Will the Real Busy Girl Please Stand Up?

Now, unfortunately, I must admit something up front... as someone who wanted to share my story with the world, or just my friends and family near and far, I have failed you.  I have failed to really share who I am, my thoughts and my beliefs for one real reason, FEAR.

Now, I know that sounds pathetic and cowardly, but that is the real reason.  For fear of not being accepted, fear of "offending someone" or worst, fear of starting drama.

For these reasons, I must apologize.

But today, I leave that fear behind and come back as a more thoughtful and provocative writer.

Not someone scared of what others may think, but someone ready to share her thoughts, wisdom, funny stories and beliefs with the world.

I plan to devote myself to publishing the blemished, no make-up true Busy Gal.

Sometimes things won't be pretty, but I hope by sharing the truth and the real me, that I may write a blog that I actually enjoy to write and something that I am proud to share with the world.

I ask that you join me on this journey and be patient as I figure out life, love and blogging!

As I share my life with you, I hope that you catch on to my humor (sometimes I don't get it myself), accept me for my beliefs and join me in learning from my failures.  The truth and life are far from pretty, but it's the journey that makes it all worth it.

If nothing else, I hope that to those of you that visit me in my little home on the internet, feel the warmth and hospitality that I hope to provide to everyone whose paths I cross.

So, over the next couple of months, my little home on the internet will be going through some changes (Just like my home in real life, but we'll cover that later).  I ask that you be patient, give me positive feedback when deserved and try to sugar coat the bad feedback.

But for now, I welcome you to my internet home.  Feel free to be nosy and go through all my stuff (I do it in your home).

Thank you for sharing your time with me and allowing me to share my stories with you.


XOXO - The Busy Girl

Oh Hey There Stranger...

So, it is 10 at night, and as I toss and turn in my bed and listen to the gentle snoring of my husband, I remember that over three years ago I started a blog to chronicle my life, falling in love and everything in between.

Then, as I do with most of my responsibilities in my life -- I forgot about it.

Now here I am, three years later, with nothing to show for it but 70 posts on a blog that are providing un-solicited (and probably not doctor recommended) self-help from a person who see nothing wrong with spending an afternoon binge watching Netflix (we all do it... right?).

So, like I did in 2014 and 2013, I will attempt to revive my blog.

For the maybe three people in the world that enjoy my endless ramblings, you are welcome.

For the other five billion people in the world that will continue to live on never knowing that this little sliver of the internet exist, I hope that one day, for one second, this lover of life (that's ME) that we may cross paths on the internet or in real life and that we both for a second add something positive to each others lives.

But until we meet again, or I remember that I have a blog, I wish y'all good night!

Crock Pot Chicken Caeser Wrap

If there is one thing this Busy Girl likes more than Italian Dishes (and rum) it is EASY dinners.  With our crazy work hours and schedule the last thing in the world I like to do is make some CRAZY gourmet meal and spend ALL night cooking.  I hope you concur.  If you find time to make a gourmet meal AND do everything else in your day I would LOVE to know your secrets!

So, I LOVE chicken, and I LOVE Cesar salads.  So I tried to take an oldie and switch it up a bit.

What You'll Need:

3 Chicken Breast
1/2 Cup of Water
1/2 Cup of Caesar Dressing
1/4 Cup of Parmesan
A Couple Sprigs of Fresh Parsley
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Romaine Lettuce Diced
Wheat Tortilla

Directions:

1) Place the 3 Chicken in a Crock Pot with 1/2 a Cup of Water.  Season with Salt and Pepper to taste.

2) Turn the Crock Pot on Low and Set for 3 hours.
3) Take two forks and pull the chicken apart to let it shred.
4) Once shredded, add the Caesar Dressing, Parmesan, Parsley and Salt and Pepper to taste and combine.

5) Keep the Crock Pot on "Keep Warm" and let sit for an hour.
6) When you're ready to eat, heat up the tortilla.  Place the lettuce on the tortilla and top with chicken.
7) Roll-up and ENJOY!

What is your favorite Crock Pot Recipe?  

Pesto Bruschetta Chicken

My Italian self has been CRAVING pesto I knew that it was that time again to start cooking up something Italian.

Now, because it is June, and I spend every weekend in a bikini, I thought for my sake (and the sake of everyone who may see me in a bikini) that a pasta heavy meal was not in the cards.  So, I thought to mix an old recipe with some of our 2013 variety pesto, to make some Pesto Bruschetta Chicken.  

Normally I would take you through a picture tour, but since I forgot, we're forgetting the picture book today, I hope you forgive me...

Here is what you will need:

3 Chicken Boneless Chicken Breast

6 Ounces of Pesto

1/2 Cup of Fresh Grated Mozzarella (you can use the bag stuff.... I won't tell)

1/2 Cup of Cherry Tomatoes

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar to taste

Directions:

1. Generously cover the bottom of a casserole dish with olive oil.

2. Use a knife to butterfly (cut in half longways) the chicken.  Place the chicken breast in the oiled casserole dish.

3. Divide the pesto in half.  Take a spoon and generously cover the inside of the chicken with pesto.  Fold the chicken and place the remaining pesto on top of the chicken.

4.  Place the tomatoes on top of the pesto with mozzarella.

5. Cover your casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.  Depending on your stove, it may take an additional 5 to 30 minutes to cook the chicken thoroughly.

6.  When the chicken is cooked thoroughly (No pink  or translucent appearance when the chicken is cut in half.  The chicken should feel firm and have no hint of rubbery feel to it when poked.) pull it out of the oven and allow it to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.  

7.  Before serving, top with balsamic vinegar to taste.

The Urban Farmer and I enjoyed this dish with a side Greek salad, some Italian bread and wine.   

Results:

The Urban Farmer is REQUIRING me to make this for him AGAIN.  We both enjoyed this dish!  And most importantly, I got my Italian kick.

Tonight, I can go to bed knowing that all is right in the world.

What is your favorite Italian Dish?  What have you been craving lately?

How the Busy Girl became the Busy Wife

How the Busy Girl became the Busy Wife ...

And Other Wives Tales (and excuses) on why I have Neglected my Blog

A long time ago, I was just some gal in my early twenties who thought it was a GREAT idea to start a blog and chronicle my crazy, beautiful life.  Well hear I am, over two years and 67 posts later, and I am still working on getting my blog started.  Some may call it an epic fail, but for me, I like to think of it like a diet -- Every time you fall of the wagon, you gotta get back up and try again!

So here I am today round 3 (or maybe 4, 5 or 6) of reviving my Blog.

But in all honesty, I have been VERY busy.  Last time I wrote on here I was just some young Busy Girl, trying to figure out life and love, today I write you as a Busy Wife who is STILL trying to figure out life and love  (and now MARRIAGE).  But I hope that as I navigate through this crazy beautiful life, you come along for the ride.  Sometimes you may laugh, other times you may cry.  Or you may just find that in 2 weeks I stop posting on here again (if so, I am sorry I have wasted your time, yet again) but in the end I hope that by sharing my ups and downs, you laugh at my jokes, cry when I fail and in the end we both learn a little from each other.

XOXO,
The Busy Wife


(Love our wedding photos?  Check out Gronde Photography -- they are AMAZING!)

Wedding Planning: Right after the Engagement

When the Urban Farmer and I got engaged it was AMAZING how quickly people started asking us questions....  Have you picked a date?  What are your wedding colors?  How's in the Bridal party?

Now getting engaged is a whirlwind of emotion and excitement!  You are so excited and happy that you feel like you are on cloud nine!  For me, those first couple days of being engaged was so overwhelming, I did not even know what to do.  

Now, since the Urban Farmer and I were camping that weekend, it meant that we got a little time to enjoy the engagement before we started to share our excitement.  For any future couples to get engaged, I highly recommend that you take a little time to enjoy your engagement by yourselves.  

I know how exciting it is to call your family, your best friend and your sorority sisters, but those couple hours where we got enjoy being engaged alone were some of the best moments of the engagement.  

After the Urban Farmer and I left our little piece of Heaven on the New River, we went and spent some time at a winery together and alone.  

Us at the Winery!

  

Then on the way home we started to call people to share with them our exciting news.  

Of course, I told my parents right after we got engaged, but the Urban Farmer had to tell his family, and we both had friends to tell.  

Now, since the Urban Farmer's Mom, sister and brother lives 30 minutes from us, we both decided that we were going to tell them in person.  

So while driving home, the Urban Farmer and I called close friends to tell them our exciting news.  

Then, the Urban Farmer called his Dad to let him know.

Then after that we told his family.

And this may sound surprising in today's day and age, but we didn't put anything on Facebook for two days!  Crazy I know.  Most people do it immediately.  

It wasn't that we were trying to hide our engagement or keep it a secret, the truth is we wanted to do things our way.  We wanted our engagement to move at our own pace and to enjoy the privacy.  Remember your engagement is about the both of YOU, not anyone else. 

Now I love all the Facebook love, but I was already overwhelmed.... I didn't need to add anymore to it.

When we finally told social media and Facebook, the Urban Farmer and I had an outpouring of love from our friends and families.  We were both surprised and happy wit how many people were happy with us.

After sharing our engagement with everyone it was time to focus on the next part -- wedding planning.  

In my next couple of posts I would like to share with y'all my experiences planning.  The happiness, the tears and all the emotions in between.  I hope that you will enjoy reading this exciting part of my life with you.

Love,

The Busy Girl!

Engagement Photos

Not to long ago, the Urban Farmer and I got our engagement photos done.

Living in the D.C. area, we thought that we would do our photos in the city that we love so much.  Now the Urban Farmer and I got VERY lucky, our photos were taken two days before the government shut down and all the monuments closing!  We should have played the lottery... I know!

Well I hope you enjoy viewing some of our Engagement Photos!