Bathing suit shopping

I just got back from bathing suit shopping. Geoff has always complained that I buy my suits too big which makes me have "dump butt", as he calls it. So after 4 years of hearing him complain about my dump butt I made him come with me to bathing suit shop. Happily, I found 3 bathing suits at Ross for a small price of $40 total! Whoohooo! Of course this was after a painstaking hour (at least) in Nordstrom's Rack and Old Navy looking for the perfect suit.
Anyways, today's adventure got me thinking a lot about WHY bathing suits don't fit well. For the most part I'd say my body is pretty average for my size - meaning, I'm pretty proportional (okay, my girls are a little on the larger side) and finding clothes isn't too difficult. So, why in the world do I have such a hard time shopping for bathing suits? Is it because my body is just SO different, or is it because the suits out there are not made for REAL woman??
Also, is there something with the lighting in the dressing rooms? It seemed like every stretch mark and fat over hang was WAY more visible then normal. Ross stores do not let you try on bathing suits in the store. At first I was super annoyed by this and almost left with nothing. I decided to get the three suits and figured I'd return whichever didn't work out. It ended up being a blessing that I couldn't try on the suits because I could try them on in my own room with natural lighting!
Whew... what a day... I need a glass of wine.

Crock pot heaven

I thought I'd post the Crock pot menu that I tried last week - it was a real gem and we'll definitely be making it again!


Chicken Stew

(Makes 5 servings, ideal slow cooker size is 4 quarts)

1 lb uncooked boneless, chicken breasts, cubed (The chicken did get a bit dry so next time we may do bone in)
14 oz can low sodium Italian Diced Tomatoes, undrained
2 potatoes (I used one and it was plenty for my liking), peeled and cubed.
5 carrots, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped (I used more!)
1 onion, chopped
2 4oz cans mushroom stems and pieces, drained (I prefer fresh mushies)
3 Chicken bouillon cubes
2 tsp sugar (I used less!)
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dill weed
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 Tbs cornstarch
1 Cup water

1. Combine all ingredients except cornstarch and water in slow cooker.
2. Combine water and cornstarch. Stir in slow cooker.
3. Cover. Cook on low 8-10 hours until veggies are tender.

Easy, hardy, delicious and makes plenty for leftovers the next day! Enjoy!

Up this week for us in the crock-pot: San Antonio Style Tortilla Soup. I'll let you know how it goes!

Also, a little shout out to my friend Andie for getting me the cookbook "Fix it and Forget it, Lightly" waaaay back when!

Did it...

I made it to the exercise class and it was.... well, a little rough. I really feel like it wouldn't have been THAT bad except EVERYONE in that class had been doing that routine for years. I'd say 90% of the ladies in there could have taught that class! I must say I was ATLEAST one step behind on every move and it seemed like just as I was figuring out the move, they'd move on to the next! Haha! It was a good time and good exercise so I've decided that I'm not going to give up quite yet and that I'll go next Tuesday. As for making it to the gym in the later evening... what saved me was having a crock-pot meal ready and waiting for us when we got home. I made Chicken Stew and it was DEELISH - I'll be sure to post the recipe soon!

Should be fun...

"Pre-designed Kickboxing interval class using no equipment. Cardio section uses intensity drills and increased energy sprints followed by work recovery segments."

Sounds intense, huh!

I'm going to try this class at my gym today - it's called Turbo Kick... should be interesting! It's a bit of a challenge for me because 1, it is not until 5:30 and it's OH SO HARD to get off the couch once I'm there (well, here) after work and 2, I have no coordination ;-) I'll let you know how it goes!

Our date with baby K

On Saturday we had a lovely date with Kaira Moon. She had so much fun - she loves her Auntie Sis and Uncle Geoff and especially loves coffee.


It's really amazing how many people smile at you when you're toting around a cute baby. If people were as nice to EVERYONE as they are to babies the world would be one happy place.

Yikes!

Anyone else feelin' me with the tight jeans these days?! Ugh.

Christmas recap

Get it?! It was baby central at the Abo house for Christmas. The cousins love each other (kinda), and we spent our time ooing and aaing over them.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and spent lots of time ooing and aaing with their loved ones!

The Wedding: Cutting the cake and saying good bye

<<<Friends, I thought it would be nice to do some wedding recap blog entries. Scroll down to see the previous entries. Enjoy!>>>


Now, the cake cutting may have been the one awkward moment all night! We weren't really sure how to do it and with 160 people staring at you there is a tad bit of pressure! That is why I love the picture above... I'm looking at my mom saying "how do we do this?"!

Our cake servers that my mom made that also matched the flutes that she made - adorable, huh?!
As you see we figured it out and were mostly nice to each other with the cake smudging! The cake (made by our dear friend, Laurette) was delicious and not to mention gorgeous.

Geoff and I escaped for a bit to do a few more photos and were also able to sit back and just watch our friends and family enjoying our special day. That was a moment I'll never forget.





And with that... it was time to party! We danced the night away with our guests and were on another level of bliss that I have never felt before.

The wedding was amazing and everything I could have asked for. The amount of work that my mom put into the evening was unbelievable, and all out of love. But, even better than any wedding that I could of had, is the love that I have for my husband, our relationship and this union that we have started.


<Thanks for sticking with me friends... I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!>

The Wedding: Let's party!

<<<Friends, I thought it would be nice to do some wedding recap blog entries. Scroll down to see the first few entries. Enjoy!>>>

Geoff and I sat down at the table beaming with happiness and love. It had been such an exciting day already and we still had HOURS left! Sweet! Dinner was absolutely divine (thanks to Fireseed Catering in Langley) and Geoff and I made sure to try a little of everything. We had three food stations; Pacific Northwest meets California (mussels and clams), Middle eastern (carved leg of lamb & tabbouleh) and South American (masa crusted chicken). Our guests were able to enjoy a full meal from each station and I think everyone left happy and full!

Who says the bride and groom never eat?!

After delicious food and some socializing we had our toasts. Arcia, Michelle and my dad did an amazing job giving their toasts and Geoff and I felt honored to have such special people beside us.

Time for our special dances! Geoff and I danced to Green Eyes by Coldplay which is a special song to us because it is the song Geoff played and sang to me very early on in our relationship when we first fell in love!


My dad and I danced to Frank Sinatra, Way You Look Tonight. I was never one to be that into weddings but EVERY wedding I went to I would cry during the father/daughter dance because it made me think about the moment that I get to dance with my dad at my wedding. The moment came, and I was ecstatic. My dad is amazing; strong, yet sensitive and warm, giving and caring. There isn't a better example of marriage than the one my parents show us.

Geoff and his mom danced to Beatles, In My Life. It was lovely to watch the two of them on the dance floor ~ I love my mother-in-law!

And the party began...! Everyone joined Geoff and his mom on the dance floor and the dancing didn't stop until 1 in the morning!



Up Next: Cake cutting and the end of a PERFECT day.

(All photos taken by my awesome photographer, Ben Becker)