Sunday, June 27, 2010

Vegas, Baby!

So, we have arrived back from our vacation to Vegas...and the only thing I can say is "Check me into Gamblers Rehab."  Just kidding!  However, we did go to Vegas as non-gamblers and we left as gamblers.  however, the resort was amazing and I want to go back and never leave the hotel.  It was so fabulous that we could actaully do that and be very happy.

We stayed at the Wynn in a Resort Room.

It was incredible, and the hotel is so very well appointed.
This is a shot of the downstairs lobby/shopping area.

The bedroom with ironing board in the background (my friend said I was crazy to iron on vacation)!
This bed made us want to move in forever...plus we didn't have three dogs crammed in between us...


This is the Bellagio fountain during Hey Big Spender - A Peggy Lee favorite of mine...

Let's talk buffets...
Father's Day Brunch at the Wynn Buffet:
Dessert.
Yes, PLEASE!
This was by far my favorite dessert....
but as you can see...there was a lot to choose from...this whole room was desserts and this was one of two chefs just for desserts...I have died and found my heaven.
We went to the Bellagio Buffet, but were not as impressed. 
The beef wasn't as tender, and the desserts paled in comparison.
If you are wondering...yes, those are candy apples.

More to come soon, as I could have written a whole post just on their desserts...my mouth is watering.
Pardon me while I go and find a napkin.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Happy Father's Day to my Dad.


Dad,

I love you more than words can say.  From the very beginning, you have always been so gently guiding me to become the woman I am today.  

You always put your children first even when a daughter does not understand her father's endless patience for his children. You have been there for all of us. 

When we have let you down, you have been there to help us...

When we have made you proud, you were there to smile with us...

When we have left for school, you were there to invite us back home...

When we left to be grown-ups, you were there to cheer us on...

and when we came back home because the world was too much, you were there to offer your roof over our heads...

and when we have gotten married, you have sent us off with a gentle reminder that you weren't too far away...

Now, as we have all gotten older, some things have changed and some roles are reversed,

but one thing will never change...

the love between a daughter and her daddy.



To Jack from his daughter Jackie

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Proposal - Cheese Queso and Disbelief

The only back story on this...is that my parents are sweet and old, and totally clueless to how men propose to women these days.  I guess it used to be like a business agreement. Ha! 

Although, Virgil had asked permission from my dad before he proposed, he told me later that we drove around in his car for two weeks with the ring in his glove compartment.  I think his plan was to just let me find it, or if a great moment presented itself, he though he would be prepared. :)  That's my husband.  

So, on his way over to my parents house, he gets a little impatient that I haven't found it etc.  While he was coming over for a swim (my parents back yard is gorgeous in the summer), I had been hosing off my parents windows and cleaning them for them.  Yup, so I was GROSS.  My mom had brought out a snack of chips and queso, and I am not shy about food.  I was digging in when Virgil arrived. He was on a mission. 

I was in the backyard sitting by the pool eating...or stuffing my face.  He walked right out.  I noticed that his pocket was huge and his hand was in it, and when he reached me he pulled out a pair of sunglasses that I had left at his house.  "You left these at my house." I took them from him and as I turned around to say thank you, he was already down on one knee. 

I will admit over and over, that this is not exactly how I imagined it, but it was spectacular.  It wasn't roses and candles, it was surprise and the most beautiful words that have ever been spoken to me.

"Jackie, will you marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?"

I said, "no. no. are you serious?" I think I was about one word away from going crazy about how boys should not joke around with girls about pretending to propose because it is mean.  That's how in disbelief I was that it was happening.

Of course rings come in huge boxes now a days, and as I am about to go on my diatribe of fake proposals, I notice that Virgil is struggling a little bit to get the huge thing in his pocket out of his pocket.  How he ever got that ring box out of his swim trunks pocket is beyond me.

At this moment, I see the box, and I know. I know. I really know. I know, that this is a real proposal. We aren't playing at the pool. And I continue to say, "I am not dressed. I look like crap. Are you sure?" and various other phrases that were making him go crazy because I hadn't actually said the one word he was waiting to hear.
"Jackie, I think you look beautiful (wiping Queso off my face), I hope there is a yes somewhere in there."

Now, if this was That 70s Show, we would cue the crazy music in the basement, and I would call this my "outer body experience."

And I laugh. And I laugh. Because I know in my mind, that I have actually been waiting for this. 

Waiting for him my whole life. 

Praying for him my whole life, and finally God has put him right here in front of me at my parents' pool down on one knee, and he is waiting....he is getting nervous...and I scream,

back to reality

"YES! Of course yes! Yes one million times! I will marry you!"

We kiss. we jump in the pool like crazy people, and I learn the first lesson of being engaged. When men spend a lot of money on a ring, they get crazy about how you take care of it.  

"Do you think you should take it off while we are in the pool?" 

"I just got it.  You want me to take it off?" 

"Well, just while we are in the pool." 

Then Virgil learns the first lesson of being an engaged man, consider your life to be run by a woman!

"Well, then let's get out of the pool." :)

Back to the part where my parents are old and sweet.  The whole time this is happening, they decide they should hide because they want us to have our privacy.  So, when I finally get my sea legs back, I run in the house and I am like, "Did you see it?! Did you see Virgil propose?!"  I can't find them.  They are tucked away back in my dad's office. I am a little disappointed that they didn't watch from the window like I thought they were, but I finally find them and once again announce my exciting news.

My mom suggests that we grill some steaks and open a bottle of champagne. So, we sit around the table and eat and drink.   Low key but absolutely perfect. 


 "Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Justice!"


The End!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Sunday Dinner - Apricot Glazed Pork Chops (or tenderloin)!

So, A few years back I ran across this menu in Family Circle, and I decided to make the whole kit and kaboodle, and it turned out great.  The true star of the menu is the Apricot Glazed Pork Tenderloin.  Because it is just my husband and I, we use pork chops for this recipe.  Instead of roasting them in the oven we throw them on the grill! "Hey! It's Summer!"



Here is the recipe from the original magazine a few years back. I use about the same measurements for about 5 small pork chops.

The Ingredients. We used Sugar Free Preserves because the husband needs to watch his sugar intake.

Mix them all together...

Add the meat...

Pile them in...yum!

Let them sit in the Apricot Hot Tub in the fridge for about 2-3 hours.

Then forget to take a picture when you grill them and eat them right away because they are so delicious...then share the picture of the roast all glazed and delicious...
However you do it, enjoy!
Mrs. Justice

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Wang and Wedgwood - A Match Made in China...

Kelly's Korner is hosting Show Us Your Life China Pattern....Since we just got married in September, all of my china is still sitting in my "China Cabinet" otherwise known as the closet upstairs.  However, my family has been so supportive of buying us table settings that we actually have 9.  I think they are hoping we will host Christmas Dinner this year - nice try family.  We have such a big family, there is no way we will ever have enough for everyone!  But that is why they created paper.  

The China Cabinet

Registering for your wedding is usually a little unpredictable with your husband to be.  It seems like you find out a few things that you never knew among the stacks of towel and sheets in Macy's about his style and tastes.  We registered at a Macy's Sip and Scan Party

If you are about to register for your wedding, check your local Macy's for this fun evening where the store is only open to you and your husband (and a few other couples).  They give you food and drinks, and actually set out your choices so you can see what they will look like.  After a few drinks, you actually believe that your guests are going to buy everything on your list!

Ok. Back to business. I digress.

While in Macy's, my husband tells me he does not like the Martha Stewart design that I had picked out.  He likes Wedgwood's Vera Lace by Vera Wang.  After I picked my mouth up off of the floor, I handed him the scanner and let him go to town. 

I mean having Vera Wang as a dinner guest at my house...the boy must have some style after all! 
Each box is gorgeous...

 Even the inside of the box is chocolate brown my favorite color....

and what an international designer :)

Dinner Plate

 Salad Plate (which sold me)

 The Whole Set...

 Really gorgeous...and its called Vera Lace.  
When you look carefully, it actually looks like lace.

You even get an info card to make sure you understand the importance of your purchase...
or your Aunt Betty's purchase.

 and the back of each piece is stamped...Wang and Wedgwood.

Enjoy!

Mrs. Justice

Check back on Sunday for my Apricot glazed Pork Chops Sunday Dinner and in September for my one year Anniversary Post with Tablescape Thursday featuring my Vera Lace china!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Wardrobe Wednesday - Mad Men in VEGAS - Help me pack!

I will be heading off to Sin City in 2 weeks, and I need your help!  I have no idea what to pack because I have never been there before.  Usually when I travel, I have an idea of what we will be doing, and I go from there.  However, Vegas seems very fancy with all of the hotels and casinos.  What should I pack?  I want to be comfortable in the desert.

One thing I know for sure, I will need a bathing suit.  I plan on spending some major time here...the Wynn Encore's pool...

My friends have all been sporting little two piece numbers this summer.  I am a little more conservative when it comes to swim suits, and I usually buy a La Blanca suit.  In my opinion, they offer the best coverage, and they don't necessarily look like a "grandma" suit.  This year, I have been reading how the T.V. show Mad Men is inspiring a 1960s reinvention of the female curves!  Simply put, curves are coming back ladies!  Which is really a relief because mine never left. LOL! So, if you visit their website, you can actually "Mad Men Yourself"...here are the results...big hips, small waiste, big hair, and I threw in the martini for fun. Of course I choose capris - they are God's gift to us short legged women - no alterations needed :)




Trying to chanel this MAD way of thinking, here is the bathing suit I bought for Vegas.  It is a Kenneth Cole Reaction two peice, but check out the hip coverage! Don't worry people, I am well aware that the suit doesn't quite look like this on me.  I give the suit a totally different vibe - that 60's vibe. I feel good about my stomach.  I love the color and the ruffles, and I really like that the skirt bottom actaully doesn't shorten my legs like most bathing suit skirts do.

with 25% off this suit came to $85

I will grab a straw hat and pair it with last year's white VS Cover up!

Give me some ideas of what else I need to pack for Vegas!  I am thinking Dean Martin and the Rat Pack 1960s Vegas! Do I need fancy dress clothes or does casual rein in Vegas?  Please help a sister out!

Mrs. Justice

Friday, June 4, 2010

Shopping Cart - Random Act of Kindness.

I know I have been away from the blogging world for awhile, but at work we have been in the middle of wedding season....oh my.  Over at Kelley's Corner, Kelley is asking us to share ideas for Random Acts of Kindness.  What could be better in life than sharing a little time to help someone out?  It doesn't have to be a huge thing.  One of my favorite parables in the Bible is the story of the Good Samaritan, and although that has a lot of lessons, it's basic principle is to help your neighbor.

Because my parents are my grandparents, I find myself very compassionate for the elderly or older citizens.  They are the members of one of our greatest generations. The more you hang out with elderly, the more you will probably learn, despite how times have changed, we still have a lot in common.

Because I am always shopping (to my bank account's demise), I usually try to make it a point to walk by the handicap spots/area.  If my timing is right, I usually can help a couple or older person by taking their shopping cart back into the store so they don't have to worry about it.  In the store, I am always surprised how many older people are in the store in the automated shopping carts.  I always ask them if there is anything I could help them find.


It is a small act of kindness, but I know from my parents experience shopping is not as easy as it once was and the small things are what can be difficult now.  By observing your surroundings and being an active participant in your surroundings, you could change a person's day.

I used to cry when I saw this comercial, but it says it better than my words.