My last day off!!

Now that's my kind of back to school sale!!

Is it just me or has this summer totally just flown by. I'm sure everyone feels the same way, but it seems faster than ever this time. Grrr...However, that means fall is just around the corner and fall and spring are my favorite times of year!!

So I'm heading back to school on Wednesday. We have meetings alllllllll day long and boo, that usually just drains me. I'm thinking, however, that since Mike is off tomorrow, my last day, that we could do something fun.

Here's where you come in. I am the most indecisive person on the entire planet. So....HELP ME!!

Last time we decided we were going to do something we totally got drunk the night before and betched out, only to stay home and be lazy all day. Which isn't exactly a bad thing, but I should have taken advantage of the day off.

Here is my list...tell me what you would do!

Beach Day // we all love a beach day!! Requires an hour and a half drive there and back and spending money on lunch. Maybe some drinks!

Dinner and a Movie // A wonderful choice as always, but...we do that all the time which kinda takes away the excitement.

Washington DC // It's on my bucket list, but it requires a lot of work. It's so much fun, however!! But it's a little bit nicer to do in the spring or fall when it's not so hot. Another cheap option, though!!

Sushi // OK, so any excuse to have sushi is awesome to me, but there really isn't anything to do around our favorite sushi place. So sushi might be able to be combined with another option?? Or..any other thoughts that involve sushi?

I'm also open to any other suggestions. We have a lot around us but we don't want to spend too much money or too much time in the car. We also would rather not stay home and do something. We want to get out!!

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Tostadas

I have had this recipe for a while and keep forgetting to post it. At least I think so...I've looked back and can't find it so, if it's a repeat.....get over it.

These were so good. They were kinda annoying on the grill but I think we might have it perfected by now. If it doesn't work out for you, you can always do it in the oven, or on a pizza stone, or....any other way you can think of.

Grilled Chicken Tostadas

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. chicken breast, grilled, cubed

chicken taco seasoning

1/2 red pepper, diced

1/2 green pepper, diced

1/2 red onion, diced

1-2 roma tomatoes, diced

1 can black beans, drained

1 can corn, drained

cilantro

tortillas

Toppings:

salsa

sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

Cook chicken with taco seasoning. Preheat grill or oven. Spray the bottom of each tortilla and place on sprayed cookie sheet. Option 1: Mix all ingredients except toppings together in a bowl and pile on tortillas. Option 2: Layer all ingredients except toppings onto tortillas. Top with cheese. Pull tortillas off cookie sheet and directly onto grill. Close top and let cook through. When tortilla is crunchy, pull off grill, top with toppings, and enjoy!!

Guardians of the Galaxy

OK, I have to admit...this looked like a pretty stupid movie the first time I saw the trailer...however, after watching it a few more times it started to grow on me.

And...after hearing all the hype about it being one of the best Marvel movies yet, I gave in.



Well, Mike and I went to see it this weekend and it was AWESOME!! Definitely better than the trailer. We even contemplated going back and seeing it a second time. 
Mike's former MMA training and love for MMA had him very excited to see how Bautista fared in a comedic role. And the verdict?? He blew that shit out of the park. His dry humor made us laugh throughout the entire movie.
It was comedy, and action, some sci-fi, some fantasy...everything wrapped up into one. And it was fantastic. And the music! You'll be dancing in your seats to some old school. 
If you're on the fence about this movie, don't worry, it's not as cheesy and childish as it seems in the trailer. So jump off that shit and get to your nearest IMAX theater and let me know what you think!

H54F!!

ONE.
     I checked one thing off my bucket list already!! A new happy hour!! Mike has had some kind of stomach bug this entire week so I found someone else to hang out and we decided to go to the Riverfont in Wilmington to hit up a few happy hours. On the way we changed our mind and headed into Main St. in Newark and hit up the happy hours there. There are a ton of great bars right there and since school hasn't started yet all the college kids were still at home.
     We went to about 4 different happy hours and found some new great places to hit up for the future. One of the places had $3 Pinnacle flavors so I looked up a bunch of different cocktails with flavored vodka and went for it. The bartender created her own concoction and it was delicious!! Pinnacle Strawberry Kiwi, Blue Curaco (or blue cilantro, as she called it....hmmm...bartending long?), sprite, and pineapple juice. It was yummyyy!!

TWO.
     Mike and I sat out on the back patio last night and had a drink. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous. Sunsets like that always make me think of my dad. Not like he was an artist or anything, but he loved nature and passed on that love to me. When I see something that beautiful I can't help but imagine dad had something to do with it. It was gorgeous!!

THREE.
     I'm starting to get some things done around the house. I bought a ton of stuff to make me feel better....until I check my savings account...and I think things are really coming along. Now to just get some landscaping done in the back yard and hang up the pictures I bought and all and it will really start feeling like home. Especially when we can get these kitchen cabinets painted so they aren't so hideous.

FOUR.
     I got to lay out for a few days this week. One thing about working all summer is that I wear a t-shirt to work every day. You can't get sun in a t-shirt. And...usually by the time I get home I'm too exhausted and sweaty to even think about going to lay out. I'm thinking about heading to the pool across the street today. It's free this summer and we haven't taken advantage of it. Plus, when I get hot it's much easier to just take a dip in the pool rather than spray myself with the hose. I really want one of those blow up pools for the back yard. Maybe when they go on sale at the end of the summer.
     One of the days laying out I found this little friend...isn't he adorbs??

FIVE.

     I started a new "sexy time" series this week. Actually I'm almost finished with it. The first one is called Losing It by Cora Carmack. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible - a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

     Yeah...it was good. I finished the first book in about 5 hours. haha. And don't worry, it's not as intense as 50 Shades. It actually brought me back to those high school feelings when I had my first love and it was the big debate about actually "doing it" or not "doing it". I mean don't get me wrong....I definitely felt a little thunder down under, but...it wasn't anything I felt dirty about reading.

     My next choice, however, I hear is pretty intense. I have been thinking about reading the Maya Banks "Breathless" series, but a friend told me she felt like she had to skip a bunch of parts because she didn't feel right reading it.

Anyone out there read it? And what do you think about it?

My "Summer Break" Bucket List

So it's officially my first day off this summer!!! I have two more weeks until we go back to school and I hope to get at least a few adventures in before the 20th. Mike and I have talked of a few fun suggestions rather than just sitting on our asses the whole time. I know...imagine us, actually planning some things!! Of course, everything always depends on Mike's work schedule, boo, but we'll see how much of it we can complete!!

* Beach Day!! (or 2 or 3...4?, maybe 5?) - We're less than 2 hours away from Ocean City, MD and we haven't been there once this summer. We need to fix that.

* Washington D.C. Trip - Mike and I like to go to D.C. every once in a while and just tour all the museums. Hell, most of the museums are free so it's a cheap trip. We usually take the metro in and bring lunch and it's so much fun!! We haven't done it in a while and I took my Horizons kids there this summer and it kind of jump started my interest again.

* Happy Hour in a new bar - We go to happy hour once a week. The only problem is it's always at the same place. Or 2 places. I have been watching Best Bars in America all day and it makes me want to try out some of the places around us. I've been doing some research so it's just a matter of making a decision.

* Cookout! - We just bought a patio set and all the cooking shows have awesome cookout ideas on lately and I have been really wanting to have a cookout. I really want to have it before I go back, but that means I have a total of 2 weekends, one of which Mike works, soooooo...

* Yard Sale! - You might remember about a month and a half ago when I helped Mom clean out her attic. I figured rather than throw all the stuff I'd never use again away, I might as well get some money for it. So...I'd really like to have a yard sale. It was supposed to be last month, but with Horizons and everything I never got the motivation to do it. Now that I have some time on my hands, I can plan and prep and do all that stuff that makes a yard sale successful.

So that's it. You know...not much to do in 2 weeks. But... at least I know I won't get it all done. I'm only making it as a plan. Fingers crossed!!! Wish me luck!!

Giveaway: #TrackTheTank

You ladies...and gentleboys, if you're out there, although this doesn't really apply to you...are really in for a treat!!! If you haven't heard about this yet, listen up betches!!

Tia from Hands On, Pants Off and Candra from Camo & Lipstick came up with this amazing idea to allow bloggers to share their motivation and fitness journey with their readers. And...instead of the typical link-up...they are bringing this "link-up" to life with a traveling tank top!!

Kind of like "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", the tank top will travel all over the United States and into the hands of 26 bloggers, including me (ahhhhhhh!!!). Each blogger will take a "selfie" with the tank, sign a special message, and then make a blog post about the motivation that helps them through each day.



I'm super stoked because some of the women that will receive this tank are my biggest motivators and I feel honored to be involved in something like this with them. I can't wait to read each of the participants blog posts and look forward to hearing what keeps them going every day.

So where does the giveaway come in?? At the end of it all, one lucky reader will have the opportunity to receive this tank. Don't worry, we promised not to sweat in it!!

Wanna see my tank selfie?!?! Here it is!!!

Sorry about the face....we all know I can't just smile in a picture. We went to the track on Saturday and since I spend almost every Saturday of my summer there anyway, I thought it was appropriate. Plus...its the track...and we're TRACKing the Tank!! Or something....yeah....

So far it's traveled from Candra in New Hampshire, to Erin in Maine, then to Ang in New Jersey, and finally to ME here in Maryland!!! And by the time it's done, it will have traveled to all of these bloggers:

Candra, Erin, Angela, Kristin, Jasmine, Valerie, Amy, Amy, Brittney, Lindsay, Aubrey Leigh, April, Crystal, Alma, Brandi, Rikki, Erin, Darci, Tracie, Erin, Bridget, Bailey, Nicole, Kati, Christine, and Tia

And now, on to my motivation!!

So...I'm going to be totally cliche' here and tell you that, my motivation is....my husband. I know, I know....but what chick doesn't want to look good for her husband?!? Yeah, yeah, I know what they say "you should do it for you!!" but the truth is, doing it for him is doing it for me.

Being naked in front of someone takes a lot of confidence, even if it is your husband. And not only being naked, but feeling pretty in general. For me, I don't feel beautiful unless I think others feel the same way about me.

Sounds sad, but we all have it. It's the same reason that girls dress for other girls. We want others to think we're pretty, or trendy...whatever look you're going for. Otherwise, we would only have a wardrobe of yoga pants and oversized t-shirts. You want someone else to think you're beautiful.

And for me, Mike thinking I'm beautiful, is the best feeling in the world.

So now...the tank heads to Jasmine in Virginia!! Follow along on our journey!

Let's Be Friends!!

Welcome to the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop!

A blog hop is a set time frame for current or aspiring bloggers to find new blogs and quality content. It is a great way to make new friends and find inspiration! It is also a fabulous way to promote your own blog and posts.

Dear Friends,

What a day to celebrate! This is the 76th week of the Let's Be Friends blog hop! Thanks for joining us on this special day. Chelsee and Tiffany are extremely delighted to see the way this hop has grown and love to see your faces each week! 

Join us every Tuesday at 7am (MST). This blog hop focuses on content. LINK UP YOUR FAVORITE POST from last week in this fun content-sharing blog hop! I love the idea of blog hopping, but I love the idea of reading posts and quality content on new blogs I've never been to even more. Instead of simply linking up your blog button, you are now able to link up your favorite post you recently wrote. Have a delicious recipe to share, DIY tutorial, or heartfelt post? Share it with us! All hosts and co-hosts put up some unique and fun content from the past week. Make sure to check them out. P.S.- you may still link up your blog button and blog name, but it is encouraged to link up your favorite post instead. You will get more page views and interest if you do so! Some of the most successful blog hops I have participate in focus on content rather than just exchanging follows. You never know who will become a loyal follower or pin that delicious new recipe you posted!

The BEST part of this blog hop? Each week there will be a WINNER! That's right, each week we will choose one lucky blog to feature from the previous week's hop. This hop receives thousands of page views every week, so your blog will have the chance to be center stage for free. You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win. Only those who link up a specific post are eligible to be featured! *You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win.

The last exciting change is that the co-host spots will now be available to all sponsors of  The Dwelling Tree or Southern Beauty Guide. If you are interested in co-hosting the blog hop, email Tiffany or Chelsee about sponsorship opportunities and how to co-host the weekly hop!

There are a couple of great giveaways going on right now at Southern Beauty Guide and The Dwelling Tree. Go check them out! :)

Let's Be Friend's Blog Hop Guidelines

1. Link up your favorite post from your week.

2. Follow your hosts and co-hosts.

3. Grab the button and post it on your blog so we can share the love.

4. Visit 3 other blogs and follow them along!

5. Tweet about this blog hop, using #letsbefriends

6. Pin the button on pinterest so we can spread the news! 

<a href="http://www.thedwellingtree.com/" target="_blank" title="The Dwelling Tree"><img alt="The Dwelling Tree" src="http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg553/tiffanycutcliff/BlogHopButtonFinal_southern_zps3ce2c2e1.png"/>

***Once a week, one blog will be chosen to be the featured blogger from the previous blog hop. 

Meet your hosts: 

The Dwelling Tree: Blog, Bloglovin'

Southern Beauty Guide: Blog, Bloglovin'

&

The co-hosts:

Elizabeth @ Nom Elizabeth

Jessica @ Living on Sweet Tea

Kathryn @ As Told By Kathryn

Taylor @Tattered to Taylored

 Becca @ Two Places at Once

***This weeks featured post from last week's hop:

Source

Satisfaction Through Christ 

Why Become a Foster Parent 

Hi everyone! This is Tiffany this week. Thank you all once again for continually linking up at our blog hop. It is such a fun time and I am so impressed each week with all the amazing posts. Please continue to link up an actual post instead of your blog. We want to keep reading your content and it makes it more fun to pick a winner! 

... onto the winner! 

As I scrolled through all the delicious posts my eyes caught this one. Perhaps it is because I have always been interested in fostering a child, but I wanted to read the post. What I would soon discover is that this little post would leave me almost in tears. Jennifer, the writer of this post, did a magnificent job of uncovering many of the stereotypes and assumptions of the kinds of homes foster kids come from, and gave me a new perspective and grace for all those involved in the foster system. This was a deep, heartfelt, and loving post. If you are considering fostering, adopting, or know a family going through the process, read this post. This is a very interesting and lovely perspective of the power of love. 

The blog is filled with inspirational and real posts about life. Bookmark it for posts that will lift up your day. I am so excited to have a new daily read! 

Follow Satisfaction Through Christ 

Keep posting awesome content! You make it so fun for us to read all your posts! If you can, please link up a specific post. It makes it easier for us to come and visit! 

*Remember YOU can be next weeks winner! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up