The Starbucks Experience

Our good friend Matt Carter took Emery's one year photos.....he also happens to be the son of the pastor of our church, the guy that hooked Benji up with his job while we were in college, and our realtor that helped us find our hizzous......thank you GOD for Matt Carter!

We started taking the photos outside, but it started pouring and ended up inside Starbucks, which I thought was fitting giving the fact that Emery was basically "grown" at Starbucks as I worked there up until the week she was born.

Enjoy the pics....these are just a few of the best...more later.

What's For Dinner!

Portobello "pizzas"
"The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps"
Yield: 4 small pizzas

Most prefer to eat this “pizza” with a knife and fork!

INGREDIENTS


• 4 whole Portobello mushroom caps (about 5” each), stemmed removed
• 1/2 cup low fat marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup lean turkey Italian sausage, cooked, drained and crumbled
• 4 tablespoons shredded fat free or low fat mozzarella cheese
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wipe the mushrooms clean Place them on a baking sheet, gill side up.

Spoon sauce over each cap, then sprinkle on sausage and cheeses. Place in the oven and bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Garnish with fresh basil. Serve immediately.

TIPS
Mushroom factoid: One portabella mushroom has as much potassium as a banana.

Nutrient analysis (per pizza): 97 calories, 10 g protein, 7 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat, 1 g fat (saturated), 22 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 305 mg sodium

I added red peppers. Used spicy italian chicken sausage from Whole Foods, (which is amazing) instead of turkey, because i had it in the freezer.

The Name Means Everything

Recently I have been trying to save money. Once I quit working to become the full time CEO of the Ladd house hold, I looked for any where to cut cost.

I am all about store brands. Whole Foods and Publix have execellent store brand items.

Target and Walmart have many that are mentionable, I just don't shop at either place enough because I tend to get in trouble in both stores. Ha ha....anyhoo....

Here is my list of items that I feel are inferior in their off brand counter parts.

Name brands are a must for the following.....

Trash bags, (I have tried and tried to find a store brand that works, they break every time.)

Dishwasher detergent
Tampons, (hey it IS my blog, you should be used to this kind of stuff.)
Mayonnaise, (Dukes is the only kind worth buying.)
Cheerios. E will eat the real ones, gives Vance the off brand. haha.
Coffee beans .....Starbucks, need I say more.
Q Tips
Ice Cream... We are a Briars fam

Breast Is Best

I have a MEDELA PUMP IN STYLE that has been used maybe 6 times. Selling it for 150....OR BEST OFFER. Retails for 279....I'll be listing it on Craigslist, but offering it here and on Facebook first. Let me know if you are interested. I'm in Gainesville frequently so wouldn't have to ship it there....and of course I live in Greenville. It works great. You can find info on the link from Babies R Us below....

Medela Pump In Style

Need To Breathe

NeedToBreathe....is THE best band out there. If you have not experienced their music. buy any of their albums. Trust me. Loves them.

NeedToBreathe

What Keeps Me Hanging On

Look at this face! Precious.

Do The Right Thing

"Moralism is NOT the Gospel."