Ahhh...Saturday!

Well, the first week of my hectic 4 weeks went well. I was so scared and I got some great feedback and even a few nice comments that were sent all the way up the chain. So - whew - class 1 done - 7 more to go.

To relax a little, I headed out to happy hour with a part of the crew to Pujols 5 for a few cocktails and appetizers. Then we got a wild hair that we needed ice cream and undies - so we went to Coldstone and Victoria's Secret. I had a coupon that had to used by last night. Chelsea and I wandered around the mall for a while and I convinced her to buy a dress at NY&CO that I bought last weekend - she looks way better in it than I do though. I'd love to be another foot taller and skinny. I picked up the matching blazer that I had been eyeing at NY &Co and also got the tiered knit skirt that was on sale this week at loft. I tried on the XL, and it was TOO big - yay! So, I got the smaller size. I'm thinking white tank tucked in with the skirt and a long necklace and strappy heels - sounds like my Cinco De Mayo Outfit!

Around 8:30, Jeff called asking me to come home because of the impending weather. As I drove down highway 40, I could hear the tornado sirens going. Eek! So, I came home and we snuggled on the couch and watched 2 episodes of the Marriage Ref - it's hilarious.

Today, I slept in till 9, and Jeff wanted to go look at a band saw that he found on Craiglist. So, we headed out to Wentzville and picked that up and then went to Bread Co for lunch. They have a deal now if you buy a meal and a drink, you can get any pastry for $.99. Jeff was in heaven and needed a cinnamon roll while I got an orange scone for later. Yum!  Then we proceeded to have a lazy afternoon. I caught up on a few shows, cleaned the kitchen and living room, and I'm now listening to my ice cream maker churn yummy Strawberry Lemon Sorbet. I bought 4 lbs of strawberries last Sunday and I had about half left and they needed to be used up. So far, it tastes amazing. I just made up the recipie:

• Simple Syrup - 1 cup sugar/1 cup water brough to boil and then cooled.
• 2 lbs of Strawberries
• 2 small lemons juice & zest (usually $2/1 size)

All you need to do is puree the strawberries and lemons in a food processor and then add the simple syrup until it's as sweet as you like it and add it to the ice cream maker. I added about 3/4 of the syrup. Mine will probably go for about 30 mins. I have the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. I would reccomend getting the one at Williams-Sonoma because you get an extra bowl.

On tap for tonight is a whole lot of nothing. I need to finish a PowerPoint  presentation for Tuesday and studying a little this weekend. I'm on track with my studying, but I want to make sure I'm ahead of the game. I kind of hope it rains tonight, I love sleeping in the rain!

Busy Week!

Well, this week is the beginning of the end of all the work I've put into the implementation of our new database at work. I was tasked with creating training material, schedule, identifying people to train out and then rolling that our to 5 departments including mine that has about 60 people in it. Whew. Tough task! So, on Thursday, I start the first training class. I've been working dilligently to make sure that everything is perfect. It's a great opportunity for me, and I really want to make it perfect.

On top of that, I started studying for the Series 7 this week. I'll be studying for the next 15 weeks and testing sometime in August. I'll be studying 2-3 hours a day on top of my regular work. I'm trying to maintain a work/life balance, but I think it's going to be tough this summer.

So to combat that, we'll just go shopping. Haha. I got a bunch of cute things this weekend from the Friends & Family sale at Loft.

$69.50 - 30% - Woop! I just looked and all there is is xxs. I had ordered and XL and it was too big. Sweetness.

And I got this sweater tonight at Banana Republic

$29.99- 30% off and Free Shipping - Score!

Off to study for a few hours and to chill out. Hopefully Jeff will do the dishes because I made a big mess oven roasting cherry tomatoes, garlic heads and mushrooms for an angel hair pasta dish with fresh basil, EVOO and parm. Sooo Yummy! Jeff needed some sauce, so he tried the Giada De Laurentis Tomato Basil Sauce from Target. He said it was pretty tastey.

Giveaway - Yoplait Greek Yogurt Prize Pack!

I'm so excited to share my first giveaway for Casa De Cowan! We're big yogurt eaters here, and with the recent Greek Yogurt craze, I was so excited to have the opportunity to trying something new with more protien! With 12 grams of protein -- twice that found in leading yogurts-- new Yoplait Greek nourishes from the inside out. Available in four delicious flavors, Strawberry, Blueberry, Honey Vanilla and Plain, the brand´s newest offering has a unique thick and creamy texture with the unmatched taste expected of Yoplait.
I love the new varieties - especially the Honey Vanilla. So yummy!

To celebrate its new Greek yogurt and to encourage women to nourish their inner goddess, Yoplait has teamed up with actress Izabella Miko, who plays Greek Goddess Athena in the epic adventure new Warner Bros. Pictures´ and Legendary Pictures´ film "Clash of the Titans," in theatres April 2 in 3D. You can check out the trailer here.


Casa de Cowan and MyBlog Spark have teamed up to offer one reader a Nourish Your Inner Goddess Prize Pack that includes 2 VIP Greek Yogurt Coupons, Spa Wrap, Slippers and goodies to make yourself the best Goddess you can be.

In addition, you can also visit
http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=62092&ci=1&c=GM&p=aI8UZzdb to download a coupon* and save $0.30 on one cup of new Yoplait Greek today!
*This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee

Want to win this AMAZING Giveaway? Here's the skinny:

1st entry (mandatory) - What helps you be an inner Goddess?

2nd entry -Subscribe to Casa De Cowan or Become a Friend!

You can have up to 2 entries. If you have completed any of these it entries - leave a comment - they count!
Be sure to leave your email address so I know how to contact you!
Winner will be announced May 8th

Good Luck!

Note: The VIP coupons, gift pack, information and additional gift pack to give away were all given to you from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. This did not alter my opinion of the products.

Show Us Your Life - How we Met - A Match.com Made in Heaven!

This week, I am participating in How we Met.

Jeff and I met on Match.com - I had actually got on a coffee date the same day with another guy. I had headed over to my mom's house to have a finance discussion when my phone rang. It was Jeff. We had talked on the phone one time before when I was sitting in the car wash. He asked me to meet up at Brewskee's to have a bucket of beer and watch the Cardinal's play-off. I said okay, only because I didn't want to hear my mom complain about finances. We met on a Thursday, October 14, 2004- he asked me out again. So we went out on Saturday and then 1 month later, he moved 1 mile from my house.

The Sports Page - 1st Month Dating

We went to LOTS of baseball games

And lots of poker and house parties.

He Proposed March 31, 2007 on the beach at Sunset. I cried, a lot.

We were married March 15, 2008

 

Today 2+ Years later, we're still going strong, just waiting for some kiddos!

Giveaway - Yoplait Greek Yogurt Prize Pack!

**Congrats to Nancy who is the Winner of the Yoplait Prize Pack!!**

I'm so excited to share my first giveaway for Casa De Cowan! We're big yogurt eaters here, and with the recent Greek Yogurt craze, I was so excited to have the opportunity to trying something new with more protien! With 12 grams of protein -- twice that found in leading yogurts-- new Yoplait Greek nourishes from the inside out. Available in four delicious flavors, Strawberry, Blueberry, Honey Vanilla and Plain, the brand´s newest offering has a unique thick and creamy texture with the unmatched taste expected of Yoplait.
I love the new varieties - especially the Honey Vanilla. So yummy!

To celebrate its new Greek yogurt and to encourage women to nourish their inner goddess, Yoplait has teamed up with actress Izabella Miko, who plays Greek Goddess Athena in the epic adventure new Warner Bros. Pictures´ and Legendary Pictures´ film "Clash of the Titans," in theatres April 2 in 3D. You can check out the trailer here.


Casa de Cowan and MyBlog Spark have teamed up to offer one reader a Nourish Your Inner Goddess Prize Pack that includes 2 VIP Greek Yogurt Coupons, Spa Wrap, Slippers and goodies to make yourself the best Goddess you can be.

In addition, you can also visit
http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=62092&ci=1&c=GM&p=aI8UZzdb to download a coupon* and save $0.30 on one cup of new Yoplait Greek today!
*This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee

Want to win this AMAZING Giveaway? Here's the skinny:

1st entry (mandatory) - What helps you be an inner Goddess?
2nd entry -Subscribe to Casa De Cowan or Become a Friend!

You can have up to 2 entries. If you have completed any of these it entries - leave a comment - they count!
Be sure to leave your email address so I know how to contact you!
Winner will be announced May 8th

Good Luck!

Note: The VIP coupons, gift pack, information and additional gift pack to give away were all given to you from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. This did not alter my opinion of the products.