What a weekend. I woke up feeling refreshed and *ready* to go this week. I love that feeling! Here's what I was up to this weekend:
Friday: We had beer battered chicken wings and locally brewed beer at one of our favorite neighborhood spots. I'm not going to lie. At 9 p.m. I decided I want to *sleep* so we went home, played a game and went to bed. I also made sangria (recipe and pics to come!). Mmmm!
Saturday: I was one of those crazies that woke up at 6 a.m. to go to Old Navy. The $1 flip flop just sounded like something I should attend. I'm not desperate for cheap flops, but I just felt like I *had* to be there. There were easily 100 women in line...each with their story about why they needed cheap flip flops. One girl was getting married and needed favors (I'm assuming beach wedding), another woman needed twenty pairs for her children and the many foster kids she watches for a few weeks at a time. Needless to say I was about 50th in line and when the doors opened it was a MADHOUSE. I survived and made it out with five cute pairs. If I had been a tad bit earlier I would have really got awesome pairs, but I got good ones. I really wanted these silver ones... but they only cost $3.50 so it's not like I can't *buy* them full price when they restock. Either way, it's just funny the lengths people will go for something that costs a dollar. =)
The rest of the day was spent at Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island. The weather was ideal and the water was perfect. There were stingrays *everywhere* though -- the park ranger warned us that five people had already been stung that day! Ick! I definitely was more paranoid about going in the water after that. You would think that I would be used to sting rays and jelly fish since I grew up practically in the ocean... but it still freaks me out.
For some reason I decided to start geocaching that day. I had heard about this forever ago, but I kind of forgot about it. It's basically a GPS treasure hunting type "game." There are literally tons near my house so I figured we should give a try. Using the iPhone app on my phone, we found our first one in the mailbox of a local business when we were at the bar. It was kind of neat. It's definitely a cheap way to pass the time.
Sunday: I shopped *all* day. Target, Payless for their BOGO sale (work shoes were needed!) and CVS. I spent $18 at CVS and got $16 in extra bucks back. I love sales like that! :)
I also cooked -- which is rare. I made some yummy tequila shrimp from a recipe that I saw on Hungry Girl's site. It was amazing!
Ingredients:- 8 oz. raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed
- 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 3 tbsp. (1 1/2 oz. or 1 shot) tequila
- 2 tbsp. lime juice
- 2 tbsp. coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 1/4 tsp. chili powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Directions:
Bring a large pan sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook until onion is slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Carefully add tequila to the pan and stir. (It's unlikely it will flare up, but be cautious, just in case.) Cover the pan and let simmer for 5 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for about 3 minutes, until shrimp are nearly opaque. Add tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, and salt, and mix well. Stirring occasionally, cook until tomatoes have softened and shrimp are cooked through, about 2 minutes.
I did not start a fire when cooking with alcohol and I actually made something that tasted good. I am *trying* to "learn to cook" even though it's just reading instructions.
Here's to a good week!
Yes, I own Le Creuset and I'm loving every minute of it. I ended up purchasing the 2-Quart Pitcher and the Stoneware 10.5" x 7" Baking Dish in Cherry with a 7" x 5" Bonus Dish. And, lucky me, but these particular items had free shipping! Score!
Recipe and picture to come as part of my new feature -- Stay In Saturdays!
