Finish Line!

Do you ever get to the end of your week and feel like you've just completed a race? That's the kind of week it's been around here. Between work, traveling for work, and a sick husband who is so busy I've only seen him for a few hours, I am very glad it's Friday.

Especially because I get to see this girl today:

Nicole and I met in college. She was my little sister in our sorority eight years ago. That seems like a very long time. This is what we looked like then:

When I was almost done with college, I turned twenty-one. And my most long-time friend came to celebrate:

Chad and I met when we were five and went to school together until we left for college. And, do you see that tan blond in the background above? That's Nicole. That was the night they met. And from that night on, they were Chad & Nicole:

Two and a half short years later, one day after Hugh and I got engaged (sorry about that, Chad), Chad popped the question. Which means Nicole and I got to plan our weddings together:

Suffice to say, it was a very fun and happy sixteen months. There were 5:30pm phone calls every day on my way home from work. There were long weekend conference calls about dresses and flowers and food and vendors. As Nicole said in her Matron of Honor (or Lady of Honor, as she named herself) toast, "Everyone should get to plan a wedding with their best friend." Because, let's be honest, you're going to need someone to help you calm down when you are moments away from that big walk down the aisle:

So alike (and silly) at times that Hugh calls us the Ding Dong Sisters, Nicole and I are two peas in a pod. And we love a good girls' weekend:


I hope your weekend is full of happy toasts, friends. Can't wait to see you, N (and Chad!)!

See You Next Week, Weekend.

It was a lovely weekend in the White Hot household. Let's have a photo recap:

I die from his sweetness. PS See his healing wound? Poor baby!

Restocked produce basket, post-farmer's market Saturday

Thank you note writing while Hugh skyped with his Dad in Dubai in the background. PS See my gorgeous mixer?!

Amazing how quickly they can go from this:

To this:

Sunday dinner, thanks to Hugh. Seared Duck Breast, Roasted Peaches, and Cold Sesame Noodles.

And then it was Monday. Hope you enjoyed yours!

Hooray!

When he's home basically all summer long, these are some of the things you forget about having a husband in med school:

• He uses the dry erase board as a study tool, so I frequently have to go into the office, open the windows and turn on the fan to ensure that my only husband doesn't die from toxic fume exposure.
• The studying nights can be lonely for the non-studying wife. However, as of Friday morning, my house is clean, the laundry is done, and my meal plan for next week is ready, so we can agree I have been channeling said loneliness into productivity.
• Hugh never eats during the school week. Like, doesn't eat breakfast, rarely eats lunch, just eats dinner. At which point I have usually had two meals and two snacks when we sit down together. I have accepted the fact that I will never understand this trait. Ever.
• The days leading up to a test, Hugh gets up at 4am. This means I have to get up with the dog child when he awakens. Shoot.

But, there is one good thing I had forgotten:

• How completely wonderful the post-test weekends feel!

Hugh's first test for the year is over! I am so.excited. I'm frantically wrapping up my work for the day, signing off, and preparing to soak up my time with him.

A true task master to himself, Hugh came home and changed clothes to go mow the yard. But when he's finished, you'd better believe we will be celebrating and relaxing for the duration of the weekend.

Enjoy your weekend, friends. I hope you have something to celebrate!

Monday Funday

Our sweet puppy babe is home safe and sound. His procedures have left him more down and out than we expected, so I've spent the afternoon on the couch giving him my undivided attention while he sleeps it off. He should be up and around tomorrow and back to his old self by the end of the week. In the meantime, we'll be providing lots of naps and pets and wet food.

This is what we've eaten the last few days and what's on the plan for the rest of the week:

Garden bounty.

Pork Meatball Bahn Mi. We have made these many times and they are amazing. Make them immediately.

Carne Asada. Loosely based on this (and the pseudo-dietitian in me loves this blog).

Turkey Sausage Sandwiches with Peppers (from the garden) and Onions

White Bean Enchiladas

Chicken Caesar Salad Pitas

PS Even though Henry was soaking up the return of his only child status today, I know he was secretly missing Fletcher. Some brotherly love for you (from this weekend):

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me.

If I could keep the money I have spent on my sweet dog child in 2010 alone...

Last night, Fletcher woke up in a pool of his own blood. After an examination (we consider ourselves amateur veterinarians at this point) and a minor freakout on my part, we thought he bit his lip, cleaned him up, and we all went to sleep.

This morning, something didn't seem right as he was drooling nonstop (Fletcher is not a drooler, thank god). Further examination revealed that he had broken his canine off. That's right: completely off, down to the root. In his sleep.

An early morning trip to the vet confirmed he'll need to be back first thing Monday morning to have it pulled (and to be microchipped, have his teeth cleaned, and have a scar on his back fixed while he's sedated). The vet said the tooth was probably already cracked and he just chomped down too hard during one of his dog dreams.

I, of course, am traumatized. Fortunately, Fletcher is totally fine. He is pain free, as crazy as ever, and happy to be on a diet of wet food until he's all healed up.

I say it all the time, but it is a good thing he's cute:

Ah, Brothers.

Speaking of birthdays, five years and seven days after I was born, this bundle of joy made his way into the world (screaming bloody murder, I'd like to note):

My baby brother, William, is twenty-two today. You might think this means he is not a baby anymore, which seems impossible as just yesterday we were doing this:

William, or Dee, as my Mom and I call him for reasons unknown, was a very welcome addition to our little family per my recollection. If you ask my Mom, she says, "Thank goodness he was a boy." Perhaps she thinks I couldn't handle sharing my daughter spotlight.

Regardless, William simply embodies joie de vivre. He is the happiest, friendliest, silliest boy you'll ever meet. He tells hilarious jokes (and then, if you laugh, he tells them over and over and over again). What he lacks in patience (a family trait if there ever was one), he makes up for in his ability to entertain. He has a ridiculously good memory and loves to start stories with, "Remember when..."

Our childhood is replete with happy stories and imaginative theatrics, as well as our share of sibling disagreements. Though I may have been bossy and often balked at sharing the attention, my life is so much better because of him. He's the kind of kid that makes you wish everyone could have a brother.

And now he's all grown up:


But to me, he will always be this kiddo:

My favorite picture of William. Ever.

Happy Birthday, Dee. I am so glad you were born.

Twenty-Seven

Well, once again the week seems to be getting away from me. Goal for the twenty-seventh year: improve time management skills. So let's have a birthday recap before it's all a distant memory.

The birthday was a particularly great one. We started it off with coffee in bed, sweet cards, and some amazing gifts (in nickel pearl).

Then there was the cake. Hugh baked me a birthday cake. From scratch. I gave it a name: Vanilla Bean Cake with Lemon Curd, Fresh Strawberries, and Vanilla Whipped Cream. This is what it looked like:

Birthday Girl and my dog shadow.

Then we went to a delightful birthday lunch, complete with Bellinis. Then we did a little birthday shopping. And then, Hugh took me here for dinner. And my life was complete. The food was amazing. The drinks were amazing. We had the best time eating and talking and toasting.

And this is what we drank:

• World's Best Margarita. Literally.
• Whiskey Smash: Bourbon, Gum Syrup, Lemon, Mint
• Havana Hotel: Rum, Lime, Pineapple Gum Syrup, Grand Marnier
• Sauvignon Blanc: The Crossings, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2009 (exactly what you want from NZ)
• Corvina, etc.: L'Arco, Rosso, Italy, 2004 (Burgundy befriended Valpolicella)

And this is what we ate:

• Sourdough Bread with Butter
• Marinated Anchovies with Oranges, Fennel, and Olives
• Shaved Benton's Country Ham with Grilled Sourdough Bread, Roasted Figs, and Balsamic Reduction
• Watermelon Salad with Watermelon, Pickled Watermelon Rind, Arugula, Serrano Vinaigrette, and Feta
• Field Pea Soup with Field Peas, Collard Greens, Chive Cream, Country Ham Hocks
• CAB Eye of Rib Eye with Lyonnaise Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Rosemary Jus, and Arugula
• Triple Tail Bass with Red Mule Grits, Collard Greens, Pot Liquor Jus, and Pickled Okra and Cucumber Salad
• Chocolate Nemesis Cake with Roasted Peanuts, Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Brûléed Bananas

And then I died from complete and utter satisfaction.

And we didn't take any pictures of the food. Shoot.

It was just a perfect day and a lovely end to a lovely summer. Husband of mine, you are a peach:

Hey, Second Year

If he has to go back to school, at least he looks handsome doing it:

The main intent of this post is to show the difference between Fletcher on the first day of second year and the first day of first year:

Looking at these side by side just hurts my heart. Where does the time go?

PS Don't you love Hugh's new bag? This was his happy end-of-research prize.

And Just Like That...

...summer is over at the White Hot household.

Hugh is back to school today and I am blue. We'll be back in the swing of it in no time, but it's hard to come back to reality after such a lovely three months of having him around all the time.

I'll be back later with the weekly meal plan, a birthday recap, and some other fun posts. For now, I'm going to do a little bit of pouting.

Fletcher misses him already:

Cheese!

A quick stop in from the birthday/end of summer celebration to show off one of my favorite birthday gifts. My Momma spoils me so.

These are the first three photos taken (on auto, for the moment):

I love my sweet boys. And I'm hooked on this new camera!

Well, Hello There, Late Twenties.

Today I am twenty-seven.

I've never been one to stress about aging. I'm more in the camp of maximizing the celebration. To me birthdays are champagne, party dresses, and cake with candles. What's better than that?

Five!

I have a feeling this year will be a good one. I'll be back next week with a recap and some plans for the the twelve months ahead.

In the meantime, a little bird told me my sweet Hugh baked me a delicious birthday cake. I'll have a piece for you!

Happy Week!

It is a happy week at the White Hot Household.

Hugh finished his summer research today and we are both off for the rest of the week.

These next four days promise to be a delight because: a) school starts on Monday so we are making the most out of the minutes together and b) Friday is my birthday!

I love my birthday. It is in my top four days of the year (along with Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Hugh's Birthday). Hugh always makes sure I feel like the world's most loved girl on August sixth, so I can't wait.

Posting might be light, but I'll be back next week with plenty of posts and free time on my hands.

Hope you're week is happy too!

PS I received my first birthday present on Monday. M Cubed gave me a blown-up, framed copy of this photo (before they fed me delicious tacos for dinner):

It was the perfect gift because I love that face, I love this photo, and I have a similar framed photo of Henry Parker so now they're like a matched pair. I love those friends of mine; they spoil me so.