$20 Date Night Challenge

One of continuous things you hear about newly married life is being low on funds.  Now whether that is true or not (I would think having kids would make you strapped for cash rather than being newlywed but I wouldn't know, now would I?), I decided to take the challenge of a $20 date night.  
The rules were that it had to include dinner and an activity, both could be under $20 but not over $20, and no special elite deals.  For example, say your great uncle Terry worked at the movies and slipped you in for free.  That deal would obviously not apply to everyone so it doesn't count.  
Frazier and I began with deciding on dinner and chose to be creative.  Since Frazier had worked at a pizza parlor in college, he has developed a knack for creating unique and yummy pizzas.  However, making a homemade pizza can obviously be easily done no matter what your skill level.  One can start by purchasing either a crust that is already made, dough in a can to roll out, or mixing water into a pizza crust kit.  We decided to buy the dough that you can roll out, and we managed to buy the that, the sauce, pepperonis, and cheese for under $8.

The next step was our "activity".  We could have cheated and say rented a movie, but we went to a minor league baseball game instead.  Tickets were $6 each to the Arkansas Travelers game, and goodness, was it hot!  But it wasn't bad once the sun faded down, and it was so nice to cheer on the Travs while enjoying the downtown Little Rock skyline.  We barely made it, but we managed to scrape by spending exactly $20.  A lot of fun rolled into just $20 which is fairly hard to accomplish!

 Anyone have any ideas for more date nights?  Send them to me at dedwards@abpg.com.  I'd love to feature them!  Oh and stay tuned for next week...I think we may have to have a giveaway! 

Mexican Fiesta: Taco Ring Recipe

Today’s post seemed like a good time to share some recipes.  I chose a recent favorite from Pampered Chef called a Taco Ring, and Frazier and I have made it several times.  It tastes amazing, but the best part is that it’s SUPER easy and quick!  

Here’s all the ingredients you will need:

·  3/4 lb lean ground beef

·  1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

·  1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

·  2 tablespoons water

·  2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

·  1 can of pinto beans 

·  1 (8 ounce) can of corn

·  1 green bell pepper

·  3 cups lettuce, shredded

·  1 medium tomato

·  1/4 cup onion, chopped (optional)

And here’s the recipe for the delicious taco ring:

1. Cook ground beef in large skillet over medium heat 7-9 minutes or until beef is no longer pink; drain.

2. Turn heat down to low and stir in taco seasoning mix, cheese and water.

4. Preheat oven to 375°F.

5. Unroll crescent dough; separate into triangles.

6. Arrange triangles in a circle on cookie sheet or pizza stone with wide ends overlapping in center and points toward outside. (There should be a 5 inch diameter opening in center.)  You might want to spray some Pam on the sheet as well.

7. Scoop meat mixture evenly onto widest end of each triangles up over filling and tuck under wide ends of dough at center of ring. (Filling will not be completely covered).

8. Bake at 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

9. Shred lettuce and chop tomato, bell pepper, onion, and bell pepper (if desired).

10. Drain corn and pinto beans from the cans.  

11. Add the toppings to the center of the ring and finish with more shredded cheese and sour cream if you want and enjoy!

Send me some recipes of your own at dedwards@abpg.com, and I’d love to feature them on my own blog here:  http://edwardsnewlywednest.blogspot.com/

Or comment below and share them with all the lovely brides and newlyweds of Arkansas Bride!  

Searching for the Nest

I have wanted a house for quite some time now since I have moved every year since I was 18.  That includes moving into a dorm room as a freshman, in and out of my sorority house, into a duplex with some friends, into an apartment, moving back into my parent's house, and now into a rent house with my husband.  WHEW!  I think the main reason my dad may have been excited that I was getting married was the fact that he wouldn't have to be the only one hauling my stuff around all of Arkansas anymore.  

Well, once Frazier and I returned from our honeymoon and got back into the groove of life, we began our search for our first house.  I felt sure that I knew the market since I had grown up in Little Rock.  I also was confident in gaining knowledge from my parents since they have bought four houses over the years and sold three.  
Yet, I was at a loss of where to begin the actual process of buying.  Frazier and I talked about it, and we wanted to get pre-approved for financing.  We began shopping around for interest rates with several mortgage lenders, and finally ended up with Simmons First Mortgage.  Our lender has known my family for awhile now, but he has also been in the business for many years so we felt confident in his expertise.  

Once we were pre-approved, our next step was finding a house that we would be happy to live in for at least five years.  We found one in the neighborhood of Sturbridge where I had grown up.  Frazier and I extended an offer through our realtor, excited that we were making progress!  However, the seller countered, and then we countered back again.  The seller issued another counter so we began listing the pros and cons of the home.  Finally, my husband and I decided we wanted the house and accepted the offer.  But we weren't celebrating just yet.  Our offer was contingent upon the inspection of the house which we just had done this past week.  The report showed some slightly major issues that would not necessarily be hard to fix, just expensive.  

I mean really?  We are so close, yet so far!  Anyways, we are waiting to hear back from the seller.  So I may have a new house by the end of July or I may have to go all the way back to a new search.  I will keep everyone posted on our house hunt as it proceeds along, but in the meantime, if you have any house hunting tips, please share them below.  We need all the advice we can get!

Kate Middleton aka "Duchess of Cambridge"

You definitely would have to be living under a rock to not know that Kate Middleton married Prince William.  It was called the wedding of the decade, of course!  However, Kate has been making headlines for quite some time for her wonderful sense of style.  Well, I mean if I had a royal income and a personal shopper, I could look pretty good myself.  But Kate had  pretty good taste before she was engaged.  Here are some of my favorite outfits that she wore during their North America tour.  Love these!!

Below is also video from the Today Show that shows how to dress like Kate on a more affordable level, her casual yet elegant style, and how to copy her look from the photos above.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Turquoise

I LOVE the color turquoise.  I don't know why.  Maybe because it's a happy color.  Or maybe because it reminds me of the beach.  Either way, I love it.  I found some fun pictures to share from the House of Turquoise blog.
Maybe we'll all be inspired to do a bit of decorating!

Family Time

One of the best things or worst things about getting married is the part of gaining a new family into your life.  Luckily for me, my experience has trended towards the positive side.  My husband’s family has brought two additional siblings: Frazier’s older brother and older sister.   Both of them have made me feel welcomed into the family and have been extraordinarily nice to me.  However, I will admit that I was pretty excited to gain a brother.  Since a horrible accident took my own brother (he passed away before I was born), I have never experienced a protective older brother or an annoying younger one. 

Once Frazier and I started dating, the fun of meeting his family began.  I don’t exactly remember my first meeting of his older brother, but I do remember being nervous.  Frazier had warned me that he and Grant were definitely different from one another and that he was a policeman.  So you can imagine what images were going through my head!  Yet, everything went smoothly, and we began to get to know one another over the next couple of years. 

I think things really began to change though when his long term relationship abruptly ended.  Grant called me and Frazier to talk it over, and we offered up the best advice that we could give.  I remember thinking, “Should I say this?  I’m not really his sister.  I hate to comment when I should just mind my own business.”  But I decided to be honest and told him my true opinion.  I think it shocked him how outspoken I was since he even commented on my opinionated self in his rehearsal dinner speech!  Yet, when he thanked me for speaking up and giving some clarity to the situation, I knew that I had made the right choice.  Family is family no matter what, even if they are your own or your spouse’s. 

Grant is now an owner of a Chick-fil-a in Tennessee and has already created success within his business.  Frazier and I are both so proud of his accomplishments, and we were happy to have him come spend a weekend with us last month.  Plus, I look forward to meeting/critiquing his future girlfriends.  Just kidding!!  Well, sort of.  

Hopefully, everyone has wonderful families on both sides, but I know that’s not the case.  However, I encourage you to take a deep breath and try again.  Creating a family takes patience, and you never know how much your words of encouragement or support can mean!

P.S.- Since Grant IS on the market, let me know if you have any single friends or family!

  Just kidding!!  Well, sort of.  :)