it out.

Celebrities.

Guilty (or not so guilty) pleasures.
Hatred.
Love.

It’s easy to let things control you.

I wake up every day and try not to worry too much about what I’m going to wear, what I’m going to eat, when I’m going to work out, how much I have to do…But I get obsessed. And sometimes I fail. Or I feel like I do (especially when I eat cheesecake for dinner). Don't you?



I try to have this worry-free laugh at least once a day.
There's no fake smiling happening here.

Let’s take some time this week to enjoy our lives. To try not to obsess. Because hey, it’s almost my birthday! And when I worry (or obsess) or feel like I'm failing, I think about all the wonderful things in my life and in this world, and everything gets a little better.

Happy Tuesday!

Lemonade.

You know the phrase. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

It’s hard when something unexpected happens to someone you love.

You try to tell this person everything will work out. It always does. That’s because it has to.

You’re amazed by how strong this person is. Especially when you know you might not be.

Support is necessary. And so are those corny phrases that you will hear a million times in your life, and each time you know despite how ridiculous they sound, they’re totally true.

Here are my favorites:

If life deals you lemons, make lemonade. If it deals you tomatoes, make a bloody mary.


In three words, I can summarize everything I have learned about life: It goes on.
-Robert Frost


Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.
-Henry Ford


I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
-Michael Jordan


You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along. . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Sister, Sister.

Creeks, casinos and a family birthday party. That sums up my weekend. It was jam packed. But what I’m really thinking about today is my sister. She’s a first-year teacher, and today is her first day with her kiddies (first grade). I got to see her this morning (I made a three-hour commute to work), and she was so cute. And excited. I’m so proud of her.
So, on this day, I decided to make a list of five reasons why it’s wonderful to have a sister.

1. An extra closet. This definitely deserves to be high on the list. Even though she’s not as close as I would like, we make it work.

2. A best friend who has to love you. OK…maybe she doesn’t have to, but having a sister is different than all your other best friends. Sisters KNOW you like no one else does. Knowing she will always be only a phone call away when I need advice. When I need to talk about how we are going to become old crazy cat ladies. She’s your family. She has to at least call me back.

3. Someone to boss around as a child. This applies to me, not her, since I’m the oldest. I’m still bossy.

4. Having someone who won’t judge you no matter what you tell her. You don’t even think about whether she will before you do. You can talk about everything. She understands when you’re 17 and your parents are driving you nuts. Because they’re driving her nuts, too. (Love ya Mom and Dad!)

5. Having the same memories to reminiscence about. Like waking up together on Christmas morning. Things we didn’t tell our parents. Sister secrets. Playing office or school. Barbies. Oh the Barbies. Too many Barbies. That’s probably where our shared love of the color pink originates.

I love my sister Kristin, Miss Priss, Nikki, K-dog (OK I never called her that), Miss Walker, and I’m so proud of her!

Wedding Part III. The finale.

And now the main act, people. The wedding was beautiful. It was the first Catholic wedding I’ve been to, and I loved the traditions. Katie looked beautiful, and I could see how truly happy they were.

The band at the reception, Tragikly White, was so fun. Loud, but fun. Everyone danced. There was definitely some booty shaking.

We ate lots of delicious food. Chicken and beef skewers, potato martinis, homemade chips and French onion dip, crab bisque, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, pasta salad…I could go on and on.

The wedding cake was gorgeous and the groom’s cake was perfect. It was actually three cakes...that were shaped like each one of their dogs. Someone spent some serious time on those cakes.

Now the new married couple are blissfully enjoying some fun and sun in Maui. I’m only slightly jealous.

...And they're gonna get married.

This girl’s getting married Saturday.

I’m excited. Here’s our weekend schedule:

Thursday night: Nail appointments (I have to miss this) and bridal party “party” at Katie’s house. I’m leaving work and heading straight there (it will be a quick 3 hour drive).

Friday: Bridal luncheon at Acadia (yum) and rehearsal dinner catered by Trio’s at Pavilion in the Park. Adam will meet me in Little Rock around 6. We are lucky that this girl offered to let us stay with her and her wonderful husband.

Saturday: Pictures at 5 p.m., wedding at 7 p.m. at St. Edwards. How beautiful is this church?

The reception is at the Arkansas Arts Center, where we will dance the night way.

 I can’t wait to celebrate Katie and Kent’s big day! I hope you have fabulous weekend plans.

Fat Friday. And Birthday Boy!

Excuse the title. But, that's how I feel today. Although I'm very happy that I lost 13 lbs (that's the final total for my Biggest Loser Journey), I'm mad I'm not going to win.

Yes, I could have tried harder. Not so much with the working out because I do enough of that, but I need to eat better. It's so easy to get off track for dinner. Anyways, I'm going to keep working at it. I still have about 15 lbs to go. I will still post about this topic even though the Biggest Loser is over. I will know my final place this afternoon, so I will post about that next week. I just hope I win more than $20 since that's what it cost to do it.

In other news...tomorrow is the boy's birthday! I'm a little nervous he won't like his big present. I got a small present, too, and I know he will like it. I love birthdays. I can't share details about this until next week because the boy reads my blog. :) We have a birthday cookout planned for tomorrow afternoon. And I have a big Junior League event in the morning, so I hope it doesn't rain! And if you're in NWA, come out to Touch a Truck. It's so much for the whole fam!

And now a tribute to the birthday boy!

Photo: Cancun August 2009

First flowers the boy ever got me. Fall 2008. Short hair!

Football, Fall 2009

Easter 2010

Lake Tahoe, Thanksgiving 2009

Skiing, Winter 2009

Horse races, Spring 2010

Kansas City, Winter 2009

I love my birthday boy! And I'm so, so thankful to have him in my life. Seriously. He's smart, handsome, funny, cares about making me happy, laid back, understanding, motivated, loving, cares about being healthy, fun, and so much more! Happy birthday, Adam!

I just realized I've never told you how we met. I will do that next week!

OhmygoshI'msohappyit'sFriday!

A Little Bit Married

I have to talk about this book I'm reading on the Kindle. Title: A Little Bit Married: How to Know When It's Time to Walk Down the Aisle or Out the Door. It's fantastic. My friend Sarah told me about it, and so far, I love it. The author, Hannah Seligson, is a journalist and writer, and she used/conducted tons of research for this book.

"Through interviews with current and former “A Little Bit Marrieds” and numerous experts – drawing on material that ranges from Charles Darwin to President Obama – Seligson distills information and provides advice for a generation of daters struggling to understand the emotional and practical realities of relationships that are post-'Let's Do It!' and the pre-'I Do!'"

Hannah says, "If A Little Bit Married had an avatar, it would be Prince William, heir to the British throne, and his girlfriend, Kate Middleton, who have been dating for over six years. Although Britain’s betting shops put the odds on a 2009 marriage at 2:1, there has been no official royal press release about an upcoming engagement, bucketing them in with the millions of other couples who are just 'A Little Bit Married.'"

Even if this doesn't apply to you, it's a very interesting book about the dynamics of a relationship between two people in their 20s or 30s.

In other news:

I'm so glad it's Thursday! We are heading down to Hot Springs tomorrow for the horse races. And I had my estimate for my car today, so I'm one step closer to fixing "the dent." Oh, Adam comes back from Vegas today. I might be a little excited about this. It was nice to have a little time to myself this week, and...possibly...eat cereal for dinner, but I'm ready for him to return!

Happy Friday Eve!