tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64514115587098592732012-02-11T00:00:50.869-05:00Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.comBlogger2491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-50305125196893616832012-02-10T23:56:00.002-05:002012-02-11T00:00:50.880-05:00

{Read part one--The Beginning--here} {Read part two--Rome--here} {Read part three--Pompeii--here} {Read part four--Venice--here} {Read part five--Croatia--here} {Read part six--Athens--here} The final leg of our honeymoon adventure took us to the nation of Turkey. We would have two stops in Turkey, with Istanbul being our final destination. Our first stop in Turkey was to the city of Izmir--

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-50956120658314217932012-02-08T22:46:00.001-05:002012-02-08T22:59:01.436-05:00

{Read part one here--The Beginning} {Read part two here--Rome} {Read part three here--Pompeii} {Read part four here--Venice} {Read part five here--Croatia} Not only were we able to explore the ancient heart of the Roman Empire during our honeymoon, we were able to see the heart of Ancient Greece, as well--in the city of Athens. Our day started out with a lot of frustration, to be honest. Our

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-74697510540354483142012-02-07T22:27:00.001-05:002012-02-10T16:16:58.254-05:00

{Read part one here.} {Read part two here.} {Read part three here.} {Read part four here.} After our unforgettable visit to Venice, and en route to our new destination, something terrible happened. I got sick. I wasn't at all sea-sick mind you; rather, I had something very like strep throat. I felt really, really awful, and I'm sad to say that for the remainder of the cruise {about 7 days}, I

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-26466390058634576062012-02-04T01:24:00.000-05:002012-02-04T01:24:15.342-05:00

{Read part one here.} {Read part two here.} {Read part three here.} Our final Italian port of call was to none other than the dreamy city of Venice!! Our cruise ship was docking there overnight, so we had the chance to spend one and a half days in Venice altogether. We stepped off our ship onto the cobblestone streets of Venice and felt as though we had been transported into a dream world. I

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-44737184033391316182012-02-01T23:41:00.000-05:002012-02-01T23:41:47.284-05:00

In light of the approaching Superbowl Sunday, I'm taking a quick break from blogging about our honeymoon cruise to share a delicious chili recipe with you. I don't know about you, but chili has always seemed to me as not only a good wintertime food, but the perfect accompaniment to watching some good 'ole football. This recipe is easy to prepare ahead of time and have ready for kick off. A crock

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-12939227579972396132012-01-31T23:40:00.000-05:002012-01-31T23:40:07.395-05:00

{Read part one here.} {Read part two here.} Stop number two on our cruise was to the lovely Italian city of Naples. A stop at this location allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream--to visit the historical site of Pompeii. Most people have heard of Pompeii and its disastrous history. In the year 79 A.D., the volcano Mt. Vesuvius erupted, wiping out the nearby ancient city of Pompeii. Not only

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-71266511643028342012-01-30T12:08:00.003-05:002012-01-30T22:12:48.933-05:00

{Read part one here.} Our very first port of call on our dream honeymoon was none other than the legendary city of beauty and romance: Rome! Our cruise ship had lots of excursion packages available at each port of call, but we felt perfectly confident taking on the vast and sprawling city of Rome, just the two of us. Why? Because the semester I studied abroad in France, a friend and I spent our

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-71803852546453171762012-01-28T16:33:00.001-05:002012-01-28T21:15:01.147-05:00

If there's one thing I love to write about on this blog, it's my travel experiences. Each new place and experience leaves a lasting impression on me, in deep and meaningful ways. If you've ever clicked on my Travel Page, you might have noticed that I listed two sections as "to be shared at a future time." That's because both of those trips {our honeymoon and my semester abroad in France}

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-13611703238202397292012-01-24T13:11:00.002-05:002012-01-24T15:26:43.591-05:00

We all know the story. We've seen the headlines, the photos, heard the developing news about the Costa Concordia disaster off the coast of Italy.  Photo retrieved here The Italian cruise line, Costa, has undoubtedly suffered a big blow to its reputation, although the fault of this tragedy ultimately lies with the ship's captain. And the most recent headlines are sparking outrage--Costa

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-65804419129510303142012-01-22T19:33:00.000-05:002012-01-22T19:33:25.100-05:00

I definitely wouldn't describe myself as "innovative" in the kitchen. I am most definitely a recipe-girl. The times when I have experimented in the kitchen are few and far between, although I'm hopeful I'll become more experimental over the years. That said, the below salad and dessert ideas are something I pretty much just threw together. I can't take credit for originality, however, as my

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-41700789412821904412012-01-20T15:13:00.000-05:002012-01-20T15:13:30.594-05:00

There is no doubt that Italian food is my favorite type of food. I could eat pasta every day. Even though I could easily argue that there's "no such thing as too much pasta", I try to save myself from carb-overload and an expanding waistline, so I really limit my intake of pasta. {In fact, I just ordered pasta at a restaurant the other night, realizing I hadn't indulged in a good pasta dish in a

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-70555753379725913962012-01-19T23:57:00.000-05:002012-01-19T23:57:42.051-05:00

This past weekend, Matt and I traveled to Indiana to visit our close friends Chris and Laura. We were so excited to not only get to see them, but their adorable daughter Eden, and to finally meet their 8 week-old baby girl, Addison! Little 18-month old Eden is such a busy girl! She kept us very entertained. I snuggled little Addie as much as I possibly could. She is such a good baby...calm

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-88771016530852049862012-01-13T17:53:00.000-05:002012-01-13T17:53:37.119-05:00

Five years ago today was one of the best days of my entire life--the love of my life asked me to marry him. Matt needs to get double props for this engagement story because he had to think up TWO separate proposals. {but not because I said no the first time around! Read on...} Matt and I had been dating for exactly one year. We both knew within the first month of our being together that we had

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-44008916688330101262012-01-12T15:23:00.000-05:002012-01-12T15:23:44.267-05:00

Last week I showed you this gorgeous French Press coffee maker I got for Christmas: This is a Bodum Chambord 8 cup French Press. I can now officially announce that I am madly and deeply in love with my French Press. Anyway, I realized that not all of you may know what a French Press coffee maker is or how it works. After all, Matt didn't! The process of brewing coffee in a French Press is

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-872887004140496262012-01-11T15:27:00.000-05:002012-01-11T15:27:36.946-05:00

This recipe definitely sounds a little {or very} odd with all of its seemingly random ingredients, but it's one of my favorites. Besides the fact that the preparation is oh-so-simple, the combination of different flavors and the elements of both soft and crunchy make this dinner a delight. You can find variations of this recipe online with the ingredients slightly varied. This is the recipe my

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-49854516061867213122012-01-09T17:40:00.001-05:002012-01-09T17:43:15.324-05:00

It seems that everyone has a different opinion about New Year's Resolutions. Some make them, some don't, some think they're a waste of time, some take them ultra-seriously. I confess that I do make resolutions with the beginning of each new year, and here's why they work for this girl. For me, making resolutions is a way to sit back and gain a little perspective on my life and daily habits {

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-48365871755186549632012-01-05T16:42:00.000-05:002012-01-05T16:42:38.356-05:00

Hello, blogging world. I'm back from a little hiatus, after spending several lovely days with my family in Ohio and recovering from a little flu bug. Not the worst bug I've had by any means, but I seem to be having a little trouble kicking it. Anyway, I need to share some photos of our delightful Moss family Christmas at my parents' home! Sadly, my brother, Brandon, and his family weren't able

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-74531940679916083772011-12-31T23:16:00.001-05:002011-12-31T23:20:54.226-05:00

2011 began for me with life as I knew it in Hungary continuing along fabulously. Matt's deployment was a little more than half over, and I was loving every minute of my life in Hungary. Towards the beginning of January, I had to move out of the Bridge building {where I had my own living space}, but was so infinitely blessed to be invited to live with the Szasz Family: Even in the three months

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-56410950635182508392011-12-30T18:18:00.000-05:002011-12-30T18:18:31.222-05:00

Last week, I showed you the sugar cookies I made on Baking Day, but I wanted to be sure that I shared this fabulous recipe for sugar cookie dough with you. I consider it to be far superior to any other sugar cookie recipes I've tried throughout my lifetime. I know others agree with me as well, not only by their compliments, but by how quickly the cookies get gobbled up! I do realize that

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-87781963917036498222011-12-29T14:55:00.000-05:002011-12-29T14:55:14.746-05:00

Currently, I am: ~Enjoying the orange-spiceyness in our apartment ~Debating on whether to start taking down Christmas decorations tomorrow or Saturday {to get things all put away before our trip to Ohio next week} ~Cuddling my heart out with Annabelle {she is just so cuddly!} ~Pondering my 2012 New Year's Resolutions: {my best-kept 2011 resolutions : drink more water, exercise more, and

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-87363785748402285692011-12-28T15:57:00.000-05:002011-12-28T15:57:40.140-05:00

We've had such a fantastic time celebrating Christmas this year. There has been a lot of oohing and aahing, smiles, laughter, and fanatical shrieks {as we play "Dirty Santa" every year with the Perry family}. Things get super fun and crazy, especially thanks to the three Perry "boys"! We all know that presents aren't what Christmas is really all about, but they sure are a fun part of the

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-57855856907320047252011-12-24T11:41:00.001-05:002011-12-24T11:41:55.354-05:00

"Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house..." "As I drew in my head and was turning around Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound": Thank goodness Santa doesn't look like this! {and to confirm what you already must be thinking--yes, we do torture our dog} Now it's Christmas Eve, a day filled with joy and anticipation. We are all ready for Christmas: -our

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-21203327898134182832011-12-23T23:31:00.000-05:002011-12-23T23:31:21.143-05:00

Well, it's only 11:15 pm on December 23, but I've finally wrapped up Baking Day! You know when people say that they've literally slaved away for hours on end in the kitchen? That's what my day was like, but it was all a delight for me! I love baking. The kitchen is all clean, as well. Boy, did I make a mess! It was all worth it in the end, however. I even ended up making cupcakes

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-1075817468085445632011-12-22T15:25:00.001-05:002011-12-22T16:31:30.326-05:00

I'm sitting here, sipping my peppermint creme coffee, and I'm a little bit sad. I'll show you why: As you can see, no snow. Not only is there no snow now, but there has been practically no snow in the past many weeks. We've had just two or three light snowfalls, but nothing that left any snow on the ground. I think other areas of Michigan have had some accumulation, but not here in far

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-57940973882792334022011-12-20T17:18:00.000-05:002011-12-20T17:18:02.582-05:00

It was just a year ago, when I was able to experience the Christmas season in Hungary, that I was first introduced to the idea of scenting one's home with oranges and cloves. I was spending the afternoon at the home of my close friends, the Baksa family. We had a delightful time making gingerbread cookies and decorating them, but we also decorated oranges by pushing whole cloves into the skins.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-60649748366894276142011-12-17T15:58:00.000-05:002011-12-17T15:58:18.749-05:00

Oh. my. goodness. If you consider yourself a chocolate-lover by any means, then this recipe is for YOU. It is by far the richest, most chocolatey cocoa I've ever had; so rich, in fact, that I almost couldn't finish it. {almost} This is hot chocolate made from scratch, with all the extra good {read: unhealthy} ingredients. Because it's so sweet, I'd recommend making this your one sweet-treat for

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-13107360322593690772011-12-16T15:04:00.001-05:002011-12-16T15:26:16.744-05:00

Oh dear readers, you must go and visit one of my most favorite of all blogs {called This is Glamorous}, to see this absolutely lovely post about Ladurée! Ladurée is a Parisienne tea room/pastry shoppe/restaurant, which ranks on top of my list of Paris "musts." It is dream-like and elegant and absolutely one of a kind. Oh, and they were the ones to make the 'le macaron' famous, by the way. Read

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-2118856131667754492011-12-15T17:08:00.000-05:002011-12-15T17:08:52.474-05:00

Some snapshots of life lately and the most recent delights: Leftover cranberry relish. Simply delicious. Oh Debrecen, how I miss you. ~Finishing all of our Christmas shopping; now on to the wrapping, which I adore ~Snuggling up to watch so many of our favorite Christmas movies ~Sometimes hearing "Merry Christmas" at the checkout lines instead of "Happy Holidays" ~Being able to use

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-91136726780010725182011-12-14T18:31:00.000-05:002011-12-14T18:31:20.409-05:00

Do you remember when and why you stopped believing in Santa Claus? The memory of the Christmas where I discovered the truth about Mr. Claus is both vivid and heartbreaking, even still. I was seven years old, and we were spending Christmas at my Grandma and Grandpa Dorsey's home in Portland, Oregon. We had spent a wonderful evening with all the Aunts, Uncles, and cousins, opening gifts, snacking

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-62331564817578280592011-12-09T17:24:00.000-05:002011-12-09T17:24:19.139-05:00

J.O.Y. has been filling our mailbox in the form of Christmas cards and letters. As I have mentioned previously, I am a huge fan of old-fashioned correspondence, so perhaps the joy of snail mail is even a little bit greater for me. In spite of this, and my utter adoration for the giving/receiving of Christmas cheer in the form of cards, Matt and I will NOT be sending out Christmas cards this year

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-34664109691970017292011-12-08T22:47:00.003-05:002011-12-09T00:11:17.305-05:00

One of my very favorite things at Christmastime is sitting in front of the Christmas tree, staring at all the pretty little twinkle lights hiding amongst the branches, and pondering many thoughts. The TV is off, our home is silent, and the living room is lit only by the light of the tree. These are the some of the sacred moments when I truly just stop and take the time to reflect upon the real

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-88056117314311455792011-12-07T11:14:00.001-05:002011-12-07T22:55:30.097-05:00

I am one of ten Dorsey grandchildren on my Mom's side of the family. Here is a picture of us at Christmas in 1983: Guess who is baby Jesus? My sister is the angel second to the left, and my brother the shepherd boy on the far right. Isn't this a cute picture? I'm so glad our parents decided to do this way back when! I am the youngest of the 10 Dorsey grandchildren, which is fun for me. I love

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-23003608133060391532011-12-06T18:44:00.002-05:002011-12-07T22:54:48.603-05:00

We have had some ultra-special gifts come our way these past couple of weeks, courtesy of the international travels of friends and family! Firstly, we received these totally amazing wooden salad spoons from our dear friend, Megan, on her recent travels to South Africa:  Megan spent six weeks in Cape Town, South Africa. The spoon handles have beautiful tips made out of bone. In Megan's words, "

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-71119872223873394102011-12-03T19:37:00.002-05:002011-12-07T22:54:16.757-05:00

There's something about the start of the Christmas season that has gotten me all jazzed up about cooking and baking. I do feel inspired to make holiday treats, but not only that. I just feel like all of my creative juices are flowing and calling out to be released in many forms of deliciousness in the kitchen. In the past few days, I have tried several new things in the kitchen and am happy to

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-36475835049490313362011-12-02T15:33:00.001-05:002011-12-07T22:53:38.701-05:00

I think the rest of the world is just as delighted as I am that December is here. How can one not relish in the joy and excitement of the season? {Well, I guess unless you're Ebenezer Scrooge} It was extra fun this year opening our boxes of Christmas decorations, having not seen them since Christmas 2009. {although for me, getting a whole new Christmas experience in Hungary was entirely worth it

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-9908241396894882362011-11-30T15:53:00.000-05:002011-12-07T21:01:33.943-05:00

My mom passed along this very unique and delicious soup recipe. Matt and I absolutely loved it--a complex mix of sweet and spicy. And of course, what better time of year to enjoy bowls of piping hot soup than the chilly winter months? Asian Coconut Chicken Soup {the little pink tupperware contains my chili paste} Ingredients: 1 can lite coconut milk 1 can chicken broth 1 pkg ramen noodles,

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-78483845962814892842011-11-29T16:44:00.001-05:002011-12-07T22:52:19.786-05:00

Here's a little look at the festivities we enjoyed during our stay at Grandma and Grandpa Moss' house over Thanksgiving: Parade watching Grandma's homemade cinnamon rolls I had forgotten that I'd made these place cards for the Thanksgiving table a few years ago. Grandma kept them and broke them out to use again this year. I love this old organ, which belonged to my Great Grandpa and

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-29719918805983584962011-11-23T11:33:00.001-05:002011-12-07T22:51:31.833-05:00

...to Grandmother's house we go! We're off shortly to head to my Grandma and Grandpa's house in northeastern Ohio. My parents will meet us there and we are so excited for a few days of quality family time and enjoying my Grandma's absolutely amazing home-cooking! Last year I wrote about a few of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions I enjoy when we get to celebrate the holiday at my Grandparents'

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-64902668178718096602011-11-19T14:00:00.001-05:002011-12-07T22:50:51.238-05:00

A few days ago, a teeny bit of snow made a little visit. It was gone as quickly as it came, which was fine by me; I'm not quite ready for Old Man Winter to make his official appearance just yet. The trees here in Michigan are all nearly bare and a constant chill has settled into the air. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I'm so excited! I think Thanksgiving

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-2897330073290325642011-11-14T22:19:00.002-05:002011-12-07T22:50:04.649-05:00

A few days ago, I was sitting in the computer room when Matt yelled with excitement, "Deanne, come look!" I ran out to our living room and he pointed out the large slider doors to reveal that the air outdoors was filled with thousands of tiny, swirling snowflakes. The first snow! There's nothing like the first snow to make me feel the need to crank up some Christmas tunes and start unpacking

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-10467170521493611282011-11-10T10:25:00.000-05:002011-12-07T21:01:33.943-05:00

I highly recommend trying out one or both of these delicious recipes, especially to take advantage of the pumpkin-flavors of the season. I also love any recipe for making biscuits from scratch versus making them from a processed, store-bought mix. Pumpkin-Apple Butter Ingredients: 15 oz. can pumpkin 1 cup applesauce 3/4 cup apple juice 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-44703937574825156512011-11-08T16:22:00.002-05:002011-12-07T22:49:28.095-05:00

The latest delights: ~Watching this tree next to our patio transform day by day with the colors of autumn. The leaves go from red at the top, to orange, yellow, to green at the bottom. ~The joyful anticipation of the birth of my best friend's second child {via c-section} in two days! ~Enjoying the warm weather by talking long, refreshing walks with Matt and Annabelle. ~Adding some spice to

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-28707541120132523942011-11-04T18:58:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:48:39.666-05:00

I've already shared with you about my neat-freak tendencies, so it may come as no surprise to you that at a young age, I became mesmerized by a woman who seemed to be perfect in every way: Martha Stewart. One afternoon, when I was about thirteen, I was browsing television channels when I happened upon a program I had never seen or heard of, Martha Stewart Living. This was long before she had her

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-71729163036097789322011-11-01T17:28:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:01:33.944-05:00

Introducing my absolute {newest} favorite way to eat spaghetti! This is another Real Simple magazine recipe. The ingredients are simple, wholesome, and much tastier than just using marinara sauce from a jar! Spaghetti with Roasted Tomatoes and Herbs Ingredients: 12 oz. of spaghetti {I used whole wheat} 2 pounds of cherry tomatoes {about 6 cups} 6 cloves of garlic, smashed 3 Tbsp. of olive oil,

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-39939864445820582652011-10-31T20:46:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:47:32.191-05:00

There is someone in our family who doesn't quite love Halloween as much as I do... Annabelle actually doesn't mind the scarf one bit; it's the hat she despises. Also, please note her adorable little trick or treat bucket in the left of the photo. All her Halloween accessories are compliments of loving family members. She thanks you! {or rather curses you} Our apartment is all aglow with

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-75207738485320209202011-10-30T23:57:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:46:51.443-05:00

Yesterday afternoon began with a road trip to Grand Rapids, MI, to visit our friends Nick and Jaela. Annabelle was in tow, decked out in her Halloween scarf. All of us were going to attend a Halloween Party at our friend, Ralene's home. I made these cookies {plus more} for the gathering: The party was a blast! Costumes were required... I've secretly always wanted raven black hair. An

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-3011673166682696982011-10-25T21:31:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:45:45.812-05:00

I've been inspired by some fellow bloggers to be a bit more honest on my blog. When it comes to blogging, I mostly compose posts which leave an impression that life is {nearly} perfect. One of the ways I utilize my blog is to focus on the importance of the small joys in life and I therefore tend to view the world through rose-tinted glasses. I just don't want to give readers the idea that I'm

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-87612921470017308912011-10-24T21:58:00.002-04:002011-12-07T22:44:31.862-05:00

There is something about Halloween that I have always loved. Though Christmas will always be my favorite holiday, Halloween and Thanksgiving are in a close tie for second. Black cats, witches brooms, jack-o-lanterns, and general spookiness have all enticed me from a young age. I used to create Halloween decorations from crayons, markers, stickers, construction paper, and glitter to adorn

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-63014566664094985062011-10-22T16:52:00.000-04:002011-12-07T21:01:33.945-05:00

I found this recipe in a Kraft Food and Family magazine and really love it, especially since it's simple and because the biscuits are made from scratch. I made these for my parents when they were here a couple of weeks ago, and they said the biscuits reminded them of the delicious cheddar ones served at Red Lobster. I took that as a huge compliment, because although I don't eat seafood, I

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-15293921146465446832011-10-21T17:14:00.002-04:002011-12-07T22:42:53.193-05:00

My best friend, Laura, recently came to visit me and she also brought her beautiful, adorable, 17-month-old baby girl, Eden, along with her. Laura is currently 35 weeks pregnant and she is just so stinkin' cute: She looks great! Baby's gender will be a surprise. And Eden....first of all, isn't that the sweetest name? It's perfectly fitting for her, because Eden is the sweetest little girl.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-85372817634212889972011-10-19T21:52:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:41:23.785-05:00

This is an utterly delicious, simple recipe--great as a side dish or to bring as a dish to share at get-togethers. This scrumptious recipe comes courtesy of my friend {and former boss}, Jay. Grape Pecan Salad Ingredients: 4 lbs. grapes {red or green, or both--I like both} 8 oz. sour cream {I used low fat} 8 oz. cream cheese {I used low fat} 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup brown sugar 2 packages of pecan

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-37485147257847395862011-10-18T19:47:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:40:13.648-05:00

Recently, we spent a leisurly afternoon exploring the quaint little dowtown of Romeo, Michigan. Both the fall leaves and the harvest and Halloween decorations made the downtown so picturesque. We found a really quality, two-floor antique shop where we spent quite a bit of time browsing. They had a really unusual and impressive collection of military antiques, which had Matt drooling.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-66540421842795671482011-10-13T18:49:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:38:43.577-05:00

Yesterday we drove far into the countryside to visit an orchard and cider mill. It's one of my favorite fall traditions--to pick juicy apples from the orchards and then go on a hunt in a pumpkin patch, roaming and looking over dozens upon dozens of pumpkins until I find the one that is my definition of perfect. It was an overcast, blustery day, and the drive to the farm was absolutely gorgeous

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-20706544098760784842011-10-11T22:21:00.002-04:002011-12-07T22:37:43.104-05:00

It's official. We are in love.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-62208627931268908362011-10-07T17:16:00.004-04:002011-12-07T22:37:11.062-05:00

So many things to smile about lately! ~Celebrating Matt's Birthday: first, a visit from Matt's parents {Dave & Jeannie} and an utterly delicious meal at a Mediterranean restaurant, complete with tabbouleh, hummus, baba ganoush, hot pitas fresh from the wood oven, baklava, and Turkish coffee.~A visit from my parents! They treated us to a scrumptious dinner at

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-65137547805964091352011-10-06T15:54:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:35:43.069-05:00

Yesterday, Matt and I drove north to a park we've discovered in the countryside, Wolcott Mill state park. It is so named for the historic mill and other buildings on the property, and it has several of miles of trails running through lovely woods and along streams and rivers. Matt's days off from work are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so when we visit the park during the middle of the week, it's

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-71188699636225246282011-09-26T17:32:00.002-04:002011-12-07T22:34:40.238-05:00

I am extremely excited that the official season of Fall is now here, and I thought I'd share with you a few photos of little ways I have decorated to welcome Fall into our home. Our apartment door This is a music box from my childhood. It's a little silly, but I can't resist putting it out each year. It plays the tune of "Fly Me to the Moon." I have memories as a little girl of

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-631380085180546622011-09-22T15:40:00.000-04:002011-12-07T21:01:33.946-05:00

If you love curry, then this recipe is for you! This was a new recipe I had tried out from Real Simple magazine and Matt and I both loved it! Curried Rice with Chicken Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 2 tsp. curry powder 1 cup long-grain white rice 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 1 1/2 lbs. cooked chicken,* chopped 1/2 cup fresh basil Directions:

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-74386538333167705832011-09-20T21:28:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:33:36.214-05:00

Matt and I have been thoroughly enjoying living in our new apartment complex these past few months. Enjoyment, with the one very large exception of our downstairs neighbor living directly underneath us, "Mr. Party." Mr. Party is so named because he lives the epitome of a party-lifestyle. Mr. Party is probably in his mid-twenties and we feel fairly certain that he has no job. Mr. Party's pad is

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-55406841109444045192011-09-18T20:03:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:32:31.688-05:00

Most recent delights: ~watching the super-cute animated Disney film "Tangled" ~angel-hair pasta with oven-roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, and freshly-grated parmesan cheese ~starting a book {one I've read before for a class in college} about the Salem Witch Trials ~savoring Folger's Gourmet 'Vanilla Biscotti' coffee,--in my new Fiestaware cup/saucer! ~helping our dear friend Jalene

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-17550725098018497472011-09-16T22:28:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:31:19.044-05:00

Last weekend, Matt and I were in Lansing, Michigan, the city where we resided from 2007-2010. Matt had his monthly drill weekend for the Army National Guard, so while he was busy during the day on Saturday, I went about to some of my favorite old haunts in Lansing. One of my stops was at the Antique Mega Mall, located about one mile from the apartment complex where we used to live. I used to

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-90242223240129120272011-09-15T19:50:00.002-04:002011-12-07T22:30:01.905-05:00

It seems Fall is already upon us. I recently passed some lovely evening moments on our little patio, wrapping myself in a blanket to keep away the chill. I had the most beautiful view to admire: Staring into the beautiful canvas God had painted, I was reminded how often I fail to notice the wondrous creations around me. God is an artist, and I believe He relishes showing us His incredible

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-27644596756611669422011-09-09T00:10:00.002-04:002011-12-07T22:28:46.201-05:00

On my recent trip to Indiana, my sister and I were looking through books in little Will's new nursery. She had some brand new books, but also some old ones she kept from our childhood. I was so utterly delighted to come across two books I had completely forgotten about--the Serendipity Books. When I was little, I absolutely loved looking at the beautiful illustrations in these books. The writing

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-64442143786985294922011-09-07T15:04:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:27:23.029-05:00

I've been called a lot of things throughout my life: Perfectionist, Anal, Neat Freak, Obsessive, etc. This part of my personality has truly been with me since early childhood. Part of it comes from the influence of my mom, who has always kept a very clean, organized, clutter-free home. In fact, on several occasions when I was a kid, my friends would comment to me, "Your house is so clean!!" And

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-63489844018043310732011-09-05T21:26:00.000-04:002011-12-07T21:01:33.947-05:00

My mom recently gave me this delicious, simple recipe for shredded chicken burritos. The prep time is minimal and they cook up in the blink of an eye! Fiesta Chicken Burritos Ingredients:  For filling: 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed 1 large can of chicken breast cutlets, drained and shredded with a fork 1 cup shredded cheese (I used low fat sharp cheddar) 1/2 cup salsa, plus more for

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-83076272171968111462011-09-01T23:15:00.002-04:002011-12-07T22:25:38.810-05:00

"I am not the samehaving seen the moon shine on the other side of the world."~Mary Anne Radmacher September feels like a month of change to me, and always has. I'm sure it has everything to do with the "back to school" of childhood, heading off for a new school year with a new fall wardrobe, new teachers, brand new notebooks, pencils, pens, and expectations. A fresh start. Even though I'm no

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-81472952192277329322011-08-29T20:04:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:24:25.681-05:00

The state of Indiana holds a dear place in my heart, not only because it's where the University I attended is located, but because it is where my sister Erin, her husband Dan, and my new little nephew Will live. I got to spend four delicious days with them recently. A mere three weeks old.   I bet you'll never guess who bought him this shirt?!  Dan and Erin live just outside the city of

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-68946507147617352482011-08-27T20:21:00.000-04:002011-12-07T21:01:33.948-05:00

I tried out a couple new recipes this past week for our guests Nick and Jaela. I got this first recipe from one of my all time favorite blogs, "Fly Through Our Window."  The author, Darby, is a sweetheart, a phenomenal mother, crafty, great in the kitchen, and an amazing photographer. Check her out! These are a version of Rice Krispie Treats, but using peanut butter and honey instead of

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-42265523638829420582011-08-24T22:32:00.001-04:002011-12-07T22:23:02.719-05:00

The latest sweet things life has thrown our way: ~a coupon for two free coffees at Biggby Coffee (a Michigan based company); I ordered the butterscotch latte--mmm ~brisk morning walks ~making handmade cards with my Cricut, trying out my newest Cricut cartridges ~watching "Miss Potter," the lovely film about author Beatrix Potter's life ~thunderstorms {I love them}, making me feel so cozy ~using

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-45712720371391465842011-08-22T23:58:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:28:38.772-05:00

We all know a girl can never have too many shoes, right? At the times when I have been abroad, walking naturally becomes my main means of transportation. This makes having comfortable foot wear imperative. That's hard for me, however. I LOVE a killer pair of heels and I have been known to submit my feet to lots of pain and blisters for the sheer adoration of a pair of great heels. But even I

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-73252371141253572842011-08-19T16:18:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:27:41.027-05:00

From the time I arrived in Portland, our time was mostly consumed with the wedding festivities and preparations. It went a little like this: Thursday: Rehearsal and cookout at John's {the groom} parents' home Friday: Bridal party trip to salon, lunch, and shopping; Bridal Shower for Katie in the evening Saturday: mani's/pedi's and Bridal slumber party at Katie's home Sunday: pampering and hair/

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-41514733803272538622011-08-18T19:11:00.006-04:002011-12-07T21:26:36.720-05:00

I had originally intended on posting yesterday, but no offense, everybody, I had something much more important going on... Yesterday, Matt and I were celebrating our 4th Wedding Anniversary together! Matt had yesterday off of work, so we had a lovely, romantic, relaxing day together. Four years ago: {The Rehearsal} {Lake Michigan} Now on to my trip to Portland! Most of my trip revolved

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-38872067298972414262011-08-10T21:53:00.003-04:002011-12-07T21:24:38.625-05:00

Do you remember who your very first friend was as a small child? I do, and I am so incredibly blessed that she has always remained one of my very closest, best friends throughout my entire life. I have spoken her name since about the time I first learned to talk: Katie Kyle. The daughters of parents who were close friends, we were introduced and instantly became best friends at the age of one.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-91985108109146291872011-08-10T12:19:00.003-04:002011-12-07T21:24:01.939-05:00

It's ironic how life can bring such happy and such sad things into one's life at the same time. The last several days have brought both of these things into Matt's and my life. On Monday evening, Matt's grandma passed away from congestive heart failure. Her passing was quite sudden, although we were able to be with her one last time just before she went. Grandma Peggy was a lovely and

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-79518607709948243042011-08-06T17:25:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:22:22.153-05:00

I'm a happy girl! You know why? Because I just got my new 160GB iPod Classic! I have seriously been wanting one of these for years. I literally have hundreds and hundreds of CDs and I wanted to be able to have ALL my music in one place without having to worry about running out of space. My last iPod was only 2GB, which didn't even hold all of my music from iTunes. But then...God smiled!

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-2882364288884951792011-08-05T21:29:00.002-04:002011-12-07T21:19:59.611-05:00

In honor of the fact that I left for my eight months in Hungary one year ago today, I am sharing the photos of my very first trip to Hungary in February of 1998. I was fourteen at the time and a freshman in high school. You can read the background story to that trip here. It was my first taste of Europe and I became instantaneously addicted. It changed me, and I would never be the same again.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-32719713491999126012011-08-04T23:52:00.002-04:002011-12-07T21:19:09.358-05:00

I don't know about you, but one of my very favorite moments of the day is bedtime. There's nothing quite a sweet as crawling into a big comfy bed, snuggling in under the covers, relaying a few thoughts to my journal, and then retreating into a good book. I don't read every night before I go to sleep; of course--it depends on how late it is. But when I have the time, I love to indulge in my

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-26803115193251191542011-08-01T22:38:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:17:43.714-05:00

I don't know about you, but I always love discovering other lovely and inspiring blogs out there on the web. Check out The Blog Guidebook to find all kinds of blogs, and you can add your blog to their listing, as well!

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-73579964376592892072011-08-01T15:50:00.000-04:002011-12-07T21:01:33.948-05:00

I mentioned a few weeks back how much we've been enjoying sweet tea this summer. Want to whip up a batch for yourself? It's super-easy to do and so extremely delicious! Sweet Tea Ingredients: 9 cups of water 1 Lipton family-size tea bag 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sugar Bring four cups of water to a boil on stove top. Remove from heat, add tea bag. Let tea bag steep 10-15 minutes. Discard tea bag.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-6146904185221331092011-07-31T19:48:00.003-04:002011-12-07T21:16:58.108-05:00

Last week, Matt and I spent the night at his parents' home in Michigan after our Shipshewana Getaway. I love going to their home--first and foremost, because I so thoroughly enjoy my time with all of Matt's family. But I also really love their charming home in the country. They live in the middle of miles and miles of beautiful farmland. The setting is so picturesque, especially in the

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-2425478600346620162011-07-29T15:17:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:01:33.949-05:00

I grew up on these cookies and they are by far my favorite. Now they're Matt's favorite, too! If you love mint, you must try this recipe. This isn't simply an average chocolate chip cookie recipe using mint chips instead of regular chocolate ones. The recipe for the dough itself is different, and a major reason I love this cookie so much. It's made with oil rather than butter, so the cookies come

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-87162703193696690002011-07-28T18:07:00.002-04:002011-12-07T21:16:03.876-05:00

We had a lovely mini-getaway to Shipshewana, Indiana. Shipshewana is located right in the heart of Amish Country. You know you have arrived in Amish Country when about 15 miles out from Shipshewana, you start to see a horse and buggy coming and going in each direction. We stayed with Matt's parents and his brother, JJ, and his beautiful wife, Jennie at a cozy little Bed & Breakfast. Our room

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-59256223775143532282011-07-24T23:29:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:14:43.566-05:00

This last week's delights: ~going to see the final "Harry Potter" film with Matt ~making lasagna with success ~enjoying lots of cool air-conditioning in the record-breaking heat ~juicy nectarines, quite possibly my favorite summertime fruit ~my fingernails growing long and pretty ~mint chocolate chip ice cream ~a visit from Matt's parents and brother, Aaron {their first time seeing our new

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-86261799436568325672011-07-21T17:00:00.002-04:002011-12-07T21:13:40.950-05:00

I have mentioned before my adoration for antique books. On Sunday, my father-in-law presented me with an antique copy of Margaret Mitchell's classic Gone With the Wind that he had picked up at a garage sale. He is so incredibly thoughtful! {thanks, Dad!} I am especially thrilled with this gift because of my love affair with Gone With the Wind. Yes, we do have a love affair. And look! The

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-37497267494982099192011-07-19T16:12:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:10:03.725-05:00

We spent this past weekend in the gorgeous city of Grand Rapids, MI, the second largest city in the state after Detroit. Matt's unit had a post-deployment Yellow Ribbon Program event, which is a "Department of Defense-wide effort to support National Guard and Reserve Service Members and families with information on benefits and referrals before, during, and after deployments."  I do think it's

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-56601360459327400022011-07-15T00:48:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:07:24.131-05:00

Matt and I live in a small apartment. One of my favorite features of this apartment is the little patio where I like to relax and enjoy the warm summer weather. This is the view from our patio: The hot sun doesn't hit our patio until about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. In the mornings, the patio is the perfect level of warmness and the birds sit in the trees nearby, singing their sweet little songs

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-7892005781243352972011-07-11T14:37:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:00:20.143-05:00

This summer, I decided to grow a few of my own fresh herbs on our little apartment patio. I chose just a few, the ones I knew I'd use the most: chives, cilantro, basil, rosemary, and mint. It has been delightful to harvest and use my own herbs in my kitchen this summer. I love to make my own fresh salsa, so the cilantro is perfect for that. I recently used basil in this delicious and easy recipe

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-87874309569890475402011-07-10T19:02:00.001-04:002011-12-07T20:58:39.966-05:00

Yesterday, Matt and I traveled a bit south to attend the Celtic Festival in Saline, Michigan. The Festival included all things Welsh, Irish, and Scottish. We had a good time, although Matt and I both thought the website for the festival made it sound a lot neater than it actually was. It wasn't a huge festival, either. But I think my standards are high after attending the Cincinnati Celtic

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-21212156276851200432011-07-07T14:58:00.001-04:002011-12-07T21:23:09.787-05:00

One of my very favorite artists of all time is Celine Dion. And I'm not afraid to admit it. I know there are a lot of people out there who can't stand her. Or that there's the 'I'm-a-woman-so-I-must-be-a-Celine-Dion-fan' cliché. And in fact, Matt makes fun of me for liking her. Celine and I go way back. Back before her mega Titanic "My Heart Will Go On" hit. Back to when I was thirteen and I

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-78909185730151240432011-07-04T16:49:00.001-04:002011-12-07T20:36:42.119-05:00

A couple months back, my lovely sister Erin gave me all her past editions of Real Simple magazine; the past three year's worth. I was elated! I adore this magazine and always find so many useful articles and recipes. Naturally, I couldn't afford the space of keeping all these editions, so I meticulously went through all the magazines, clipping out the many articles and recipes I wanted to keep.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-33624112623875466052011-06-30T23:04:00.004-04:002011-12-07T20:35:14.023-05:00

I don't think I've ever spent as much time in the kitchen as I have these past three weeks. I never knew how much I could miss having my very own kitchen to cook and bake in. But then the whirlwind of our lives this past year happened, and I got to go without having my own kitchen for nearly twelve months solid. So yes, I've been spending a very large portion of my day in our kitchen. I've been 

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-13364685262506290242011-06-28T22:44:00.004-04:002011-12-07T20:32:24.051-05:00

I have had a love affair with many different European chocolates, but by far, one of my favorites is the Kinder Surprise Egg. This is a hollow, milk chocolate egg {very delicious chocolate, I might add} with a plastic yellow "yolk" in the center. The "yolk" contains a toy, often requiring assembly. Unfortunately, Kinder Eggs have been banned in the US since 1997 because of a law stating no food

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-78848889697274258992011-06-23T22:30:00.003-04:002011-12-07T20:29:54.241-05:00

As of yesterday, Matt and I made a monumental step in our lives: we are now officially debt-free. No more car payments. No more student loans. And we're never going back. Our quest for ridding our lives of debt once and for all began in 2009 when we completed a program called 'Financial Peace University' by financial guru Dave Ramsey. We completed the program after weekly lessons over a course

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-27458157564753506982011-06-19T22:00:00.003-04:002011-12-07T20:28:02.472-05:00

Yesterday I attended my very first beach wedding. I mentioned last month that our good friends Nick and Jaela were getting married. Nick and Matt are friends from way back, and that's how Jaela and I were introduced. Now we are very dear friends, and Jaela has given me permission to share about her lovely wedding. The wedding took place on a beach along the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-56207034244105949272011-06-14T03:26:00.003-04:002011-12-07T20:20:09.520-05:00

Being surrounded by such natural beauty, Matt and I felt we really needed to take advantage of being in the Smoky Mountains and do a bit of hiking. We both have hiked and camped in the Smoky Mountains as teenagers with our respective church youth groups {one of our many parallel life experiences before we met}. We didn't want anything quite that serious, but rather a moderate hike lasting a few

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-26885435782079569442011-06-11T11:27:00.005-04:002011-12-07T20:56:42.713-05:00

Last week, Matt and I spent four relaxing days in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. We wanted a small vacation for the two of us to celebrate being back together again after his year-long deployment. We rented our own private cabin in the mountains. It was small, yet charming, and equipped with all we wanted. Our favorite part was the hot tub on the balcony where we could take in the

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-11160414913872328852011-06-10T01:23:00.002-04:002011-12-07T20:15:19.649-05:00

I am so blessed--I married into such an exceptionally wonderful family. I love them all so much! We all have an absolute blast when we're together. Half of the time is spent laughing at Matt, JJ, and Aaron, as they tend to act like three giddy little boys when they're together again. So in conclusion, here are just a few more photos of all the fun the Perry family had in Florida!  

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-12215224356176896502011-06-09T23:59:00.004-04:002011-12-07T20:23:49.299-05:00

Well, this was an experience I will definitely never forget. So just what is a manatee, you might ask? They are large aquatic mammals living in freshwater and saltwater coastal regions. Manatees are sometimes known as "sea cows" and weigh approximately 1, 000 pounds. They have a whiskery-face and one large tail fin. Below are some manatees we saw at Sea World. They look like boulders in the

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-36751725887505173632011-06-07T11:19:00.003-04:002011-12-07T20:09:17.372-05:00

{Matt and I are back from our trip to Tennessee, but before I tell about that, I have a few more Florida adventures to share...} During our time in Orlando, we had pre-booked tickets and set aside one evening to go out and enjoy the Medieval Times 'Dinner and Tournament.' It's a fun-filled dinner show where one feasts in an arena, cheering on the knights as they compete in a tournament complete

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451411558709859273.post-80149437566074611672011-05-31T09:13:00.003-04:002011-12-07T20:06:53.146-05:00

I'll have to share the rest of our FL adventures with you all a bit later...because Matt and I are off this morning for a little getaway, just the two of us, to the Smoky Mountains. We're renting our own cabin in the mountains of Tennessee and we're so looking forward to some leisurely days spent in magnificent scenery! Have a great rest of the week!

Deanne Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14031643231911409230noreply@blogger.com0