Ben & Katie's Wedding

This weekend, we went to the wedding of our friends Ben and Katie Schmidt. It was beautiful and we had so much fun! The reception was at an art gallery, perfect with hors d'oeuvres and raspberry-lemonade fountains. We also had so much fun catching up with old friends - it was almost like a mini college reunion!

.

I have to admit, we had a rough start to the night. I not only underestimated how long it would take us to get there and rushed in right before the wedding party (I think the processional music had already started!), but forgot the wedding present and our camera was low on batteries. Thankfully, Kyle was a hero and rushed home before the reception to get the gift...and the camera charger. And, I'm told at least 10 people came into the ceremony after us even (phew)!

Here are just a few snapshots of the night.

.

Drew, Kyle, and Mark - aka the three musketeers!

Abby, Jess, and I.

Mark and Kelly.

Abby and Andy (the happy couple is still happy! I'm so proud!)

Nate & Natalie.

Summer Projects

I've been feeling motivated lately to decorate the outside of my house! This is something I haven't done much of in the past. I even had my first experience with potting flowers! I have killed pretty much every live plant I've tried to grow inside, so I asked the guy at the flower-mart to find me something that I can't kill! He suggested geraniums (I chose white) for the sun and impatiens (I chose red) for the shade. He said I should water them almost every day. Oh...maybe that's the secret!

Before:

After:

It's fun to see what a little bit of work can do! And we feel so patriotic with our American flag. Our backyard hill is over-grown with beautiful wild flowers. I thought they deserved a picture as well. I am in the process of painting our Adirondack chairs - another summer project I can soon check off my list!

Tonya's Baby Shower

Erica and I co-hosted a baby shower for Tonya last night! It was so much fun to relax with the girls, talk about baby stuff, and see some old friends as well. We met at the restaurant Enjoy! in Apple Valley. It was a beautiful place for a shower! Erica made the cutest party-favors (pictured) with Reese's Pieces. I am eating them right now, in fact!

Tonya.

Party-favors.

Erica, me, and Beth.

Ranya, Tracy, and Tonya.

Abbey, Amanda, Molly, and Kim.

Abby and Kristi.

The girls!

Cowboy Salsa

Amanda just posted this recipe on her blog, and since it's one of my favorite appetizers, I thought I would post it as well for those of you that don't know her (thanks, Amanda)! She always serves it with Tostitos scoops.

1 Can of black-eyed peas (thoroughly rinsed)

1 Can of Corn niblets (drained)

2/3 c. chopped cilantro

2/3 c. chopped green onion

1 c. chopped tomato

2 c. cubed avocado

Dressing:

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

3/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp cumin

Mix ingredients in large bowl, adding dressing last and mix well. Chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving.

Fun at the Park

We met our friends from our young marrieds small group at the park on Monday night! It was a beautiful summer night, which makes me actually like living in Minnesota again.

We had dinner, just hung out, and played volleyball. Everyone brought really good food, too -- from huge burgers to broccoli salad, taco salad, cowboy salsa, watermelon, and yummy desserts. Perfect summer food! We have some excellent cooks in the group. Which reminds me - we are in the process of putting together a cookbook. Gosh, I must be getting old!!!

Here are some pictures from our night:

The guys.

The girls.

Six games of volleyball.

Eating.

More people eating.

Micah (Erica's baby), Ranya, me, Erica, and Amanda.

Carrie, Amber, Beth, and Bri.

Andrea, Ranya, and Danielle (sorry Traci and Kristi - I missed you!).

If only summer could last forever!

Cheap Date

My husband and I discovered a super cheap date idea! We decided to do dinner and a movie Sunday night - on a budget!

We ordered a pizza to go from Cici's Pizza in Eagan. This is a new pizza place that we happened to have a coupon for a large 1-topping pizza for $3.99. However, we discovered that the regular price without a coupon is only $4.99. No kidding!
Pizza = $4.25 (with tax).

Then, we went online to redbox where we picked out a movie to rent. We "reserved" it online, then went to a McDonald's to pick up the movie (vending-machine style) and also picked up the pizza. At redbox, movies are only $1 per night. So if you return it the next day, it's a steal! Movie = $1.07 (with tax).

The pizza was actually really good - and big, especially or the price (we didn't even finish it). The grand total of our dinner-and-a-movie date?
$5.32! Plus leftovers!

...the levee came down, and the floods came up...

You've probably heard about the floods in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last week, causing 24,000 people to evacuate their homes. Many friends have asked me if anyone in our families have been affected. My grandmother and uncle's house actually flooded up to the second story roof. They live pretty close to the Cedar River in the house that my mom grew up in.

When my aunt came to pick my grandma up last week (the water was flooding the basement), she left in her slippers because she thought she was coming right back. Little did she know she wouldn't be back for a week, and that her house would never be the same. My grandmother has been pretty upset, as anyone would, that she has literally lost everything.

No one has been able to go back to the house until today, and they found it a disaster. The garage collapsed and there is thick black mold on everything. The refrigerator even floated across the kitchen. I’m told that the smell alone in the whole area is absolutely disgusting (and Cedar Rapids already smelled bad!). Hard to imagine. The house will need to be torn down.

My uncle has been staying at a local motel, and my grandma has been living with my aunt near Cedar Rapids. Thankfully, they just found out that they do have flood insurance, which is a huge answer to prayer because they originally thought that they did not. You can be praying that they can find a new place to live and can transition smoothly.

Pad Thai

I just love Pad Thai, a popular Thai food that is basically a stir-fried noodle dish with shrimp, peanuts, cilantro, and lots of other things! I first tried it years ago with Abby who introduced it to me, and my love of Thai food started then and there!

I have struggled to find the perfect recipe for this, until now. I made it tonight and adapted a few versions of the recipes that I found online. To my amazement, it turned out exactly like I remember...from the streets of Bangkok! My version is pictured above.

The recipe sounds a little complex, but it's actually pretty easy. I think I will be making this regularly. If you decide to try this recipe, make sure to get the proportions of noodles and sauce right - that can make a big difference in the flavor if you have too many noodles and not enough sauce. The spice level can be easily adjusted to fit individual tastes.

Ingredients:

2 t oil

3 green onions, chopped (reserve 3 T for topping)

1 t minced garlic

2 eggs, beaten and lightly salted

1/2 pound shrimp, medium or large

7 oz rice sticks or rice noodles, cooked according to package directions (or soak in very hot water until cooked but not mushy)

2 cups bean sprouts (1/2 cup reserved fresh for topping)

salt

Sauce (mixed together in bowl):

1/4 c fish sauce

1/3 c sugar

2 T tamarind juice (found in Asian aisle, in juice can)

1 T lime juice

1 t oil

1 t paprika (for color)

Toppings:

1/2 c chopped cilantro

3/4 cup peanuts, chopped small (food processor works well)

reserved bean sprouts and green onions

1 lime, cut into wedges

red pepper flakes (to taste - as desired)

Directions:

Heat wok/skillet to medium-high; add first 3 ingredients and cook about 1 minute. Remove from heat onto plate, and add eggs to wok; scramble then add to plate.

Lightly oil the wok and cook shrimp almost through; add rice noodles and 1 1/2 cups bean sprouts, then cook for about 3 minutes. Add ingredients that are set aside on the plate, along with the sauce and half of the peanuts. Cook on medium-high until sauce is thick and no longer runny.

Season with salt and more red pepper flakes (to taste) and add toppings (cilantro, remaining peanuts, lime wedges, remaining bean sprouts and green onions).

To go with this recipe, I will post a few pictures from our trip to Thailand a few years ago...just for fun!

Bar Abilene's Guacamole

A few months ago, Kyle and I had dinner at Bar Abilene in Uptown with our friends Ben and Erica. We ordered the guacamole appetizer (one of my favorite foods), which they make table-side for a whopping $10.

I thought their guacamole was especially good, although a little pricey, so I found their recipe and realized the secret ingredient must be Worcestershire sauce, which I never would have expected to add to guacamole.

Here's Bar Abilene's Guacamole Recipe (slightly adapted by me) - it makes enough for a fiesta!

3 ripe avocados
1/2 c pico de gallo (finely diced tomatoes and onions)
1 clove roasted garlic, minced
1 T chopped cilantro
1 lime, juiced
1 t Worcestershire sauce
few dashes green Tabasco
salt (to taste)

Directions: Mash avocados with fork and combine all ingredients. Season to taste. Serve with corn chips.

Besides Summers Off...

...I just discovered the other benefit of being a teacher!

I was at J. Crew last week, and as the sales clerk was ringing up my item, he asked me what school I go to.

"Oh, I'm not a college student. I'm actually a teacher."

"Did you know teachers get 15% off at J. Crew stores? We really like academics here."

"Really? Wow!" Then maybe I'll find a few more things...

If you're not a teacher and are considering going back to school, just for the two benefits (summers off + J. Crew discount), you might be interested in the fact that students get 10% off.

FYI!

Rebarcak Family Reunion

This weekend, we went back to Iowa for my family reunion. We haven't had one in 8 years, and it was all of the kids/grandkids/great grandkids of my Grandma Mary Lou and her sister Donna. Both Grandma Mary Lou and Donna had six kids! We survived the 90° weather, super high humidity, and strong winds and got together at a park. I was the photographer for the day. Here's a picture of the sisters.

And all of the cousins that made it. We're missing quite a few, but we still had a great turn-out!

All of my siblings. It was also Matt's sister's wedding that day, so Kiley and Matt couldn't make it.

My grandma and me. She's so sweet, and I love getting to see her. Everyone always asks where I got my blonde hair and blue eyes!

My dad (left) with his brothers and his mom.

And the whole family!