Home Sweet Home

Hard to believe a year ago this weekend was when we found our perfect house! We've really enjoyed this Spring season and seeing all of the flowers in bloom. Thought we'd share a picture and bring our home to you.



And Grandma's roses....the original picture was what I hoped they would look like, not what they were. Here is a picture of our rose garden, while it doesn't look like much now, we've seen some fast growth this past week and are very hopeful. We added some border plants and pink bark this weekend along with red pavers as a border. Before we know it...we'll have our first rose!

Green Thumbs and Good Dinners

We put on our gardening hats again this weekend and spent a lot of time yesterday and this morning working in the back yard. We have made a lot of progress but we have a long way to go, stay tuned for pictures coming soon.

Last night we went out with our friend Melanie for a drink and then to dinner at Two Urban Licks, we've all heard good things and it was right in line with the hype! Everything was delicious but one of my favorites was our appetizer, Brie Ravioli with pulled pork and tomatoes in a spicy sauce.

Tonight Dan is cooking up one of his specialties and one of his favorite dishes on the grill. Below is the recipe:

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2005

Ingredients
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2/3 cup sherry wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced shallots
3/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 (1 3/4 to 2-pound) skirt steak

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the olive oil, sherry vinegar, lemon juice, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic and shallots. Pulse until well blended but do not puree. Add 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the crushed red pepper. Remove 1 cup of the chimichurri sauce from the processor and transfer to a non-reactive bowl, cover with plastic wrap and reserve at room temperature for up to 6 hours. (If cooking steak another day, refrigerate sauce and return to room temperature before serving.)

Season the steak with 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt on each side, as well as 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper per side and place in a large, resealable plastic bag. Add the remaining chimichurri sauce from the processor. Seal bag and refrigerate the steak for at least 2 and up to 4 hours.
Preheat a grill to medium heat.

Once the steak has finished marinating, remove it from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes. Brush the excess chimichurri sauce off the steak and set the steak over the hot grill. Cook for 6 minutes on the first side. Rotate the steak 45 degrees, and cook another 6 minutes. Turn the steak over and continue to cook until the steak is done, about 6 to 8 minutes for medium-rare. Once cooked, lay the steak on a clean cutting board, and allow it to rest for 5 to 7 minutes before slicing across the grain into 2-inch wide strips. Serve with crusty bread and the reserved chimichurri sauce.

Picture

I hope you all have calmed down after my amazing day of meeting baseball players. Here is the picture of me and my friend Jeff Francouer....he's cute!

In other news, we had a quiet weekend around the house and bought a weed wacker! We did a lot of yard work and enjoyed a nice dinner last night at a local Asian restaurant that Uncle Jeff recommended, it was delicious!

I hope everyone is getting ready for American Idol this week, it's a big week......two contestants will be eliminated as well as it being Disco theme!

I met TOM GLAVINE yesterday!

Ok, this is going to be a long one........get ready!

On Tuesday afternoon, I was working at the Front Desk and a guest came and asked me how late he could check out, he told me he was staying with the Florida Marlins and had a meeting at the stadium with Tom Glavine that got pushed back. Wait, did he mention Tom Glavine? So we got to talking and he has a marketing company and is working on a wine with Tom Glavine. I told him I had to be Tom's biggest fan most of my life! I even went on to tell him how I almost didn't get engaged since Dan wanted to pop the question on a night when Tom was pitching at 8. (Most of you know the story, Dan and I negotiated and did dinner at 6pm so I could be home for Tom's 8pm start, the game got rained out, and I got engaged). So we talk Tom, baseball, exchange business cards, and he goes on his way.

Wednesday morning, a valet parking representative came to my desk with a bottle of wine saying that this man checked out and wanted to give this to me, he said I would know what it was. It's the bottle of wine SIGNED by Tom Glavine. How much better could my day be? Here is the bottle of wine, a signed ball by my Tom, and the picture of our first meeting when I was about 13.

The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau had a lunch at the hotel yesterday and Chipper Jones was a guest of honor. Little known to the guests of the lunch, Chipper brought the entire team with him. I was trying to be professional and not think it was a huge deal that the entire Braves team was in the same building as I was. Knowing I am a huge baseball fan, our Director of Security escorted me down to the ballroom so I could be in the room with the team. I was in awe but well behaved and acted cool. And then......I spotted him. Tom was at this event. He was with Dr. Andrews all day Tues, all in the news about his shoulder, and is at this event the next day. So cool. I leave the room and think my day can't get any better.

I went to have lunch and as soon as I get to my desk, my boss Scott calls and tells me to meet him in the Regency Ballroom right away. Turns out they had some meet and greet for a select few of the lunch guests. I meet Scott and the first thing he says is "We're going to meet Tom". Wait, what, right now, was I prepared for this monumental occasion? So there we go, Scott introduces himself and then me as Tom's biggest fan. I am shaking but go on to tell Tom I almost missed my own engagement because of watching him pitch and how I've followed him for years and I think he's great. He signed a ball for me, told me it was nice to meet ME, and I walked away. It was amazing. I also went on to get a picture with Jeff Francouer and shake Chipper Jones hand.

What an incredible day. I left that ballroom walking on the clouds and wanted to scream! I will never be able to thank Scott for getting me into the room.

After a small amount of work yesterday afternoon, I mean, who could focus, we went to the game last night with all of my friends the Braves! Today was a 1210pm start and Dan and I took the day off and enjoyed a gorgeous 70 degree Atlanta day at the ballpark. Unfortunately, the team lost both games but a lot of fun was had.

Stay tuned for the picture of me and my friend Jeff, I have to get access to that picture!

Here are some pictures from last night and this afternoon, Go BRAVES!

GO BRAVES!

Spring

Dan and I had such a nice day yesterday celebrating Spring! After the Sugarland concert on Friday night we were worn out and got a late start. We headed to Home Depot to do a little yard work, here is a picture of the flowers I planted around the mail box.

After the planting it was time to go down to Turner Field and root root root for the Braves. It was wonderful to be back at the ballpark and see our Braves beat the Nationals!

Weekend in Charleston

We were on the move this weekend, heading to Charleston and other places in South Carolina, a lot of fun was had by all!

After arriving Friday night and having a great pasta dinner to get our carbs, we got up early Saturday to do the Cooper River Bridge Run. It was a beautiful day and a fun way to see Charleston.

Claudette, Carol, Anna Grace, and I walked while Dan and Dave ran. Here we are after the race, enjoying the nice day and the Chic Fil A Cows!

Saturday afternoon we went to the Flowertown Festival in Summerville which was full of food, fun, and flowers! In the evening we had a low key night at the Linder's. Here is Dan and Charlotte coloring while wearing 3 D glasses!

Sunday was the Brown Family reunion in Green Pond SC where we got to eat delicious food and spend time with Dan's Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins! We left the reunion in time to get home for.........opening day of the 2009 Baseball season...........play ball!!!!