The Weekend of Champions!

I had the best weekend EVER! It all started on Friday morning when I ended up not having to go into work! The night before I had gone out for a "few" beers with some co-workers and ended up not getting home until close to 11:00. Being the responsible adult that I try to be, I did not drive home so my car was stuck in Buckhead for the remainder of the evening and most of the next morning. Here is a tip for everyone - have your boss with you at happy hour so he tells you that you do not have to come to work the next day because he won't be there either! :)

So, I got to sleep in a bit and was able to get a cab ride to my car around 11:00 a.m. the next day and still have lunch with my friend Melissa! That evening I started to get ready for my hot date I had that evening. My hubby and I were finally going to celebrate our anniversary with a night out on the town!

Bruce had a wonderful surprise for me and had a driver scheduled to pick us up at 6:15 for our dinner reservations at 7:00. Of course, nothing ever works out perfectly!! Around 6:20, we got a phone call from Larry, our driver, that he was about 3 miles from our house at the Publix where his car was overheating. We just had to laugh! We asked him if he could guarantee someone could pick us up from dinner and we'd just leave our car overnight again. He said that they would be there with no problem, so we went ahead and headed out to dinner. Halfway down I-285, Larry called us back and said "Have a great time - call me when you are done with your evening and Mark & I will come and pick you guys up and also drive your car home so you don't have to leave it. And also, we'll do it for free!" We were totally stoked! How cool was that?

Us after dessert

So, we did just that - had an amazing time! We had dinner at Anthony's Fine Dining in Buckhead and it was delicious! We both had the surf & turf - beef tenderloin and lobster tail. So delicious! We had martinis and a bottle of wine and shared a yummy cheesecake dessert.

Afterwards, we decided we'd head to The Grape for an after dinner glass of wine. But that actually turned into a bottle of after dinner wine! Thank god for the driver!!! :) We were picked up shortly after that and taken safely home. It was wonderful.

The next day we sat around most of the day and recovered from our wine hangovers. But that night still had the best to come! STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunion show!!!!!! Now, anyone who has known me for any length of time, knows that I am completely obsessed with this band and more importanly Scott Weiland. Yes, heroin addicted junkie, Scott Weiland. I know, I know - it doesn't make a bit of sense, but I love him! So, just let it be!! :)

My other man

The show was GREAT! My brother totally got us the hookup with free VIP tickets and STP did not disappoint at all! I hope they can stick together for the long haul, only time will tell.

So, that is it...my AMAZING weekend. I couldn't ask for more.

731 days ago today....

I married the love of my life.

Today is our 2nd anniversary and life has been amazing. I feel like I woke up in the fairytale that every young girl dreams about having. And the fact of the matter is, it's real and it's mine - it's all mine.

Bruce is a wonderful husband. He's generous with his kisses and doesn't leave the house without giving one. My favorites are the ones on my forehead, that usually come during times of reassurance.

He still makes me giggle like when we first met - especially when he dances around the house to some "hip-hop" song I am playing, just to make fun of it because he really doesn't care for that music.

He is a generous soul and he loves me with everything that he has.

Happy Anniversary, Bruce. Thank you for loving me for all that I am and accepting me for exactly who I am. Thank you for pushing me to always be my best self and knowing when to push harder and when to let up. You are my best friend and I love you with all my heart and soul.

Thank you for loving me.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I don't do this enough......

I LOVE to cook and I equally LOVE watching the Food Network and am a huge fan of Top Chef on Bravo.

The other morning I was watching Tyler Florence and he made this 'Cuban Style Pork' and it looked so yummy, that I just had to make it that night! It was just like making a Cuban sandwich, but without the bread and using a pork chop. It was a huge hit with the hubby and I loved it too!

Here is the recipe:

Butterflied Cuban Style Pork Chops

3/4 cup fresh orange juice

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh oregano leaves

6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 cup canola oil 4

(8-ounce) pork chops, butterflied and thinly pounded

Salt and freshly ground black pepper 8

(1/4-inch) thick slices Swiss cheese 8

(1/4-inch) thick slices boiled ham

2 sour dill pickles, thinly sliced (need about 16 slices)

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves

1/4 cup olive oil

Heat the grill to high.
Whisk together 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup lime juice, 3 tablespoons oregano, the garlic, cumin, and canola oil in a large baking dish. Add the pork and turn to coat. Cover and let marinate for at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Remove the pork from the marinade and pat dry. Place the chops on a flat surface, cut-side up and season with salt and pepper. Place 1 slice of cheese, 2 slices of ham, a few slices of pickle and another slice of cheese on 1 half of the chop. Fold over brush the top with oil and season with salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Place the chops on the grill, oil side down and grill until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the chops over and continue grilling until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese has melted, 2 to 3 minutes longer.
Whisk the remaining orange and lime juices, oregano, and the cilantro with the olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon over the chops and serve.

The only thing I didn't do was spoon the remaining orange and lime juices over the pork at the end - seemed like a little "much" to me. But it was definitely a keeper!

Here is what it looked like while we were grilling it!