{grilled tomato bruschetta}

Here's an easy recipe for a grilling summer kind of night!

Ingredients:
16 (1/2-inch-thick) French bread baguette slices
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup torn fresh basil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preparation:
1. Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Brush both sides of bread with oil. Grill 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side or until toasted.
2. Toss together tomatoes and next 5 ingredients; serve over bread slices.

Hope everyone had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend! 3 more days until summer break for me! Yippee! It can't get here fast enough!

{bump watch: 21.5 weeks}

How Far Along: 21. 5 weeks

Size of baby: The length of a carrot! She now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10.5 inches long!

Maternity Clothes: Wore my first pair of maternity pants last Friday! Oohh..the comfort! But, I'm loving being able to just wear lots of sundresses! This will be my saving grace during the HOT summer months...and to think it is only May and the highs are in the 90's! Yikes!

Gender: GIRL!

Movement: Yes! Little Miss especially loves music! She started kicking (or maybe dancing) during the choir special at church on Sunday (yes, there might have been some tears from mommy) and during American Idol! She especially loved the finale show last night! Mimi (my mom) wanted to make sure she wasn't dancing during the rap music)! hehe!

Sleep: Besides getting up about 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom, I'm doing okay. Takes a little bit to get comfortable, but I'm counting my blessings of at least getting some sleep!

Cravings: Nothing really this week. Aversions: Nothing.

Best Moment this week: Well since I didn't update last week, I'll start there! Mom and I went to my 20 week ultrasound (anatomy scan) together since Josh was out of town. Before we went in, mom (or MiMi) was able to feel Ella kick for the first time! I thought she was gonna jump out of her chair! We then went in for the anatomy scan which was done at another doctor's office (so we could get an even better picture) and WOW...so amazing! We got to see everything from her little fingers and toes to her 4 ventricles and lungs. What an amazing experience! This week....Josh was able to feel Ella kick for the first time! Ahh...we feel so blessed and already love this baby girl so much!

Here are my "bump" pictures taken at 21 1/2 weeks! Ella and I are continuing to grow every day!

Josh and I also had fun getting to go furniture shopping this past weekend! Wow...I had no idea there were so many options! We finally narrowed it down to 5, then to 2, then to 1 on Sunday! We (okay, maybe just I on this one) also picked out Ella's bedding this week! It is so hard to pick the entire bedding with just a little swatch of fabric (and I didn't even have them in person), but I think we'll be happy with it! I can't wait to start decorating her room once we get moved in and to finally see everything together! Here are some of the fabrics for her bedding! There are some plain white and green fabrics that will be added too, I just didn't have the pictures!

{good southern cookin...it's tasty tuesday}

Does it get any better than this my friends?!?! I think it might just be a mac-n-cheese kind of night at the Dearmore's! Hope you enjoy!

Golden Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz.) package elbow macaroni (about 2 cups uncooked macaroni)

2 cups milk

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon onion salt

2 (10 oz.) blocks sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 4 1/2 cups) and divided*

1 cup soft breadcrumbs (4 slices, crusts removed)

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Preparation:

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain well. Set aside.

2. Place milk, flour, and onion slat in a quart jar; cover tightly, and shake vigorously 1 minute.

3. Stir together flour mixture, 3 1/2 cups cheese, and macaroni.

4. Pour macaroni mixture into a lightly greased 13x9 inch baking dish or 2 (11 inch) oval baking dishes. Sprinkly evenly with breadcrumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese; drizzle evenly with melted butter.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

*20 ounces loaf pasteurized preparted cheese product, shredded or cut into small cubes, may be substituted. Omit breadcrumbs if using prepared cheese product.

Home Sweet Home!

After having our home on the market about 9 months, I can finally say it is SOLD! This process has been very long, but very worth it I have to say! It is a very bittersweet time for Josh and I! This is the house he lived in when we first met, he proposed to me in this house, and it was our first home together when we got married! So many sweet sweet memories that we will take with us forever and ever! So....I didn't know whether to cry or smile the day I turned the corner and saw the SOLD sign in our yard! :) But, we are so excited for the new journey we are on and making many many new memories in our new home! What an exciting time for our growing family!

Our soon-to-be "Home Sweet Home"!

We close on our new home June 24th, so the timing is perfect! I'll have all summer to get things ready along with a nursery to welcome our sweet girl in October! Let the decorating ideas begin (okay, maybe they already have)!

{peach ice cubes}

Ever get tired of just plain 'ol water? I can relate (especially during pregnancy since I'm limited on my beverage choice)!! Here is an easy way to add a little different flavor besides the usual lemon or lime! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 peaches, peeled and pitted

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

Puree the peaches and combine with the sugar and lemon juice. Mix well until smooth. Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Serve with cold summer drinks like lemonade, iced tea, or cocktails.

Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen

P.S. Dearmore update to come soon! We've had an exciting and eventful past week and a half!

{walt disney was ahead of his time}!

This is too funny! Happy Friday, y'all!

extra tasty tuesday! {simple brownies with chocolate frosting}

Can you say...Y-U-M-M-Y?!? As you can see...chocolate is always on my mind! Enjoy! Ingredients (for brownies):

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

1 (4 oz.) unsweetened chocolate baking bar, chopped

3/4 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

(for chocolate frosting):

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup milk

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 (16 oz) package powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.

2. Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in sugar and eggs until well blended. Stir in flour. Spread batter into a greased 13x9 inch pan.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

4. Prepare Chocolate Frosting (as directed below). Pour over warm brownies; spread to edges. Sprinkle with pecans. Let cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

Chocolate Frosting:

Cook first 3 ingredients over medium heat in a large saucepan, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes or until butter melts. Remove from heat, and beat in powdered sugar and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

{weekend recap}

Unforgettable is the word that comes to mind to describe this past weekend! One of my best friends, Leslie, got married to the love of her life! It was so fun having everyone together for a whole entire weekend, which is rare, since some live out of state....hint hint, Sari!!! We began the weekend with her bridal brunch on Friday morning given by all the besties mom's! We then hung out at The Woodlands Resort until the rehearsal then headed over to America's for the rehearsal dinner (yummy)! Saturday morning came early, but what a fun and relaxing day it was as we all hung out and got ready for the big day. It was special having my dad perform the ceremony! Les is like a daughter to him. Luckily we all made it through without shedding too many tears. Here are a few pics to recap Leslie and Chris' beautiful day (and to show off my 19 week baby bump)! The dresses hid it well, but we are continuing to grow and grow! I can't believe we are almost half way through our pregnancy! Can't wait to meet my sweet baby girl!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Coxon!

{tasty tuesday...cinco de mayo style}!

Here are some yummy looking recipes I thought I would share just in time for Cinco de Mayo! All recipes can be found @ www.southernliving.com.

Layered Spicy Black Bean Dip

Avocado Fruit Salad

Dressed-up Salsa

Red Pepper-Black-eye-Pea Salsa

Grilled Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken Enchiladas

Chalupa Dinner Bowl Nachos

Enjoy and eat up! Happy Cinco de Mayo! (If you were in my family, you would be celebrating at the Jimmy Buffett concert)!

{bump watch}

How Far Along: 18 weeks!
Size of baby: As long as a bell pepper! Approximately 5 1/2 inches long and weighs almost 7 ounces.
Gender: It's a Girl!

Movement: Haven't felt any movements yet! Mommy sure is ready though! She was hoping the baby would dance when the choir sang yesterday at church (but no such luck)! Hopefully this week!
Cravings: Anything chocolate!! Aversions: Nothing.

Symptoms: Very tired when I get home from work, but other than that, feeling wonderful!

Best Moment this week: I had an ultrasound on Monday and for the first time, I could really see her face! She had her hand in a fist and had it covering one of her eyes! Melted my heart! I can hardly wait to meet this little angel!

Mommy telling Finley all about her baby sister!