My Birthday!

My birthday was on a Monday....not the best birthday day of the week!! I wanted to go a lot of different places but really wanted to celebrate on my birthday so there weren't many options on mondays. We ended up going out to Chevy's at Arundel mills because I had been wanting to go there for a couple years, last time I went it was yummy. We went there and got dinner (huge dinner, it was so much food) and then we decided to go to the movies....there wasn't a whole lot out or much that would work for the time we got there so we decided on September issue, the time worked perfect and I read briefly that it was something about a magazine, assuming it was some chick flick....WRONG! The second it started I was like oooommmmggg, it was a documentary :( Of course we didn't stay and I felt terrible for wasting the money but I was not about to sit there and watch a documentary about the editor of vogue! So instead we walked around the mall because I haven't been there in forever to shop and we bought a couple things...it wasn't crowded because it was monday....it was a good, quiet night! :)

I got a great couple of things too! My sister sent me super cute flowers, chance got me a cute new bag, sweatshirt and he picked out a perfume WITHOUT even smelling it which is dangerous, hahaha you never know what it'll smell like, but it smells soooooooooooooooooooooooo good, It's my fav now!! It's Hailey from Aero! It's soo good. My dad got me an ice cream maker...I'm making Irish Cream Ice Cream now, will post pictures when I'm done! And he got me a snuggie!! wooo hoo I wanted a snuggie! haha

My pictures of the brewery

We had an event last week and I took some pictures around the room so we could use for the brochure! But I took some additional pictures so that I could remember after I leaaaave :(



In the lobby, these are original steps that they kept, they cut it off at the ceiling


This is the bottom of the grain shoot, and if you look on the floor they have glass looking down into the second floor


one of the glasses on the table with the gifts in the back, just trying to be all artsy!


this is one of the old beer tanks they cut out and made a seating area, and on the ceiling there is the bottom of a tank that they cut and put up there


This is the terrace out back, not a good picture but if you look to the left that is the city, inner harbor


this is the top of the grain shoot, if you look you can see the wood worn away from the grain


this is the board room, my favorite


this is the second floor event space

Some yummy recipes I just tried.....

I usually try something new every time I go to the grocery store, but I need to start writing down my favorites and putting them in the cute recipe binder Chance's mom gave to me because I've tried some really yummy ones...I also thought I'd try to take pictures so I can remember them!

First I tried Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo w/veggies.....E-A-S-Y! And it was so yummy, chance loved it and it was perfect for leftovers the next day. You can do this one so fast.




2qt water
1pkg (9oz) refrigerated fettuccine
3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1 pkg. (10oz) ready to serve roasted chicken breast strips
1- 1/2 cups Alfredo sauce
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

**I made substitutes, I didn't get the ready made chicken, I just cooked three breasts in a skillet and cut it into strips. I used a whole jar of Alfredo, and I used just grated Parmesan cheese instead of shredded and lots of it because I hate store bought Alfredo sauce but the parm cheese covers it. Also, the mixed veggies at the grocery store always have Lima beans in them, I try to pick them out....And of course add pepper.

Directions: Bring water to a boil. Add fettuccine and vegetables; return to boil. Cook on high for 2-3 minutes or until fettuccine and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in chicken and Alfredo sauce; heat through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

It takes like no time at all, especially if you use the ready to serve chicken



Chocolate Eclair Squares

SOOO good!! Takes a little longer...





1 3/4 cup cold milk
1 package (4 serving size) vanilla pudding (instant)
1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip
Box of graham crackers
3 tablespoons butter
2 squares bakers unsweetened baking chocolate
2 tablespoons cold milk
1 cup powdered sugar

POUR 1 3/4 cup milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk for 2 minutes. Gently stir in whipped topping. Layer one third of the grahams and half of the whipped topping mixture in a 13x9 inch baking pan. Break grahams as necessary to fit repeat layers. Top with remaining grahams (I ended up with Graham > Pudding > Graham > Pudding > Graham > Chocolate.)

Place butter, chocolate and 2 table spoons milk in small saucepan cook on low heat until chocolate is completely melted and mixture it blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, stirring until well blended. Spread over grahams (Chocolate STICKS to pan, so just keep stirring, don't leave it there, and the powdered sugar will mix even though it looks dry, just keep mixing, also I had a hard time spreading the chocolate, I got most of it spread)

Refrigerate several hours or overnight (I did it on Thursday night and ate it Friday when I got home, yum!)

New Job (again).....

So the new job has been going really well and I love it! But....I applied for a government job with SAMHSA first week in April, I had completely forgotten about it and I just randomly got a call from them. It's now two weeks later and I've been offered the job. I'm excited but it's come at a terrible time! My boss is about to go on maternity leave (like her due date was 2 days ago) and then I'll be leaving in a couple weeks, after I just started!! I feel terrible and I was not looking for another job, I had planned to stay and be there and everything but I couldn't turn down this good opportunity with the government! It'll be a great thing for me and Chance all around, the pay will be better, benefits are great, it will be in Montgomery county, it's just all around good for us. I do feel absolutely awful about it still but I just plan to help out any way that I can before I leave! I am excited but I wish it had come at a different time....I guess things happen for a reason though!

So I start at SAMHSA in a few weeks....I'll be working as an Admin Assistant in one of the departments, not too sure what exactly I'll be doing yet but that's okay! I've been working at Humanim since I was 18! It's exciting/scary to be starting something new!

Also, since it's in Rockville, we are seriously considering buying a home in Montgomery County (since chance works all over Montgomery county)! Which we hope to do SOON! Before it was difficult because we wanted something in between DC and Baltimore because that's where I've been working some of the time.....but it's just sooo expensive so it really limits us. I've looked on Long & Foster and there are some great houses in Gaithersburg and other places, so maybe we can find something there!