Ultimate Get Nothing Done Day...except thank God, again, for a great husband

I was having a really bad day today. Nothing in particular, just having a blah day. Well, maybe a few things in particular...trying to think of an activity for us in Santa Barbara for our anniversary- on a budget; my back and when this pain will go away and Alex's dumb boss. So there, a few things. I also woke up with an awful headache which is NO way to start a day! So I had been moping around the house, trying to motivate myself to finish various projects I have going (when do I not have a project going...?) and I ended up spending most of the time on the couch with my index finger and thumb firmly pressed against my temples. At 3pm Alex and I realized we hadn't eaten anything yet except toast and coffee, he had a chiropractic appointment so he said when he came back he would make us...lunch? He stopped at the store on the way home to get milk and we had Toy Story shaped mac and cheese...after lunch I could smell cake cooking and I asked Alex if he was making a cake and he said (in a little boy voice), "You're not supposed to smmeelllll!"....ok. So about an hour later I came around the hall corner and there he was standing with a frosted, double layer cake! He said,"You're always making me things so I thought I would try to make you something." ....awwww! So we had cake for dinner and watched Jeopardy. And he even washed all the dishes! He was so proud for his efforts and I was even more proud. Knowing that he even just thought about it while he was at the store makes me get a lump in my throat. He asks me all the time, "what can I do for you?" when i am feeling bad or when my back is hurting me and I always say, I don't know or nothing, I'm fine and this time he just did something on his own and that tiny little thing meant so much. He kept saying, "Sorry it's not perfect." All I could think was, even if it didn't bake all the way through I still would have loved it. He really did do a great job! The fact that it was a double layer really impressed me! haha. I love him so  much and today was just one of many days I know I will remember in my mental notebook. When we're old and gray, today will mean as much to me then as it did today, probably more. As my dad would say, it's one that I will bottle up and want to open up again and again.

Pizza Night

One of our favorite things to make is pizza on the grill. Bonus: it doesn't heat up the kitchen! My favorite toppings are fresh mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil. Alex loves pepperoni, cheese, bacon, cheese and pepperoni. I make the pizza dough from scratch because it is yummy, more pliable than frozen or any store bought I've tried and super easy with this recipe from Martha Stewart's, Everyday Food- July/August issue! 


Basic Grilled Pizza Dough
makes 1 pound dough or four 10-inch pizzas
Ingredients:
salt and pepper
1 tsp. sugar
1 packet (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil, plus more for bowl and brushing
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, plus more for work surface (I tried using whole wheat flour here and did not come out as good as when I used regular flour)

1. Pour 1 cup warm water into a medium bowl; add sugar and sprinkle with yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

2.Whisk in oil and 1 tsp salt into yeast mixture. Add flour and stir with a wooden spoon until liquid is incorporated (dough will appear dry). Turn out onto a floured work surface. Knead until dough comes together in an elastic ball. Transfer to an oiled medium bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; set in a warm, draft-free place until dough has doubled in size, about 45 minutes (I put the bowl in the oven (not on) to keep it away from drafts, it seems to work perfect). Punch dough down and place back in bowl, in a draft free palce for another 30 minutes.

3. Once dough has reached its final size, turn dough out onto floured surface. Divide into four equal pieces, or two (depending on the size of your grill). Roll out dough and brush one side with olive oil.

 While rolling out the dough, start grill and heat on medium. Take dough to grill and place oiled side down. Brush other side with olive oil.

Dough will start to bubble while it cooks, we just keep checking the bottom with a large metal spatula until it reaches  your desired crispiness :)

Once the dough is mostly cooked/crispy turn off the flame and top your pizza with sauce (see recipe below) and desired toppings. Close the lid and let the cheese melt.

If you desire bell peppers, mushrooms or things of that nature I would suggest sauteing them in a pan or grilling them separate to cook them through before adding to pizza. It takes about 5-7 minutes for the cheeses to melt and for the pizza to be ready to eat.


















Sauce- this is just a quick light tomato sauce, hope you try it an enjoy it!

For 4 10-inch pizzas I blend (in blender or food processor) 1 28 oz. can of diced or whole tomatoes with about 7-8 cloves of garlic, (I love garlic, so if your not a fan use less and just add more to taste) salt and pepper. I pour that into a saute pan with about 1 tsp. of extra virgin olive oil and cook for about 20 minutes. I usually do this while the dough is rising. After it cooks I let it cool down and then ladle it onto the crusts after they are cooked on the grill.

It's a dirty job, but someone has got to do it...

So we have an old school wall unit air condition in our living room that sticks out on our patio and leaks water while it runs. I also have a small little trash can close to it. Well, I didn't realize that for the past few days the air conditioner had been leaking the water into the trash can (filled with trash). Not bad trash, just plant clippings, dryer fuzz and bits of paper...I just noticed the water in the can yesterday so I asked Alex if he could empty it for me. The screen door opened and I heard a gagging sound. Not good. The smell from that trash can was so awful! I wouldn't have been able to do it myself. He used some old (well, now they're old) BBQ tongs to remove the content first and then he took it outside to dump the swap water. He bleached the little can, took out the trash and made it all smell better. Thank God for husbands. Someone has to do the gross jobs...

Summer Read

                                   This is an amazing book. The author is a man but by reading the book you would NEVER guess. A must read.

Love and Marriage

So we are coming up on our 1 year anniversary ALREADY!!!! I can't believe how fast the time has flown. So much has happened the last year or so...I will try to quickly fill you in...
First of all, I no longer work for Target. Last March I came down with a mystery back pain that no one could seem to figure out or cure. I have had test after test, different medications, many doctor appointments and MANY sleepless worrisome nights. I still have not 100% figured out my diagnosis but it is currently at

Costochondritis an inflammation of rib muscle or the cartilage connecting a rib. it is extremely painful most of the time, I describe the pain as being that initial feeling of tightness in the chest when you get the wind knocked out of you, but all around the right side of my chest (basically my right rib cage). So I am medicated most of the day to help the pain although I have not been able to work because of the strength of the pain medicine and my in-ability to be in one position for too long. It has definitely been a stress on Alex and I's first year of marriage. He has had to be the only provider for the last few months since my benefits and state disability ran out. I I am currently awaiting a decision from Social Security Disability and any little bit would totally help. This has also taken a toll on my mental health as I used to be very active, loved to travel and have fun. Now, walking for too long can put my back into unbearable pain so my outings are limited. I am SO appreciative of my amazing husband for all he has been doing for us through this difficult time. He works full time for Starbucks as an assistant manager and also goes to school full time at ITT Tech here in San Dimas. To show my appreciation for him I try my best to make a happy home for him. I love to cook and be crafty so I am always thinking of ways that I can brighten his long days or give him something special when he comes home. Because we are living on limited means right now, I have become the QUEEN BEE of coupons! I look forward to Wednesday afternoon mail for the grocery ads to plan our weekly meals. I also take full advantage of three local farmers markets throughout the week. I keep myself busy by learning to cook new things and doing paper crafts. I am trying to enjoy the bright-side of not working--- being a loving wife and making a happy home for my husband but I do wish I could take a little stress off of Alex from a financial standpoint. We still have our little SnickerBaby, who definitely keeps me company on Alex's long days. She is the sweetest pup ever and we love her to death. In March of this past year we actually adopted a Queensland Heeler pup from the Inland Valley Humane Society in Pomona but unfortunately had to take her back four days later and sadly had to have her put down due to parvo-virus. It was extremely sad for Alex and I. We had fallen in love with her in that short time and it broke our hearts to part with her. We keep a picture of her on our bookshelf, because she was part of our family, even if it was just for a few days and we will always remember her. Today, Alex and I are enjoying our afternoon together. He unfortunately hurt his back last week so I am nursing my hunny-bunny back to health. He is equipped with movies, video games, pistachios, trail mix, IcyHot and beer. He's definitely earned a few couch potato days. I will be posting some pictures of projects I am working on or great recipes I find, any household tips I find useful (or funny) and anything else I think newbie wives or wives-to-be may like to know. Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday! Bel.