23... Oh geez...

So, yesterday was my birthday. I had already celebrated with my family a couple of weeks ago when I was home for a wedding, so I knew it wouldn't be anything special.
I got lots of calls, text messages, cards, emails and facebook/twitter comments that truly made my day. I wasn't sure how it was going to go. I mean it's my first birthday being married, so being the crazy planner I am, I built up all of these expectations. Little did I know, we wouldn't be seeing our family, Dylan would have to work 12 hours, and we would be poor stuck in a strange new place we call home. Ha!
But wouldn't you know God had better plans in store for me. It completely surpassed my expectations. Dylan and I got breakfast before he left for work, I packed his lunch/dinner and he gave me my present. He got me a beautiful ring. He sang to me and had me blow out the flame from our fire flicker candle lighter thing {classy, I know} but, we didn't have a cake or candles for that matter! Ha! The rest of the day I just hung out around the apartment with Piper and did some cleaning & window shopping and headed to Ruby Tequilas to meet two of my friends from Dylan's news station. They have been so wonderful to have here. Amarillo wouldn't be nearly as fun without them. I thought we were just going to go have dinner together so I wouldn't have to eat by myself, but they both showed up with a gift for me :) So sweet. I couldn't believe it. Megan got me a World Market gift card, which I LOVE World Market. Little did she know World Market is my favorite thing about living in Texas! I'm thinking a nice apothecary jar might be in my future! And Maxine got me not only a trifle bowl but four mini bowls that are so great! I couldn't believe she remembered that I wanted one! I've been wanting one for so long to make cute banana pudding, or dirt, or a pretty salad - anything really! Then Megan bought my dinner and we headed back to my apartment to watch RHONJ. We do this almost every Monday, I just love it! It's so good to have good girlfriends. It was such a great night! Thank you all for making it so special! Dylan and I are both off work tomorrow so we've got a belated birthday date planned to do dinner and a movie. I can't wait! I'm hoping this 23rd year of mine will be a good one! Happy Tuesday everyone!

Toy Story 1&2...

Is anyone as excited as I am to see Toy Story 3?! I am so pumped! I would've seen it by now, but Dylan and I have wanted to watch the first 2 again to refresh our memories. Clearly we weren't the only ones with this idea, seeing as how NetFlix has such a long wait on TS1&2. So last night Dylan and I ran to Target to grab a couple of things. While we were walking around the store, we walked right by the DVD section. On sale were the DVD's of TS 1&2! We bought them, without a second thought, and watched both of them last night. I love that the 1st Toy Story was made like 15 years ago and is just as great today as it was then. I loved it. I can't wait to see the 3rd! Hopefully we can fit it in sometime this weekend!

Yum-O!

Ina's Shrimp Scampi Linguine Recipe:

Ingredients

* Vegetable oil
* Kosher salt
* 3/4 pound linguine
* 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
* 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
* 1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
* 1/2 lemon, zest grated
* 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
* 1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
* 1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

Directions

Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve.

This is absolutely delicious, and SO easy. It's my new summer go to recipe, thanks to Erin at Blue Eyed Bride. Enjoy!

iPhone iOS 4...

Let me just show you my latest obsession.
This is my home screen of my phone. I'm not sure if any of you remember this post but, Dylan accidentally shattered my iPhone in April. So I bought a new one and renewed my contract, then 30 days later I find out that there will be an even newer one, to which I am not eligible for upgrade. Major bummer. Or so I thought... but thanks to the wonderful people at Apple, they have created the iOS 4 update for our phones, so mine is now practically as great as the new one will be. I am in love. It works like my brain, only now I can see it in my hand. Categorized just the way I like it. No new phone needed for this girl. My heart is happy.

Weekend Madness...

Tomorrow night we'll hit I-40E toward OKC for two days! I couldn't be more excited! My brother is having surgery in the morning (feel free to say a little prayer for him). We have lots to do, as usual. It's hardly a vacation...this time on our agenda we plan on doing breakfast with my family to (early) celebrate my birthday. (Since I won't see my family for that) Spend time with my brother of course, and go to one of Dylan's good friend's weddings & partake in a broadcasting reunion with a bunch of his friends from undergrad. Oh and I have a full order of mugs to paint from McNellie's. Ugh. It's going to be a quick two days. Poor Dylan for having to use his "days off" driving & running around crazy. I'm ready to go back to Oklahoma for a second. I miss my family, and just being in Oklahoma in general. I see a Super Target Run in my future. I hate that there isn't ever enough time to see everyone or everything. Is it bad that sometimes I want to just go there in secret so I don't hurt anyone's feelings? Ha. Not to sound selfish, but it's true. I miss my friends dearly. I wish Dylan and I could both go home for like a week and then we could see everyone and not feel so scatter brained. Tomorrow I have a fun day planned of sunning and nail painting, laundry, packing and thrifting. I'll keep you posted on my fab finds. Happy Friday everyone!

8 Months Ago Today...

I was walking down the aisle to meet my fiance, who would that night become my husband. Our wedding day. It seems like it was yesterday and 100 years ago all at the same time. I can't believe it's already been that long. I'm love him more today than I did in October. Each day I wake up so blessed to be married to not only my best friend, but someone who knows my every flaw and loves me all the same. I love you, Dylan Ross. Here's to a million more 8 monthiversaries. :)

Sunday Funday!

I think one of my favorite things about Summer is being sun tired. When you know you haven't really done anything to exhaust yourself, but just being or even just laying in the sun makes your night sleep that much better. I love it. Love it, love it.

Today was one of those days. Spent laying by the pool or floating on my pool noodle, just spending hours in the sun. It doesn't get much better than that.

Dylan's work days on Sunday are usually pretty tight, so tonight instead of coming home for dinner he packed left overs from last night. Which leaves me to myself for dinner, so of course I thought I'd do something simple and non-messy like - cereal. Nope, definitely made cupcakes and fresh corn. I'm so weird. But both were equally delicious. :) Hope y'all got to enjoy the sun too! Happy Sunday!

New Job, New Girl...

I've been neglecting my blog lately. Lots has happened here in the Buckingham household. I got a new job, although only part time it feels so good to have something to go to twice a week. I've been enjoying this heat outside and enjoying lots of fun in the sun with new friends. My sister in law and her husband came to stay with us and we went to the Palo Duro Canyon. I went to my first Amarillo Dillas baseball game, ran around the bases in a race to represent my husband for News Channel 10 night. I've spent some much needed time with my husband after being separated for way too long. I've tried some new recipes and bought three pool noodles & a cute new lunch box. I saw SATC2 with my friend, Megan. I've decided to bring back metallic nail polish, and desperately need to have my hair done. Made 12 new friends who I'll spend the summer with that are all under the age of 3, one of which wants to marry me. Watch out, Dyl, he's pretty cute. ;) I've fallen in love with a precious little red headed girl named Kinley. She has beautifully long eyelashes and perfect blue eyes. I hope our children look exactly like her. She is such a doll. She makes me want one. See? I'm clearly super busy now with my new job. I'm kidding. But, truthfully it's been good to have a break from blogging. I feel like a whole new girl, I definitely have a much better attitude about Amarillo. I still don't want to live here for a long time, but I'm not in control of when/where our life might change. So in the mean time, I'll do my best to make the most of everyday. I'll keep having fun, and enjoy marg nights with the girls from the station, date nights with my husband, pool days and going to work twice a week, and making the most of our first summer as a married couple. I'm loving what God has been doing in our lives, and I'm more than excited to see what the future holds. I hope everyone else has been having a great week, enjoy your weekend! OH! Dylan has his radio show in the morning, so if you get a second, wish him luck. He's really excited!