Grilled Chicken with Cucumber Peach Salsa

      I was recently inspired to find dishes inspired by Spring and the gorgeous weather we've been having. As such I took to Pinterest like a duck takes to water and found just that!   One such recipe was Grilled Chicken with Cucumber Peach Salsa.  The recipe comes from Pocket Change Gourmet and the complete recipe can be found HERE.  As I am currently visiting


 family in Colorado it seemed a  perfect opportunity to try the recipe out. My brother the wonder chef went to work preparing and grilling and the end result was nothing less than scrumptious.  He added grilled Asparagus to complete the meal and topped it off with a delicious Mojito.  For desert we had mini Angel Food Cakes with fresh Strawberries, Peaches and Whipped Cream. It was a

perfect meal and a great evening spent with my family! Leave a comment with your thoughts on this recipe! Would you change anything?

Amaretto Sours

I have mentioned in the past that while I am not the worst cook in the world my younger brother Adam is an extraordinary chef. He definitely got the cooking gene, and I recently got to experience his expertise yet again. My family was in Houston visiting some friends and family
 before a wedding later in the week. My family all love to eat good food and drink good drinks. Adam is no exception and so to compliment a yummy Cheesy Chicken Dinner (recipe hopefully coming soon) he made the BEST Amaretto Sours known to taste buds. He graciously shared the recipe and so I thought I would share with you here in the blogosphere!! Here is a picture and the recipe

Adam's Amaretto Sours
1 Part Disaronno
1 Tbsp sugar
Juice of 2 Lemon Wedges
Mix in shaker with ice
Strain over Ice
Garnish with a cherry and add a splash of maraschino cherry juice

Serving Size - the recipe makes one individual drink.

ENJOY!!!!

Pierced and Fierce

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As a little girl in elementary school I wanted nothing more than to have my ears pierced. To me it seemed a right of passage that every girl had taken but me.  I begged and pleaded my mom to let me get them done and she begged and pleaded with me to stop bugging her about it as it was NOT going to happen.  Not being one to give up quite that easily I kept at it in the hopes that eventually I would wear her down. Finally towards the end of my 5th grade year my mom and I struck a deal.  I had a huge final project due about the 50 United States and although I was working on it what happened next caused me to plunge in to what would be weeks of research and an eventual pride that only a 5th grader can
 know.  My mom said that if I got an A on the
project I could get my ears pierced over the
summer while on vacation in Houston
visiting family. Talk about motivation!! That
was all I needed to hear and as I mentioned, it sent me spiraling in to books learning and creating the perfect portfolio of all the states; from their flower to their flag it had it all! I waited anxiously to get my grade back and to discover the fate of my poor virgin ears.  Needless to say I totally aced the project. I was ecstatic and that summer I did indeed get my ears pierced. Here I am nervously excited holding my older cousin Katie's bear (the same one she held when she was in my predicament).  I finally passed from little girl to young woman and I went to school the next fall feeling as proud as a geeky 6th grader can.




For More Way Back When-sday fun visit Katie at The Hills Country

Lights Off Lights On

       Moving is perhaps the most arduous tedious and (insert big painful word here) experience one goes though in this life...and that is WITHOUT kids (I hereby bestow sainthood on my parents for moving my brothers and I relatively successfully more than once).  When Michael and I decided to move from our tiny apartment in to a house with a yard I had no idea it would be so traumatic Perhaps I am being a bit dramatic but never the less... It's my blog and I can whine if I want to!
      It began shortly after our wedding in September. We knew our lease on the apartment was up in Mid February and with 2 fur babies and a desire for more space in general we decided to try and find a reasonably priced house to rent (We are SO not financially ready for a mortgage). We looked in Lubbock and after NO success we ventured further out of town.  We knew we didn't want to go to far but we also wanted to be far enough to make it feel like a legitimate change. After months of searching we finally found a little rundown house which was being closed on in a week by the owner who then agreed to rent to us. Even better? He was already planning to fix it up to be move in ready (minus appliances and mini-blinds).  So there it was - a three bedroom two bath house with a yard for the same price that we were paying for our one bed one bath apartment.  Not a bad deal right?  Now all that was left was the actual move...which proved to be a slightly larger challenge ending in a total meltdown on my part (Thanks to Michael for pulling me back up after me emotional upheaval).
       In theory moving is relatively simple: find new place, pack old place and move in to new place.  In actuality there are about 1000 little details that go in to those few simple steps.  From change of address to transferring utilities and the costs of packing tape it is a nightmare I don't wish on my worst enemy (ok...maybe my VERY worst enemy).  I am not a newbie to moving - or so I thought. I guess I have had it easy in the past (living in a dorm has it's advantages i suppose).  In any respect I was blown away by the amount of STUFF Michael and I had accumulated over the past couple of years (not to mention the fur babies)!
     This is where the fun ends... now I can handle a few (TONS) of boxes. I can EVEN handle a couple of nights at my gracious Mother-In-Law's house while waiting for the house to be finished. What I CAN'T handle is the power being shut off a day early and literally having to finish packing in the dark, waiting a week (after the scheduled date) for internet and being so stressed I forgot my wonderful bird house treasure. Each of these things seperately I probably could have handled. Put them together and I broke down. Literally...I had a complete meltdown with tears and all. I don't know why I had such a reaction (I am really quite sane I swear...) but for whatever reason I could not handle all the turmoil.   Thankfully Michael kept his cool and pulled me out of my funk.
      In the end we moved in on Friday February 17th and we got internet and got to unpack with light. I speak for all of the Martinez Clan when I say that moving is the best thing we could have done (even if the process was a nightmare).  We cannot wait to have guest stay in the new guest bedroom and I can't wait to finally have a craft area (to be shared with Michael's "Man Cave"). I look forward to many years here (I refuse to move again for at least 2 years!) and I can't wait to start all the projects on my list! The place is not picture worthy quite yet but I promise to post pics soon!!

We're Goin' on a Bear Hunt

         First off I apologize for not keeping up with this series the last couple of weeks, but I am back and ready to continue the trip down memory lane!  For this week's Way Back When-sday I thought I'd take you  back to my time as a Girl Scout.  I spent many years peddling cookies and suffering through camping trips.  Being in Girl Scouts taught me a lot and I am grateful for my time in the woods (it taught me I am NOT cut out for camping) and I am grateful for the friendships. Will I force my child to participate in this age old tradition of Smore's and cheesy campfire songs? Time will only tell. 

Luck of the Irish

                  I am a newly married woman with (thankfully) a very understanding husband.   The other day I was spending the day cleaning and in a state of delusion I somehow put my engagement and wedding rings in my back pocket. This is out of character for me and I still don't know why i did it, but never the less I did. Later that evening my hubby and I decided to curl up with some movies and snacks so went to the grocery store to pick up the necessary accouterments.    Now  while running out the door I put my phone in my back pocket (this IS in character for me) and off we went without a second thought.  While waiting in line my phone started to ring so  I grabbed my phone out of my pocket, took the call and then replaced the phone without  thinking.   We returned home with our spoils (cheese-its and sweet tea) and sat down to watch the movie.   Afterwards I happened to glance down at my hand and horror of horrors my rings were not on that most precious of fingers. I freaked out and checked my pockets. My engagement ring was still in my back pocket but my wedding band was no where to be found.  After up heaving the entire living room I remembered the grocery store incident and my heart sunk. In tears I called the grocery store with little hope that someone had turned it in. An understanding concierge said he would look in the safe and to please hold. I said I would wait and wait I did. a few lifetimes (erhm...minutes) later a cheery teenage employee asked me to describe the ring. I explained in between sobs what it looked like and she asked me to hold yet again ( now they were just toying with me - did they have it or not?!) She came back on a minute later and said that yes someone had indeed turned it in!!!!!! Astonished and amazed I said I would be right down to claim it! I jumped in our car and raced to retrieve the lost ring. I joyously claimed my wedding band and put in its rightful place on my finger. Now if that is not luck I don't now what is!  Even luckier? Michael just laughed and said he knew getting the insurance on the ring was a good idea! Thank goodness for being Irish (and wonderful men)! When was the last time luck was on YOUR side?! 

A Rose By Any Other Name

           I have a love/hate relationship with the show The Bachelor/Bachelorette . It is like a train wreck that you can't take your eyes off of. At the risk of offending a majority of American women, I find the show predictable, slightly pedantic and  morosely over-scripted.  That being said...I watch it anyway. Why? I don't honestly know...

      Anyway...Kat over at Momma's Losin It posed the following question. "On The Bachelor a rose is given to the women he could really see himself spending the rest of his life with. What six things in your life would you like to give a rose to and why?"  As I just finished watching the latest episode of The Bachelorette I figured I was obligated to respond, so here it is - my six roses...


1. My first rose would mot assuredly go to my hubby! He is without a doubt the one person I want to spend the rest of my life with.  


2. My second rose would go to my family as i would certainly not want to go through life without them either.  


3. My third rose would go to Burt's Bee's rejuvenating lip balm. This stuff is pure magic. This is tied with my JASON brand lotion which is the only natural lotion I have been able to find to help with my eczema.


4. My fourth rose...hmmm...this is a toughie, but I think I will give this rose to cupcakes. More specifically, pink champagne cupcakes from CAKE (which is sadly no longer a walk across the street). 


5. My fifth rose will go to this blog as it is a huge part of my life and not something I would want to do without.  


6. My sixth and final rose.  I had to think long and hard about this one.  After careful consideration I decided to give my final rose to my fur babies Molly and Bruce! Life would certainly not be the same without those two crazy animals. 


So there you have it! My six roses! To those things in my life which didn't make the list, don't worry, I wont make you say your goodbye's and leave in a stretch limo!  Which things in your life would you give your six roses too?